Wireless USB rides again The Wireless USB 1.1 specification – just released by the USB Implementers Forum – promises near-field communication (NFC) and battery-life improvements. "Consumers want a fast, easy-to-use solution to wirelessly transfer content from PCs to devices," said USB-IF president and chairman Jeff Ravencraft. He's of the opinion that …
... that with an appropriately large antenna etc. I would be able to ... er .... "back up my data" on the man next door's wireless USB drives?
"Missing secret documents officer? Are you sure you've come to the right address?"
It's the one with the Faraday cage woven into the lining.
I've not read the specs too deeply, but my first thought is "how easy would it be to fuck with someone?".
If there's no real security, it'd be rather easy to, say, dump confidential reports onto the annyingly loud and smelly git opposites USB music device and then call security about their funny behaviour. Admittedly, all you need to do right now is plug the player in, but wih wireless, it could possibly be done while it's in the persons bag.
I'm sure a BOFH would have all sorts of fun incriminating folk.
That aside, I'm glad it's moving on.
Have a look at the case last week where the guy got TWELVE YEARS for perverting the course of justice by setting up his co-worker.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/24/caretaker_set_up/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/12-years-in-jail-for-porn-vile-plot-2087755.html
A joke's a joke, until it goes too far - you too can ruin the life of a perfect stranger.
I wasn't joking, I was asking seriously as it strikes me atht one doesn't even need physical access to someones MP3 player, smartphone or whatever to dump suspect stuff on them.
In the case of the caretaker, he had physical access but without security on wireless USB, it'd make it easier as you don't even need to distract the person and grab their wireless usb device.
I just can't see anyone wanting to replace the convenience of a single, mostly standardised, cable for data and power, with no data cable, but batteries, chargers, bulk, complexity, yada, yada. USB is the perfect evolution of connection technology.
I'm not surprised Wireless USB has gone nowhere in 3 years.
GJC
An end to the Sisyphean task of plugging and unplugging USB devices.
Sometimes I have to do this three or four times a day, and then the next day I have to do it all over again (unless I've carelessly left them connected overnight). Now, instead of disconnecting the printer (something I need to do pretty frequently, to avoid wasting bits), I can just pick it up and carry it out of the room.
(Mark you, USB connectors would be much improved if the dickheads who designed them had provided an easy way to tell which way up/round they go.)
Bluetooth - Granted its low speed but its the ideal local wires free connection technology, faster bluetooth is coming out I read somewhere. All sorts of devices are bluetooth, I have a MAC bluetooth keyboard working to my windows 7 laptop, a bluetooth mouse, a bluetooth connection to my phone syncing my outlook. People have figured out how to work bluetooth its not hard with its PINcode security. Why create something else?
For dedicated bandwidth you cant beat a cable! WIFI sucks for HD movies even 802.11n (using 2.4ghz) your unlikely to have any free channels knocking about.
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