HDMI not essential for next-gen HD-DVD and Blu-Ray playback?

Written by Wil Harris

May 22, 2006 | 20:38

Tags: #hdcp #hd-dvd #hdmi #ict

Companies: #blu-ray

The latest gossip is that Hollywood studios will now not be downscaling the output of next-gen DVD players and TVs that don't support HDMI input/output.

We previously reported on the Image Constraint Token. In an effort to plug the 'analogue hole' (by which anything can be recorded non-digitally through an analogue output) content producers wanted the image from a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc downscaled to 540p - definitely not high definition.

Given that many TVs still don't ship with HDMI inputs (and the fact that the low-end PS3 doesn't have HDMI out, despite being touted by Sony as a mainstream Blu-Ray player) the overall picture for end-users didn't look great.

It seems like people in the industry have finally woken up to this problem, and there are now rumours that consumer electronics manufacturers and film studios have now come to a deal where ICT will not be implemented in discs until 2010 or 2012, to give consumers time to upgrade their equipment.

This should prevent a massive consumer outrage at the number of products labelled as 'HD ready' that don't have HDMI or HDCP - including a large number of PC graphics cards.

If this turns out to be true, it could be a major victory for the consumer. Let us know what you think over in the forums.
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