When are the first HDMI 1.3 HDtv's due?

[mainman]

When are the first HDMI 1.3 HDtv's due?
Or are they already available?

Thanks

[AV_Integrated]

Next year at the earliest, and to my knowledge, not a single one has been announced to date. I believe that at CES in January we will have the first announced HDMI 1.3 televisions and then several months later they will hit the streets... at the earliest.

[mainman]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

Next year at the earliest, and to my knowledge, not a single one has been announced to date. I believe that at CES in January we will have the first announced HDMI 1.3 televisions and then several months later they will hit the streets... at the earliest.

Damn that's long.

Will there a big improvement if a HDTV has HDMI 1.3?

[Josh]

Originally Posted by mainman

Damn that's long.

Will there a big improvement if a HDTV has HDMI 1.3?

That depends on what you are using your display for. v1.3 adds support for advanced audio codecs, but if you are just using your TV as a monitor (as you should - TV speakers suck) then it won't make a difference. It also adds support for a wider color stream, but the only thing that will take advantage of this is videogames for the moment. I doubt we'll see any benefit from movies.

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

This is true Josh! The primary and major benefits of HDMI 1.3 will be on the audio side of the house, not the video side, though their will be some video improvements. What we all need to watch is Pre-Amps and Receivers coming out with HDMI 1.3 compliant specifications in their new products. Then, and only then will we gleen the benefits of HDMI 1.3 .

Jim

Absolutely. Then we won't have to worry about players decoding the new codecs in the box. An HDMI 1.3 A/VR with DTHD and DTS-HD MA capabilities and we'll be set. that's when I might start thinking of flogging my Sony DA4ES on eBay and upgrading.

[Rob]

I thought that HDMI 1.3 offered a wider colour range than normal!?

[JimPullan]

Originally Posted by Rob

I thought that HDMI 1.3 offered a wider colour range than normal!?

Yes Rob there are some features within the HDMI 1.3 chip set that enhances video performance, but the 'main' features address performance boosts in Audio that is significant. One other feature of the HDMI 1.3 chip, optional to the manufactuers and enabled at their choosing is the CEC feature. It means 'Consumer Electronic Control'. This feature 'may' be used by companies like Sony, Pioneer, Denon, Integra, etc. who have an array of offerings like displays, pre-amps, amp, receivers, dvd players, cd players, and so on. CEC would allow the consumer to, for example, simply pick up their dvd remote, press play . . . THEN CEC kicks in, turning on your dvd player, turning on your TV, switching to the dvd input, turn on your receiver and switch to the dvd mode, and so on with CEC enabled products. This is what we should be looking for in 2007 products, stating CEC Enabled. This feature alone will reduce or eliminate a coffee table full of remotes. It will give the 'universal remote' companies a run for their money. So, there are many great features that will come with HDMI 1.3 and beyond. Just be patient as these things materialize. Most likely shown at the next 2007 CEDIA show. IMO

Jim