HDMI 1.4 is due out on June 30, 2009.
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2009/05/30/new-hdmi-14-spec-could-lead-to-consumer-confusion/

After reading the article, it really doesn't look like the new features of HDMI 1.4 will be all that important for a while, unless you want 3D or 4k x 2k resolution. So, no I'm not saying the 997 will be obsolete. I'm still excited about it's release. But I do think it's funny that they waited for HDMI 1.3 to be standardized for release, and 1.4 will be out before they get to market.

It's the nature of the gadget world, I suppose.