Exclusive: Apple dictated Light Peak creation to Intel, could begin migration from other standards as early as 2010
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted September 26th 2009 5:02PM
posted September 26th 2009 5:02PM
According to documents we've seen and conversations we've had, Apple had reached out to Intel as early as 2007 with plans for an interoperable standard which could handle massive amounts of data and "replace the multitudinous connector types with a single connector (FireWire, USB, Display interface)." From what we've learned, the initial conversations (and apparent disagreements) were had directly between Steve Jobs and Paul Otellini. If you were wondering about that Apple-blue motherboard we saw at IDF or the aforementioned Hackintosh demo, this should explain everything. Cupertino apparently had specific demands for the standard, including the desire for a single port solution, and an insistence that optical was the only logical choice for such a connector type. Based on the documents we had a look at, the short-term plans seem to involve a one-size-fits-all solution (somehow allowing for multiple connections but avoiding "double dongles") which would enable users to connect a variety of devices into a single Light Peak port, while slightly longer-term plans will mean Light Peak obviates the need for almost every type of connector you use today. Translation: Apple products in the near future could come equipped with only a Light Peak port (or ports) to handle your networking, display driving, and general connectivity.
What happens next, however, is where the story really gets interesting. Based on what we've learned, Apple will introduce the new standard for its systems around Fall 2010 in a line of Macs destined for back-to-school shoppers -- a follow-up to the "Spotlight turns to notebooks" event, perhaps. Following the initial launch, there are plans to roll out a low-power variation in 2011, which could lead to more widespread adoption in handhelds and cellphones. The plans from October 2007 show a roadmap that includes Light Peak being introduced to the iPhone / iPod platform to serve as a gateway for multimedia and networking outputs. While the timing doesn't line up, a low-powered Light Peak sounds like the kind of technology that would be perfect for a device with a need for broad connectivity but limited real estate for ports... like a tablet.
Apparently, there are also plans for a new, low-power Atom chip due next year meant to compete with current CPUs driving mobile devices like the iPhone, netbooks, and set-top boxes. The indication we've been given is that that product (coupled with the Light Peak standard) could provide the basis for some "big" MID news in 2010... but not from Apple. As we saw at the announcement, Sony is also a first-tier partner (though not nearly in the connected way Apple is), and it looks likely the company could find use for that pairing (especially with its entry into the netbook market this year). We can't see Apple utilizing an Atom chip in anything, especially when it's busy cranking away with P.A. Semiconductor and its rumored projects.
In the end, we can't say we know or understand Apple's complete plans for the standard, but what is notable is that the company is pushing for an all-on-one connectivity solution, and pushing hard. That means Cupertino is at least prepared to abandon the standards we now know for a singular solution, and potentially just skip over forthcoming offerings like USB 3.0 (or at least downplay their use). It's not an uncommon move for Apple, but in the past those choices have had major repercussions -- and this pairing is extremely reminiscent of the USB / iMac story (Intel also created that standard, which Apple then popularized). We're going to keep our ears to the ground on this news, but for now, it's an interesting peek behind the curtain, and a possible glimpse into the future of connectivity.
Optical connectivity = fiber-based networking. Means you can hook up your Mac or your iPhone directly onto your enterprise network for everything remote: SAN, printing, Cloud computing, etc.
Wow. How many of you luddite kids know what you are talking about. BIG FAIL for the majority of the fanbois here! You are all as bad as one another!
Who likes the lightpeak idea?
Good idea is it? Great. Then it will sell. Who cares who pushes it.
This is great! Apple has a long history of trying to consolidate cables. Their proprietary display cable ADB carried power, USB and video, even FireWire was supposed to be used for all of those things eventually.
I think the peripheral industry and OEMs generally dislike seeing Apple's name on a new connector technology so maybe if it says Intel people will adopt it more readily.
I don't care who makes it all i know is i hate wires. Give me wireless power and data now!
With optical coupling, and the ability to have proximity detectors and optical transmitters, same room Wireless can be done safely, with no radiation outside the room windows.
I'm looking forward to Light Peak for networking (Finally I can get electrical isolation on my LAN without crippling the backbones to 100Mbit because of the cheap in-UPS Ethernet surge protectors) but I doubt it'll take over from USB any time soon. Bus-powered devices ARE hugely popular after all.
Now, on the other hand, having one connector for separately-powered devices and one for bus-powered... that I can see.
Oh, just a thought on why Light Peak's full effect will probably be limited to mobile devices:
1. Desktops have already standardized more or less as much as they can. TRS audio connectors (de facto standard USB failed to unseat), Ethernet (de facto wired networking standard worldwide), PSU power input (too much current for anything else), and USB. (everything else, complete with bus power and becoming the cellphone charging standard de jure in China)
2. Video connectors, especially on modern dual-head video cards, are on the video card for a reason. (Even the inexpensive Dual-DVI cards with Dual-Link connectors can push 15.84Gbps total output bandwidth f you don't need full-screen 3D. Using Light Peak there would necessitate an extra 20Gbps of PCI-E links to make sure that a mis-plugged SSD or LAN cable would still work)
Aside from use as a mobile device docking connector, potential LAN interconnect, and possible competitor to eSATA, I don't see it gaining much traction on the desktop side.
For power problems, they're gonna add copper to it, but also, check out this: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/132/brilliant.html.
Something wrong in this discussion.
PCIe over fiber optic [= Light Peak] was developed by Adnaco (www.adnaco.com) in 2006.
Using this technology you can connect USB, SATA, Video or anything ...
Here is the problem.. Intel keep coming up with these crasy spec... WUSB then USB3.0 then LP and then not supporting them as they should be.. can you imagin how much damage this is creating to the peripherals market and how much money R&D companies are spending on bad inverstments because these were trapped or even mislead by intel's ignorance...Yes Intel is the industry leader but they are not behaving like one.. maybe it is time for it to get out of they way..
I also believe both Apple and Intel are reaching a level where they will be liable infront of law for this damage.. VC money will be no longer provided to companies trying to follow Intel's spec and develop products and devices.. this will be damaging to intel on the long term.
Now the whole thing is political between Apple fighting the USB spec because of pride issues and Intel bending over because Apple and Intel are in the same bed now since Apple being a big customer for the Intel chipsets. Look at the damage Intel is making by giving birth to ORPHANS.
I am from optical fiber development back ground. One major issue is when it comes to LP I DON'T see the users cleaning the optical connectors because it is dirty causing dB attenuation to be too high OR the user having problem when plugging the LP plug to receptacle and get no signal because the diode and receiver are not perfectly alligned...
May be Apple can ship an optical power meter with every MAC system they sell so the user can troubleshoot a bad connection..lol
What about the billions of USB devices out there.. do they plug into light peak .. NO..
I bet you will see PC OEMs giving the finger soon to intel and focus more on AMD CPUs and chipsets for their motherboards.. the damage Intel is doing is unrecoverable.
The truth is Apple notebooks and desktops are NOW PCs but cooler looking ones and running a limitted capabilities OS.. Apple has nothing to be proud off anymore other than the nicer looking ID...
This is just a move from Apple to say that they still have some say in the computing industry spec but they don't really have any because the stupid management in Apple out sourced all the Hardware development of their computers and lost the expertiese..
The other truth is Apple now is nothing but a software company who put their logo on a cool looking PCs which they control only the cosmatic design of it
Just like John Kanzius cancer killing machine,there will always be behind the scenes reasons to delay or kill the project.