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SuperSpeed USB Host Controller By NEC

NEC has been the leader in USB host controllers over the past five years, and now they are gearing up for USB 3.0 with their uPD720200 USB 3.0 host controller chip.  You can expect hard drives, flash drives and solid state memory devices to use the NEC SuperSpeed chip.

NEC USB 3.0 host controller

EverythingUSB reports the small quantity price will be around $15 USD and include Windows drivers for quick integration.  NEC forcastes sales to be several million per month by September and rapid adoption in 2010. Stay up to date with USB 3.0 SuperSpeed with GetUSB.info Continue Reading

What Is USB 3.0 Cable Difference

The second half of this year will be exciting for GetUSB.info as USB 3.0 products and devices make it’s way into the retail space.  Today we are going to start off with one of the first products, the USB 3.0 Cable.

usb 3.0 cable

USBFever released their 6 foot USB 3.0 cable for $10.  The cable is USB A male to A male connector.  The cable looks the same as a USB 2.0 cable, so what’s the difference in a USB 3.0 cable?  Read on: USB 3.0 is also called USB SuperSpeed.  When data is being transmitted under the SuperSpeed dual simplex signaling occurs, meaning…it’s possible two sets of data Continue Reading

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Connector

Now that SuperSpeed USB is out what does the physical connector look like?  Well, GetUSB isn’t 100% sure but we’ve seen some images popping up on the internet. First, lets take a look at the USB connector we reported about in Januarary of 08:

usb 3.0

Now we have a new image coming up from UberGizmo which might be a more developed connector of the SuperSpeed USB connector:

super speed usb

Once we get word on the official socket / jack we’ll report back. Continue Reading

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Version 1.0 Is Officially Available

SuperSpeed USB logoOn Monday the USB Implementers Forum released the official documents for SuperSpeed USB 3.0.  We’ve been reporting on the SuperSpeed for about 6 months and it’s finally come to fruition.  The logo to the right might be the USB-IF official logo as we pulled it directly off their press release material. What we have today is the specification outline, meaning we don’t have products yet, but now developers and chip manfucaturers have an official outline of how to build USB host controllers, hubs and other logic devices to manage the super speed of USB 3.0. The new specification claims transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps [Gigabits per second] rate which translates to a data transfer rate of approximately 600MB per second. So what next?  Well, between now and the next year, manufacturers will be in a mad rush to get Continue Reading

Tektronix Brings SuperSpeed USB Test Tools to the Geeks

tektronix usb 3.0Tektronix just announced test tools for the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed specification.  This means those uber geeks – and we don’t mean that in a derogatory way – will have the tools to prove their devices meet the new USB 3.0 specification. It is estimated that initial SuperSpeed USB interface ICs and consumer products should appear in early 2010, with widespread adoption continuing throughout 2010. The first SuperSpeed USB products will likely include data-storage devices such as flash drives, external hard drives, digital music players, and digital cameras.
“SuperSpeed USB is a giant leap forward in data transfer rates for many devices and consequently requires much more sophisticated testing,” said Ian Valentine, general manager, Technology Solutions Group, Tektronix. “SuperSpeed USB will operate at 5 Gb/s, more than 10 times greater than the existing high-speed USB standard. This speed will require comprehensive signal testing for transmitters, interconnects, and receivers. Customers will be able to fully test the physical layers of their SuperSpeed USB devices using the latest test solution from Tektronix.”
The Tektronix test solution for USB 3.0 includes: Continue Reading

SuperSpeed USB Spec Released by Intel

superspeed usbIntel released a draft specification for USB 3.0 or SuperSpeed USB. The Extensible Host Controller Interface or xHCI provides a standard method for USB 3.0 host controllers to communicate with the USB 34.0 software stacks. Both AMD and Nvidia voiced complaints earlier in the year that Intel hasn’t released update information to make the new spec an open industry standard and an easy path for transition. Today’s release is Intel’s answer to that request. Dell, Microsoft and NEC also support the release because the xHCI will expedite the industry transition to next-generation USB 3.0 technology.
One important factor in adopting SuperSpeed USB products is interoperability between multiple devices from different manufacturers. The xHCI draft specification revision 0.9 aims to make interoperability easier to implement, while also making it easier for developers to create software support for the market.
The next revision update is expected at the end of 2008 with revision number xHCI 0.95. So no SuperSpeed USB yet, but the big boys are working their way to it. Source: CRN. Continue Reading

USB Washing Machine Wakes You But Doesn’t Do Laundry

Joe from USB Geek sent me an email about his new USB washing machine alarm clock, I thought we hit the mother-load.  We didn’t.  But lets stop and think for a minute, could we – one day -  have a USB washing machine?  It’s possible if the USB 3.0 spec really boosts the power over the bus to 12v.  Until then, the USB washing machine can only be an alarm clock.

usb washing machine, alarm clock

The USB washing machine plays four crappy alarm clock sounds along with an hourly chime and LED signal.  Perfect for late night slumber. In case you have a military friend you can set the hours for 12 or 24 and power the gadget via USB or two double A batteries. At just $20 you can please any gadget lover who’s a germaphobic and likes to sleep in. Visit the USBGeek web page and get a sample of the alarm clock sounds.  Music to the ears [not]. USB washing machine alarm clock product page. Continue Reading

USB 3.0 Sockets and Jacks Shape Made Public

Not to anyone’s surprise…the USB 3.0 jacks and sockets look exactly the same.  Go figure, as part of the specification is to be backward compatible.  But taking a closer look, you do see some differences.

usb 3.0 socket

The folks from Register Hardware had a peak at the USB 3.0 connectors while at CES 2008 this year.  As you can see from the image below, the USB 3.0 sockets have an additional row of connectors.  The connectors located in front are to keep the backward compatibility to USB 1.1 and USB 2.0.  The connectors placed behind this first row are for USB 3.0.

usb 3.0 socket schematic

The new USB 3.0 specification is promising transfer speeds 10 times greater than current 2.0 standards – to that of 4.7Gb/s.  There is also a fiber optics connector which hasn’t been made available yet. As the USB 3.0 specification is expected to be finalized sometime in June of 2008 – we can expect to see product following by the end of this year.  Although I am looking forward to the new, faster USB 3.0 spec, not everyone shares the same love.  Here is what some are saying: Continue Reading

Not USB 3.0, But Speedy USB 2.0 by Buffalo

Buffalo figured out a way to turbo boost USB 2.0 to claim increased transfer speed of up-to 60%.
turbo usb
So what’s the deal? Buffalo gives no detail to this increased performance and makes a broad statement about Windows and Mac compatibility for the two new USB Turbo products, the MiniStation and DriveStation. I would figure Buffalo addressed power issues as many USB devices have poor power management which directly effects performance. The Buffalo MiniStation with Turbo USB is a portable storage device designed to withstand durable environment such as bumps, drops and turbulence (what?) you’d experience in everyday life. The Buffalo DriveStation with Turbo USB is a tower configuration ideal for home or office and includes a 7200 RPM SATA drive with Turbo USB enhancements. The MiniStation has a price range of $99 to $250 The DriveStation has a price range of $130 to $500. Buffalo Turbo USB information page Continue Reading

WUSB Can Hear the Footsteps of WUSB 1.1

WUSB or Wireless USB products just began to ship and WUSB 1.1 is ramping up. Although a mild ramp, as with current transfer rates of 40Mbits/second the 1.1 spec needs to hit at least 500Mbits/second otherwise it’ll never see the light of day.

wusb 1.1

The 1.1 spec will support band groups at 6 GHz and above, including the 3-4 GHz supported by wireless USB 1.0. It aims to lower power consumption by an undisclosed amount. It also will adopt the techniques of near-field communications for letting two devices identify themselves to each other with a simple contact.

As (source) Gizmodo said: “…realistic or not, we like the ambition.”

Currently the USB Implementers Forum has certified a handful of notebooks and hubs for the 1.0 spec. The WiMedia Alliance is expected to certify the first 1.0 products shortly.

Continue Reading

USB 3.0 Around The Corner – Fiber Optics and All

The Who’s Who of technology got together and established USB 3.0. Backward compatibility is covered with the same wired connection and greater speeds, up to 10 times faster than 480Mbps, and will include fiber optics support.
“USB 3.0 is the next logical step for the PC’s most popular wired connectivity,” said Jeff Ravencraft, technology strategist with Intel and president of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). “The digital era requires high-speed performance and reliable connectivity to move the enormous amounts of digital content now present in everyday life.
Intel, HP, Microsoft, NEC, NXP Semiconductors and Texas Instruments are the rat-pack for USB 3.0 while the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) will act as trade association for the USB 3.0 Specifications. The full and complete USB 3.0 specifications are expected to be released sometime during the first half of 2008. The mission statement throughout this process is:
The USB 3.0 Promoter Group is committed to preserving the existing USB device class driver infrastructure and investment, look-and-feel and ease-of-use of USB while continuing to expand this great technology’s capabilities.
Source: USB-IF Continue Reading

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