DerekMartin.ca

Growing up, there was really only 1 type of audio OR video connector for my entire youth: RCA. Now there’s S-Video, Component, and worst of all HDMI 1.3. I say worst becasue we are now so resigned to constant upgrading that they include a decimal in the version number of a video cable. 1.4 is already on the horizon, and it is not backward compatible. It requires all new gear. With RCA, every TV could use it. Heck, even audio devices used it. Can’t we build a standard that we can all get behind? Can’t we build a standard that’ll last the test of time?

Don’t even get me started on these new TVs that have integrated Yahoo Widgets, and Hulu and Netflix clients. WHEN those sites go down, or standards change (again), your TV will have a bunch of useless crap built in. Have fun with that.

We just got HD-TV & HDMI 1.3, now they want UHD-TV & HDMI 1.4? (UHD = ultra-high-def). 4-16 times higher-def than blu-ray/1080p with 3d sound

Eff them!

http://digg.com/tech_news/Got_HDTV_Get_Ready_For_UHD_TV

Growing up, there was really only 1 type of audio OR video connector worth mentioning: RCA. Now there’s S-Video, VGA, DVI, Component, and worst of all HDMI 1.3. I say worst because we are now so resigned to constant upgrading that they include a decimal in the version number of a cable. HDMI is awesome because it can send audio & 8 different speakers worth of audio on a single cable… BUT it also what I’ll call the first “Smart Cable”. It supports some “features” (including Digital Rights Management) and doesn’t support others (certain HD audio formats, or copying what’s being sent over the cable, for example). Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want my cables OR my devices to tell me what I can do with whatever audio & video signals I’m toying with. HDMI 1.4 is already on the horizon, and it is MOSTLY backward compatible. Mostly? Yes, mostly. It supports higher resolutions than 1.3 (UHD = ultra-high-def = 4-16 times higher-def than blu-ray/1080p with 3d sound), AND it includes a new feature whereby the single HDMI cable can not only carry your video & audio, but also your internet connection, known as ethernet-over-HDMI. The old HDMI 1.3 cables don’t support ethernet, so get ready to toss all your gear & re-wire your house (again) if you want HDMI 1.4. It makes me long for the old, dumb, RCA jacks & cables. All sorts of devices used them, both audio & video. The cables had no say in what types of content went over them. They were used for over 20 years without needing an upgrade (because Standard Def was good enough). Can’t we build a standard that we can all get behind? Can’t we build a standard that’ll last the test of time? Yes we COULD design an ultimate-evercable, that would do anything & everything, at sufficiently ridiculous resolutions that it’d never need upgrading… but then the cable companies & electronics companies would sell you just 1 cable, not 1 every 5 years. I mean, let’s face it, cables don’t usually break (unless you have pets that chew). Don’t even get me started on these new TVs that have integrated Yahoo Widgets, and Hulu and Netflix clients. WHEN those sites go down, or they change their APIs, or standards change (again), your TV will have a bunch of useless crap built in. You’ll see broken jpeg icons on the screen whenever you turn it on. Have fun with that. If you think back to when people bought stereos instead of just iPods, you might remember that teenagers always had integrated stereos (1 piece that included speakers, tape decks, a CD player, a radio, and an amplifier), while parents often had component stereos (1 piece that was a record player, 1 piece that was a CD player, 1 piece that was a radio receiver, 1 piece that was an amplifier). The integrated systems were cheaper, and sounded okay, but if one part of it broke, the whole thing was useless. The component systems were expensive, but sounded great, and if one part of it broke, you only needed to buy a new one of those parts — the rest of the system kept working fine. Today, most people have transitioned toward integrated systems without even realizing it. What do you think a TV with Yahoo Widgets is? If the widgets break (or become obsolete), your TV experience is ruined. If your iMac’s video card dies, you can’t open it and replace it. If your monitor has built-in speakers and they break, you’re screwed. If your printer is also your scanner, and the scanner dies, your printer is worthless too. Components cost more in the short run, but save you much grief in the long run. Instead of buying an all-in-one stereo, buy components. If one dies, the others will still work. Instead of buying a printer/scanner/fax, buy a printer and a scanner and a fax. If one dies, the others will still work. Instead of buying an all-in-one computer, buy a tower and a monitor and speakers. Make sure the video & audio cards are not “integrated” with the motherboard. This way, if one of the pieces dies, you can just get another piece, not a new computer. Think I’ve complained enough? My next post will be about printer ink.

Comments from my old blog:

u.c. said: Its more the clutter I find hard to live with! Plus my back is a lot better not having to reach under the desk to a Tower. at 2009-12-18 06:26:47

u.c. said: Still have an old 1951 HMV Valve Radio, Long,Medium and Short Wave signals and still pick up lots on in.Run it up once a month to preserve valves (spares short) and it sounds just great with its huge elliptical speaker. Where you post is concerned dont get me started.Component systems are more environmentally friendly but for instance an iMAC if u keep up the warranty will last a long time,takes up less space and I certainly would get fed up with an outdated design in the end (shallow or what).Agree re all in one printers, very wasteful. at 2009-12-17 20:06:15

(Derek)[http://www.derekmartin.ca] said: If you don’t have the space for a full system, that’s another issue. I can’t deny the sexiness of the iMac.

OH, I forgot one more example. My buddy bought an Apple TimeCapsul which is a wi-fi/ethernet router and network-storage device / timemachine all-in-one. So, he stored his iTunes music collection on the network storage part, so he could access it from anywhere in the house on his laptop.

The power supply died, and now he can’t access his music or files! Apple said it’s out of warranty, and it would cost $400 to replace. The harddrive is fine, but it won’t boot up, and it’s an all-in-one unit.

This wouldn’t have happened if his router was one device, and his network storage another. A new harddrive enclosure with power supply only costs about $40, not $400. at 2009-12-17 20:20:36

(Derek)[http://www.derekmartin.ca] said: Oh fantastic. I just learned that Blu-Ray 3D will require, not new cables, but new televisions & projectors. Sure, it’ll play fine on your existing PS3, but not the TV it’s connected to :-| at 2009-12-17 22:49:19