Apple Preparing to Add HDMI to Macs?

[ChromeAce]

OMG i would actually jizz in my pants to have HDMI on my iMac to play my PS3 on it... would purchase a top of the range 27" iMac, which i would have little use for... just to get rid of my ****** half assed Samsung TV.... plus, with the gorgeous iMac/Apple Cinema Displays... shooting someone on MW2 would be much more satisfying... and i when i already kill someone i'm like yeah who's your bitch now mother****er

As much as I'd like to help you jizz in your pants, this discussion refers to Apple's possible adoption of HDMI as an output standard, not input.

Adding HDMI input to Apple products with built in displays is an idea I would support.

 

[gianly1985]

Maybe that's because DELL sells like 1000 different models of computers and nobody in their right mind is going to buy Zino to connect it to two monitors? Yet people do connect Mac Minis to TVs (because it's not that good for anything else)

They don't sell 1000 different models in THAT FORM FACTOR and the "in their right mind"-thing is nonsense. One could need a low-power dual head system with a small footprint (a lot of people do this with Minis). One could hook to the Mini/Zino a digital monitor AND an HDTV at the same time. A lot of people also do this.

I could answer that "nobody in their right mind" would buy an high-end audio system (NEEDED to tell the difference between HD and NON-HD surround tracks, the latter the only possible over HDMI with current Minis) and then use a Mini/Zino to play Bluray movies. The HMDI of my Mini is fine for me, it only lacks HD-audio but I don't use it to play blurays. It's perfect for compressed AC3 5.1 audio from DVDs, bluray-ripped MKVs, etc.

 

[skate71290]

720p? No kidding. Why did you get that POS the in the 1st place?

omg thank you, i'm not the only one that thinks the Apple TV is a waste of space... if they had DVD playback and support for non-Apple files such as 1080 MKV then i would buy one... but as of now the only thing i like is Front Row... it's mighty fine... also bigger freaking hard-drives!!!!

 

[HONDAxACURA]

I doubt it! It's called a Mini displayport to HDMI. Apple wouldn't give that for free.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

As much as I'd like to help you jizz in your pants[...]

I lold too hard at this.

 

[cfedu]

ati 5000 series cards can do eyefinity, but one display has to be DP. They can not do 3 HDMI, or 3 DVI but can do 3 DP, because it requires less hardware on the card to make. You can even make an ATI card do 6 DP monitors.

A macbook pro or iMac connected to 2 external displays would be impossible without DP. It is not available now but it would be possible.

HDMI is welcome on the mac mini, or any other mac product, having 1 DP and one HDMI on an iMac or Macbook would be great

 

[jaw04005]

Pretty much all of you have missed the point entirely of HDMI possibly appearing on future Apple products.

Yes, but like audio, Apple doesn't implement it.

I should clarify I was referring to Apple products.

HDCP has been around for years via DVI and was recently added to DisplayPort as of 1.1. You don't need HDMI to implement HDCP.

Apple first began implementing HDCP with the Apple TV in March of 2007. It was also added to the refreshed MacBook and MacBook Pro line as of October 2008, and has slowly made its way into all currently shipping Macs.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2008/11/apple-brings-hdcp-to-a-new-aluminum-macbook-near-you.ars

Most iTunes HD movies, rentals and TV shows require HDCP to playback on an external monitor. Otherwise, you get the attached error.

Personally, I hope HDCP dies in favor of a more consumer-friendly DRM technology.

Who says a new Mac Mini with HDMI connector would not simply BECOME the next gen Apple TV?.

The huge price difference, $599 compared to $229, will keep that from happening for a long time.

 

[jayducharme]

Woohoo!

Apple read my mind. I've been leaning more and more toward using a Mini as my base computer and wiring it to my HDTV with a DVI-to-HDMI cable, then running the audio separately to a stereo system. If this new Mini is real, then I'm all over it. I'd sell my MB Pro (which has basically the same guts as the Mini) and also get an iPad for when my wife wants to watch the TV or when anytime I want portable computing. This could be really sweet!

 

[Tinavey]

I dont get all the hate for HDMI. Right now the only machine that should have DP is the Mac Pro, since all the benefits of DP are catered to professionals who need ridiculously high resolutions.
For everyone else HDMI 1.3 is more then enough (it supports higher Audio then DP and even 3D) let alone that HDMI 1.4 supports 4K (yes at 24 but thats what 4k films should be viewed at)

Apple need to have HDMI in their laptops/mini and iMac. If they release an iMac at around 30/32 inches and have HDMI out/in it could double as a monitor.

But alas apple are the most arrogant and ignorant bunch around

 

[lilo777]

They don't sell 1000 different models in THAT FORM FACTOR and the "in their right mind"-thing is nonsense. One could need a low-power dual head system with a small footprint (a lot of people do this with Minis). One could hook to the Mini/Zino a digital monitor AND an HDTV at the same time. A lot of people also do this.

I could answer that "nobody in their right mind" would buy an high-end audio system (NEEDED to tell the difference between HD and NON-HD surround tracks, the latter the only possible over HDMI with current Minis) and then use a Mini/Zino to play Bluray movies. The HMDI of my Mini is fine for me, it only lacks HD-audio but I don't use it to play blurays. It's perfect for compressed AC3 5.1 audio from DVDs, bluray-ripped MKVs, etc.

Nope. 1000 models sounds about right. And there is a special model for those who need "low-power dual head system with a small footprint". It's called Dell Studio Hybrid.

 

[lilo777]

I dont get all the hate for HDMI...

Well. I suspect that many people who argue that Mac Mini does not need HDMI are the same people who argued that Apple computers did not need one when defending this obvious deficiency compared to PC counterparts. Now Apple makes u-turn leaving its apologists in a precarious position.

 

[gianly1985]

Nope. 1000 models sounds about right. And there is a special model for those who need "low-power dual head system with a small footprint". It's called Dell Studio Hybrid.

Good to know, so with Apple you have to switch adapters, with Dell you have to switch whole computers to get a complete range of ports. My wallet prefers switching adapters and getting 8 ports (including future-proof 2560x1600 Display Port, wich both ZinoHD and Hybrid lacks) in a 16x16x5cm near-silent unique FW800/WifiN/Gigabit/DP/DVI/VGA/HDMI/Toslink device......I cannot really complain about having to buy a 10$ adapter from ebay.....

 

[justinfreid]

How about letting the Mac Mini boot as an AppleTV?

 

[Tinavey]

How about letting the Mac Mini boot as an AppleTV?

Just needs an updated Front Row

 

[RalfTheDog]

How about letting the Mac Mini boot as an AppleTV?

Just load an Apple TV application.

 

[lilo777]

Good to know, so with Apple you have to switch adapters, with Dell you have to switch whole computers to get a complete range of ports. My wallet prefers switching adapters and getting 8 ports (including future-proof 2560x1600 Display Port, wich both ZinoHD and Hybrid lacks) in a 16x16x5cm near-silent unique FW800/WifiN/Gigabit/DP/DVI/VGA/HDMI/Toslink device......I cannot really complain about having to buy a 10$ adapter from ebay.....

You do not need to switch computers. You configure and buy what you need. Here is another option:

It's Optiflex 380 SFF. It can be configured with the following video cards:

Integrated Video, Intel® GMA 4500 [Included in Price]
DVI (Digital) Adapter Card, Low Profile [add $10]
256MB ATI RADEON HD 3450 (2 VGA /1 TV-out), Low Profile [add $74]
256MB ATI RADEON HD 3450 (2 DVI /1 TV-out), Low Profile [add $74]
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 (2 VGA /1 TV-out), Low Profile [add $74]
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300 (2 DVI /1 TV-out), Low Profile [add $74]

 

[gianly1985]

You do not need to switch computers. You configure and buy what you need.

The same with the MacMini, you configure it with the set of adapters you need and you're done. So problem solved. Beside, the good thing about adapters is that you can easily upgrade your port set should new needs arise. And you got the fancy 2560x1600 DP future-proof port, which none of the (bigger and bigger) models you're posting has.

 

[lilo777]

The same with the MacMini, you configure it with the set of adapters you need and you're done. So problem solved. Beside, the good thing about adapters is that you can easily upgrade your port set should new needs arise.

Almost. Except that with Mini one does not have any options for Video card (3 options for DELL Optiflex 380) and the price

 

[gianly1985]

Almost. Except that with Mini one does not have any options for Video card (3 options for DELL Optiflex 380) and the price

We were talking about video ports, not superficial and inappropriate price comparisons. No single Dell "small PC" has the potential set of video ports of a Mini.

The Optiplex looks cheaper because it use a cheaper DESKTOP cpu (opposed to pricier mobile CPUs used in the Minis), but this make it bigger, hotter and noisier than a Mini. And none of the video card option is considerably better than a 9400M. And it's a different form factor. And the base price doesn't include a WLAN card and an optical drive. And you still don't get a 2560x1600 future-proof DP like on the Mini and every Mac since 2008.

If this is a way of comparing prices...

 

[chugachpowder]

I have a late 2008 MBP with the mini-display port. What I'm wondering if this port is physically wired to support sound ... I know the mini-display port specs are for audio, but did Apple implement this on this MBP so I can use only one cable for audio and video when this alleged cable comes out?

mini-display port to HDMI cable that is ...

I'm wondering the same thing. If they allow audio through new MDP will apple be able to enable it for older MDP? Monoprice has a great MDP to HDMI cable, no adapters! This would be great for me since I hate hooking up multiple cables just to watch hulu.

Although, if I had a Mac Mini I don't think this would bother me since I would hook up the toslink and MDP to hdmi and then I would be done with it.

 

[newuser2310]

Apart from the mini and maybe the laptops there is no real need to have hdmi on any of the remaining range.

I don't think they will go to the hassle of implementing it for the sake of a small number of customers who will use it as a media centre.

I once connected my laptop to the 42' TV in my lounge. The picture was great but realised how impractical it was to do anything apart from watch/play media due to the fact its about 6 ft away.

I mean how many buyers actually buy a mini just for the media centre capabilities?

Many people who have invested in the whole hd tv/surround sound/home cinema thing will already have a dedicated blu ray player, some even have the capability to stream media from your pc or mac sat in your office.

 

[Repo]

Wow. I already lost interest in the first page of this thread.

Before I get ripped to shreds, please read the following bullet points.

• The tv is a specialized device for consuming iTunes content.
• Nobody forced you to buy an tv.
• If you have a need for a Mac mini, please buy one.

Now, please proceed to flame me, if that’s your prerogative.

If you’re still with me, I wish somebody (hopefully Apple) would invent a single port that could be used for anything. It would replace USB, Mini DisplayPort/HDMI/DVI, FireWire, ethernet, and audio mini jacks. Then computer manufacturers could load up the front, back, or side with these jacks.

What we need is to have fiber optics brought into consumer products. LightPeak looks very promising at this point. With a minimum 10Gb/s, we could have a Mac mini with 6 or 7 of these ports and be done.

Plus, since it's being developed by Intel, Apple shouldn't have trouble getting it on their hardware.

Here's a nice quote from the link: "...you could transfer a full-length Blu-Ray movie in less than 30 seconds..."

 

[arkmannj]

.

Seems if this is true that it may well be a nail in the AppleTV coffin.
This change with some good media software (ie. Plex, XBMC, MythTV,FrontRow) could easily replace the AppleTV.

I love my AppleTV but I'd really love to use a mac mini in it's place.

I do have a Mac Mini right now with DVI and have tried attaching it to my TV (Phillips 42") I've tried all kinds of tricks and DVI toHDMI cables/adaptors but for the life of me I can't get it working. (though my MacBook Pro, and PowerMac both connect fine)
Anyhow, I'm really hoping this would work better.

 

[gianly1985]

I mean how many buyers actually buy a mini just for the media centre capabilities?

Me, and I'm OK with the current set of ports.

I watch mainly 1080p x264 MKVs with 5.1 AC3 audio.

Video is sent via HDMI to my 50" plasma. (I use a Mini-DVI to HDMI adapter) (btw I could have used the included Mini-DVI to DVI adapter paired with a common DVI-HDMI video-only cable)

Audio is sent via Toslink to my Sony DGR-720 A/V receiver and it sounds great on my 5.1 system.

 

[Repo]

I agree on your digital download (I'll abbreviate DD) statement...but honestly, DD is decades away from being a reality for the masses.

It's 2010 and my crummy 20Mbit downstream and 1.5Mbit upstream doesn't stream movies very well.

Homes are going to need to see a huge surge in network bandwidth, throughput, etc. And you're also going to need the websites (for lack of a better word) to have a super huge pipe to support millions of homes streaming/downloading/watching movies/tv over a standard internet connection.

It just isn't here or even on the horizon for at least 10 years. We've been seeing commercials since when?...2001 from companies like Cox with promises of a DD world and here we are almost 10 years later and zippo.

As optimistic as I usually am, I'm quite the realistic on this topic. And, contrary to your belief, humans like to own physical objects...I don't necessarily want a world where I do not own a shiny dvd or bluray disc that I can always touch and hold and watch whenever, wherever...I don't want to have to wonder about the magic in the internet cloud about who owns my "movie" and what happens if the company goes out of business or someone hacks it and deletes all my movies...or if I pay my bill late and they nuke my account...or if they mix my name up with someone else and screw up my movie list.

Yes...humans like tangible things.

-Eric

There are companies from which you can purchase CDs on SD cards, for example. With the inclusion of SD card slots on Apple's laptop and iMac line, purchasing an HD movie on an SD card is a very realistic (and tangible ) idea. For those who want to get a DD, that works too.

Personally, I wish Blu-Ray would go away. Think about it physically. All the space optical drives take up in computers (especially laptops). Just imagine how that space could be better utilized.