FireWire is Apple's brand name for the IEEE 1394 interface (although the 1394 standard also defines a backplane interface). It is also known as iLink (Sony’s name). FireWire system is commonly used for connection of data storage devices and DV (digital video) cameras, but is also popular in industrial systems for machine vision and professional audio systems. It is used instead of the more common USB due to its faster effective speed, higher power-distribution capabilities, and because it does not need a computer host. FireWire is also available in wireless, fibre optic and coaxial versions.
Almost all modern digital camcorders have included this connection since 1995. Many computers intended for home or professional audio/video use have built-in FireWire ports. And today, it is also widely available on retail motherboards for do-it-yourself PCs, alongside USB. FireWire was used with initial models of Apple's iPod, but later models eliminated FireWire support in favor of USB due to space constraints and for wider compatibility.
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4-pin (left) and 6-pin (right) FireWire
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6-pin FireWire connector
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