USB 3.0 PCs due before end of the year?
updated 12:25 pm EDT, Wed July 1, 2009
USB 3.0 due out in 2009
The next-generation USB 3.0 interface may reach customer PCs before 2009 is out, despite an earlier report to the contrary. Industry members believe Taiwan-area PC makers will be the first to release computers equipped with USB 3.0, as working prototypes of the interface, which promises 5GBps transfer speeds, are abundant at computer technology shows. These included PC hosts transferring data to connected external SSDs and interoperability between components from different vendors.
Japan's NEC Electronics has already shipped samples of its USB 3.0 host controller at the start of June, with regular volume production of nearly one million units per month expected to begin in September. The first application is expected to include external hard disks, but the higher speeds offered by USB 3.0 may also pave the way for wired HD video streaming from a networked connection.
At least one engineer believes that if video in USB 3.0 can be transferred isochronously, as files can be in USB 2.0, at least 1080i-resolution HD video should be feasible. [via Tech-On]
