SuperSpeedUSB
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USB 3.0 PCIe and ExpressCard adapters flow from Addonics and VPI
Belkin may have kicked things off nice and proper, but c'mon, surely you're smart enough to avoid paying such insane premiums for a major label, right? With the USB-IF recently certifying a full 50 SuperSpeed USB products, it looks as if the little guys are getting in on the upgrade game as well, with Video Products, Inc. and Addonics being the latest to offer up USB 3.0 PCIe and ExpressCard adapters. As you'd expect, the respective devices bring USB 3.0 support to products that were born without it, with VPI charging $45 for its 2-port PCIe host card, $52 to $65 for USB 3.0 HDD enclosures and an undisclosed amount for its forthcoming USB 3.0 switch. Addonics is offering your aged desktop USB 3.0 compatibility for the lowly rate of $35, while the ExpressCard will do the same for your laptop at $49.99. In related news, the company is also doling out PCIe / ExpressCard adapters for adding SATA 6Gbps support ($39.99 a pop), and if we were the betting type, we'd say the flood gates were just about to bust wide open.
Super Talent debuts SuperCrypt thumbdrives with USB 3.0, 256-bit encryption
Hot on the heels of its USB 3.0 thumb drive the kids at Super Talent have announced the SuperCrypt line of secure portable storage. These devices are available in capacities up to 256GB and offers up to 240 MB/s transfer rates, with your choice of either 128-bit ECB (SuperCrypt) or 256-bit XTS (SuperCrypt Pro) encryption. As for the rest of us, this bad boy is fully backward compatible with USB 2.0, so you'll be able to access Grandma's famous top secret chicken recipe (why else would you own one of these?) on damn near any computer you need to. No word on a price or release date, but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. In the meantime, feel free to check out the PR after the break.
USB-IF certifies 50 SuperSpeed USB products, leaves five shrouded in mystery
That 80-port hub you bought to increase your military might? Obsolete. Novelty thumb drives? Their days are numbered as the USB-IF announces the completion of SuperSpeed USB (3.0) compliance on 50 devices. Yes, of all the countless, teeming masses of USB 2.0-compliant whatsits out there, a whole 50 3.0 devices currently officially exist, ranging from PCIe adapters to... well... ExpressCard adapters. Yes, there are a few legitimate devices in there, like HP's Envy 15 laptop and WD's My Book 3.0 external hard drive, but that the vast majority are adapters says a lot about how early this format is. Of the 50 said to be certified only 45 are listed on the site, meaning there are five left unidentified, ready for a stunning, blue-plugged unveiling. It'll surely be a magical event.
SSDs gone wild at CeBIT: Plextor reveals its first, Xtreem-S1 peeks out and OCZ teases external Enyo USB 3.0
Man, it's been a white hot minute since we've heard the good word from Plextor. Today, all that changes. After sticking to the relatively boring optical media market for years, said outfit has finally realized that there's money to be made in flash storage. The PX-64M1S (64GB) and the PX-128M1S (128GB) are the company's first-ever SSDs, both of which arrive in 2.5-inch form factors and use an integrated SATA II interface. As for transfers, you'll see sequential read rates as high as 110MB/sec and 130MB/sec, while sequential write rates hit 65MB/sec and 70MB/sec (respectively in both cases). Both units can be snapped up now for $225 (64GB) / $400 (128GB). In related news, OCZ is using CeBIT as a springboard for the launch of its external Enyo USB 3.0 SSD; unfortunately, details surrounding capacity, price and pretty much anything else are being left out, but you can bet we'll be hounding its booth representatives for those and reporting back. Finally, Team Xtreem is dishing out a 250GB Xtreem-S1 SSD with a Sandforce processor and read / write rates of around 260MB/sec, though models will be available in 60GB and 120GB as well. Peek the source links for all the nitty-gritty details, and stay tuned for more from Hannover.
Belkin unleashes overpriced USB 3.0 peripherals: PCIe card, ExpressCard and cables
We've seen a few USB 3.0 peripherals pop up overseas, but by and large, the American market has been left to ponder the future of their transfers. Will they really be stuck with USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 (rest its soul) forever? Will no one rise to the occasion and provide the necessary gear to support the raft of SuperSpeed USB kit that's just around the bend? At long last, those restless nights are coming to an end, as accessory mainstay Belkin has announced today a foursome of devices to help you get every last MB/sec possible from your next external HDD. The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCIe add-in card ($79.99) gives your existing desktop a pair of USB 3.0 ports, while the ExpressCard adapter ($79.99) adds a pair to your laptop. Closing things out are a duo of USB 3.0 cables (A-B and Micro-B), both of which are available for $39.99 in a four foot run or $49.99 in an eight foot version. Mama always said speed didn't come cheap, and now you wish you would've listened. Don'tcha? %Gallery-86304%
Sharkoon's USB 3.0 SATA HDD dock doubles up, now handles two drives
We tell ya, these HDD docks... they sure know how to keep pace with the latest and greatest of technological innovations. Shortly after Sharkoon busted out a USB 3.0-enabled version, along comes this fellow: a dual-drive version of the same device. Packing a pair of SuperSpeed USB sockets and room for two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives (or a combination, if you prefer), this device makes it dead simple to clone drives and ready a new one to supplant your existing platter. It's available now for €59.90 ($81), but if you wait a fortnight or so, we're almost certain the next iteration will be out to take its place.
Active Media Products serves up Aviator-2 external USB 3.0 SSD
You know what's better than a new solid state drive? An Olympic gold medal. You know what else? A USB 3.0 SSD, of course! Active Media Products has just dished out details on its latest device, the Aviator-2 external USB 3.0 solid state drive. Available in case-only, 64GB and 128GB flavors, this one promises transfer rates as high as 4.8Gbits/sec (that's ten times the rate of USB 2.0, just so you're well aware), and considering the 3- x 5-inch size, you should have no issues slipping this into the chest pocket of your Members Only jacket. We're in no place to comment on the difficultly of slipping $34.95, $259.95 or $449.95 (in order of mention) out of your wallet, though, which is essentially required in order to take one home. That's the breaks, kid! %Gallery-86021%
Buffalo Kokuyo reveals 4-port USB 3.0 hub, leaves you little choice but to upgrade
Oh c'mon, that 80-port USB 2.0 hub served you well, and frankly, it owes you nothing. With USB 3.0 upon us, it's only a matter of time before every last external HDD, scanner and printer you own is cruising along the SuperSpeed highway, and while that's obviously a gross exaggeration, we've always been one for proactiveness. If you're worried about having the bandwidth to handle the next generation of USB, Japan's own Buffalo Kokuyo has just the thing: a 4-port USB 3.0 hub. The BSH4A03U3 supports Windows and Mac platforms and promises to handle speeds up to 5Gbps, though the ￥8,000 ($89) asking price does feel a wee bit steep.
Green House delivers USB 3.0-friendly PCI Express interface card
Like it or not (and honestly, why would you not?), USB 3.0 is upon us, and we're guessing it's just a matter of time before every single USB peripheral in the entire world is equipped with SuperSpeed support. Exaggerations aside, there's still a good chance that you'll snap up an item or two over the course of your life that could benefit from hastier transfer rates, and that's where Green House comes in. The Japanese-based outfit has just revealed a USB 3.0-compatible PCI Express interface card, enabling mildly ancient desktops to gain USB 3.0 support by simply slapping a card into a free PCIe slot. The company claims that you'll see maximum data transfer rates of 5Gbps, but you'll have to wait a few more months to snag it for ¥3,780 ($42).
ASUS N82 and N61 join the USB 3.0 laptop party
We're kind of starting to figure out ASUS' naming scheme -- E is for Easy, and N is for eNtertainment, jolly good. In other self-evident news, Engadget Chinese is the place to go if you want the lowdown on happenings in China and its nearby states. Joining HP's Envy 15 in the USB 3.0-sporting ranks will soon be the familiar 16-inch ASUS N61 and the seemingly brand spanking new N82 14-incher. See the galleries below for the eye candy, but keep it here for specs. Core i5 and i7 CPUs will populate the role of orchestrator inside, while ATI and NVIDIA discrete graphics options will also be made available when these make their imminent Taiwan debut. In live demonstrations, the one USB 3.0 port (yes, you only get one) was shown to be three times as fast as USB 2.0, so not quite reaching its theoretical superiority, but hardly an unwelcome improvement. Let's hope for quick global distribution following the Taiwanese launch, which is slated for the middle of this month.%Gallery-84581%%Gallery-84582%
OCZ unveils ultraslim USB 3.0 external SSD, Vertex 2 and new PCI-e SSDs
OCZ has a thing for pumping out some pretty swank concepts at trade shows, and sure enough, the company's storming onto the CES floor with a number of drool-worthy introductions. Up first (and dearest to our hearts) is the ultrathin USB 3.0 external solid state drive, which offers up a 5Gb/sec transfer rate and should ship in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities. Someday, for some price. The outfit is also dishing out the Vertex 2 line of MLC-based internal SSDs as well as a second-generation PCI-Express design that's aimed for the enterprise crowd. Specifics are few and far between, but we're hoping to get a little hands-on time (with as many details as we can gather) soon. Really soon. %Gallery-81615%
Seagate unveils USB 3.0 BlackArmor PS110 hard drive
You knew it wouldn't be long before Seagate hopped on the USB 3.0 bandwagon, right? Right. Here in Vegas, the company just announced its BlackArmor PS110, which is its first USB 3.0 portable HDD. What makes this one a touch different than the rest is the "performance kit" that it ships in, which is comprised of a 500GB USB 3.0 HDD (a 2.5-incher with a 7200RPM spindle speed), a power cable and an ExpressCard USB 3.0 adapter. 'Course, your shiny new MacBook won't take too kindly to this type of gesture -- but hey, at least you can read SD cards without breaking a sweat! The kit is up for purchase right now for $179.99, and if you're looking to take a closer look before pulling the trigger, you'll find our hands-on below along with a glance at a for-demonstration-only 7mm 2.5-inch drive that was first announced last month. %Gallery-81590%
Brando's USB 3.0-to-SATA adapter gives any old HDD those SuperSpeed powers
Oh, Brando -- how we do love thee. Be it random accessories we don't need at all or legitimate peripherals that make our lives all that much easier, you're always there -- steadfastly waiting for us to fall in love over and over again. Mushiness aside, the outfit's new USB 3.0-to-SATA adapter is indeed one of those remarkably useful devices, enabling any old SATA hard drive to be accessed externally at USB 3.0 speeds. Essentially, this is the pocket-friendly version of Sharkoon's latest SATA QuickPort, but rather than forcing you to carry around a dock, this simple dongle travels easy and plugs directly into the port-laden side of your spare HDD. Granted, you'll need a USB 3.0-enabled PC or expansion card in order to take advantage of the additional speed, but for $48, this looks to be an excellent excuse to get that dusty, unused drive of yours back into service.
USB 3.0-infused DisplayLink products coming in 2010
DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort may be enjoying the spoils right now, but the world's most popular port may just give 'em a run for their collective dollars by the end of next year. DisplayLink, which enables monitors to receive signals via USB instead of through one of the more conventional cables, has been mildly successful with USB 2.0 at the helm, but a whole new world is about to open up with the introduction of USB 3.0. As you've no doubt seen by now, the third iteration offers up over ten times the bandwidth of v2.0, which would obviously allow for great resolution support when channeling video. In reality, USB 3.0 is the first USB protocol that could support a legitimate high-def video stream, and it's expected that a prototype device will be shown at CES next month transmitting content at up to 4.8 gigabits per second. In theory, at least, USB 3.0-enabled DisplayLink would allow vast 30-inch panels to be connected to netbooks via USB without having to rely on a sub-native resolution, but then again, said netbooks will probably need a GPU with a bit more oomph than the current Ion can provide. Not like that'll be an issue for long, though.
Sharkoon SATA QuickPort adds USB 3.0 support, doesn't forget its roots
Sharkoon decided to dive into the blossoming SATA HDD Dock game just over a year ago, and now it's making the biggest leap ever for the cult classic-of-a-device. The latest and greatest SATA QuickPort now has USB 3.0 support, meaning that whatever SATA hard drive you slam down into it can be connected to your PC at USB 3.0 speeds. 'Course, you'll need a PC that's actually up to that very task, so it makes sense that the company is simultaneously launching a PCI expansion card that adds USB 3.0 capabilities to any desktop made in the last decade. Best of all, both of these are making their way out across the pond for €49.99 ($75) and €39.99 ($60), respectively, so you folks who make Malta your home can now brag about one more thing you've got going for you.
CyberPower adds USB 3.0 and SATA 6G to entire Gamer Xtreme desktop line
While we wait for the big boys to get their acts together and standardize around USB 3.0 and the newest SATA protocol, the more nimble outfits are already looking to capitalize. Take CyberPower, for instance, who has just announced that its entire Gamer Xtreme desktop range will soon boast USB 3.0 and SATA 6G as standard features. In fact, prospective buyers can customize a rig right now with both of those features onboard, and of course, both are backwards compatible in order to work with your existing slate of accessories and peripherals. The Gamer Xtreme line gets going at $749, and yes, we too hope this introduction sparks a revolution across the board.
Super Talent introduces world's first USB 3.0 flash drive
USB 3.0 devices are just now starting to peek their heads out at retail, and it looks as if Super Talent is doing its darnedest to not be left out of the spotlight. Said company has just introduced what looks to be the planet's first USB 3.0 thumb drive (or "RAIDDrive," as it were), promising transfer rates of up to 320MB/sec when relying on a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port. If you're using a stock USB 3.0 socket, you'll see speeds as high as 200MB/sec, while those bold enough to slam this into a USB 2.0 connector will see it slow to USB 2.0 speeds. There's no mention of a price or release date, but it should ship relatively soon in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB flavors. %Gallery-77281%
NVIDIA confirms Intel chipsets won't support USB 3.0 until 2011
What was once an unverifiable rumor from an anonymous source has now, sadly, become a confirmed fact. Intel won't be integrating USB 3.0 support into its chipsets until at least 2011. Motherboard makers such as ASUS can still opt to add discrete 3.0 controllers at an extra cost, but Intel -- already accused of dragging its heels on the standard's development -- won't be. NVIDIA spokesman Brian Burke has expressed, in no uncertain terms, his company's disappointment with Intel, while also claiming that chipsets by NVIDIA are more feature-rich and just plain better than Intel's own efforts. We'll add this to our ever-growing collection of things NVIDIA doesn't like about Intel, but we also hope that the immature outburst doesn't obscure the real issue. NVIDIA is correct in noting that Intel needs competition in the chipset space, and the new interconnect's dependence on Intel's whims demonstrates the market-altering powers that reside in Santa Clara, CA. Unless another chipmaker gets serious about competing with Intel, we could face plenty more of these seemingly arbitrary delays in tech rollouts.
USB 3.0 held back by lack of Intel chipset support?
Ruh roh. A senior tech manager at a "top tier PC maker" has come out with some entirely unofficial and equally ominous thoughts on what he (or she) sees as the tough road to proliferation for SuperSpeed USB. Pointing out that the new interconnect "won't get real traction until it gets integrated in the chip sets," the source opines that Intel won't be offering motherboard integration before 2011 -- an assertion Intel has declined to comment on. AMD and NVIDIA have been vocal critics of what they see as purposeful delays by the Pentium maker, and if this latest scuttlebutt is accurate, their wild finger-pointing will have been at least somewhat vindicated. Although Intel did release the 3.0 controller spec eventually, this wouldn't be the first (or probably last) time when it has been seen to drag its feet where doing so is in its interest (eh hem, Light Peak). For our money, plenty of people who've been waiting for the new standard to show up in machines before pulling the trigger on an upgrade will be disappointed by such news, especially as 3.0 devices are just beginning to ship. [Thanks, Jacob]
Dane-Elec comes clean with external USB 3.0 HDDs / SSDs
It's been almost an entire year since we heard a peep from the good lads and ladies at Dane-Elec, but those very individuals have today informed us that a few USB 3.0 drives are on the way from its labs. 'Course, we'd like to point out that it's being a little ambitious with that whole "world's first" thing, but given the youth of the format, we'll take all the competition (and excitement) we can get. The outfit's So SuperSpeed line of external drives will soon be taking on the US market, offering consumers up to 250MBps data transfers starting on December 11th. Sizes will range from 500GB to 2TB (in both 2.5- and 3.5-inch forms), and we're told that the SSD options (80GB and 160GB) will indeed be Intel-branded under the hood. Looking for prices? Sure you are -- they're just past the break.
