Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Apple Releases Free, OS-Independent, FireWire SDK

Posted by pudge on from the mmmm-beeeeer dept.

mcwop writes "Apple announced the release of a free FireWire SDK for embedded devices. The kit is not OS-dependent. Is this a response to the release of USB 2.0 or is Apple simply trying to keep a steady stream of FireWire devices coming? What effect will this have on FireWire b? What are the effects on the Open Source community developing FireWire interfaces? Time will tell. Nonetheless this is an interesting development."

6 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. (Mac) os independant by tunah · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Obtaining the FireWire Development Kit
    The FireWire Software Development Kit is available today, for both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. This SDK provides the latest FireWire software, plus sample code and documentation.
    Hmm... choose any OS as long as its one of our last two. (Not a mac-hater, just pissed off coz I have an iMac with 8.6 ;-P)
    --
    Free Java games for your phone: Tontie, Sokoban
  2. Well, he got one out of three... by Llywelyn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Free? Not really, unless you count "evaluation" as free. Or perhaps I'm looking at the wrong thing, hard to tell.

    Platform Independent? FireWire is, Apple's SDK is not (last I checked).

    FireWire SDK. Yes, defiantly.

    Well, I guess it *is* too much to ask on /. that the person and reviewer both actually *read* the information before commenting on it.

    I guess it would also be too much to ask for a link to the actual press release.

    --
    Integrate Keynote and LaTeX
  3. Firewire growing? by ciryon · · Score: 3, Insightful
    This is a smart move by Apple. They recently released the iPOD portable mp3 player for Windows and I'm pretty sure people will want to get firewirecards for that. Plus, many new graphicscards and soundcards have built-in firewire. Yes, most new motherboards have USB 2.0, but people want Firewire as well.

    Ciryon

  4. Not just the speed by pbrice68 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Although USB 2.0 may be 480 vs FireWires 400 MB/sec, there are other beneifts to FireWire (other than FireWire 2, at 800 MB/sec, should be out and about this year) like: 1. You don't need a computer to use FireWire. One FireWire device can connect directly to another FireWire device without a workstation. Although we don't see much implementation of this - it would be conventient. How about a FireWire port on my car stereo to connect my iPod? 2. FireWire can carry POWER as well as data. WHen you plug an iPod in with it's FireWire cable, it charges as well as trasmits data through the same cable. In fact, if you should need to recharge away from your computer, the usual AC plug for recharging is a FireWire cable. I do think that Apple fucked up when they made licensing the name so expensive. Instead of one name "FireWire" everywhere you go, you see FireWire on Apple's, iLink on Sony computers and cameras,...etc. With all these different names, nobody realizes how pervasive it is. SOme PC users don't even know they have FireWire, and most Mac users don't know they have "1394".

  5. Re:Yaay apple! by timothy_m_smith · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Please define "greedy." According to Apple [apple.com], the fee is exactly $0.00 for the license to use the name and logo (you can even apply on-line and save the cost of a stamp):

    I think he was referring to Apple being greedy in the past. I believe that prior to this announcement, using the name FireWire cost the OEMs $1-2 per product.
  6. Cluster computing interconnect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Firewire is not just a high speed connection for copying files to your iPod or from your camera, it has capabilities that go far beyond. A very good application for firewire is as a cluster computing interconnect.

    Among other notable features Firewire has ability to do direct memory access without CPU intervention. It is a very low latency interface. This is a critical factor in tightly coupled clusters using things like MPI (message passing interface).

    Apple would like to see people develop firewire as a topology for MPI. I'm not saying this is THE reason for this sdk release, but it certainly is A reason.