Questions & Answers for Apple 30-pin to VGA Adapter

VGA is a legacy port to connect computers and monitors. It stands for Video Graphics Adapter (some call it Video Graphic Array) and you'll also find VGA sometimes used to describe the resolution of the output from the computer: e.g. "SuperVGA. etc."

The connector is a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. The 15-pin VGA connector is found on many video cards, computer monitors, and some high definition television sets. On laptop computers or other small devices, a mini-VGA port is sometimes used in place of the full-sized VGA connector.

• Answered by James T from Wake Forest
• May 15, 2012
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (What does VGA stand for?)

The Apple VGA Adapter is designed to connect your iPad to a monitor, TV or projector using a VGA cable. This is an older type of connection but still common on many projectors sold today. A VGA connection can only carry a video signal. Another limitation of VGA is its lack of support for HDCP - 'High Definition Copy Protection' - which prevents the playback of some movies (for example movies rented or purchased from the iTunes store) on an external display.

The Apple Digital AV Adapter allows you to connect you iPad to a monitor, TV, projector or home theatre system using an HDMI cable. HMDI carries both a video and audio signal, and supports HDCP, making it ideal for playback of rented or purchased movies from the iTunes store. This adapter also includes a 30-pin dock connector to which you can connect a USB charging cable, allowing you to charge your iPad at the same time as using the adapter.

• Answered by Chris L
• Apr 22, 2012
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (what is the difference between vga adapter and the av cable)

Yes, you can. You'll need to download an app like Air Sharing, Documents or QuickOffice that can view your documents.

• Answered by Emmanuel J from Cupertino
• Jan 25, 2011
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (If i have excel or word files on my mac and want to transfer and store to ipad and view them ... can it be done?)

Hi, I am not sure if anyone has answered this yet. I have an IPhone 4 and an Ipad 2 and could not stream Netflix through either, even with the adapter. I called them directly in the US and they said the adapter will only work for Ipad 4 and newer, and IPhone 4S and newer. Any older and their systems do not recognize it. It is not the answer I wanted but it at least it explained why the adapter did not work. Hope this helps.

• Answered by Derrick S from Orillia
• Apr 11, 2014
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Netflix)

DVI is a little strange, in that some DVI ports do have analog inputs or outputs. If your projector has this sort of DVI port, it will work with the adapter you mentioned. You can usually tell by looking for four small round holes above and below the flat blade connectors on the DVI connector. If they are absent, the DVI is digital only. If they are present, it is likely to be a DVI connection that also has analog capability (in spite of its name). The other responder is correct if the DVI is digital only. The conversion is difficult and expensive. But you may be in luck (as long as the limitations of the iPad VGA connector, and Keynote, mentioned in the reviews are acceptable for your use).

• Answered by Steven R from Haiku
• May 8, 2010
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can the VGA connector work with a projector that only has a DVI port but has a DVI to VGA plug adapter on?)

the best 720p, 1080i vga portable projectors for the money are the Samsung p400 & p410. LED bulb, 40 watt, ~20,000 hr bulb life (that's like 10 yrs if used 5 hrs/day). I use one with my mac mini and elgato eyetv as my entertainment center TV. It's awesome, trust me.

• Answered by Jeremy H from Denver
• May 29, 2010
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (What portable projector works best with iPad Keynote?)

No, it's only about 10cm

• Answered by Mark E from Woodinville
• Aug 31, 2010
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (How long is this cable?)