Minidisplay Port with HDMI to LCD HDTV

Hi,
I am trying to set up my Macbook so I can use my LCD HDTV as a monitor while I am sitting on my couch and to run iTunes, etc.
I can get everything to appear on the TV via the Minidisplay port HDMI connector, but the problem is that all the fonts, especially those in the browser are very small and hard to read from the couch.
I have a 52 inch LCD TV and sit about 12 feet from it, I would think there must be a way or a setting to change to make things on the TV bigger, but I cannot figure it out.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Ben

So is the TV being run at 1920 x 1080? Are there other options in Displays Preferences, like either 1366 x 768, or 1280 x 720? If so, have you tried those settings? That should enlarge things.

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HT201177 MacBook Air to my TV thru the MiniDisplay Port to HDMI.

When I connect my MacBook Air to my TV thru the MiniDisplay Port to HDMI I only see the MacBook Universe Desktop Display. How do I see what is displayed on my screen?

This is called extended desktop mode. It's a logical extension of the desktop to the right of your main monitor.
Grab an application on your monitor and drag it off the right side of the screen and it will appear on the TV.
To mirror your monitor on the TV you can press Command F1.
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MiniDisplay port to HDMI audio in bootcamp

I'm nearly ready to purchase a new unibody MBP but the lack of a native HDMI port is holding me back from doing so. What I'd like to know is if anyone has been able to get audio output from the miniDisplay port while using a minidisplay port -> hdmi adapter, while in bootcamp Vista/XP?
It's a hassle and unsightly carrying two cables to connect the MBP to an HDTV or HDMI equiped reciever for video/audio presentations.. is ridiculous considering the price of the MBP. Best Buy or Fry's Elec. has numerous laptops with native HDMI connections, but they simply don't have the sleekness of the MBP.

Sorry about that. I've ended up repeating everything you said in the beginning.
Some more digging reveals that it may not be Apples' fault and actually the video card companies whose components they use. Low End Mac has a good article on it (http://lowendmac.com/ed/fox/09ff/displayport-audio.html).
In any case it may be good to get the cable from MonoPrice (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/03/monopricemini_displayporttohdmi_adaptor_handson_hd_itunes_now_plays_ontvs-2/) since it manages to strip the DRM out of the signal so for now you'll be able to watch movies unrestricted and hopefully one day get full support with it.

Does mbp mid 2010, 13inch with minidisplay port support hdmi audio?

If it does, what sort of cables and adapters would i need?
Also, which is the best way to hook up a lcd tv as a computer monitor? the vga port, hdmi, composite, component?
Neerav

Thanks, this is a helpful article with good links.
For future reference, there is the one I ended up getting (great reviews):
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802 &p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2

Why does my Vizio hdtv say no signal when I connect my minidisplay port to hdmi cord between my macbook pro and tv?

My Vizio hdtv says "No Signal" when I use my mini displayport to hdmi cord. It worked flawlessly for a month but randomly decided to no longer work.
I am using a macbook pro from early 2011 running os x Lion 10.7.5 and a thunderbolt to hdmi cord. The cord has worked without a hitch the numerous times I've used it until recently. Now plugging it in will cause the macbook to flash blue quicker than normal and immediately go back to the normal screen. I know the macbook recognizes the TV because changing the input on the TV to the hdmi connected to the computer will cause the macbook to flash blue again, with the same result. The TV remains unresponsive. I have tried all combinations of turning on and off the TV and macbook with the cord plugged in and unpugged from either and both systems and in both hdmi inputs on the TV. I've changed the display resolution to every possible option with no result. The TV is not recognized as a display on either the Display section of System Preferences or the Sound section.
It confounds me that the cord should work flawlessly until now, a month after buying it, for no apparent reason. I've been gentle with the cord, so the problem being a result of damage is unlikely. I had not updated my computer in any way between the successful and unsuccessful uses of the cord, but I have since updated my computer and the problem remains.
I have searched for this problem on the Internet and have seen others with similar problems, but I have not found a solution that resolves my problem. I hope to avoid having to make any additional purchases.
And a thousand and one thanks to any and all who help.

Do you have gfxCardStatus installed? Is your monitor set to "Integrated" or "Discrete". You want it set to Discrete to drive the external HDMI display.
Try resetting the PRAM and SMC
<About NVRAM and PRAM>
<Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)>
Are you sure you have a good miniDisplayPort to HDMI cable?
Do you have another HDMI display you can test against (your neighbor's HDMI capable TV).
Do you have friend that can test the cable using their Mac and maybe their TV or a monitor that has HDMI input.

Minidisplay port to hdmi cable with audio support

I recently got an HDTV and want to hook up my Macbook (13" aluminum, 2009). I'd like an all-in-one cable and not have to have several connections.
This is one product I've found but the reviews aren't good at all:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834997779
The reviews for this one are very good but I'm pretty sure my MB is too old for it to work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA08901J2051
Does anyone know of another product for the older Macbooks that would work well?

Thanks, this is a helpful article with good links.
For future reference, there is the one I ended up getting (great reviews):
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10428&cs_id=1042802 &p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2

When using mini port with HDMI adapter, can only see front page (stars) will not display whats on screen??

Using a HDMI adapter on mini port the only picture on TV is the front Mac page (stars) and not whats on the Mac screen.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, after I posted my brain kicked in and I recalled that mid 09 were not audio compatible. not a big deal anyway since there are multiple ways to listen...
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giny

Minidisplay port to HDMI connection not working

I have an early 2009 Macbook that I hook up to my HDTV thru HDMI. I'd been using a Monoprice HDMI cable that provides audio as well as video (thru a USB cable). It stopped working so I bought a new one. Now I can't seem to get a display on my HDTV - I think the cable is ok because the red light comes on (which is what the old one stopped doing). Is there some sort of configuration I need to do?
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Oops, never mind - I just tried the connection again and it's working fine.

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Solved!
Go to Solution.

TJthecarve wrote:
That's just it, I don't have an amp yet as I just moved into this new house with a sound system in place but they took the amp/home theatre system with them. What kind of an amp/other setup equipment do I need?
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I have a macbook pro, a mini display port to hdmi cable to hook up to my tv (a toshiba 1080p flatscreen). what do I do to actually get the image on the tv screen? Do I need another cable for sound?

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Rwogera wrote:
I couldn't transmit sound either, do i need another cable like Kim said? i mean it cant be transmitted through this HDMI port? as for me i have one of the latest mac pro with intel core i5..tnx
I need to know which MacBook Pro you have. Only mid-2010 and later MBP's transmit sound through MiniDisplay Port to HDMI. I have no information about the Mac Pro, so you might want to go to that Forum and ask there.

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I used to connect my macbook pro 13" 10.7.3 to my LCD TV by minidisplay port to HDMI, it worked since december 2011 until yesterday. Now it does not work, my TV does not recognize the signal. How can I solve it?

If I were a betting man it probably is one of the cable components. You can try it on another TV and determine from the results if it is the cable or your TV. This of course assumes you have not made any changes in the setup when this situation occurred.
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MacBook Pro MiniDisplay Port Problems

I have an Early 2011 13" MacBook Pro. I recently ordered a minidisplay port to HDMI adapter off of amazon. I finally got it but most of you can guess what happend when I connected it to an external display. Yep, nothing. I tried numerous times clicking "Detect Display" but it just froze for 3 seconds and nothing happend.
My current setup is the Thunderbolt port to hdmi, then hdmi to VGA. I also have OS X Lion 10.7.4.
I have tried everything including gfxCardStatus and using every setting, turning the brightness all the way down. Putting the mac to sleep and closing it and waking it up with an external mouse.
I have an appointment with an Apple Store this tuesday but im not sure if they can do anything.
Any help would be great! If you need anymore info let me know!
Thanks!

Okay, now I know. As far as I am aware, there is no way of doing this by default on the Macbook because it's highest resolution is 1280x800. You could mirror this to the LG but of course it won't fill the screen unless it scales the image but again there will be black bars because the two screen ratios are different. if this did manage to scale up and also stretch to fill the entire LG screen, it still woudn't be 1080p resolution, it would be 1280x800 but stretched to fill the screen and it would look a little blurry and distorted on the LG. If the LG has this scale/stretch ability, it will be under the menu system for something like Picture mode or it may be a dedicated button on the remote - the ratio button perhaps?
There may be an app out there that forces the Macbook pro acreen to run at a higher resolution e.g. 1920x1080 and if you mirrored this then it would look fine on the LG as it would be a full 1080p image. Of course, if such a tool does exist, the Macbook Pro screen content (icons, text etc.) will appear tiny and hard to read and it won't actually be running at 1080p on the Macbook screem, it would just appear that way. Maybe others can advise if such a tool exists?

I have an Apple MacBook Pro with 2 USB ports and a MiniDisplay Port. I also have an HDTV with a HDMI port. How can I use the TV as a display without any tethering wires between my computer and the TV?

I have an Apple MacBook Pro with 2 USB ports and a MiniDisplay Port. I also have an HDTV with a HDMI port. How can I use the TV as a display without any tethering wires between my computer and the TV? I have a MiniDisplay Port to VGA adapter, but there are two issues with it: The new display doesn't have a VGA port, and even if it did, I wouldn't want to have my mac constantly attached to the display by a cable. I was looking for a way to use the TV as a display without any wires. Is there some type of bluetooth setup I could use? Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

As I wrote above, I think you should look into the Apple TV yourself. The best place to find information about what it can and can't do and to ask your own specific questions is probably in the Apple TV forum, here:
https://discussions.apple.com/community/appletv/appletv

I am trying to connect my HDTV to my MacBook Pro using a Mini Display Port to HDMI and the TV seems to not be receiving any signal. Is there something wrong with my TV or Adapter?

Whenever I connect the minidisplay port to the HDMI cable, my MacBook Pro screen turns blue for a moment and then nothing shows on my HDTV. I have tried to "detect displays" with each resolution listed, but none seem to work with my tv. Is there any way to fix this issue?

I keep saying this over and over, in the hope that people who do a search will find it. Apple cannot possibly test for or be reponsible for the bazillion combinations of adapter, cables, and TV's out there. The only monitors that are 100% guaranteed to work with the MacBook Pro are the Cinema Displays and Thunderbolt Displays, because, they're made by Apple. They're expensive, but they work perfectly.
My guess is that you bought a cheap MDP to HDMI cable, or have a defective one. From my reading of these boards over the past few months, cheap cables have a high failure rate. And the regular priced ones have only a slightly less of one. Try a new one. Make sure you do not damage the Thunderbolt port.

Minidisplay Port with HDMI to LCD HDTV

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