A compact HDMI plug, called Type C, already exists, but this version is less than half the size of even that. It may seem like halving an already small plug standard isn't hugely significant, but given HDMI's apparent trajectory toward use in mobile phones and portable devices, hitting that comfortable Micro USB size might be just enough to convince hardware designers that adding an extra A/V port—dedicated, mind you—to their devices isn't such a terrible prospect. [Tech-On]

Apple is still to blame for not adopting HDMI, but at least this solution is somewhat helpful. See, most run-of-the-mill flat-panel TVs are HDCP compliant, but a lot of monitors are not. So, when you have the adapter, there is suddenly a massive population of screens that you can use that you otherwise cannot.

There are some things to keep in mind with this adapter:

1. It's only going to give you video output—you will have to find another way to route your audio from your new MacBook or MacBook Pro.

2. Even though the HDMI jack allows you to connect to a bunch of TVs that can handle HDCP, it doesn't mean you can get around HDCP. When we tried to watch the same movie using the other adapter, a Mini DP-to-DVI, on an older monitor, we were told we were not allowed:

Bottom line: If you own a MacBook or MacBook Pro, and you have iTunes video content you want to watch on a flat-panel TV, you had better get one of these. Maybe one day Apple will learn that HDMI isn't inherently evil, and all these adapters won't be necessary. [Monoprice]

That's because iTunes HD movies require that you have an HDCP-compliant external display. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is designed to prevent video from being copied as it moves across digital video interfaces. So, as iLounge points out, if you're using a Cinema Display older than Apple's 24-inch LED model (or any older DVI or VGA monitor, basically), you're screwed if you have it hooked up to a newer, HDCP-loving Mac. You just get a black box where the video should be.

It's not the first time HDCP has caused iTunes-related pain. When Apple first started rolling HDCP, they even applied the protections to standard definition content, so a whole bunch of people found out they couldn't play new movies they bought, so Apple wound up pulling back on SD, and everyone forgot about it until yesterday, when you could finally buy HD movies.

One solution iLounge proffers is to transfer the file to one of your older iTunes authorized computers, since Apple doesn't pull the HDCP mojo on them. The other is to play the movie in standard def mode—then it'll play on your monitor, but in crappy standard def. Of course, the irony is, if they just supported HDMI like every other computer company in the world, there'd be more than one external monitor you could use, since HDMI supports HDCP natively. All together now: HDCP sucks. [iLounge]

Apparently, the problem comes from a new HDCP protocol (a DRM thing baked into HDMI) that some older integrated sound systems can't deal with. Yay, another reason DRM sucks. In the meantime, you can either try that lame temporary fix by pulling out the hard drive and reinserting it when you're already in the dashboard, or you can use analog audio.

No word on when this patch is coming unfortunately. [Shack News via Ars]

The HXC5 requires a double-run of standard CAT5/5E/6 network cabling and it is packaged as a complete, ready-to-connect system —including a compact "balun" transmitter and receiver. Could definitely be a valuable problem-solving tool for anyone setting up a serious home theater. Available now for $600. [Tributaries]

The G8x requires an external cable to connect the sound chip to the GPU, which is a crime so grave that it means any computer manufactures who do it can't put a Vista Ready sticker on the front of the box. Seriously, Nvidia? You put out your flagship graphics card and it's not Vista-ready? That's damn near inexcusable. One's just got to hope they'll learn from this debacle and fix their mistakes with the next generation of cards. –Adam Frucci

The Inquirer [via Ubergizmo]

Lindy is the latest company that's trying to convince consumers that gold-tipped, super-dee-dooper cables will not only deliver better video and audio quality, but they'll also cure your baldness, improve your skin complexion and give you the physique of an Ancient Greek statue. Their Premium Gold HDMI cables feature gold-plated connectors (of course, they're rubbish for the most part, especially over the short distances that most consumers run their myriad cables), triple shielding and RE-BLOK, which is supposed to reduce interference.

These premium cables aren't cheap, either: the smallest, 1.6 feet, cost around $101 while the longest, around 50 feet, cost just over $260. Then again, price gouging in the HDMI cable world is fairly common, as pointed out by our very own Charlie a few months ago.

But hey, buying gold-plated cables helps save the environment. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Lidy via Crowdedbrain]

Look for Buffalo's monitor by mid-month in Japan for an "open price." How thoughtful of Buffalo. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page (in Japanese) [Buffalo via Akihabara News]

A 500MHz core sits at the heart of the GPU while 256MB of GDDR 3 RAM eagerly await all those high resolution textures you throw at it. ATI's Avivo technology helps render HD content in all its full glory.

The CrossFire-compatible PowerColor X1600 is set to ship sometime next week, though Tul doesn't want to reveal its price just yet. Usually, that means it's very, very affordable. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [Tul via The Register]

Competitor nVidia told us graphics cards like this were coming, but this is the first we've seen with such a port, well-suited for home theater use because it's HDCP (High bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) compliant. Next up with a card like this will be nVidia, at least that's what they told us a couple of weeks ago. – Charlie White

Press Release [Sapphire, Inc.]

Actually that last one isn't so much going in your favor as it is Gateway's, seeing as you have to spend extra cash on something that comes standard on Dell's 1907 19-inch monitors. This widescreen monitor goes up to 1440x900, so that means it does not support 1080p. But that's probably expected from a monitor under 300 bones. – Jason Chen

Product page [Gateway via Digital Trends]

N2751w and N3251w [Viewsonic via Digital Trends]

Now if they would just bring on the CableCard support (or even better, CableCard 2.0 if it's ever finished), this might make a good foundation for pretty good Vista-supporting digital video recorder. Turns out the near-future is pretty soon, with company insiders saying we'll be seeing retail availability next month, at an as-yet-undetermined price.

Universal Abit First Out the Door With HDMI Motherboard [Daily Tech]

Although it's great the notebook will have such a huge screen, we're puzzled at that oddball 1680x1050 resolution, frustratingly short of 1080p which will eventually be the lingua franca of HD DVD. And, at that big screen size, anything short of 1920x1200 is not what we would call state-of-the-art. Oh, well. Can't have it all.

Acer unveils world's second HD DVD laptop [Reg Hardware]

This follows the lead of Sony, Paramount, Disney and 20th Century Fox, all of whom have said they wouldn't be initially using ICT. According to a BusinessWeek report, Warner Bros. stands alone as the only film studio that's announced plans to use the hated copy protection scheme, but only on some of its titles.

Well, well. It looks like the studio suits are finally starting to think about how these products will be used, loathing the day when a consumer gets the player home, pops in his first HD disk and notices that it doesn't look any better than garden-variety DVD. Good thinking, guys. Why didn't you think of this earlier?

Universal opts not to downscale HD content; ICT dead on arrival? [Ars Technica]

This means that HDTVs that aren't equipped with the HDCP copy protection will still be able to play the new discs. Eklund said that Sony was more concerned about piracy of the digital HDTV signal rather than analog signals coming through component cables. Sounds like the Sony we know and love is getting itself a clue. Now let's see if the HD DVD disk peddlers will follow suit.

Blu-ray to Debut May 23 [Sound and Vision]

If you buy a graphics card today, even if it says it supports HDCP, it won't. It's total bullshit. That's because HDCP itself is a moving target and still hasn't been finalized.

Worse, there's no way a graphics card can be retrofitted for HDCP, because it's not a software or firmware fix—HDCP has to be supported by adding special encryption codes during the manufacturing process. But the cardmeisters will probably fix this problem as the HDCP spec is finalized. So if you buy a graphics card now, you're SOL if you want to watch high-rez HD content on a computer monitor.

It looks like ATI and NVIDIA are clinging to that old adage: Ready, Fire, Aim.

The truth behind HDCP and video card support