1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,440 Type in USB cable, dongle or flash drive on Amazon 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,560 and your eyes will be assaulted with products from hundreds of companies, 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,840 some well-known, others not so much. 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,720 What is a Q, Q, Q, Q, can I? 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,860 So how exactly do you know which ones to trust and spend your money on? 6 00:00:19,860 --> 00:00:23,760 This is a question the USB Implementers Forum tries to help you answer 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,320 with its special certification program. In case you didn't know, 8 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,920 USB IF is responsible for developing the USB specification. 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:36,200 It's kind of like a blueprint that all USB gadgets are supposed to follow. 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,700 But what's the difference between a certified and non-certified product? 11 00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:43,080 And why does it take so long for certified options to show up 12 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,120 when a new lightning fast USB version hits the internet 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,160 along with hot takes about its naming scheme? 14 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,820 To find out, we spoke with Jeff Ravencraft, the president of USB IF. 15 00:00:53,820 --> 00:00:56,720 So he's kind of like the head of the USB universe. 16 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,040 And we'd like to thank him as well as Joe Baylake for helping us out with his episode. 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,120 So USB IF certification process is voluntary, 18 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,720 but many companies choose to pay and have their product certified 19 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,280 to gain a leg up on competitors. They get to use one of those little logos 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,960 you've probably seen on product packaging before, and also they benefit from USB IF's advertising, 21 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:22,640 which tells customers to look for that logo when shopping online. 22 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,720 In 2021, those ads got over 305 million impressions. 23 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,880 And if even a small fraction of those customers are convinced to buy a certified product 24 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,600 instead of a non-certified one, that's a big difference in sales. 25 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,680 But the USB IF certification process involves more 26 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,800 than just taking money to slap on a sticker. 27 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,000 Testing is required to ensure the product is built to spec 28 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:48,720 and won't unexpectedly give you poor performance or be shoddily constructed. 29 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,440 Companies such as underwriters laboratories contract with USB IF to do the testing. 30 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:58,280 And these companies also have to submit to audits to make sure the testing is being done correctly. 31 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,120 Testing the testing, otherwise is it really a test? 32 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:07,120 The USB IF also runs special workshops where products from member companies can be certified, 33 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,460 as well as the platform interoperability lab in Oregon, 34 00:02:10,460 --> 00:02:15,740 where lots of big industry players like Intel and AMD have their products tested while they're still in development 35 00:02:15,740 --> 00:02:19,000 to ensure proper operation, or as I call it, preparation. 36 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,840 But the certification process can take quite a long time, which you've probably noticed 37 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,380 if you're looking for a certified product compliant with the latest and greatest spec. 38 00:02:27,380 --> 00:02:31,080 So why does it take USB gadgets so long to get certified 39 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,640 or even to come to market in the first place? Now it turns out that once a new spec is published, 40 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,860 it typically takes manufacturers 12 to 18 months 41 00:02:38,860 --> 00:02:43,040 to start getting products on store shelves. So part of that delay has nothing to do 42 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,080 with the certification process itself. It's not their fault. 43 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,560 Additionally, although the spec gives companies a blueprint as to how to properly implement 44 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,960 the new version of USB, the certification process actually has to get developed 45 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,800 after the spec comes out, since as companies find quirks and snags 46 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,120 with a new revision, testing protocols get designed to make sure those things don't end up 47 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:06,120 affecting the final product. But if you can't wait for a certified version 48 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:12,160 of the PowerAdapter or external SSD or eyeballing, how do you know if a non-certified product is any good? 49 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,720 I mean, almost 3 billion USB-C devices have been shipped in 2022. 50 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,960 So as many good products as there are out there, 51 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,720 there's also a lot of crap to sift through as well. The answer is actually quite simple. 52 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,320 Try to buy from brands you trust and thoroughly read reviews, 53 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:33,440 especially if it's a more expensive purchase. But if you can, it's typically safer to buy certified, 54 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,600 especially as the USB IF is finally ditching 55 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,600 those terrible labels that say things like USB 3.2 Gen2 by 2 56 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,680 and just putting USB with a speed beside it. 57 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,240 And that's fantastic because one thing is easy to understand 58 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:54,120 for even the most technically challenged among us. Bigger numbers are better. 59 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,960 I love those big, big, beautiful numbers. There they are. 60 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:02,080 And thanks to you, big, beautiful viewer for watching. 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