WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.440 Type in USB cable, dongle or flash drive on Amazon 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:08.560 and your eyes will be assaulted with products from hundreds of companies, 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.840 some well-known, others not so much. 00:00:11.840 --> 00:00:15.720 What is a Q, Q, Q, Q, can I? 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:19.860 So how exactly do you know which ones to trust and spend your money on? 00:00:19.860 --> 00:00:23.760 This is a question the USB Implementers Forum tries to help you answer 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:27.320 with its special certification program. In case you didn't know, 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:31.920 USB IF is responsible for developing the USB specification. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.200 It's kind of like a blueprint that all USB gadgets are supposed to follow. 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.700 But what's the difference between a certified and non-certified product? 00:00:39.700 --> 00:00:43.080 And why does it take so long for certified options to show up 00:00:43.080 --> 00:00:46.120 when a new lightning fast USB version hits the internet 00:00:46.120 --> 00:00:49.160 along with hot takes about its naming scheme? 00:00:49.160 --> 00:00:53.820 To find out, we spoke with Jeff Ravencraft, the president of USB IF. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:56.720 So he's kind of like the head of the USB universe. 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. 00:01:02.040 --> 00:01:06.120 So USB IF certification process is voluntary, 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:09.720 but many companies choose to pay and have their product certified 00:01:09.720 --> 00:01:13.280 to gain a leg up on competitors. They get to use one of those little logos 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, 00:01:18.960 --> 00:01:22.640 which tells customers to look for that logo when shopping online. 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:26.720 In 2021, those ads got over 305 million impressions. 00:01:26.720 --> 00:01:30.880 And if even a small fraction of those customers are convinced to buy a certified product 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:34.600 instead of a non-certified one, that's a big difference in sales. 00:01:34.600 --> 00:01:37.680 But the USB IF certification process involves more 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:40.800 than just taking money to slap on a sticker. 00:01:40.800 --> 00:01:44.000 Testing is required to ensure the product is built to spec 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.720 and won't unexpectedly give you poor performance or be shoddily constructed. 00:01:48.720 --> 00:01:53.440 Companies such as underwriters laboratories contract with USB IF to do the testing. 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. 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:02.120 Testing the testing, otherwise is it really a test? 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:07.120 The USB IF also runs special workshops where products from member companies can be certified, 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.460 as well as the platform interoperability lab in Oregon, 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 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:19.000 to ensure proper operation, or as I call it, preparation. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.840 But the certification process can take quite a long time, which you've probably noticed 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:27.380 if you're looking for a certified product compliant with the latest and greatest spec. 00:02:27.380 --> 00:02:31.080 So why does it take USB gadgets so long to get certified 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, 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:38.860 it typically takes manufacturers 12 to 18 months 00:02:38.860 --> 00:02:43.040 to start getting products on store shelves. So part of that delay has nothing to do 00:02:43.040 --> 00:02:46.080 with the certification process itself. It's not their fault. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.560 Additionally, although the spec gives companies a blueprint as to how to properly implement 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.960 the new version of USB, the certification process actually has to get developed 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:58.800 after the spec comes out, since as companies find quirks and snags 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 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:06.120 affecting the final product. But if you can't wait for a certified version 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? 00:03:12.160 --> 00:03:16.720 I mean, almost 3 billion USB-C devices have been shipped in 2022. 00:03:16.720 --> 00:03:19.960 So as many good products as there are out there, 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. 00:03:24.720 --> 00:03:28.320 Try to buy from brands you trust and thoroughly read reviews, 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, 00:03:33.440 --> 00:03:36.600 especially as the USB IF is finally ditching 00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:41.600 those terrible labels that say things like USB 3.2 Gen2 by 2 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:45.680 and just putting USB with a speed beside it. 00:03:46.160 --> 00:03:49.240 And that's fantastic because one thing is easy to understand 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:54.120 for even the most technically challenged among us. Bigger numbers are better. 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:57.960 I love those big, big, beautiful numbers. There they are. 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:02.080 And thanks to you, big, beautiful viewer for watching. Like the video if you like it, 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.880 dislike it if you disliked it, check out our other videos, comment below with video suggestions. 00:04:05.880 --> 00:04:09.720 Don't forget to subscribe and follow Techquickie, where our YouTube channel 00:04:09.720 --> 00:04:12.440 and we also upload other places too. 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