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.