What is FireWire?
FireWire is simply Apples version of the IEEE 1394 high speed serial bus. It is primarily used to transmit video and images from one digital source to another in such appliances as camcorders and some digital cameras. However, it can be used to transmit all forms of data such as audio, etc. FireWire allows devices to be hot switched while the computer is running and is plug and play. It must be remembered that the IEEE 1394 bus is not unique to Apple, Both Sony and Texas Instruments have their own variations, iLINK and LYNX respectively.
FireWire is the brand name for the IEEE 1394 High Speed Serial Bus developed and marketed by Apple, Inc. The idea of FireWire was first conceived in the 1980’s. Developments in technology through the early 1990’s led to the official introduction of the device in 1995. The research that led to the development of FireWire included the involvement of a number of well-known electronics and technology based firms. Along with major contributions made by Apple, such companies as IBM, Sony, and Texas Instruments also were actively involved in the work group that developed the end product. Work on the device continued for several years before being introduced to the public. FireWire is now firmly established in the industry, and is utilized with a number of products. One of the first applications was to add a FireWire port to digital camcorders. This enhancement helped to increase the quality of uploading captured images and video to computer systems and desktops. Today, this application of Fir
There are currently two versions of the FireWire interface in use: • 800 megabits per second – The latest version of FireWire, IEEE-1394b, also known as FireWire 800 which is twice the speed of FireWire 400/1394a! Click here for information on FireWire 800 • 400 megabits per second – The original version of FireWire, the IEEE-1394a interface, also known as FireWire 400 which is described below: The original FireWire interface, FireWire 400 / 1394a: Firewire 400 the original version of the IEEE-1394 interface specification, also known as Sony’s i.LINK,. FireWire, IEEE-1394 or iLINK are all different names for the same high-speed digital technology that enables consumer electronics to easily interface with computer products. Its a natural for video. Today, you can go to your local electronics store and purchase a digital video camcorder for about the same price you would have paid for an analog Hi8 or SVHS model. A digital video camera gives you better picture quality than ever before po
What is FireWire ? Technically it is the high speed data transfer protocol IEEE1394. When the FireWire concept was first announced a few years ago, it was envisioned that it would become a new standard that would replace SCSI and link all our consumer electronics equipment and computers together. There was talk of FireWire hard drives, FireWire home theaters and most of all FireWire camcorders and televisions. Well, the dust has settled and the hype has died down. The only application for FireWire that has actually come to fruition is for transferring digital video (DV) information directly form a camcorder (or VCR) to your hard drive. What’s the difference between DV and FireWire ? DV is the actual format of the video and it looks incredible. It is the new super high resolution digital video format that is better quality then S-Video and has many broadcast professionals thinking about scrapping their BetaCam gear. The images are crisp, bright and have excellent depth and contrast. Bes
