What do people think about that?

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables must be withdrawn | News | TechRadar (http://www.techradar.com/news/home-cinema/thousands-of-apple-hdmi-cables-must-be-withdrawn-976455)

The story is a bit inconsistant - the head line says must be withdrawn and then in the story the wording is several times should not be sold.

The rationale provided by HTML.org is pretty flimsy if I really want to be generous.
Actually makes no sense at all if a Mini Display port to HDMI connector dongle is acceptable.
Electrically the dongle and the cable are identical except for the cable length and the gender of the connector.

Question is, is there a spec to test the Mini DVI to HTML dongle against?
If so, it's easy enough to adapt that to include the Mini Display Port HDMI cable.
If not, why is the dongle then legal?

Someone at HDMI.org just woke up and noticed that they are missing out on lots of licensing dollars.

BTW - There is probably nothing actually "illegal" in selling a Mini Display port to HDMI cable; even if there is, Chinese manufacturers and sellers will just have a field day because they won't pull these off the market.

Given that these stories are a year old, it's obviously not a recall with any teeth.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables deemed "illegal," millions to be recalled ? Computer Chips & Hardware Technology | Geek.com (http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/mini-displayport-to-hdmi-cables-deemed-illegal-millions-to-be-recalled-2011079/)

Even Apple is still selling them.

Kanex Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable with Audio Support (10 ft./3 m) - Apple Store (Canada) (http://store.apple.com/ca/product/H4637ZM/A)

Though why on earth you'd want to spend $45 for it, instead of oh, $7, or $10 is beyond me.

For only $7.42 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 6ft 32AWG Mini DisplayPort to HDMI® Cable - White | Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cables (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024603&p_id=5995&seq=1&format=2)

Yellowknife - Premium Mini Display Port 6-Feet (2M) White MDP Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Male Adapter Cable: Amazon.ca: Electronics (http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B006MD29TY/ref=asc_df_B006MD29TY2072094?smid=A2UB5780NRC5IR&linkCode=asn&creative=395393&creativeASIN=B006MD29TY&tag=shopbotca-20)

Given that these stories are a year old, it's obviously not a recall with any teeth.

You know, I actually looked at the date but 2011 didn't register, neither did "July"
I read June 2012 into it and thought - oh that is quite current.

Wait, HDMI and MDP are designed to carry the same audio/video signal. I wonder if it was just a "holy **** this is a way around our DRM" moment?

Also that article is pretty poorly written. Not really relevant, except that it irks me.

Also, there's no link to any actual recall or notice from HDMI Licensing LLC, which is what it's called not "HDMI Org."

So I am pretty sure it's just bullshit.

I guess the HDMI (http://www.hdmi.org) folks were told to poke it...

Odd that I could not find any mention of "Mini DisplayPort" with a search on their site.

Also they seemed to be a bit hypocritical with their "acceptance" of any "licensed" HDMI cables with HDMI connectors at each end, while also allowing and accepting the use of the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI dongle/adapters that had different connectors on the cable ends. Oh right, the dongle/adapters used just a female HDMI connector on one end which I guess was allowed!!!

Edit: HDMI.org: Your Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable is “unlicensed and should not be sold” | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence (http://9to5mac.com/2011/07/08/hdmi-org-your-mini-displayport-to-hdmi-cable-is-unlicensed-and-should-not-be-sold/)

I bought a bunch of the mini display port to hdmi which carries video and audio last year - because I hear it was banned.
seriously - it is the dumbest law I have heard.. its okay to carry video buy not sound.. come on really?!?

Does anyone know what the current status of this is?
The most recent article I could find was dated March 2012 and nothing seems to have changed since June of last year.

A mDP to HDMI cable still cannot be licensed officially but they are still sold in large quantities and not just by the Chinese.

I just bought a mDP to DVI cable through Amazon.ca, theoretically that should be banned as well but mine was shipped, no problem.

Bought a mini display port to hdmi cable yesterday at Canada Computer. Tons of the cables displayed.

You can't beat Monoprice, can you?

$6.65 + $3.65 shipping = $10.30 to Toronto. Might as well get a handful of them.

For only $5.70 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Mini DisplayPort | Thunderbolt® to HDMI® Adapter w/ Audio Support | Mini DisplayPort to HDMI / DVI / VGA Adapters (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2)

You can't beat Monoprice, can you?

$6.65 + $3.65 shipping = $10.30 to Toronto. Might as well get a handful of them.

For only $5.70 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Mini DisplayPort | Thunderbolt® to HDMI® Adapter w/ Audio Support | Mini DisplayPort to HDMI / DVI / VGA Adapters (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2)

Nope that is why I linked to it in the other thread...

Nope that is why I linked to it in the other thread...

Link? :)

duplicate post :o

It was the first response in the thread that spawned this one and you posted in as well. ;)

How to connect New MacPro to new Samsung Monitor. (http://www.ehmac.ca/mac-ipod-help-troubleshooting/100826-how-connect-new-macpro-new-samsung-monitor.html)

Bought a mini display port to hdmi cable yesterday at Canada Computer. Tons of the cables displayed.

I don't think the cables they are selling offer sound and video only video..
I think the issue was video and sound over the same cable.

hmm. specs say it does both.. wonder if there is a way to confirm..

You can't beat Monoprice, can you?

$6.65 + $3.65 shipping = $10.30 to Toronto. Might as well get a handful of them.

For only $5.70 each when QTY 50+ purchased - Mini DisplayPort | Thunderbolt® to HDMI® Adapter w/ Audio Support | Mini DisplayPort to HDMI / DVI / VGA Adapters (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2)

Can anyone comment on this statement on the Monoprice page?

Note* On some models of Mac® computers the connector may block access to the adjacent USB accessory port.

I don't see how a properly designed cable can possibly block other ports.

$10.- shipped is pretty much the going rate for this cable.
Here as well:
1.8m Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable (White) - IM077W at US$ 10.71 (http://www.focalprice.com/IM077W/18m_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Cable_White.html?SSAI D=470314)

Can anyone comment on this statement on the Monoprice page?



I don't see how a properly designed cable can possibly block other ports.

$10.- shipped is pretty much the going rate for this cable.
Here as well:
1.8m Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable (White) - IM077W at US$ 10.71 (http://www.focalprice.com/IM077W/18m_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Cable_White.html?SSAI D=470314)

I can't comment for sure on it as I don't have the cable, but what it probably means is that the outer shell of the connector may be too thick and block space that a cable connector would need to get into the USB port which is right beside the HDMI port. I'm not sure if there are any rules on space or clearance between ports. So a connector shell from one cable could block another connector's shell.

The shell of that cable you link to does look a little thick.

Seems like certain MacBook and cable combination have problems.
Amazon.com: JB's review of 6Ft Mini DisplayPort to DVI Male Adapter C... (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1IL0CSC1L8MIP/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1IL0CSC1L8MIP)

What won't work for sure are some USB adapters.
I have a little USB/SD card reader which is the width of a full sized SD card, that barely fits into the USB ports on the side of a Dell 23-inch monitor and those USB ports are well spaced.
From what I read, the port spacing on the MacBook just meets the minimum spec. so any cable that is even a bit wider than the spec allows would interfere with an adjacent one. Cables Apple sells are apparently OK, but others may not be like the Monoprice one.

I'd go with Monoprice over Focalprice any and every time, especially with the price point being the same.


Can anyone comment on this statement on the Monoprice page?



I don't see how a properly designed cable can possibly block other ports.

$10.- shipped is pretty much the going rate for this cable.
Here as well:
1.8m Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable (White) - IM077W at US$ 10.71 (http://www.focalprice.com/IM077W/18m_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Cable_White.html?SSAI D=470314)

I'd go with Monoprice over Focalprice any and every time, especially with the price point being the same.

I have ordered from both.
No problem with either one of them or their merchandize.

i have had very, very mixed success with mono price MDP-HDMI anything. I've tried the adapter, tried the cable...neither of them work 100% of the time

the issue lies in the HDCP...if you're connecting the laptop to a display thats hdcp compliant (i.e. most TVs) you'll often end up with a plain black screen on the TV as the crappy mono price adapter fails to negotiate the HDCP handshake properly.

the laptop knows you have a TV plugged into it (and you'll often see the TVs model number in display prefs) but you can't get an image on the TV...

as i mentioned i have tried with the mdp-hdmi cable, the map-hdmi adapter and had the same issue with older mono price mini dvi-hdmi adapters (for pre UB MacBooks)

YMMV, but i would avoid that stuff like the plague

WOW!! No wonder some good working HDMI cables cost so much when I read some of the "control" specs if I've understood some of it, and just who is and what does the HDMI Licensing LLC group actually do and control?
HDMI (http://www.hdmi.org/) if I've got the correct site and all their conditions.

From what I read, it's almost akin to some legalized Mafia type control group and I have no idea what they do exactly, but money seems to work. ;)

First, any "Licensed" HDMI cable manufacturer to be "legal" must be a registered "Adopter" which Apple has been since 2006, and second, then each 'adopter' must pay $10,000.00 annually to maintain their "adopter" status.

"HDMI Adopters pay an annual fee of ten thousand dollars (US$10000). The annual fee is due upon the execution of the Adopter Agreement, ..."

Oh, I almost forgot, then the paid up "adopter" manufacturer must submit a royalty for each and every HDMI cable device they make.

So what do they actually do and what do they do with all that money??

The list of legit "adopters" is huge, as is their list of dropped "adopters". ie: pay up or else I guess!!

And still no guarantee on any cable or dongle/adapter actually certified and/or working - or any recent confirmation of any "Illegal" cables or adapter action. Gheese!!

Edit: changed my mistake of @10,000.00 to $10,000.00.

My adapter obtained from Amazon Canada cost me about $15 including shipping and has worked flawlessly including great audio for a full year now on my Samsung HDTV. If it's illegal, I like it. ;)

Maybe it's not BS, but maybe the HDMI Licensing LLC has no practical power to actually do anything about it.