Mobile High-definition Link – HDMI and USB rolled into one

One of the hidden and possibly well-ignored stories of MWC was the announcement of the Mobile High-definition Link (MHL) specification. This specification is the result of a consortium of mobile device and component manufacturers who decided that current implementations of video output on mobile devices were simply not enough. The end result is the creation of a micro-USB compatible port and associated cables that allow for the output of audio and video from the device or charging and data transfer using the SAME port.

The current MHL specification support 1080 video at 60fps alongside Dolby digital 7.1 channel surround sound. As mentioned earlier, the MHL spec supports device charging while connected to compatible devices. Devices will actually charge 2.5 times faster over MHL than they would over a standard USB connection. The limitation currently would be that you either output audio/video or data, not both at the same time.

What is even more interesting is the fact that the switch between output and regular data transfer/charging is completely automatic, only depending on detecting the voltage coming across the cable to determine device behaviour. Better still is the fact that MHL TV’s will be able to charge and control via the regular TV remote, device behavior.

The first device to be announced with a MHL compatible port is the Samsung Galaxy S II, with compatible TV’s and other devices being on track for Q2 of this year and the spec is backed by companies like Samsung, Nokia, Toshiba, Silicon Image and Sony.

Video recorded by ARMdevices.net below.

Thanks Duncan

Source

Tags: MHL, Nokia, Samsung

Category: Nokia