Iogear has introduced the HDMI 2×1 Automatic switch, or HDAS. The $169.95 peripheral enables you to switch between two different devices that use High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to send video to an HD television set.
The device locks and transfers the appropriate audio and video content to the connected HD display, according to Iogear. It prevents you from having to plug and unplug HDMI cables between equipment in order to connect to an HDTV that doesn’t have enough input ports.
Devices that output HDMI are rapidly increasing in availability. Apple recently began shipping the Apple TV, for example, a peripheral that enables you to watch digital video content on an HD screen, and it includes an HDMI input. On Wednesday Microsoft announced the forthcoming release of the Xbox 360 Elite, a new version of its Xbox 360 video game console that includes HDMI video output. The HDAS will also work with other devices that use a DVI connector, such as a Mac mini or other Mac.
Iogear’s HDAS is High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliant and supports 1080p resolution. It features LEDs on its front panels that show you which HDMI device is currently in use.
Iogear is also working on a four-port HDAS, which it expects to formally announce later this year.