HDMI is all about the technology. Yes, it's small and sexy and really, really good, but how does it work? Why are so many of my other AV cables so chunky when HDMI can produce better results in a smaller package?

To answer these questions and more we've separated the technology into seven different categories. We'll peel back the layers to expose where HDMI came from, what makes it tick, and how we can we can make the most of it;

• Evolution - The history and development of HDMI
• Bitstream - the signal that HDMI carries inside
• Bandwidth - so much information, so little size. HDMI has revolutionized the way in which AV interconnects work, and this page will explain why
• Connectors - how they could be made so small, and an interesting insight into just how much of a sophisticated piece of engineering they really are
• Cable - if you've been told that cables don't really make a difference, then you need to find a new place to get your advice. Here we'll explain just how important the cables are, as they quite literally are the links in the chain, and you know what they say about weak links.
• H.D.C.P. - this is the bit that software houses and studios wanted to protect their IP. That is, stop pirating of the ultra high resolution master quality signals
• Versions - HDMI started with version 1.0, then 1.1, 1.2, 1.2a and finally 1.3. Here we'll explain what the differences are, and which one you need.

Next Page - HDMI Evolution