MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 18th 2010 10:44PM
posted May 18th 2010 10:44PM
posted May 18th 2010 10:44PM
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Apple WIN.
@macboy988
why does a port on a single computer deserve its own article? oh right the author owns a macbook so will have biased journalism.
@account5 Man, you are always complaining. Is there something you like?
@account5
My XPS has been able to do this for some time already..... and many others, too..... Why is this news AT ALL?
@account5
Because Engadget is not stupid. This article will generate more hits than if HP added a port. They don't go out of their way to write articles that people don't read.
@account5
You're not worth typing out a long comment for, so I'll just copy and paste my last comment to you:
"You may possibly be the biggest troll I have ever had the displeasure of encountering upon the internet. Please proceed to the nearest alt+f4 or command+w key arrangement and then the power button on your machine.
Thank you and goodbye"
@Ross McLean +1
Troll, yes, but here and there he does make a good point or two.
@ryanplusplus
so youre ok with them spamming articles on macbooks for the fanboys to read just because it'll generate hits?
I have a bridge to sell you.
@macboy988
Wow, Apple finally managed to produce a port with Audio! Give them three more years and they will even come out with a revolutionary USB 3.0! Apple the innovator! Good job Engadget for noticing this technological breakthrough. I now it's hard to find something new in Apple products because they update them like one in five years but you guys do a great job stuffing this site with Apple-related "news"
@ryanplusplus
yeah, but what if HP SUBTRACTS a port? THAT would be news!
@Bshaw1090
"Troll, yes, but here and there he does make a good point or two."
Even a blind pig finds a truffle now and then.
@macboy988
This only brings up one question in my mind:
How long does it take for Steve Jobs to just admit that he's wrong for once?
I mean, come on- HDMI, but audio-only? And there's no official Apple HDMI adapter to boot? He needs to stop throwing tantrums and just accept for once that the standards aren't always set by him and that sometimes, you need to admit that you've made a mistake and move on (with HDMI, and *cough* Flash *cough*).
@cbaty08
Your xps uses mini display port, wow that's cool.
@lilo
Apple has very little interest in USB 3.0. Apple would be wasting money to put USB 3.0 hardware in it's machines this year. Apple is more interested in LightPeak which is a 1 connector solution that has demonstrated 10Gbps and in theory has the future of 100Gbps. Now this is the connector I would like in my hardware.
Incase you didn't know this.
Apple initiated the standard of LightPeak.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated-light-peak-creation-to-intel-could-be/
LightPeak hardware will support USB 3.0 protocols
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/intel-says-light-peak-coming-next-year-can-and-will-coexist-wit/
I think the article is criticizing the fact that it took so long. Now there are as many models out there that don't support audio over MDP. It's also informing people that the functionality is there now.
I don't think lack of audio is a huge issue though. Generally displays have very poor audio output so you'd be better off plugging the audio into your speaker system.
@account5
now if they could sell it with a bluray option or have a bluray accessory for mac so the price doesnt look so bad then they can have my money
Aw great, so what do you guys suggest I do with my Fall 09' Macbook that I got roughly six months ago?
You haven't been chosen, UrAwFuL.
@UrAwFuL perfer doing a smashing vid to post on youtube to get 900 million views
@UrAwFuL sell it.
@UrAwFuL wait another month and pick up the envy 14
Seeing Mini DisplayPort and HDMI in the same sentence reminded me that I need a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter...ugh.
There's no firewire?
Sucks.
Hello Vaio Z.
Well at least it's a step forward.
Hold on a sec...Apple Macbooks don't have FireWire? Seriously? That is news to me...
And Apple actually giving people what THE PEOPLE want? Another news...
Amazing...you learn something new everyday...what's next? iPhone with user replacable battery?
@kapanak
Macs was made to be simple.
Simple....as in for people who have never ever used a computer.
@knAuz with 10 hour battery life yes. Its a trade off. I for one like gaming so I picked up a laptop with a mid-high end vid card but it has a much shorter battery life.
@knAuz
because you NEED that? really? please.
@MaxH I do. Ergo, I don't own a mac.
@MaxH your right, if apple doesn't make it, then I don't need it. For if I realize that I need something that the Big Brother cannot provide then I am committing thought crime.
@inspiron41 Exactly. I know many non techy people who've never used a computer before . They often get into trouble with malware, spyware, trojans. Macs are just right for them.
@inspiron41 not only for people who have never used a computer, but also for journalists who want to pose with their pretty computers sipping on their starbucks as they go on about how great OSX is while all they actually do is browse the web and edit simple text documents.
@ajwoodhouse
I didn't know the network admin & director at my job who both make over 150K and have extensive backgrounds in IT & programming were posers and journalists who didn't know anything about computers.
It's especially funny because I am sure they could talk circles around you about basically... any subject to do with advanced computing.
I love you Engadget posers. If there is anything that constantly provides solid proof that Apple haters are nothing more than that, it's Engadget's comments.
@shinratdr
Maybe they are just stoned.
Apple sucks
@StEvEY5036 This is old news.
@StEvEY5036
Very informative and insightful comment there. Thanks bro :)
oh wow...i hope Apple doesnt patent this design.
(5 minutes later)
Breaking news! Apple released another patent....
a new support document shows its Mini DisplayPort now provides an audio signal alongside the video feed.
Thanks for your info.
i wish i understood why those rat bastards couldn't have done this on their product line years ago. oh well.
And what about SCSI? What am I supposed to do with all of my SyQuest media?
Nice to see such an innovative company leading the way with USB 3.0 and the this year's CPUs on their new products...
Oh, wait.
- that was the Asus 1215 in yesterdays article.
"a SATA 6G socket and a FireWire 400 port. What can we say? We're the sentimental sort."
1) According to AnandTech there are no SATA III controllers that actually work well. On top of that, we are just getting into SSD speeds that could actually benefit from more than 3Gbps so expecting that on a MacBook is silly.
2) The FireWire 400 port interface is DEAD! Apple failed to make FireWire 400 future-forward and had to go with a different port interface for FireWire 800, which is future-forward as it's the same port interface used up to FireWire 3200. USB was smarter by making the same port interface backwards compatible to each time.
What Sean Hollister should be asking for is SATA III on the next "Pro" Macs and FW800 on the next MacBook, even though no MacBook has ever had FW800.
Apple fans rejoice! What is wrong with you guys? In the PC world, even some of lowly couple of hundred dollar netbooks have HDMI outputs along with e-sata port etc. Now apple will gouge you with another dongle that probably will be priced at one tenth of the cost of a inexpensive Windows laptop and Apple fans will jump with joy because Apple has finally blessed you with this new super duper 'magical' technology. Talk about suckers!
@oldnerd
1) Apple doesn't offer any such connector, as stated above.
2) There is nothing stopping anyone from making an adapter or cable as these port interfaces are open to all. In face, out of HDMI and DisplayPort, only HDMI has any cost associated with it.
@Bender Bending Rodriguez
Please see the comment from 'SDreamer' right after yours.
@oldnerd
Apple has never, ever, ever had 2 video outputs on a laptop. DisplayPort (and by extension Mini DisplayPort) is compatible with VGA, while HDMI is not.
While this doesn't explain why Mini DP wasn't just launched with audio in the first place (I'll give you that one) it does explain why Apple has always shunned HDMI. Apple keeps ports to a minimum, and including HDMI means they need to include a bulky VGA port as well.
Plus, HDMI audio drivers are typically pure shit, written by companies that don't know the first thing about audio like Intel and Nvidia. They suck on Windows and I seriously doubt they would do a better job on OS X.
You can always buy 3rd party dongles at Monoprice. Mini Display Port is an open standard.
@shinratdr
Yeah Apple DID have 2 Video-out Ports on some of their Macs.
Recall the Aluminum PowerBook G4!!! They had Dual Link DVI Ports AND S-Video...