Apple Launching Thunderbolt Cable Ahead of Mac Refresh on Palupix

A tipster has revealed that Apple plans to release its own accessory for data transfers and display connections between Thunderbolt Macs and other devices set to support the standard.

Originally codenamed Light Peak, Thunderbolt is an interface for connecting peripheral devices to a computer via an expansion bus.

Intel is the company behind this technology that saw its first commercial introduction in Apple’s current-generation of MacBook Pros.

Since then, the iMac line of desktop computers also received the enhancement, alongside Sandy Bridge processors, also from Intel.

On Macs, Thunderbolt uses the same port and connector as Mini DisplayPort, Apple’s own standard for connectivity between computers and external displays, or TVs.

In essence, Thunderbolt combines PCI Express and DisplayPort into a new serial data interface that can be carried over longer and less costly cables.

Apple reportedly plans to introduce its own branded cord for data transfers and display connections between Thunderbolt-enabled systems.

According to a Mr. X, who generally leaks accurate information to the blokes at 9to5mac, the cable’s both ends feature connectors for the Thunderbolt I/O port.

These cables are said to be the perfect accessory for data migration between Thunderbolt Macs, but also for display connections.

9to5 appropriately points out that the cable may well stand as a hint that Apple plans to introduce new Cinema Displays with Thunderbolt ports on them. They also seem to have obtained a rendering of the cable in question (displayed above).

Finally, the tipster claimed this new cable will arrive ahead of refreshed MacBook Airs, Mac minis, and Mac Pros with Thunderbolt I/O and Sandy Bridge CPUs. These are also expected to launch relatively soon.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Apple recently released its first Thunderbolt Firmware Update.

Aimed at systems running the latest version of Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6.8), “This update provides Thunderbolt performance and stability fixes,” according to the Cupertino tech giant.