The HDMI Forum announces version 2.1 of the HDMI specification-- one adding support for a higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 8K60 and 4K120, Dynamic HDR and increased bandwidth via 48G cable.
Developed by the HDMI Forum Technical Working Group, HDMI 2.1 is backwards compatible with earlier versions of the specification, and brings improvements on the audio as well as video sides. For instance, eARC provides a simpler solution for the setup of TVs with a soundbar or AVR complete with support for object-based surround sound formats such as Dolby Vision and DTS:X.
As mentioned earlier, a new 48G cable boosts bandwidth to 48Gbps for uncompressed support for 8K resolution video with HDR, while a Game Mode VRR features a variable refresh rate to reduce (if not eliminate) lag, stutter and frame tearing. Dynamic HDR adjusts depth, detail, brightness, contrast and colour gamut on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis.
Such data rates allow it to carry advanced video signals, such as UHD 4K at 60Hz with 10-bit colour and HDR.
Metra Home Theatre Group announces the Velox passive HDMI cables-- able to send 18Gbps data for up to 8m standalone and up to 21m when paired with the HDM-GA1 amplifier.
As announcement press release puts it, "this enables two of the most popular solutions for connectivity to come together-- the small form factor, reversible, and multi-purpose USB Type-C connector being adopted by smartphones, tablets and PC products, and HDMI, which is the leading display interface with an installed base of billions of displays."
