Over the years, there have been many standards for audio video cables, but two of the most popular ones are DisplayPort cables and HDMI cables. While both of them do the same thing essentially, there are some differences between them in terms of their capacity for speed, versatility, stability, and multitasking.
Let’s See The Difference Between DisplayPort And HDMI
DisplayPort comes in smaller sizes as well, built into the physical form of a USB Type C connector. This particular connector is less popular industry-wide, with a major advocate of it being Apple. Most manufacturers simply prefer USB C to do the same task.
DisplayPort 2 supports 8K, 10K, and 16K video resolutions with a 60 Hz refresh rate (twice the resolution and bandwidth of current DisplayPort standards). It transfers data at a rate of 77.37 Gbps, and it will have HDR10 support. HDMI 2.1a: HDMI® Specification HDMI 2.1a is the most recent update of the HDMI® specification and supports a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates including 8K60 and 4K120, and resolutions up to 10K. Dynamic HDR formats are also supported, and bandwidth capability is increased up to 48Gbps.
High-range TVs tend to have updated ports, so those are the ones that will have the latest HDMI port for you to take advantage of. Similarly, high-end monitors are likely to adopt the latest DisplayPort port so you can plug a compatible device into it and get the benefits. Gaming consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation also ensure the latest ports when they update their hardware. Mid-range devices like laptops and computer monitors will not adopt the latest version of the port because it is generally too expensive to be included at their lower price point. ConclusionAt the end of the day, it depends on your use case, the compatibility of the device you want to use these cables for, and future-proofing the entire setup. You don’t want to buy an older but cheaper cable for a TV you are going to change in the coming year. That way you won’t be able to take advantage of what the TV is capable of. So figure out your entire setup, think of the future and get the right cables! SF Cable stocks all kinds of audio-visual cables and will be happy to help you plan your setup. Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/difference-between-displayport-cable-hdmi-cable
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The FireWire cable was not popular, but it should have been. It could do everything that USB 2.0 could, but better, though more expensively.
For your average user, they met the FireWire cable in their iPod box. Some of those old iPods came with the FireWire port for syncing with a Mac or a PC. Apple made this connector, and one can hot-swap it, meaning you don’t need to turn off the computer before unplugging it. Camcorders were a decently popular gadget in the 90s and early 2000s when there were no camera phones. Plenty of other gadgets started using the FireWire connection, like camcorders, cameras, etc. Even now, there are plenty of homes that regularly look at or digitize the footage they had taken on their camcorders. The story of FireWire can be said to be similar to that of USB C. Apple wanted everyone to adopt FireWire with the gusto that it had, as it boasted of being able to do so much more than the USB cable. But FireWire was expensive and so while PC manufacturers also adopted the standard, it never got the same popularity as the USB cable. Similarly, Apple tried to force USB C onto the industry by removing every other port from their laptops, but they had to walk back from that by giving back all the ports in their higher-end Macbooks. Their idea was that every gadget will include a USB C port and therefore will be able to connect with any Mac computer easily, with great speed and stability. But the industry was simply not ready to make that jump fast enough and everyone who wanted to use an Apple computer had to carry around a bag of cables, instead of only one cable, which was the company’s intention. FireWire may be old and unused now, but you might want to connect your old camcorder or even your iPod to your computer. SF Cable stocks all versions of FireWire and the various adapters you will need for it. Another old, but useful cable is the KVM cable. KVM stands Kernel-based Virtual Machine, a technology built into Linux. You can control multiple computers connected via the KVM cable with a single keyboard, mouse, and video monitor. This is highly useful for racker servers, so that you can operate them all with one input-output device. This reduces clutter and streamlines control in a space that doesn’t necessarily require multiple input devices simply to monitor things and keep the servers running. This is not much of a consumer cable because it has a much more niche and specific use. SF Cable stocks all such specific cables and caters especially to businesses that need them. Collectively, the technology industry is trying to move beyond cables but they are not that easy to get rid of. If you want to experience a connection that is speedy, lossless, and stable, you are going to have to rely on cables. Of course, there are plenty of areas where a wireless connection is more than sufficient, so you should use that, but you should always keep a few standard cables in your arsenal for the day that wireless simply does not cut it! Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/firewire-and-kvm-cables-that-defined-history Apple just announced that it is discontinuing the only iPod it still sells – the iPod Touch. With this, Apple no longer sells products that single-handedly changed the music industry and established Apple in the music industry.
This news has brought the popularity of the device to the forefront and a quick eBay search will tell you that people are really taking advantage of it. If you either have your old iPod laying around or if you managed to buy one of the older models recently, you should definitely look into turning it back on and perhaps updating your music collection on it. An old iPod that you haven’t turned on in a few years acts almost like a time capsule, taking you back to the music you listened to back in the day. Perhaps you were a teenager or even an aspiring fitness enthusiast or a dance enthusiast — you will likely meet your past self as you scroll through the library. The iPod touch comes with Wifi and so you can get the Music app on it, but the older, iPods, the one with the scroll wheel (best haptics ever!), need to sync with iTunes to have any music on them. And let’s face it, if you really want an iPod right now, you would go for the classic rather than something that looks exactly like your phone. So if you are the lucky owner of a new old iPod, let’s see how to get your favorite music, podcasts, audiobooks, and videos on it. The trick with old gadgets is adapters and for connecting anything to your computer, you will need lots of computer adapters. To sync your iPod you will need iTunes or in the case of a Mac, the Music app. Now in case of syncing with a PC or a Mac with various ports, you will just need to find the 30-pin connector to the USB A connector cable. But if you want to connect your iPod to a newer Mac with just the USB C port, you will need a USB adapter that can plug into this port and give a USB A port. Then you can simply use the USB A to 30-pin connector cable. Let’s look at the steps:
You can purchase songs from the iTunes store or even transfer music from CDs. If you are in the habit of buying CDs then this should work great for you, but it will not be frictionless. It is highly unlikely that your laptop has a CD Drive. You can, however, connect an external CD Drive to your laptop. You will most likely need a USB A to USB B micro USB cable to connect these. With this setup:
You can follow the same steps for a PC or a Mac, with the difference being in the ports you have access to and the difference between iTunes and Music app. Either way, you will need more or less the same USB cable adapters, the 30-pin to USB A cable, maybe a USB B adapter, and even a USB C adapter. iPod has been a coveted gadget for years, and now that Apple has completely stopped manufacturing it, it has become so even more. It also provides the luxury of being disconnected from notifications and the internet in general while being a greatly useful tool for listening to music on the go. We have all the USB cable adapters you need to get this little time capsule up and running for you again! Source: We all have a drawer full of different types of cable, adaptors and connectors for mobile phones, TV, laptop, and more. One of the most popular cables that everyone has is a USB cable. Almost all chargers and connectors have ports. There are various types of USB cable, USB adapter, and connectors in the market which we do not know. They all have different purposes and this knowledge might come handy if we know what goes where. Let us understand them in detail so that if some device or our guest needs a specific cable, we can help them out.
What is a USB Cable?USB (Universal Serial Bus) was created as a standard cable worldwide to connect computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. This made the global market to expand more as it gives users flexibility to buy electronic products and accessories from anywhere in the world. They are connected with the port on the electronic device. The purpose of using this cord is to either power the device or connect/transfer the data. These cords have replaced other cords in keyboards, printers and video game controllers that were used to transfer the data. Types of USB Cables The type of the cable depends on the physical appearance of the connector. Let us discuss different types of connectors and other details about it. USB Type A This is the oldest and most widely used. It is compatible with USB 1.0 and upwards. This Type is mostly used for computers, laptops, flash drives, mobile phone chargers, etc. The shape of the connector is rectangular. USB Type B This type is mostly useful for powering devices. They are mostly seen on larger electrical items like printers and scanners. It is square shaped and has a wider aperture for the connectors. USB Type C These are the latest cables in the market. They are flat and symmetrical. They transfer data at much higher speed and with high quality. They generally get used for new laptops, mobile phones, and also at charging hubs. They are compatible from 1.1 onwards. Mini USB The name itself suggests that it is the mini connector ideal for handheld devices like mobile phone, tablets because they require small ports. They are mostly found on camera and camcorders. Now, Micro ones have taken the place of Mini USB. Micro USB These are smaller than mini USB and are now usually found on most smartphones, digital cameras, etc. They are compatible with USB 2.0 and 3.0. USB Functionality Basic functionality of these cables is to let the host communicate with peripherals or other devices. But these cables have become more than just a data interface. Here are some functions that work on different electronic devices. Some devices support more than one function also. Power Delivery USB C cables can transfer up to 100W of power. This eliminates the need for the power brick. This cable is the best choice for the peripherals like hard drives that draw high power. It is not necessary that all the devices and ports will support the power delivery function. So, before purchasing a cable, you go through the specification list to see whether it has power delivery functionality or not. Charging Battery The next functionality of these cables is for charging the battery. We all have used these cables to charge the phones. The cords have specifications that ensure the battery will charge safely and consistently. The cables designed for charging pull more power than a standard port for faster charging. USB 2.0 port provides current up to 500mA and USB 3.0 upto 900mA. There are cords that provide power upto 1.5A even while transferring data. It allows the device to communicate its charging requirements to ensure an optimal recharge. USB On-the-Go It allows the mobile devices to act as a host to other devices like a flash drive, mouse, or keyboard. It can utilize the functionality of the peripherals and still acts as a mass storage device. Its compliant devices will require an OTG adaptor that can allow connection to the peripherals. DisplayPort Alt Mode With this functionality, the connectors and cables can transmit data as well as DVI, VGA, HDMI or any audio video data. The USB adapters are used to connect to the DisplayPort output. As no drivers are required to use DisplayPort Alt Mode, it is easy to plug and play. Conclusion These cables are something that we will use at least once in a day. There are various types of these cables that go with different devices. They have multiple functionalities like charging and sharing data, only charging, DisplayPort Alt mode and, whatnot. This information helps us before buying any cable online. Source: www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/everything-you-need-know-about-usb-cables-1835160.html Electronic devices have evolved so much in these last 50 years, so have the cables that go for connections. Sometimes dealing with older versions of cables can be confusing because nowadays we have only one cable for audio video transfer where earlier it was three. But if you have devices from the past or if you wih to collect vintage electronic devices, you must learn about these audio video cables in order to connect them correctly. Having knowledge about older cables gives us ideas on the improvement and advancements in the newer cables. Let us discuss what are audio and video cables and their types.
What is an Audio-Video Cable? The quality of the signal depends on three factors: conductor, shielding, and connector. Conductor is the material used as a medium for signal to pass. Different conductors have different properties like twisting, resistance, etc. The length being excessively long and diameter not adequate are some common conductor issues. Conductor can also be called an antenna, as it can also pick up other signals. So proper shielding on a cable is required to reduce electronic noise. The connector on the cable makes two connections: one with the device and other with the conductor. So if any problem in connection can degrade the quality of the signal. Let us talk about different types of Digital and Audio cables. Analog Audio Cables The RCA cables or phone jacks have been in the market for a long period. They are still used in some of the audio connections. The cables have different connections for the left and right stereo. This is why the cables are color coded red and white. Afterwards when video became part of electronic items, RCA cables were used to connect video as well. Then the third cable for the video was colored yellow. It was extremely popular when VHS was in trend. Digital Audio Cables The digital audio cables are usually combined with digital video signals to avoid extra cabling. Coaxial digital audio cable is the most common type of digital audio connection. They have RCA connectors on each end on a coax cable. Both the audio channels are transmitted through one cable only. These cables use fiber optics to transmit signals as pulses of light. They are immune to interference and do not degrade easily. They are somewhat fragile so they have bending limitations. Analog Video Cables There are different types of analog video signals. The cables kept upgrading to improve the speed and quality of transfer. RCA: As discussed above, they are the most used audio video cables. Coaxial: Coaxial cables entered our homes with cable TV and were attached to the cable box. They carry audio and video between TV’s, VCRs and DVD recorders. Cable TV still has a coax cable bringing transmission to our television. S-video: They are round 4-pin connectors that transmit chrominance and luminance of video signals separately. S video cables were the standard way to transmit high quality signals. S video cables provide an accurate video reproduction in both the color and details when compared to RCA or coaxial cable. Component Video: They are found on DVD players and transmit high quality signals. They divide the video signal into three components and are transmitted separately. It is capable of sending high-definition signals and capable of progressive scan. Digital Video Connections Electronic components are becoming digital and so it becomes necessary to have a digital cable to transfer to a digital device. The two main types of digital video signals are DVI cables and HDMI cables. They carry high definition video and audio signals. DVI can carry only video signals whereas HDMI cable carries both. HDMI is gaining popularity and replacing old video cables. Computer Connections Apple’s transmission cable known as FireWire provides the fastest two-way digital connection. They are used to connect computers to peripherals like hard drives, camcorders, etc. These cables are also used by the aviation and automotive industry. FireWire has a 6-pin connection. Universal Serial Bus USB cables are the most common ways computers connect with the printers, mouse, cameras, etc. They brought the concept of plug and play interface between a computer and its peripherals. They can quickly recognize the device and starter functioning without any restart. Laptops are getting slimmer and so the demand of the ports to become slimmer arises. For that mini and micro USB were launched. They are small in size and are used for mobile phones as well. Laptops have multiple USB ports as we can use multiple USB at the same time . Conclusion Digital transmission will go on, but having basic understanding about the past and present cables will make it easier to understand the upcoming innovations. But one thing is for sure that new cables are getting more flexible and are standardized so that we can use them to connect other devices as well. The quality of the cable is certainly improving with every new launch. The cables that you buy must also be made from good quality conductors or else you would not receive the high quality output. Other factors like length of the cable also matter as chances of interference and damage increases if the cable is extremely long. Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/audio-video-cables-explained-1834778.html |
AuthorI am a Network administrator as an IT professional, Happy to help you to provide accurate and up-to-date information on networking cables. Archives
March 2024
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