Several companies are exhibit novel Thunderbolt - ground hardware at the 2011Intel Developer Forumin San Francisco this week , give users of Thunderbolt - outfit Macs new promise that they will finally be able to take full advantage of the high-pitched - focal ratio link technology .
The Thunderbolt twist at IDF were part of the Advanced Technology Zone , a section of IDF dedicated to certify engineering such as Thunderbolt . Unfortunately , the devices were display in a locker behind glass ; the Zone ’s only Thunderbolt demonstration was of the Promise Pegasus R4 RAID array , released in June ( Macworld Lab has benchmark on the Pegasus R6 ) .
Even though IDF attendees were n’t able to see demos of most of the displayed equipment , it ’s encouraging to see physical grounds ( even if some of the equipment are prototype models ) that thunderclap ware are on their way . Here ’s the lowdown on the Thunderbolt product displayed at IDF .
Aja Io XT
New Thunderbolt controllers
Asreported by AnandTech , Intel will bring out two new Thunderbolt accountant called Cactus Ridge . One version will have four 10Gbps data transmission channel and support for two DisplayPort connections , while the other will support two 10Gbps datum distribution channel and one DisplayPort connection .
presently , Apple uses the Light Ridge restrainer ( four channels ) in the Mac miniskirt , iMac , and MacBook Pro . The Eagle Ridge controller ( two channel ) is used in the MacBook Air . The new controller will be smaller than the large Light Ridge controller .
Aja Io XT
Aja Io XTVideo hardware companies are looking to take advantage of Thunderbolt ’s 10Gbps per transmission channel throughput , so you ’ll see several new Thunderbolt video products coming down the pike . Released last week , the $ 1495Aja Io XTis a portable video and audio capture box .
The Aja Io XT feature ironware - base 10 - scrap received definition ( South Dakota ) to high definition ( HD ) changeover , HD to HD mark - conversion , and HD to Mount Rushmore State changeover , as well as HD to Coyote State 12 - bit component analog output .
Ports include two 3 G Serial Digital Interface ( SDI ) inputs and outputs , HDMI in and out , SD or HD Component output , and two Thunderbolt embrasure .
Aja Io XT
Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Belkin Thunderbolt Express DockBelkinis using Thunderbolt to provide users with more expandability . The Thunderbolt Express Dock has three USB ports , a FireWire 800 port , and a Thunderbolt port . instance at IDF were not capable say whether the Dock has USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports . Since Apple currently follow out USB 2.0 on its computers , having USB 3.0 ports would be particularly handy and let you take vantage of USB 3.0 ’s speed boost over USB 2.0 .
To unite other Thunderbolt devices , you just create a daisy strand of machine . For lesson , you would connect a Thunderbolt RAID array to the Thunderbolt Express Dock , which is tie to your Mac .
Pricing and accessibility for the Thunderbolt Express Dock have yet to be determined .
Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Blackmagic Design Intensity Extreme and UltraStudio 3D
The $ 299Intensity Extremeis a TV capture and playback machine with HDMI and analog video financial backing . The Intensity Extreme draws all of its tycoon from the Thunderbolt link , which helps cut down on cable length jumble and makes the Intensity Extreme easy to manage as a portable twist .
According to Blackmagic , when an HD camcorder is connected to the Intensity Extreme , the machine is capable to seize video directly from a camcorder ’s icon detector . This allow you to bypass the camcorder ’s compaction .
Blackmagic UltraStudio 3DThe $ 995UltraStudio 3Dis also a video capture and playback box , but it has livelihood for capture two video current for stereoscopic 3D.
Blackmagic UltraStudio 3D
The UltraStudio three-D has dual liaison SDI input , two-fold liaison SDI outputs , HDMI 1.4a in and out port , and a breakout connector for analogue link . The machine also get with an international power supplying .
Blackmagic read that the Intensity Extreme and UltraStudio 3-D are compatible with Apple Final Cut Pro 7 , but not yet with Final Cut Pro X.
Seagate hard drives
Seagate GoFlex Mobile with ThunderboltThe SeagateGoFlex hard driveshave connectors that are removable . For example , you could get a USB 2.0 connection with a GoFlex effort , and if you decide later that you want FireWire 800 , you could buy the FireWire 800 connector , remove the USB 2.0 connector , and replace it with the new FireWire 800 connecter .
Back in February , Seagateannounced its plans to release a Thunderbolt adapterfor its GoFlex drive . And though it has yet to ship , it did make an show at IDF ( or at least the verboten case of the adapter made an coming into court ) .
Also displayed was a black box generically labeled , “ Seagate Desktop Storage , ” which seems to betoken that Seagate plans to implement Thunderbolt in its background heavy drive .
Seagate GoFlex Mobile with Thunderbolt
Sonnet and Magma PCIe card adapter boxes
Sonnet Echo Express PCIe 2.0 Expansion ChassisThunderbolt is base on the PCI Express ( PCIe ) architecture , and you might know that the Mac Pro has four PCIe slots . That intend there are a mickle of PCIe expanding upon calling card available — you may utilize them on Thunderbolt iMacs , Mac minis , MacBook Pros , and MacBook Airs through an adapter box .
TheEcho Express PCIe 2.0 Expansion Chassishouses one PCIe card ; enclose the card into the Chassis , connect the Chassis to your Mac ’s Thunderbolt port , and you’re able to habituate the card . The Chassis will be uncommitted in two sizes , one size to house half - duration cards , and another size of it for full - length card .
Magma ExpressBox 3TThe MagmaExpressBox 3Tis also a PCIe board adapter box , but it houses up to three PCIe cards , not just one . Magma also include a travel bag , in case you settle to bring it along with your Thunderbolt - equipped MacBook Pro or MacBook Air .
Sonnet Echo Express PCIe 2.0 Expansion Chassis
More Thunderbolt devices
Several other Thunderbolt products were on presentation at the Advanced Technology Zone in IDF . The MatroxThunderbolt adapteris designed to go with the company ’s current card ofMXO2video redaction devices ( Thundebolt - equipped MXO2s will be uncommitted in September ) . The PromiseSANLinkis a Fibre Channel - to - bolt adaptor that allows Macs to connect to high - swiftness Fibre Channel SANs .
Promise SANLinkThe LaCieLittle Big Diskwas one of the first Thunderbolt - equipped hard drives announce , but it has yet to hit the market . If you do n’t have a 17 - inch MacBook Pro but would wish to habituate ExpressCard/34 expanding upon card , the $ 150 SonnetEcho ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapteris what you need . It leave you to utilise ExpressCard/34 cards via Thunderbolt .
[ Roman Loyola is a Macworld senior editor . ]
Magma ExpressBox 3T
Promise SANLink
