Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter Finally Shipping!

It’s finally happened! Nearly six months after Apple took the wraps off its beautiful unibody MacBooks, a third party has finally shipped an adapter allowing direct hook-up to an HDMI display. I got my e-mail from Monoprice.com announcing the availability of the $14.25 part just a few minutes ago, and as you can see, it’s a box. With a Mini DisplayPort on one end and an HDMI port on the other. OK, so it’s not a super-cool gadget that I’ll flaunt in public. But it is a totally ideal way to get my MacBook hooked up to my HDTV. Now if only Apple had cared that was an obvious issue back when they released the MacBook in the first place…

Previously: I announce the rumor of the device’s arrival…

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About the author

Pete Mortensen is a design strategist for consulting firm Jump Associates and the co-author of Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy, a book and blog that are significantly more interesting than you might initially think. Pete's particular Apple avocations are both around design--interface and industrial. Follow him on Twitter!

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Posted in Hardware, Quickies |

Jon Carr
Can you send the HDMI signal into your computer and display the image on my MBP monitor?
Matt
Monoprice saves the day. It’s a crime that Apple didn’t have this device available when the new MBP’s shipped.
http://www.aztarcasinohotel.com AztarCasinoHotel
Was about time!
Schell
Ordered mine today. If nothing else, it’ll give me a good chance to see if adding a Mac Mini into my home entertainment system will be worth it or not.
JD
The real question is, does the Apple’s MB line support audio thru this one connection? I know the adapter supports it, but does the mini Display Port? Look forward to someone testing it out.
Scott
I’m guessing the answer is a big fat no, but I don’t suppose this does audio?
HandyMac
A little research determines that Monoprice also offers adapters for Mini Display Port to VGA and DVI:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428
and for Mini-DVI to VGA, DVI, HDMI:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419
(scroll down)
all at (naturally) considerably less than Apple’s prices.
So what’s the difference (and comparative advantages) between Mini Display Port to these various outputs vs. Mini DVI to same?
Shane
I’ll be getting one of these!
http://www.wiredtocare.com Pete Mortensen
Absolutely no difference, actually, if you’re using a Mac mini with both ports on the back. The main thing MDP has going for it is support for very high-resolution monitors, and potentially audio, though Apple doesn’t support it in software yet, from what I hear.
If you’re on a MacBook, MDP is the only game in town, and since Apple doesn’t make an HDMI adapter, that makes this product thrilling…
http://www.wiredtocare.com Pete Mortensen
Almost certainly a no on audio, but we won’t actually know until one of these arrives — I expect mine on Thursday or Friday.
http://www.virtualmatt.com Matt
I got mine in the mail today; it doesn’t seem to carry audio :(
http://whenwillappple.com Justin
I just did my review of this for my blog and like others have said, NO, it doesn’t send any audio. I do have hope for a future software update though, as the adapter does support audio:
# Support uncompressed audio such as LPCM
# Support compressed audio such as DTS Digital, Dolby Digital (including DTS-HD and Dolby True HD)
…and the Mini DisplayPort specifications support it as well according to the wiki page. So maybe a firmware or OS update will be coming at some point to allow for sound. This would make this the killer adapter to have when (if) it supports audio.