Reversible USB design shown off by Foxconn

Foxconn have shown off their new reversible USB design which means no more putting the USB in the wrong way round.

This new USB design dubbed type-c is looking to overtake both type-a/b and Micro USB as the universal standard.

Other improvements include:

• Support for scalable power charging, allowing the cable to offer up to 100 watts
• Data speed transfers of up to 10 gigabits per second, double what is possible at the moment
• A promise that the new design will accommodate further upgrades

I think the symmetry is a wonderful idea for these new connectors, I know everybody has to deal with reaching down the back of their pc switching the cable around every which way in an attempt to get the bloody thing in and many of these attempts end in failure so anything that makes daily life easier is fine with me. Though from the other improvements we can see that these cables offer much more than making your daily life easier. Data speed transfer being the most important of these, a doubling of bandwidth isn’t something to scoff at as after these cables are made for data transfer.

I think it would be a good idea for this design to catch on but people don’t like change and we have to drag a few kicking and screaming, namely Apple as they keep pushing their proprietary connectors and just making their consumers lives harder when there is simply no need to.

The USB Implementers Forum anticipates the new designs will be finalised in July.