Image copyright © 2011 WHDI Special Interest Group
Israel-based tech firm Amimon has announced the opening of its first Authorized Testing Center (ATC) for ensuring third-party compliance with the Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) standard. Amimon is a founding member of the standard and specializes in wireless HD and mobile connectivity. It is expecting mass adoption of WHDI specifications during 2011 as gadget manufacturers look to develop products that can transmit wireless HD.
WHDI is designed to allow wireless transmission of uncompressed high-definition video up to 1080p resolution. That can include video encoded with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and all 3D formats required by the HDMI 1.4a specification. The system uses the 5 GHz frequency band and doesn't necessarily require line-of-sight between transmitter and receiver. Moreover, WHDI kit can be designed to plug directly into any business or home entertainment equipment that has an HDMI input or output. These features separate WHDI devices from computer-based wireless HD solutions like Warpia's StreamHD. WHDI can also be incorporated into computing devices, including tablets.
Because WHDI devices can take a signal directly through HDMI from a sending device such as a Blu-ray disc player, set top box or games console to an HDTV or projector, video and audio performance need not be limited by the specifications of a computer. Video stuttering, lag and degradation tend to be lower than on similar USB devices, particularly at longer distances between the transmitter and receiver. While the separation of receiver and transmitter can still affect quality, the principle hindrances to performance are, in principle, related to the nature of intervening obstructions (such as walls) and the presence of other signals that may cause interference.
"The opening of the WHDI ATC is a key piece for moving the WHDI standard forward," Amimon's David Shefler, VP of Marketing, said in a press release. "Many devices have implemented WHDI technology, but it is only through officially tested devices bearing the WHDI logo that we can achieve a true multi-vendor ecosystem."
By opening its first ATC, which will be located in Herzliya, Israel, Amimon hopes to encourage manufacturers to produce products that are interoperable. In other words, transmission components produced by one company should be able to communicate with receivers created by another when both conform to the WHDI standard. Tested and approved products will carry the WHDI logo.
"Our testing processes and stamp of approval will give manufacturers, retailers and consumers strong confidence in the WHDI logo and assurance that these devices will deliver a complete wireless solution for all their applications," Shlomi Cohen, WHDI ATC Manager said.
Amimon has developed its own device, the WHDI Stick, which is available for other companies to rebrand. It is currently sold through Galaxy in China and is planned for release in Europe in the last quarter of this year. Expect a review of it here shortly. Other products that use the WHDI technology include the ASUS WiCast. The WHDI Consortium was formed by Amimon, Hitachi, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and LG Electronics.
WHDI is designed to allow wireless transmission of uncompressed high-definition video up to 1080p resolution. That can include video encoded with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and all 3D formats required by the HDMI 1.4a specification. The system uses the 5 GHz frequency band and doesn't necessarily require line-of-sight between transmitter and receiver. Moreover, WHDI kit can be designed to plug directly into any business or home entertainment equipment that has an HDMI input or output. These features separate WHDI devices from computer-based wireless HD solutions like Warpia's StreamHD. WHDI can also be incorporated into computing devices, including tablets.
Because WHDI devices can take a signal directly through HDMI from a sending device such as a Blu-ray disc player, set top box or games console to an HDTV or projector, video and audio performance need not be limited by the specifications of a computer. Video stuttering, lag and degradation tend to be lower than on similar USB devices, particularly at longer distances between the transmitter and receiver. While the separation of receiver and transmitter can still affect quality, the principle hindrances to performance are, in principle, related to the nature of intervening obstructions (such as walls) and the presence of other signals that may cause interference.
"The opening of the WHDI ATC is a key piece for moving the WHDI standard forward," Amimon's David Shefler, VP of Marketing, said in a press release. "Many devices have implemented WHDI technology, but it is only through officially tested devices bearing the WHDI logo that we can achieve a true multi-vendor ecosystem."
By opening its first ATC, which will be located in Herzliya, Israel, Amimon hopes to encourage manufacturers to produce products that are interoperable. In other words, transmission components produced by one company should be able to communicate with receivers created by another when both conform to the WHDI standard. Tested and approved products will carry the WHDI logo.
"Our testing processes and stamp of approval will give manufacturers, retailers and consumers strong confidence in the WHDI logo and assurance that these devices will deliver a complete wireless solution for all their applications," Shlomi Cohen, WHDI ATC Manager said.
Amimon has developed its own device, the WHDI Stick, which is available for other companies to rebrand. It is currently sold through Galaxy in China and is planned for release in Europe in the last quarter of this year. Expect a review of it here shortly. Other products that use the WHDI technology include the ASUS WiCast. The WHDI Consortium was formed by Amimon, Hitachi, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and LG Electronics.
