Apple to adopt Light Peak connection technology?

[Paddy]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20033940-64.html

QUOTE

An announcement from Apple is expected soon about a new high-speed connection technology, a source told CNET.

Whether the new connector tech will be part of the upcoming MacBook Pro update (rumored to happen February 24) or announced in another context is not clear. Intel has been working on a technology called Light Peak for years and recently said the initial version would be based on copper, as practical realities dictate more conventional technology.

Apple is expected to adopt this technology in the near future--but likely use a name other than Light Peak, a source familiar with this aspect of Apple's plans said. Intel has said in the past that the first products using Light Peak should appear in the first half of 2011.

QUOTE

Light Peak is significantly faster than even USB 3.0, carrying data at 10 gigabits per second in both directions simultaneously. Connection speeds will not be affected by the transition to copper, according to Intel.

More info: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20025559-64.html?

Pretty interesting, and would explain the complete lack of any move to eSATA on Apple's part.

And way more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Peak

Dunno how I missed the initial news on this, but it looks pretty interesting, though there appear to be a few caveats when you read the Wikipedia article. How wonderful it would be to have just ONE type of connector. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for peripherals with Light Peak to appear.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

How wonderful it would be to have just ONE type of connector.

What makes you think Apple will use the same connector as everyone else? That's a little cynical, I know, but Apple has a way of either refusing to follow others standards or backing better ones that never get accepted. I'll now read the articles and see what a fool I've made of myself, again!

OK, so it sounds like this is basically just a protocol for carrying other connection methods (USB, FireWire, SATA, even Ethernet). But it's faster than those current methods max speeds. And it would allow one connector to handle all the other designs. It sounds like just a new, high speed bridge that will allow any current (and even some future) 'traffic' methods to cross the chasm between the computer and the myriad devices we use. Biggest advantage I can see, other than the one connector, is the increased distances allowed. Ethernet has always been great, not only because of its speed but the length of the connections possible (close to 1,000 feet!). In another thread, there was talk of finding extension cables for the usb connection. I wondered if there would be a problem with the distances spoken of with the fairly small 5v USB capabilities.

My interest really was piqued when I read the following:

QUOTE

The pre-draft USB 3.0 specification proposed 24 volts DC at 6 amperes (up to 144 W)

Sounds like a computer controlled arc welder "for the rest of us" is just around the corner!

The idea sounds great as a way to help reduce the few cents it now costs to include USB, Ethernet, FireWire, etc. in the computer and the same thing in the devices we connect. It could make it easier to have both USB (of whatever flavor) and another method available in a device rather than forcing the makers to use one that may not have enough ports/plugs at the computer end. We'll just have to wait and see...and until the device makers settle on something, we'll probably still need extra peripherals, with multiple ports, between our devices and our computers.

Thanks for the heads up, even if a little late! At the rate things are changing, "a little late" sounds more like "this just in!"

[Paddy]

More background info:

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/26/apple-...eak-connectors/

Obviously, it took them a little longer than originally planned for this to see the light of day - and of course, we still don't know when it will, exactly!

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

The new connector is rumored to be introduced into the Mac lineup in the Fall of 2010

Guess we missed that intro...

Many, many, (too) many years ago, I bid a line of trips so I could be in Boston for the Apple Convention/Expo. We were treated to a talk from the Woz about the problems of the real bottle-neck in the Apple ][. "Data transfer." Never really changed, I guess, the cpus could always handle the data faster than it could be moved...

[Xairbusdriver]

<Thunderbolt smokes USB, FireWire with 10Gbps throughput>

QUOTE("ars technica")

The full list of those planning Thunderbolt support in future products include AJA, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, Universal Audio, LaCie, and Western Digital. Given the clear technical advantages over previous standards, we believe Thunderbolt could achieve wide industry adoption.