>Does anyone know anything about interfacing with USB connection?
     >I'm trying to build a PIC Programmer that also interfaces with the 
     >USB connection.  Is it possible to?  Does anyone have any information 
     >on how to write software that interfaces with USB?..
     
     >Thanks
     >John
     
     John,
     
     I had that thought also - USB saves having a power supply brick.
     
     If you have Win95 OSR2.1 (unstable), or a beta of win98 (better), I 
     recommend getting the cypress starter kit - 99USD.
     
     For data, read all the USB starter pages and summaries you can find.
     Also grab the USB spec from www.usb.org though you are warned it's 
     long - well over 300 page with clarifications, ...and the plot is 
     rubbish!. 
     
     If you haven't got the win95 OSR2.1 (OEM only ie only supplied with 
     new computers - not in the shops) or win98 beta you'll have to wait 
     'til 98 is out.
     
     There is a lot of chips out there; see below
     There's also a lot of USB products in the wings, waiting to launch on 
     the back of Win98 (I've got my USB mouse thou! - makes a change to 
     have state-of-art rather than state-of-the-ark).
     
     
                Steve Lawther
     
     
     APPENDIX (ie don't bother reading unless a 'trainspotter')
     
     Texas Instruments
     -----------------
     http://www.ti.com/sc/docs/usb/mainpage.htm 
     
     ** 7 Port Hub (TUSB2070P)
     4 Port Hub (TUSB2040)
     4 Port Hub with embedded Function to a I2C connection (TUSB2140A)
     4 Port Hub with external E2Prom for vendor and product IDs (TUSB2040A)
     
     Philips Semi
     ------------
     http://www-us.semiconductors.philips.com/usb/products/index.stm
     
     4 Port Hub (PDIUSBH11)
     4 Port Hub with embedded Function to a I2C connection 
     (PDIUSBH11A)
     2 Port Hub with embedded Function (PDIUSBH12)
     
     High speed USB Function with serial I2C interface (PDIUSBD11)
     
     *** philips ICs have 'GoodLink'(tm) - whereas other hub ICs have an 
     LED O/P for each port to show connection (LED on), or not (LED off), 
     'goodlink' flashes the LED when good data transfers have occurred to 
     the port much like the TX LED on FS2 rack***
     
     Cypress Semi
     ------------
     http://www.cypress.com/products/
     
     CY7C63xxx Universal Serial Bus (USB) Microcontroller
     CY7C6341x Low Speed, High I/O 1.5 Mbps USB Controller
     CY7C6351x Low Speed, High I/O 1.5 Mbps USB Controller
     CY7C64xxx High Speed USB (12 Mbps) Peripheral Controller
     ** CY7C65x13 4 or 8 Port Hub with embedded functions and 
     microcontroller
     CY7C66xxx High Speed USB (12 Mbps) Controller with Hub
     CY3650USB Developer's Kit
     
     *** A USB Starter Kit for £65 ***
     
     National Semi.
     -------------
     http://www.national.com/search/search.cgi/design?keywords=USB 
     
     Full Speed Function Controller with DMA (USBN9602)
     Hub - no data yet (LM1050)
     
     Thesys
     ------
     http://www.thesys.de/index_i.htm
     
     ** TH6501 - USB Full-Speed Function Interface to SPI bus
     TH6503 - USB Low-Speed Function Interface to SPI bus
     
     
     There are others