Advancing HDMI friendliness, Silicon Image ups ante (and exclusivity) for DTV design

10/7/2008 2:00 PM EDT

The new feature is called "InstaPort," it was introduced in June (see "InstaPort" HDMI from SI speeds switching of A/V sources), and last week SI announced a very significant DTV design win: Samsung. They say all the other major TV brands are looking at it as well, which probably means -- if you design DTVs or anything else with multiple HDMI inputs -- you should take a look too. Silicon Image's InstaPort technology adds intelligence to HDMI inputs, resulting in sub-second switching time from one input to another. In essence, the system pre-authorizes each active HDMI signal coming in, so that when the user selects a different input its DRM authorization is already established.

It will be interesting to see the extent to which Samsung, and other DTV brands advertise and/or promote the faster switching time to consumers. As noted in this space previously over the years, one of the ways TV has been getting worse is in slower response times, such as when changing channels on an MPEG-based cable-TV or satellite system where the tuner must wait up to half a second for the next I frame. HDMI's DRM system adds its own delays, but pointing attention to solving this problem may only highlight the bigger issue in consumers' consciousness.

As the first company with HDMI silicon -- but now joined by competitors -- SI by necessity has to stay one step ahead of the game. Adding proprietary enhancements to the HDMI standard is a brilliant strategy. It might be good for consumer ease-of-use, but for engineers designing video products it means HDMI will remain a moving target for some time to come.