by , 3:00 AM EDT, October 19th, 2004
Gefen has announced that its HDTV Switcher, 4x1 HDTV Switcher, and HDTV Splitter products have been re-engineered. The company has done so "to address connection issues between new DVD players and set-top boxes with DVI or HDMI ports and HDTV displays with HDMI inputs."
In their place, Gefen is announcing the HDMI Switcher, the 4x1 HDMI Switcher and the 1:2 HDMI Splitter, all of which are tailored to consumer electronics devices. The original HDTV products are being "repurposed" as DVI-based products, and Gefen has dropped the price.
The HDMI Web site defines the technology as:
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, and A/V receiver and an audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV).
HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
HDMI is specifically backwards compatible with DVI. You can find more information on Gefen's new product line at the Gefen Web site.