Apple was behind the development of a new high-speed optical interface that could replace USB, according to reports.
Intel unveiled the Light Peak technology at last week’s Intel Developer Forum. The fibre optic interface offers speeds of up to 10Gb/s and could be used to replace various types of PC connector – USB, FireWire, display – with a single port.
Light Peak also offers incredible range. At IDF, Intel demonstrated a Windows 7 PC connected to a monitor that was 40 feet away using a Light Peak cable.
Although Intel took the plaudits for the technology last week, it’s now claimed that Apple was the driving force behind its introduction. The Mac maker brought the concept to Intel and asked the chip company to produce it, according to a report on Engadget.
Apple is already planning to incorporate Light Peak in a number of future products, allowing it to use only a single port on products such as Mac Minis, iPhones and the much-rumoured tablet device.
Documents seen by Engadget claim that “the short-term plans seem to involve a one-size-fits-all solution (somehow allowing for multiple connections but avoiding “double dongles”) which would enable users to connect a variety of devices into a single Light Peak port.”
“Slightly longer-term plans will mean Light Peak obviates the need for almost every type of connector you use today,” the report adds.
The arrival of Light Peak could be ominous for USB 3, which has just started shipping on new motherboards.
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