Inte Light Peak may get early debut, Apple first

Intel's Light Peak technology may be launching much earlier than expected if a slip tonight is an indicator. Despite talk of it not showing in computers until 2012, a contact aware of the development of the fiber optic technology said the first products with Light Peak would ship in the first half of the year, and likely in the earlier part of that period. Talking to CNET, the purported insider didn't name the company or the type of products involved.

Apple has already been singled out as a candidate to be the first with the technology. While rumors that it was directly responsible for the technology have been downplayed, it was eventually confirmed one of the companies asked for input as to how the technology would advance. One rumor asserted that Light Peak-supporting Macs would arrive as soon as the end of 2010, though with no new Macs expected before the end of 2010, the rumor is either false or saw the end products delayed.

The technology was primarily designed as an interconnect within a computer and will initially transfer 10Gbps, or twice as much as USB 3.0. Although it may become an external port standard of its own, it may first focus on piping data to multiple USB, FireWire and even Ethernet connectors without having to have a separate backend for each. Using Light Peak could help reduce space and speed constraints in notebooks as well as accelerate the performance of the peripherals themselves.

Intel has shown Light Peak used for direct connections, such as dual HD video streaming.

By Electronista Staff

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Intel, computers, industry, Apple, Light Peak