On May 27, HDMI Licensing, LLC released the new HDMI v1.4 specification. Among other things, V1.4 includes such goodies as a 100 Mb/s Ethernet return channel, a digital audio return channel, and support for 4K image resolution.

But that’s not all. HDMI 1.4 now includes support for color space standards for digital photography, including Adobe RGB and YCC601, and 3D formats and resolutions for home viewing. Just for the heck of it, there’s also a new ‘mini’ connector design and even a specification for connecting automotive video and audio electronics.

If it sounds like HDMI is trying to become the primary digital signal interface between consumer electronics components, that’s because it is. And, HDMI isn’t stopping there: More and more professional video and display gear now includes one or more HDMI interfaces, including such disparate products as Panasonic’s $2,500 AG-HMR10 P2 portable video recorder and Kramer Electronics’ $1,600 VP-729 presentation scaler/switcher, both launched at NAB 2009.

To quote one of my uncle’s favorite retorts to a recalcitrant child, "Who died and made you boss?" It would appear that the HDMI format is becoming the default digital video interface for a whole bunch of products, but not everyone’s thrilled about it.

While the consumer marketplace has signed on to the HDMI program hook, line, and sinker, the pro AV marketplace is still coming to terms with transitioning from analog to video signal distribution, along with such fun concepts as software-based video and audio switching. So far, HDMI interfaces in switching and distribution products have been problematic to work with because of issues with EDID and HDCP data.

The broadcast industry, which took the plunge into digital over 20 years ago, has its own preferred methods of moving digital signals around, using Ethernet and SDI/HD-SDI interfaces. Yet they too, are being confronted with HDMI jacks on professional monitors, hard drive and solid-state recorders, and even new AVCHD camcorders.

Right about now you’re probably wondering: So, what’s up with DisplayPort? Aren’t they still in the game? Well, they are, clearly playing the tortoise to HDMI’s hare. A couple of recent press releases from VESA show why. On May 4, VESA announced its DisplayPort 1.1a standard, which is "…a scalable and extendable video data interface developed for use in both embedded (internal) and external (box-to-box) applications."

Earlier in April, VESA also released V2.0, revision 2 of its Monitor Control Command Set Standard (MCCS), which "…describes a standardized list of commands and controls used in identifying and controlling displays through an application running on a connected host." That’s nice, but who’s actually installing DisplayPort interfaces on their products these days?

In a nutshell, while VESA continues to design, specify, and build their DisplayPort architecture ever-so-slowly, HDMI is signing on more and more manufacturers (they claim over 850 adopters now). The result? HDMI is in consumer and pro products you can buy and use today…not demo models or design concepts still waiting to come to market.

HDMI’s Ethernet and audio return path specifications are smart moves, and play to the "less cables, less mess" mindset that appeals to consumers. Supporting standard color spaces for digital cameras is also a stroke of genius, given how many TV manufacturers are touting USB connections for viewing digital photos without a computer. And support for 4K imaging and 3D shows a willingness to get out ahead of the next waves in display trends, even if those waves are still a long ways from hitting our shores.

On the other hand, while the micro HDMI connector initiative is not a bad idea, why hasn’t HDMI Licensing worked on standards for a secure, lockable HDMI connector standard, something the pro AV and broadcast industries are already complaining about in spades? Instead, we’ve got aftermarket manufacturers like PPC and Blue Echo engineering their own locking HDMI solutions, and they couldn’t be more different in execution.

It could be said that in the home, the only real threat to the HDMI interface going forward is wireless, using 802.11, WiMax, or proprietary RF systems. But most of the wireless connectivity products I’ve seen so far are still relying on a black box interface to the TV, using (what else?) an HDMI connector.

Is a wireless HDMI specification coming in the near future? Will the HD-SDI transport stream format eventually migrate over from the professional world, or does HDMI have it locked down? Does DisplayPort have any chance at all of succeeding, outside of the notebook and desktop computer industries?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a juggernaut as, "…a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path." To me, that definition suits the HDMI interface perfectly right now.