Introducing the New Reversible USB Cable [Image]

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Posted April 2, 2014 at 3:44pm by iClarified

The USB Implementers Forum has released images of a new reversible connector that will rival Apple's Lightning connector, reports Verge.

Intended to replace both USB and Micro USB with one universal standard, Type-C looks to be pretty much the same size as Apple's proprietary Lightning cable, which has a similar reversible design. With support for USB 3.1, the new cables will offer bandwidth of up to 10Gbps, though their biggest benefit will surely be in eliminating the frustration of trying to plug devices in the right way round. The design and the full spec have not been fully settled yet, but the USB Implementers Forum is confident enough in its current plans to release these images illustrating what can be expected.

USB Type-C Connector
Key characteristics of the USB TypeC connector solution include:
● An entirely new design tailored to work well with emerging product designs
● New smaller size
• Similar in size to the existing USB 2.0 MicroB
● Usability enhancements
• Users no longer need to be concerned with plug orientation/cable direction
• Makes it easier to plug in
● The TypeC connector/cable will support scalable power charging
● Scalability
• The connector design will scale for future USB bus performance

Take a look at the images below...

[via Verge]

Introducing the New Reversible USB Cable [Image]

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AaronL - April 6, 2014 at 12:01pm

Not only that, the USB 3.1 protocol doubles the possible internal bandwidth on the USB bus. Meaning devices designed for high bandwidth can reside along other devices. Or even it that USB can be used for bit-perfect transmissions instead of ADAT/Lightpipe and other wordclock functions. And a small bit of information, Intel designed the Thunderbolt bus with input from Apple however the ball lies with Intel how it gets used. In fact, it turns out if your graphics processor supports a Displayport output, then technically you are already using part of this technology. Either way, it's all good in the hood.

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thevmaxer - April 3, 2014 at 1:36am

COPYING is the highest form of flattery! Yes, i realize that the USB connection is different than the lightning connector, but still...

gamerscul9870 - April 3, 2014 at 1:50am

This is an idea not taken but inspired by the lightning CHARGER, apple would use this to make both sides reversible, so it's nowhere close to copying.

Gadgetrevue - April 3, 2014 at 12:45am

So is both the cable and the connect reversible? Meaning is it 100% foolproof? Can either plug, plug into either port in either direction? Make sense?

Curtix - April 2, 2014 at 10:11pm

A horrible idea!!! All devices with micro USB that are used daily are prone to problems given the fragile nature of the female connector. Using a standard like micro-USB on computers is stupid. Apples connector is the only one that stands up to the abuse necessary to be used that way.

philme - April 3, 2014 at 4:53am

this not true the apple connector gives a lot of problem I do repairs for a living and have fix many of them

gamerscul9870 - April 3, 2014 at 10:57am

Actually it is, I have a lightning and so far it hasn't given up once since half a year ago. If it's not true, what other connector is there?

Trucker68 - April 2, 2014 at 5:09pm

Love it. I been waiting for them to finish the new cable. Now I wait and buy products with new type-c

gamerscul9870 - April 2, 2014 at 4:39pm

So now we can replace every computer with the hard drive just to somehow replace it with a newer one?