FireWire is a high-speed serial bus used for digital audio and video transfer, created by Apple in 1995. It has two versions, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, and is still in widespread use. It is faster than USB 2.0 and is used in computers and peripherals such as external hard drives and digital video cameras.
FireWire® is an interface standard for a serial bus used for high-speed real-time data transfer. It is used for digital audio and video as well as applications in the aeronautics and automotive industries. Created by Apple Computer, Inc. in 1995, FireWire® is also known as i.LINK and Lynx, depending on the company implementing it, and the standard is referred to as IEEE 1394. Since its introduction, FireWire® ports have used to replace or add other types of ports, such as parallel SCSI ports, and is still in widespread use.
FireWire® has two major versions: FireWire® 400 and FireWire® 800. FireWire® 400 is the initial version and uses a 4-circuit or, more often, 6-circuit powered connector that is limited to 14.8 feet (4.5 m) in length . However, links up to 236 feet (72 m) can be daisy-chained. FireWire® 800 was introduced in 2002 and uses a 9-circuit connector and can maintain much longer connections.
Some companies, such as Apple, have replaced the initial version of the FireWire® ports on their computers with FireWire® 800 ports. Although FireWire® 800 is backwards compatible, an adapter cable is required to connect FireWire® 400 devices to FireWire® ports manufactured according to 800 standard. Also, when daisy-chaining a combination of devices, the FireWire® 400 devices must be at the end of the chain, with the FireWire® 800 devices connected directly to the port.
The continued popularity of FireWire® ports is demonstrated in several ways. One is the sale of computers with FireWire® ports. Because FireWire® is faster than USB 2.0, a FireWire® port can be provided in addition to, rather than replacing, USB 2.0 ports. Apple®, Sony® and Toshiba®, for example, all sell computers with FireWire® interfaces.
Another sign of the popularity of FireWire® ports is the continued sale of peripherals with FireWire® adapters. LaCie®, for example, offers both external hard drives and speakers with FireWire® connectors. Seagate®, Western Digital®, Iomega® and Buffalo Technology® also make external hard drives with FireWire® ports and cables. Digital video cameras are another device commonly connected to computers via FireWire®. And, of course, the sale of FireWire® cables by manufacturers like Belkin® is testament to the continued popularity of FireWire® ports.
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