A growing number of 1394-equipped consumer electronics devices -- including DVD recorders, DVD drives, camcorders and HDTVs -- from leading manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba and Fujitsu are sharing shelf space alongside USB 2.0-based devices, fueling speculation that the connection standard could move out of obscurity for most consumers.
While nearly every modern consumer PC comes equipped with a 1394 connection, known commonly as FireWire (an Apple-owned trademark for the connection that has been widely utilized in Macs, and was even a part of the first generation iPod), few PC towers have more than a single 1394 port. On the typical consumer Dell or HP computer rig, USB 2.0 ports outnumber 1394 ports five to one.
However, new utilization of the 1394 standard in consumer electronics is fueling a resurgence in FireWire's popularity. Digital Tech Consulting forecasts 21 percent growth in the standard's usage because of its efficiency and speed in transferring video and audio.
The DTC report predicts that the worldwide total of 1394-equipped devices in several important categories will grow by more than 20 percent in 2008 and into 2010 including digital cable set top boxes, which will total at least 11.9 million units worldwide by 2010; digital televisions, 1.35 million units; and PC peripherals, almost 11.3 million. Other 1394-enabled product categories with 20 percent or more annual growth include DVD-equipped PCs; non-PC optical disc devices; and DVD aftermarket kits.
For more information, visit www.dtcreports.com.
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