What is the future of 1394?
High Definition TVs are becoming commonplace. However, most HD sources such as Blu-ray DVD players, cable and IPTV set top boxes and satellite receivers, use HDMI to connect to your DTV. HDMI cannot be networked and only operates over short distances making it nearly impossible to share your expensive HD sources with TVs in other rooms. FireWire has the ability to operate over the same wiring used by Ethernet (UTP CAT5 cable) as well as fiber optical cable and even the same coax wire used by your cable and satellite TV services. It provides the necessary speed and reliability (guaranteed QoS) to distribute HD content throughout your home. It also supports DTCP content protection, which has been approved by all of the major Hollywood studios to protect their most valuable property – HD movies and TV programming. No other networking technology today can do this. Therefore as HD becomes the norm, FireWire will become the network of choice. It is already required on all HD cable set top bo
1394 has the potential to transform the consumer electronics and computer industries by making a vast array of new applications possible. Once an electronic device becomes 1394-enabled, it can share data with other devices and be controlled by a computer. If the computer is connected to the Internet, that control is extended to locations worldwide. Let’s say you forgot to program your VCR to record a show while you’re at work. No problem. Because your VCR is digital and connected to your home network through its 1394 jack, you can access it over the Internet and program it from your PC at work. In fact, 1394 will make it possible to do things like backup your computer files to the digital tape in your VCR. Hey, what’s going on at home? Here’s another one. Your relatively inexpensive 1394-enabled home-security system includes miniature video cameras and audio surveillance equipment. So you can see and hear exactly what’s going on in and around your house from your home computer, your di
