Silicon Image is back and its latest chips aim to offer improved video quality and innovations in connectivity. The SiI9251 and SiI9261 processors are destined for TVs and receivers, respectively, supporting up to 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs with x.v. color, as well as "InstaPort" technology that claims to enable high speed switching between HDMI jacks. Silicon Image's own Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) tech is in there too, as well as ChromaViv to ensure accurate color calibration. These chips may find themselves buried deep within your next consumer electronics purchase, and will quietly go about their business of HDMI input switching and color correcting (hopefully) without a peep.

Solid Signal, generally known for its OTA satellite sales and the like, has announced that it too will be throwing its hat in the HDMI cabling ring. Said wires will be sold under the Solid Signal brand name, and the first line will of course consist of HDMI 1.3b units. The company will be offering the cables in lengths ranging from 1- to 32.8-meters, and prices will respectively range from $8.99 to $118.99. You can have a peek at the whole lot right now (and yeah, they're all shipping as we speak).

TVOne is fleshing out its HDMI equipment lineup with the addition of two new HDMI 1.3 switchers and four HDMI 1.3 distribution amplifiers. The new half dozen are being aimed at the "demanding professional market," which means that these pieces will feature front panel status indicators for input signal / HDCP presence. As for the switchers, the 1T-SX-632 ($145) flips back and forth between two inputs, while the 1T-SX-634 ($195) switches up to four inputs. The distribution amps beam out anywhere between two and four signals depending on model, and are set to range in price from $245 to $695. Check out the whole gang in the read link.

After getting a whiff of what Furutech's cooking, Monster is really going to have to step up its game. Not content with just charging a Benjamin or two for an HDMI cable, this company has decided that its HDMI-xv1.3 cable -- which is "engineered to work flawlessly in lengths up to 3 meters with new-generation 120Hz LCD and plasma screens" -- is somehow worth $280 to $1,400, depending on length. Sure, the thing boasts EMI / RFI rejection, contact resistance, silver-plated Alpha-OFC solid-core conductors, five full layers of shielding and nonmagnetic Pearl Chrome aluminum alloy connectors with 24K gold-plated α (Alpha) contacts, but really, nearly three bills for the one-meter edition? You know what they say about fools and their money...

Looking for an HDMI 1.3 distribution amp that won't completely shatter the budget? Enter Octava's 3x4 HDMI Switch + Splitter Distribution Amplifier, which includes support for full 1080p resolutions and enables HDMI switching for three inputs while outputting to (up to) four displays. You'll also find a Toslink optical audio output, an RS-232 control port, a remote bundled in and an external IR jack for extending the reach. Best of all, the unit checks in at just $349, and it's available to ship right now to most any corner of the globe.

If you'll recall, Atlona Technologies was pretty proud of its flat HDMI 1.3b-certified cables, and now it's pausing to announce that it's replacing its entire inventory of 4X4 matrix switchers with versions that are 1.3 savvy. As expected, the units will feature a RS-232 control port, a remote and include all the luxuries -- 10.2Gbps of bandwidth, support for 1440p / Deep Color, etc. -- of HDMI 1.3. It should be noted that the new flavor is still priced at $1,099, but we've got a hunch you could score a fantastic deal on those leftover units that just become old hat.

For years we've sent digital audio in the form of a compressed bitstream from our disc player to our audio/video receiver for decoding. So whether we used a Toslink cable or coaxial digital cable, the Dolby Digital or DTS signal wasn't decoded by our player. But today -- thanks to HDMI -- we have the bandwidth to send uncompressed multi-channel audio from the player to the amp without having to resort to six or eight analog RCA cables -- ala the PS3. And with the latest version of HDMI 1.3, we also have the more traditional option of letting our AV/R do the heavy lifting. But of course this begs the question; which is best? On one hand if we decode in the player we lose the ability to use all the bells and whistles we paid for in the latest receiver we bought -- assuming we bought one. But on the other, if we don't decode in the player we lose any sounds from the interactive features or maybe even a secondary audio track that may play along side the main audio. Luckily, some players give you a choice, but the most popular Blu-ray player doesn't, as the PS3 doesn't support bitstreaming TrueHD or DTS-HD (it will bitstream Dolby Digital and DTS though). So assuming you even have a choice, which is better, decoding in the player or in your AV/R.

Custom installers and everyday consumers don't always have the same requirements for A/V gear. As we've mentioned before, HDMI has had some problems, but it is taking off. Follow the "read" link to get CE Pro's suggestions on what HDMI can do to help win over installers; we've got a feeling the proposed changes would make Joe and Jane Six Packs alike happy, too. We'll start off with our biggest HDMI pet peeve -- captive/locking connectors! Simply put: HDMI needs 'em. Next up, the major teething problems associated with HDMI versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 seem to be behind us and 1.3 seems to be a stable spec; the task at hand is to spread this info among installers (especially ones who were bitten by earlier version problems). To CE Pro's list, we'd add that all the various flavors of HDMI-CEC need to be brought under control -- when units like the Onkyo TX-SA606X get singled out for interoperability, it means lots of consumers aren't enjoying any ease of use. What would you like to see in the HDMI spec?

For those with an eye for finding niche peripherals, they'll notice that there actually are quite a few HDMI hubs out there to select from. Still, we've yet to come across a three-porter sexier and more compact than this. Codenamed Medusa, the three-port HDMI 1.3 hub you see above is about the width / length of a Rubik's Cube and enables a trio of HDMI devices to be connected. Unfortunately, we're not sure if this one will have any real switching capabilities, but you will find Deep Color and CEC support, of course. No word on a price just yet -- after all, it is still in the final stages of development -- but it should go on sale worldwide in under 30 days.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Here at Engadget HD, we have a special place in our hearts for HDMI-CEC, but things can get sticky when buying components from different manufacturers. Fret not, as Onkyo's latest AV receiver manages to play nice with Panasonic's Viera Link, Toshiba's REGZA Link and Sharp's AQUOS Link all the same. The TX-SA606X, which is available in silver or a Mr. T-approved gold finish, also boasts HDMI 1.3 connectors, Dolby TrueHD / DTS-MA decoders, a 185-watt x 7 internal amplifier, optical / coaxial audio inputs and a smorgasbord of other video ports. Unsurprisingly, such a multifaceted unit won't run you cheap, as interested consumers will be asked to hand over ¥84,000 ($839) when it lands on April 29th.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Though not quite as awe-inspiring as Meridian's all new MF10, Knoll's April-bound HDP460 is a far cry from being a slouch. This 1080p DLP projector boasts the oh-so-coveted TI DarkChip4 along with a 5,000:1 contrast ratio, Pixelworks DNX 10-bit video processor, 1,600 ANSI lumens, HDMI 1.3, ISF day / night presets and built-in scaling support for 2:35:1. Unfortunately, Knoll's being a little stingy in the imagery department, but those who can just imagine this beamer sitting pretty in their den / home theater can phone up the company in order to get a presumably large dose of sticker shock.

[Via AboutProjectors]

Tired of overpriced and / or totally plain HDMI cables? Fret not, as Brando's looking to make your setup entirely more vivid with its Laic Colorful HDMI cables. These v1.3b-compliant cords are available in purple, green, black, white, red and orange and even boast 24k gold-plated tips (astounding, we know). Sure, $19 for a 1.5-meter cable is still a tad on the high side, but hey, it's either this or a day wrestling with the paint can.

Nothing too fancy here -- just a vanilla HDMI Extender with one true claim to fame. The TVOne 1T-DA-631, as you'd expect, "restores the HDMI v1.3 signal at the end of long cable runs just prior to the input to the display." This particular iteration, however, is the "first of its kind" to include DDC Correction "ensuring the HDMI signal stays true to the original form." Additionally, it features a maximum distance of 40 meters from the source and up to 5 meters from the output to the display. You'll also find HDCP compliance built-in along with a locking power adapter, and if this looks to be just the thing you've been needing, you can snag one now for a shade under a Benjamin.

[Via Widescreen Review]

If you think you've seen these wares before, simmer down. Gefen has most certainly cranked out a 1:10 HDMI Distribution Amplifier in the past, but its latest iteration sports a slightly updated design and includes full support of HDMI v1.3. As expected, the aforementioned HDCP-compliant, rack-mountable device allows a single HDMI source to be distributed to 10 different displays, and the 1:5 HDMI 1.3 Splitter possesses the same HDCP certification and aims to dish out a sole HDMI source to half as many outputs. Gefen goes on to mention that things work best when the source and destination displays share matching resolutions, and while we're not given a definitive ship date on either, they can be pre-ordered now from the firm's website for $749 and $499, respectively. Peek the full release after the break.