USB-IF announces publication of USB4 specification

USB Implementers Forum, the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, today announced the publication of the USB4 specification, a major update to deliver the next-generation USB architecture that complements and builds upon the existing USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 architectures. The USB4 architecture is based on the Thunderbolt protocol specification recently contributed by Intel Corporation to the USB Promoter Group. It doubles the maximum aggregate bandwidth of USB and enables multiple simultaneous data and display protocols.

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As the USB Type-C connector has evolved into the role as the external display port of many host products, the USB4 specification provides the host the ability to optimally scale allocations for display data flow. Even as the USB4 specification introduces a new underlying protocol, compatibility with existing USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3 hosts and devices is supported; the resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected.

How many years until USB4 (or later) replaces HDMI and DisplayPort? Since everything is data packets now - analog is a thing of the past - do we really need to have separate video cables? I'd love to one day build a PC that just has an array of USB-C ports on the back, with the ability to plug anything - monitor, keyboard, mouse, serial port adapter for the Windows CE mini laptop I've been craving to buy for ages, you know, the usual stuff - into any of the ports.

One can dream.