USB is getting a speed boost!

USB is getting a speed boost and we’re very happy with this. More speed for literally no effort on our behalf.

We’re all familiar with USB. After all, we’ve been using it with our devices since 1996. (Yes… it’s really been that long.)

We use USB to connect different types of devices, to charge them, and to transfer data. It’s on webcams, headphone chargers, mobile phone chargers, memory sticks…the list is practically endless.

Of course, USB has changed and improved over the years. We’ve had various iterations of connectors and cables (USB A, B and C) with several standards underpinning how they work – namely 1, 2, 3 and most recently 4. And there’s another new improvement due in the next few months.

What makes this one fun is that you won’t need to buy any new USB accessories or cables.

The USB Promoter Group, which is the industry body that drives USB improvements, recently announced the planned release of USB 4 2.0.

What’s exciting about that, you ask?

This will actually allow you to double the speeds of data transfer on cables you already own – so long as they’re no more than a couple of years old.

This new standard will see a maximum data transfer performance of up to 80GBps. That’s gigabytes per second. A significant speed boost from the current 40GBps.

It means displays will perform better and data will transfer faster. Great news to improve productivity in your business.

The USB Promoter Group is made up of tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, HP, and Intel.

Its primary job is to develop USB capabilities to meet the demand of the current market and to extend support for more platform types.

We expect to have an update on USB 4 2.0 in around November.

Bear in mind too, that the European Union recently passed regulations declaring that connectors must be standardised which means that in time things like Apple’s lightning connector, and all the other random cables that you have will gradually disappear and be replaced with one standard. Hopefully, that doesn’t stifle innovation but that’s a whole other chat that probably involves a pint in the local pub (well it would for us geeks anyway).

OK, that’s cool. Will I get to benefit from it?

That depends. If you have a port on your computer (and cable) that is in the USB-C shape (that’s the one that looks like a rounded rectangle and can go in either way up) then the chances are that you’ll benefit from this change. If you’re using older style square cornered USB then we’re afraid that you’re stuck until you upgrade.

If you fancy reading a bit more about the difference between USB C and USB 4 (and why wouldn’t you!) then check out the article that makeuseof.com wrote on the subject.

If you want improved productivity and performance in your business before the end of the year, contact us. There are always ways to make things faster in every business.