Intel predicts Light Peak to replace USB 3.0

[LazyLion]

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/15/intel-predicts-light-peak-to-replace-usb-3-0/

Intel pundit Kevin Kahn has predicted that Light Peak may overtake USB 3.0 before the latter really even gets started. The 10Gbps standard is poised to become the mainstream technology as soon as 2011, beating the technology it’s intended to replace to the mainstream.

While Light Peak is currently considered to work with USB 3.0, the blazing speed could serve to make it become the standard before the older technology has a chance to take off. Mr. Kahn stated that Light Peak will become available to PC manufacturers later this year, and will ship in early 2011.

What is Light Peak?

http://techresearch.intel.com/articles/None/1813.htm

Light Peak Overview

Light Peak is the code-name for a new high-speed optical cable technology designed to connect your electronic devices to each other. Light Peak delivers high bandwidth starting at 10Gb/s with the potential ability to scale to 100Gb/s over the next decade. At 10Gb/s, you could transfer a full-length Blu-Ray movie in less than 30 seconds. Optical technology also allows for smaller connectors and longer, thinner, and more flexible cables than currently possible. Light Peak also has the ability to run multiple protocols simultaneously over a single cable, enabling the technology to connect devices such as peripherals, displays, disk drives, docking stations, and more.

Existing electrical cable technology in mainstream computing devices is approaching practical limits for speed and length, due to electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and other issues. However, optical technology, used extensively in data centers and telecom communications, does not have these limitations since it transmits data using light instead of electricity. Light Peak brings this optical technology to mainstream computing and consumer electronic devices in a cost-effective manner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qax9qLiZzR0&feature=player_embedded

 

[LazyLion]

Intel says Light Peak coming next year, can and will coexist with USB 3.0

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/intel-says-light-peak-coming-next-year-can-and-will-coexist-wit/

How do you sell a generation of hardware manufacturers on yet another standard? If you're Intel, you tell them that it'll transfer files at 10Gbps and is compatible with every major protocol that came before... and if that doesn't work, you simply fail to give your competitor hardware support. But PC World reports that while Intel is still dragging its feet regarding USB 3.0, it's planning to have Light Peak fiber optic devices in the market next year. Intel insists Light Peak isn't meant to replace USB, in so much as it can use the same ports and protocols (photographic evidence above), but at the same time it's not shying away from the possibility of obliterating its copper competition with beams of light. "In some sense we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need," said Intel's Kevin Kahn. Now, we're not going to rag on Light Peak, because we honestly love the idea of consolidated fiber optic connectivity. We just want to know now whether we should bother locking ourselves into a USB 3.0 ecosystem if better things are just around the corner.

More...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-10360047-264.html

 

[Archer]

I prophesise that it will be expensive and Apple will sue everyone that tries to use it. I'm fairly certain Apple has put a big bunch of simoleons into the research of this so makes sense to me.

 

[LazyLion]

I prophesise that it will be expensive and Apple will sue everyone that tries to use it. I'm fairly certain Apple has put a big bunch of simoleons into the research of this so makes sense to me.

Um, this is not made by Apple, it is made by Intel.

 

[BlaZing]

Unless you have a SSD you will only get the max of you plater drives

 

[Archer]

Um, this is not made by Apple, it is made by Intel.

I said they helped research it through funding, not make it. The Apple link is however only speculation at this point.

 

[kayvee]

That's probably why they demoed it on a Mac Pro.