News - Reversible USB Type-C connector finalised and ready for production

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New generation connector is thinner and offers frustration-free operation.

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Read more.

Am I right in thinking that this "Type C" connector is designed to replace the current micro-USB (as stated in the article) and normal desktop USB2 and USB3 connectors? If so, then it's going to get a thumbs up from me - since surely that'd mean having to have a lot less of those various cable types lying around - and if there's convertors available for the current types (for backward compatibility) then so much the better.

Shame that they couldn't have included data-rate dependent "flowing" EL lights in the spec too - lovely visual feedback.

(I'm joking about that last bit)

in a few years time when I've upgraded all of my devices to this its going to be awesome! until then I'll just be sad...

Another new USB cable?
OK. Whatever....

I really don't care. I do fine with the existing ones, don't really lose or break any, never have trouble orienting the plug for socket insertion even when I cannot see them... It's just another USB thing to me.

Even my old stuff still runs pretty fast, so anything faster is just faster and probably costs more money. I doubt this will even touch my life anywhere near as profoundly as an SSD.

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Originally Posted by crossy

Am I right in thinking that this "Type C" connector is designed to replace the current micro-USB (as stated in the article) and normal desktop USB2 and USB3 connectors? If so, then it's going to get a thumbs up from me - since surely that'd mean having to have a lot less of those various cable types lying around - and if there's convertors available for the current types (for backward compatibility) then so much the better.

Shame that they couldn't have included data-rate dependent "flowing" EL lights in the spec too - lovely visual feedback.

(I'm joking about that last bit)

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This just means that for the next few years you need the new cable and all your old ones. (or at least the new cable and a whole load of fiddly easy-to-lose converters.

If it aint broke don't fix it. They're giving us a new connector but USB3 cables still haven't seen a widespread adoption yet.

Its not broken, but it is at its limit. Perhaps the new cable is what is planned to help aid in the widespread adoption of USB3 in portable devices?

Personally I welcome a new, reversible, faster connector.

That is simply beautiful! If they can replace both normal sized USB as well as micro USB with this then that will be amazing IMO. I've always loved the design of the Apple lightning cable, I hope this technology will be adopted!

I think it's mostly about mobile - Apple made the lightning connector to make the iphone slimmer and I'm guessing there has been pressure from other makers to do something. I'm not fussed either way right now, but I guess moving forward it's good. Plus as a Galaxy Note 3 user it's a bit of a pain to have to use a Samsung cable to get full speed charging ;)

Not fussy about cable oritentation, faster, delivers more power? What's not to love? It'll probably be awhile before it's fully adopted, but so was USB 1 and 2, DVI, and so many more standards. Frankly I'm stunned that there are people on this forum moaning about it.

I like this a lot. And this is what USB3 should have been from the start, not that silly microUSB-with-another-bit-tacked-on-the-side that we got instead.

I do get frustrated with the orientation of microUSB on some devices. My HTC needs the locking fingers up, but I suspect this is wrong, because my Samsung and my Kindle have it the other way round.

about time they updated the USB connectors. nice to know its coming but not for a few years until it becomes mainstream.