DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters are now illegal to sell

All manufacturers of Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables have been notified this week that their products are illegal and should be recalled.

HDMI Org says all DP male-to-HDMI male connectors are unlicensed as they are out of HDMI spec.

DisplayPort is a popular system on Apple Macs, and is also used by some Dell monitors and Toshiba notebooks.

Notes HDMI Org (via TR):

The HDMI specification defines an HDMI cable as having only HDMI connectors on the ends. Anything else is not a licensed use of the specification and therefore, not allowed.

All HDMI products undergo compliance testing as defined by the Compliance Testing Specification.

The CTS clearly defines necessary tests for all products defined in the HDMI Specification. Since this new cable product is undefined in the Specification, there are no tests associated with this product. It cannot be tested against the Specification.

HDMI Org does say they agree there is a need for these kind of cables, but they do not see how to make "a licensed version" anytime soon.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Jul 2011 0:48

xnonsuchx

If it's only a cable requirement, I wonder if you can technically have a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter block (as long as it has no built-in cable)?

11.7.2011 00:59 #1

Jeffrey_P

BS, I have a Monoprice multi in and output 1080P to whatever switching unit. It can take 4 inputs and 2 switchable outputs. You can wire a house with that puppy.
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

Jeff

11.7.2011 01:41 #2

21Q

There is even a staples brand of this kind of cable. How could so many be made if they are illegal I'll never understand.

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11.7.2011 01:45 #3

KillerBug

I have never heard a better reason to switch away from HDMI...f**k those guys.

http://www.killerbug.net

11.7.2011 04:21 #4

DarthMopar

I miss my component/ fiber optic setup. Better picture (brighter), and sound was just as good.

11.7.2011 04:59 #5

navi1199

well... you can always get them from china! better stock up on these before you can no longer find them

11.7.2011 05:25 #6

Jeffrey_P

It takes a while for HDMI to display a picture because it's doing handshakes to make sure you are legal. What a crock 'o shit.
Jeff

11.7.2011 07:30 #7

hearme0

And what about DVI > HDMI????

Why aren't they pissy about that?

On another note......"Display Port (DP)" is just the stupidest F'ing thing/idea ever! Kinda like the Penny......LOSE IT NOW!

11.7.2011 11:06 #8

Jeffrey_P

DVI-D> HDMI is what I use with my Denon 3805. The model does not have a HDMI in or output.
I use optical for audio.
Fook the HDMI control Nazis.
Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

11.7.2011 11:10 #9

skeil909

Originally posted by hearme0:
On another note......"Display Port (DP)" is just the stupidest F'ing
thing/idea ever! Kinda like the Penny......LOSE IT NOW! "HDMI is based on legacy CRT raster-scan architecture. DisplayPort is designed for modern flat-panel displays and PC chipsets. DisplayPort has a micro-packet architecture with low voltage signaling that more easily enables networked displays. In the future, DisplayPort will also allow daisy chaining displays at full graphics performance, including 3D. and content protection. Today's USB-based daisy-chaining solutions do not support high performance 3D graphics or protected content.

DisplayPort supports higher performance as a standard feature-every 6-foot cable supports 10.8 Gbps. With HDMI, high performance is optional and comes at a significant cost premium. DisplayPort has better support for projectors and enables cool ultra-thin monitors. It supports native fiber optic cable and offers latching connectors, features that are missing from HDMI. Down the road, DisplayPort will allow multi-function monitors with a single cable delivering display, audio, and USB connectivity. It will also support multiple monitors on a single connector."

"DisplayPort version 1.2 was approved on December 22, 2009. Most significant improvement of the new version is the doubling of the effective bandwidth to 17.28 Gbit/s, which allows increased resolutions, higher refresh rates, and greater color depth. Other improvements include multiple independent video streams (daisy-chain connection with multiple monitors), support for stereoscopic 3D, increased AUX channel bandwidth (from 1 Mbit/s to 720 Mbit/s), support for more color spaces including xvYCC, scRGB and Adobe RGB 1998, and Global Time Code (GTC) for sub 1 �s audio/video synchronisation."

DP seems better and is royalty-free. HDMI appears to be the "penny" in this case.

11.7.2011 13:13 #10

Jeffrey_P

Yes HDMI is better. You need to have ver. 1.4 HDMI for 3D support.
I think the question is.... Is it really worth it for Joe Sixpack?

Talking to people on the this board. Most do not have 5.1 audio as yet. It is high end that comes at a cost. Like building a hot rod car, "How fast do you want to go. How much money do you have to spend?"
Also they settle for poor audio and video quality.
It's all personal preference.
Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

11.7.2011 13:28 #11

LordRuss

Seems to me this is a format that is keeping with forward thinking & ingenuity. Again, somebody didn't grease the right pockets or play the right games, or whatever the politics of this completely greed ridden society has come to fell into place & now no one gets to play.

Personally I don't think anything will come too far about it simply because there has been far too much money spent on it already. Far too many companies will hang the squall bags bitching about their wallets not being fattened because they didn't step up to the fair access trough when they should have.

And then I could be speaking just slightly out of context with the 'fair access' thing too, seeing as I'm not 100% read-in on the mini displayport as the bulk of this crowd is. But seeing as fast as the technology hit the street and with little or no aversion to its inclusion then, what's to say theory doesn't hold a little water?

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

11.7.2011 15:06 #12

Azuran

Quote:
HDMI Org does say they agree there is a need for these kind of cables, but they do not see how to make someone pay them for this anytime soon. Fix'd.

11.7.2011 19:42 #13

KillerBug

This isn't about lack of bribes...HDMI is the standard right now, and they will fight hard to prevent something better from gradually replacing it. The best way to do this? Block the cables that allow you to connect a new displayport monitor/TV to your existing components, and block the cables that allow you to connect a new displayport video card to an old HDMI monitor/TV.

I have a solution.

Instead of selling the cables as, "HDMI to DisplayPort", they need to make a new variant of HDMI...some tiny change like making the pins 0.001MM longer than spec (and then making the tolerances of the new spec all negative, so they overlap HDMI tolerances ranges except for that last 0.001MM). Then they could make up their own name for it, and in the product pages there could be a big thing that says, "This cable is not approved for HDMI connections, but it works like a charm anyway"

http://www.killerbug.net

12.7.2011 00:21 #14

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by KillerBug: This isn't about lack of bribes...HDMI is the standard right now, and they will fight hard to prevent something better from gradually replacing it. The best way to do this? Block the cables that allow you to connect a new displayport monitor/TV to your existing components, and block the cables that allow you to connect a new displayport video card to an old HDMI monitor/TV.

I have a solution.

Instead of selling the cables as, "HDMI to DisplayPort", they need to make a new variant of HDMI...some tiny change like making the pins 0.001MM longer than spec (and then making the tolerances of the new spec all negative, so they overlap HDMI tolerances ranges except for that last 0.001MM). Then they could make up their own name for it, and in the product pages there could be a big thing that says, "This cable is not approved for HDMI connections, but it works like a charm anyway" I make my own cables when it is possible. Have all the tools to do so.
Still the point is people try to dictate a standard with many do's and dont's
"Fight the powa!"
Until my last breath I will do what I can to rub shit in the faces of money grubbing idiots.
Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

12.7.2011 00:32 #15

Blessedon

Watch TV shows by cable on the flat-screen at night;
in the morning gripe about Hollywood, cable companies, and manufacturers.

Drive to Wal-mart for food in the morning;
at night gripe about gas prices, big corporations, and food safety.

and on and on....

To gripe about something and do it anyway is...well, pick an adjective.

12.7.2011 09:52 #16

IguanaC64

I thought it would be convenient to use a HDMI cable from my video card to my monitor as my primary video/audio cable. It works, but you can never see your bios post...you have to kind of take it for granted that your computer is booting because no video shows up until after the login screen comes up (was a real pita when I upgraded my bios and my machine quit booting because the new bios wanted to boot from the wrong hard drive by default...had to go fish out an old monitor I had laying around to fix it...bios would never display via HDMI).

My wife has a 3' hdmi cable and she gets all sorts of weird video artifacts. Never had these issues with VGA/DVI cables (even cheap ones).

Going back to DVI...HDMI is just not workable as a computer cable.

12.7.2011 18:17 #17

Jeffrey_P

It's not syncing with low resolution. That's why you do not see anything while booting.
You need a monitor that can...
Jeff

12.7.2011 19:45 #18

Blessedon

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: It's not syncing with low resolution. That's why you do not see anything while booting.
You need a monitor that can...
Jeff Not so; restricting access to BIOS over HDMI or DVI is part of the HDCP agreement, and is designed into every card.

12.7.2011 21:56 #19

Jeffrey_P

I'm afraid you are wrong.
It's the monitor.
The problem is when a PC boots it is not compatible with old school stuff.
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7591_102-395507/no-video-signal-at-boot-after-upgrading-monitor/
If I use my Plasma TV as an output, it will not sync at low res until the Windows splash screen. Plain and simple it can't do 640x480 with a HDMI input. 480i minimum.
I would have to use the RGB port to watch while it boots. I'm not about to run VGA.
Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

13.7.2011 00:02 #20

Mrguss

Originally posted by KillerBug: This isn't about lack of bribes...HDMI is the standard right now, and they will fight hard to prevent something better from gradually replacing it..... Agree:
....Component, S-video, and composite video support will be eliminated entirely within the next two years.....
http://gear.ign.com/articles/118/1181872p1.html

+4000

13.7.2011 04:29 #21

KillerBug

Originally posted by Blessedon: Watch TV shows by cable on the flat-screen at night;
in the morning gripe about Hollywood, cable companies, and manufacturers.

Drive to Wal-mart for food in the morning;
at night gripe about gas prices, big corporations, and food safety.

and on and on....

To gripe about something and do it anyway is...well, pick an adjective. If you buy from WalMart, then you are a part of the problem...it does not matter if you complain about them or not. I don't buy from WalMart, I don't buy from Sony, I don't buy from Kellogg's. I don't support corporations who break laws and exploit customers in broad daylight...if you support those who are systematically destroying the american way of life, you are no better than an Al Qaeda supporter as far as I'm concerned.

http://www.killerbug.net

13.7.2011 05:13 #22

SoulGLOW

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by Blessedon: Watch TV shows by cable on the flat-screen at night;
in the morning gripe about Hollywood, cable companies, and manufacturers.

Drive to Wal-mart for food in the morning;
at night gripe about gas prices, big corporations, and food safety.

and on and on....

To gripe about something and do it anyway is...well, pick an adjective. If you buy from WalMart, then you are a part of the problem...it does not matter if you complain about them or not. I don't buy from WalMart, I don't buy from Sony, I don't buy from Kellogg's. I don't support corporations who break laws and exploit customers in broad daylight...if you support those who are systematically destroying the american way of life, you are no better than an Al Qaeda supporter as far as I'm concerned. your damn Right about that!!!

13.7.2011 06:11 #23

IndigoAK

Originally posted by IguanaC64: I thought it would be convenient to use a HDMI cable from my video card to my monitor as my primary video/audio cable. It works, but you can never see your bios post...you have to kind of take it for granted that your computer is booting because no video shows up until after the login screen comes up (was a real pita when I upgraded my bios and my machine quit booting because the new bios wanted to boot from the wrong hard drive by default...had to go fish out an old monitor I had laying around to fix it...bios would never display via HDMI).

My wife has a 3' hdmi cable and she gets all sorts of weird video artifacts. Never had these issues with VGA/DVI cables (even cheap ones).

Going back to DVI...HDMI is just not workable as a computer cable. Sounds like your video card doesn't fully support the HDMI standard. I have a Radeon HD5870 and I can see POST and interact with the BIOS setup menu just fine.

15.7.2011 07:42 #24

IguanaC64

I have a Radeon 6950, MSI 1155 based mobo...maybe it's an issue with my monitor. 28" Hanspree TV/Monitor (max resolution is 1920x1200...possibly doesn't support 640x480 or 800x600...should be able to test by trying to set my resolution to that in Windows).

I need to check my wife's machine. I have a Radeon 5450 in that with a regular Asus 23" monitor that I don't think I can see the bios on either.

15.7.2011 11:18 #25

IndigoAK

Originally posted by IguanaC64: I have a Radeon 6950, MSI 1155 based mobo...maybe it's an issue with my monitor. 28" Hanspree TV/Monitor (max resolution is 1920x1200...possibly doesn't support 640x480 or 800x600...should be able to test by trying to set my resolution to that in Windows).

I need to check my wife's machine. I have a Radeon 5450 in that with a regular Asus 23" monitor that I don't think I can see the bios on either. Mine is a 32" Sony Bravia EX500 and it definitely supports 640x580 and 800x600, so yours does not you might be on to something.

15.7.2011 23:18 #26

Interestx

Originally posted by IguanaC64: Going back to DVI...HDMI is just not workable as a computer cable. I can relate to that, I had a card which lost its handshake every time I did anything on the HTPC.
I changed it for a different card & now it rarely happens but you are right, if I want to use the bios screen none of the 3 cards I've tried so far ever allow you that, you have to use a different monitor.

I was worried about driver updates but strangely my HTPC won't work with the receiver when I remove the old driver, but I can plug the HDMI cable directly into the TV and everything works and lets me carry on updating.

It's a real PITA that it doesn't just work properly at all times, but then again those annoying times are now few & far between and I do find the single cable solution giving me proper HD images & lossless audio a plus.

16.7.2011 14:43 #27

pmshah

After reading all the posts I feel quite sure that the problem is with the monitor.

Lat month I bought a 24" Samsung TV/Monitor. I had to connect it to my PCs via VGA port as I am also using 1 4 port KVM switch.

Now the best part. At boot time - bios output - it displays at 640x 480. When my boot manager kicks in it switches to 800x600. As the Windows splash screen comes up it switches to 1024x768. And finally when the desktop comes up it switches to 1960x1080 - full HDMI. At every point the monitor displays the resolution in a small window in the top left corner for a few seconds.

Now the ultra special bonus - at least for me. It has a USB port to which I can connect any kind of USB storage media. It fully powers and supports single port USB hard disks like the Seagate FreeAgent Go drives. It plays every kind of media file I have vob, avi and mkv directly. Codecs supported include AVC, AAC, xvid, divx, AC3, DTS, all versions of mpeg, just to name a few. It also supports USB connected DVD drives, including the single port connection types. The most demanding one I have is a 16 gb mkv at 12 mbps bitrate. Plays flawlessly without a single glitch. BTW my phenom based PC also plays this same file flawlessly connected through the VGA port.

So I don't need my Sigma Design based media player any more.

But then the models sold in US are generally lame. Most BD players don't support divX/xvid while same models sold in Canada do. Again Sony TVs with USB port don't support avi (divx/xvid). Other brands that do most likely wont play any file larger than 1 GB.

17.7.2011 01:25 #28

rottenotto (unverified)

please correct your title........ the link-back is titled "Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables must be withdrawn"

Thats not quite the same thing............

17.7.2011 22:08 #29

Zoo_Look

Why not label them as "HDMI compatible" cables... ink cartridges are "Epson compatible" et all, with no licensing problems from what I can see.

17.7.2011 23:27 #30

seegee

5.10.2011 00:36 #31

Zoo_Look

But isn't the American way of life to systematically destroy everything anyway?

5.10.2011 03:22 #32

KillerBug

Originally posted by Zoo_Look: But isn't the American way of life to systematically destroy everything anyway? No, that is the American way of government.

5.10.2011 06:11 #33

Zoo_Look

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by Zoo_Look: But isn't the American way of life to systematically destroy everything anyway? No, that is the American way of government. Are you contradicting yourself now?

That is surely the way of the American people, since they vote the systematically destructive government in. So they are supporting them, in the same way that you imply buying from a corporation like Walmart or Sony is complicit in illegal activities.

Therefore, the American general population is ALSO no better then a terrorist sympathiser.

Saying that, I don't REALLY understand how buying an HDMI cable is "no better" then saying "Well, its only a few thousand dead. Could have been more if they tried harder. I was more worried about the dust on my car - not to mention the noise and not being able to get into work."

5.10.2011 06:44 #34

DXR88

Originally posted by Zoo_Look: Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by Zoo_Look: But isn't the American way of life to systematically destroy everything anyway? No, that is the American way of government. Are you contradicting yourself now?

That is surely the way of the American people, since they vote the systematically destructive government in. So they are supporting them, in the same way that you imply buying from a corporation like Walmart or Sony is complicit in illegal activities.

Therefore, the American general population is ALSO no better then a terrorist sympathiser.

Saying that, I don't REALLY understand how buying an HDMI cable is "no better" then saying "Well, its only a few thousand dead. Could have been more if they tried harder. I was more worried about the dust on my car - not to mention the noise and not being able to get into work." only half of the American population that can vote does so and that's a rough estimate. I could vote but why would i? the only three real choices i have is Corrupt politician A, Corrupt politician B or Soon to be Corrupt Politician C.

there is very little point in voting so much so id be willing to Bet my ass that if nobody voted one of those 3 Corrupt Politicians would still wind up behind that desk of lies.

Voting is just an illusion to keep you me and Joe blow feeling important.

5.10.2011 07:13 #35

Blessedon

It is difficult to debate others who possess no facts, only blanket rhetoric and condemnation mindsets - but I will try-again:

The liberal world at-large is clueless about Americans. But who can blame them, when most just stare into the telly and believe it, never asking themselves what's missing. Never understanding that everything, without exception, it excretes is a lie. Lies fostered by large corporations whose singular goal is to control mobs into believing "The Other Guy" is the bad one. Most people believe what they have been told to believe, and so, end up doing the dirty work of perpetuating the lie, as is happening here, to the benefit of their manipulators.

Most, but certainly not all politicians are hard-working, honest people. A minority of the most corrupt are the most powerful. Which is why the two-edged sword of term-limits is so badly needed. The oldsters have the power to essentially bludgeon junior members into submission.
I have met, and correspond with my representatives regularly - which makes me the exception - and I can assure you they are, by and large, decent people doing their best, in a system that has been corrupted by the 17th amendment.
It's passage was pushed by banks and insurance companies who knew that with elections they can bribe politicians. The founders knew this also, and so make the Senate members appointed directly from the states.
If the 17th amendment can be repealed, we, the people will regain control of most of our government.

We are no different than you; we love, we are naive, we want peace, we are angry, we fear...
Disasters the world over have, since our inception, seen the American populace pour out their love, volunteers, work, and generosity. We just can't seem to give enough to make the world forgive us the the stupidity of a few powerful, stupid leaders!
We are naive and trusting - not mean.

5.10.2011 07:56 #36

Zoo_Look

Lets get one thing clear, I never said you were stupid, naive, indecent or anything else.

The point I was making that Killerbug's sweeping condemnation of someone buying a HDMI cable from Walmart or a PS3 from Sony as being in some way an Al-Qaeda sympathiser is incredulous at best.

Additionally, he was responding to a post by Blessedon stating "To gripe about something and do it anyway is...well, pick an adjective." I would go further and say "To gripe about something and NOT EVEN ATTEMPT to effect change is...well, pick an adjective."

And again I ask, how is buying an HDMI cable "no better" then harbouring or funding mass murder on the part of a terrorist. I don't get the analogy... AT ALL! There is a product you want, you buy it. There is a market for it or you wouldn't want it. If you don't want it, don't buy it.

I still say the easiest solution is to market the cables as "compatible", ink manufacturers have been doing this for decades, and still do.

5.10.2011 08:28 #37

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