Credit: USB-IF/Arstechnica
USB connectors have been getting smaller & smaller. First step down was mini USB, followed, more recently, by micro USB.
Credit: Intel/Arstechnica
Can you relate to the graphic above? mini USB was was arguably an improvement, but I have difficulty reading the orientation of micro USB in poor light. Well, that problem is about to be solved. USB connectors are about to have a new iteration: USB Type-C. It will be about the same size as micro USB, but will be reversible, & compatible with USB 3.1, which will support data transfer speeds up to 10 gigabits per second (i.e. double the data rate of USB 3.0) & up up to 100 Watts of power.
Intention is that it will replace all previous USB plug/socket standards, on all types of devices. That promises the elimination of a lot of adapter cables. My guess, though, is that the conversion process will take so long that a new connector standard will have been defined before it is complete.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/08/small-reversible-usb-type-c-connector-finalized/ / USB Promoter Group finalized design USB Type-C plug socket USB plug designed replace Apple Lightning cables new connector reversible any orientation polarity USB-IF Univeral Serial Bus Industry Forum press release micro USB 2.0 Type-B connectors phones tablets robust laptops tablets slim mobile phones connector cables adapters Type-C devices Type-A Type-B ports older ports USB 3.1 specification spec theoretical transfer speeds 5Gbps USB 3.0 10Gbps 100W of power USB Power Delivery spec Thunderbolt controllers bandwidth second-generation controllers 20Gbps built into chipsets SoC shipping devices USB Type-C connector designed to scale USB spec faster future cables physically compatible micro USB 3.0 Type-B connector /
