The comer ofApple ’s modish MacBook Pro modelsbrings a brand new peripheral - connexion engineering from Intel — Thunderbolt — and with it the promise of fast information transference speeds . But if Thunderbolt ’s function to fork up on that promise , peripheral makers will postulate to give up products that take vantage of that technology .
A smattering of companies have already unveiled product aimed at making the most of Thunderbolt . A few other thatMacworldspoke to are n’t break their plan just yet , though they did utter interest in what the new engineering has to put up .
To review , Intel developed Thunderbolt in connective with Apple . The connectivity technology will transfer datum between host devices and extraneous devices at speeds of up to 10Gbps . At that speed , you could transfer a full - length high - definition flick from an extraneous storage twist to your Mac in less than 30 seconds .
LaCie’s upcoming Thunderbolt-compatible Little Big Disk
With Thunderbolt ports include in all fresh MacBook Pro models , the engineering will soon be in the hands of consumers worldwide . And in a few display case , they wo n’t have to hold back too long for Thunderbolt - ready peripherals .
Intel and Apple had barely break the word of Thunderbolt ’s arrival Thursday when RAID storage supplierPromise Technologyannounced itsown plans for the connectivity banner . The company praise Thunderbolt ’s speed and “ amazing flexibility for connectivity to gamey - performance peripherals ” when announcing its own Thunderbolt - compatible high performance computer hardware foray offering , Pegasus . Set for release in the 2nd twenty-five percent of 2011 and designed for medium and amusement client , Pegasus will feature two Thunderbolt ports and will be usable in 4 - true laurel and 6 - Laurus nobilis atomic number 13 enclosures with up to 12 TB of storage .
“ Once we were go about [ by Intel ] about this , it was a no - brainer , ” Promise intersection manager Billy Harrison toldMacworld . “ The execution , with 10 Gigabits , two-fold channel , bidirectional … that ’s passing appealing . ”
Apogee’s Symphony I/O will be able to incorporate Thunderbolt technology in the near future.
Harrison sees a muckle of potential for Thunderbolt in the portable marketplace . “ We ’re even look into release stock bag for the Pegasus , since the main launching fomite is the MacBook Pro , ” he tally . “ People with small , mobile studios who use Final Cut , Adobe Photoshop , Maya 3D and other democratic bandwidth intensive practical program stomach to gain a lot from this technology . ”
Along with Pegasus , Harrison take note that Promise has another Thunderbolt - compatible product in the works as well , though specifics are n’t useable at this time .
LaCie ’s approaching Thunderbolt - compatible Little Big Disk
knockout drive makerLaCiewas also train for Intel ’s Thunderbolt announcement , unveil a fresh version of small Big Disk with Thunderbolt support . While the company did n’t respond to aMacworldrequest for remark by the clip of publication , a crush release announce the production says the outside backbreaking drive was create with Mobile River and media professionals in brain and that it ’s designed to take advantage of Thunderbolt ’s impressive transferral rate with the enceinte audio and video file it stores .
Other peripheral makers are n’t quick to disclose specific plans for Thunderbolt . Western Digitalhas yet to publicly harbinger a Thunderbolt - compatible product , though public relations handler Heather Skinner spoke highly of the technology toMacworld .
“ We have the tech in - business firm and are present it now ” , Skinner said . “ Whatever the customers embrace , we desire to patronage it , and Thunderbolt is something we ’re look at and working on . ”
Despite Western Digital ’s interest in the engineering , the companionship does n’t pre - announce products , Skinner add together , so if we try about a Thunderbolt - quick Western Digital gruelling drive , it wo n’t be until the campaign is ready to ship .
Video and audio production technology companyAvidis also not let out its Thunderbolt programme at this time . But while the fellowship says it ca n’t discuss specific surrounding emerge technology or its future product roadmap , it providedMacworldwith a statement from senior director of product direction Max Gutnik . “ Thunderbolt provides exploiter the kind of performance antecedently reserved for workstation - class computers , ” he said . “ To have not one , but two 10Gbps , multi - protocol , and daisy chainable channels over a single cable is gravid for in high spirits - end audio and picture solutions and will have a positive impact on the technical school industry . Avid is very excited about Thunderbolt ’s capableness . ”
Apogee ’s Symphony I / O will be capable to incorporate Thunderbolt technology in the near future .
Digital sound companyApogee Electronicsalso has n’t announced Thunderbolt product , but when contacted byMacworld , Apogee ’s theatre director of marketing Sean McArthur and designing engineer Lucas Van Der Mee did little to conceal their enthusiasm toward the new technology .
“ Our catchphrase for this variety of applied science is ‘ connectivity without via media , ’ and we feel like ( Thunderbolt ) really breaks down a mess of barriers in the pro audio industry , ” McArthur said . “ What ’s really great about the Thunderbolt technology is that it kind of convey the discombobulation out of what is the professional connectivity standard go away forward . masses are seem at USB 3.0 , and FireWire 800 and the PCI - E menu , but now we all cognize , and we can move forth swiftly with [ Thunderbolt ’s ] unbelievable public presentation . ”
Added Van Der Mee : “ What we like so much about it is the unbelievable bandwidth that it provides , along with this enormous simplicity , like the simplicity of FireWire and USB . But now you have this awing bandwidth , which stool it just a mythic solution . ”
Apogee ’s flagship audio frequency port , theSymphony I / O , is a high - final stage platform with a modular innovation that will allow Apogee to incorporate Thunderbolt technology into the equipment without have to redesign the product — a view , McArthur noted , that Apogee is calculate into and will announce in due time .
McArthur also touch on Thunderbolt ’s potential to revolutionize the portable transcription field .
“ It bring in portability a reality for really high - end systems , ” he order . “ You could be recording with 32 or 64 line , with a undivided transmission line colligate to a laptop computer . That for us , is revolutionary , and we ’re very frantic . ”
Macworldalso contacted digital TV port companyAJA Video Systemsand talk with the company founder and CEO , John Abt about Thunderbolt .
“ It ’s middling awesome engineering , and as an applied scientist I ’m be adrift aside that they make out out with something like this , because it ’s such a huge leap onwards . The bandwidth you could get over this interface is so much more than anything out today , ” Abt say . “ We work with very high bandwidth video , both uncompressed and compressed , so this is right down our skittle alley . ”
When ask if there were a specific Thunderbolt - compatible product in the pipeline at AJA , Abt take down that while it ’s too early to discuss specific , AJA definitely plans on take vantage of Thunderbolt technology in the near future .
