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Hands-on Look At USB 3.0, Spec Details Revealed

Posted by timothy on from the pretty-ribbons-of-blue dept.

notdagreatbrain writes "Maximum PC dug up some new information about USB 3.0, got their hands on the new connectors, and even took a look inside the new cables. They learned several new details about the next-gen version of the ubiquitous interface. USB Superspeed will be backward compatible with USB 2.0. The maximum speed of the new spec is 4.8Gbps, which is ten times faster than hi-speed. Five new wires are bundled in the cable, four of them used for data transfer (bi-directional transfer is now supported). More power will also be funneled through the line, so you can charge more devices, faster. The wireless USB is also getting upgraded to version 1.1, and will include ultra-wide band frequency support and Near Field Communication for near-instant swipe-based syncing."

9 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. Full speed, high speed, superspeed by martin-k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    After USB full speed and USB high speed, we now have USB superspeed. What comes next? Hyperspeed? FTL-speed?

    Gotta love the marketing hyperbole...

    --
    SoftMaker Office for Windows|Linux|Android
  2. What I want to know by HungryHobo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes this is great but have any controls along the lines of "trusted computing" been slipped in to these devices. I ask only because it seems to be the fashion now days to try to put as many controls into new technology as possible.

    1. Re:What I want to know by HungryHobo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I go the easier route. I just don't buy them.
      Plus slashdot has so many engineers reading it that they're more likely to see it than if I email some companies customer care department.

    2. Re:What I want to know by dotancohen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I go the easier route. I just don't buy them.

      Really? I'd like to see you NOT buy then new 512GB Disk On Key when it comes out in three years because it uses the USB 3 spec, which may or may not contain content controls.

      Seriously, stop relying on the engineers to come to you, and start writing to them. The same thing goes for Linux software support: if you want Solidworks to run on Linux, then write to the company and tell them that!

      --
      It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  3. Wireless USB? Huh? by Manip · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Could someone please explain the point of Wireless USB to me?

    I mean we have WiFi (802.11) for the longer range stuff and Bluetooth for close proximity devices...

    What niche does Wireless USB fit in that the existing technology doesn't?

  4. Re:and Yet... by jimicus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It will still be slower for sustained transfers than Firewire 400.

    The most important part, did they finally make it non CPU intensive?

    I doubt it. In order to do that, you'd have to move work out of drivers and into silicon, which is quite a bit more expensive.

  5. Re:It's going to break. by Reece400 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    For my desktop I always make a habit of using usb ports on a PCI card for devices that I plug in & out often so that when the connectors become damages I can cheaply & easily replace the card.

  6. Re:It's going to break. by dotancohen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    RJ-* is great for "plug it in and leave it alone" situations, which it was designed for. However, it is terrible for connections that must be made and broken on a regular basis, which is what USB was designed for. In particular, the plastic locking mechanism is very fragile and prone to snapping off. I'd say that I've seen that more often than even loose USB sockets.

    --
    It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
  7. Re:USB1 and 2 (and now3) = bad connector design by Kelbear · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Which side is up on the slot though?

    It can be vertical/horizontal and can oftentimes be out of line of sight when reaching behind PCs, or in the dark under a desk.