Mini DisplayPort to Be Adopted as Part of Official Spec

[MacRumors]

According to VESA, Apple's Mini Displayport will be included in the upcoming DisplayPort 1.2 specification and will allow other manufacturers to incorporate the ports into their products.

The tiny port is to be included in the upcoming DisplayPort 1.2 specification, the standard's overseer, Vesa, said last week. The digital monitor link tech is to get stereoscopic display support too.

Apple introduced the miniaturized port as part of their new MacBooks and MacBook Pros and expects to adopt it in all future products. Apple offered the mini DisplayPort as a no fee license to 3rd parties while the specification was undergoing approval by VESA.

The incorporation of the deisgn into the official DisplayPort spec should alleviate any concerns that Apple had too much ownership over the technology.

Article Link: Mini DisplayPort Adopted as Part of Official Spec

 

[Eddyisgreat]

I guess this is good news, but if I see one more "can I connect my old macbook pro to the new LED display" thread I will die.

 

[powersurge]

TBH I'd really like to see TVs and monitors start using the same standard connection (bonus points if its some form of HDMI so it can carry both audio and video. Less wires for the win).

 

[Superman07]

This could be really good news if it means we see:

1) More sets with display port
2) Mini-DP/DP wires

*both assume audio and video on same cable.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

i think the mini display post is going to become the all around standard: they're small, cheep, and they have apple engineering meaning they wont have bent prongs like other cables. i will buy a hdmi mini display port from macally for watching dvd's of my computer soon enough...

 

[indiekiduk]

Cool this should shut the Linux folk up after all their moaning today.

 

[EricNau]

Good news, although to we really expect other manufacturers to incorporate the mini DisplayPort into their products?

 

[arn]

Good news, although to we really expect other manufacturers to incorporate the mini DisplayPort into their products?

At least it should mean adapters will be easier to come by.

arn

 

[MasterNile]

Good news, although to we really expect other manufacturers to incorporate the mini DisplayPort into their products?

Not necessarily but at least we should have many options on mini DisplayPort-DisplayPort cables.

Edit: Curses Arn beat me to it.

TBH I'd really like to see TVs and monitors start using the same standard connection (bonus points if its some form of HDMI so it can carry both audio and video. Less wires for the win).

I thought DisplayPort was capable of carrying audio also.

 

[KindredMAC]

I wonder if Apple was waiting for this before they released any more products, like the iMac, Mac mini and the rest of the cinema displays?

I thought DisplayPort was capable of carrying audio also.

I believe that the USB cable is required to be hooked up for the MacBooks to transfer sound to the LED display's speakers because it is not pumped through MDP.

 

[VoR]

The wikipedia spec (hmm) shows it can carry audio upto 6.1mbit, fine for surround sound but no hd codecs. The displayport site tells me nothing.
Don't know if the current mac hardware passes the sound through or not, don't have any displayport equipment so I'm not hugely interested in checking. Still no mini-dp>hdmi cable? Highly dubious...

 

[MasterNile]

Ok, after looking it up DisplayPort carries audio, but mini DisplayPort doesn't, so I sure hope they got for full DisplayPort on the new Mac Minis.

Edit: to get audio from mini DisplayPort to HDMI you'd have to have "a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter, a Mini-TOSLINK (jack) to TOSLINK adapter, a Toslink cable, a DVI+TOSLINK to HDMI converter, and another HDMI cable (to connect the converter and the AV receiver)" is what wikipedia says

 

[philamac]

good! maybe we'll see some adapters for the LED Cinema Display soon.

 

[amac4me]

good! maybe we'll see some adapters for the LED Cinema Display soon.

I doubt it as Apple is likely on its way to phase out these displays.

 

[Superman07]

Ok, after looking it up DisplayPort carries audio, but mini DisplayPort doesn't, so I sure hope they got for full DisplayPort on the new Mac Minis.

Edit: to get audio from mini DisplayPort to HDMI you'd have to have "a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter, a Mini-TOSLINK (jack) to TOSLINK adapter, a Toslink cable, a DVI+TOSLINK to HDMI converter, and another HDMI cable (to connect the converter and the AV receiver)" is what wikipedia says

That's dumb and wouldn't get you HD codec support either.

 

[VoR]

Have to hope there's a full featured hdmi offered as an alternative output.

 

[MasterNile]

Have to hope there's a full featured hdmi offered as an alternative output.

Just full DisplayPort would work just fine I believe.

 

[VoR]

Just full DisplayPort would work just fine I believe.

Not for people that would like to use it as a future proof media centre, it's a step backwards for most people - I'm sure hdtvs and receivers are far more common inputs for macbooks and minis than the 'advantage' of driving 2x 2560×1600 screens off a single cable

 

[nagromme]

I remember a few people were REALLY up in arms that Apple didn't just make the MacBook Air thicker to accommodate the full-size port

Good news, although to we really expect other manufacturers to incorporate the mini DisplayPort into their products?

They will, if more computers out there use mini ports than use the full-size. Which may already be the case in fact.

(I don't know what computers if any use the full-size port, nor in what quantities those models have been shipping... but I do know the MacBook line sells well!)

 

[xDYLANx]

MiniDisplay needs to be on the Mac Mini & Mac Pro. notebooks don't need external displays except for

 

[MasterNile]

Not for people that would like to use it as a future proof media centre, it's a step backwards for most people - I'm sure hdtvs and receivers are far more common inputs for macbooks and minis than the 'advantage' of driving 2x 2560×1600 screens off a single cable

Before I begin, I'm just trying to gather some information since I'm pretty ignorant on the subject, not trying to get into an argument or debate about it.

Why is it a step backwards? And I understand HDMI is the current standard but is there a reason DisplayPort (obviously not mini DisplayPort) couldn't become the new standard? I thought it was good for future proofing as it's capable of unlimited resolution.

 

[wheezy]

I doubt it as Apple is likely on its way to phase out these displays.

Not the LED display, that's the one they just announced

 

[VoR]

Before I begin, I'm just trying to gather some information since I'm pretty ignorant on the subject, not trying to get into an argument or debate about it.

Why is it a step backwards? And I understand HDMI is the current standard but is there a reason DisplayPort (obviously not mini DisplayPort) couldn't become the new standard? I thought it was good for future proofing as it's capable of unlimited resolution.

What's wrong with an argument or debate?
I'm unsure about the exact specs too, especially the dp/mini-dp differences and it looks like they're at least 6 months away from finalizing anyway.
I'm not hugely motivated either way as I don't own a macbook or any equipment with displayport.

My backwards step comment was mainly aimed towards the lack of HD sound (which looks pretty definite) and the fact that all hdtvs and tonnes of receivers have had hdmi inputs for ages.

 

[bruinsrme]

Before I begin, I'm just trying to gather some information since I'm pretty ignorant on the subject, not trying to get into an argument or debate about it.

Why is it a step backwards? And I understand HDMI is the current standard but is there a reason DisplayPort (obviously not mini DisplayPort) couldn't become the new standard? I thought it was good for future proofing as it's capable of unlimited resolution.

Because it would required to license the latest and great audio formats. To carry the new audio signals it would require a license from those companies. If Apple continued to offer it it for free it would have to pay those companies for each license they sold with the MDP. I don't think its a step backwards but an alternative to HDMI. Its taken 2.5 product cycles to get HDMI to be able to support 7 channel bitstream. I forsee many receivers in the very near future dumping so many connections to help keep costs and MSRP in check. Adding another digital port may be worth wihile.

 

[MasterNile]

What's wrong with an argument or debate?
I'm unsure about the exact specs too, especially the dp/mini-dp differences and it looks like they're at least 6 months away from finalizing anyway.
I'm not hugely motivated either way as I don't own a macbook or any equipment with displayport.

My backwards step comment was mainly aimed towards the lack of HD sound (which looks pretty definite) and the fact that all hdtvs and tonnes of receivers have had hdmi inputs for ages.

Lol, nothing wrong with a debate, however like I said I'm pretty ignorant on HD, I don't even own an HDTV. And I hope in the desktops they use DisplayPort rather than mini DisplayPort since it does carry audio. But I don't know if HDCP comes into play on this, does DisplayPort support HDCP?

Edit: It seems it has supported HDCP for at least a year.