Intel Corp appears to be backtracking somewhat on its commitments to adopt the IEEE 1394 Firewire bus, now that the forthcoming USB 2.0 promises the same kind of performance as current Firewire implementations (CI No 3,737). On its web site page detailing USB 2.0, Intel says that 1394 deployment into the PC platform has proceeded more slowly than expected for several reasons, including uncertainties about cost and licensing. Intel says there is a need for a serial interface faster than USB 1.1, and it needs to be deployed universally in the platform. As for 1394, Intel says it sees 1394 as a digital convergence pipe connecting the PC to the world of digital Windows CE devices, including digital camcorders, digital VHS, set-top boxes, and digital TV. 1394 allows the PC to participate and add value to consumer electronics equipment, and it brings rich audio/video data types to the PC. Intel sees convergence connectivity growing significantly in importance to the PC over time as the wealth of available 1394 devices increases, it says.
