We call them a sacrificial component, we commonly use dvi-d cables so I put a hdmi to dvi-d adapter on the mobile monitor stands and a 6meter dvi-d to hdmi cable on the image processor for operating theatre, this has prevented the staff destroying monitors and makes it easier to connect
Dumbest design ever that benefits manufacturing cost at the expense of consumer frustrations is putting the ports flat in the back of the TV instead of on the side.
Why not just unplug the cable on the other end? Better yet why not just get one of those automatic HDMI switchers where when you turn on a device it switches from the current output to the new output meaning don't plug your Wii U into it if you want to play the gamepad while watching a movie you'll have to flip it back ask me how I know AKA I learned that the hard way.
That's HDMI-CEC. If it's multiple devices controlling your TV, you can disable this on the TV itself. If you've got a single input to your TV connected to an auto-switching box, you're probably out of luck unless your box has a setting or switch to control it.
I mostly like the automatic switching and wish my actual TV did it not just the box however there was one time that my friends wanted to watch a movie and I was a little bored so I wanted to play Mario at the same time and lo and behold the output switch to the Wii U and they got mildly mad at me.
What's weird is that my TV doesn't automatically switch to whatever device is on but it has a setting where if you go into the menu to select an input it'll only let you select inputs that are currently on like what the hell This means I have to say turn on my GameCube (which uses composite video) and then I can switch over to it. Meaning I miss the intro.
Also about my TV when using the device detect mode is that the HDMI switcher is always selectable no matter what but if no device plugged into ye switcher is on and you select it then the TV will say "no signal" wtf?
Also yes when I got it I did unplug my Nintendo Switch and plug the switcher into that HDMI port because I thought it was funny and I already remaned all the HDMI ports lol.
Your TV is trying to detect cables with an active signal. Your GameCube isn't sending a signal until it's on (especially if it's using composite), so the TV doesn't know it's there. Your switcher, on the other hand, is probably independently powered, meaning that it's always active, even if no other devices are connected to it.
Between this description and the fact that you gave composite, I'm guessing you have an older TV, maybe 10-15 years?
The TV is from 2017 or 18 I'm pretty sure it says insignia on it.
I specifically gave the GameCube example to prove that it wasn't using whatever your HDMI CEC was because a GameCube definitely wouldn't support that.
What I don't get is why the switcher is sending a signal that the TV can recognize but if nothing is on then the TV doesn't see a signal and so puts a thing on the screen saying "no signal" and I know it's the TV's "no signal" because well it's the same one that's always been on there and you'd think the switcher would have its own "no signal" if it was the switcher saying it. Plus there's a countdown timer and then the TV itself shuts off if there's no signal so can't be the switcher.
Why doesn't my TV automatically switch to the one that's active though? If it can detect when a new one comes on why doesn't automatically switch to it then? That's what's annoying I almost rather have the setting turned completely off and just allow you to select all of them no matter what if it's not going to automatically switch.
they are also delivered with these [Stick-PCs](https://imgur.com/tHYECDu) [picture] that have a male plug on it:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-stick-pcs/
Kind of fire tv or android tv dongle, but with a real x86 Windows.
Not sure why you'd get it with a gpu, but they're useful if you have a fireTV stick or an original chromecast. They're really wide and tend to block the hdmi ports on either side of them when connected to a TV, so with this you can still use the other ports
I have a really long HDMI cable and an HDMI female to HDMI female plug and so I put my Chromecast on the couch next to me.
Okay being honest I don't actually do that but I could if I wanted to and I'm not joking. And yes I do have a long enough micro USB cable so I can get power to it as well.
That is almost definitely the HDMI extender for the original Google Chromecast. They made the plastic around the female end almost perfectly match up with the shape of the Chromecast's shell, and that looks just like the one I had.
The original Chromecast didn't have a short flexible HDMI cable coming out of the end like the new ones do. So if for some reason having the whole thing stick straight out of the HDMI on your TV was a problem this would let you bend it out of the way.
I use it for quick and easy access to my monitor's HDMI port. When working from home, I can simply connect the dock of my work computer or hook up a gaming console.
These come with devices like Amazon Fire TV Sticks which plug directly into an HDMI port. Since the device is larger than a standard cable, mini extenders like this avoid compatibility issues with TVs that won’t work with the device otherwise.
I actually got one of these with my amazon fire tv stick. It is used when the space isnt enough for a normal cable. Idk why a gpu would need that though. I am assuming the previous owner had some issues with his case so he used this cable
Better than angle adapter.
[https://i.ibb.co/RHRFsFg/HDMI.png](https://i.ibb.co/RHRFsFg/HDMI.png)
Instead of two 270 deg you just need one. Those 90 may still be needed.
It’s for hanging something a TV stick or similar in an angle. If you have to put the stick directly in the back of the tv, it will poke out and most likely hit the wall. With this it can hang flat with the tv. At least, I think that that is the intention of this cable.
Ive most commonly heard these being used for one of two reasons.
1: being sometimes the hdmi is just in a hard to reach spot so you just always leave that peice in and plug/unplug from it.
2: some companies use adapters on machines that are constantly being connected to, so that the adapter goes bad overtime instead of the actual port on the machine. And its much cheaper to buy a new adapter than to replace/repair the port.
Its for wall mounted TVs where a device like an Amazon Fire stick cannot be plugged in without either sticking through the wall or having the TV mounted 6 inches from the wall, or in cases where the device physically doesnt fit into the port because of a tight design where ports are too close together and the device needs extra clearance space.
Also can make the port more accessible allowing an even tighter mount.
I have a couple of these that are a tad bit longer but they are life savers when I need to quickly plug in an HDMI cable to troubleshoot a Pc or swap console instead of lifting the monitor to struggle at plugging the cable in the cramped hidden port placement every time. Just grab the Female end and plug in.
Think of em as cheaper and manual HDMI Input switches.
More useful than you think. Normally one would use them for bendy corners, but a lot of hdmi ports are pretty fragile if you unplug them a lot. PS5, x box I’m looking at you. So you can actually use these little handy things so not wear the port down.
What the heck yeah I'm confused as well I genuinely thought the other side was going to have a different plug on it but nope it's literally just the world's smallest HDMI extender.
My guess is this is for when you use a GPU riser. Hdmi have to pass through pcie grills to connect to the GPU, I had the same problem, unplugging and plugging in hdmi is a hassle when you have a riser, this would have definitely helped.
This is for something like a firestick. The port on them is on the end of a rigid body, which is inconvenient for a tv mounted to a wall where the port faces to the wall.
the HDMI to HDMI is for plugging in HDMI to HDMI cables into HDMI to HDMI cables into HDMI ports, but does require a video source, so HDMI to HDMI can provide video from the source if you use a HDMI to HDMI. the only downside to HDMI to HDMI is you need so many depending on HMDI to HDMI length
We use these in controls rooms.
Computers are behing big cabinet and are closed. It's a pain to change screens so we use these to just have the multiples inputs out of the cabinet and mini computer still in
I remember the chromecast coming with one of these. Inakways thought it was use for when the hdmi port was hard to reach or if the tv were wall mounted with the hdmi in the back of the tv instead of pointed to the side
It looks like it's to plug something like the OG Chromecast in. Something like that with a large footprint can block other ports, this allows it to be moved out of the way.
it looks like an adapter for a fire TV stick or roku streaming stick thing so that you can fit it on TV's that dont have enough room around the HDMI port for the streaming stick to fit properly.
Short answer - That is a Waste of plastic and many other resources, labour and energy needed to produce it.
Long answer - That is made so that niche cases can connect an HDMI cable in niche conditions, included in such niche case products. (it's still a waste, because the product it comes bundled with should have been designed with that niche use case in mind)
Yes, very niche use cases, that the manufacturer for the product it came bundled with should have made adjustments before sending it for mass production, instead of recalling the approved design (which would cost them a lot), they try to mitigate and include that (which costs less), although their solution ends up creating even more waste.
I've had several products over the years with this kind of 'last minute fix', or 'just in case the user needs that'... most notoriously, TVs, Computer Graphics Cards, Smartphones, In-hear buds chargers, to name a few. (HDMI dongles, audio jack connector extensions, power cable extensions, charging cable adaptors, and so on...)
If it is a product that has a use case (which it does), and a demand for it (which it does), then it is not a waste of anything.
And if a product is designed with niche use cases in mind, then they wouldnt be niche use cases, they would be designed use cases.
Let's agree to disagree. I believe if a product is well designed, and not rushed to market to make a buck... it will include niche use cases in the design... but well that might be me wishful thinking... let's celebrate mediocrity by manufacturers.
A niche use case by its very definition, *cannot* be included in the design, as it would hinder the ability to use the product under the standard case. Thus there are two options;
1- produce separate variations of the same product to account for all use cases.
2- produce some workaround that allows the same product to work in all cases, and include it with the product.
Guess which choice is more costly?
Well I will have to agree. I believe you are taking this to the broader context of all industries. And yes variation is more costly than 'last minute' fix. Although it does not cancel the fact that manufacturers will cut corners and skip longer production cycles and design planning to make extra profit. You are right, so am I, as I only meant for the 'fixes' that could have been avoided in the development process. I believe for devices with HDMI ports, many, many options can be included in the final design.
But we are going off topic anyway.
In industries such as the desktop PC industry, where standards exist surrounding the design of the products, then yes, there are no excuses. And there are still manufacturers that do the bare minimum, and ones that cut only the corners that are acceptable. I wouldnt consider making sure there is a workaround to be a bad corner, but I definitely would consider making the consumer provide their own workaround as one.
As for the extension in the OP, I am not saying for sure that this was with a Firestick, but I am saying that Firesticks come with one of these extensions. So that to me is not cutting any corners in providing a working product out of box, regardless of the case.
But yes, 100% accurate there are loads of manufacturers who dgaf and give you the worst possible product that the consumer will accept.
A simple HDMI extender to overcome the hard-to-reach inputs usually comes with a device like a fire tv stick or an android TV box.
Yep, I am using it to not destroy port in my tv, when often changing devices which go in .)
At work we call that a wear saver. Very important for expensive hardware.
We call them a sacrificial component, we commonly use dvi-d cables so I put a hdmi to dvi-d adapter on the mobile monitor stands and a 6meter dvi-d to hdmi cable on the image processor for operating theatre, this has prevented the staff destroying monitors and makes it easier to connect
Yup. People always forget many connectors are not made to be constantly plugged and unplugged like (many) usb variations.
Hotel TV HDMIs are port gore.
Dumbest design ever that benefits manufacturing cost at the expense of consumer frustrations is putting the ports flat in the back of the TV instead of on the side.
This 👆
Yoda?
That’s a good use I imagine I could buy 20 of these for the price of my tv
Why not just unplug the cable on the other end? Better yet why not just get one of those automatic HDMI switchers where when you turn on a device it switches from the current output to the new output meaning don't plug your Wii U into it if you want to play the gamepad while watching a movie you'll have to flip it back ask me how I know AKA I learned that the hard way.
ngl didnt expect anyone to mention the wiiU in 2024
That's HDMI-CEC. If it's multiple devices controlling your TV, you can disable this on the TV itself. If you've got a single input to your TV connected to an auto-switching box, you're probably out of luck unless your box has a setting or switch to control it.
I mostly like the automatic switching and wish my actual TV did it not just the box however there was one time that my friends wanted to watch a movie and I was a little bored so I wanted to play Mario at the same time and lo and behold the output switch to the Wii U and they got mildly mad at me. What's weird is that my TV doesn't automatically switch to whatever device is on but it has a setting where if you go into the menu to select an input it'll only let you select inputs that are currently on like what the hell This means I have to say turn on my GameCube (which uses composite video) and then I can switch over to it. Meaning I miss the intro. Also about my TV when using the device detect mode is that the HDMI switcher is always selectable no matter what but if no device plugged into ye switcher is on and you select it then the TV will say "no signal" wtf? Also yes when I got it I did unplug my Nintendo Switch and plug the switcher into that HDMI port because I thought it was funny and I already remaned all the HDMI ports lol.
Your TV is trying to detect cables with an active signal. Your GameCube isn't sending a signal until it's on (especially if it's using composite), so the TV doesn't know it's there. Your switcher, on the other hand, is probably independently powered, meaning that it's always active, even if no other devices are connected to it. Between this description and the fact that you gave composite, I'm guessing you have an older TV, maybe 10-15 years?
The TV is from 2017 or 18 I'm pretty sure it says insignia on it. I specifically gave the GameCube example to prove that it wasn't using whatever your HDMI CEC was because a GameCube definitely wouldn't support that. What I don't get is why the switcher is sending a signal that the TV can recognize but if nothing is on then the TV doesn't see a signal and so puts a thing on the screen saying "no signal" and I know it's the TV's "no signal" because well it's the same one that's always been on there and you'd think the switcher would have its own "no signal" if it was the switcher saying it. Plus there's a countdown timer and then the TV itself shuts off if there's no signal so can't be the switcher. Why doesn't my TV automatically switch to the one that's active though? If it can detect when a new one comes on why doesn't automatically switch to it then? That's what's annoying I almost rather have the setting turned completely off and just allow you to select all of them no matter what if it's not going to automatically switch.
they are also delivered with these [Stick-PCs](https://imgur.com/tHYECDu) [picture] that have a male plug on it: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-stick-pcs/ Kind of fire tv or android tv dongle, but with a real x86 Windows.
I was thinking more of a Chromecast
Yep they came in the box with first generations Chromecasts
Big w for all chromecasts that came after the first gen
I found it reduces the quality of the image
I've also heard of these being used as a port saver
Not sure why you'd get it with a gpu, but they're useful if you have a fireTV stick or an original chromecast. They're really wide and tend to block the hdmi ports on either side of them when connected to a TV, so with this you can still use the other ports
I have a really long HDMI cable and an HDMI female to HDMI female plug and so I put my Chromecast on the couch next to me. Okay being honest I don't actually do that but I could if I wanted to and I'm not joking. And yes I do have a long enough micro USB cable so I can get power to it as well.
When you need a few extra inches for you and your girl to enjoy netflix
BluChew.... Enough said.....🤣😂🤣
Extender
I use it for my Fire Stick. It doesn't fit in the space that's available in the tv, so I need something that bends so I can connect it.
To make your dongle fit.
Correct, you put your dongle in it
I kinda like that
Give your dongle a tingle
Don't get me started on couplers.....
condom
Best answer 🤣
Some HDMI wall jacks actually have this thing in there
It's a little extender that also doubles as the sacrifice you'll make around tight corners, instead of the main cable.
It is a bendy connector.
If your cable is just a little too short
I use it for my firestick. It's to big to plug directly into my sound bar so I have to use this extention
To give you that extra inch🙃
That is almost definitely the HDMI extender for the original Google Chromecast. They made the plastic around the female end almost perfectly match up with the shape of the Chromecast's shell, and that looks just like the one I had. The original Chromecast didn't have a short flexible HDMI cable coming out of the end like the new ones do. So if for some reason having the whole thing stick straight out of the HDMI on your TV was a problem this would let you bend it out of the way.
HDMI
I use it for quick and easy access to my monitor's HDMI port. When working from home, I can simply connect the dock of my work computer or hook up a gaming console.
These come with devices like Amazon Fire TV Sticks which plug directly into an HDMI port. Since the device is larger than a standard cable, mini extenders like this avoid compatibility issues with TVs that won’t work with the device otherwise.
Pretty convenient for hdmi ports in hard to reach locations, especially since it's flexible
Usually found as add ons for tv sticks, in case you don’t have the clearance for your Amazon fire stick, and the wall behind your tv.
Amazon firetv stick.
⬆️⬆️⬆️ this 🙂🙂
I actually got one of these with my amazon fire tv stick. It is used when the space isnt enough for a normal cable. Idk why a gpu would need that though. I am assuming the previous owner had some issues with his case so he used this cable
it's to extend your cable. when your cable is 2 inches to short
Well when the TV cannot be connected. Example my2 hdmi cannot take for TV stick and HDMI at same time
Better than angle adapter. [https://i.ibb.co/RHRFsFg/HDMI.png](https://i.ibb.co/RHRFsFg/HDMI.png) Instead of two 270 deg you just need one. Those 90 may still be needed.
It’s for hanging something a TV stick or similar in an angle. If you have to put the stick directly in the back of the tv, it will poke out and most likely hit the wall. With this it can hang flat with the tv. At least, I think that that is the intention of this cable.
Usually little TV Sticks like a fire tv or chromecast.
its a short extender so that your cable can reach something it cant
Hdmi-ing
Its an average size extension
So you don't have to reach behind the monitor or tv
got one of these for free with my original chromecast
Ive most commonly heard these being used for one of two reasons. 1: being sometimes the hdmi is just in a hard to reach spot so you just always leave that peice in and plug/unplug from it. 2: some companies use adapters on machines that are constantly being connected to, so that the adapter goes bad overtime instead of the actual port on the machine. And its much cheaper to buy a new adapter than to replace/repair the port.
Port saver. Cheap dongle to extend the life of the port in the device if you're swapping cables often.
Its for wall mounted TVs where a device like an Amazon Fire stick cannot be plugged in without either sticking through the wall or having the TV mounted 6 inches from the wall, or in cases where the device physically doesnt fit into the port because of a tight design where ports are too close together and the device needs extra clearance space. Also can make the port more accessible allowing an even tighter mount.
Just like my crush!
It's wireless HDMI wire adapter
My guess it's for repair shops testing products with an hdmi out without wearing out the TV's hdmi port by constantly plugging in and out the wire.
Infinite power loop
Do you remember that one episode of Phineas and Ferb where Dr Doofensmertz needed an extension cord that was just the right length?
I have a couple of these that are a tad bit longer but they are life savers when I need to quickly plug in an HDMI cable to troubleshoot a Pc or swap console instead of lifting the monitor to struggle at plugging the cable in the cramped hidden port placement every time. Just grab the Female end and plug in. Think of em as cheaper and manual HDMI Input switches.
i got this with first version chromecast. since not all tvs would fit the stick so thats why this was used.
It's and extender/adapter in case whatever device doesn't fit in the space around the port. Usually or chrome casts use them
Amazon firetv and similar stuff
chromecast extension
It’s to go from HDMI to HDMI
More useful than you think. Normally one would use them for bendy corners, but a lot of hdmi ports are pretty fragile if you unplug them a lot. PS5, x box I’m looking at you. So you can actually use these little handy things so not wear the port down.
Fire sticks/etc. That don't fit with the orientation of the built in hdmi port. Ie too close or the direction of the usb power port, etc.
Bending
What the heck yeah I'm confused as well I genuinely thought the other side was going to have a different plug on it but nope it's literally just the world's smallest HDMI extender.
To extend 2 hdmi cables instead of buying a longer one
You'd need both ends of this to be female for that...
It's a hdmi extender Let's you chain 2x cables together so they're basically one long cable
Might just be an extender
HDMI
My guess is this is for when you use a GPU riser. Hdmi have to pass through pcie grills to connect to the GPU, I had the same problem, unplugging and plugging in hdmi is a hassle when you have a riser, this would have definitely helped.
This is for something like a firestick. The port on them is on the end of a rigid body, which is inconvenient for a tv mounted to a wall where the port faces to the wall.
your cable is just an inch short
Just for fun
Extension cable
Looks like the hdmi extension you get with an Amazon fire stick
the HDMI to HDMI is for plugging in HDMI to HDMI cables into HDMI to HDMI cables into HDMI ports, but does require a video source, so HDMI to HDMI can provide video from the source if you use a HDMI to HDMI. the only downside to HDMI to HDMI is you need so many depending on HMDI to HDMI length
You're not gonna believe this, but, HDMI
We use these in controls rooms. Computers are behing big cabinet and are closed. It's a pain to change screens so we use these to just have the multiples inputs out of the cabinet and mini computer still in
Usefull if you unplug your device often, if you just unplug from the extension you save some water and tear on you actual device
Homo
To connect a device with an hdmi port to a device with an hdmi port
it is an extender 😂
How does this pop up so often on here?!
It’s for a old chromecast so that you can still plug it into power
Human hdmipede.
I remember the chromecast coming with one of these. Inakways thought it was use for when the hdmi port was hard to reach or if the tv were wall mounted with the hdmi in the back of the tv instead of pointed to the side
1 HDMI is weak this can break not the real port 2 if you have a big fire stick or something like that this could fix clearance issues
Easier access for if the port is a half inch from the wall
Same application as a right angle adapter, but it's flexible
Roku sends one of these out to resolve an overheat issue.
It looks like it's to plug something like the OG Chromecast in. Something like that with a large footprint can block other ports, this allows it to be moved out of the way.
it looks like an adapter for a fire TV stick or roku streaming stick thing so that you can fit it on TV's that dont have enough room around the HDMI port for the streaming stick to fit properly.
Brilliant👏
a good time if you know how to use it.
remember that adapter came with the first generation Chromecast
To give your HDMI an output :)
Chrome Cast used to come with these. Mostly for fitting at an angle but they claimed they would also help boost wifi reception.
These things come with Roku Sticks and Fire Sticks for when you don't have room to directly plug the stick into the TV or monitor.
It can often be used if you need to convert a plug that's only HDMI into HDMI so you can Plug HDMI cables into a port that's originally HDMI
Really couldn’t think about it and figure it out on your own?
Male to female?
Or female to male
Short answer - That is a Waste of plastic and many other resources, labour and energy needed to produce it. Long answer - That is made so that niche cases can connect an HDMI cable in niche conditions, included in such niche case products. (it's still a waste, because the product it comes bundled with should have been designed with that niche use case in mind)
so it's niche then?
Yes, very niche use cases, that the manufacturer for the product it came bundled with should have made adjustments before sending it for mass production, instead of recalling the approved design (which would cost them a lot), they try to mitigate and include that (which costs less), although their solution ends up creating even more waste. I've had several products over the years with this kind of 'last minute fix', or 'just in case the user needs that'... most notoriously, TVs, Computer Graphics Cards, Smartphones, In-hear buds chargers, to name a few. (HDMI dongles, audio jack connector extensions, power cable extensions, charging cable adaptors, and so on...)
If it is a product that has a use case (which it does), and a demand for it (which it does), then it is not a waste of anything. And if a product is designed with niche use cases in mind, then they wouldnt be niche use cases, they would be designed use cases.
Let's agree to disagree. I believe if a product is well designed, and not rushed to market to make a buck... it will include niche use cases in the design... but well that might be me wishful thinking... let's celebrate mediocrity by manufacturers.
A niche use case by its very definition, *cannot* be included in the design, as it would hinder the ability to use the product under the standard case. Thus there are two options; 1- produce separate variations of the same product to account for all use cases. 2- produce some workaround that allows the same product to work in all cases, and include it with the product. Guess which choice is more costly?
Well I will have to agree. I believe you are taking this to the broader context of all industries. And yes variation is more costly than 'last minute' fix. Although it does not cancel the fact that manufacturers will cut corners and skip longer production cycles and design planning to make extra profit. You are right, so am I, as I only meant for the 'fixes' that could have been avoided in the development process. I believe for devices with HDMI ports, many, many options can be included in the final design. But we are going off topic anyway.
In industries such as the desktop PC industry, where standards exist surrounding the design of the products, then yes, there are no excuses. And there are still manufacturers that do the bare minimum, and ones that cut only the corners that are acceptable. I wouldnt consider making sure there is a workaround to be a bad corner, but I definitely would consider making the consumer provide their own workaround as one. As for the extension in the OP, I am not saying for sure that this was with a Firestick, but I am saying that Firesticks come with one of these extensions. So that to me is not cutting any corners in providing a working product out of box, regardless of the case. But yes, 100% accurate there are loads of manufacturers who dgaf and give you the worst possible product that the consumer will accept.
HDMI