When Intel unveiled its Light Peak optical interconnect (video) at IDF earlier this week, many noticed that the demonstration computer used to show the new technology was in fact a hackintosh. Well, thanks to Engadget we now know why: Apple is very, very involved in the conception of Light Peak. Let's take this opportunity to look at some of Apple's other connection standards from the past.
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Member since:2008-06-02
Bull - at MOST Apple is an early adopter of technology they didn't invent & which would have become just as popular if Apple weren't around to "introduce" it. And if they deserve credit for that, it's more than outweighed by the numerous examples where Apple was WAAAY behind everyone else (PCI, AGP, IDE, USB2, etc).
And when they actually HAVE introduced technology (rather than just jumping on someone else's bandwagon), that technology has ALWAYS failed in the long run (NuBus, ADB, ADC, Firewire, etc).
Member since:2005-08-12
Not true. Even for tech they didn't introduce, they've had a lot if influence on use.
USB is actually a very good example. Neither Intel or MS could get it working properly, nor could they get manufacturers to produce much product for it.
It was dying.
When Apple introduced the first iMacs, and had USB instead of their own technologies, they got it working well for the first time. Manufacturers began to produce many USB products, many in new iMac colors.
This inspired MS to finally get USB working in 98 SP2.
They had promised it would work with 3.1.
Even with Firewire, despite what is said in the article, Apple was one of the developers of the the standard.
Member since:2007-02-17
My Firewire Audio Interface says different. I can also name many attempts where Apple has succeeded. What's your point? They are still usually ahead of the curve while other manufacturers are still deciding if they should remove the ps/2 port on their PCs. At least Apple tries something different, they may not always succeed but they put their best foot forward. When was the last time Dell did anything innovative or even different than any other OEM on the market? We can all name the most influential tech companies on one hand, Apple is part of that group, along with IBM, Intel and even MS.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2007-02-17
Agreed. While Apple's marketshare may not coincide with that fact, they are one of the leaders in the industry when it comes to pushing technology and have been so since their inception. They seem to take pride in being their first whenever possible. They are definitely one of the "Big Boys". Consider the fact that regrdless of how low their marketshare is, they are still profitable, at times more so than other companies who actually have far more marketshare. Apple is not want for resources, They have plenty of resources at their disposal and can rally behind a technology and get it accepted in the larger technological community pretty much on their own (though history has shown that things don't always work out that way).
Just this year alone, you have opencl which all major gpu makers have rallied around even forgoing plans for their own implementation of the concept. Who here can't name something that Apple has introduced to the masses and is now ubiquitous. They may not always invent everything they introduce, but dammit if they didn't make them popular.