Intel and others plan to release a new version of the ubiquitous Universal Serial Bus technology in the first half of 2008, a revamp the chip maker said will make data transfer rates more than 10 times as fast by adding fiber-optic links alongside the traditional copper wires. Intel is working with fellow USB 3.0 Promoters Group members Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, NEC and NXP Semiconductors to release the USB 3.0 specification in the first half of 2008, said Pat Gelsinger, general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group, in a speech here at the Intel Developer Forum.
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Member since:2005-06-29
I come from the early days of the MiniDisc, from way before NetMD (hook up your MD recorder to a PC) was introduced, and I can tell you, back then, a good selling point of certain MiniDisc recorders was that they included the optic cable to hook the MD up to the CD player.
Dunno where it stands now. I still use the same optic cable that came with one of my MD recorders ten years ago, and it still works flawlessly.
Member since:2005-07-22
Member since:2005-09-28
One of the advantages of optical data/audio connection is that there is no electrical connection between the two devices. This is why MIDI, for example, is opto-isolated. It sounds like this new USB connection is going to have electrical and optical connections running side by side however.
Member since:2006-07-26
Offtopic...yes
The guy at best buy told me that I have to use a quality printer cable if I want quality prints.
Seriously though, you're right. I'm waiting for the class action law suit against best buy for their damn cable prices and lying to consumers.
HDMI is the worst. They'll tell you the picture quality on your digital tv from your digital dvd player will be better if you use a $150 cable.
My $3.50 HDMI cable from monoprice.com works just fine.
Digital is great, 1's and 0's, it either works or it doesn't, nothing in between. If I see a picture on my TV I know that it is impossible for the cable to be any better.
Member since:2006-01-10
It's frightening how much people pay for those cables. I simply buy them online where you can get them for about 5 bucks. What's even more disturbing is the fact that pretty much all printers I've ever seen don't even come with a USB cable! Even my DSL Modem came with a USB cable. Everything else that requires a cable comes with it, but Printers for some reason never have, even the older Parallel printers. Why is that? I guess it's one of those mysteries like the Hotdogs versus Hotdog buns...
Member since:
2005-07-13
it will be interesting ot see how eSata and Firewire evolve to compete. but a thought occors, usb is nice because it is a reletively cheap (and virtualy universal) way to connect things, and yes i mean cheap (note that 40$ you paid for a printer cable from best buy was all in mark up from the store, thosse things dont cost didilly).
wont the addition of fiber optic links up the price considerably? though for that kind of speed boost I wouldnt mind to much.
Edited 2007-09-19 13:22