firewire, what is firewire, how firewire works
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What is firewire and how it works?


The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, frequently used by personal computers, as well as in digital audio, digital video, automotive, and aeronautics applications. The interface is also known by the brand names of FireWire (Apple), i.LINK (Sony), and Lynx (Texas Instruments). IEEE 1394 replaced parallel SCSI in many applications, because of lower implementation costs and a simplified, more adaptable cabling system. The 1394 standard also defines a backplane interface, though this is not as widely used.

IEEE 1394 was adopted as the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) standard connection interface for A/V (audio/visual) component communication and control. FireWire is also available in wireless, fiber optic, and coaxial versions using the isochronous protocols.

Nearly all digital camcorders have included a four-circuit 1394 interface, though, except for premium models, such inclusion is becoming less common. It remains the primary transfer mechanism for high end professional audio and video equipment. Since 2003, many computers intended for home or professional audio/video use have built-in FireWire/i.LINK ports, especially prevalent with Sony and Apple's computers. The legacy (alpha) 1394 port is also available on premium retail motherboards.

FireWire is now used very often with a number of products. One of the first applications was to add a FireWire port to digital camcorders. This enhancement helped to increase the quality of uploading captured images and video to computer systems and desktops. Today, this application of FireWire is considered standard.

Today, the use of FireWire and i.LINK are found with many different devices. Digital video cameras are a common example. Many of the temporary data storage devices like the jump drive use FireWire technology for rapid uploading, storage, and eventual transfer of all sorts of data and media. The fact that FireWire does not have to utilize a computer system in order to capture and store data make it especially effective for people on the go. For example, images captured on a digital camera today can be downloaded directly to a printer, with no need to use a laptop or desktop computer as a connecting device to process the printing of the images.

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