05-31-2005, 08:00 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Wireless USB Specification Officially Released - 1st Devices Expected End of 2005
"[May 24, 2005] - The Wireless USB Promoter Group today announced the completion of the Wireless USB specification. <...> 'We've delivered on the promise we made in 2004 to complete the specification and make it publicly available in 2005,' said Jeff Ravencraft, chairman of the Wireless USB Promoter Group. 'Product development is currently underway, with the first Wireless USB products expected to be available at the end of 2005. The first implementations will be in the form of discrete silicon that is being introduced in a number of form factors such as add-in cards, external adapters and embedded silicon modules for integrated solutions.'"
It's amazing how dependent I've become over the past several years on USB. I have USB hubs both at home and at work (in addition to the USB ports built into my PC and laptop). I can tell you that ALL ports are occupied (Ext HDD, keyboard/mouse, BT adapter, printer, scanner, APC, touchpad, PPC cradle, and more)! Making USB wireless would highly welcomed. At best, I don't expect this to be universally mainstream for another few years at least, but there a large number of manufacterers involved which gives me great hope that this can fill the void that Bluetooth has been unable to fill. What are your thoughts?
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05-31-2005, 08:15 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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I say 'bring it on!'. All the ports on my USB hub are taken up too.. Let's just hope that transfer speeds remain the same.
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05-31-2005, 08:19 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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I'm looking forward to seeing this spec develop - I have a grudge against seeing cables, so this would allow me to get rid of a lot of cables. Let's hope it gets traction faster and is easier to use than Bluetooth!
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05-31-2005, 08:20 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 241
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lets squeeze one of those into an SD card!
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05-31-2005, 08:21 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,305
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Could THIS be the death of Bluetooth then??
:devilboy:
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05-31-2005, 08:23 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by foebea
lets squeeze one of those into an SD card!
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Maybe, but if Wireless USB is to succeed, it will need to be integrated at the silicon level on all sorts of devices. Though there will certainly be USB-based adaptors for older devices, and who knows, perhaps SD cards for PDAs.
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05-31-2005, 08:29 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 137
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Sounds nice, but there is one problem, though... Wireless USB = batteries or AC power for every device, since USB currently supplies power to a lot of devices. So we still haven't gotten rid of all the cables.
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05-31-2005, 08:39 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jerry Raia
Could THIS be the death of Bluetooth then??
:devilboy:
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Ha!
I would expect BT will continue to survive, but mostly for specialized purposes such as BT headsets, which have become much more mainstream over the past year. For all other uses, BT simply hasn't gained mainstream acceptance.
If wireless USB makes the "pairing" process much more seamless (similar to how wireless keyboards and mice connect to their receivers), then I can see Wireless USB smashing BT into pieces within PC / Laptop / PDA markets.
Today, BT is just too complicated for widespread use. For headsets, it works great. For nearly anything else, you have to worry about too much (e.g. matching BT service profiles between devices... juggling the 1,000 variations of drivers used to support different BT adapters).
I can't wait for Wireless USB to develop!
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05-31-2005, 08:48 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by djdj
Sounds nice, but there is one problem, though... Wireless USB = batteries or AC power for every device, since USB currently supplies power to a lot of devices. So we still haven't gotten rid of all the cables.
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I don't think it'll be as big of a problem as it sounds. You're really only talking about devices that strictly rely on the 5V/500mA connection for power.
Looking at the devices I have plugged into my USB ports:
Bluetooth adapter - requires power but becomes less useful with Wireless USB
Keyboard/Mouse - wireless options already exist and both have proven the ability to run for long periods on battery alone
Touchpad - same as above
External HDD - already powered by AC adapter
PPC Cradle - already powered by AC adapter
Scanner - already powered by AC adapter
Printer - already powered by AC adapter
APC - already powered (duh!)
Ext USB hub - already powered by AC adapter
While wires from AC power would still be needed, wireless USB would allow you to take those devices and stop tethering them to your PC. AC sockets are easy to locate and manage, but having 20 cables all tying into your PC is not.
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05-31-2005, 09:10 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 185
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jerry Raia
Could THIS be the death of Bluetooth then??
:devilboy:
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Or could that be just nonsense because we already have Bluetooth 8O
My feeling is that we just have another nice trans-atlantic (or from here" trans-pacific) seperation as Bluetooth is quite successful everywhere except for the States.
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