Mirror image
In addition, the iPad 2 can also provide video mirroring, so that you actually see the full iPad screen on your HD TV as well. This allows you to view apps that don’t have their own video output capabilities – such as Angry Birds or the Safari web browser – on your TV as well. However, using mirroring means that the 1024x768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad screen will be pillarboxed when displayed on a widescreen HD TV.
iTunes browsing - the iPad TV image is pillarboxed; showing black bars to the sides of the display
The original iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch don’t support video mirroring, so they can only use the Digital AV Adapter to display the output from apps that do have their own video output capabilities. Gaming apps such as Firemint's RealRacing 2 are in development that will allow control functions to appear on the iPad or iPhone while the main screen action appears on the TV.
While you might have to wait a while for that level of functionality, I was still pretty impressed that I was able to carry around some HD episodes of Misfits and Glee on my iPhone and play them on a nice big HD TV when I wanted to – it was the Joss Whedon episode of Glee, which makes it OK, right?
Video playback
For the most part, the Digital AV Adapter worked as advertised. The video output is automatic, with no settings to adjust on the iOS device, and I had no complaints about the quality of its video output.
Next page: Video expander
COMMENTS
Speaking as Idiot 3
I am a cable manufacturer, and specifically a China based, OEM supplier or Video cables and adapters.
When i said $5 tops it wasn't a figure i plucked out of either the air or my arse.
That pie you are eating, humble enough for ya?
+1
Apple rip folk off on video connectors. It's a fact of life. I have a box containing 9 different adaptors for connecting various MacBooks to external displays for visiting speakers (who refuse to pay the Apple after sales tax). I'm missing about 6 or 7 for the complete set, so some folk have a problem.
Oddly, my HP desktop, which has a video card which has 2 HDMI outputs came with 2 HDMI-DVI connectors. At no extra cost.
Similarly the Dells.
Giving an 80% rating for something that should be supplied as standard, or at most be a fiver, is a complete joke.
£35 for a cable.
At no point should this ever be deemed acceptable. By reviewing this product you are only helping to maintain this practise and support Apple and other OEM's in ripping off the end user. This assembly is manufactured for $5 tops, giving Apple a margin that would make Heroin delears green with envy. At some point in the process fo becoming a fanboi i would suggest that your common sense fell out of your ear.
Gonk because Muppet Icon is not available.
Pandering fail
"It’s not often that a mere cable merits a review of its own" Indeed.
Actually come to think of it, my new HP laptop came with a power lead. Review please. It's very good, I'd give it more than 80%. It works with ALL applications, and never says "I'm not going to charge from this socket". Oh, and I didn't have to buy it separately!
(However my wife's new iPod does say that it cannot charge from this accessory when plugged into our HiFi iPod dock, or plugged into the laptop using the Apple supplied iPod lead - FAIL 10%)
£35...??
'You could argue that an expensive gadget like the iPad should have HDMI as standard – but it doesn’t and that’s that.'
Erm, alternatively, you could mark it down for being a complete rip off?? £35 for what, £1 worth of manufactured cost cable?
I hook my Advent Vega up to my TV with a 3m flat HDMI cable that cost me all of a fiver.
£35 for a crappy cable is not value in any world I am aware of - 80% is absurdly generous given the price IMO, and that all it does is connect your iPad to your TV as expected, oh, except for when it doesn't work...
