News - Apple's reversible USB connector appears in patent application

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The Type A connector redesign was seen previously in a Sonny Dickinson leak.

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Read more.

Or instead of being proprietary, they could work with everyone to make the reversible dream a reality? I would be happy to place a bet that companies would have to pay substantial amounts just to use this connector.

£30 per cable? Lawsuits for anyone else trying to sell reversible USB connectors? Only available in white?

Wait, is it backwards compatible with current USB IO or not?

I don't think it's mentioned in the article. I know the cynic in me is thinking "Apple, make something backwards compatible? Bah, where is the unnecessary income being bled from our customers coming from if that is true ?"

If it is backwards compatible this is actually quite cool, if not, meh to apple. Once again re-affirming my dislike for the company.

Apple and backwards compatible... lol, they don't exactly take that route do they. Based on those diagrams/pictures they're not going to work in a normal usb socket so it's mac only, for one thing it's too thick.

If this if for the iPhone then how exactly are they going to spin this, the propriety socket on the phone is bad enough when you need an off site charger... at the rate this is going it will be if you want the new iPhone you need a new shiny mac too...

I'm glad I'm never having an iPhone and I don't use mac :)

Another case of copying something that's already been around for a while.
Just google Reversible USB Cable and you'll get plenty of choices.

The only thing that makes this slighlty unique is that it's got a lightning connector on the other end, and I bet someone's already producing those too so I don't get what seems to be so special about this.

Looks to be another Apple 'first'.
They may be better quality and in white but they've still basically copied something else and applied for a patent.

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Originally Posted by Jowsey

Wait, is it backwards compatible with current USB IO or not?
[snipped]
If it is backwards compatible this is actually quite cool, if not, meh to apple. Once again re-affirming my dislike for the company.

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Don't think it's physically compatible because the asb (or iSB if you prefer) plug looks to be a bit taller than the standard one based on the image in the article.

That they decided to patent this (and it's a very obvious idea given the recent USB-C announcements) is something that I regard with contempt. Far better instead to submit it to the appropriate steering group and get it adopted universally if it's actually that good. Personally if I'm going to have to have new ports anyway then USB-C it is.

http://forums.hexus.net/smartphones-...connector.html

Character limit.

Seems appropriate:
http://www.imglols.com/wp-content/up...-usb-cable.jpg

Not forgetting their multi-dimensional-ness of course. :P
http://cheezburger.com/5497168384

Maybe you'll only have to flip it the once now!

Why not put a tactile bump on one side of the cable and always insist that USB's connectors orientate the same way on devices. People would quickly learn.