CES 2010 Las Vegas – HDMI developer and testing resource Simplay Labs is announcing at International CES a number of new initiatives in HDMI Specification Version 1.4 certification, test tools, and testing facilities.
Simplay Labs will host technology demonstrations at the MGM Grand Hotel and is exhibiting in the HDMI Tech Zone (booth 20407B) in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the show.
“Simplay’s mission is to help manufacturers with performance and interoperability and reduce time and cost to market,” stated Joseph Lias, Simplay Labs president. “Our new initiatives take a broad approach to make sure we continue to support manufacturers as their needs change and grow. Ultimately that means the consumers get a better experience with their new purchases.”
The company said it has started new HDMI Compliance Test Specification (CTS) Version 1.4 Certification, and has launched an HDMI Authorized Test Center (ATC) for the latest specification.
Products recently certified will release in the consumer marketplace in early 2010. In addition to standard ATC testing services manufacturers can also leverage the technical support of Simplay Labs consulting resources which provide system-level application engineering and design integration services, the company said.
Simplay Labs said since it started HDMI testing it has formed some 105 partnerships and amassed a testing portfolio of almost 500 products certified for Simplay HD.
Products that have passed certification are distinguished by their performance and interoperability, ease of use, and consumer satisfaction. The enhanced Simplay HD certification program for 2010 accounts for the new HDMI Specification Version 1.4 features, and new cables and devices enabled with HDMI Version 1.4 will go through this unique and robust test regimen to ensure optimum performance and quality.
In the fourth quarter of 2009 Simplay said it opened upgraded facilities in Shenzhen and Shanghai China, and expanded into new markets by opening the only authorized ATC in Korea.
Along with its Sunnyvale, California facility, Simplay operates 4 HDMI Authorized Test Centers globally and is the only non-consumer electronics manufacturer ATC testing facility.
The company said it now recommends the Simplay CEC Explorer SL 309 Development Tool as a compliance test tool in the HDMI CTS Version 1.4.
The tool helps design engineers develop, simulate and debug all aspects of CEC (Consumer Electronics Control)/CDC (Capability, Discovery and Control) functionality in real time, and includes a powerful GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows engineers to interface with their own product prototype by exercising and monitoring CEC/CDC performance.
The Explorer is the only tool officially recommended for CDC and the only tool that tests for both CEC and CDC, according to the company. It also enables the testing for HDMI Ethernet Channel and Audio Return Channel through its CDC and CEC capabilities.
The company also said its Universal Test System will provide a multi-technology and human behavior scoring test tool solution that enables all HDMI features performance and consumer experience testing.
The complexity of new HD features across multiple technologies requires new product quality testing techniques and approaches, the company said.
The new tool features a modular design and integrated human-perception modeling technologies which allow testing and service organizations to customize the solution for their specific requirements as well as add test functions as needed.
