Back in April, Intel previewed 20Gbps Thunderbolt at the NAB Show, adding that the advanced I/O would ship in 2014. Now, just two months later, chipzilla is back to say Thunderbolt 2, as it’s now called, will in fact ship later this year. Interesting that Apple plans its first major Mac Pro upgrade in over three years ’round the same time.

Intel has gone and made it official — the 20Gbps bi-directional Thunderbolt 2 standard has been settled and the company expects to ship chipsets with it builtin in late 2013, which will be pin-to-pin compatible with current connectors and cabling.

Intel’s press release also states that, since Apple first shipped Thunderbolt back 2011, 30 PCs and motherboards, as well as 80 peripherals, now feature the advanced I/O technology.

Of course, Apple’s entire computer product line, save one, ships with Thunderbolt built in — the Mac Pro. Interestingly enough, it’s rumored that an all-new 2013 Mac Pro mini is rumored to also ship later this year.

Think there’s a relationship with Intel’s Thunderbolt 2 release schedule? It certainly seems plausible if not destiny…

What’s your take?

via AppleInsider, image Ars Technica

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