Apple is hoping to boost the industry (and presumably user) adoption of the DisplayPort technology by licensing its own, proprietary take on the standard, the Mini DisplayPort found on the new unibody MacBooks and the 24" Cinema Display. And best of all, the license will be free.
It’s easy to see why. Apple is often early to the game with what it sees as superior technology, but it doesn’t always mean that that tech will become widespread (AAC audio, anyone?) Freely licensing the rather well appointed mini version of DisplayPort should not only make Apple’s invention a viable standard, it also means that MacBook owners will be able to buy third party monitors that actually work with their notebooks.
DisplayPort has a few advantages over DVI. First, it is two-way, like Apple’s power-hungry ADC connector. This means that it can talk back to the computer, allowing such UI niceties as brightness controls on the keyboard. Interestingly, DisplayPort could also be used as a high-bandwidth video-in for the computer, which could go some way to quelling the fuss about Apple abandoning that other connection standard, FireWire 400.
Software Licensing – Mini DisplayPort Connector [Apple via Macworld]
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