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The tragedy of FireWire: Collaborative tech torpedoed by corporations


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2017 Jun 23, 3:45am   1,243 views  1 comment

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The rise and fall of FireWire—IEEE 1394, an interface standard boasting high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer—is one of the most tragic tales in the history of computer technology. The standard was forged in the fires of collaboration. A joint effort from several competitors including Apple, IBM, and Sony, FireWire was a triumph of design for the greater good. It represented a unified standard across the whole industry, one serial bus to rule them all. Realized to the fullest, FireWire could replace SCSI and the unwieldy mess of ports and cables at the back of a desktop computer.

Yet FireWire's principal creator, Apple, nearly killed it before it could appear in a single device. And eventually the Cupertino company effectively did kill FireWire, just as it seemed poised to dominate the industry.

The story of how FireWire came to market and ultimately fell out of favor serves today as a fine reminder that no technology, however promising, well-engineered, or well-liked, is immune to inter- and intra-company politics or to our reluctance to step outside our comfort zone.

More: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/the-rise-and-fall-of-firewire-the-standard-everyone-couldnt-quite-agree-on/

Note: Includes Thunderbolt and a quick pro and con of FireWire. Comments section worthwhile for those interested in the technical discussions.

#IT #SciTech #FireWire

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1   Tenpoundbass   2017 Jun 23, 5:45am  

Firewire was a shit show from the get go. I bought several FW devices now useless.
Which reminds me I need to shitcan my Motu 896 still in my rack.

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