DVI
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DisplayLink boldly enters HD realm on new Samsung LapFit displays
Compared to technologies such as Wireless USB, DisplayLink has actually done fairly well for itself. Nah, it's no worldwide phenomenon, but it definitely has enough traction to really shine once USB 3.0's bandwidth arrives. That said, the tech is making the most of its current situation with the introduction of the DL-1x5 Series processors, two of which actually support Full HD. The DL-125, DL-165 and DL-195 will all slide into USB-enabled LCD monitors here shortly, with the middle guy supporting resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080 and the DL-195 cranking things to 2,048 x 1,152 before crying "Uncle!" In theory, at least, this enables laptop users to connect high-res screens when their desktop replacement needs a helping hand, and it can be enjoyed now by consumers in Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Europe who can snag themselves a new SyncMaster LapFit LD190G or LD220G monitor. [Via EverythingUSB, thanks Ian]
Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters now available for under $20
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]
Ask Engadget: Best DVI KVM switch?
Look out -- it's that time of the week again. What time, you ask? The time when brilliant readers like yourself get a moment to shine as their inquiries are posted up here at Engadget. Feel free to send yours in to ask at engadget dawt com, but first, have a glance at John's dilemma below:"I've been searching for a good DVI KVM switch for a long time. Most of the ones I've read about are either too expensive or have gotten horrible reviews. I was hoping you guys could shed some light on what the best DVI KVM switch you've come across is. My only requirements are high resolution (1,680 x 1,050 or higher), USB for keyboard and mouse and (preferable, although not required) and dual monitor support."We'd say the challenge is pretty clearly laid out. Now it's on you to think up a good reply and comment below.
Gefen's latest DVI extenders take things two whole kilometers
And to think -- we were gettin' all hot and bothered over the extension of signals to 1,000 feet. Gefen's latest DVI extenders aim to take things far longer than 99.5 percent of Earthlings will ever need, as both the DVI-3500HD and DVI-2500HD (dual-link DVI) can take DVI, USB, RS-232 and analog audio up to 6,600 feet (two whole kilometers) without any dropouts or distortion. Of course, you'll need four fiber optic cables to make it all come together, not to mention $2,679 / $1,599 (respectively) to bring those capabilities home. But hey, you can pipe the big game to your pal's house without actually having to step foot in his less-than-inviting abode.
DVIGear outs new HDMI / DVI equipment at ISE
New projectors aren't the only things being unveiled at Integrated Systems Europe this week, as DVIGear is using the spotlight to launch a new set of HDMI and DVI accessories. We're talking HDMI Matrix Switchers that support resolutions as high as 1080p (as well as dual-link DVI up to 4,096 x 2,400), HDMI 1.3 distribution wares, and long-range HDMI 1.3 extenders that transmit signals over CAT5e / CAT6 / Coax. The outfit will also be showing off its Super High Resolution HDMI and DVI cables, which rely on heavy 22AWG gauge wire in order to carry your Blu-ray signals along a fatter-than-usual pipe. For more details on the whole lot, head on south to the read link.
HDMI saturates HDTVs, moving onto PMPs, STBs, etc.
We already heard late last year that HDMI adoption was on the rise, and now a new report from In-Stat asserts that the famed port is just about ready to take other areas of consumer electronics by storm. With HDMI adoption reaching nearly 100 percent in HDTVs, it's expected that 85 percent of IPTV set-top-boxes will have an HDMI port by 2012, while 10 percent of portable media players can say the same in just under three years. Also of note, HDMI-enabled product shipments are expected to increase overall at an annual rate of 23 percent up until 2012, while DVI-enabled shipments are forecast to decline at an annual rate of 30 percent through the same year. Ah, the unavoidable passing of the torch, so to speak.
TUAW review: ViDock Gfx multi-monitor solution for MacBook Pro
I love screen space. At the same time, my primary machine is a 2nd Gen, 17" MacBook Pro, which offers only one external DVI port. In my greedy quest to add more external monitors to my home workstation, I've tried a smorgasbord of products. I quickly gave up on USB to DVI solutions due to poor refresh rates and unmanageable color, and the closest I'd been able to come to a workable solution was Matrox's TripleHead2Go. The biggest drawback to that solution (and it ended up being big enough that my TripleHead2Go is gathering dust in a corner) is that the 2 or 3 monitors you hook up to it end up being treated as one large monitor. This means that you have fewer options in positioning your displays, and -- at least with 2 monitors connected -- things like menubars, the application switcher and even newly created windows and dialogs all pop up in the split between monitors. It works, but not well enough. We'd heard tell of a product from Village Tronic called the ViDock Gfx, but after several disappointing experiences with other products in the same vein, I hadn't been ready to shell out for another try. Then, we got a review unit and it became clear that there was, in fact, a usable solution to the MacBook Pro's multi-monitor dilemma. Read on for my impressions after a week with this unique product. %Gallery-43601%
Research shows HDMI climbing, DVI slipping
It was already made clear that both HDMI and DVI have a struggle on their hands with DisplayPort entering the picture, but new research from In-Stat asserts that HDMI is still on the up and up while DVI is slowing fading away. The report found that HDMI sockets were included on a staggering 95% of all digital televisions shipped worldwide in 2008, which unsurprisingly goes down as "the greatest volume for HDMI in any product." It also found that the "vast majority" of DVI shipments occurred in PC and PC peripheral markets, noting that DVI-enabled product shipments would decline at an annual rate of 30% through 2012; in the same breath, we're told that HDMI-enabled product shipments would increase at an annual clip of 23% over the same period. Now, if only this research would have included DisplayPort, we'd really have ourselves a showdown.[Via CNET]
LED Cinema Displays now available
Apple's LED Cinema Displays, announced at a special event in October, are finally available on the Apple Store online, and at Apple retail locations, which should make Cory happy. The LED Cinema Display, which is more suitable as a laptop docking station more than another monitor for your desktop Mac, sells for $899. Shipping is free from the Apple Store online. I went to the San Diego-area UTC Apple Store on Sunday, and saw a display model. The color was sharp, and looked identical to the display on my 24-inch iMac. Compared to the MacBook Pro next to it, the pixel density is looser (making objects of the same pixel size seem larger on the Cinema Display than on the laptop), typical for Apple's desktop displays. Unlike the iMac, the stand for the display had a tapered foot that was thinner at the front than in the back: Something I hadn't noticed before. Additionally, adapters that connect the new Mini DisplayPort to DVI and VGA are also available, and will ship within 24 hours. An update from the commenters: The Mini DisplayPort adapters are for MacBook Air, and won't help connecting a Mac Pro (for example) to this new display. Sorry, my mistake. Also, not all retail stores have the displays, so you might want to give them a call first before heading over there.
Apple iTunes content throwing HDCP flags on new MacBook / MacBook Pro
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.
Don't panic: NXE will stream Netflix HD via component cables
For those of us with HD displays, the revelation that the Netflix component of Xbox 360's New Xbox Experience would stream HD video via the intertubes was just spiffy. Then came various reports that said feature would only be available in situations where the 360 was connected to an HDCP-compliant display via HDMI. Even then, the scuttlebutt was that older 360s might not be up to snuff. Not true, as our pals at Engadget have found.They've tested a 360 connected via component cables and confirmed that it displays the Netflix HD content just fine, as you can see in the above photo. It should be noted that those with older HD sets, which only have DVI inputs, may encounter problems using HDMI-to-DVI converters, since the 360 can't make the necessary HDCP "handshake" in that configuration. As Engadget points out, it's still possible to use the 360's optional VGA output in this case. For most HD display owners, though, insert a big sigh of relief here.
Debunk: Xbox 360 streams HD Netflix over component just fine
There's some hysterical outrage out there right now over the New Xbox Experience's HD Netflix HDCP restrictions -- apparently it only works with HDCP-compliant digital displays, which is prompting a lot of hand-wringing about copyright restrictions and whether older 360s will get "locked out." Well, we're here to make it all better -- that's our NXE-equipped 360 connected over component, happily playing back HD Netflix at 1080i. See? Works fine. The problem is that some older LCD monitors don't support HDCP over DVI, so if you're in the minority of people using an HDMI to DVI adapter to drive an older display that doesn't do HDCP, HD Netflix won't work, since it can't authenticate. That's not the best situation, but DVI isn't a default supported 360 output, so we wouldn't expect 100 percent compatibility -- and besides, you can always run VGA. We're waiting on official confirmation from Microsoft of all this -- we want to get things absolutely right -- but in the meantime you can console yourself with another shot of HD Heroes over component after the break.Update: Yes, it works with movies too -- we just tried it with The Orphanage, and it looked great. Pic after the break.
Samsung CX-2233GW monitor impresses us with... nothing, actually
You think it's impossible to have more fun than we already do at Engadget, and then Samsung goes and releases some new displays. Case in point: the CX-2233GW. This 22-inch LCD monitor boasts 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio (capable of being boosted to 20,000:1), five-millisecond response time and an HDCP-compliant DVI port. Sure, we've seen it all before in the SyncMaster line... perhaps we can count on major dip in the price? Stranger things have happened. The display will be available (soon!) in Korea for something under €200 (about $265).
Ask Engadget HD: Which cable / interconnect brand should I rely on?
We've heard this question so many times that we've taken for granted the answer, but given the recent increase in competition in the cable market, we figured we'd pass along Josiah's question on the matter: "I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars for those cables sold in Best Buy and Circuit City, but I want the best possible audio and video quality. I've got a pretty basic setup, and I just need a few HDMI cables, a set of component cables and a few optical audio cables. Where would I go to get the best for my money? Is there a particular brand I should look for? What has worked out for your readers?" Unload your experiences with cables -- however expensive (or cheap) -- below, and be sure to elaborate on which brand / store / etc. you found to be the best for the price. Oh, and make no mention of Furutech, we're trying to keep the cost-per-cable under a grand.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
TV One intros 1T-DA-500 line of DVI distribution amplifiers
Aw, TV One -- always there looking out for our switching / distributing needs. Today, we're being formally introduced to the 1T-DA-500 series of DVI-D distribution amplifiers, which consists of three professional units that "distribute two and four DVI-D signals from a single input." The 1T-DA-552 offers up a pair of DVI outputs, the 1T-DA-554 provides four DVI outputs and the 1T-DA-564 includes four DVI outputs in addition to four analog stereo and four S/PDIF coaxial audio outputs. The whole trio is compliant with HDMI 1.3 and HDCP, and Deep Color / lossless audio codecs are also supported. As for resolutions, you'll have no issues piping through 1,920 x 1,200 PC signals and HDTV resolutions up to 1080p, but it may be tough coughing up £165 ($328), £210 ($418) and £230 ($458) in order to take one home.
TV One intros analog / digital video format converters
We have all ideas that these converters from TV One will likely be used by professionals exclusively, but if you've found yourself in a pickle that requires a digital-to-analog (or vice-versa) converter, here's your solution. The 1T-FC-524 converts analog RGBHV or Component YPbPr inputs to DVI signals, while the 1T-FC-425 converts DVI to RGBHV or Component YPbPr. Additionally, the output resolution is the same as the input, and TV resolutions from 480i up to 1080p are supported (along with PC resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200). Both units are selling now for £119 ($235) apiece.
Chinese manufacturers show off DIVA connector, request only green M&Ms
Move over HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort, here comes DIVA (Digital Interface for Audio and Video). Cooked up by the above group of Chinese manufacturers, they say this standard can improve on HDMI by enabling bi-directional data connections above and beyond HDMI-CEC protocols, creating easy DLNA connections between devices with a single cable. Forward channel video speeds of 13.6 Gbps provide plenty of room for 1080p and higher resolutions with Deep Color, plus the two-way connection at up to 2.25Gbps that can simultaneously handle multichannel audio, control or other data. With a working demo shown over a single 8 wire CAT6 cable, it's got specs that interest us, and with a growing AV market in China maybe these companies have enough pull to get wider support. Still, until someone produces a platinum cable measuring 3-feet long that costs $200 we won't be sure of its success.
IOGEAR extender takes DVI signals 100-feet over CAT 5e / 6
Granted, we've cast our glances upon DVI Extenders before, but IOGEAR's latest comes in just south of the magical $500 price point and is apt to warm the hearts of digital signage professionals everywhere. The simply titled DVI Video / Audio Extender Kit consists of a pair of DVI units, a local transmitter and a remote receiver, which owners connect with a CAT5e / 6 Ethernet cable. You'll also find an analog 3.5-millimeter jack for hooking up stereo speakers, and the three-year warranty should help you rest easy all the while. Available as we speak for $499.95.
Apple offers up Micro-DVI to DVI / VGA / Video adapters for MacBook Air
We know, Apple's been selling these video-out adapters separately for awhile now, but at least it saw fit to toss 'em in with its new $1,799 (or much, much more) machine. Still, those to-be owners of the MacBook Air who want extras will have to shell out $19 a pop if they're interested in snagging an additional Micro-DVI to DVI Adapter or Micro-DVI to VGA Adapter (both pictured after the jump). For those scouting composite / S-Video outputs, you'll have to cough up $19 in addition to your lappie's purchase price in order to claim a Micro-DVI to Video adapter. Per usual, these suckas won't play nice with any piece of hardware other than the MBA, but you saw that one coming a mile away, now didn't you?Read - Micro-DVI to Video adapterRead - Micro-DVI to DVI AdapterRead - Micro-DVI to VGA Adapter
Impact Acoustics' rotating HDMI / DVI adapters make installs easier
It's a simple concept, but there's little doubt that the item shown above would prove mighty helpful in tight spaces. Impact Acoustics has rolled out a line of rotating AV adapters, most notably the HDMI and HDMI-to-DVI versions. As the title leads you to believe, these wee devices allow users to run their HDMI / DVI cables at any angle, enabling gear to be wired up in tighter corners without fear of damaging any of those precious cables. The adapters are available now in a number of flavors, all costing $12.99 apiece.[Via Audioholics]
