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What are IEEE-1394 connectors?

IEEE-1394 is a communication technology that was developed by Apple® in the early 1990s, at about the same time as USB. The original IEEE-1394 standard is known as FireWire, IEEE-1394a, DV or as i.Link® (Sony®'s implementation of the standard). Occasionally it is referenced as FireWire 400 due to its maximum data transfer speed of 400 Mbps. Because it was more costly to implement than USB, IEEE-1394 did not become as popular an interface for peripheral devices. However, its fast performance and stability have made it a popular choice for high-bandwidth applications such as digital video and portable storage. One of IEEE-1394's biggest advantages over USB is that it does not require a host controller. This means that two IEEE-1394 devices can communicate without the use of a computer. For example, video can be dubbed from one DV camcorder to another through the use of an IEEE-1394 connection. More recently, the development of FireWire 800 (IEEE-1394b) arose with the maximum data transfer speed of 800 Mbps. Remember that for adapter cables with one 4- or 6-pin connector and a FireWire 800 9-pin connector, the maximum transfer rate remains 400 Mbps.