Finally! New USB Standard Will Feature Reversible Connector

[JMcEntegart]

No more jamming the plug in this way and that trying to figure out which way it goes.

Finally! New USB Standard Will Feature Reversible Connector : Read more

 

[bustapr]

HALELUJAH!

 

[meowmix44]

YEAH!

 

[nukemaster]

I had seen some reversible USB connectors in the past from more than one company.

It may be nice to see them ALL work this way.

Personally, I have never had much issue with having to find out the direction to plug a USB device in.

 

[halcyon]

This will be nice.

 

[J-M II A II N]

now someone slap the crap out of then engineer that came up with what we currently have!

 

[spartanmk2]

A good indication of the top side of a USB stick is the company logo and size (GB).

Or a quick look at the end of the usb.

Yay for progress though.

 

[internetlad]

This is a problem for people? Just look at which side the logo is on, and that's up.

On the flip side, if it's like the thunderbolt connector, I don't much care for Apple but that unit is slick.

 

[pastydavid]

Raise your hand if you ever went to plug a USB cord in (the right way), it didn't seem to go in, you flip it around and try again (the wrong way), said "what the hell" and turned it around and put it in the correct way. *raises hand

 

[nukemaster]

This is a problem for people? Just look at which side the logo is on, and that's up.

On the flip side, if it's like the thunderbolt connector, I don't much care for Apple but that unit is slick.

You are thinking of lightning

Thunderbolt uses Display Port as its base connector. That can not be flipped.

 

[thundervore]

To everyone that says the side with the company logo is the top of the connector you ma be right in some cases but not all. I have encountered many cables from Microsoft keyboards and RIM phones that have the USB symbol on one side and the company logo on the othr side. It confuses the hell out of people because usually the USB logo must face up when you plug it in.

 

[MagicPants]

Any word if it will be backwards compatible? I'm hoping it's just a new port and not a new plug.

 

[Johan Kryger Haglert]

I don't get this "up" you're talking about. The motherboard is attached sideways ..

As for having had reversible usb connectors, no, but maybe a cable with usb connectors on one end or for a similar use.

As for flipping the cable parallell ata cables in disc drives are way worse.

 

[saidge]

The bottom has a seam down the middle of the metal connector. Yet to see one that isn't set up this way.

 

[teh_chem]

Not saying I wouldn't appreciate this, but what I'd really like is for someone to put an end to some of the flimsy slide-out connectors. Probably half of the ones I've used just retract when the slightest pressure is put on the tip, forcing the user to wedge the slider open while cramming it into a USB port.

Yes, I know that's beyond the scope of this. Still would be nice.

 

[sonofliberty08]

"it doesn't matter which way you try to plug your stick in this baby."

 

[vern72]

This is a problem for people? Just look at which side the logo is on, and that's up.

On the flip side, if it's like the thunderbolt connector, I don't much care for Apple but that unit is slick.

Sometimes it's not that easy. For instance, the microUSB plug on my Nexus 5 is upside down (meaning the top of the plug is up when the screen is facing down). Took me a few tries to figure that out.

 

[jeffbernent]

WOW, it is fantastic!!!

 

[DRosencraft]

Nice, I guess, but it's not that big a deal. I mean really, it takes only what, a few seconds to get it right? I appreciate the whole idea of just making things simpler and work better, but this isn't exactly something I think is worth much celebration. Really sort of "meh".

 

[lp231]

Not sure how Type C will look like, but this idea isn't new.

http://www.inewidea.com/2011/01/27/36325.html

Not as cool as the one above, but there are reversible USB cables
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Tripp-Lite-18-Inch-USB-2.0-Universal-Reversible-Cable-Right-M-F-18in/3111326.aspx

 

[Bloob]

Holes up, not that difficult. Still, a welcome change.

 

[LordConrad]

So now we'll need adapters to use our older USB devices, this sucks!

 

[ipwn3r456]

Well, is this type of plug going to be standardized? Looks like everything have to be changed again.

 

[weatherdude]

As someone who's used PS/2 connectors for years I have never complained about the orientation of USB plugs. If there's something before PS/2 that's worse then I don't even want to imagine it.

 

[vaughn2k]

The reason why it was designed that way is to avoid switching of terminals and voltages, and avoid some crashes of the hardware because the ground and power connects at the terminal at the same time (R E A D). If this new USB (terminal) works when reversed, the terminals would increased then, allow it to enter on either side without crashing your hardware. (R A D A R), which is simply already available on some appliance anyways...