Rumors are swirling that a new Apple TV (the set-top box, not an Apple-branded HDTV) will roll out next month along with the iPad 3. I think those rumors are correct and that the revved Apple TV will finally offer 1080p high definition video.

And it would be just in time. Wireless high-definition (HD) video technologies are the next frontier in consumer electronic (CE) connectivity, streaming uncompressed 1080p high-definition video across the living room. The category is comprised of three technologies: wireless home digital interface (WHDI), WirelessHD, and Wireless Gigabit (WiGig).

The earliest applications for wireless HD video technologies were centered around the CE [consumer electronics] cluster and were used primarily as HDMI cable replacement. Today it has evolved into the computer cluster connecting mobile computers to DTVs. Significant future use will likely be for connecting mobile devices to digital televisions (DTVs). New NPD In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com) research forecasts that nearly 23 million wireless HD video-enabled devices will ship in 2015.

"While all three technologies will see some type of market adoption over the forecast period, WiGig is likely to be the most popular wireless HD video technology," says Brian O’Rourke, research director, NPD. "The specification has support from a wide range of technology companies, including silicon vendors, CE device makers, mobile phone vendors, and software companies. In addition, WiGig will be the 60GHz Wi-Fi specification, called 802.11ad."

The NPD report includes the following findings: 

° Desktops, standard notebooks, and netbooks are unlikely to adopt the technology over the length of the forecast period, primarily because of the cost.

° WiGig/802.11ad is likely to be big in mobile computer docking solutions, and WirelessHD and WHDI are focusing more on CE-based solutions.

° DTV is the most important market in CE, as wireless mobile computer-to-DTV connections are a key use case for wireless HD videoThe WiGig Alliance has many WLAN silicon vendors among its members, as well as a diverse assortment of major technology companies, including Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Nokia, and Broadcom.

-- Dennis Sellers