Got a Mini DisplayPort equipped laptop or video card and need to connect it to something... um, not Mini DisplayPort? If you've got a crisp Andrew Jackson, then Monoprice has an adapter for you with HDMI, DVI and VGA outs, all of which are now shipping for $14.25 and up. Unless you don't like saving money, nor enjoy your peripherals actually working with your new machine, it'll be hard to find a problem with this.

[Thanks, Phil]

Locking HDMI cables -- ever heard of 'em? Yeah, they're all the rage in the home theater market right now, and given that Lindy has yet to come out with one of its own, well, it definitely had to remedy that. To be fair, the outfit's new Premium Gold HDMI 1.3b Cat 2 Cables don't actually posses the innate ability to clip in, but Lindy's quite clear that you can attach an optional Connector Lock for yank-proof peace of mind. The cables are available with 24K gold connectors and can be purchased in lengths ranging from 0.5 to 20 meters; check 'em right now across the pond for £49.99 ($70) and up.

At this point, you're probably already locked into a certain cable manufacturer, but if you're open to changes in life, why not have a look at ComponexX? The wiring newcomer is aiming at the highly competitive low-end, bargain-priced market, with the X Series, Pro Series and Xtreme Series comprising the company's new offerings. Within those families, you'll find all sorts of cables including HDMI, S-Video, component, Toslink, DVI, FireWire, USB 2.0, coaxial, subwoofer, etc. From what we've seen, the prices really are pretty good, but it'll probably take stickers beyond comprehension to get you to stop surfing over to Monoprice.

New projectors aren't the only things being unveiled at Integrated Systems Europe this week, as DVIGear is using the spotlight to launch a new set of HDMI and DVI accessories. We're talking HDMI Matrix Switchers that support resolutions as high as 1080p (as well as dual-link DVI up to 4,096 x 2,400), HDMI 1.3 distribution wares, and long-range HDMI 1.3 extenders that transmit signals over CAT5e / CAT6 / Coax. The outfit will also be showing off its Super High Resolution HDMI and DVI cables, which rely on heavy 22AWG gauge wire in order to carry your Blu-ray signals along a fatter-than-usual pipe. For more details on the whole lot, head on south to the read link.

Who says you need a knock-down-drag-out to determine whether your next component should have HDMI or DisplayPort? The forward-thinking cats at Monoprice have finally provided a ship date for the forthcoming (March 15th) Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter, which ought to help bargain shoppers out who have found themselves with a Mini DisplayPort-equipped laptop or graphics card. The best part? It's just $14.25 for one, and even less if you buy in bulk. How's that for fair pricing in a tough market?

[Thanks, Charbs]

We already heard late last year that HDMI adoption was on the rise, and now a new report from In-Stat asserts that the famed port is just about ready to take other areas of consumer electronics by storm. With HDMI adoption reaching nearly 100 percent in HDTVs, it's expected that 85 percent of IPTV set-top-boxes will have an HDMI port by 2012, while 10 percent of portable media players can say the same in just under three years. Also of note, HDMI-enabled product shipments are expected to increase overall at an annual rate of 23 percent up until 2012, while DVI-enabled shipments are forecast to decline at an annual rate of 30 percent through the same year. Ah, the unavoidable passing of the torch, so to speak.

Installers and DIYers, take note -- AudioQuest has just solved one of HDMI's biggest challenges. Reportedly, the company has created the world's first HDMI cables and connectors that can be terminated in the field while still retaining the integrity of HDMI. Essentially, this solution calls for installers to split the 19 HDMI wires into two groups -- one of ten and one of nine -- in order to make each bundle one that can be crimped. Additionally, AudioQuest's design relies on solid conductors instead of stranded wires, which are supposedly better suited to keep signal integrity and geometry stability. Testing proved that these field terminated cables were able to maintain an optimal 100 Ohms throughout the connector, which is arguably even better than what's offered in the outfit's traditional soldered cables. Of course, HDMI Licensing still has to decide whether or not the new method is fit for certification, but you can bet that AudioQuest will be pushing its point hard in the near future.

At first, we figured this whole locking HDMI cable fad would blow over in a matter of weeks. Clearly, we don't have nearly the amount of earthquakes, rambunctious children or wild animals running through the house as the general public. Out of seemingly nowhere, yet another outfit has emerged to showcase its own locking HDMI cable. PPC is sliding into CES in order to launch an HDMI cable (which is likely a rebadged Ottovonmo) with patented technology to hold it onto a port "with a strength that is three times greater than found in conventional connectors." So yeah, if you're fed up with your HDMI cable coming unplugged at the worst possible times (seriously, has anyone ever had this happen on a regular basis?), you can snag the 3-footer for $48.99, the 6-footer for $59.99 or the 12-footer for $72.99.

[Via Electronic House]

QED's cabling is better known over in Britain, but Lenbrook America is hoping to get the strands into American homes. The cable is said to be a fusion of the company's high-end Genesis and X-Tube technologies, essentially pushing top-tier cable philosophies into a "mid-priced" product. The cable itself relies on a "figure 8" configuration and packs ten 99.999% oxygen-free, silver-plated cores, and while exact figures aren't disclosed, we're told that it's priced between the Genesis Silver Spiral and X-Tube. Which probably means "between expensive and outrageous."

Ottovonmo did the honors of introducing us all to the idea of a locking HDMI cable earlier this year, and now cable maker Accell is joining in. Said cable is expected to be showcased at CES 2009, and aside from boasting an obvious locking mechanism to ensure your cable stays put, there aren't a whole lot of details. Nope, not even a price / release date.

We get the feeling Panasonic really started something its swivel-head HDMI cables, as we've got the relatively unknown Centronics bringing its own iteration to the table. The EHD-branded HD FLEX 90 degree pivoting head HDMI cable does precisely what it says, enabling users / installers to hook up HDMI-equipped gear in tighter spaces with less pressure on the sockets. The prices aren't too outrageous either, with the 6/12/24-foot strands ringing up at $39.95, $49.95 and $69.95, respectively.

Now that DisplayPort is becoming more of a household name (like it or not), we're thrilled to see someone making sure we can run an external monitor from more than a stone's throw away. Gennum has stepped in with its ActiveConnect DisplayPort solution, which embeds a small semiconductor within a DisplayPort cable to actively push signals up to 30-meters (around 100-feet) without the need for a costly, cumbersome extender box. There's no word yet on which interconnect companies have signed on to produce these sophisticated strands, but we'd expect to hear more by the time CES 2009 gets underway. Full release is after the break.

It's not fun to hear about people losing jobs these days, but we're not fond of high-end cables around these parts, especially for digital signals like HDMI. The number of purveyors of high-end HDMI purveyors just decreased with the loss of VizionWare, which had a range of amplified HDMI cables suitable for long run lengths. Unlike some other companies, VizionWare actually had some original tech in its offerings, so it's not at the top of our list of companies we'd like to see go under, but the sole focus on HDMI proved to be too small of a niche to justify its $20M in VC funding. The company's internet storefront is still up for now, but those looking for closeout bargains will be disappointed -- prices start at $20 for a passive 4-ft cable, and active cables starts at $83 for that same length.

After one of our most recent Ask Engadget HD questions aired, we quickly found that you folks heavily preferred the cost and quality of cables at Monoprice. We can't say that those set in their ways are apt to switch over anytime soon, but Inspiretech is clearly aiming at the same crowd with its sleek, inexpensive new HDMI cables. The company has launched a number of HDMI 1.3 interconnects including a 3-footer for $3.99, a 6-footer for $5.99 and a 6.5-foot HDMI-to-Mini HDMI cable for $12.99. Sure beats some of those other companies quite handily.

We've heard this question so many times that we've taken for granted the answer, but given the recent increase in competition in the cable market, we figured we'd pass along Josiah's question on the matter:

"I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars for those cables sold in Best Buy and Circuit City, but I want the best possible audio and video quality. I've got a pretty basic setup, and I just need a few HDMI cables, a set of component cables and a few optical audio cables. Where would I go to get the best for my money? Is there a particular brand I should look for? What has worked out for your readers?"

Unload your experiences with cables -- however expensive (or cheap) -- below, and be sure to elaborate on which brand / store / etc. you found to be the best for the price. Oh, and make no mention of Furutech, we're trying to keep the cost-per-cable under a grand.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.