Second USB 3.0 Host Controller Certified

 

One of the fundamental principles of economics is that greater competition helps to drive down pricing. Well, we’ve got some great economic news for the SuperSpeed USB market: The USB Implementers ForumUSB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced the second certified SuperSpeed USB host controller to pass USB testing certification: the FL1000 by Fresco Logic. This marks an important step in industry adoption of SuperSpeed USB solutions, and promises some major benefits for developers and consumers alike.

Having two certified host controllers helps create a competitive marketplace that ultimately delivers the best and most cost-efficient product to consumers. The NEC µPD720200 was the first host controller to pass SuperSpeed USB certification in September 2009. We can only expect that this latest release is the first trickle in a wave of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host controller options.

“Certification of additional products supports second source alternatives and competitive ecosystems; the second certified USB 3.0 host controller builds upon the industry momentum for SuperSpeed USB, providing OEMs a crucial building block as they work to bring their SuperSpeed USB products to consumers worldwide,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF president, in a recent release.  “We are pleased with Fresco Logic’s contribution to the SuperSpeed USB ecosystem with its certified host controller. Certification ensures the best experience for consumers, and we encourage all companies developing SuperSpeed USB products to seek certification.”

Certification demonstrates that a product complies with industry standards and shows that it will be interoperable with other devices currently on the market. With these certified host controllers, designers can develop external hard drives, SSDs, flash drives and computers to take advantage of SuperSpeed USB technology, while still being fully backward compatible with USB 2.0 products currently available. For more information on USB certification testing,  testing for other industry standards, or for questions on designing end-products using SuperSpeed USB host controllers, contact Allion today.

PCIe 3.0 Released

A few months ago, we wrote about the industry’s anticipation for the latest version of the PCI Express (PCIe) specification. Well, the wait is finally over: the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) has officially released PCIe Base 3.0. These latest specifications are currently available for PCI-SIG members. As a provider of PCI express standards testing, Allion is excited to learn about the newest version of this technology.

The PCIe v3.0 architecture offers notable improvements over PCIe v2.0 and optimizes the trade-offs between manufacturability, cost, power, complexity, and compatibility. The update doubles the interconnect bandwidth, offering a 128-bit/130-encoding scheme and a data rate of 8 gigatransfers per second (GTps). With the data rate expansion, “It is possible for products designed to the PCIe 3.0 architecture to achieve bandwidth near 1 gigabyte per second (GB/s) in one direction on a single-lane (x1) configuration and scale to an aggregate approaching 32 GB/s on a sixteen-lane (x16) configuration,” according to Benchmark Reviews. PCIe v3.0 is fully backward compatible with previous PCIe architectures and is optimally designed for high-volume platform I/O implementations.

“Each new version of the PCIe spec has doubled the bandwidth of the prior generation,” said Nathan Brookwood, research fellow at Insight 64, in a press release. “The latest group of PCIe architects and designers drove the standard forward while maintaining complete backward compatibility for Gen 1 and Gen 2 devices. Rarely has a standard advanced so non-disruptively through three major evolutionary cycles. The ability to pull this off demonstrates not only the ingenuity of the Gen 3 developers, but also the insight of those who defined the earlier versions in such an extensible manner.”

We’re excited that the wait is over, and we look forward to helping developers deliver exciting new PCIe products with our PCI testing services.

Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug Powerline Alliance Join Forces for Smart Grid Interoperability

The last few months have been filled with exciting announcements in the wireless space. From Wireless DisplayPort, to Direct Connect, to the opening of the airwaves for a new Wi-Fi Spectrum, the wireless industry is seeing a wave of movements promising great opportunities for developers. Now, the Wi-Fi Alliance and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance are bringing us a new cause for celebration. The organizations have announced that they are partnering to create joint standards, allowing for interoperability among connected home applications. These standards will also allow developers to conduct interoperability testing for new products.

This new partnership aims to facilitate seamless interoperability between Wi-Fi and HomePlug devices in  smart grid applications across home networks. These organizations, both members of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), are looking to promote Smart Energy 2 Applications Profile (SEP 2.0) across a diverse range of wireless and wired networks. This initial standard will support energy management for wired and wireless home networks. The organizations are planning to jointly promote their wired and wireless technologies to homeowners.

“Working with the HomePlug Powerline Alliance will facilitate interoperability between Wi-Fi equipment and devices connected to power line home networks,” said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance, in the recent release. “This collaboration will help bring about a great user experience with smart home technology.”

WiGig and VESA Team Up for Wireless DisplayPort

Anyone who has ever set up an IT monitoring station or a living room entertainment system knows that cables can be a nuisance. Luckily, hope is on the way: The WiGig Alliance and Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) are partnering to create wireless DisplayPort, which will allow users to connect high-definition display and audio systems without the use of cables.

This new technology, aimed at consumers and IT professionals, will allow users to connect devices such as PCs, handhelds, monitors, projectors and TVs without the use of wires. WiGig’s 60 GHz technology offers considerably more bandwidth than traditional 802.11n Wi-Fi, and provides bi-directional I/O capabilities to support the DisplayPort v1.2 feature set. This allows the same high-definition quality as a standard DisplayPort cord. WiGig and VESA are currently partnering to develop a certification program.

The WiGig Alliance has completed the 1.0 A/V and I/O protocol adaptation layer (PAL) specifications, which will be published early next year. The A/V PAL (WiGig Display Extension) supports wireless transmission of audio visual data, while the WiGig I/O PALs (WiGig Bus Extension and WiGig Serial Extension) define high-performance wireless implementations of widely used computer interfaces over 60 GHz. Together, these PALs enable multi-gigabit wireless connectivity between any two devices.

Wireless DisplayPort technology is expected to create a whole new class of interoperable wireless products, with the quality and performance of traditionally wired interfaces. We eagerly await the certification program, and look forward to creating a DisplayPort test for developers of new wireless display devices.

Direct Connect, Here We Come! Standards Compliance Testing for Wi-Fi Direct

For times when Internet hotspots aren’t available, the Wi-Fi Alliance is now offering certification for a new way to connect: Wi-Fi Direct™. First demonstrated at CES 2010, Wi-Fi Direct enables devices to connect directly without relying on a network access point. Furthermore, Wi-Fi Direct allows users to share data and sync at the same speeds as traditional Wi-Fi networks – as fast as 250Mbps – and at ranges of up to 200 meters. The new certification program is designed to verify interoperability, and certified products will be able to connect with older Wi-Fi products already in use.

The Wi-Fi Alliance’s video, above, shows the many ways devices can take advantage of Wi-Fi Direct.

With several industry leaders – including Intel, Cisco and Apple – backing the technology, Wi-Fi Direct is expected to be adopted across a wide range of products, including cameras, laptops, smart phones, tables, printers and even home applications such as digital picture frames.

Allion is excited to announce our new role as an authorized test lab for Wi-Fi Direct. We have a long history of providing standards compliance testing services for manufacturers working with IEEE 802.11 benchmarks, and we are excited to begin Wi-Fi logo testing for Wi-Fi Direct.

“Allion is capable of verifying all Wi-Fi standards such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and the latest Wi-Fi Direct,” said James Ou, director of Allion’s engineering service division in a recent press release. “Our goal is make the program simple for our customers and to accelerate time to market.”

Web-Connected TVs Set for Takeoff

Consumers are more connected than ever, with Wi-Fi enabled laptops and cell phones providing virtually seamless Internet access. Now analysts are saying that the next wave of networked-enabled devices will be your televisions.

According to a new report by DisplaySearch, sales of Internet-enabled TVs are expected to grow by more than 200 percent over the next four years. The Quarterly TV Design and Features Report forecasts that more than 118 million Internet-connected TVs will ship in 2014, a significant increase from the 15 million shipped in 2009. The growth of network-enabled TVs is expected to occur in conjunction with 3-D TV adoption.

“It’s an exciting time for the connected TV sector,” said Paul Gray, director of European TV research for DisplaySearch, in the report. “It’s a battleground where TV set makers, Internet video companies, free-to-air broadcasters, pay-TV and the IT industry are all rushing to stake their claims. IPTV [Internet Protocol Television] is moving from being a technology to becoming recognizable service offerings.”

The burgeoning IPTV industry offers plenty of options for designers looking to take advantage of new market opportunities. New service platforms are being developed, with connectivity levels ranging from app-enabled TVs – which allow users limited Internet services – to “Smart TVs” offering full browsing capabilities and sophisticated user interfaces. Meanwhile, broadcasters are launching their own standards and portals such as hbb.TV and YouView.

The demand for connected TVs follows the industry movement we have seen here at Allion. We’ve witnessed products become increasingly connected, with our product validation services enabling us to stay at the forefront of these emerging markets and trends. For questions on the challenges facing manufacturers in this sector or to start developing your personalized digital TV test, contact Allion today.

Consumers Eager for Wireless Charging, Despite Barriers

Recently we wrote about the growing market opportunity for wireless charging devices. These products will allow customers to charge mobile devices –such as cell phones, laptops, MP3 players and more – simply by having them touching or within proximity of a shared charging station. Such devices would eliminate the plethora of cords required to power today’s digital gadgets. Furthermore, such wireless chargers could be integrated seamlessly into furniture and cars.

Consumers are more than eager for these types of products to enter the market; in fact recent In-Stat research found that consumers are becoming impatient for this technology to mature. With 44 percent of survey respondents calling current charging solutions an “annoyance” and up to 40 percent willing to pay $50 dollars more for a wireless charging device, In-Stat projects that that this market will reach $4.3 billion in total market revenue by 2014.

However, technological barriers are preventing immediate market growth. The variety of digital devices and brands makes interoperability testing a problem. Furthermore, competing technologies could foster incompatibility. Needless to say, consumers will not want to buy multiple wireless chargers for different devices. Without standardization, it could be difficult to achieve widespread adoption of wireless charging technologies.

Despite these obstacles, the wireless charging market has such great potential and natural consumer demand that we expect it to move forward. Manufacturers will not want to miss this opportunity to provide consumers with cutting-edge charging technologies. Allion will continue to provide more information as it becomes available, and we look forward to testing and validating this new wave of devices.

Happy Birthday, Wi-Fi n!

One year ago the Wi-Fi Alliance launched its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n compliance program, creating a certification process and logo for the IEEE 802.11n standard. Within that time frame, more than 1,100 products – from cellphones to TVs to enterprise-grade infrastructure devices – have been certified, and consumers have drastically changed the way they interact with electronics.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the certification, here are a few of the landmarks Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n has made in the last year:

• 127 phones have passed certification testing, reportedly accounting for 20 percent of handsets certified in the last 12 months.
• 251 consumer electronics products have been certified, including digital audio systems, gaming devices and displays.
• 441 of these certified products are dual-band products – capable of operating in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands – and 143 products can support 2.4 GHz and 5GHz operation concurrently.157 enterprise-grade infrastructure devices and 115 enterprise-grade access points have been certified as enterprise networking vendors respond to growing demand for networking solutions.

This increase in connectivity has made a huge impact on the indus

try in short period of time. As a recent In-Stat report stated, Wi-Fi has achieved “ubiquity, a term often used but seldom realized in technology market-speak.” At Allion, we’ve seen this growth take place first hand, with our Wi-Fi Logo Testing Program – which includes 802.11n testing –

allowing us to support the Certified Wi-Fi rollout for both consumer and enterprise devices alike.

“It’s clear that Wi-Fi’s integration into virtually all areas of the consumer electronics spectrum continues to expand,” said Phil Solis, research

director, ABI Research in a recent Wi-Fi Alliance release. “At the heart of this growth is Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n, which will continue to deliver the

advanced performance these devices require, now and well into the future.”

So happy birthday, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n! We’re excited to see what the next 12 months may bring.

PCIe 3.0 Here at Last: Welcome to the Future of PCI Testing

The long-awaited PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 specification standard is set to arrive in November, opening the doors for a new wave of products featuring faster interconnect speeds. Consumer products using the PCIe 3.0 are expected to arrive as early as the second half of next year.

The PCI Express 3.0 specification will define

operating speeds of up to 8 gigatransfers per second (GTps), delivering a significant boost from the 5 GTbps defined by PCIe 2.0. It also offers 128- and 130-bit encoding schemes, improving efficiency from the current 8- and 10-bit format and leaving nearly the entire bandwidth free for signal processing. Other new features include Dynamic Feedback Equalization (DFE), a sophisticated technique in electrical signaling designed to maintain signal integrity. The updated specification is expected to aid the growth of faster PCIe switches, 40Gbit Ethernet chips, high-end graphics cards, and solid-state drives (SSDs). PCIe 3.0 is fully backward compatible with previous generations of PCI technology. The chart below shows how the new standard compares to older PCI testing specifications.

PCI-SIG, the industry organization chartered to develop and manage the PCI standard, will issue tools to validate designs and start will launch interoperability testing workshops in mid-2011, with specification testing for PCIe 3.0 expected to be completed late next year. We will keep you posted on developments about this exciting specification update as they become available.

USB 3.0 and WiDi Make Waves at IDF

The Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco this year was a wild success. The three-day conference combined the brightest minds from companies across the globe, showcasing the latest trends and technologies in the field. Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s conference:

• Growth of Smart-Device Market: Intel CEO Paul Otellini focused his keynote presentation on the growing smart device market. He also highlighted Intel’s upcoming Sandy Bridge processors, Intel’s first mainstream chip integrating graphics function and main processor on the same piece of silicon.
• Wireless Displays (WiDi): Continuing the trend of consumer product interoperability, wireless display technology allows users to mirror their PC’s display to an HDTV, no wires required. Intel Atom processors will soon feature integrated WiDi technologies for netbooks and tablets.
• WeTab: The WeTab, developed by Neofonie and 4tiitoo, is the first tablet running the MeeGo operating system. The tablet offers a flexible user interface and Intel’s high-powered Atom processor. No global release date has been announced.
• SuperSpeed USB Momentum: The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announced that almost 120 products have passedSuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) certification testing, demonstrating strong industry momentum since the first SuperSpeed USB-certified device was announced at IDF 2009.
• Context-Aware Devices: Justin Rattner, Intel’s chief technology officer and director of Intel Labs, presented a keynote on Wednesday on how personal technology will transform the way consumers interact with technology. Whether it’s cameras detecting movement or analyzing inputted data, such as calendar information, this next wave of devices will anticipate users’ wants and needs.

Wireless Charging: A Whole New Market

The average consumer uses a variety of electronic devices daily – cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, headsets, etc. – all of which require different chargers for keeping gadgets at full battery. In a market driven by mobility and convenience, charging solutions have failed to evolve with the rest of the industry. Not surprisingly, consumers have become annoyed with all these different, often proprietary, cords and connectors. According to recent surveys by In-Stat, approximately 44 percent of respondents found that “current mobile charging solutions are an annoyance,” and “up to 40 percent are willing to pay $50 more for a wireless charging solution.”

This is creating a new market opportunity for wireless charging systems. According to a recent study by In-Stat, the market for wireless charging systems will reach $4.3 billion in total revenue by 2010. These products can charge mobile devices, from phones to PCs to handsets, simply by having the devices touching or within the proximity of a charging station. These charging solutions can often be hidden, or at least seamlessly integrated, into furniture or automobiles; more than two thirds of the integrated charging solutions are expected to be in cars.

“Despite the long history of the various technologies, we are really just now beginning to see the true market potential for wireless charging solutions,” says Jim McGregor, In-Stat’s chief technology strategist. “Like many other technology markets, it will start with add-on and third-party solutions. Eventually solutions will be integrated into many mobile electronics as the costs decrease and the demand increases. While still a fraction of the overall mobile device segment, wireless charging is just beginning to hit its stride in the market.”

As with all technologies designed to service a variety of devices from different vendors, interoperability will be a primary challenge for product designers. Wireless products also face the added difficulty of avoiding interference with other wireless devices. Allion Test Labs will continue to track this industry trend and provide insight for manufacturers.

All roads lead to China

* This article is written by Allion Japan office with the business vision and perspective towards the greater China region.

From around the world companies are heading to China. More and more Japanese companies are establishing joint ventures with local companies to get opportunities lying in this huge country. This penetration of the Chinese market is occurring in several domains. Indeed, many types of businesses are looking for new markets in China.

And this move is not an exception for the product verification (testing) market where Allion belongs. After a successful launch of a test lab in Shanghai, Allion just opened another test lab in Shenzhen in August. Shenzhen is known for having one of the highest GDP per capita among mainland Chinese cities. It is also a city home to China’s most successful IT companies.

Allion Shenzhen test lab is intended to respond to the huge demand of IT products quality control and development. The lab will provide HDMI, USB test and also RF signal test; as well as compatibility test between devices.

Nowadays more and more Japanese companies are forming joint ventures in China to move their production there. This leads what is called in Japan “hollowing out of domestic industry” caused by Japanese enterprises shifting production overseas to take advantage of lower labor costs. Many products nowadays are “Made in China”. HDMI LLC reported that Chinese companies make up more than 20% of companies adopting HDMI worldwide. In 2009 all digital TVs integrated HDMI. Being aware of these factors, Allion will also provide HDMI testing services at the Shenzhen lab.

Reverse –import is another factor related to China. Some Japanese companies produce overseas to import it back to their own country. It becomes then a necessity for companies testing (verifying) the quality of those products to also move to the countries where products are manufactured. As in the past when Japanese car manufacturers started to penetrate the US market, parts manufacturers had also to follow them and create companies in US to supply them car parts. The same move might be necessary for testing companies.

mSATA SSDs Capitalize on Budget Market

With consumers looking to take advantage of the power and performance benefits of solid state drives (SSDs), several players have introduced product lines targeting value-conscious consumers. While some customers want the most powerful SSD money can buy, others are looking for a product that gives them the benefits of SSD without breaking the bank. For manufacturers looking to appeal to the more budget-conscious consumer, one option is designing SSDs using the mini-SATA, or mSATA, interface.

The Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) announced last year that it was developing a specification for a mSATA interface connector, allowing for more effective SATA integration in small form factor applications. mSATA leverages the speed and reliability of the SATA interface, providing high-performance and cost-effective storage for smaller devices and enabling more compact integration into a wide variety of applications. As a result, companies can increase their storage and performance offerings without compromising on space.

mSATA SSDs are approximately the size of a business card and reside in a smaller PCI slot than standard SSDs. Instead of replacing a hard disk drive (HDD), mSATA-based SSDs work in conjunction with HDDs. For example, the computer can use the mSATA SSD for the OS and other primary functions, while the HDD stores the data, music and photos. Manufacturers such as Toshiba and SanDisk currently offer mSATA SSDs, and Intel is reported to be developing its own line.

“Initial adoption of most SATA solid state drives has followed the HDD form factor. Using new mSATA modules enable a smaller, internal module connected to the system board for notebooks, mobile and other embedded storage applications to enable designers greater design flexibility,” Scott Nelson, VP Memory, Toshiba America Electronic Components, said in the original press release.

No concrete timeline has been given for when the mSATA test specification will be available, but Allion has many years of experience with SATA testing and working with manufacturers through SSD development and validation, and looks forward to helping deploy mSATA-compliant products.

Solving the Challenges of Wireless Connectivity

In today’s connected society, wireless connectivity is considered a given. From our cities to our state parks, wireless access has become ubiquitous. We can connect to the Internet via our laptops, our cell phones and even our televisions. Consumers expect that their electronics and devices will be wirelessly enabled. But what does that mean for developers?

Many designers do not anticipate the challenges of developing wireless-enabled devices. Whether in the product development,design validation or testing phase, complications with wireless implementation can have a serious impact on product development time. It is not uncommon to see 3-4 month delays. These delays result in increased development costs as engineers work to sort through the kinks in order to guarantee network interoperability. And with the number of wireless-enabled devices growing every day to meet the exploding demand for Wi-Fi enabled devices, more developers can expect to face the challenges of successful wireless implementation.

Fortunately, Allion Test Labs offers comprehensive product development, validation and testing services that can help manufacturers avoid these types of development mishaps. Allion has more than 20 years of validation service experience, offering our customers end-to-end support to ensure smooth product development. This result: faster development time, significant cost savings and, ultimately, a better product for consumers. By teaming with our engineers from the start, manufacturers can take advantage of this exploding market without risking development delays.

Falling Prices, Growing Demand for SuperSpeed USB

With all the benefits of SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) – including faster speeds, bidirectional data interface and lower power consumption – consumers are eager to adopt this cutting-edge technology. Until this point, one of the main hurdles slowing widespread adoption has been the price of chips. However, NEC, the first company to ship a SuperSpeed USB host controller, is looking to change that. The company reportedly plans to significantly reduce prices for its first- and second-generation USB 3.0 chips later this year.

NEC’s third-generation USB chip models are scheduled to start shipping in Q1 2010, priced at less than $2. Other companies, including ASMedia (an Asus subsidiary), Etron, VIA and Fresco Logic, have all introduced price cuts for SuperSpeed USB products as well, with ASMedia dipping as low as $1.70 per chip for bulk orders.

Market watchers are predicting that 20 million SuperSpeed USB chips will ship by the end of the year, followed by 40 million shipments in 2011. With these dramatic price drops and a growing number of USB 3.0 certified devices, it’s likely that consumers won’t have to wait much longer for widespread adoption.

Lower prices and an increasing number of shipments mean manufacturers have the tools they need to take advantage of the demand for lower-cost SuperSpeed USB products. But despite the falling price of chips, developers still need to be aware of the costs associated with test development and product design validation. By pairing with a certified product development and testing company such as Allion, offering end-to-end validation solutions, developers can improve time-to-market and reduce overall costs, a savings which can then be passed on to consumers eagerly awaiting new SuperSpeed USB devices.

New DisplayPort Cable Adapter Certification Program

The Video Electronics Standards Associate (VESA) recently introduced a new certification testing and DisplayPort Certified Logo for Dual-mode DisplayPort cable adaptors. These dual-mode cable adaptors allow for seamless interoperability between a Dual-mode DisplayPort PC or graphics card and a DVI monitor or HDMI TV. The certification program was designed to help customers identify cable adaptors that have been thoroughly tested and certified for proper functionality with other DisplayPort products through the use of a distinctive logo and product packaging.

The DisplayPort standard, developed as a replacement for digital (DVI) and analog component video (VGA) connectors, uses simple adaptors to provide interoperability with DVI, HDMI and VGA displays. When plugged into a Dual-mode DisplayPort PC or graphics card, these adaptors can output either Single Link DVI or HDMI signaling. Almost all DisplayPort PCs with integrated graphics or discrete Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have Dual-mode DisplayPort capabilities.

Certification testing is available for both DisplayPort-to-HDMI and DisplayPort-to-DVI Dual-mode cable adaptors. Dual-mode DisplayPort cable adaptor certification and testing follow the DisplayPort Interoperability Guideline Adaptor Checklist. The checklist was designed to help developers ensure display interoperability and achieve adapter certification. Allion Testing Labs in Taiwan is certified to offer Dual-mode DisplayPort adapter certification testing for both VESA members and non-members for a nominal fee. Once a product passes certification testing, a logo license agreement is available through VESA at no cost for VESA member companies and for $1500 USD for non-members.

For engineers, this certification program represents a new opportunity to distinguish your product. Thorough testing and validation, such as industry standard certification, helps ensure product quality; this can save manufacturers from the high cost and headache of managing customer complaints and merchandise returns. And by choosing a certified testing lab with full engineering support and services, developers can produce the highest quality product while significantly reducing cost and time-to-market.

The Key to Google TV and its Verification

Being one of the most anticipated high-tech gadgets for this year, “Google TV” is no longer a visionary invention. It has finally made its debut appearance at the Google I/O Convention earlier in May. Google TV is an integrated system which comprises the functions of a PC, Media Player and Internet Device all in one. While most of the details are yet to be released (including the SDK – Software Development Kit), the actual product will not be shipped until the end of this year. Nonetheless, through previewing its design structures we should be able to forecast how Google TV will withstand market competitions with its breakthrough design concepts:

First, let’s take a look at Google TV’s concept in design structures:

Google TV is built upon the structure of complex Hardware, Software, Technology Standards (Specifications), and Content Resources. The combination of each structure needs to work seamlessly to achieve optimum performance; the compatibility and interoperability of each device or element must therefore become critical and essential.

Hardware

Google TV’s core structure is built upon multiple hardware devices as the operating environment; therefore, the interoperability among the connecting devices becomes significant. For example, an Android mobile phone, wireless keyboard and a mouse can all be connected to a Google TV. It is the manufacturers’ responsibility to make sure that all devices can be connected properly and operable on the Google TV platform.

Software

Google TV adopts its own Android and Chrome as its primary Operating System and Search Engine. With its strong intention to replace the functions of a PC, some of key checkpoints such as OS stability, application multitasking, and the friendliness to switch between a PC and TV should be thoroughly tested. The biggest challenge will remain with the release of the SDK, when a large quantity of software starts to emerge. Application testing procedures will become the key factor in determining its success.

Technology Standards

Many of the leading industry standards in wired and wireless connecting technologies are specified in the Google TV devices (i.e. HDMI, DisplayPort, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA and more). Google TV is also designed to support the playback of cutting edge video and audio in high resolution. Whether it be in 3D Graphics, MPEG4 Streaming or the proper decoding of HDCP, meeting the basic compliance test guidelines to achieve its compliance certificate should all be the minimum requirement during the QA stage.

Content Resources

Finally, streaming content should be able to be downloaded, decoded and played back smoothly at the specified quality level. The content providers such as Hulu, YouTube and others should endeavor to streamline the test procedure in order to maintain the program and broadcasting quality.

An innovative product without quality will only remain visionary. To many people, Google TV is the first step for a PC and TV to finally integrate as one into our living room. Unlike many transitional products in the past, the Google TV adopts leading edge technologies and is aiming to revolutionize the way people watch and utilize television. It will only be meaningful when each and every feature can impeccably work to prove that Google TV is not just another flash in the pan product.

UPnP and DLNA Poised for Growth

According to recent research by In-Stat, Windows 7 is expected to jump start consumer adoption of Universal Plug and Play(UPnP) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) technology. DLNA will see more than a billion units shipped by 2014, a significant increase from the few hundred million units shipped in 2009, with UPnP shipments slightly exceeding DLNA shipments.

The UPnP standard was designed to ensure interoperability among devices from different manufacturers. Building on the UPnP standard, DLNA is a set of guidelines for how to connect PCs and other consumer electronics in the home; for example, DLNA-enabled devices allow consumers to view their computer files on their HDTV. The DLNA guidelines specify the UPnP standard as the connection that all DLNA-certified devices have to use.

Windows 7 not only supports DLNA, but also requires that peripheral devices – such as HDTVs, Xbox 360s, electronic picture frames, etc. – be DLNA-certified to be listed as Windows 7 compatible. Currently, many consumers do not realize their PCs have these interconnection capabilities. As awareness of these capabilities increases, DLNA and UPnP adoption and sales are expected to grow significantly.

• DLNA-enabled handsets, PCs and digital televisions are poised to see the most widespread adoption, accounting for 74 percent of the 2014 DLNA market.
• More than 85 million DLNA-enabled Blu-Ray players and recorders are projected to ship in 2014.
• Digital media controllers, which currently make up the smallest volume of UPnP shipments, will account for the largest growth.

This growth in adoption presents an enormous opportunity for manufacturers, but the array of consumer devices on the market can make verifying interoperability a challenge. Allion has established its Ecosystem Validation program to help manufacturers with product development; this validation tests a product with a complete line of digital products to ensure that it will function properly when a consumer brings it home. With interoperability a critical attribute for today’s consumer electronics, ecosystem validation can help developers ensure that their products will function properly in any home network.

TRENDnet Offers New USB 3.0 Upgrade for PCs and Laptops

Unless you purchased a computer within the last few months, chances are you do not yet have SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) ports on your computer. For those who want to take advantage of the new technology but are not yet willing to invest in a new PC, TRENDnet is offering a cost-effective alternative: SuperSpeed USB upgrade solutions for both desktop PCs and laptops.

TRENDnet has released two user-friendly adapters that allow consumers to take advantage of the latest USB technology. For laptop users, TRENDnet has developed the 2-port USB 3.0 ExpressCard Adapter model TU3-H2EC. Desktop users can take advantage of the 2-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express Adapter model TU3-H2PIE. Both models are fully compatible with Windows-based machines. The adaptors will soon be available for $59 and $49, respectively.

SuperSpeed USB offers a number of compelling enhancements over its predecessor, USB 2.0. Among the most notable is the speed: SuperSpeed USB delivers data transfer rates up to 5 Gbps, 10x faster than USB 2.0. The standard contains nine bi-directional wires, compared to the four unidirectional wires in USB 2.0, improving data transfer compatibilities. SuperSpeed USB also improves power efficiency, allowing for extended battery life for portable devices. SuperSpeed USB is backward compatible with the billions of USB devices currently on the market.

An authorized USB-IF Compliance Program testing lab, Allion has years of experience working with product developers. Our labs offer comprehensive development, validation and support services for hardware vendors looking to design products based on the USB specification. Allion has the USB service capabilities and expertise to help manufacturers develop the highest quality products so that consumers can advantage of SuperSpeed USB capabilities.

VESA Releases Updated Embedded DisplayPort Standard

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has issued the latest version of the Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) standard. eDP version 1.2 offers several enhancements to the original standard release, including increased simplicity and improved performance capabilities. Notebook PCs using the new eDP standard will begin production the first half of 2011.

Major updates in the eDP standard include cable simplification, reduced system power consumption, new display capabilities, 5.4Gbps link rate option and simplified PC chip integration. By lowering the number of required internal cables and interconnect signals, the eDP notebook panels offer simplified internal cabling and significantly reduced power consumption. A bidirectional AUX Channel further reduces the wire count while adding new LCD panel control and backlight capabilities, including dynamic backlight control, dithering, modulation frequency control and more. Data bandwidth for video data channels has also been doubled with support for the 5.4Gbps link rate defined by DisplayPort v1.2. This increased link rate allows for either fewer wires or full HD resolution of higher performance 2D or stereo 3D displays. Finally, eDP’s use of low-voltage, AC-coupled signaling is compatible with today’s sub-micron chip processes, simplifying overall design and reducing the required number of device pins.

eDP v1.2 is another step towards eDP’s eventual replacement of the Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS). Notebooks featuring the eDP v1 interface, which began entering the market this year, will account for 11 percent of the 2010 PC market. eDP is projected to largely replace LVDS by 2013.

The eDP v1.2 standard is free of charge to VESA member companies. Non-member companies can purchase the standard through the VESA website.

Apple’s Avoidable iPhone 4 Problem

Here at Allion, a company dedicated to product design, validation and testing, it’s always difficult to watch when product defects aren’t discovered until after the product enters the market. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened to Apple: Shortly after the iPhone 4 made its stunning entrance on the consumer market, stories began emerging of problems with the iPhone’s antenna.

The iPhone’s revolutionary external stainless steel antenna system – one half dedicated to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS, the other half to UMTS and GSM – is separated by a small black line. Consumers have found that when they hold the phone with their left hand, which most right-handed people are likely to do, their hand can bridge the two antennas, causing the phone to lose reception.

Now, Apple did field test the iPhone 4 prior to launch. However, the prototype phones, made famous by the lost phone picked up by Gizmodo months before the phone’s official unveiling, all had a plastic cover to make them look like a standard iPhone 3; this cover may have prevented Apple from uncovering the problem prior to launch. The lab tests of the antenna were also successful, but they only accounted for the presence of a user’s head, not hands. Apple says that the problem can easily be fixed either by readjusting your hand position or purchasing an iPhone case, but many users are still concerned that the design didn’t take into account real-world use.

Fortunately, these types of design errors are avoidable. Third-party testing can help to uncover the flaws that in-house testing can miss, and also help in the redesign process. The process can not only improve product quality, but also speed development time; manufacturers enjoy faster time-to-market and a product that has been thoroughly validated, and customers receive a product free of defects. This testing can help protect a product’s image from a preventable problem.

Real World Interoperability Testing

Interoperability testing is a vital step in the manufacturing process. The growing variety of brands, interfaces, standards and electronic functions make it a challenge for manufacturers to ensure that their product will be compatible with other devices. To verify that a product is fully interoperable, manufacturers need to thoroughly test it using a range of real world consumer devices.

Using real world electronics instead of lab simulations provides a more accurate portrait of how a device will function once it enters the market. Testing a product using a variety of devices can help account for the variations between different regions and brands. For example, a product that is only tested and verified in the United States may not be fully compatible with products and regional standards in Japan. Without proper testing, a product may encounter several errors: Product functions may not work, audio and video may be out of sync, or the device may simply be undetectable. For consumers, encountering incompatible products can cause product malfunction and headaches, all while damaging a brand’s image.

Part of the success of Allion’s interoperability testing is the variety of devices we use for product testing. Our comprehensive compatibility testing methodology compiles more than 1,300 consumer devices from all major world markets, including the U.S., Japan, Europe, China and Taiwan. This quarterly-updated list of devices is then ranked using a series of selection criteria, including sales ranking, satisfaction ranking and features, helping to maximize efficiency and streamline the interoperability and validation process. For example, our USB Interoperability Testing verifies a product using 75 camcorders, 322 cameras, 160 keyboards and computer mice, 88 card readers, 243 storage devices, 131 media players and 45 hubs. The results of testing help Allion guide manufacturers to identify and address factors that might prevent full interoperability. The result is a truly interoperable product, regardless of specification or region.

For more information regarding Allion interoperability services, view our Real World Consumer Electronic Interoperability Testing presentation slides from last month’s HD Test Solution Seminar & Plugfest.

SuperSpeed USB Adoption Poised to Take Off

For consumers looking for the latest technology, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) offers an exciting combination of speed and performance – up to 10x faster than Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0), optimized power efficiency and increased power delivery – and there have been a growing number of SuperSpeed USB products entering the market. According to a series of new market analyses from In-Stat, consumers won’t have much longer to wait for widespread SuperSpeed USB adoption.

In-Stat projected that the PC market will completely transition from Hi-Speed USB to SuperSpeed USB by 2014. While desktops have historically been the first to adopt new interface technologies, SuperSpeed USB adoption is expected to be driven by mobile PCs, reflecting the need for faster interfaces for external storage solutions. SuperSpeed USB is projected to take off in 2011, sweeping through the USB-enabled hard drive market by 2013. SuperSpeed USB devices will also become more affordable as shipments increase: From 2009 to 2014, prices for USB-enabled devices are projected to decrease by more than 20 percent each year.

For manufacturers, SuperSpeed USB presents a growing market with huge potential for development. Allion Test Labs has been an accredited USB-IF Independent Test Lab (ITL) since 1999, offering complete engineering, validation and compliance testing for every stage of the product design and development process. With Allion’s expertise and USB test service capabilities, manufacturers are offered a one-stop shop for product development that allows them to get quality products to market faster and take advantage of SuperSpeed USB’s growing market.

Demand for Wi-Fi Enabled Gadgets Expected to Explode

From laptops to cell phones to television sets, our desire to share information over broadband is making wireless connectivity a must-have feature for a range of devices. And, according to a recent In-Stat report, the demand for Wi-Fi enabled devices is expected to explode over the next four years as more consumer electronics incorporate Wi-Fi technology.

In-Stat projected that, over the next four years, annual shipments of Wi-Fi enabled appliances and devices will exceed 3.5 billion.

• Wi-Fi enabled “stationary devices,” such as TVs, Blu-ray players, photo frames and set top boxes, are expected to see the largest growth, shipping more than 200 million devices in 2014.
• Shipments of Wi-Fi digital televisions alone are projected to increase tenfold as the Wi-Fi attach rate (the percentage of products with embedded Wi-Fi) grows from just four percent in 2009 to 33 percent in 2014.
• Nearly 50 million tablet PCs, including the Apple iPad, and 265 million notebooks are projected to ship.
• Mobile handsets will remain the highest volume Wi-Fi enabled device, with 515 million handsets projected to ship in four years.

Reflecting on the rapid increase and expansion in our wireless use, , In-Stat’s Vice President of Research Frank Dickson said it is Wi-Fi’s “manifest destiny” to see ubiquitous adoption in consumer electronics.

For manufacturers looking to capitalize on this growing demand, Allion offers a WFA-accredited Wi-Fi Testing Lab and supports development, validation and testing throughout a product’s development life cycle. Allion offers manufacturers complete end-to-end test, validation and engineering services with 20 years of validation service excellence. By utilizing a third-party validation service, manufacturers are able to cost-effectively speed development time and deliver the highest quality product to their customers.

Allion’s HDMI Testing Solution Draws Attention in Taiwan

Allion executives recently gave a presentation on HDMI testing at the HD Test Solution Seminar & Plugfest in Taipei, Taiwan. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a ubiquitous all-digital audio/video interface standard used to transfer uncompressed digital audio and video signals through a single cable. HDMI has been widely adopted across the consumer electronics market, making it important for manufacturers to test their HDMI products before the products enter the market to ensure interoperability with the broad range of HDMI devices available to consumers.

Allion offers a comprehensive HDMI Testing Solution, including HDMI interoperability testing, to help manufacturers ensure the highest levels of quality and compliance to the HDMI standard. Allion uses a unique test methodology, the “Allion HD Program,” that focuses on all current HD products in the market to ensure product performance and compatibility. One of the key tests that Allion offers through the HD program is HDMI Compatibility Testing.

HDMI Compatibility Tests consists of four main components:

• Electrical Testing: The comprehensive electrical test can pinpoint a variety of errors caused by factors such as component, Hot Plug Defect (HPD), firmware or PCB board failure.
• HDCP Compliance Testing: HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a protection protocol of digital audio/visual content transmission. This test determines whether an implementation meets HDCP compliance standards and specifications.
• CEC Compliance Testing: CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) is a protocol that provides high-level control functions among all of the various audio/visual products in a user’s environment. Allion’s CEC tests verify everything from electrical specification to device installation.
• Interoperability Testing: This test ensures complete interoperability in accordance with the HDMI CTS1.4 test specification, including the recently added HDMI1.4a specification for enhanced 3D content capabilities.

With HDMI so widely adopted in the consumer electronics industry, it is essential that products undergo a rigorous quality and compatibility program. The Allion HD Program covers a wide range of tests that offer manufacturers reassurance of their product’s performance, functionality and compatibility.

View Allion’s HDMI testing presentation slides from the HDMI Test Solution Seminar & Plugfest.

TV Broadcasting Signal Test for Brazil

Brazil has the largest television audience in South America, spurred by the increased buying power and financial leniency stimulating Brazil’s economy. In a 2007 effort to democratize communications and promote the development of local technologies, the Brazilian government began implementing digital broadcast systems in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital city, and 16 other major cities in Brazil. Current estimates are that the transition from analog to digital broadcast will be completed by the year 2016.

According to a recent study by DisplaySearch, consumer demand for televisions in Brazil experiences a surge every four years, correlating with the FIFA World Cup. With the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics both being held in Brazil, the government is capitalizing on the increased demand; Brazil will soon mandate that all TVs sold in the country include a pre-installed digital tuner. This mandate will be essential in popularizing digital TV and making Brazil the dominant television market in South America.

While Brazil’s growing demand for televisions presents several opportunities for television manufacturers, geographical limitations make actual TV field testing a challenge. Flying to Brazil from any region in Asia requires almost a full day of travel, and manufacturers need to take into account the unfamiliarity of local cities and cultures, as well as the language barriers the field engineers will face. And yet, without thorough testing, manufacturers cannot guarantee that their products will be fully compatible with the broadcasting signals used throughout Brazil.

To accommodate the rising demand to test televisions against the various broadcasting signals used in Brazil, Allion has returned with a series of TV RF signals, including ISDB-T and PAL-M, recorded in all of Brazil’s major cities (updated April 2010). Acknowledged by most leading TV developers, Allion’s Brazilian Real World TV Validation is a revolutionary testing method delivering proven efficiency and results; manufacturers can assess and guarantee television compatibility across multiple regions without having to physically fly engineers and televisions to Brazil.