The HDMI Forum has announced the HDMI 2.0a specification has been updated to enable transmission of High Dynamic Range (HDR) formats. Users can likely upgrade their devices to the updated specification through a firmware update.
HDR should provide enhanced picture quality by simultaneously enabling greater detail for both the dark and bright parts of an image. The HDR-related updates include references to CEA-861.3, CEA’s recently published update of HDR Static Metadata Extensions.
The HDMI Forum isn't really clear on whether the new standard requires new hardware, however TP Vision previously stated that it should be possible to get support for the new standard through a firmware update. HDMI 2.0 was announced in 2013 and allows 4K video at 60FPS. Most Ultra HD TVs released in 2015 will support HDMI 2.0.
HDR is the next step to improve image quality on TV. Image a scene with sunlight or an explosion that looks fantastic on your TV but that in real life would be so bright that you would squeeze your eyes, this should become more real with HDR. The aim is to present the human eye with a similar range of luminance as that which, through the visual system, is familiar in everyday life.
Although the first TVs with HDR support were demonstrated at CES this year hardly no HDR content is available.
