The Next-Gen Open HDMI Port Conundrum

Considering that neither of the current-gen game machines are scheduled to be put out to pasture any time soon, there’s a great chance that most early adopters of the PS4 and Xbox One will still want to leave their old devices hooked up. Herein lies an issue that most people aren’t probably thinking about, which is the lack of open HDMI ports to use in their entertainment centers this fall.

[cl1983]

X box one already has this covered with it hdmi in port.

[HAMM3RofBUDDHA]

The HDMI in is for your cable or satellite box.

[cl1983]

First that would free up an hdi port on the tv, secondly you can also plug in your 360 bluray player, ps3 into the system, and again solving the issue.

[frankiebeans]

you can hook up anything thats hdmi its not just for a cablebox but thats what they want it to be for.

[OpenGL]

There's a decent chance that the Xbox One HDMI input will introduce a decent amount of input lag so you wouldn't want to play games with it anyway. If you hook up a PS3 or 360 to a Google TV you'll experience game-ruining input lag, because these devices are meant for passive experiences, not active ones.

[fr0sty]

Problem solved. $10.

http://www.amazon.com/Portt...

[lgn15]

Wrong. You can hook almost anything up to it, even a 360.

[gamer7804]

actually its not only for tv, they have already stated that you can plug any device into this.

so you could say "xbox tv" and it would pull up your 360, ps3, or ps4 etc.

[Utalkin2me]

@lgn15

My 360 is a arcade version, with component only. So does that work?

[Cmk0121]

Or 360... Whatever you want it to be

[bangshi]

Should we moan about plug sockets in the wall too?

Because they're never where you need them and you only get two. But if you're using up all four HDMI ports then you're using up five plug sockets.

Of all the things to moan about this seems pretty trivial.

[badz149]

@bangshi

That sounds like a more legit conundrum to me too. Most tv 40" and above comes with 3 or 4 HDMI ports nowadays but like you said, wall sockets are more a problem than HDMI. you have 2, I have only 1. So I have to use a splitter to connect my tv, cable box, surround system, PS3 and even a table fan. That's 5 devices already! What if a new console arrive? Conundrum...conundrum...conund rum...

[Thunderhawkxbox]

Nope u can conect ur Xbox 360 to ur Xbox one too

[mewhy32]

I can see this being a problem for some. I will replace my blu ray player with the PS4 and that should resolve my problem. About the xbone hdmi passthrough? I'm not sure what all can be hooked up to that. I think that I may have seen an interview with the major that said you could hook up just about anything to it. But I'm not sure how that would work.

[HammadTheBeast]

That's pretty cool.

Personally, my TV has 4 HDMI ports so, I should be covered.

[slazer101]

I have 4 HDMI ports also. I thought 3 was the norm. But I guess not. Never really thought about it before. Now I know why people are discussing it. Not an Xbox fan but having a HDMI input seems like a good idea. Can't hurt.

Off topic: I just noticed that the Xbox One has its USB ports in the back of the console. That seems kinda stupid to me. I would not want to have to try and find the opening when inserting a USB drive. JMO.

[MWong]

@ bangshi +1 bubble

@ slazer101
You might have a problem with a USB drive attaching to an XBone, I heard it proprietary drives again. According to some say nothing that was used on the 360 will work on the One.

Same here, 4 HDMI ports (1 free, PS3, Blu-ray & XB360) for me and 2 component (1 free & hd cable box). I'm with bangshi, the thing I am more thinking about is which new power strip should I buy. Besides, due to price drops in a year or 2 most people will be upgrading to 1080p (if they haven't already) or 4K HDTV's anyways, which will come with more HDMI ports.

[slazer101]

@MWong

I think your confusing USB drive with HDD drive. The picture clearly shows two USB port on the back of the Xbox one.

[lawgone]

7 disagrees so far with something that is a fact (cl1983's comment.) Amazing.

[lgn15]

How can 12 people disagree with a fact

[TotalSynthesisX]

Welcome to N4G.

[dethpuck]

It has one USB port on right front of the console

[slazer101]

@dethpuck

Can you provide a pic of the USB on the right side. I have looked at a lot of pics of the Xbox One and can't see one pic that shows that.

[greenlantern2814]

not a problem for me my tv has 5 hdmi ports.
but there are a number of devices you can purchase and solve the problem for cheap

[PSVita]

Ok if you put the 360 into the Xbox one it's the same as is you had just swapped cords. You're not going to be able to play with the new controller. The graphic wont be better. The menu won't be the Xbox ones. So...stop being lazy and change the cords if you want to play your 360. There's so many options out there that this Article was pointless.

[Highlife]

I have 4 hdmi inputs on my tv but I only need one. I use a 7.1 receiver with 6 hdmi inputs. Playing games with a sound system makes a huge difference. Couldn't imagine passing on tv speakers. The last of us was awesome hearing those clickers behind me. Anyway there are many options to add hdmi inputs to your tv. Be it a cheap switch or a receiver.

[iamnsuperman]

Or just unplug and plug into another console if you don't want to get a HDMI splitter. It isn't the most difficult thing to do

[wishingW3L]

depending on how you have your TV and other systems hooked up is just not that easy.

[HAMM3RofBUDDHA]

No, but a pain in the butt. Just think about getting up and changing discs in the middle of an intense RPG. I agree that you could manually change, but it's not ideal.

[Godmars290]

Something called a swap box.

[Xof]

You mean switch box.

I just got one off Amazon for $25. It has a remote, so it's really handy. Only weird thing about 'em is you can get a 3-way box for around $30, but if you want a 4th input, the prices jump all the way up to around $75.

[TheHybrid]

How was Xbox ones Hdmi input port not mentioned??? Also, the Xbox one is designed to replace basically everything in your entertainment center so you only bed ONE device....hehe, see what I did there??

[Thegamer41]

It does not replace everything, it just connects them together. So basically it turns them all into one device (hence the name), the Xbox One alone does not do all those features that you think it does.

[PSN_ZeroOnyx]

If your cable box is a DVR you better keep that remote nearby. The 360 won't record your shows nor will it play them back for you. Maybe they should call it xbox almost one.

[Software_Lover]

I currently just use an HDMI splitter (small box) but will use the XBone, when I eventually get one, with the PS4. I think its a good not great idea.

[Nick_515]

That will probably create lag.

[Software_Lover]

We will have to wait and see. That's why I said good, and not great, Idea.

[PSN_ZeroOnyx]

Hooking up a PS4 to a X1 will likely rip a hole in the space/time continuum resulting in a black hole.

[UnHoly_One]

Good Article.

[Zdb10r]

Why don't they just put WiHD technology in them and get rid of HDMI ports and cables ALL TOGETHER! That would be sweet.

[GameCents]

And expensive and incompatible with non-smart tv's. In short, a waste.

[Zdb10r]

Could include a single small receiver to work with it. It will be in everything eventually...

[Baka-akaB]

And it would still be expensive . Not worth the price hike for those consoles , while a mere 8$ switcher gives you a good enough solution for now

[cervantes99]

Well, I would think most early adopters would have a surround receiver with plenty of open HDMI ports. However, many low cost receivers only have 4 hdmi ins which could pose a problem if you have all systems and a cable box and a blue-ray player, etc.

[BuffMordecai]

HDMI selectors aren't that expensive, you can grab a decent one off Amazon for around $15.

[superterabyte]

First world problems

[Stsonic]

You beat me to it.

This article is a joke. The same "problem" happens every time you buy new hardware which uses HDMI. Why is it any different with new consoles. Seriously if you can't work out how to get all your cables plugged in to your TV you are doing something very wrong and stupid.

[JessiePinkmanYo]

Simple...get another TV :-) I already moved the PS3 into the bedroom with plans to move the 360 after I finish Far Cry 3.
Is it really too much to disconnect your X1 or PS4 when you feel nostalgic? Most people who can afford multiple systems and a library of games to boot can afford a 2nd TV if this is really an issue.
Another option-trade in your 360 or PS3 at GameStop on credit for new games on your next gen system

[Xof]

Who the hell is going through this thread and disagreeing with everyone who mentioned HDMI splitters or switchboxes?

[Baka-akaB]

Someone that wanna pretend it's not good enough

[whitesoxfalife1976]

I dunno lol but its stupid on they part, guess they bored....XOF

I'll probably get a disagree jus for saying that much lmao

[ziggurcat]

i have 1 open HDMI port on my audio receiver, which is exactly where the PS4 is going to go.

[NotSoSilentBob]

My Samsung has 3 HDMI in and my Receiver has 2. In total I have 4. Even with a PS4/Xbone I still have 2 open right now.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Because it's so much work to get up and switch what's plugged in.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

I have 5 HDMI's.. (& I don't watch cable/TV,.. either)

[dcj0524]

I haveca ps3& a rokubplayer connect to my tv. My ps4 will be fine.

[Dusdg]

I have 2 hdmi ports and it will work as follows. HDMI one will be the cable box/xbox one, then hdmi 2 will be a ps4 problem solved.

[spoonard]

I have an older 55" Vizio and it has 5 HDMI ports. Both my PC monitors each have 2 HDMI ports, and the old Emerson 36" LCD TV in my room has 3 HDMI ports. I'm not hurting for more HDMI ports. SLow news day or something?

[romancer]

According to Webster's Dictionary: a conundrum is "a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun. 2. a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer. b : an intricate and difficult problem."

Doesn't seem that the number of HDMI ports in current TVs qualifies for any of those meanings. As others have noted, the XBox One comes with an HDMI in, and can be linked to an XBox 360 (or anything else with an HDMI cable).

In my case, my Sony TV has only 3 HDMI connections, plus a separate connection for a computer (and 2 component video inputs). Xbox One would permit me to have 4 HDMI connections in total. No need for a switcher.

Perhaps the PS4 (which i am also buying) will have an HDMI input as well, expanding my total HDM connections to 5?

Where the problem?

[Furi17]

The PS3 has PSX retrocompatibility, and the PS4 will surely has PSX ans PS2 retrocompatibility.

[RRL]

How about plugging in your PS4 into the XBOX ONE? ;) Then you can just tell the Kinect.. "XBOX PLAY PLAYSTATION 4". Furthermore, If I were to plug the 360 into the Xbox One's HDMI in, and play all the 360 games through Xbox One, wouldn't that technically make the Xbox One system (semi,somewhat) Backwards Compatible? Just something to think about! ;)

[evilhasitsway]

or you could just swap the cables to the systems. the dumb shit that comes to this site.

[alittleshakey]

Weird that it wasn't brought up that the Xbox One has a special port on the back just for the 360. So it doesn't use an extra HDMI anyways.

[ThatOneGuyThere]

really? who is this a problem for? Ive got like 6 HDMI ports. Most TVs have at least 3...

[vigilante_man]

Most TVs have 3 or 4 HDMI ports so what's the story here?

[donscrillinger]

you can hook your 360 or wat ever into the xbox1 thro hdmi but not the ps4 so wat is this guy talking about

[NoNeedForAName]

I'm pretty sure my tv has 7 hdmi ports all over the place. It's also 3D so a splitter won't work anyways. My only concern coming up is how many more cables am I going to have to buy to hook everything up to my surround so it works properly. Hopefully just another digital cable but we'll have to see.

[CuddlyREDRUM]

Wrong.