News - Apple said to be mulling over USB 3.0

[HEXUS]

Possible addition to future product lines.

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[jim]

This means that the addition could be made at, seemingly negligible, cost to Apple.

To the masters of turning negligible costs into vast profits, this should be a no-brainer.

[Roobubba]

Just waiting until they start touting it as an amazing Apple innovation!

[saltyzip]

I don't know why they need it, iPad hasn't even got anywhere to plug in a usb device or sd card but people still buy them.

[Brewster0101]

Just waiting until they start touting it as an amazing Apple innovation!

Amazed apple haven't done iUSB, then tried to patent the name USB and then tell everyone else to reframe from using the name USB and then make a white and dull USB cable and sell it for £400.

[mikerr]

Thunderbolt is dead soon then.

[Whiternoise]

Surely putting both in is a no-brainer? It's not like they got rid of USB when they brought in thunderbolt, so it seems logical to upgrade it to USB 3.0.

Thunderbolt doesn't seem that bad, it's got a heck of a lot of bandwidth if you need that sort of thing - and it's really Intel's brainchild (a la Light Peak), not Apple. Granted they'll charge a bomb for it

[Biscuit]

'Mulling over USB' honestly could apple be more arrogant! I just want to punch any and all of these Mac people.

Personally im more inclined to jump into the external PCIE standard than thunderbolt.

[Funkstar]

$2-3 on the part bill will add quite a bit to the end retail price. Also that isn't including the additional silicon in the system is it? So you are talking a few more dollars on top of that and the required space and added complexity.

Apple aren't really mulling over whether they will support USB3, but whether they will include an additional USB3 controller to their systems before Intel integrate USB3 into their chipsets. It's a subtle but important difference. I can understand why they wouldn't want to add further complexity to their systems especially when some of them will be really tight for space.

This is the same decision other thin and light notebook manufacturers will need to make. All these ultrabooks that were spoken about at IFA are built about the Intel platform, how many of them will have USB3?

[Andi-C]

I take it if they do go ahead it will be "apple" USB fitting only ! The Apple way ONLY...

[AeroScap]

They will probably try to further the thunderbolt connection the next possible opportunity. Since adopting usb 3.0 is basically admitting that thunderbolt is not up to scratch

[Bluecube]

Unlikely. Apple appear to be using Thunderbolt primarily for graphics output. In terms of bandwith, Thunderbolt is far superior to USB3. The only issue for Apple users is how to utilise that bandwith with nothing to connect to! Supposedly Thunderbolt to USB3 convertors are on their way.

The fact that Apple are thinking about adding USB3 ports is hardly news...