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MacBook refresh includes Mini DisplayPort that pumps out HDMI audio
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.
AMD FirePro 2460 Multi-View: four Mini DisplayPort sockets, 13W, no frills
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.
Apple teases Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (update)
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!
PowerColor jumps on the Eyefinity bandwagon, breaks off a wheel
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.
Kanex shows off HDMI to Mini DisplayPort adapter, your iMac celebrates
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.
DisplayPort 1.2 receives final VESA blessing, grows into a real standard
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.
Blu-ray comes to the iMac... via an Apogee HDMI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapter
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.
TUAW Holiday Gift Guide: Displays
A display, whether it's a primary, extra display for a portable, or a desktop secondary, is something that's very useful, and makes a great gift. Here's a few gift ideas for displays to use with your Mac. Dell ST2210 This display offers a 1920x1080 resolution, a 21.5 inch viewing area, and is available for only $189. It has a DVI and VGA port, which means that you might need an adapter to connect it. There's also a 24 inch model of this display, the Dell ST2410, if you're looking for something a little bit bigger. Samsung XL2370 If you're wanting another option, there's the Samsung XL2370. It's LED backlit, like the Apple LED Cinema Display, and can be purchased for around $399. It has a display resolution of 1920x1080, and it features a DVI and HDMI port, so you'll need an adapter to hook it up to a Mac with a Mini-DVI or Mini DisplayPort. Apple LED Cinema Display The Apple LED Cinema Display offers unique features that make it easy to connect to a Mac, like the MagSafe connector that charges a MacBook. The display is measured at 24 inches, and can display a 1900x1200 resolution. It also features a built-in iSight camera, a mic, speakers, and a three-port USB hub. You can purchase it for $899, though refurbished models have shown up for $599 from Apple. 27 inch iMac The 27-inch iMac, can be used in Target Display Mode as a monitor for another Mac with a Mini DisplayPort. It offers a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, and it's LED backlit. You'll just need a cable to do so, and you can purchase a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable from Apple or Monoprice. Of course, the iMac is a computer, so we aren't suggesting using it primarily as an external display. Do you have any suggestions for displays? Leave a comment and let us know!
Apple's Mini DisplayPort gets VESA stamp of approval
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).
New iMac doesn't play nice with Apple's Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter
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.
Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter will take your Mac mini to HDMI town
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]
Atlona ships AT-DP200 DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter
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.
Ask TUAW: OpenCL support in Snow Leopard, Boot Camp, automatic importing into iPhoto, and more
Wednesday means it's time for another Ask TUAW! For this edition we've got questions about what Macs will support Snow Leopard's forthcoming OpenCL acceleration, using Boot Camp with multiple partitions, connecting a Mac mini to HDMI, automatically importing images into iPhoto, and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions.
First non-Apple mini DisplayPort monitors look suspiciously familiar
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]
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]
New mini owners stung with display incompatibilities, update on the way
It seems like just yesterday we heard from David Thomas that his Samsung Syncmaster 910 MP display wasn't working with his shiny new 2009 Mac mini. Oh, wait, it was yesterday -- and David's not alone, judging by the traffic on Apple's support boards. VGA display owners who are using a Mini DisplayPort-VGA adapter should be aware that older displays seem to be having some trouble with the newfangled setup; in fact, Apple's troubleshooting steps for lack of video on the mini suggest replacing your display if it's not lighting up with the mini, even though it may still work with other machines. If your existing display is a Samsung or is more than four years old, you may want to cross-check with Apple before trying to use it with a new mini.There's some light at the end of the tunnel, however. While it hasn't appeared on Apple's download page for the mini yet, reader Nikolay sent in word that the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Firmware Update is showing up for him in Software Update on his MacBook Pro. Since one of the listed fixes is "no video on some external displays," if you've got the VGA adapter in use and are having video troubles you may want to borrow a monitor long enough to run the update and see if that clears the issue for you.Thanks David & Nikolay
Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter ships next month for under $15
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]
DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple's mini connector, stereoscopic 3D
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]
Dell Adamo rumored to boast DisplayPort, Blu-ray drive
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]
Apple ponies up free Mini DisplayPort spec licenses
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]
