Atlona's AT-HDPiX USB-to-HDMI adapter answers an age-old prayer

Okay, so maybe Atlona Technologies' latest whiz-bang adapter isn't that awesome, but then again, it's pretty awesome. The AT-HDPiX USB-to-HDMI adapter does precisely what it says by enabling any PC / digital signage display to accept an HDMI cable so long as a USB 2.0 socket is currently unoccupied. The device supports resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200 (or 720p), and because it takes audio from a 3.5-millimeter stereo jack rather than through the USB port, the full bandwidth of the USB connection is reserved for high-def video. Expect this miracle worker to start shipping next month for $179.

[AznCrew8317 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:37PM]

does this mean I can plug in my Sony PS3, into my Vaio Z-590, and game on my 13 inch screen when I'm in my dorm, void of giant HDTVs and Monitors?

[Anthony @ Nov 12th 2008 5:46PM]

I doubt that...seeing as how the laptop doesn't have a video in for the screen. This would let you output your video from the laptop to a screen via usb to hdmi, though the z590 already has an hdmi out so it would be redundant. I can't think of a laptop that has a video in for its screen.

[Zelatio @ Nov 12th 2008 5:48PM]

Anthony:

Isn't that the point of this box? To accept HDMI video through a USB? I'm sure it includes software of some kind to be able to do this. Either that or I am a complete idiot and missing the point of this expensive box.

[jb @ Nov 12th 2008 5:56PM]

HDPiX provides a simple solution for viewing content from a computer on any HDTV at a maximum resolution of 1600x1200 or 720P

[TavisJohn @ Nov 12th 2008 7:54PM]

Sure you can use your PS3 on your laptop...

If you do not mind the video LAG!

All video capture/input devices for computers have lag. Lag can range from 1/2 a second to several seconds. So that would make playing games IMPOSSIBLE!

[mabhatter @ Nov 13th 2008 12:44AM]

this is just another USB video card. But marketed to HDTVs will probably sell well. Take a Mac Mini and you can power 4 displays with minimal hardware as long as you're only doing simple stuff which is what companies do for lobby displays or trade shows.

[Bundy @ Nov 13th 2008 2:01PM]

This will not let you input a HDMI signal into your computer, but rather, allow you to output video signal from your computer to your HDTV over HDMI.

[AVG @ Nov 12th 2008 5:45PM]

That can't look good. That DEFINITELY can't look good.

[Samboini @ Nov 12th 2008 6:10PM]

And to rub salt in your already bleeding eyes it costs $180.

[Anthony @ Nov 12th 2008 5:47PM]

Also i wonder how this deals with HDCP.

[Glor @ Nov 12th 2008 5:51PM]

It really only matters if hdcp is enabled, which at this point should not be enabled.

Glor

[spam_free @ Nov 12th 2008 6:55PM]

According to Altona's site, HDCP is indeed enabled. I wonder if this is a requirement for licensing the use of HDMI interfaces?

[Fanfoot @ Nov 12th 2008 8:37PM]

I don't see anything about HDCP on Atlona's site, even going thru the PDF. Since it is supported on Windows OS's as far back as Windows 2000, it obviously doesn't have a "protected path", so I wouldn't be shocked if it DOESN'T support HDCP at all, meaning you wouldn't be able to use this to watch BD movies from your laptop on an HDTV. I'll note that they don't mention that application at all...

[spam_free @ Nov 12th 2008 10:29PM]

The HDCP info is not in written form. It's in the graphic banner at the bottom of the product description, along with HDTV, ROHS, HDMI, etc.

[mabhatter @ Nov 13th 2008 12:46AM]

really only a handful of things require HDCP and most of them are tied to windows and DRM. If you're doing your own shot videos or powerpoints then you'll never see a limit. But the HDCP is there if you need it.

[kal326 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:55PM]

I think 179 would be much better spent on a graphics card that has an HDMI port, increasingly common, or just a DVI output that you can convert to HDMI. This would only really be useful on a laptop, but even then it would be better to make a box that converted VGA to HDMI.

[Phoenix @ Nov 12th 2008 6:02PM]

This is for input, i.e. playing PS3 on your laptop screen.

I'm 90% sure that's right, Engadget's summery isn't great.

[Phoenix @ Nov 12th 2008 6:04PM]

Oop, looks like it is the other way around...
The title of the read link is "USB-to-HDMI Adapter transfers PC content to HD displays."

Engadget, your summery doesn't seem too clear. Maybe add an edit clarifying?

[Samboini @ Nov 12th 2008 6:12PM]

Phoenix, your summery isn't to great either! ;)

[Samboini @ Nov 12th 2008 6:12PM]

And I've just shot myself in the foot. To =/= too.

[DirtyVegas @ Nov 12th 2008 6:12PM]

@ Phoenix

They're still working on a snappy punchline for the next post, they'll get to the technology right after that.

[bandigolo @ Nov 12th 2008 6:59PM]

lol

[Phoenix @ Nov 13th 2008 4:39AM]

@samboni: At least I admitted my mistake, unlike a certain tech blog....

[jb @ Nov 12th 2008 5:56PM]

HDPiX provides a simple solution for viewing content FROM a computer on any HDTV at a maximum resolution of 1600x1200 or 720P

[lawyer bird @ Nov 12th 2008 5:57PM]

Wait, so it switches HDMI out to USB or USB out to HDMI? So I can play my Wii on my laptop?? oh...right

[nsdcx @ Nov 12th 2008 6:21PM]

I get it! It's funny because the Wii doesn't have HDMI!

[Anthony @ Nov 12th 2008 6:01PM]

You could be right, i'm no expert but after going through the "read" link and looking at the first paragraph it looks like the point is to allow a computer without a hdmi out to output to an hdtv monitor. Which would be fine if AznCrew was trying to get his laptop to output to a hdtv, or hdmi capable lcd. From what i can gather he's asking to be able to hook up his PS3 to his laptop which wouldn't work since the laptop's monitor doesn't have a video in just a video out. As far as i can tell the signal is meant to go: PC-->USB-->Atlona box-->HDTV/HD LCD (via hdmi). What Azncrew is trying to accomplish is: PS3(hdmi) -->Atlona box-->USB-->PC. I don't think these boxes work both ways. Also on top of that since his laptop's monitor doesn't accept input from anything other than the laptop's motherboard i don't think he'd be able to pull it off. Though agian i'm by no means an expert and to AznCrew if you do find a way to make this work, please share, i'd love to be able to go PS3-->to Vaio.

[Anthony @ Nov 12th 2008 6:02PM]

sorry, my reply was meant for

Zelatio

[Volta @ Nov 12th 2008 6:17PM]

couldnt you get a pcmcia tuner card and hook up your ps3 to your laptop that way?

[AznCrew8317 @ Nov 12th 2008 6:22PM]

I've heard that if you try to plug in a PS3 via tuner card, there will be significant lag. I could be wrong, does anyone know if this would work?

[Valicore @ Nov 12th 2008 6:22PM]

Damn it, that would have been too freaking awesome. Engadget, wake up and change the title already! ::Wonders if this was just to get more clicks::.

[Reader @ Nov 12th 2008 6:47PM]

Honestly I read this summary three times and still didn't understand it completely... I actually went in with the right assumption and came out confused.

[JJ @ Nov 12th 2008 6:52PM]

1,600 x 1,200 is not 720p

[DarkLord7854 @ Nov 12th 2008 7:06PM]

I think it means that it can support 720p (1280×720), with a maximum possible resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 (i.e. it can't do 1080p/i)

[Skyride @ Nov 12th 2008 7:06PM]

Ye, but it is within that resolution i think is the point. These USB boxes fail so much, that EPIC FAIL dosen't even begin to describe it. Theres almost no point in them. If your laptop dosen't do what you want it to, buy another one or live with it (unless its HDD or RAM). Thats where desktop computers come in.

Also, more to the point, someone show me an HD TV which is 1080p capable which DOES NOT have a VGA input?

[mabhatter @ Nov 13th 2008 12:52AM]

VGA input to displays is crap on many PCs still.. they just don't get HDTVs. It was years before any cards I had worked with my HDTV without more work than configuring a linux box. On the other hand HDMI/DVI native things seem to work really well, the computer stops trying to make it a super VGA monitor!

The purpose of these is to set up displays.. lobbies, trade shows and the like not play games or movies. Hide a Mac Mini (probably not supported) behind one LCD and power 4 total screens with minimal setup.

[reese @ Nov 13th 2008 4:36AM]

My father's 1080p elite plasma only has dvi input. I was under the impression that lcd's have vga and plasmas have dvi (at least that has been my experience with a very small sample of

[scape @ Nov 12th 2008 7:37PM]

I have to agree with a few commenters, I think engadget has this one a bit backwards (though I'm sure it can be hacked in reverse), "usb in" on the box says it all...

[BOGRASH @ Nov 12th 2008 7:45PM]

This thread is a total disaster

[rigoloco @ Nov 12th 2008 8:37PM]

Yeah, very confusing. Would anyone make a good summery of all this ?

[Lyle @ Nov 12th 2008 9:49PM]

This device is based on the displaylink chip, it lets you add another monitor/tv to a computer using usb, essentially a usb graphics card. I dont know what this device has better then the other displaylink devices out there. I have the EVGA model and its 100$ cheaper than this and you can just use a DVI-HDMI adapter and your off to the races.

[ATLONA TECHNOLOGIES @ Nov 13th 2008 12:16AM]

So to clear a few things up, this unit converts USB FROM PC OR LAPTOP to HDMI. It supports ALL resolutions UP TO 1600x1200 OR 720p, 1600x1200 would be ran on computer LCD monitors and the 720P on TV's. This Device will not work back words from HDMI in to USB, HENCE the TITLE USB TO HDMI. Now you ask yourself why you want to buy this box and just not buy a new video card. Well if you bought a new laptop that doesnt have HDMI and want to view all your movies or stream netflix or do presentations on an HD srceen this device is perfect for that. if anybody else has any more questions about this unit and how it works please feel free to email me [e-mail].

[Jason @ Nov 13th 2008 2:14AM]

I wonder if a mini-micro USB converter and this converter can be used in conjunction with the HTC Touch Pro's TV-out function...

[Oli D @ Nov 13th 2008 2:39AM]

Would this clone output, or could you get it to sit alongside?
I think some Linuxing could get this to double up as a side by side monitor, but for $180... I don't know how much that is exactly, but it sounds like too much.

Its pronounced Li-nux Like Lion Ox, with a U.

[scape @ Nov 13th 2008 8:09AM]

http://www.paul.sladen.org/pronunciation/torvalds-says-linux.wav

"leenux"

[William @ Nov 13th 2008 1:40PM]

I read the HDPiX product page and it seemed quite straight forward. If you don't have HDMI on your computer this will give you one through USB. And by the way, HDCP is meant to protect copyrighted material. Meaning, unless your computer is a blu-ray player, HDCP doesn't even come into the picture. Dude, I'm buying one.

[pheer6224 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:48PM]

Strangely, whatever the hell this thing does, I could use it. I plan on outputting a PC to an HDMI display, and also would like to make use of some nice big ole CRTs with a ps3. I say win.