FireWire 2.0

The hints about the next generation of FireWire are getting more specific:

FireWire picking up speed [MacCentral]

The new specification [IEEE 1394b] was finalized in January and began the documentation process in March.

The new specification will double the speed of FireWire to 800 megabits per second ... While it has taken several years to move FireWire to the next level, the next upgrade to 1600 megabits per second will not take nearly as long.

The biggest change for FireWire may not be the doubling of speed, but the distance provided by the specification. The current version of FireWire works at a distance of 12-15 meters (36-45 feet) -- The 'b' spec will increase that distance to 115 meters or 345 feet.

USB 2.0 maxes out at a burst rate of 480mbps and still requires a computer as a master base of operations. Ha.