Archive for October, 2009

At Fall 2009 IDF, Synopsys was the first company ever, in the history of the USB to demonstrate a USB 3.0 Device, Host, and Hub all from one company (that’s us).

In this case, our SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub is connected to our USB 3.0 Mass Storage Device, a USB 2.0 Flash Drive, and a USB 1.1 Mouse.   The Host we are using is the USB-IF provided one that is part of the USB 3.0 PDK (Peripheral Developer’s Kit).  It’s the NEC version.

The really short (<90 sec) video can be seen here http://www.synopsys.com/dw/ipdir.php?ds=dwc_usb_3

and it should be embedded below also.

The point is that we can demonstrate interoperability of USB 3.0, 2,0, and 1.1 products.  This is essential so that you and your customers can use their 10 year old USB mice and inkjet printers with your new USB 3.0 hard drives and flash drives in the year 2010.

Note:  We are actually using a USB 2.0 Hub chip to provide the 2.0 connection, but we can do this because the USB 3.0 and 2.0 are electrically separate.  We only provide the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub portion.

I should also point out that TI had a (really cool) demonstration of their fully integrated USB 3.0 Hub nearby.  We will post a video of that next week.

Sort of.

In a survey of 4,700 kids, then Nintendo Wii and DS are more loved than Oreo’s, MacDonald’s, and Kraft Mac and Cheese.  You can read the article here http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10371818-235.html.

Smarty Pants conducted the survey which confirms what parents of 6 to 12 year olds already know: Kids will give up food, exercise, sleep, and sunshine to spend time getting an artificial tan from a video display.

How does this relate to USB?

The Wii, PS2, PS3, and XBOX 360 all have USB ports.

The latest Rock Band game Beatles Rock Band includes the ability to sing a 3-part harmony while playing Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Drums (or any combination).  You use your Wiimotes (Wii Wireless Remotes) plugged into the instruments.  (Official video of the game in action can be seen here http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/videos/trailer)

But how do you connect the 3 microphones?  USB

I have 5 USB microphones from PS2 Karaoke games for the PS2 and PC Voice Recognition packages.  They all work on the Wii.  I use the same USB microphones on my PC, my PS2, and my Wii.  They were all designed and built over the past 8 years.  Awesome compatibility.

The Wii has only 2 USB ports, but I need 3 ports for my microphones. I took my USB 2.0 Hub connected to my PS2, and plugged it into the Wii.  Now I can plug 3 USB Microphones in, and sing three part harmonies with adults and elementary school kids (mine).

Backward and Forward compatibility is a foundation of USB success.  Seeing in non-PCs just makes it more cool.

Pick up Beatles Rock Band, and your 6 year old will be singing “She’s got a ticket to ride” during Art class too.

(By the way, check out the Smarty Pants Website http://www.asksmartypants.com/ it is beautifully designed website.)

(Only read this Sidenote if you plan to buy Beatles Rock Band:  I actually am using instruments from Guitar Hero World Tour.  This frees up a USB port because the Rock Band 2 instruments actually use a USB to Wireless Dongle to communicate with the Wireless Guitars and Drums.  In this way they take up USB ports, but do not use the Wiimotes inside the instruments.  You still need a USB 2.0 Hub, to connect 3 microphones.)

I’ve visited a lot of customers and potential customers over the past 10 years talking about USB 2.0 and now USB 3.0.  I have to say, that the longer USB 2.0 is around, the more designers come up with ways to use USB 2.0 in products. 

For example, in China 2 weeks ago I saw a TV with USB Host and Device Ports.  I’m guessing that the Device port was for connecting to a PC so you could upload stuff into the TV like music, pictures, or video.  I’m guessing because it looked like there were pre-loaded images that could be updated.  There weren’t any instructions on this model and the sales person didn’t speak English.  The Host port could be used for pictures and video from a USB flash drive.  This was clear from the information on the front of the TV showing JPEG and DIVX readability.  Of course, I’ve blogged about the fact that there are USB ports on mainstream Samsung and Sony TVs, but I think that having USB ports on standard definition TVs in China is different then having it on premium HD sets in Japan or the U.S..

For USB 3.0,  I expect exceptionally cool stuff.

The most interesting thing is that when I talk to some engineers, these engineers do not see the need for more memory, more speed, more storage.  It’s weird because these engineers (all over the world) adopt these devices at a slower rate than many.  But about 3 years ago, I noticed that everyone had a Blackberry on every flight I took (or so it seemed) and an iPod.  About 1 year ago, it seemed that every 3rd person on a Trans-Pacific flight had an iPhone.  People on domestic flights have a greater variety of phones like LG, Samsung, or other phones, but Blackberries and iPhones still predominate on domestic flights.

My point is simply this:

Companies like Apple (and it isn’t just Apple) continue to innovate and make use of the technology creatively to create new markets, better products using more memory, more features (capacitive touch screens), more speed (iPhone 3GS),  and more speed like USB 3.0.   The companies that really push for market presence and make the most dollars, adopt technology, and put it into great products to make fun stuff people buy.

I had a guy tell me that the iPhone was a “toy”   I now think, “Yes, that is exactly right”  If I don’t need a new phone, why do I buy a new one?  I use my discretionary dollars to buy a cool phone that can make calls, browse the web, or download a gizillion apps.   This is, in fact, the Holy Grail of products.  Sell the Hardware (make money), sell Songs (make money), sell Videos (make money), sell Educational videos (make money),  sell apps (make money).  It’s what Sony did with the PS2, Nintendo with the DS and Wii, and Microsoft with the XBOX 360.

Innovation around new technology drives new uses because creative, smart designers build great products.   I’m confident with the ecosystem of chips, software providers, IP providers, and the USB-IF, USB 3.0 will be driven by both the creative designers, and the fun-loving consumers that need it.

USB 2.0 is now 9 years old.  It’s awesome, it’s still getting new uses.  It’s time for USB 3.0.

Cheerleading is done, back to work.

Watch Glee on Fox.  Also, Fringe, House, and Chuck.  And get a DVR, it’s the 21st century.