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Henge Docks for the MacBook Air hands-on (video)

Billy Steele — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:57:00 EST

We were a little giddy when Henge Docks announced their desktop resting spot for the MacBook Pro, and perhaps even more so when they unveiled the MacBook Air model earlier this week. We paid the company a visit on the CES floor to catch a peek at products first-hand. Sure, the white, plastic exterior may a bit off-putting for some but we didn't mind it -- especially for a dock that you can snag for around $50. While the device is pretty straightforward, the rubber padding that hugs the docked laptop provided more security that we'd initially thought. One thing you'll want to keep in mind though: the peripheral does make the USB port on the machine's docked end usable on its backside, but the Thunderbolt socket is reduced to display-only functionality. The outfit assured us that it's working on a solution that maximizes that Intel potential and we're anxious to see that become a reality. An express tour awaits the curious, right after the break.

Gallery: Henge MacBook Air

Continue reading Henge Docks for the MacBook Air hands-on (video)

Henge Docks for the MacBook Air hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD Eyefinity eyes-on, prepare to fall for landscape goodness (video)

Dante Cesa — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:22:00 EST

Sure we've seen it before, but we'd be remiss if we didn't share what we stumbled upon at AMD's Fusion Zone at IDF 2011. Laying before you is a 5 x 1 landscape Eyefinity setup, powered by an upcoming unreleased 8-core FX CPU paired with a single Radeon HD 6990. For those of you keeping score at home, that's four displays connected via mini-DisplayPort and the fifth over DVI. Not much more to say, so peep the gallery below or hop past the break for a video of the bodacious rig running Dirt 3.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Gallery: AMD Eyefinity Fusion Zone eyes-on at IDF 2011

Continue reading AMD Eyefinity eyes-on, prepare to fall for landscape goodness (video)

AMD Eyefinity eyes-on, prepare to fall for landscape goodness (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter

Dante Cesa — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:26:00 EST

Already living the high life with a swank Mini Displayport monitor as your daily? That's all fine and dandy, but what happens when your desolate friends come over with machines that only tote DVI? That's where an adapter like Kanex's C247DL comes in. But unlike other adapters we've spied before, the company's latest is dual-link, allowing you get your groove on with displays that boast resolutions greater than 1920 x 1200. It also sports a USB port, giving you full control of say, we dunno, the speakers and iSight camera of Apple's 27-inch Cinema Display? At $149 it isn't cheap, but can you really put a price on friendship?

Continue reading Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter

Kanex ships dual-link DVI-to-Mini Displayport Adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:10:00 EST

Got a pair of Macs laying around, but don't want to shell out for two Apple Cinema Displays? We don't blame you, those things are expensive. A little company called Kanex has a solution for you though, the SnapX. SnapX is, at it's heart, simply a port switcher that lets you connect two DisplayPort-equipped Macs to a single Cinema Display. But, the glossy $70 adapter does have a few neat features, like USB pass through for firing up the iSight camera and a clip for securing it to the base of the monitor. The SnapX is available for pre-order now and starts shipping to Apple devotees in September. One more pic and some PR await after the break.

Continue reading SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display

SnapX lets your Macs share a single Cinema Display originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:00 EST

You can never have enough HDMI ports, that's what we say at least. Heck, what does that gaming rig you just put together have? Two? And that MacBook Pro of yours doesn't have any at all. But, if there's a DisplayPort hanging around, you can add a pair HDMI jacks with an adapter from Zotac. This little dongle turns any DisplayPort or Mini Displayport into a dual HDMI hookup, with support for two 1920 x 1080 monitors -- provided your graphics card can handle it and the HDMI group doesn't kill the product first. Pricing and availability are still up in the air at the moment, but you'll find a few more details in the PR after the break.

Update: Zotac just reached out to let us know both adapters will be retailing for $50.

Continue reading Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks

Zotac adapter turns your DisplayPort into two HDMI jacks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple leaks Cinema Display refresh, teases dual-monitor Thunderbolt setup?

Joe Pollicino — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:04:00 EST

The ~~cat~~ Apple is out of the bag, apparently. Thanks to a leak on its website, there's evidence that Cupertino's readying a formal introduction of Thunderbolt to more devices. Keen eyes from MacRumors have spotted products on the site now sporting OS X Lion backgrounds, notably, what appears to be T-bolt connected Cinema Displays. The images showing the hook-up no longer appear to be listed, but the dual-setup above sure looks nifty. Considering Lion's got about two weeks left to rear its head and meet that July release, we'd surmise it won't be long until you'll be able to opt for a similar rig. Now can we please just get an anti-glare option?

[Thanks, Trey]

Apple leaks Cinema Display refresh, teases dual-monitor Thunderbolt setup? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HDMI group reportedly putting a stop to Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters

Richard Lawler — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:27:00 EST

If you've been thinking about buying a one piece Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable to bring vids from your Macbook to an HDTV, you may want to get it now. According to a report from TechRadar, the group behind HDMI has decided they don't meet the requirements and cannot be tested or licensed for compatibility. Their sin? Not having a male HDMI plug on each end as required by the spec, which only allows for dongles featuring an all-female pairing of Mini DisplayPort and HDMI to get the job done. We've contacted the group to find out exactly what's going on, but until we hear back it may be prudent to keep an eye on suddenly black-market cable pricing like gasoline before a big holiday.

HDMI group reportedly putting a stop to Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out

Terrence O'Brien — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

Thunderbolt (formerly known as Light Peak) may have been developed by Intel, but it's Apple that's been snatching up all the trademark glory. The company first filed in November of 2010 in Jamaica, then followed up in February of this year by securing the rights to the name in Canada, before registering similar claims in Europe, China, and now the US. This raised some interesting questions about Intel's claim to be the exclusive trademark holder (see the more coverage link) and whether or not other companies would be able to use the Thunderbolt brand. Intrigued, we did a little digging and you'll find what we uncovered after the break.

Continue reading Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out

Why Apple is trademarking Thunderbolt and why Sony might be left out originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Thunderbolt implementation hiding in plain (web)site, uses USB connector not Mini DisplayPort?

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:47:00 EST

Look closely at that picture. See that Type-A USB jack? The one with the blue stripe sandwiched between the round AC jack (with its green light) and ~~VGA~~ USB 2.0 and HDMI ports? Yeah, that's Sony's Thunderbolt implementation according to a trusted source. A bit of digging reveals that the "Ultimate Mobile PC" teased by Sony above is actually the same VAIO Hybrid PC leaked by Sony Insider back in March said to feature an external dock with one USB 3.0 jack, HDMI, Ethernet, AMD Whistler discrete graphics, and a Blu-ray Disc writer. Naturally, the dock attaches to the VAIO's Thunderbolt jack.

What we're trying to get our heads around, however, is Sony's choice for a USB connector instead of the Mini DisplayPort used by Apple's dual-channel 10Gbps Thunderbolt implementation. The decision to go USB was first brought to our attention by site Gula Digital. We've long known that Sony would be a Light Peak partner in some capacity. And the decision to go USB certainly echoes those first prototype interconnects demonstrated by Intel that combined a hybrid USB 3.0 connector with an optical interface and electrical connection to carry power. We also like the idea of being able to connect a USB 3.0 hard disk without first attaching an adapter. What troubles us, though, is a statement made by the USB Implementers Forum last summer expressing reservations with Intel's proposed interconnect:

"USB connectors are not general purpose connectors and are not designed to be used in support of other technology applications or standards or as combo connectors."

Perhaps Sony has worked out a licensing arrangement with the USB-IF? We don't know. But we're told that Sony's Thunderbolt implementation is definitely using a USB connector and definitely not using Mini DisplayPort. But we'll wait until this thing ships before complaining about Thunderbolt fragmentation too loudly.

Sony's Thunderbolt implementation hiding in plain (web)site, uses USB connector not Mini DisplayPort? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powercolor expected to unveil double-barreled Radeon at Computex

Sean Buckley — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:19:00 EST

An unnamed, undressed dual-GPU prototype of AMD's latest in southern-island graphics cards surfaced over the weekend. Flaunting twin Bart chips with 1,120 stream processors a pop, this card totals up at 2,240, with each GPU packing its own memory for a total of 2GB of GDDR5. Although PowerColor is staying tight lipped on specs and official name until Computex in June, two DVI ports, double mini DisplayPorts, and one HDMI-out paint obvious similarities to the existing Radeon HD 6870. One last notable difference? The unknown soldier is powered by two eight-pin PCIe connectors, as opposed to the HD 6870's six-pin variant. We're probably looking at the latest in the Radeon HD 6800 series, we'll know for sure in about a month.

Powercolor expected to unveil double-barreled Radeon at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Thunderbolt MacBook Pros causing flicker on Cinema Displays, Apple investigates (updated)

Richard Lai — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:47:00 EST

In a world of sophisticated electronics these days, there are always risks to being an early adopter. Alas, it appears that our latest victims are owners of Apple's Thunderbolt-laden MacBook Pros. Since launch, a number of frustrated customers have been reporting that their new unibody laptops -- of all three sizes -- are causing random flicker on both 24-inch and 27-inch Cinema Displays when connected via their Mini DisplayPort / Thunderbolt combo port, and now we have video proof to share the pain. Some also confirmed that even replacement machines from Apple are exhibiting the same behavior, though a source of ours says this doesn't seem to be a widespread issue, and that the company's hardware engineers are already looking into this. Either way, we're likely to see a firmware fix for this bug soon -- it's no good having a large monitor constantly blinking at you.

[Thanks, Armando]

Update: sja3274, the creator of the original video above, informed us that his Cinema Display actually had a faulty connection anyway, but he still saw flicker on a new display -- much like the behavior shown in the second video. As such, we've replaced our first video embed with our second one. Additionally, sja3274 was originally told to expect a software update last Tuesday or Wednesday, but obviously that didn't happen, so perhaps this is a trickier fix than Apple expected.

Some Thunderbolt MacBook Pros causing flicker on Cinema Displays, Apple investigates (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD launches Radeon HD 6990 powerhouse for $699, maintains 'world's fastest' title

Vlad Savov — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:02:00 EST

If you're scoring at home, NVIDIA currently holds the lead in single-GPU graphics cards with its GeForce GTX 580, but ATI's dual-chip Radeon HD 5970 has been holding down the absolute speed crown for a good long while. Now, bearing the name of AMD Radeon HD 6990, its successor sidles up to the throne and demands attention as the fastest single expansion board you can plug into your shiny new motherboard. The 6990 boasts a massive 4GB of GDDR5, 3,072 Stream Processors, 64 ROPs, and an 830MHz core clock speed. A dual-BIOS switch will let you crank that clock up to 880MHz with a corresponding increase in voltage, but don't expect to see much overclocking headroom above that.

Reviewers note, alongside their fawning assessment of the world's best performance, that the HD 6990 is a massively power-hungry card (375W TDP) and one that makes quite a bit of noise while going through its herculean tasks. That's in spite of a new vapor chamber cooling system that allegedly supports up to 450W of thermal output. If all this strikes you as a somewhat flawed execution, maybe you'll join us in hoping NVIDIA's imminently upcoming response, dubbed the GTX 590, will be able to offer a neater, more efficient assault on the extreme peaks of graphical performance.

Read - HardOCP
Read - AnandTech
Read - Tech Report
Read - PC Perspective
Read - techPowerUp!
Read - Hot Hardware
Read - Hexus

AMD launches Radeon HD 6990 powerhouse for $699, maintains 'world's fastest' title originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad 2 cases surface, rekindle SD card slot fire and add a pinch of mystery with topside cutout

Vlad Savov — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:37:00 EST

There's usually as much fun to be had before an Apple product launch as there is after, and this upcoming iPad 2 device is no exception. The latest scuttlebutt it has succumbed to comes courtesy of some cases that have cropped up in China -- AppleInsider and MIC Gadget have independently found iPad 2 shells that feature nearly identical cutouts -- with the resulting allegations pointing toward a rear-facing camera, an SD card slot, and perhaps even a Mini DisplayPort receptacle. Our own sources have confirmed the former two, but the latter, a miniaturized video output already featured in MacBooks, is a new development and less of a certainty. Then again, looking at the size of the hole leaves few alternative options (and a USB slot is extremely unlikely), so we're willing to believe that a Mini DisplayPort will be an inclusion Apple makes for the sake of offering choice -- even if it prefers you to send your video streams over an untethered AirPlay connection.

Continue reading iPad 2 cases surface, rekindle SD card slot fire and add a pinch of mystery with topside cutout

iPad 2 cases surface, rekindle SD card slot fire and add a pinch of mystery with topside cutout originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 officially pictured, coming this Friday

Vlad Savov — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:53:00 EST

AMD said it's bringing the new heat this week, but, in a classic act of showmanship, it's teasing out only imagery today and insisting on making us wait until Friday to truly learn what the next generation of Radeon graphics is made of. For now, we have the full titles of its leading lights, namely the Radeon HD 6870 and Radeon HD 6850, along with plenty of pictorial evidence of their existence in a lab somewhere. We note with glee that the default output arrangement includes no less than five ports, including two DVI, one HDMI (1.4a), and two Mini DisplayPorts. We'd rather the latter two were full-sized, but it doesn't look like ~~ATI~~ AMD had the room to fit them in. As to power requirements, the HD 6870 will need two 6-pin connectors to augment the juice it gets from the PCI Express port, while the HD 6850 will sate its needs with just the one. Anyhow, enjoy the gallery below and make sure to have your popcorn ready for the benchmark-heavy reviews coming up at the end of the week.

Gallery: AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 official images

Continue reading AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 officially pictured, coming this Friday

AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 officially pictured, coming this Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts

Vlad Savov — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:45:00 EST

If somehow you were able to choke up the FirePro V8800 and its 2GB of graphics buffer -- traveling across an autobahn-wide 147.2GBps interface -- here's the card for you. ATI has just announced the V9800, which doubles its predecessor's memory allowance to a mighty 4GB of GDDR5, but otherwise looks an almost identical beast. It maintains the 1,600 stream processor count of the V8800 and makes some small advances in performance and power efficiency, but on the whole it's the same card, just strapped up with more buffer muscle. We shouldn't neglect the new array of six mini DisplayPorts -- the retail package will include six DVI adapters, worry not -- which will let you have your full six-screen Eyefinity cake driven by just this one card. So, is this future collector's item worth your time? Well, at $3,499, the V9800 is a whole two thousand dollars pricier than the V8800, but then if you have the highly specialized needs it's looking to cater for, we're guessing that won't be too much of a hurdle for you.

Update: Oh, about the price, AMD just got in touch to say it'll suggest a $3,499 tithe, not the $2.5K indicated on the slide below. Sorry is we misled you into selling up your entire 3D rendering farm with the lower price we had before.

Continue reading ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts

ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Belkin's AV360 Mini DisplayPort Converter lets you play Xbox 360 on iMac, costs as much as an Arcade

Tim Stevens — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:51:00 EST

If you're inhabiting one of those quaint, downtown studio apartments in which your sink, oven, computer, and toilet are all within reach of your swiveling desk chair, and if that computer happens to be a 27-inch iMac, we have good news for you. Belkin has introduced its AV360 Mini DisplayPort Converter, which takes an HDMI input at up to 1080p and squeezes it into a Mini DisplayPort connector at 720p for display on your iMac. It'll also push stereo audio through and is HDCP-compliant, so even protected content from your Blu-ray player will get by. The cost? $150, which is cheaper than getting a second display, but an awful lot for a converter box with a single input ~~-- especially when MonoPrice has similar offerings (which admittedly lack audio and HDCP)~~ ~~for under $10~~. But, if you don't have room for anything else, this will fit in nicely with you and your minimalist/affluent lifestyle.

Update: We got it wrong on the MonoPrice reference here. That adapter goes the other way!

Continue reading Belkin's AV360 Mini DisplayPort Converter lets you play Xbox 360 on iMac, costs as much as an Arcade

Belkin's AV360 Mini DisplayPort Converter lets you play Xbox 360 on iMac, costs as much as an Arcade originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio

Sean Hollister — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:44:00 EST

When it comes to port standardization, Apple marches to the beat of its own drum... but in a rare show of leniency, the company's newly refreshed MacBook will throw home theatre aficionados a bone. Though Cupertino hasn't moved to actually include an HDMI-out (sacre bleu!), a new support document shows its Mini DisplayPort now provides an audio signal alongside the video feed. Should you move to purchase a VESA-compliant Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter like the one Apple's apparently not selling, you'll finally be able to enjoy digital sound without dropping $70 for the privilege. Fancy that! Now we just need USB 3.0 ports -- placed on opposite sides of the machine -- a SATA 6G socket and a FireWire 400 port. What can we say? We're the sentimental sort.

MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 22:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills

Darren Murph — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:13:00 EST

It's no Radeon, but AMD's new range of FirePro GPUs might just strike a chord with a few of you multi-monitor maniacs. Just a few short weeks after the debut of the FirePro V8800, AMD as launched the ATI FirePro V7800, ATI FirePro V5800, ATI FirePro V4800, and ATI FirePro V3800, all of which are aimed at assisting digital content creators, well, create content. Frankly, those pro-oriented cards don't do a lot for us, but the FirePro 2460 Multi-View most certainly does. Boasting a low profile (half height) form factor, this relatively simple (read: not for hardcore gaming) card packs 512MB of video memory, hardware acceleration of DirectX 11, an average power drain of just 13 watts and not two, not three, but four video outputs. AMD tells us that this was designed for day traders who need four displays to accurately watch their stock prices fluctuate, but we can think of quite a few others who'd benefit from having access to four Mini DisplayPort sockets on a single, low-power card. All of the devices mentioned here should begin shipping today, with the 2460 in particular demanding a reasonable $299.

Continue reading AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills

AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple teases Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (update)

Darren Murph — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST

Wait a second, can it be true? Is Apple really caving to the pressures of supporting a socket that's used by pretty much every home entertainment owner ever? In the Tech Specs section that went up with this morning's MacBook Pro refresh, there's a fourth video output listed: "HDMI output using Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (optional)." That's the first mention we've seen of such a cable from Apple itself; to date, users have had to rely on third-party solutions in order to get an HDMI connector from the Mini DisplayPort. Of course, we're guessing those alternatives sold at Monoprice will best Apple's in terms of price, but as of now, the company has yet to even reserve a product portal within its store. Let's just go ahead and call it: $29.99, shipping in May. Feel better?

[Thanks, Arnav]

Update: Ars Technica has it that Apple actually won't be making its own adapter; instead, these new machines will simply support audio pass-through with the aforesaid third-party dongles. Glad that's cleared up!

Apple teases Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PowerColor jumps on the Eyefinity bandwagon, breaks off a wheel

Sean Hollister — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:34:00 EST

Sure, the Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition is the latest and greatest in desktop multi-monitor solutions, but if you happen to be hexaphobic (or financially challenged, perhaps) you'll need something a wee bit smaller. To that end, PowerColor just introduced the Radeon HD 5770 Eyefinity 5. With a whole one less mini-DisplayPort than its heftier cousin, the Eyefinity 5 has all the mid-range muscle of a regular Radeon 5770 -- down to the megahertz, we checked -- but has five independent display controllers for that wrap-around HD monitor matrix you've always dreamed of. Whether the 5770 can actually run games across five monitors is another question, but we expect that reviews of just that functionality will surface (along with pricing, availability, dongles, and everything else that wasn't in the press release) well before you count to seven.

PowerColor jumps on the Eyefinity bandwagon, breaks off a wheel originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex shows off HDMI to Mini DisplayPort adapter, your iMac celebrates

Darren Murph — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:43:00 EST

It ain't the first HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter that we've heard of, but there's nothing like a little competition in a market that Apple's own closed mindset helped create. Bitterness aside, we're pretty stoked to hear that Kanex -- the same company responsible for that oh-so-handy Mini DisplayPort Adapter for Mac mini -- has introduced its own solution for piping Blu-ray, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 signals right onto that gorgeous 27-inch panel that resides in your iMac. Our BFFs over at TUAW stopped by the outfit's Macworld booth in order to give it a look, and they said that every pixel looked absolutely fantastic. Sadly, it looks as if you'll have to wait until April to drop your buck-fifty (not including cables), but hey, it's not like using that 13-inch CRT for a few more months will kill you. Or maybe it will, on second thought.

Update: Apogee is Kanex's parent company. Apogee specializes in audio and video solutions, while the Kanex brand focuses on audio and video solutions for Macs.

Kanex shows off HDMI to Mini DisplayPort adapter, your iMac celebrates originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayPort 1.2 receives final VESA blessing, grows into a real standard

Vlad Savov — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:55:00 EST

VESA might've been a bit tardy with finalizing it, but DisplayPort v1.2 is now all official and it comes with an impressive tally of numbers to get your attention. Doubling the data throughput of v1.1a (from 10.8Gbps to 21.6Gbps), the latest version will be able to support multiple monitors via only a single output cable, allowing you to daisy-chain up to four 1920 x 1200 monitors, for example. It can also perform bi-directional data transfer, which will permit USB hubs, webcams, and touchscreen panels integrated into displays to communicate over the same cable as the video signal. Backwards compatibility with older peripherals is assured, but you'll naturally need a v1.2-capable computer to exploit all this newfound goodness. You'll find the full PR after the break.

Continue reading DisplayPort 1.2 receives final VESA blessing, grows into a real standard

DisplayPort 1.2 receives final VESA blessing, grows into a real standard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blu-ray comes to the iMac... via an Apogee HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter

Nilay Patel — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:51:00 EST

Although it's technically possible to use the gorgeous IPS display in the 27-inch iMac as a standalone monitor, the feature's been pretty limited in practice, since it only works with other DisplayPort devices like the unibody MacBooks. That's about to change thanks to Apogee, which just posted up a video demo of an as-yet-unnamed HDMI-to-DisplayPort adapter being used to play Xbox 360, PS3, and -- yes, it's true -- Blu-ray movies on Apple's latest all-in-one. Never thought you'd see the day, did you? Apogee hasn't disclosed pricing or availability yet, but we're told more info is coming soon --we'd guess sometime around CES. Video after the break.

Continue reading Blu-ray comes to the iMac... via an Apogee HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter

Blu-ray comes to the iMac... via an Apogee HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Mini DisplayPort gets VESA stamp of approval

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST

We already knew that Apple's homegrown Mini DisplayPort connector was being baked into the DisplayPort 1.2 specifications, but now said socket has even more validity in the marketplace thanks to a ringing endorsement from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). As of now, the diminutive connector has managed to comply with all of the signaling and protocol capabilities defined in the DisplayPort Standard Version 1, Revision 1a, and we're told that DisplayPort 1.2 -- which incorporates mDP and doubles available bandwidth to 21.6Gb/second -- is nearing finalization. Looks like we can finally look forward to seeing products take advantage of this socket aside from those Designed In California (and copied shamelessly in the outskirts of Shenzhen).

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

Apple's Mini DisplayPort gets VESA stamp of approval originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New iMac doesn't play nice with Apple's Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter

Donald Melanson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST

Apple hasn't exactly been making any promises to the contrary, but it looks like anyone hoping to use the company's Mini Display Port to DVI adapter to hook a game console or other device up to a brand new 27-inch iMac is flat out of luck -- for now, at least. That's because the system's exciting (but pricey) ability to be used as a standalone monitor only applies to devices equipped with their own Mini Display Port at the moment, which does limit your options quite a bit. Of course, it's almost certainly only a matter of time before Apple or a third-party manufacturer comes out with an adapter that does work, but we haven't heard anything firm on that front as of yet.

Filed under: Desktops

New iMac doesn't play nice with Apple's Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town

Tim Stevens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST

Your Mac mini cranks out its video via DisplayPort and audio via a mini Toslink. Chances are your home entertainment system doesn't like either of those. It will, however, like the Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter, which can turn a DisplayPort video signal into a 1080p signal over HDMI, and will even integrate either digital or analog audio into the mix. It's USB powered, so there's no need for a clunky power adapter, and while $70 isn't particularly cheap for a chubby cable ($50 for the USB analog audio model), it's about the cleanest way to get your Mini pumping tunes and vids through your system.

[Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog]

Filed under: Misc, Cables, Media PCs

Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town

Tim Stevens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Desktops, Home Entertainment

Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona ships AT-DP200 DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter

Darren Murph — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:40:00 EST

Folks who just so happen to own a Mini DisplayPort-equipped monitor (you know, like Apple's 24-inch LED Cinema Display) have been longing for this adapter for what feels like forever, and while Atlona assured us it was coming way back in July, it has taken until now for the all-important ship date to arrive. The AT-DP200 is capable of maintaining resolution and HDCP compatibility, but considering the $179 price tag, we might suggest picking up a new graphics card instead. Your call, buster.

Continue reading Atlona ships AT-DP200 DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter

Filed under: Peripherals

Atlona ships AT-DP200 DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First non-Apple mini DisplayPort monitors look suspiciously familiar

Nilay Patel — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:37:00 EST

We're not sure if Apple will ever succeed in pushing mini DisplayPort on the industry in favor of the full sized version, but Collins America has decided what bandwagon it wants to be on -- it's just announced three new CinemaView displays that feature the smaller connector. The $299 1440 x 900 19-inch, $399 1650 x 1050 20-inch, and $499 1920 x 1080 24-inch displays all feature 3 USB ports, passthrough stereo audio ports, an all-in-one cable, and totally ripped industrial design, but hey -- at least they're cheap. Should be on sale "before September 1."

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Displays

First non-Apple mini DisplayPort monitors look suspiciously familiar originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters now available for under $20

Richard Lawler — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:32:00 EST

Got a Mini DisplayPort equipped laptop or video card and need to connect it to something... um, not Mini DisplayPort? If you've got a crisp Andrew Jackson, then Monoprice has an adapter for you with HDMI, DVI and VGA outs, all of which are now shipping for $14.25 and up. Unless you don't like saving money, nor enjoy your peripherals actually working with your new machine, it'll be hard to find a problem with this.

[Thanks, Phil]

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters now available for under $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters now available for under $20

Richard Lawler — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:32:00 EST

Filed under: Cables, Other hardware

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters now available for under $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter ships next month for under $15

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:34:00 EST

Who says you need a knock-down-drag-out to determine whether your next component should have HDMI or DisplayPort? The forward-thinking cats at Monoprice have finally provided a ship date for the forthcoming (March 15th) Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter, which ought to help bargain shoppers out who have found themselves with a Mini DisplayPort-equipped laptop or graphics card. The best part? It's just $14.25 for one, and even less if you buy in bulk. How's that for fair pricing in a tough market?

[Thanks, Charbs]

Filed under: Cables, Ports

Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter ships next month for under $15 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple's mini connector, stereoscopic 3D

Ross Miller — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:52:00 EST

If Apple's no-fee licensing wasn't enough to entice manufacturers, the Mini DisplayPort connector is now being added to VESA's DisplayPort 1.2 specifications. The update will also double the available bandwidth to 5.4Gbps, which can be used for 1920 x 1080 stereoscopic 3D imagery, four 1920 x 1200 screens, or one massive 3840 x 2160 display. According to Register Hardware, the 1.2 standard will be published by the middle of this year.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Filed under: Desktops, Displays, Laptops

DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple's mini connector, stereoscopic 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Adamo rumored to boast DisplayPort, Blu-ray drive

Darren Murph — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:54:00 EST

Can you feel it? Dell's Adamo is just about here, and the anticipation is palpable. We already learned that the unit's 45-watt power adapter wouldn't be anything special, but a Google cache shot of accessories and such from Dell's own website is giving us a presumed look at what could be announced alongside the ultraportable. For starters, we get the impression that it'll boast DisplayPort (judging by the DisplayPort-to-HDMI / VGA / etc. adapters) and at least have an option for a 2x Blu-ray combo drive. We're also seeing 250GB / 500GB internal / external SATA drives and an auto / air adapter for powering the machine in your vehicle / personally owned 747. Only the suits in Round Rock know if these will actually come to fruition, but honestly, why bother hosting these up on your website if they weren't on the way?

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

Dell Adamo rumored to boast DisplayPort, Blu-ray drive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple ponies up free Mini DisplayPort spec licenses

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:42:00 EST

Apple has just announced that -- in addition to shipping all new computers with the Mini DisplayPort -- they're offering no-fee licenses to companies that develop products utilizing the connection, hoping to create a de facto standard. Of course, the VESA-approved DisplayPort hasn't been widely adopted, so it remains to be seen whether its miniature sibling will ever take off. At any rate, it looks like the company might have learned a thing or two back in the day, when FireWire's steep licensing fees slowed its progress as a serious contender to USB. You hear that, hardware developers? You can be part of Apple's latest obscure connector revolution -- for absolutely nothing.

[Via Ars Technica]

Filed under: Displays

Apple ponies up free Mini DisplayPort spec licenses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple iTunes content throwing HDCP flags on new MacBook / MacBook Pro

Darren Murph — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:18:00 EST

Man, you just can't win these days. So Apple offers up an energy-efficient, forward-thinking Mini DisplayPort on its latest MacBook / MacBook Pro, and now users that are still rocking displays sans HDCP-compliant HDMI / DVI ports are up fecal's creek without a paddle. Apparently select content in the iTunes Store is laced in HDCP, which isn't all that unexpected in and of itself; the problem comes in when you realize that the new unibody machines don't offer a VGA / VGA-to-component output, meaning that you have to connect it to an HDCP-compliant display if you want to see anything. We know, one word in particular keeps coming to mind to describe this fiasco: awesome.

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Laptops

Apple iTunes content throwing HDCP flags on new MacBook / MacBook Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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