Resolution may be king, but the best high-definition TVs maximize your viewing pleasure by letting you connect everything from high-def D-VHS recorders and DVD players, to PCs and your digital camera's memory card.

Whether you're upgrading to a brand-spanking new digital set or you're taking the digital plunge for the first time, nothing beats the sensation you get from plugging into the future. A world of crisp, super hi-res content will soon be at your fingertips, from the bone-crushing tackles on NFL Sunday to the thunderous footsteps of mighty dinos on Discovery HD. But while the front views of the latest projection, direct-view, and plasma sets will most certainly leave jaws dropping and eyes bulging, a peek at the connections on their backs will leave most of us scratching our heads.

Look behind the breathtaking screens in your local showroom and you'll find many with slots for slipping in your digital camera's memory card. With this feature you can conduct slide shows of your last vacation in your living room instead of forcing family and friends to huddle around your PC screen. Speaking of which, why settle for a 17-inch LCD monitor when a growing number of big-screen HD monitors let you hook up your PC directly so you can surf through better TV channels and the web?

Even wireless connectivity is starting to enter the picture, which will finally allow us to hang that plasma on the wall, stuff our A/V gear behind cabinet doors, and forget about jacks for good. But that's down the evolutionary road a bit. You want to know what your set should have now.

Attack of the Jacks

Sometimes looking at the back of an HDTV and its multitude of connectors can feel as if you've been stuffed into the cockpit of a 747 and asked to fly solo. For this reason, manufacturers are now making it easier to make the right choices and get set up in less time. For example, Hitachi has been bundling an easy, graphical guide for hooking up its sets for the past two years and has received very positive feedback.

"We took all the language off and used just pictures of the devices to simplify this incredibly intimidating experience for many consumers," says Bill Whalen, Hitachi's senior product marketing manager. At the bare minimum, Whalen recommends that you purchase a set that has a DVI (Digital Visual Interface), because of the proliferation of DirecTV and other set-top boxes with the connection on board.

Samsung's check-off list is a little longer, but it points to all the basic jacks you'll need right off the bat. "If you're purchasing a new HDTV or HD monitor as the centerpiece of your home theater system," says Jim Sanduski, vice president of Visual Display for Samsung Electronics America, "you should look for a set that contains two or three composite jacks, two S-Video, two component, and one DVI input." Sanduski also points out that there are two types of component inputs: analog input with 480i capability, and the more robust digital component input for 480p/720p/1080i capability. Ask for the latter.

What are all of these connections good for? In a nutshell, the old-but-trusty composite video carries both chrominance (color) and luminance (black and white) on the same cable but can suffer from low resolution, dot crawl and other image artifacts. S-Video provides a step up from composite with its one four-pin connection and is used for connecting DVD players, camcorders and satellite boxes. And component video offers even more color detail than S-Video by distributing the red, blue and green portions of a video transmission separately. And DVI trumps them all, but more on that later.

Ultimately, you'll have to consider what other types of digital gear you'll be using before you decide what connectors should reside on your HDTV. Take it from Earl Martin, Sony's national product marketing manager. "For customers who are in the market to upgrade their TV sets, first off they need to be aware of what connectors they're using currently, based on the video and audio sources they are using," says Martin. "The next question is what you expect to expand to with that type of TV set. Will you upgrade your satellite box to an HD satellite box, from a regular DVD player to a progressive-scan DVD player, or to any other set-top boxes that may be out there, like DVRs?"

The High-Def Holy Grail

DVI, or Digital Video Interface, is considered the ultimate video connection because it delivers an uncompressed signal of up to 5 gigabytes per second (Gbps), which is more than enough to handle an HDTV's required 2 Gbps. The universe of compatible DVI gear, including some receivers and DVD players, is small but expanding.

You'll often see DVI called DVI-HDTV to avoid confusion with the DVI standard used on some high-end PC monitors, as interoperability is not guaranteed. But the most important four letters you need to know when talking about DVI are HDCP. This stands for High-bandwidth Digital Bandwidth Content Protection, and without it you risk hooking up your TV only to admire hi-res snow. "HDCP is essential. You have to have it," advises Hitachi's Whalen. "It's essential to protect all the investments in all of the movies that have ever been made." Early on, some HDTV sets lacked the HDCP protocol, but now the vast majority of sets support it. What happens if your set doesn't support HDCP? "If you don't get the permission passed across the line, [the content provider] won't send you a video signal," Whalen says. "It's the encryption scheme. I've gotten calls where someone says I can't get channel 202, and that's why."

It's not that HDCP is hack-proof, but the studios are more than comfortable to release content that can be transmitted over this connection. All of JVC's high-definition sets have DVI and at least one or two component inputs, and nearly every manufacturer now offers DVI connectivity in their lineup.

As for DVI-enabled components, there are several receivers and a handful DVD players cropping up to help consumers take full advantage of DVI's fat pipe. Sony's SAT-HD300 DIRECTV receiver, for example, provides high-definition programming in the 720p/1080i format thanks to its DVI-HDTV connection. The receiver also sports HD component connections.

All of Samsung's 2003 projection TVs, plasma sets, and 22-inch and larger LCD TVs also have a DVI connection.

DVI, Evolved

But just when you thought that DVI was the end-all, be-all of connectivity, another standard is poised to take its place. HDMI, which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, combines the same amount of uncompressed video that makes DVI superior to any other connection but adds multichannel audio to the mix. And it's all through one connection. "It's literally a way that a consumer can eliminate multiple wires," says Jeff Dickson, Pioneer's Home Entertainment Division marketing manager. "It avoids a lot of the guesswork."

The first component Pioneer will be offering with HDMI is a receiver, which will work with both of Pioneer's new PureVision plasmas, the 50-inch PDP-5040HD and the 43-inch PDP-4340HD. In addition to HDMI connectivity, these plasmas are the first to display more than 1 billion colors, thanks to Pioneer's proprietary Pure Drive and Advanced PureCinema technologies.

Most other manufacturers indicate that they are moving toward HDMI, but that it wouldn't start to take off until next year. Dickson likens HDMI to fax machines, whose value increased exponentially as more machines were introduced with which to communicate. "It's the same thing with an HDMI connection," said Dickson. "It's really the next generation of connectivity. It's point-to-point, uncompressed, and it's digital. And it's probably going to be around for a long time because built into the protocol is room to grow."

Philips says that the majority of its HDTV and HDTV-ready sets will offer HDMI in 2004. "We feel the convenience of HDMI--one cable replacing up to eight audio and video cables, as well as the fact that it is both backward compatible to DVI and futureproof--make it the ideal choice," says Anthony P. Fonzo, Philips senior manager of product planning for digital television.

IEEE 1394: Record and Control

It's one thing to enjoy HD content in real-time. It's another thing to be able to record that content for playback anytime, whether it's by using a D-VHS recorder, an HD-capable DVR, or the next generation of Blu-ray DVD recorders. That's where the IEEE 1394 standard comes in, which while not nearly as popular as DVI, is found on most sets with integrated ATSC tuners. The reason for this is that these sets include MPEG decoders and, according to James Snider of the 1394 Trade Association, it costs next to nothing to add a 1394 connection.

"The HDMI strategy is to uncompress everything in the set-top box and then send it out uncompressed, which could fill up a DVD in a matter of minutes," says Snider. "You'll never get a full hour of television with it all being an uncompressed video stream."

JVC, the major name in D-VHS recorders, includes two i.LINK jacks (aka IEEE 1394) on its latest JVC HM-DH40000U, which can record from both set-top boxes that support an i.Link output, as well as from JVC's own new 56- and 65-inch projection TVs that have 1394 on board. "i.LINK is great for recording purposes because it's compressed," says JVC's McCarron. "So someone who has a TV that has an ATSC tuner with a 1394 output would be able to record high-definition content directly onto the VHS unit." A single D-VHS tape can hold up to 3.5 hours of material recorded at an HDTV display rate of 1080i, including a 5.1-channel Dolby Digital soundtrack.

You can do a lot more than record with IEEE 1394, however. It offers a great deal of command and control over other IEEE 1394-enabled components. Mitsubishi's NetCommand 3.0 technology, now available with the company's Gold Series WS-55513 55-inch rear-projection HDTV, complements IEEE 1394 and allows the set to become the command center of a digital network. An on-screen menu lets you quickly change from one A/V source to the other by simply selecting an icon using the set's remote control. Each of your devices can be linked by a single wire, eliminating the veritable jungle of cables behind your TV.

What sets Mitsubishi's solution apart from the pack is what the company calls HAVi, or Home Audio Video Interoperability. NetCommand-enabled sets go beyond basic functions like pause, stop and rewind to actually learn all of your components' features, effectively replacing their remote controls in the process. The enhanced version of HAVi that NetCommand supports can even learn new capabilities as you add more devices to your network.

In addition, Mitsubishi has released its HD-5000 HDTV Receiver/Controller that when connected to other manufacturers' flat panel or front projection TVs, will enable them to use NetCommand. "When a NetCommand system is properly set up, it makes it very easy to watch a variety of video sources with a minimum of key presses, all from the TV layer of the TV remote," says Marty Zanfino, director of product development at Mitsubishi.

Most manufacturers agree that DVI and IEEE 1394 can coexist on the same set. "If all you want to do is connect your set-top box to your television, then DVI is all you need." says Snider. "If you want to go beyond that, if you want to connect multiple devices and record things to some external source device, then you should also consider IEEE 1394."

TV as a Picture Frame

If you own a digital camera, you already know how much fun it is to be able to show your pictures on the spot using the camera's built-in LCD. But if you want to produce a slide show for the entire family, that cramped screen and even your computer monitor just won't cut it. It's no wonder TV makers are starting to include memory-card readers on their higher-end sets; you can start your slide show without having to wait for your PC to boot up.

Panasonic's PT-53WXD53, for instance, includes both a Secure Digital (SD) slot and a PCMCIA slot that can accommodate adapters for any type of card. The same feature is offered on Panasonic's new 37-, 42-, and 50-inch plasmas, as well as its 50-inch LCD set.

Sony takes a more proprietary approach with its Memory Stick Slot, but it's available on 27 sets. Plus, you can do a lot more than view still shots. A number of Sony's CRT, rear-projection and WEGA TVs can play MPEG1 files, short videos that Sony's own digital cameras and camcorders capture, as well as some available from Samsung. And the XBR950 Grand WEGA and Plasma WEGA models even add MP3 playback, so you can select a soundtrack for your slide show on the fly.

The king of card support could very well be Hitachi's 57-inch T750. This set's Photo Memory Card Universal Slot accepts seven different types of media--including Olympus's new XD format.

Web Surfing, Couch-Potato Style

For those of us who want to check the weather, sports scores, and email on the big screen, that same Hitachi T750 has the ability to connect to your PC. In fact, all of Hitachi's 16:9 televisions with DVI-HDTV inputs also work with DVI-D signals in the VGA (640 x 480) format.

Another way to connect a TV to your PC is through an RBG cable (also called a D-sub 15-pin). The Philips 44PL9523 LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) set is just one of many in its Cineos TV line that includes this capability. All 11 of Mitsubishi's new integrated HDTVs also have RGB VGA capability.

Pioneer also offers D-sub 15-pin inputs on its plasma line for PC connectivity. "The TV is definitely migrating toward the audio/video realm and vice versa," says Jeff Dickson, Pioneer's marketing manager for its Home Entertainment Division.

Going a step further, RCA recently announced that its 52-, 56-, and 61-inch rear projection Scenium HDTV sets will have a built-in Microsoft Windows web browser to surf the Net, watch TV, and check up-to-the-minute stats or keep up with email on the big screen.

What About Wireless?

The short answer is that Wi-Fi technology still has a way to go before we start streaming HD video around our abodes. But one day in the near future we'll be able to hang a plasma on the wall and stuff the rest of our audio and video gear behind cabinet doors.

"Today, we do not have wireless connectivity in our TVs," admits Samsung's Sanduski. "In the future, however, wireless connectivity will be included and will likely first be offered in flat-panel products--plasma and LCD. Likely, the wireless standard to start will be 802.11a for HD streaming."

Actually, the future is not that far off. Sharp plans to introduce its first wireless TV stateside early next year. The AQUOS LC-15L1, a 15-inch LCD set, uses a base-station for its connection to your antenna or cable and transmits to the TV via wireless technology.

Samsung's Sanduski gives a conservative estimate of two years before wireless connectivity becomes available on its sets. But for so many other reasons, from DVI and IEEE 1394 to memory-card slots and PC-compatibility, the future is now for prospective buyers. And it looks every bit as good from the back of the latest HD sets as it does from the front.

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Connection Central

Do you know jack? You will after you read this cheat sheet for all of the most popular connections on today's HDTVs. Composite The standard method of video transmission that uses one RCA-type connection to carry both the chrominance (color information) and luminance (black and white) portions of a video signal. Found on: All TV sets.

Component Better than both composite and S-Video, component provides three channels for video transmission: one for detail and two for color. Found on: The majority of HDTV sets, progressive scan DVD players, and HD-ready set-top boxes.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) Supports uncompressed video transmission up to 5 gigabytes per second, ensuring the highest-quality video. DVI has built-in support for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), which allows for secure video broadcasts. Found on: More expensive HDTVs, especially plasma sets, as well as a handful of new DVD players.

HDMI Combines uncompressed video of DVI with multichannel audio in one connection. Also supports HDCP for secure video transmission. Found on: A small but growing number of plasma sets and a few receivers.

IEEE 1394 (aka, FireWire, i.Link). Serves as a two-way connection to transmit MPEG-compressed video. Used both for recording and for controlling of other FireWire-enabled components. Found on: Some HDTVs, D-VHS recorders, DVD players/recorders and receivers.

RGB A 15-pin connector that transmits video in quality equal to that of component video and better than composite and S-Video. Also called 15-pin D-Sub. Found on: HDTVs, PCs, and some set-top boxes.

S-Video A four-pin connection that separates both the color and detail portions of the signal for better clarity. Found on: Many higher-end TV sets, as well as VCRs, DVD players, and some computers.

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Media Center Makeover

Surfing the Web isn't the only reason to connect a PC to a TV. That's especially true if you own a Media Center PC, which lets you record TV shows to your desktop's hard drive and grants easy access to all of your digital pictures, music and video with a remote control.

Microsoft's first Media Center operating system, released about a year ago, did the job, but many early adopters found it to be too buggy and lacking in features. The just-released Media Center Edition 2004 (MCE 2004), however, answers many of the initial criticisms while turning your TV into the ultimate multimedia multitasker. The latest version is so good that both Dell and Sony have signed on to offer Media Center systems, in addition to Hewlett-Packard, Viewsonic, Alienware, and others.

On the TV end, Microsoft has added a slew of improvements, starting with the start screen, which presents recently recorded programs as soon as you start "My TV." There's also a cool new calibration wizard that walks you through the adjustment of display settings, including brightness and contrast. You can also select a more TV-friendly font, color saturation and layout, greatly improving legibility. Other nifty tweaks include your choice of three fast-forward speeds (3x, 40x and 250x), episode titles to help you quickly assess which shows you want to keep and which ones you're ready to discard, and channel-specific guide views for those of us addicted to just a handful of stations.

Don't worry if your new HD set doesn't come with a memory card slot for your digital camera. The MCE 2004 has mastered the art of slide shows with more sophisticated slide transitions (like panning, zooming and scrolling), and the ability to rotate photos and print them directly from the comfort of your couch-as long as your printer is on and connected to your PC. The OS even lets you remove red-eye and adjust contrast with the included remote.

If you have tons of digital audio stored on your hard drive, the MCE 2004 automatically syncs with your Windows Media Library. The presentation is also a lot slicker: Artist name, track information, and album cover art pops up before and after each song, just like a music video. As you acquire new CDs, you can rip them directly using the Media Center's interface, and if you want to sample new tunes without making a purchase, Microsoft has added support for tuning in both Internet and FM radio.

Even with all of these advancements, Media Center is highly recommended for what it doesn't do--at least not as often. Microsoft promises a vastly increased runtime between failure and better error recovery. After all, the last thing you want to see on your big screen is the Blue Screen of Death.

Mark Spoonauer has covered technology for Wired, Business 2.0, and Men's Health.

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