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Clash of the Titans Over USB 3.0 Specification Process

Posted by timothy on from the so-you'd-cut-this-giant-electronic-baby-in-half dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Nvidia and other chip designers are accusing Intel of 'illegally restraining trade' in a dispute over the USB 3.0 specification. The dispute has prompted Nvidia, AMD, Via, and SiS to establish a rival standard for the USB 3.0 host controller. An Intel spokesman denies the company is making the USB specification, or that USB 3.0 'borrows technology heavily' from the PCI Special Interests group. He does, however, say that Intel won't release an unfinished Intel host controller spec until it's ready, as it would lead to incompatible hardware."

6 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. 1394 For Life by vertigoCiel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ever the more reason to never give up Firewire until they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

    1. Re:1394 For Life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because it was designed by Apple.

    2. Re:1394 For Life by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 5, Informative

      I've not heard of USB missile launchers either. It shoots USBs? http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/8a0f/
    3. Re:1394 For Life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Good idea! Maybe we should look at having some kind of "Universal Serial Bus" that everybody can use as a standard!

    4. Re:1394 For Life by CrackedButter · · Score: 5, Informative

      How is this modded interesting, all the geeks know that FW 400 is still faster than USB 2.0 because 480mbps is theoretical and not an actual constant transfer speed like with FW400. Firewire is processor independent as well since it has its own controller whereas the main CPU is used to control USB 2, that means its transfer rate is dependent on system performance. Everything else in your post isn't bollocks though.

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      Jonathanjk.com
  2. This is only a concern to driver writers by spinkham · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is a replay of the OHCI/UHCI host controller interface standards of original USB.
    This does NOT at all effect users, only driver writers.
    What is being forked is the USB driver interface, and does not effect device compatibility at all.
    As mentioned above, there were two driver interfaces for the original USB standard, and the only people who knew were driver writers and nerds compiling their own custom kernel.
    This is blown way out of proportion, and doesn't effect 99.999% of us. Nothing to see here, move along....

    --
    Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups.