One of Apple’s new iMac’s most nifty features is their ability to work as a standalone display for an external video source, such as another Mac or a console. Unfortunately that means your external source needs to have a Mini DisplayPort output, something in short supply unless you’re already toting a recent Apple product. Now Atlona Technologies have stepped in with the DP200, a DVI to Mini DisplayPort converter that’s officially compatible with the 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs.
Arriving top of the “you mean we didn’t already have an adapter for that?” list is Atlona’s DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter. The unassuming box sucks up your dual-link DVI input – such as from earlier MacBooks or many existing notebooks on the market – and then squirts it out via the new, compact connector increasingly featuring on high-end displays.
Where netbooks go, their deskbound nettop brethren eventually follow, and as NVIDIA’s Ion GPU has made its impact on the graphics capabilities of budget ultraportables, so it has its sights set on compact desktops too. ASRock and NVIDIA worked together on the ION 330-BD, a Blu-ray toting nettop that pairs Intel’s Atom processor with NVIDIA’s ION platform, and sent one over to prove to SlashGear that just because the footprint is small, it doesn’t mean the performance is too.
It’s not only the new dv6z Artist Edition and dv6t that HP are unveiling today: the company has also taken a knife to the price tags of their ultraportable Pavilion dv3t and Pavilion dv2z. The former, a 13.3-inch machine with Intel processors, went on sale back in April and now gets a $150 cut to $649.99. Meanwhile the dv2z with its 12.1-inch display and AMD Neo processor slides down a similar amount to $599.
A few weeks ago, Samsung Korea launched a series of low profile external LCD monitors intended to serve as notebook or netbook companion displays. Essentially, it’s a same LCD display as in Samsung’s current notebooks, but with adjustable height: when it stands, it’s as tall as your laptop to ensure everything lines up with no offset. However there’s more technology gone into the LapFit than the design; it also comes equipped with Samsung’s UbiSync technology aka the DisplayLink USB graphic chip embedded into the display, enabling plug-n-play monitor expansion via a simple USB connection. Last week SlashGear was offered an exclusive preview of the new breed of Samsung SyncMaster, a 19-inch LapFit dubbed the D190SU, and we took the bait.
After frustrating no small number of new MacBook buyers with the switch to Mini DisplayPort from DVI, Apple have announced that they will be offering no-fee licences to any accessory or peripheral manufacturer wanted to develop hardware using the connection. While the connection offers obvious benefits to Apple – smaller size, thus occupying less MacBook chassis space, plus compatibility with HDCP copy protection as demanded by iTunes content owners - it’s a rare sight in third-party monitors.
Apple has addressed the Mini DisplayPort HDCP issue with an update to QuickTime. Users had complained that, when using a Mini DisplayPort to DVI or VGA adapter cable, their new MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air refused to display standard definition content on attached monitors or projectors.
Apple have quietly discontinued the 23-inch Cinema HD Display, making room for the new 24-inch Cinema Display announced back in October. The 20-inch and 30-inch versions of the original are still available; however, only refurbished 23-inch models can be bought through Apple themselves.
Apples decision to go with Mini DisplayPort on their new MacBook and MacBook Pro machines, and not include the adapters free, initially frustrated many whose existing monitors simply lacked the connection. Now there’s a whole new level of annoyance, as it becomes clear that Apple have made use of HDCP (High-Definition Content Protection) which renders any display not supporting the encryption technology unable to show a growing amount of content bought through iTunes.
AOC seem to be on a roll with fresh displays, with a further three new models arriving today. Most interesting, perhaps, is the 2230Fm HD3 display, which combines a 22-inch 1080p LCD with a built-in media player. Plug a memory card or USB stick into either the USB port or 4-in-1 card reader, and you can access any photos or video stored on it through the HD3 menu system.
SlashGear Japan
