Finally! New USB Standard Will Feature Reversible Connector

[ikefu]

Lightning style connector sans the hokey intermediate security chip would be excellent. I like the form factor, hate that dumb chip they put in just to keep prices high.

 

[Michael Reeves]

My computer case has upside-down USB ports (Cooler Master). This would be a helpful solution.

 

[Novuake]

Not gonna be widespread for ages... I do not see the problem to be honest.

 

[acadia11]

First world problem.

 

[Novuake]

First world problem.

Well said.

 

[davidgermain]

get some nail varnish and put a dot on the 'top'

 

[torka]

This is a life changing event!

 

[Deadfred]

I think all the small form factor connector should be reversible. HDMI, DisplayPort,... etc. Heck most of them have so much crossover in functionality you could almost engineer a unified digital audio\video\data standard connector to rule them all.

 

[Novuake]

I think all the small form factor connector should be reversible. HDMI, DisplayPort,... etc. Heck most of them have so much crossover in functionality you could almost engineer a unified digital audio\video\data standard connector to rule them all.

I had the same thought when DisplayPort just became a thing.

 

[truerock]

WOW!!! what an amazing idea! How ingenious! Those guys over at USB are brilliant!

 

[urbanman2004]

This is cool, but all my old USB sticks won't be compatible any more. That sucks, this sounds like something Apple would do.

 

[joe bob]

It's really annoying that it's not symetrical, but this is too late unless its backward compatible. It's great to be able to travel and get USB power all over the place without a wallwart or local power plug. Also since a lot of ports are vertical, I'm not sure what "up" would mean to orient the (almost invisible) USB logo. And Yes, I frequently flip the USB multiple times to try to get it to insert. Of course this is still better than having the idiotic non-standard Apple connectors that change every other model.

 

[Chris Bedford]

<q>[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</q>

Proof that cables exist in 4-space.

 

[Chris Bedford]

[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"

Yes indeedy. HOWEVER! You are never guaranteed which way around those receptacles are going to be on the back of the damn computer. Most MoBos (OK, all, that I have seen) have them with the "thick part down" but when the computer stands on edge (tower config), and it's a BTX, which way is that? USB expansion boards almost all seem to have them upside-down (thick part UP)

Then there's the front-panel USB ports - some on edge "this" way around, some "that" way, and many upside-down. You are still, 99 times out of a hundred, going to try them first this way and then the other (Murphy states clearly you will not get it right first time) before geting them in...

And please don't get me started on the USB 3.0 "B" connector. That odd shaped plug (looks like a micro & a mini USB side by side, sort of) is as difficult to plug in & out as the 4-pin power connectors on an IDE device...

 

[artk2219]

I see this mostly being a huge thing for cellphones and other mobile devices, I know i've seen many a charge port ruined by some person that just decided to try to cram in the micro usb connector without checking out whether or not its right side up.