I have never been a huge fan of IEEE 1394. In the days of either FireWire or USB1.0 it was a faster alternative, but as USB2.0 came along, it just seemed like another compatibility issue headache. I hate compatibility issues. “Oh no FW port on this?” or “Hey ya got an extra $50 cable layin’ around I can borrow?”.
The new USB3.0 spec will support data transfers at 4.8 gigabits per second, or Gbps, nearly 10 times faster than the current standard’s 480 megabits per second and six times faster than FireWire 800. It’s also 400 times faster than the 12 Mbps offered by the original spec, USB 1.0.

An article from Wired Magazine has me excited for the new USB3.0 standard.

At a glance:USB 3.0
Faster: 10 times faster than USB 2.0 and six times faster than FireWire 800

Greater power efficiency: New interrupt driven protocol optimizes power management.

Better Power Output: Power output bump to 900 milliamps from 100 milliamps allows more devices to be charged faster via USB.

Backward Compatible: New connectors and cables will work with work with devices running the older USB 2.0

Source: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/11/superspeed-us-1.html

Techies and Apple addicts everywhere are going to have to keep on waiting for the highly anticipated iPhone 2.0 firmware. Apple announced that they will be pushing back the release of the update from June to early July. At a glance of the new features, it looks like Apple is really pushing forward to seam together the worlds computers and cell phone technology. Highlights include full support for Microsoft Office documents (including Powerpoint) and expanded features in Mail.

From Macworld.com
Apple will delay the release of the iPhone 2.0 software until early July. But when the firmware does ship, it will offer plenty of new features for iPhone and iPod touch users.

Apple announced the new release date for the iPhone 2.0 update as part of a demonstration of the software during Steve Jobs’ Worldwide Developers Conference keynote presentation on Monday. Originally, Apple had expected to release iPhone 2.0 in late June.

When it does ship, the software will introduce a host of new features. The iPhone will add a contact search that allows users to enter a name and instantly find who they’re looking for. Full iWork document support lets users view Pages, Numbers, and Keynote documents. Apple also will offer full support for Microsoft Office documents, including PowerPoint presentations.

iPhone 2.0 adds much sought-after bulk delete and move capabilities to its Mail application. Mail users will be able to save images from e-mails into their Photo Library.

Apple will also add parental control features, allowing parents to turn off explicit content, YouTube, iTunes Store, and the forthcoming App Store.

As announced when Apple first unveiled its iPhone 2.0 plans in March, the software update is free for iPhone users. iPod touch users can update to the firmware for $9.99.

In addition to outlining iPhone 2.0 features, Apple executives also profiled the iPhone software development kit that allows developers to build native apps for the phone. In a 33-minute demonstration during Monday’s keynote, a steady stream of developers showed off the games and apps that will be available via the App Store later this summer. Companies demonstrating their wares included Sega, Loopt, Pangea Software, TypePad, Cow Music, and Modality.

“We think we have a fantastic platform here for people to build incredible applications,” said Scott Forstall, Apple senior vice president of iPhone software.

Jobs also spoke about the enterprise features in the iPhone 2.0 update, highlighting many of the capabilities first showcased at his March demo. New enterprise features will include push e-mail, push contacts, push calendars auto-discovery of Microsoft Exchange servers.