The GPMI audio and video interface promises unprecedented performances. — Photography Courtesy of Hisilicon/AFP Relaxnews
A new audio and video connection standard has now been launched in China. GPMI outperforms the current standard, HDMI, and its future cables should be capable of record data transfer while providing power to connected devices.
GPMI (General Purpose Media Interface) is a new digital audio and video interface developed by the Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance (SUCA), a consortium of around 50 major Chinese companies, including Hisense, Huawei, Skyworth and TCL. Designed to replace current standards, GPMI offers unprecedented performance in terms of bandwidth and power.
Available in two types (B and C), GPMI is said to support a bandwidth of up to 192 Gbps, enabling the transmission of ultra-high definition content, such as 8K video at 120 frames per second. It also boasts a power output of up to 480 W, making it easier to power connected devices without the need for another power source.
The idea for GPMI emerged in 2019, but its specific features have only now been presented. Still, the superiority of a new standard does not depend solely on its performance. It is its uptake by industry and the number of compatible devices that will make (or break) its success. For the moment, only Chinese manufacturers are poised to release devices that use this standard. It remains to be seen whether other manufacturers will follow suit.
In the coming years, the success of GPMI will therefore depend on its ability to find its place among more established standards. However, these have not lost their relevance. The current standard of reference is still HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), created more than 20 years ago by another consortium of electronics manufacturers. At the beginning of this year, the new HDMI 2.2 standard was unveiled, promising to double bandwidth from 48 to 96 Gbps. The HDMI 2.2 standard should also be able to support formats such as 8K at 240Hz, thus meeting the future needs of more demanding display and gaming technologies. However, users will need to be patient for compatible hardware (televisions, game consoles, home cinema systems, etc.) to become available. – AFP Relaxnews
