A new technology developed by Radiospire Networks and coming to market from Philips promises to help reduce cable clutter with the Apple TV and other devices that work using High Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI. Philips expects to release what it calls “Wireless HDMI” later this year for $299.99 – $399.99.
The Apple TV can communicate over a wired or wireless network with nearby computers to sync or stream video, audio and digital photo content. But to relay its video signal to a television, Apple TV requires either an HDMI connector or a component video connector — hard-wired cables that runs to the television.
HDMI is a modified Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connector that transfers uncompressed digital video and multichannel audio. It also supports High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, or HDCP — a copy protection scheme for HD video that’s expected to see wide deployment in the coming years.
Radiospire claims its “WireFreeHD” technology, upon which Philips’ Wireless HDMI product is based, enables HDMI content to be sent from a wireless transmitter to a receiver within about 25 feet of one another uncompressed, with no loss of quality and extremely low latency, so audio and video content remain synchronized and HD video remains pristine.
It’s a plug-and-play connection, as well — you simply attach the transmitter to the AppleTV and the receiver to your television, and the two devices are connected directly. You don’t need to set anything up or install any software.
Wireless HDMI works in the ultra wideband (UWB) range, so it doesn’t interfere with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cordless phones, microwaves or cell phones.
HDCP support is maintained, and this has the added benefit of helping to prevent anyone from intercepting the digital data stream between sources to the display, according to Philips.