USB 3.1 Specification to increase SuperSpeed USB to 10 Gbps

Although many devices still use USB 2.0 to transfer data, the USB Promoter Group announced that it has completed the USB 3.1 Specification. Offering up to 10 Gbps bandwidth it looks set to replace Intel's Thunderbolt which has seen a slow adoption rate throughout the industry.

Perhaps the most interesting development is the ability to deliver up to 100 watts, a massive increase compared to the current maximum of 10 watts. This means we could see a new generation of low-power devices such as notebooks, tablets and phones that can be charged over USB instead of proprietary chargers.

Like with any industry standard it will take some time for manufacturers to refine their processes and make the technology affordable but we can expect the first batch of USB 3.1 Certified products to hit shelves towards the latter half of 2014.

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Intel's Thunderbolt 2 is set to be released at the end of 2013, but the industry-wide adoption of USB over the years means it will be at an advantage despite offering up to 20 Gbps of bandwidth.

KitGuru says: AMD has been struggling to catch up with Intel for a while now but the USB 3.1 Specification could be a blessing for their low-powered APUs if it removes the need for SFF power supplies. It is also good news for fans of media centres as, in theory, they will be able to build smaller and quieter systems for use in their living rooms.

Source: http://www.usb.org/

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