Intel's Optical Tech May Arrive Next Year
Intel's Light Peak technology--slated to debut in Q1 2010--could combine current connectors such as USB, HDMI, and Ethernet using fiber optics.
Last month, Intel revealed its new Light Peak technology, a fiber optic universal connector for computers and other devices. As Intel states on its official website, Light Peak connectors deliver high bandwidth starting at 10 Gb/sec. with the potential ability to scale to 100 Gb/sec. over the next decade. To put this speed in perspective, 10 Gb/sec. can transfer a Blu-ray movie in less than 30 seconds.
However, when Intel showcased the new technology last month, it wasn't immediately apparent that manufacturers would have a product ready by next year. But according to CNET, Taiwanese optical networking company Foci Fiber Optic Communication will indeed be locked and loaded for mass production sometime around the beginning of 2010. Then again, it shouldn't be surprising: the company was responsible for supplying the components used in Intel's demonstration during the Intel Developers Forum.
Outside the transfer speeds, what' the big deal about Light Peak? In addition to connecting devices and PCs, the technology can perform the same tasks as today's USB, but also connect monitors and networks in the same process. If Light Peak could become an industry standard, Intel's technology could very well fuse together HDMI, FireWire, USB, DVI, Ethernet, DisplayPort, and more. Currently Intel is working on standardizing Light Peak through the USB Implementers Forum.
As for Foci's Light Peak connector getting ready for Q1 2010, its cables will use USB connectors, but not the actual USB cables. Currently the big concern from an industry standpoint is how the Light Peak optical cables will hold up to the consumer market. "The cables are quite durable, and can be connected and disconnected for at least 7,000 times," said Foci's vice president of business development, Janpu Hou. He also added that the company seeks to drop the price to an acceptable level by consumers.
- Sony Unveils Touchscreen 'HDTV' PC Vaio L DVR
- Sony Vaio X is World's Lightest Notebook
- Web Experts: Hotmail Phishing Scam is Spreading
- Yahoo!: Memo, We're Killing GeoCities Oct. 26
- Google Lets You View PDFs in Your Search Results
- Nvidia Halts Chipset Developments
- Man and Machine Wins 'Mighty Mouse' Trademark
- Stolen Hotmail Data Finds Simple Passwords
- NPD: Apple Owners Have More Money and Stuff
- MSI's Big Bang Mobo Offers THX Yummyness
- Sony Rounds it Out With Mainstream Vaio CW
- Nvidia: We're Staying in the Chipset Business
- Microsoft Office 2010 Starter to Display Ads
- Twitter in Licensing Talks with Google, Microsoft
- Yahoo! Provided Iran With Details of 200K Users
- Netbooks Bring Down Laptop Market Revenue
- Study: Vista Startup Time is Faster Than Win 7
- Microsoft Working on 128-bit Windows
I think that would definitely be a good thing - imagine avery device having a hub or port on it.
Youd be able to connect everything in the order that suited your setup - monitor to speakers, web cam to monitor, scanner to printer.
Rab, your have to look at the bigger picture. Intel talk about this replacing copper twisted pair networking. That would infer that their interface is capable of distinguising between different devices at either end of the fiber. This could mean that we would end up with a fiber network with all of our PCs (for networking services) connected to it along with our monitors, peripherals, TV's, BLURAY players, etc. etc. connected. It's all very Star Trek, where they pull a bunch of fiber cables out of the wall and plug it into the side of their android's head- I love it. ;-)