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Preparing for a Mac Mini-base Media Center

Undecided said:
WTF?!? :mad:

And to think I was just about to pull the trigger on buying a new mini.

The reality is that this just pushes people toward pirating. Whether it's lack of support by Netflix, limited selection at iTunes, or DRM that prevents you from even using what you buy, the fact is that sometimes it's just easier to pirate stuff. :cool:
Click to expand...

It's DRM music all over again. The video content providers will eventually figure out that this only annoys the legitimate buyer, but until then...
 
Alan S said:
This is a very interesting point. I didn't even now about HDCP when starting this thread. Here is a question, which might seem dumb, but I need to ask.

Are all HDTV monitors (like the Samsung LCD HDTV) HDCP compliant?
Does an HDMI connection on the HDTV monitor automatically imply it uses HDCP?
Do I need to be asking more questions than just "what types of connectors do you have?" when looking at HDTVs?
Click to expand...

Most HDMI displays support HDCP. The problem is that the only Apple device that support HDCP over HDMI is the AppleTV; a mac with a DVI->HDMI cable doesn't support HDCP and thus won't play iTunes HD content.
 
vga4life said:
No. The big deal is that Apple only sends HDCP over miniDisplayPort signalling on macs. An HDCP-compliant DVI display (or HDMI display connected via DVI-HDMI cable) won't work on a mac for watching HDCP-protected content like iTunes HD programming.
Click to expand...

sure, a DVI-HDMI cable might not work... but if you go out the miniDP to HDMI (the adapter coming from monoprice), there's no evidence that this won't work.... and most likely it will work. So again, for the mini going to an HDTV, this is not going to be a problem.
 
bigbossbmb said:
sure, a DVI-HDMI cable might not work... but if you go out the miniDP to HDMI (the adapter coming from monoprice), there's no evidence that this won't work.... and most likely it will work. So again, for the mini going to an HDTV, this is not going to be a problem.
Click to expand...

I sure hope so - too bad that adapter is almost 3 months late by now and still no sign of it.
 
Dvi -> Vga?

What about miniDVI -> VGA?

I have a miniDVI -> VGA adapter that I currently use on MacBook (late 2007) to play things to my projector.

If I use that with a mini, any guesses with whether HD content from iTunes would be blocked?
 
vga4life said:
Most HDMI displays support HDCP. The problem is that the only Apple device that support HDCP over HDMI is the AppleTV; a mac with a DVI->HDMI cable doesn't support HDCP and thus won't play iTunes HD content.
Click to expand...

bigbossbmb said:
sure, a DVI-HDMI cable might not work... but if you go out the miniDP to HDMI (the adapter coming from monoprice), there's no evidence that this won't work.... and most likely it will work. So again, for the mini going to an HDTV, this is not going to be a problem.
Click to expand...

Apple has a mini-DP to DVI adapter, right. Many HDTVs have DVI ports that are HDCP compliant. Would this work?

How about using the mini-DP to DVI adapter, then a DVI-HDMI cable. Would this preserve the HDCP signal?

I kinda think that iLounge didn't go the whole distance in testing this. Hopefully someone will be able to confirm whether mini-DP to DVI works.

ft
 
bigbossbmb said:
sure, a DVI-HDMI cable might not work... but if you go out the miniDP to HDMI (the adapter coming from monoprice), there's no evidence that this won't work.... and most likely it will work. So again, for the mini going to an HDTV, this is not going to be a problem.
Click to expand...

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2

Additionally the miniDisplayPort to HDMI cable from monoprice "stated" to ship starting Mar. 27th, has the following:

monoprice site said:
*NOTE* AUDIO: This adapter will support audio only if your source device allows audio output through the Mini DisplayPorts interface. If you're not sure, please check with the manufacturer or website, to confirm if your device allows audio out through the Mini-DP interface.
Click to expand...

So, does this mean that with this cable will handle both video AND AUDIO for the Mac Mini? No need for a separate audio cable as with the DVI connectors?


I'll plan on using this cable. I'm sure we will soon know if it is HDCP compliant (and I'll do the test myself - at the end of April - in the unlikely event someone else hasn't already done it.)
 
Alan S said:
So, does this mean that with this cable will handle both video AND AUDIO for the Mac Mini? No need for a separate audio cable as with the DVI connectors?
Click to expand...

it should, yes... the miniDP sends audio to the speakers inside the 24" ACD, so it's a safe bet that it will send audio with this adapter as well.

now whether it will send 5.1 or only 2.0 is anybody's guess.
 
bigbossbmb said:
it should, yes... the miniDP sends audio to the speakers inside the 24" ACD, so it's a safe bet that it will send audio with this adapter as well.

now whether it will send 5.1 or only 2.0 is anybody's guess.
Click to expand...

I've yet to see any evidence that Apple has enabled audio through the mini-display port. The new 24"Cinema display gets audio through USB.

Apple Website said:
On the back of the display, you’ll find three self-powered USB ports. You enable them — along with the built-in iSight camera, microphone, and speakers — the moment you plug the USB connector into your new Mini DisplayPort-enabled Mac
Click to expand...

Seems clear to me.

From the Apple discussion boards, I see that the mini-display port to DVI cable has worked just fine for HDCP protected content.

Scott
 
vga4life said:
Most HDMI displays support HDCP. The problem is that the only Apple device that support HDCP over HDMI is the AppleTV; a mac with a DVI->HDMI cable doesn't support HDCP and thus won't play iTunes HD content.
Click to expand...

Great thread. Learning a lot. I have heard a lot of people having problems with the mini-DP, especially on the unibody laptops, but I was under the impression a standard DVI to HDMI cable would work for older MBPs with the DVI-dual link port. Have you tried this out or know someone who has?

I just ordered this cable hoping to hook my MBP to a Samsung PN42B450. You're saying I will not be able to watch HD from the computer on the TV, correct? Is that just for purchased content or all HD?
 
bigbossbmb said:
it should, yes... the miniDP sends audio to the speakers inside the 24" ACD, so it's a safe bet that it will send audio with this adapter as well. now whether it will send 5.1 or only 2.0 is anybody's guess.
Click to expand...

If it's sending audio over displayport, then it must be digital. That means it is *capable* of True-HD and DTS-HD quality audio. Let's hope Apple doesn't screw us over on this.
 
Cave Man said:
If it's sending audio over displayport, then it must be digital. That means it is *capable* of True-HD and DTS-HD quality audio. Let's hope Apple doesn't screw us over on this.
Click to expand...

The 24" LCD monitor receives audio over USB, not mini display port.

DisplayPort supports audio, but Apple's implementation is not currently using it.
 
ok, re-read the iLounge article again... the writer only tested his MBP (which has mini-displayport only) with his 23" ACD (which doesn't support HDCP, big surprise).

He admittedly states that he doesn't know what the situation is with the mini (since it has both DVI and miniDP). He also doesn't test any DVI monitors that support HDCP so we don't know whether using the miniDP>DVI adapter will carry the HDCP to an HDCP capable display. It's too early to assume anything until people start really testing these other scenarios.
 
I'll agree with the MiniStack warnings. That thing is LOUD, and even with the loud fan it overheats. I'm planning to replace it with a fanless drive ASAP.
 
MJLogan said:
I'll agree with the MiniStack warnings. That thing is LOUD, and even with the loud fan it overheats. I'm planning to replace it with a fanless drive ASAP.
Click to expand...

Yes, MiniStack is definitely out based on the replies here. I'm not sure what replaces it yet, though.

Also, I'm waiting to see if the mini-DisplayPort -> HDMI cable really ships on the 27th, and if it supports both HDCP (likely) and audio (don't know). If it doesn't then I'll take a second look at the HDTV's specs, to make certain it has HDCP compliant DVI, as a back up to HDMI.

This thread has been very helpful.
 
A dissenting opinion: I picked up two ministacks and have found them quiet. Granted, I've taken steps to ensure they get adequate airflow to make sure the fans don't need to spin up, but generally speaking, they are as quiet as other external enclosures I've used. I'm using one with a 1tb hd that has 900 gigs of content on it and being used often throughout the day.

Note - there's a dipswitch that sets the mode of the fan from constant to variable - if that were neglected, yes, I can imagine it would be noisy all the time. YMMV?
 
what???

So, I can play HD itunes TV shows just fine from my new 2009 mini to my Sony 50" SXRD via the included mini-DVI to DVI along with a DVI to HDMI cable.

Isn't that what you guys are saying you can't do? Or am I misreading a lot of this thread?
 
astrorider said:
So, I can play HD itunes TV shows just fine from my new 2009 mini to my Sony 50" SXRD via the included mini-DVI to DVI along with a DVI to HDMI cable.

Isn't that what you guys are saying you can't do? Or am I misreading a lot of this thread?
Click to expand...

I don't think anything has been confirmed ... only speculation based on that iLounge article. So here's my take of what needs to be checked for the new Mac mini.

1. Verify if HDCP is passed along the mini's mini-DVI port. If it is, then using the included miniDVI-DVI adapter should work when connected to a TV with a DVI-HDCP port. Also, converting to HDMI using a HDMI-DVI cable should also work.

2. Confirm that using a miniDP-DVI or miniDP-HDMI adapter preserves HDCP.

To me, the iLounge article was extremely underbaked. They didn't test it with a monitor/TV with HDCP-enabled DVI ports. I don't believe any conclusions can be drawn from that article.

ft

Oops, I misread your post. The fact that you can play HD TV shows doesn't prove anything conclusively. It has been noted that HD TV shows from iTunes doesn't have HDCP. If you're willing to take one for the team, try buying/renting an HD movie. The movie used in the iLounge article was "The Punisher".
 
ftaok said:
Oops, I misread your post. The fact that you can play HD TV shows doesn't prove anything conclusively. It has been noted that HD TV shows from iTunes doesn't have HDCP. If you're willing to take one for the team, try buying/renting an HD movie. The movie used in the iLounge article was "The Punisher".
Click to expand...

My bad...I saw the references to "iTunes HD content" and assumed anything HD would make a valid test. I may be missing them but a quick perusal of the iTunes store and I only see HD Movies to buy, not to rent. Am I missing them?

Although I rent from the iTunes store occasionally, I'm not interested in buying HD movies from the iTunes store, ever. So this whole issue is a non-issue for me, I guess...until there are some HD rentals on the iTunes store.
 
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