Gadgets for the Guru: USB-C the new standard

Take a stroll around your house and you’ll probably find that most of your tech devices have a Universal Serial Bus connection. If you’re not familiar with the Universal Serial Bus, it’s also known as the USB. Over the years the USB has gone through a variety of changes from faster speeds to smaller ports, and now the USB has undergone a monumental change that could transform the future of connection.
Check out the new standard for peripheral connection: the USB-C.
The physical size of the Type-C port is about the same as the Micro-B USB and measures just 8.4mm by 2.6mm. The Type-C port is small enough to work for even the smallest of devices and both ends of the cable will be the same allowing for reversible plug orientation. (No need to worry about plugging it in upside down).
Several tech companies have already adopted the new standard of USB, thus increasing the popularity for the new standard of connection and marking 2015 as the year the all-in-one dongle takes over. The Type-C USB will support USB 3.1 with the top speed of 10Gbps and has a high power output of up to 20V(100W) and 5A. Looking toward the future, notebook computers will be able to be charged through the USB port much like tablets and smartphones are now.
A few weeks ago, Apple announced its refreshed MacBook that did away with all ports and is relying solely on the new standard USB-C for connection. Dubbed the thinnest MacBook ever, Apple had to rethink its design in which they transitioned into a “one port to rule them all” mentality.
Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 10.45.17 AM
Moreover, storage vendors will have the ability to make bus-powered (no separate power adapter required) external hard drives with much larger capacity with enough power to run one or even multiple desktop hard drives.
USB-C will considerably cut down the amount of wires and cords it takes to power on our devices.
Will you adopt the new dongle?
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Contributions and graphics courtesy of CNET and Foxcomm
This article has been updated since its oringal post