Following last week’s finalisation of the 3D Blu-ray standard, the HDMI Consortium announced support for 3D signals in the next version of HDMI.

December 28, 2009 — With 3D dominating the current home-cinema hype, the entire industry looks set to adopt the new technology. The most recent show of support comes from the HDMI Consortium, which announced a few days ago that the new version-1.4 HDMI standard will require devices to be able to handle 3D video. This is good news for those looking to indulge in the technology by buying a 3D-ready HDTV: Devices will have to support 3D if they want to carry the new certification. This announcement comes shortly after the Blu-ray Disc Association said it has finalised its 3D Blu-ray specification, which manufacturers will be able to begin incorporating into playback devices when the organisation releases the specification shortly.

What the industry has yet to achieve is a universal 3D format, but the big manufacturers are currently developing a variety of different technologies. Sony and JVC, for example, recently announced collaborations with RealD, a company that has been producing 3D technology for cinemas for years. We’ll know more about the state of such developments after the CES 2010 trade fair — more on that in the new year.