Apple dropping Firewire???

kwiz · Post by **kwiz** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:38 pm

If this is fact, it doesn't seem to make much sense.
I got this from the CNET forum site:

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This just in....
Most of this is copied from a post I found at eweek.com I have not checked it's facts yet.

"Early in December...
Charter Communications, JVC, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., NBC Universal, Samsung and Sun Microsystems announced the formation of HANA, the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance.

HANA members are working together to create a design guideline for secure high definition audio visual networks that will speed the creation of new, higher quality, easier to use HD products.

HANA••™s goal is to create standards-based solutions to facilitate commercial deployment of connected products and services that will enhance the consumer HD entertainment experience.

To achieve this, HANA will work with its member companies and organizations such as the Consumer Electronics Association, the 1394 Trade Association, CableLabs, the Motion Picture Association of America and others to ensure that its solutions meet the needs of all stakeholders, including consumers.

Those needs include ensuring HANA products will stream high definition A/V content and related services, simply and reliably throughout the home without compromising the rights of content owners or those of the consumer.

A week Later...
HANA backs /endorses firewire (IEEE 1394)

Approximately 85 percent of U.S. households receive their TV programming services from cable or satellite broadcasters. DTV sales are projected to grow from 17 million units in 2004 to 77 million units in 2008.
IEEE 1394 is the only digital interface that has an FCC mandate to be included in Digital Cable Set Top Boxes.

If it's true...
I'm guessing that I'll be needing my Firewire for quite a while.

Lampie"

Hmmmmmmmm

mandoman · Post by **mandoman** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:48 pm

Apple invented firewire. They have a vested interest keeping it around. Every DV Cam on the market uses firewire. Firewire is more popular than ever, it's on something like 50% of PC's now, and the # is climbing. I don't know how this silly rumor started, but Firewire is NOT going away anytime soon.

mandoman · Post by **mandoman** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:00 pm

From: http://www.1394ta.org/Press/2005Press/d ... 2.14.a.htm

Currently, 1394a/FireWire400 is designed into more than 65 percent of notebooks. Estimates for 2006 reach approximately 72 percent. By the end of 2006, a total of more than 48 million 1394-equipped notebooks will have shipped, including some 3 million with 1394b••™s 800 Megabit/second speeds. Some 11 million consumer desktop PCs will also include FireWire connection capabilities.

Most PC motherboards now provide FireWire400, and new motherboards equipped with 1394b have been announced by Intel, Gigabyte, Asustek and Foxconn during this year, Snider said. Also, leading makers of external drive and storage products are now using 1394b as a differentiator.

kwiz · Post by **kwiz** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:03 pm

I agree, that's basically what the my previous post states.
I think people paniced because there is no FW800 on the Powerbook.
FW 400 is still alive and well.

hollywood · Post by **hollywood** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:19 pm

I did read an interesting article with several audio interface manufacturers (MOTU included) in sound on sound I believe. In the article they asked the roundtable about USB2, and a lot of the companies are moving towards this system. Maybe not completely, but they are being developed.

They also asked about power related issues w/hot swapping firewire and motherboards burning up...some acknowledged the problem and claimed that their designs made frying their devices impossible, and some didn't acknowledge any type of issue at all.

All of the companies were asked about PCI-E, and while some said that they would eventually develop a card, no one seemed to be in a hurry.

Maybe they didn't want to disclose any upcoming project secrets, but it really seemed like USB 2.0 is going to be getting more popular.

billf · Post by **billf** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:25 pm

hollywood wrote:I did read an interesting article with several audio interface manufacturers (MOTU included) in sound on sound I believe. In the article they asked the roundtable about USB2, and a lot of the companies are moving towards this system. Maybe not completely, but they are being developed.

They also asked about power related issues w/hot swapping firewire and motherboards burning up...some acknowledged the problem and claimed that their designs made frying their devices impossible, and some didn't acknowledge any type of issue at all.

All of the companies were asked about PCI-E, and while some said that they would eventually develop a card, no one seemed to be in a hurry.

Maybe they didn't want to disclose any upcoming project secrets, but it really seemed like USB 2.0 is going to be getting more popular.

I just bought a new DVD/VCR combo thing last week, which is brand new on the market. It even has a connector on so that you can hook up peripherals. You know what kind of connector it is: Firewire.

I think everyone is assuming that because the new Macintel has only Firewire 400 on it that Apple has lost interest. But it's dangerous to assume.