Macrumors claims LightPeak Known As ThunderBolt? Not so fast….

 Macrumors claims LightPeak Known As ThunderBolt? Not so fast….  Computers, Hardware, Macintosh, Rumors  No Responses »
Feb 232011
 

Here take a look at this image from MacRumors.com…

thunderbold! port

The rumor sites are just insane these days.  Now this is clearly the same port layout as the current generation of Macbook Pro’s.  How do I know?  I just glanced at it.

Now that could mean that it’s a perfectly good displayport there that someone photoshopped a Thunderbolt logo onto it, and thus, you now have “Thunderbolt”, the next generation LightPeak port…

But, take another look at the “Technical Specs”.  How can LightPeak support Mini DisplayPort devices?

tech specs

What I believe is being forgotten here is that DisplayPort also support data transfers.  Displayport is modeled on a micro data packet design, so at least in my mind, I consider it closer to a networking system, then a pure analog video stream.

  • Version 1.0 – 1.1 supported a maximum of 8.64 Gbit/s
  • Version 1.2, which was approved in December of 2009, increases the bandwidth up to 17.28 Gbit/s. This is the version that Apple has incorporated, directly supporting Mini-DisplayPort, and Monitor Daisy-chaining.

How much more likely is it that Apple will be making an adapter to allow Displayport to run an Firewire 400, 800, or Esata device?  This would allow Apple to clean up the legacy high-speed ports, and yet still have them available.  This could also mean that you could have a “DisplayPort” break-out box, that would allow multiple Displayport devices (eg, 2 external monitors, and a FW800 device) to be used at the same time.  Any non-video based communication is over the AUX “channel” on the DisplayPort bus.

And the proof is already here:

So the concept has been proven, the question is will Apple expand this to cover other high-speed data transfer protocols?

This doesn’t mean that LightPeak is not going to be announced, but I suspect that a technology that is already proven is more likely.

Update 2/24/2011:

At least Apple’s website is stating that Thunderbolt is a cross between PCI Express & DisplayPort.  There is no mention of LightPeak on the page.  So, it appears that everyone, to some degree was wrong… But intel’s page on Thunderbolt does specify that it was formerly known as LightPeak….  So in this case Occam’s Razor was wrong…

 

What do you think?

Page Updates -

  • Included v1.2 displayport information regarding monitor daisy-chainging, and the mini-displayport support.
  • Added the USB over Displayport information.

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 Posted by at 9:34 am on 02/23/2011

Analysis: How Apple’s new subscriptions stack up to the competition

 Analysis: How Apple’s new subscriptions stack up to the competition  Government, iphone, Rumors  No Responses »
Feb 182011
 

MacWorld has an interesting analysis about the new subscription pricing for iTunes.  Overall, in a nutshell, most competitors are charging between 40-60% plus data transfer charges for their subscription plans…

Here take a look.  Analysis: How Apple’s new subscriptions stack up to the competition

But, I was very disappointed about one of the comments to the article:

Think you have missed an important point about this model.

Where Apple or others are finding the customer through their store then the premium rate is accepted as they are doing some of the go to market work. However, where they are not doing the go to market work, why should they command any moe than a credit card company?

This is disappointing looks like they are being greedy.

Apple indeed has costs associated with services, after all the Cult of Mac estimated that iTunes would cost over $225,000,000,000 ($2.25 Billion) to operating by the end of 2011.

The issue here is are we referring to the iBooks?  Or a software subscription package, or something else?

Here are some of the costs that might apply: Continue reading “Analysis: How Apple’s new subscriptions stack up to the competition” »

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Rumor Time, MacBook Pro’s to offer Light Peak

 Rumor Time, MacBook Pro’s to offer Light Peak  Hardware, Rumors  2 Responses »
Nov 262010
 

Well, a new rumors states that Apple will reportedly introduce a completely re-designed MacBook Pro this April that will borrow features from the recently released MacBook Air. The new Pros will reportedly come with an SSD and Light Peak technology, a transfer protocol capable of 10 Gbps both up and down. Light Peak, jointly developed by Intel and Apple, will reportedly be an Apple exclusive at first.

Well, Apple has FireWire 800, but USB 3 offers the same on paper specs (Firewire has a better sustained rate, but on paper USB 3 looks comparable).  So Light Peak would be an excellent option to boost their data transfer rates….  But I personally would expect it to appear after Light Peak items start to appear on the general market.

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 Posted by at 8:03 pm on 11/26/2010

Prediction Time, Missing Sync for Windows System 7 Phone?

 Prediction Time, Missing Sync for Windows System 7 Phone?  Computers, Hardware, Macintosh, Rumors, SAN Loss, Windows  No Responses »
Oct 142010
 

Microsoft has been making alot of noise lately about how they will be supplying software to allow Windows System 7 System Phones will support Macintosh Syncing.  Well, I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Microsoft has promised quite a bit in the past, and rarely delivers everything they promise.

Microsoft is like the Genie’s out of Classic mythology.  Where they twist the wish, sure they give what you ask for, but you’ll never be happy with what you get.

For example, Macintosh Exchange support, here’s Entourage.  Oh, what do you mean you want and need VBA support?  Who uses that?

I suspect that if they make a Home Brew package for syncing with the Mac is going to be seriously under powered.  After all, will they support iTunes music syncing?

I suspect it is more likely that they will either customize/OEM a Missing Sync product, or include a full license for a “Missing Sync for Windows System 7 System Phones” with the hardware….  Of course, I’m speculating that MarkSpace will be producing something along this line… But it’s likely after all, they already have a Windows Mobile product out….

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The Doctor visits MIT…….

 The Doctor visits MIT…….  Humor, Recreation, Rumors, SAN Loss, Television  No Responses »
Aug 262010
 
tardis@mit.jpg

The Tardis was recently spotted on top of the MIT Small Dome, this week.  Speculation has indicated that maybe there is a new Temporal Physics 101 class, but so far no one has been able to confirm this.

tardis@mit.jpg

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Apple Seeds Third Build of Mac OS X 10.6.4

 Apple Seeds Third Build of Mac OS X 10.6.4  Computers, Macintosh, Rumors  No Responses »
May 142010
 

According to World of Apple:

Apple today gave a select number of developers access to the second build of Mac OS X 10.6.4. Build 10F50 includes a multitude of fixes and just one known issue.

Mac OS X 10.6.4 build 10F50 weighs in at 581.3MB in its delta form.

Included in this update

  • Resolve an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive
  • Resolve an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening
  • Address issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers
  • Improve reliability of VPN connections
  • Resolve a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing
  • Resolve an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view
  • Improve VoiceOver compatibility with iMovie and GarageBand
  • Improve compatibility with some braille displays

Known Issues

  • Marketing text is not formatted correctly, line returns missing.

Focus Areas:

  • Graphics Drivers
  • SMB
  • USB
  • Voice Over
  • VPN

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Almost done with the Historical HVac plugin….

 Almost done with the Historical HVac plugin….  Computers, House and Home, Indigo & Home Automation, Macintosh, Rumors  No Responses »
Mar 302010
 
Heating vs. Set Point

Here’s a hint of what is coming shortly…  An Indigo plugin to allow you to compare your Heating / Cooling vs. your Temperature set points.

The graphing component requires the browser to be able to reach Google.  I am currently using the Google Charts API to generate the chart…  But all the data is stored on your computer, the data to be charted is *not* stored on Google’s server.  They are just generating the graphic…

I am just currently working on some cosmetic improvements, but I expect to have this available for Download on Wednesday or Thursday….

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 Posted by at 11:55 am on 03/30/2010  Tagged with:

Fox To Adapt Torchwood For The USA?

 Fox To Adapt Torchwood For The USA?  Recreation, Rumors, SAN Loss, Television  1 Response »
Jan 192010
 

The first couple of series may have been roundly mocked in the UK. But they were a smash hit in the US, breaking viewer records at BBC America and driving a large audience to the cable channel.

Torchwood, adult sci-fi alien-chasing spinoff of Doctor Who was one of the very few shows to have a bisexual character in the lead, even if the bisexuality seemed to be catching, with all of the characters falling prey to its charms. And the third season, Children of Earth, is considered by many to be a modern classic.

Well, it’s now being reported that Fox has bought the rights to create their own version of Torchwood.

Fox famously aired their own version of Doctor Who in the mid nineties, which managed to kill any other chance of reviving the show for another ten years. There’s always the fear it could happen again.

But show creator Russell T Davies, producer Julie Gardner , the team behind UK’s Torchwood and the revival of Doctor Who are said to be producing the show with BBC Worldwide’s Jane Tranter, and you may see members of the original cast, including John Barrowman, who played Captain Jack Harkness.

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