This is the reversible USB cable that will end your frustrations


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This is the reversible USB cable that will end your frustrations

 

usb-port-type-c.jpg

 

The most abundant connector standard in technology, the Universal Serial Bus, is getting ready for its most revolutionary change yet with a new specification that will be finalized in July of this year. Breaking physical compatibility with current ports, USB Type-C is much smaller than the USB plugs you're used to and is, perhaps more importantly, symmetrical. The reversible design means you'll be able to connect a Type-C cable without worrying about the plug's orientation or the cable's direction.

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.

 

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I'm looking forward to this. The lack of reversibility has been an inconvenience. Unfortunately it will take years before this becomes common place.

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Another USB cable type to keep track of? I already can' never find the right one for the device I'm connecting as it is!

 

Yeah. I know this is meant to be a solution to the multiple cable type problem, but I think it'll just end up being yet another flavor added to the mix.

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I see nearly every week someone bring in a system with mangled up USB ports.  Some are so mangled they short out and cause all sorts of problems.  Some of the people even admitted to jamming the USB cable in repeatedly, like a porn star. :laugh:

 

I welcome the symmetrical idea as well as the smaller size.  Will be interesting to see USB hubs and such with the smaller connections.

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seriously? cant say ive ever had a problem putting in a usb cable, but now just another one to keep track of, though the backwards compatibility or lack off blows goats

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Never thought this was a huge problem, but it definitely can be irritating when you're trying to plug a cable in somewhere behind a machine and all you have is touch to go off of.  You have a 50% chance of getting it right the first time.  Same thing with HDMI cables.  Oh, and trapezoidal Dsub and DVI?  F--- you.  That's all I have to say to them.


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So no backwards compatibility? Great way to make more money :)

 

USB has been around since 97 so it has had a pretty good run. Hopefully this new USB cable will have 15-20 years before it needs to be replaced :yes:

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Good news, after using the Lightning cable it makes sense. Not revolutionary but a massive convenience 

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since this is for USB 3.0 and all the current cables out there are mostly v2 its not a major issue (in terms of backwards compatibility).

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I don't think this is about making USB cables more convenient... I have never had a problem using them nor have I ever broken one. I am convinced this is designed to make the USB connector smaller to allow even thinner laptops.

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Never thought this was a huge problem, but it definitely can be irritating when you're trying to plug a cable in somewhere behind a machine and all you have is touch to go off of.  You have a 50% chance of getting it right the first time.  Same thing with HDMI cables.  Oh, and trapezoidal Dsub and DVI?  F--- you.  That's all I have to say to them.

In my experience, you have a 100% chance of getting it wrong the first two times. :p

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In my experience, you have a 100% chance of getting it wrong the first two times. :p

 

1. Look at cable

2. Look at port.

3. Put it in the right way, first time.

 

How is that hard?

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I've never really had any trouble plugging in USB devices; it's very easy to see which way the plug goes in and the ports are always oriented the same way.

 

Not always:

 

Nexus 4: micro USB is oriented that the wide side is further from the screen

Nexus 7 (2013): micro USB is oriented that the wide side is closer to the screen

 

I'm definitely looking forward to the new standard.

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1. Look at cable

2. Look at port.

3. Put it in the right way, first time.

 

How is that hard?

You don't even need to look. If it doesn't fit, just turn it the other way.

Doesn't take much and it's not that end of the world if it doesn't connects in the first try.

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same size as Apple's proprietary Lightning cable

 

Let the lawsuits begin, greedy Apple will start another patent infringement suit..................

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I'm more in favor of how much smaller it is, though it being reversible is always a plus.

 

I'm an iOS user, so I quite like the small Lightning adapters... USB C looks equally nice.

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1. Look at cable

2. Look at port.

3. Put it in the right way, first time.

 

How is that hard?

 

Doesn't always pan out that way in some infrastructure post-deployments.

 

Or when you've retrieved the camera phone and trying to work out the orientation of the photo when it was taken for the rear of a chassis.

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