IEEE 1394 is called FireWire.
IEEE 1394 ports are usually called FireWire, according to Indiana University Information Technology Services. Developed by Apple computers, FireWire connections can handle large data transfer and are ideal for moving large files, such as movies and graphics files.
History
Apple finalized the specifics of FireWire and released it in 1995, according to computer expert Bob Rankin. The original FireWire ports could transfer at theoretical speeds of 50 megabytes per second.
Features
FireWire supports up to 63 simultaneous plug and play connections, according to Indiana University. The original FireWire standard allows transfer rates between 100 and 400 megabytes per second, but the second release of FireWire, IEEE 1394b, handles up to 3200 megabytes per second.
Benefits
IEEE 1394 allows for the transfer of data at consistent speeds or in bursts. Consistent speed, or isochronous speed, is useful because the computer knows how much data is arriving, which provides smooth performance when making a presentation or playing a video.
Significance
Despite technical superiority, most computers use USB instead of FireWire. In addition, FireWire cables, at about $20 each as of 2010, are comparatively more expensive than USB cables.
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