The 1394 Trade Association (http://www.1394ta.org) -- of which Apple is a member -- has issued its new 2010 FireWire Design Guide, which details the guidelines for implementing FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports on high level complex devices such as personal computers and automobiles, and on simple devices such as consumer electronics products.

The new guide, which is available on the 1394 Trade Association web site, includes references to normative specifications as well as full reference designs that can be used as is or -- with the careful consideration of the trade-offs -- as a starting point for an optimized proven design. It also includes a comprehensive checklist of all of the factors and specifications a designer who plans to use 1394 should look for, from 1394-compliant connectors to a full range of power and configuration issues.

There are chapters on mechanical issues, robust port design (ESD & Late VG), system design, cable power, link selection, firmware/higher layers and layout recommendations. Each section includes a full set of illustrations to complement the text.

The 1394 Trade Association is a worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement of the IEEE 1394 standard. The 1394TA, which is led by multinationals such as Apple, Fujitsu, Microsoft, Molex, Panasonic, Texas Instruments, and others, has entered its 15th year of promoting 1394. FireWire is used today in computer, entertainment, and professional products, and in a wide range of specialty applications such as music, defense, aerospace, industrial, and robotics products.