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Rumor: Apple prepping HDMI Macs

by Mike Schramm Mar 1st 2010 at 4:00PM

The picture above comes from AppleInsider, who are claiming that Apple is about to release a Mac mini with an HDMI port in place of the current DVI connector. And that sound you just heard was hundreds of thousands of mini-based entertainment center owners everywhere crying out in excitement, as a mini equipped with HDMI would be helpful indeed -- not only would it be super easy to hook your mini (and any other Macs that were granted the compatibility) up to any HDMI-equipped TV, but you'd be able to send sound, too, in just one easy cable rather than trying to work out separate solutions for both video and audio. The rumor's a little far fetched (AppleInsider only cites "sources," and we all know how reliable those can be), but still, it would be nice.

AI also claims that Apple is working on a proprietary adapter for DisplayPort-to-HDMI connections, since space is currently at a premium on other Macs and MacBooks. That would be a real shakeup -- it would eradicate the current market of third-party adapters at the very least. And they'd have to update the DisplayPort technology to include audio, so any HDMI adapter could run audio out as well. We'll see -- hold off on purchases for now, but know that Apple may be headed to HDMI-ville sooner rather than later.


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The picture above comes from AppleInsider, who are claiming that Apple is about to release a Mac mini with an HDMI port in place of the...
 

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PonTelon

The saddest part of that image is that there is still no sign of Light Peak. Come on Apple/Intel! Bring out that USB3.0 killer!

March 03 2010 at 10:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan

Yeah really. What's the point of having HDMI when you still can't use Blu-Ray? I understand the want to push for download-only, but until they sell 1080p videos through iTunes Blu-Ray is it.

March 03 2010 at 1:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kevin.pritchard

Ive had my Mac mini for over 2 years and bought it specifically to connect to my TV. All it took was a cheap (£5) adapter. What's the big deal? There was nothing difficult about integrating a mac mini into a living room. Are people really that easily confused? Besides... Do people really use the tinny speakers built into TVs?!

March 02 2010 at 2:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to kevin.pritchard's comment
LifeSux

this is an excellent point. i have a macbook pro hooked up to a lcd tv via displayport-->hdmi adapter. I run the audio via a mini jack cable to the tv. It requires an extra cable. what is the big deal? since when did apple owners become so clueless that they can't buy an adapter or hook up a cable?

I'd argue this hdmi would be more useful on a laptop, which would benefit more since it tends to move around and need cables connected and disconnected than with a desktop which tends to stay in place.

March 02 2010 at 7:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tsukasat.tiger

I agree with GadgetGav, as that is exactly what I am planing on doing. I will admit that I was excited about the HDMI port, but also came to the realisation that it would be pointless, what seems more plausable is Apple working in two mini display ports, or at the very least slightly incressing the capabilities of the GPU so it can better handle 1080i/p with ease.

im just wondering where this LightPeak port is and when the plan to main stream it. :(

March 02 2010 at 1:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GadgetGav

Why would an Apple Mini Display Port to HDMI connector 'eradicate the market'...? Have you noticed how much Apple charges for adapters versus say, Monoprice..? Monoprice makes an $11 cable that is mini display port on one end and HDMI on the other. No problem with space at the Mac mini end...
Anyone who is putting a Mac mini into a home theatre set up most likely has a receiver with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system - they're not using the cheesy speakers built into the TV, so whether or not you send audio on the HDMI cable doesn't matter. The audio switching can be handled in the receiver if it comes over another connection. The mini already has a digital audio output...

March 01 2010 at 8:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bayxsonic

IMO this won't happen anytime soon, it would be redundant, and Apple has good profits from adapters. What we may see is a mini-display port that includes audio (it should have been there already!)

March 01 2010 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeremy

Adding HDMI to the Mini, would give apple the ability to safely eliminate the AppleTV (a.k.a. the hobby) without calling a failure. This just makes the mac mini "the next step in the evolution of the AppleTV. The more robust mini would also be better suited to interact with the ipad. The iPad could use the mini as a server to get media from and vice versa. IF Apple is indeed a mobile device company, those millions of users are going to need a hub for all these devices to connect and sync with. a AppleTV / mini hybrid would be the perfect media/lifestyle hub.

March 01 2010 at 5:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JAQ

I'll bet $5 that the HDMI port enforces DRM.

March 01 2010 at 5:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JohnJohn

Maybe the soon to come MBP/Corei updates will have HDMI. Doubt it considering they have currently have the semi-new Mini Display, but I can dream right?

March 01 2010 at 5:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Yoshi1080

“[...] but you'd be able to send sound, too, in just one easy cable rather than trying to work out separate solutions for both video and audio.”

Wrong: DisplayPort supports audio as well. The reason Macs can't send audio over it is Apple doesn't want them to. So if Apple doesn't want audio over DisplayPort, why would it want audio over HDMI? Thing is, both standards support audio _optionally_, not obligatory.

Besides, why on earth would Apple want to include HDMI anyway? A standard that has the same functionality of DisplayPort (hey, in the App Store it would probably be banned because of “duplicate functionality”!) but much higher cost due to licensing fees? Which would introduce yet another cable which Steve Jobs loves so much?

HDMI in the Mini doesn't make any sense. Supporting audio over mDP does. Selling an Apple-branded mDP to HDMI adapter does.

March 01 2010 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Yoshi1080's comment
jhutch

The sentence still makes sense - since Apple won't allow audio output over mDP adapters, current solutions are unwieldy and usually involve the mDP port as well as a USB connection for sound. Mini DisplayPort does indeed support audio over a single connection but until Apple allows it for any use other than its own LED Cinema Display, the solutions have to be separate.

March 01 2010 at 4:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mabhatter

except the HDMI port is smaller than DVI. The current mini with DVI out doesn't support dual-link anyway, so electrically it's EXACTLY like HDMI. This lets Apple please the HTPC crowd while doing away with an extra adapter (and it will still connect to a regular monitor)

I'd think maybe the Apple TV will be rolled into the next mini which would fit with this rumor. It's a waste they haven't promoted the built in Front Row to feature match Apple TV's features and make it easy for people to spend $300 more on something!

March 02 2010 at 10:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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