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USB requires a host controller whereas IEEE 1394 is cooperatively managed by the connected devices. USB was developed subsequently and gained much greater market share. FireWire is also available in Cat 5 and optical fiber versions. Power and data is carried over this cable, allowing devices with moderate power requirements to operate without a separate power supply. The copper cable used in its most common implementation can be up to 4.5 metres (15 ft) long. It is also known by the brand names i.LINK (Sony), and Lynx ( Texas Instruments). It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony and Panasonic. IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer. Thunderbolt (and USB 3.0 for consumer use) For other uses, see Firewire (disambiguation).Īpple (1394a/b), IEEE P1394 Working Group, Sony, Panasonic, etc.
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