Mix Of CE, Content Companies Form Hi-Def Alliance With Home Networking In Mind

The High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance — HANA, for short — is working on a design guideline for secure high definition audio visual networks to speed the creation of HD products using existing technology. Boiled down, HANA’s goal is to move HD from the combination of exoctic and mundane it is now to a technology used throughout the house without much effort on the consumer’s part. The stated mission includes enabling:
– view, pause and record five or more HD channels simultaneuosly without compromising quality;
– view, pause and record HD from anywhere in the house using just one set top.
– sharing of personal content between AV devices while securing protected content.
– control of all AV devices and content access with one remote per room
– drum roll … add any device to the home network with just one cable.

I’m not sure why everything takes an alliance but these are the kind of pragmatic accomplishments that could make a real difference in the way people use HD. For instance, we have several HD-capable TVs and monitors but using them with a multi-channel provider requires a set-top for each, which is one reason we only have HD in the living room. The remote control concept is appealing but only if the cost per remote is rational.

Unfortunately, these particular efforts are at least a year away from realization. Planned HANA-compliant products include HDTVs, next-gen DVD players, PVRs, cable set-tops and home theater equipment with the first commercial products expected at CES 2007.
Founding companies: Charter Communications, NBC Universal, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Samsung, Sun Microsystems and JVC. Contribuiting members: ARM, Freescale Semiconductor and Pulse~LINK. Samsung EVP Dr. Heemin Kwon is president. More details about other aspects in the press release and at the HANA site.

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