One of the oddest little bits we’ve seen here on the brand new(ly announced) HTC EVO 3D is a lovely little port on the side that, in a way that we expect will become more and more commonplace as bigger groups like HTC adopt it, will reduce the number of ports we’ve got surrounding our everyday devices down to the minimum. What the port we’ve got here on the HTC EVO 3D is a micro-USB 2.0 (five pin) with mobile high-definition video link (aka MHL) for both USB or HDMI connection.
Does that remind you of anything? How about, if I may mention a competitor, Apple’s new dually functional Thunderbolt port that can both transfer data and play video at fabulous speeds? That’s two big brands working now with ports that accept several different, normally disparate transfers via the same port. While Apple’s and HTC’s ports here are relatively different, and certainly different people are involved, the idea is there. The idea that this sort of thing can be done and is being done by big groups is now in the minds of other brands, big and small, and the application can penetrate.
We’ve yet to test this new port on the HTC EVO 3D, and just incase you’re wondering, the Thunderbolt port on the MacBook Pro, but once we do, we’ll blast some statistics right across your face! Of course we probably wont list the MacBook Pro report here as this is Android Community, but maybe we’ll sneak some in somewhere or another for a few laughs and giggles.
I love that idea. 1 port to make our devices look even sleeker and cleaner. Nicely done HTC. One question though.
Can it charge and output to hdmi at the same time. It is only one port but many plug both in at same time while streaming games or movies to a TV. I wonder if it will charge it at same time, but I doubt it.
I too wonder if it will charge and play. maybe an adqpter will allow it to happen, if not what’s the point unless battery power very very good but that is doubtful.
when its released there is also an acsessory that will charge and watch at the same time
In the engadget video review, the sprint rep mentions that it is charging while outputting hdmi and points behind the TV at the other end of the cable. Unfortunately, the cameraman did not look back there, so I have no idea what the cable looks like.
um… the Samsung Galaxy S 2 already showcased it first. FYI.
All these “smart” mobile devices need to have the MHL (usb/hdmi in one) port. Not only does it reduce the number of ports needed but it also adds functionality that we all will want in these devices if not today in the very near future. Not having it will just shorten the life of the hardware.
I think HTC realizes that no one wants to hook their phone up to their TV, but it’s still a feature difference to reviewers so they made it one port.
Samsung announced this feature for their Galaxy S II at MWC back in February. I will be curious how these charge and display video at the same time. It seems there would need to be some kind of splitter on the cable, but I looked it up and it sounds like the HDTV charges the phone over the port:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_High-definition_Link
just wishful thinking but this looks just like the mini usb port on the nook color. Could this be yet another nice find on it? I know bluetooth was found in it and the hdmi output is the only thing i wish was on there. It does use a special usb cable to charge.
That is a micro-usb. The NOOKcolor cable is special because it uses custom LED’s to indicate charging status. The charger is different because it puts out 2000 milli-amps whereas most phone chargers put out a fraction of that amperage. There is no HDMI in the NXP Logic Zoom SoC’s or chipset (NOOKcolor) http://www.novaports.org/wiki/NookColor_Salting
Thanks delex- Well, there goes that dream 🙂 I do hold hope for bluetooth. I do like the charger but do wish it was the same as for the other nook and my Evo. I hate having all kinds of cables around.
Thanks delex- Well, there goes that dream 🙂 I do hold hope for bluetooth. I do like the charger but do wish it was the same as for the other nook and my Evo. I hate having all kinds of cables around.
just wishful thinking but this looks just like the mini usb port on the nook color. Could this be yet another nice find on it? I know bluetooth was found in it and the hdmi output is the only thing i wish was on there. It does use a special usb cable to charge.
This is nothing new for HTC. They had the extUSB port on previous phones which worked as mini usb ports and were also capable of sound and video output (I mentioned both because on some models it was only used for the headphones and others it was also video out). The main difference now is that it’s HDMI and not RCA (and that you don’t need to be stuck with the packaged earbuds).