Light Peak is the name of the new Intel optical interconnect for computers and consumer devices. Using thin optical cable, Light Peak will begin at a speed of 10 Gbps, and move to 100 Gbps. In comparison, the newly emerging USB 3.0 reaches a theoretical maximum of 3.2 Gbps.
Out of the gates, USB 3.0 has the advantage of backward compatability of a huge installed base. But it is also a technology that has passed the middle age of its lifecycle.
There is considerable speculation that Apple will bypass USB 3.0 in favor of Light Peak (e.g., here and here).
I imagine that along with a copper pair for power, and the long cable lengths allowed by Light Peak, we may be closer to my longstanding wish for a daisy chain of my audio, video and computer components, replacing the current dense mess of cables.
Canon Rumors 12 Days of Christmas – Day 8
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