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We hated Apple's tiny DVI ports because even though they used an industry standard, they were de facto proprietary connections. We were ready to hate Mini DisplayPort too, but we might not have to.
One part of the new MacBook experience that didn't exactly seem like much of an upgrade was the addition of HDCP for the new DisplayPort video connector, which left users unable to watch iTunes DRMed video content—HD or SD—on non-HDCP compliant external displays. This morning Apple released an update to ease the pain: protected SD content will now play on older DVI and VGA-connected displays. It's a step in the right direction, but the real mistake here probably wasn't including SD content under the HDCP umbrella—it was cramming the DRM tech into the laptops in the first place. [MacRumors]
While we liked the shiny unibody MacBooks, their new miniDisplay Port requires the use of a dual link DVI adaptor to drive the 30" CinemaDisplay. Not only is the adaptor $US100; it's a custom cord that can't exactly be spotted between the batteries and singing cards at the drug store. Now Apple has informed preorderers to expect their shipments no sooner than December 23rd—which just goes to show that in a fight between Steve Jobs and Santa Claus, Steve Jobs would win...or something like that. [9to5mac]
We put up with too many cables. There are at least four different kinds of USB plugs, two kinds of FireWire and like a million different ways to connect something to TV or monitor. Modern gadget life can be kind of retarded in this way. Why not one kind of cable, or just a couple? I don't know. But until everyone gets on the same appendage-to-hole scheme, in the meantime, you can use this: an illustrated guide to pretty much every kind of cable you will see in current gadgets and what it's used for (unless, you know, Sony springs a new one on us overnight, which is honestly possible).
This is not the first time a USB to DVI adaptor had come down the pipeline, but the new Gefen adaptor can drive an impressive 6 additional displays at 1600X1200 resolution. It is not great for larger monitors by any means, but at only US$129 it could be a relatively inexpensive solution. Gefen also notes that it "uses little computer resources" which means that there is at least a chance that this thing won't be a huge processor suck. Additional images after the break.
Anyone with newer displays has heard about DVI and HDMI connections. That's because DVI (Digitial Visual Interface) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) both pretty much do the same thing, transmitting digital hi def+ pictures to TVs and monitors. But HDMI, which can carry surround sound audio along with that pretty image in a single cord, appears to have won the battle.
As if we needed another display standard, along comes DisplayPort, approved last year and just about to sally forth on graphics cards and monitors everywhere. WTF do we need another standard for, anyway? Bandwidth, that's why. DisplayPort (plug pictured above at left, next to a Dual-link DVI cable) can handle a maximum 10.8Gb per second, carries 8 channels of digital audio as well as all that video, and has a bidirectional auxiliary channel that can also handle 1Mb per second. That's a lot of data. It could turn out to be a reliable, fast and easy-to-use bridge between computers and home theatre displays. But DisplayPort is not all sweetness and light.
Come with us into the world of fantasy, where there's just one kind of plug and its associated cable that will work for every electronic device. What we would like to see is one cable that carries audio, video and power to or from whatever device you need to use. It needs to be small, it needs to have tremendous bandwidth (perhaps using fibre optics), and it needs to be smart enough not to ruin anything you plug it into. It sure would beat the alphabet soup we have to deal with now.
Samsung has announced that it has developed the world's first LCD panel that uses DisplayPort. The 30-inch LCD, which goes into mass production in the second quarter of 2008, has 2560 x 1600 resolution thanks to the zippiness of the new interface which, at twice the speed of today's interfaces, transmits graphics data at 10.8Gbps.
Looking for a quick way to connect a secondary display to your PC? LG's new L206WU can be hooked up via DVI, VGA or USB. Like the Samsung LCD we saw earlier, this display can let you daisy-chain up to six units all via USB and without the need for a monster graphics card. Spec-wise, it's got a 1680x,050 resolution and a 2ms response time, which along with the larger screen size is more than enough to give that Samsung a run for its money.
LG L206WU 20" LCD Choice of Interfaces [Everything USB]
