Apple Updates MacBook Pro Mini DisplayPort Implementation to Support Both Audio and Video

[lilo777]

Size? What the difference if if you have to lug around an adapter anyway?

You do not get it. It's a huge hole in a beautiful unibody case - an affront to any true Apple fan

 

[olidpass8]

I don't think the new mini-display port supports the audio port with Griffin's mini-display to HDMI adapter cable.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TY600VC/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

Note: The Apple Mini DisplayPort only outputs video signal. To receive audio from your Mini DisplayPort-enabled MacBook or MacBook Pro, you'll need to connect it to your stereo receiver using an audio cable.

Even the apple Macbook Pro page DOES NOT SAY AUDIO!

Pure digital video output
DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (optional)

VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter (optional)

Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter supports 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display (optional)

HDMI output using a third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter

 

[matticus008]

I don't think the new mini-display port supports the audio port with Griffin's mini-display to HDMI adapter cable.

That's old copy from the old hardware. If Griffin's adapter is properly wired, it will work.

Yet very few of them actually use DisplayPort in their products or include it alongside HDMI.

The number of notebook computers, desktop video cards, and monitors with DisplayPort connectors is steadily growing.

And we've gone over this before. HDMI supports higher resolutions than DisplayPort

No, it doesn't. DisplayPort has significantly higher video bandwidth and because it's not frame-based, is not confined to a set list of resolutions like HDMI. There is no resolution limit to DisplayPort--indeed, this feature is one of the major purposes of its creation--other than the data carrying ability of the hardware, which already exceeds DVI/HDMI. So you're wrong.

ethernet over the same cable

Up to 100Mbps, compared to 720Mbps aux channel data for DisplayPort. Advantage: DP, making you wrong again. There's no implementation of ethernet over these connectors available for either, so it's a strange point to make.

and HDMI has significantly more bandwidth available to audio.

Again, not true. DisplayPort has significantly more bandwidth available. The standard currently defines an audio channel of 6Mbps (because computer sources hardly ever even hit DD 5.1 and DP has no aim to replace HDMI in the living room), but unlike HDMI, it is not fixed by hardware and can be changed at any time. If DisplayPort were meant to replace HDMI in the near future, cranking out a 100Mbps audio limit to win the spec race would be trivial.

The only advantage of DisplayPort is multiple low-resolution displays daisy-chained on one cable.

That just proves you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. DisplayPort is a wholesale change in the way display devices are connected and data is passed. It does away with the serious limitations of HDMI (predefined modes and fixed channel distribution being chief among them), while offering the ability to output compatible signals. HDMI has complex rules about feature implementation and hardware classes because of its legacy nature, while DisplayPort is simply an interconnect--it carries data and is essentially a massively high bandwidth ethernet cable. You can send whatever video formats and data you like in the main channels, and any arbitrary data protocols you want in the aux channel. It has already begun to replace the fractured set of hardware and standards to allow for seamless end-to-end implementation (instead of the current LVDS -> DVI -> HDMI setup you seem to love so much), and it carries no raster-scan baggage like HDMI.

These are just some of the more immediate and obvious benefits to an all-new interconnect. It is technologically superior in every single way to HDMI. HDMI only has its significant head start in its favor, having defined a handful of features that have not been implemented in DisplayPort yet (but all are planned to be in the next 3 years). Nothing HDMI is doing makes it a competitor for any market other than home theater, where DisplayPort plans to work along side HDMI throughout the current generations of HDTV.

Apple would charge the same for their adapters? Is that why their mini DisplayPort adapters cost $10 more than their mini-DVI adapters?

That's more related to the fact that those adapters are five years old. All of Apple's adapters have always been approximately the same price, and you've not suggested anything to suggest that the technology chosen has any impact on the adapter pricing. They'd charge the same if the computers had HDMI ports natively--except then they'd be screwed in terms of large-format monitor support, because none of them accept HDMI input above 1920x1080, if they have HDMI inputs at all (which most don't).

It's funny you say that. Every single computer I've owned over the last few years that hasn't been a Mac, and every non-Mac GPU I've owned as well, has had HDMI out.

It's not funny at all. As I said, HDMI on a video card is just DVI with a different connector. It's a complete freebie, added for the convenience of people connecting their computers to HDTVs or their game systems to monitors. There is no technological shift involved. All the hardware is still native DVI with HDCP slapped on (also available on the DVI connector) and nothing more.

On top of that, every respectable display sold for several years now has had HDMI.

That's just laughable. They have DVI. They've had DVI for a decade. HDMI required nothing but an adapter before, and some monitors have changed a second DVI input into an HDMI connector, but that's it.

The industry DID move to HDMI.

It didn't. All of that hardware is still DVI. No one "moved" anywhere. The technology is still the same with minor tweaks.

The industry moved from VGA to DVI. It's now moving from DVI to DisplayPort. HDMI isn't a destination on that path, and isn't a replacement for anything, least of all DVI itself.

Let's get this fact straight, Apple is the ONLY large-scale manufacturer of computers that DOES NOT use HDMI. EVERYONE else DOES.

Let's get this fact straight: anyone who uses DVI also uses HDMI. The shape of the metal receptacle amounts to nothing more than identifying which cable to use.

Some video cards have started to support HDMI audio, just as they've started to support DP audio. This has nothing to do with endorsing HDMI as the future of computing (exactly zero manufacturers believe that nonsense) and everything to do with helping their customers connect to their existing home theater equipment.

 

[junko]

Why don't the last gen macbooks do audio through the displayport? Is there any chance of it coming from a software update in the future? Would really like to know because that is one big reason pushing me torwards getting the new macbook instead of a refurbished one.

 

[AidenShaw]

Your post was riddled with half-truths and outright incorrect statements. But I will reply to only a couple.

First off, displayport is a VESA standard.

Next, check out the Dell e6400 notebook line. Displayport only.

Speaking of half truths - no, absolute falsehoods....

Ports:
..., VGA, Display Port, ...

http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/....aspx?refid=laptop_latitude_e6400&cs=04&s=bsd

Note the DisplayPort on the back, and the VGA connector on the side.

 

[MorphingDragon]

All I can say is finally.

Now if only monitors took advantage of display port, like daisy chaining.

 

[bf2008]

I have the new 13" and it does not appear to pass through the Audio with the adapter. It may be only the 15" and 17".

Not good.

Edit:
Maybe not. Not sure if my adapter passes audio.

Good post. Thanks for sharing the info.
Which adapter do you have? Have you contacted Apple Care about it? They should be able to give you a better answer.

 

[John.B]

Bump!

So has anyone been able to verify this with the new MBPs? Or the iMacs?

How do we know which cables or connectors are capable of passing audio through to the HDMI connector? http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3065

Help me out here, guys! I recently sold my MacBook and the money is burning a hole in my pocket (well, PayPal account, but you get my drift)...

 

[John.B]

How do we know which cables or connectors are capable of passing audio through to the HDMI connector? http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3065

Answered my own question. I just had an online chat with a tech at Monoprice.com about their mDP->HDMI 6' cable:

TS - Jonah C (Level 1): (To see a copy of our Chat Privacy policy, please go to the following address, http://solutions.liveperson.com/about/privacy.asp )

TS - Jonah C (Level 1): Thank you for contacting Monoprice Tech Support.

TS - Jonah C (Level 1): My name is Jonah. How may I assist you?

you: Does the Mini DisplayPort Male to HDMI Male 32AWG Cable - 6ft (Product ID 5995) pass audio from the mini-DisplayPort connector through to the HDMI connector? http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3065

TS - Jonah C (Level 1): our adapters do support audio

you: Thanks!

 

[CEnTR4L]

No, it should be handled by the OS. You just select your sound output device (which this port should now be listed) and set VLC to play on the external display as you would if you had a regular external display.

Ture, but its only working for Dolby Digital and DTS. Higher-rez audio, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA is not supported as they _CAN_ONLY_ stream audio data on a very fast medium, and digital optical isn't fast enough.

mini-DP has to support them

 

[Treq]

So i'm a long time PC user and will be buying a MacBook Pro (will install Win7 on it.)

The reason i'm buying a MacBook Pro is cause the hardware is much nicer than most Windows based laptops. There are a few competitors, such as, HP Envy and Dell Adamo, but nothing gives me a good combination of features (well the ones I need) in one package except Apple.

With that being said, I spent a lot of time in PC forums trying to see which laptop was good for me, and people there complain less than people here.

Looks like Apple has a hardcore following, but these hard core followers quickly turn into hardcore whiners too.

I guess it's good and bad for Apple.
Consumers are always on Apple's case for giving them dated technology or not giving them certain ports etc etc, yet they are still willing to pay a premium to purchase the things they complain about.

Well done Apple!

I don't think you get it. People buy macs because the OS is better. Sure the Hardware is cool, and the support is great, but the real benefit to owning a Mac is that the OS doesn't suck. That's why they keep buying them and then complain that there isn't all the ports they want.

 

[Rocketman]

iMac (Late 2009) and MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) computers supply an audio signal from the Mini-DisplayPort. However, not all Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapters support audio out. For this feature, use Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapters that conform to the VESA v1.1a DisplayPort Interoperability Guidelines.

To me this means Apple is admitting IT did not support audio over MDP prior to these models, else others would be listed.

Done.

Now it is a matter of listing compliant cables in this thread.

Rocketman

 

[Terminal.app]

History has taught us...

Apple rolls out serial connectors on their systems, and the whiners say, "HURR DURR, nobody uses serial yet, parallel ports are better."

Apple rolls out USB on their systems, and the whiners say, "HURR DURR, nobody uses USB yet, serial ports are better."

Apple rolls out DisplayPort on their systems, and the whiners say, "HURR DURR, nobody uses DisplayPort yet, HDMI is better."

Obvious pattern is obvious.

 

[Kiima]

Monoprice cable equivalent in Europa

Has anyone stumbled upon something like the monoprice cable in Europa.
No adapter, just a plain MDP to HDMI (with audio). The problem is that i'm faced with a 30 $USD ship ( to Denmark) for a 10 $ cable, which i find stupid. On top of this the Danish customs will charge me another 25 % on top of that, so i'm looking at 55 $ for a 10 $ gizmo...

I would really appreciate if someone could link to a EU based cableshop that carries a cable like it?

 

[John.B]

Has anyone stumbled upon something like the monoprice cable in Europa.
No adapter, just a plain MDP to HDMI (with audio). The problem is that i'm faced with a 30 $USD ship ( to Denmark) for a 10 $ cable, which i find stupid. On top of this the Danish customs will charge me another 25 % on top of that, so i'm looking at 55 $ for a 10 $ gizmo...

I would really appreciate if someone could link to a EU based cableshop that carries a cable like it?

Ouch! Customs adds VAT to the shipping cost on top of the product cost?!?

 

[giorfa]

Has anyone stumbled upon something like the monoprice cable in Europa.
No adapter, just a plain MDP to HDMI (with audio). The problem is that i'm faced with a 30 $USD ship ( to Denmark) for a 10 $ cable, which i find stupid. On top of this the Danish customs will charge me another 25 % on top of that, so i'm looking at 55 $ for a 10 $ gizmo...

I would really appreciate if someone could link to a EU based cableshop that carries a cable like it?

Same problem here. I just ordered a MDP male to HDMI male from kanexlive but I had to cancel it because they wrote me saying "Please disregard the previous email, unfortunately our current MDP adapters and cables does not pass audio on the new MacBook Pros. We are currently working to determine the issue."

Monoprice has one that supports audio, but they don't ship to this crap country Italy.

So I'd like to find a cable and not an adapter. If you are happy with the adapter I read that the one on apple store is ok.

Please let me know about your search, I'll do the same here.

 

[xStatiCa]

I have a MBA that I bought last december. Since MBA doesn't have a digital out I purchased the adapter below. It takes mini-display port and USB(for audio) as input and mixes them into an HDMI out connection. Works great for me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V4NOCY/ref=oss_product

 

[Trojita]

So is this just 2.0 stereo audio or 5.1/7.1 digital audio output?

Because if it is just 2.0, this is pretty much trash to me. Nice thing to have for sure but for anyone serious about AV 2.0 is kind of a letdown.

 

[Surreal]

Is the implementation here 1.1a or 1.2?

 

[Paulyboy]

So can anyone confirm if the mini display port on the recent 27 inch iMacs support audio as well with the right adapter? And if yes which adapter would work?

I need to get one of these adapters and it would be nice to know whether I'm going to have to get one of the ones with the separate USB audio cable or not. It would obviously be nice not having to use up one of my USB ports as well.

-PN

 

[xStatiCa]

So is this just 2.0 stereo audio or 5.1/7.1 digital audio output?

Because if it is just 2.0, this is pretty much trash to me. Nice thing to have for sure but for anyone serious about AV 2.0 is kind of a letdown.

If you are referring to the mini-DP/USB in to HMDI out adapter I posted then it is 2.0 stereo only(uncompressed LPCM capable).


There is another adapter by the same company that supports 5.1 but it requires a MBP with digital audio out. Notice the third connector in the pic below. And yes the USB is still required to be plugged in too because that is where it gets power to the adapter to convert the audio into the HDMI protocol.

http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-iAdapt-DisplayPort-Channel-Digital/dp/B0031QH1BG/ref=pd_sim_e_4

I have a MBA which doesn't have digital out so I bought the other version in my previous post.

It would be great if the newest macbook pros do not require this adapter.

 

[giorfa]

Cableshark.com has a MDP male to HDMI male that works on new MBP for audio:


http://www.cableshark.com/Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_CONVERTER_p/esn-gc-mdp2mhd-6.htm

 

[Kiima]

Ouch! Customs adds VAT to the shipping cost on top of the product cost?!?

Yes. importing from the us is a bitch because of danish custom rules..

Canadian store isn't any better. It has to be the european union...

 

[MorphingDragon]

Yes. importing from the us is a bitch because of danish custom rules..

Canadian store isn't any better. It has to be the european union...

You could ask them to declare the products value at $0/$1 or as a gift.

 

[AidenShaw]

You could ask them to declare the products value at $0/$1 or as a gift.

I doubt if either of those tactics would be legal. (At least, coming into the US, the first would be illegal and there is no exclusion for "gifts".)