Apple May Have Invented USB Type-C [Audio]

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Posted March 14, 2015 at 5:19am by iClarified

Apple may have invented the USB Type-C connector and donated it to the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, reports Daring Fireball's John Gruber on 'The Talk Show'.

Apple caused a lot of controversy this week by unveiling a new MacBook that did away with all ports except one USB-C port, even getting rid of its popular MagSafe connector.

Interestingly, it seems Apple may have actually invented this new industry standard. Here's what Gruber had to say about the port:

"I have heard, I can't say who but lets call them informed little birdies, that USB-C is an Apple invention and that they gave it to the standards bodies... and that the politics of such is that they can't really say that. They're not going to come out in public and say that but that they did. It is an Apple invention and they want it to become a standard."

"What I've heard is that it's an Apple invention that was sort of developed alongside Lightning and that they donated, they gave to the standards bodies because they want the industry standard to be thin enough for their devices and they want it to be reversible."

You can learn more about the new USB Type-C connector here. Also take a listen to the podcast embedded below starting at the 54 minute mark. Do you think it's an Apple invention? Let us know in the comments!

As usual, please follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for more Apple news, tutorials, and videos.

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Apple May Have Invented USB Type-C [Audio]

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Phil Stephens - March 22, 2015 at 3:38am

A quick look at the first few pages of the 171 page USB Type-C specification shows a long list of contibutors, including: VIA, Texas Instuments, Seagate, Samsung, Microsoft, Nokia, Lenovo, JAE, Intel, Google, Dell Apple, AMD. The Committee is chaired by Intel & Seagate representatives. The Apple contingent listed is pretty big, but so is the number of contributors from any other company. I would call them a significant contributor, nothing more. http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/

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Ren - March 15, 2015 at 12:49am

USB is USB! and It is developed by microsoft, intel and other company! Not Apple who invented nothing!

random - March 16, 2015 at 10:47am

Before Apple, USB-C was used by Nokia in a Tablet and smartphone, in 2014

gamerscul9870 - March 16, 2015 at 10:55am

then why did nobody mention it before macbook? In fact, when was the last time nokia released their phone prior to usb-c?

Ren - March 15, 2015 at 12:47am

I invented USB- D ,USB- X , USB -z and .....

gamerscul9870 - March 15, 2015 at 12:53am

Then why is it not on any product yet, still trying to get it right? XD

Tom.S - March 14, 2015 at 8:36pm

Intel/Android guru Chris Price disputed the claim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisprice/status/576774640321761280 https://twitter.com/chrisprice/status/576773891500081152 Sounds like this is more like Thunderbolt where Intel did most of the work, and Apple chipped in.

gamerscul9870 - March 14, 2015 at 11:01pm

Bu the whole overall idea in general that decided to put 6 in one port was...

gamerscul9870 - March 14, 2015 at 5:17pm

We all may as well be fruits. Not to mention there are whiny wimpy samsheeps scoring it up.

Steve Chavez - March 14, 2015 at 2:18pm

Personally, I hate cables sticking out of a portable device. We're going to have to go through a dongle period for a bit. Hopefully there's a point to all of this. Things can move pretty quickly.

gamerscul9870 - March 14, 2015 at 2:23pm

How else is anyone supposed to make cable without doing that? The whole point is to get a decent grip without having it slip out. The only thing to worry about it how to make a MagSafe to usb-c and that will lead you from there. That's one of the points.

Steve Chavez - March 14, 2015 at 2:43pm

My original post was more elaborate but I deleted most of it as I went on and on for far too long. Basically, I was implying that wireless technology is getting faster and faster and many devices that we'd normally plug into our laptops are getting wireless features these days. They even have hard drives that don't require you to plug them in if you're into backing things up. We has NAS solutions and have things like Transporter Sync. We have so many reasons not to plug things into our laptops. We have so many reasons to laugh at people who have to have 50 wires sticking out of their laptops when they don't have to. Unless you're a professional who needs high throughput, I don't see a need for cables. (at least for people with newer devices) That being said... even as a consumer, I don't feel that things have evolved enough quite yet to feel as gratifying as a direct cable. It'll work, but it's just not quite as good. (not to mention crap like pairing or having things join a network etc etc...)

matrixmaniac - March 14, 2015 at 2:05pm

After all these many years of pathetic USB connector designs and never fitting adapter cables this is most certainly the first sensible design... So it might very well be possible that it's from Apple. However, this doesn't change the fact that it's yet another USB standard and that a new laptop -no matter how pretty or cute or well designed- with just one(!) connector is pathetic as well. I won't buy this thing unless it gets thunderbolt, macsafe and 2 USB ports at the very least. The only consequence of this kind of "wireless design" is that you have to deal with tons of adapter cables in the end. Simply absurd!

gamerscul9870 - March 14, 2015 at 2:12pm

Don't worry. You can suggest to Apple in the store section of their site. I just mentioned them to built MagSafe 1 & 2 to usb-c. You're welcome. Soon go from absurd to satisfying.

Great! - March 14, 2015 at 5:58am

Samsung is going to announce a BS-U-C port in their even thinner laptop. It isn't just a cable. You can even use the short version as a samsung watch strap or the long version to hold your pants up. Plus it is also reversible.

Rawl - March 14, 2015 at 5:24am

Thats so broad-minded of apple. Cool !!

gamerscul9870 - March 14, 2015 at 5:30am

Exactly. Forget those who can't accept this as an invention. If they think about it, it's all these cord in one, no more buying more than one to plug into the right ports, even when it comes to connecting to devices without a usb-c port, there's a usb-c to hdmi converter, usb 3 converter, and so forth, yet they still end up as one cord. I to like it without MagSafe. Really.

BM - March 14, 2015 at 10:30pm

I am trying to figure out why you keep referencing Tim Cook's sexual preference (as if it were somehow relevant to the article) because it's not only not particularly clever, but it makes me wonder if you have dealing with similar issues.