Panasonic has announced it is to launch the world's first "free angle" HDMI Cable, compliant with version 1.3a high data transfer speed specification.

Panasonic says that with the market trend for extremely flat panel displays, there is a growing need for cables with a free angle plug.

With current HDMI cables, up to 9cm of space may be behind a flatscreen TV and the wall in order to connect the cable, but the new Panasonic Free Angle HDMI Cable has flexibility of 180 degrees, so the required space for the connection can be cut to 3cm.

1.5 metre and 3 metre versions of the new cable will be available from August 2008.