Light Peak promises to move data at 10Gb/s-- fast enough to transfer a full blu-ray movie in less than 30 seconds.
However, no existing data transfer technologies support those speeds yet. The technology adapts optical cable technology (used in data centers and telecom communications) for the mainstream computing and CE markets.
Intel, Sony and Apple back the technology, and Intel expects it to be in PCs and peripherals by 2011. Rumours currently go on Apple adopting Light Peak by 2011's first half.
It's not clear how companies will implement Light Peak-- no existing data transfer protocols support its speeds, and Intel does not plan to support USB 3.0 (which would run well on top of Light Peak) on its upcoming Sandy Bridge technology.
While Light Peak made its demo debut at CES 2010 (running on Apple hardware) there won't be any demos at 2011's show.
