"HD-Ready" label

[Starred]

European industry forum agrees specs for screens to be labelled 'HD-ready' - and they include digital video inputs with HDCP...

Following is a rather important press release we received yesterday concerning the new specifications agreed by various industry players that a screen has to have to be dubbed 'HD ready'. We draw your attention in particular to the bits near the end stating that a screen must not only carry a DVI or HDMI jack, but that this jack must be compatible with HDCP...

"BRUSSELS, January 19, 2005 — EICTA, the European industry organization representing the information and communications technology and consumer electronics sectors, today announces its Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices and associated "HD ready" label.

The "HD ready" label is introduced as a quality sign for the differentiation of display equipment, capable of processing and displaying high definition signals, awarded on the basis of minimum functionality requirements detailed in the "EICTA conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices".

The EICTA Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices are the result of a concerted effort from the European high technology industry, elaborated in close dialogue with representatives from the European public and private broadcasters, infrastructure and service providers, as well as national HDTV-related initiatives. The conditions embody a carefully sought after balance between technology and business drivers.

"I am pleased to announce that EICTA is taking the lead in driving the dynamic changes we are seeing in what is undoubtedly one of Europe's most exciting and revolutionary industry sectors . Setting the Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices marks real progress in the rollout of HDTV in Europe and demonstrates the organisation's commitment to actively creating the conditions for the digital economy as well as fully embracing the challenges and benefits of innovation," says Rudy Provoost, CEO Philips Consumer Electronics, as President of EICTA and Chairman of the Executive Board.

In an early response, some of the parties that were involved in the process that led to the definition of the EICTA Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices commented: "It is critically important that the public is informed about the capabilities of home displays to provide high definition television - and that broadcasters understand what will happen to their content. The "HD ready" label is fully supported by Europe's national broadcasters, the Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EICTA "Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices" offers a well balanced approach which responds to viewers' and broadcasters' needs for certainty regarding interoperability with future HD receiver products." says Daniel Sauvet-Goichon Chairman, EBU Technical Committee.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, states: "The "HD ready" label provides consumers with the guarantee that displays from different manufacturers are genuinely future -proof and fully compliant with commonly agreed technical standards for state-of-the-art High Definition broadcasts. In combination with ASTRA's unique 24 hour HD promo channel which is available for live demonstrations on HD displays at points of sales all across Europe, it provides a powerful marketing tool to educate millions of end-consumers about the single most important technological development in broadcasting since the introduction of color TV: HDTV!"

The issues addressed by the EICTA "HD ready" label are critical to fostering growth, guaranteeing confidence in the Consumer Electronics sector, and achieving the goals of putting Europe on the worldwide HDTV map. The EICTA Conditions for HD Labelling of Display Devices offers a carefully balanced approach which preserves the incentives for European innovation in broadcasting technologies, while also responding to the consumer's call for certainty and clear messaging regarding interoperability with future HD receiver products.

The "HD ready" label should introduce consumer assurance and confidence when purchasing new display devices assumed to be ready for use with High Definition broadcasts and other HD equipment. The label is awarded within a self-certification regime.

Requirements for the label "HD ready"
A display device has to cover the following requirements to be awarded the label "HD ready":
1. Display, display engine - The minimum native resolution of the display (e.g. LCD, PDP) or display engine (e.g. DLP) is 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio.

2. Video Interfaces
* The display device accepts HD input via: Analogue YPbPr1; and DVI or HDMI

* HD capable inputs accept the following HD video formats: 1280x720 @ 50 and 60Hz progressive ("720p"), and 1920x1080 @ 50 and 60Hz interlaced ("1080i")

* The DVI or HDMI input supports content protection (HDCP)."

Homecinemanews

[Shorty]

... en zo sjokt de Europese industrie l-a-n-g-z-a-a-m achter Japan en de USA aan. Maar goed, weer een stapje genomen, zullen we maar denken...
Goed gedaan, jongens! Doe vooral rustig aan, dan kun je niet moe worden! 

VrGr,

Bart J.

[jaco]

Gelukkig staat erbij dat een display OOK HD input via: Analogue YPbPr1; moet accepteren.

Helaas moet er HDCP op de digitale ingangen zitten, maar dat is natuurlijk niet onverwachts.

Ook vrees ik dat aanbieders van afspelers het wellicht onder druk van de software lobby zo kunnen lezen dat ze alleen een DVI/HDMI output nodig hebben, want immers alle HD-Ready displays hebben dat aan boord. Dus waarom nog druk maken over een analoge uitgang..

Jaco

[Shorty]

Helaas moet er HDCP op de digitale ingangen zitten

Zonder HDCP zou niemand in Hollywood of waar dan ook z'n films op HD willen uitbrengen. Dus we mogen blij zijn dat er een standaard ontwikkeld en afgesproken is die het verspreiden van HD-films mogelijk maakt. Toch?

VrGr,

Bart J.