2006 news flash - 1394 trade associationcable/connector seminar in dongguan draws standing room only...

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2006VOLUME 05 • ISSUE 05

NEWS FLASHA MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM 1394 TRADE ASSOCIATION

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Advanced Technology Demonstrations Featured at Yokohama; Q4 Meeting Sponsored by Fujitsu, Hamamatsu, Molex, Nissan, Sumitomo and Wipro

1394b Featured in New Computer, Consumer, and Peripheral Products

1394 Trade Association Joins Connected Vehicle Trade Association

Cable/Connector Seminar in Dongguan Draws Standing Room Only Crowd

Executive Director’s Report

Executive Director’s Report

1394b Featured in New Computer, Consumer, and Peripheral ProductsThe parade of new FireWire-equipped computer and consumer electronics systems continued as summer moved into autumn, highlighted by an impressive increase in 1394b-enabled products led by the new MacBook Pro PCs from Apple Computer.

The MacBook Pro models introduced in late October are Core 2 Duo-based notebooks with 15-inch or 17-inch screens. They are very similar to their predecessors, but include a handful of new features – including FireWire 800 ports. The company says its latest 15-inch and 17-inch laptops are up to 39 percent faster than previous models. “With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, greater storage capacity and FireWire 800 connectivity, the new MacBook Pro delivers unprecedented performance and mobility in an incredibly thin and light design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing.

1394-Equipped PCs: Acer’s Ferrari 1000, Rain Recording’s Event PC, and Alienware’s Gaming MachineIntroduced in mid-October, the ultraportable Acer Ferrari 1000 Series weighs a scant 3.5 pounds and includes lots of 1394 technology, with a six-pin FireWire port, along with a flashy external FireWire dual layer DVD burner, with a similar Ferrari design. Built using carbon fiber, the light Ferrari 1000 utilizes the AMD Turion IC and, in addition to the FireWire port, comes with 1GB of RAM, 120GB SATA hard drive, 1.3 megapixel webcam, external DVD+/-RW optical drive, ATI Radeon Xpress 200M graphics chipset, 1,280 x 800 WXGA screen, Bluetooth 2.0, and WiFi.

Attendees at the 1394 TA’s fourth quarter meeting in Yokohama got a good look at some of the most advanced 1394-equipped technology now under development.

The Q4 meeting was co-sponsored by a group of longtime IEEE 1394 product leaders including Fujitsu, Ltd., Hamamatsu, Molex, Nissan Corporation, Sumitomo and Wipro.

Fujitsu demonstrated its IDB-1394 compliant controller with SmartCODEC, which has been developed for high-performance in-vehicle entertainment applications such as rear-seat display. The 32-bit controller, proven in a wide range of applications, is coupled with the SmartCODEC, which provides a compression rate of just one-third and a fast compression-decompression time of two to three milliseconds. This enables compres-sion and multiplex transmission of images throughout a vehicle, such as A/V from DVDs or images from multiple automotive cameras located externally on the car, truck or SUV. continued on page 3


Also new in the fourth quarter is Rain Recording’s Event computer, a square little box measuring just 6.5 inches by 6.5 inches, and including among other ports a FireWire 400 connection. The Event can perform as a capable and flexible mobile workstation. It includes a DVI graphics board for direct hookup to digital monitors like the Apple Cinema Display. Another exciting new PC comes from Alienware. The P2 Area-51 7500 gaming machine includes 6-pin FireWire ports, a microphone, and headphone sockets. This makes it easy to hook up most things a user needs, including an iPod, a game controller, a DV camera, and a headset for gaming or Skype phoning. continued on page 2

As we approach the final weeks of 2006, I am pleased to report that 1394 is doing better than ever. A quick review of the new products section of this newsletter should convince you that more products are entering the market for the Christmas 2006 season than ever before, and our list will likely be missing a significant number of products which have entered the market since the writing of this letter. Literally, new products are being announced every day.

This validates the news I’ve received from all sectors which indicates that interest in 1394 is higher now than in recent memory. We continue to see new PC peripherals enter the market, and growing interest in 1394b in the PC market. New 1394-enabled industrial and pro-audio products are being launched, and there is significant movement in the automotive industry as evidenced by the growing numbers of automotive suppliers and OEMs joining the TA. In the consumer A/V sector, we have seen expanded implementations of 1394 in DVD recorders in particular, with continued steady growth in HDTVs.

This growing interest in 1394 has generated the need for two things: qualified cables and more information. continued on page 3

Apple’s MacBook Pro

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New Consumer Electronics Products Among the consumer electronics leaders, Samsung Electronics introduced the DVD-R135, an inexpensive and stylish DVD recorder which includes FireWire 400 ports. It joins Samsung's DVD-VR330, which provides the ability to record home movies and TV programming to a wide variety of DVD discs while enabling users to continue playing anything in a VHS library. A front-panel DV input with FireWire enables a user to connect the family video camcorder and edit and record footage directly to a DVD disc – all via a single cable and without losing image quality.

The LG 55PB2DR 55-inch plasma TV – equipped with a FireWire port – was also brought to the market. It is set apart from other plasmas by a built-in PVR functionality, allowing users to pause, record, and replay TV programs up to two hours past the original broadcast. Along with the FireWire port, features include 1366 x 768 native resolution, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 cd/m2 brightness, and dual HDMI ports.

Panasonic introduced its DMR-ES45V, a DVD/VHS recorder that offers one-button copying from VHS to DVD, as well as a FireWire input so users can record straight from the camcorder.

Lots of Support for the MiniA new 250 GB external drive for the Mac mini was introduced by Apple. It includes three FireWire 400 ports, and can be used with multiple scanners, card readers and other peripherals.

Several other companies also are offering stackable Mac mini look-alikes that include FireWire ports along with large hard drives, allowing users to increase storage capacity and connect more devices.

Lindy – in the U.K. – released its Mini HDD enclosure for 3.5-inch IDE drives with two FireWire 400 ports which can be used with all 3.5-inch IDE/ATA drives. Its fan-free design offers quiet operation and its aluminum top cover allows for heat dissipation.

The LaCie mini, with two FireWire 400 ports, has a four-corner crown that provides cooling airflow protection. It is available in 250GB, 320GB and 500GB versions.

The miniMate from MicroNet is available with storage up to 400GB, with four USB 2.0 ports and three 1394 ports. Like the other drives, it comes in an aluminum and plastic enclosure to match the Mac mini.

Newer Technology’s miniStack is an external FireWire/USB 2.0 drive designed to fit underneath a Mac mini. The miniStack measures 6.5 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches and adds two FireWire 400 ports. While it’s designed to suit the Mac mini it’s compatible with other Macs, as well. Newer sells the system in capacities from 80 to 750GB, as well as a “0GB” kit in which users can install a 3.5-inch hard disk drive.

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..And more Drives….Then there are the new Buffalo DriveStation Combo USB 2.0 / FireWire external drives, which range from the 250GB (HD-HC250IU2) to a 750GB (HD-HC750IU2) drive. Fantom Drives' MegaDisk also was introduced, aimed at home "prosumers" seeking a robust storage solution. The G-Force MegaDisk offers both Firewire 800 and FireWire 400 interfaces.

Other World Computing introduced its Mercury Elite Pro-AL Quad Interface hard drives, with both FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 interfaces. It also features an aluminum case that matches Apple's Pro-level Macs.

WiebeTech announced a major addition to its external drive line: a four-bay FireWire device, the SilverSATA IV FH, with two independent hardware RAIDs with two pairs of dual FireWire 800 interfaces. Each pair of drives can be configured as a hardware-based Level 0 RAID or they can be used individually as a bunch of discs (JBOD). The four-disk system can hold up to 3 terabytes (TB) of storage capacity.

EDGE Tech brought to the market its first quad interface hard drive, the DiskGO 3.5-inch portable hard drive with quad interface. The latest in the DiskGO line of drives is the first from EDGE Tech to include FireWire

800, along with three other interface connections.

Trans International followed suit with a 200GB version of its miniXpress portable hard drive in mid-November. The miniXpress features a 2.5-inch 4200 RPM Toshiba SATA hard drive, along with FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 ports – and it includes backup and disk utility software.

One of the largest industry players, Western Digital, announced its latest external storage system that can store one terabyte of digital content, equipped with FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 connections. The My Book Pro Edition II system uses RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology to instantaneously duplicate user data for extra protection or to accelerate the delivery of data to users, the company said. The storage system can be used to store digital libraries of photos, videos and

music, as well as business documents. Consuming less than 26 square inches of desk space, WD says the drive has a smaller footprint than competitive systems using two internal hard drives for 1 TB of capacity and is comparable to some storage systems using only one internal hard drive with much less capacity.

And at DV Expo in Los Angeles in mid-November, CalDigit announced the FireWireVR storage product to its lineup of storage solution products, which provides universal connectivity of FireWire 400, 800, and USB 2.0. The FireWireVR allows for RAID settings of 0, 1, and JBOD.continued on page 4

Other World Computing’sMercury Elite-AL QuadInterface Drive

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Our cable/connector test labs, ETC and NTS, have started receiving cables for testing and should have some qualified SKUs to announce by the end of this year. The 1394 TA will only pass products which use qualified cables and connectors starting in 2007.

Concerning the need for more information, the Marketing Working Group is currently planning a multi-city seminar for 2007. More on that will follow once plans are solidified.

As we transition from 2006 to 2007, the success of 1394 continues to grow with evidence mounting that 2007 will be the best year ever. Have a good holiday season, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the first quarter meeting in Kona starting Jan. 28.

James Snider, Executive Director

Two of Japan’s major automakers – Nissan and Honda – were present for the demonstrations, while three major suppliers – Alpine, Xanavi, and Pioneer – also attended.

DAP Design showed its 1394b FireStealth analyzer, which features a ‘passive’ personality that operates invisibly to its target, meaning no topology reconfigurations or bus reassignments are necessary. DAP Design is a world leader in 1394-equipped test systems and equipment. The company also developed the popular 1394 FireSpy Protocol Analyzer solutions, which are in use around the world.

Wipro provided one of the first demonstrations of its new 1394b AV-Link IP with AHB interface hardware and software using IP to move audio and video between two camcorders. Taking streaming video from a camcorder, the Wipro AV-LinkB board depacketizes DV data, moves it via cable to the companion board, repacketizes it and provides the data to a camcorder configured in video play mode. Wipro‘s IEEE 1394 IP family just celebrated 10 years of wide deployment in digital devices. Wipro’s Global Product Division develops licensable Intellectual Property Cores including the Physical and Link Layer for IEEE 1394 protocol, and the company now has more than 60 licensees worldwide. Licensees over the last 10 years include consumer electronics leaders like Emuzed, Epson, Indigita, MediaTek and Zoran.

Hamamatsu Photonics showed its 1394b optical wake up technology, which links a PC connecting a master node via 1394 and a networking controller connecting 1394b via fiber. Hamamatsu develops a wide range of IR and UV cameras, machine vision products, and beam and laser measurement technology using the IEEE 1394 standard. The company’s technology is designed primarily for scientific and industrial applications.




From The Director

The TA held a half-day seminar in Dongguan, China, Nov. 11 at the Regal Palace Hotel, Dongguan, Guangdong. One hundred attendees from a total of 22 cable assembly and connector manufacturing companies in Shenzhen and throughout China were treated to a complete update on the 1394 market, cable and connector compliance programs, and new testing methods for 1394 cables.

The standing room only crowd included representatives from a wide range of companies and organizations including JEM, Space Shuttle, Sure-Fire, Amphenol China, Marunix China, and FCI China, among others. The event was co-sponsored by the 1394 Trade Association, ETC (the third party cable test lab), cable supplier Elka, and Angstroms.

Topics included a 1394 market update by Sam Liu, the 1394 TA Vice Chair, and Jack Bell, the 1394 TA Marketing Working Group Chair. Discussions included the 1394 worldwide product market forecast with data supplied by InStat Corporation, along with a review of the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA). The significance of 1394 support in Microsoft’s upcoming Vista operating system release was also reviewed.

Sam Liu presented an update on the 1394 cable and connector compliance logo testing program. Sophia Liu of ETC discussed 1394 cable and connector compliance test methodology, and Ian Jung of RFTA Consultants reviewed new cost-effective testing methods for 1394 cables.

"The strong interest we saw for this seminar is consistent with what we are hearing from 1394 component suppliers who are telling us that they are seeing a strong increase in customer interest in 1394," said James Snider, executive director. "The market is ready for a more comprehen-sive seminar, which we are planning for the first half of 2007 across a dozen major technology centers worldwide."

“We had an excellent turnout and even had to turn away some potential participants since we could only accommodate 100 guests,” said Sam Liu. ”The 1394a cable and connector logo program message is a strong one, and the fact that we require certified cables and connectors for devices is compelling to the audience. The group also is enthused about the upcoming Vista support for 1394b.” He added that the 1394 TA is receiving increasing requests for self-certification procedures.

Cable/Connector Seminar in Dongguan Draws Standing Room Only Crowd

The half-day 1394 cable and connector seminar led by Sam Liu, vice chair, drew a crowd of more than 100.

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Scanners and CamerasEastman Kodak has introduced a new 1394-equipped scanner, a 200 page-per-minute i1860 commercial scanner with 300dpi optical resolution, a 500 sheet feeder, JPEG / TIFF file export functionality, and FireWire connectivity through a six-pin 1394a port.

Basler Vision Technologies announced that it is now shipping its new Scout series of digital video cameras featuring 28 different models of cameras, which are versatile, fully digital and attractively priced – and most of them include FireWire 800. The Scout family uses some of the best Sony and Micron CCD and CMOS sensors, a wide variety of resolutions and speeds, and has IEEE 1394b, offering use of 800 Mbits/s transfer speeds and backward compatibility with FireWire 400. FireWire 800 provides higher frame rates and bit depths, along with easy and cost-effective integration. 1394 also supports plug-and-play, and there is no need for a frame-grabber on the Basler models that incorporate 1394.

Disc Burners with 1394 Plextor LLC announced the PX-755UF DVD±R/RW CD-R/RW burner - the first Plextor external drive to feature 10X DVD+R Double-Layer recording speed. The external PX-755UF features a dual interface with USB and IEEE 1394.

The d2 Blu-ray Drive from LaCie is an external Blu-ray disc burner that can also burn and read DVD and CD discs. It connects to the computer via FireWire 400. LaCie describes it as an all-in-one rewritable drive with FireWire ports for easy connection to any PC or Mac, making it a very versatile drive.

1394 AudioM-Audio introduced the new NRV 10 FireWire mixer, which incorporates a 10 I/O interface and an analog mixer. The NRV 10 includes 10 inputs, and they can be routed back into the mixer for more flexible routing and signal processing.

MOTU is now shipping the 8pre, a single-rackspace FireWire audio interface with two FireWire 400 connections. The 8pre is compatible with Mac OS X 10.3 or higher (including Intel Macs), Windows XP x64 (64-bit) and any audio software that supports standard WDM/ASIO/Core Audio drivers. AudioDesk workstation software for Mac provides 24-bit recording/editing and 32-bit mixing/processing/mastering.

At the AES in San Francisco in early October, Glyph demonstrated the GT Series GT 062, a FireWire-equipped, dual-drive tabletop unit designed for professional audio and video applications. The GT 062 supports three drive modes through the use of a rear-panel switch, which features two FireWire 800 ports and one FireWire 400 port. When connected via FireWire 800, the GT 062 has a data transfer rate of more than 80 MB per second. It also includes a FW800 cable and a FW400 cable, and can be rack-mounted with a rack kit.

IPInnovative Semiconductors Inc. announced its second-generation FlexFire ISI-736 Cable PHY, which supports the IEEE 1394 standard, meeting the demand for 1394-based IP by SoC designers targeting the market for DVD, DTV, camcorders, STB and other high-performance consumer electronics products. The mixed-signal, single channel configuration of the FlexFire ISI-736 Cable PHY is optimized for performance; integrating

the FlexFire PHY with the Link layer and supporting software provides SoC designers with a complete 1394 IP solution.

Sony’s Blu-ray Recorders Coming in DecemberSony’s Blu-ray recorders, which incorporate 1394 interfaces, remain scheduled for release in Japan in December. Both machines feature hard-disk drives; the BDZ-V9 has a 500GB drive and the BDZ-V7 has a 250GB drive. There are two digital tuners in each recorder so that two high-definition programs can be recorded simultaneously. The recorders include Linear PCM audio and 1080p output. They can also be connected to Sony’s recently launched high-definition camcorders using a FireWire connection and can play back the AVCHD-format discs used in the cameras.

The 1394 Trade Association has become an associate member of the Connected Vehicle Trade Association (CVTA), based in Plymouth, Michigan, to help the move toward implementing the IDB-1394 standard in the automotive market.

The Connected Vehicle Trade Association (CVTA) is a non-profit business league established to facilitate the interaction and advance the interests of the entities involved in the vehicle communication environment. The association enables the collaboration of companies, organizations, and governmental bodies engaged in developing bidirectional vehicle communications. Membership is open to corporations (except automak-ers), public entities, standards and specification organizations, educa-tional institutions and qualified individuals.

In mid-October, the CVTA announced that it will jointly develop and operate a new, one-of-a-kind laboratory to support global development efforts in intelligent transportation and vehicle communications with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). The “Connected Vehicle Proving Center” (CVPC) is expected to play a pivotal role in substantiating future trends for vehicle wireless connectivity throughout the global automotive community.

“Our long-term goal is to virtually link wireless enabled roads, proving grounds and test tracks, independent bench test laboratories and traffic management centers with a centralized data processing, evaluation, and training center through the CVPC,” said CVTA President Scott McCormick. McCormick attended the fourth quarter 1394 TA meeting in Yokohama, Japan, and announced that the 1394 Trade Association Board of Directors has confirmed its intent to participate as an Associate Member in the Connected Vehicle Trade Association. "This is an important organization in this area, and we look forward to the work we will do together in the Proving Center and within CVTA. We have high confidence that the standards and research done by the 1394 TA and its member companies is of considerable value in advancing the vehicle communications environment."

1394 Trade Association Joins Connected Vehicle Trade Association

Upcoming Events:International CES, Jan. 8-11, Las VegasQ1 Meeting, Jan. 28-31, Kona, HawaiiCableLabs Winter Conference, March 4-6, Denver

2006 news flash - 1394 trade associationcable/connector seminar in dongguan draws standing room only...

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