Monoprice Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI Adaptor Hands-On: HD iTunes Now Plays On TVs
Monoprice sent us their $US14 Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter, and we tested it with some protected content to see if it solved one of the new MacBook’s biggest monitor compatibility problems. Sure enough, it did.
Apple is still to blame for not adopting HDMI, but at least this solution is somewhat helpful. See, most run-of-the-mill flat-panel TVs are HDCP compliant, but a lot of monitors are not. So, when you have the adaptor, there is suddenly a massive population of screens that you can use that you otherwise cannot.
There are some things to keep in mind with this adapter:
1. It’s only going to give you video output—you will have to find another way to route your audio from your new MacBook or MacBook Pro.
2. Even though the HDMI jack allows you to connect to a bunch of TVs that can handle HDCP, it doesn’t mean you can get around HDCP. When we tried to watch the same movie using the other adaptor, a Mini DP-to-DVI, on an older monitor, we were told we were not allowed:
Bottom line: If you own a MacBook or MacBook Pro, and you have iTunes video content you want to watch on a flat-panel TV, you had better get one of these. Maybe one day Apple will learn that HDMI isn’t inherently evil, and all these adapters won’t be necessary. [Monoprice]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
The article states, “Apple is still to blame for not adopting HDMI” — but why should they? HDMI is not intended as a computer monitor interconnect, which is what laptops require. It is not at all a matter of “maybe one day Apple will learn that HDMI isn’t inherently evil,” and the author’s misconception shakes my trust in Gizmodo’s reliability.