The next generation of USB is schedule to begin coming out late in 2009 and start coming out in force in 2010. USB 3.0 will be up to ten times as fast as USB 2.0 and will thus outspeed Firewire 800. USB 3.0 will also be able to send more power to devices that require it making the connection usable by portable hard drives without the need for additional power. USB 1.0 devices will not be compatible with the new USB 3.0 ports, however USB 2.0 devices will work fine. There is also a next generation Firewire in development, however with Apple's continued dropping of Firewire as a connection used in their devices it is unlikely that Apple will be backing the new Firewire port.
