USB Type-C: What is and its many advantages – Ridble (Registration) (Blog)

connectors for peripheral I / O (input-output) there are many and of all forms. Some are owners (or only on certain devices) such as the Lightning for Apple devices – from the iPhone 5 and up -, others are embraced by all major hardware manufacturers (often in different times) to the delight of us users.

The proof is the “old” version of the connector Thunderbolt developed hand in hand between Intel and Apple which saw its entry into exclusive form before the Californian computer company taking the place of Firewire (also developed by Apple). But among the many standards and connectors, there is one that is becoming more talked about at this time.

Although there is also well for some time, it seems that the whole world has really noticed his existence only after the release of the 2015 Apple MacBook. One might say that here we are dealing with a classic example of distorted reality, where only after the release of a device chatted users realize actually what news will bring about a new technology.

With the USB 3.1 Type-C is also possible to transmit video signal It is clear that the aforementioned MacBook mount the USB 3.1 on January 1 that use the signal rate 5 Gbps, unlike others who are equipped with the USB 3.1 on January 2 with a signal rate to 10 Gbps. But what then this USB Type-C everyone is talking about? And how does this relate to the USB 3.1? Actually a bit ‘of confusion was created no one knows by whom, and this means that very often we tend to think that the “Type-C” is a connector of its own, different from USB 3.0.

The reality, however, is completely different than generally appreciated; USB Type-C now is nothing more than the USB 3.0 (we already talked about in our focus on this), where you go with this nomenclature to describe some of the characteristics of this connector. For reference, there is also the Type-A USB 3.0 but that is always that, unlike the Type-C, it shares some features with the sisters USB 3.0 and 2.0.

What? Banda aside, the Type-A inherits the new first world problem of recent years: it can be properly inserted only one of the two sides of the connector, just like all other USB connectors on the market. The USB Type-C instead of has a completely different connector from the others; not only as a dimension – is smaller and up – but you can also add it in the socket regardless of which face is turned toward us. In the newspaper this change may seem futile or at least laughable, but it is undeniable that having a connector that can be inserted regardless of which face tightens in his fingers is an advantage not just – seeing is believing. In this case, you can then test the feeling of liberation that millions of users have tried passing from the old 30pin connector of the mobile Apple devices, to the new Lightning cable.

The concept that is at the heart of USB 3.1 is rather different: apart from the connector, Type-A or Type-C, the performances have improved dramatically. Not to cut the legs to the millions of devices out there in the market, it is pleasing that the new USB 3.1 is completely backwards compatible with legacy formats but going to undermining transfer performance . For instance is the same problem that occurs when a computer with USB 2.0 ports using a USB 3.0. But it is not only a question of speed, backward compatibility, reversibility; USB 3.1 also supports different energy profiles (12 V and 20 V at 5A). The big advantage is that now through the USB connector, you can power and charge a large number of devices, including the MacBook 2015 that we mentioned earlier and the Google Chromebook Pixel.

Thanks to the USB Type-C computer will come increasingly thin

That said, what products are currently purchased and which are standard USB Type-C? Starting from more recent and much talked OnePlus Two that we know how it was announced a few days ago (one might expect in the coming months the arrival of several Android smartphones with connector Type-C), on Amazon you can find a large number of devices type c-ready : for example we have the tablet Nokia N1, new memories USB hybrid like the one presented by Sandisk with USB 3.0 and full size USB 3.0 Type-C or the many cables that are increasingly being offered for sale on the store Bezos.

But it is only a small revolution that invest the mobile market (smartphones and tablets in the first place); even the traditional PC – the caissons to be clear – and the notebook will benefit arrival of USB Type-C. Although he did not jump for joy during the presentation of the MacBook 2015 (too expensive), it is undeniable that with regard to convenience and portability solution offered by USB 3.1 is out of the question. Let’s keep in mind that through the USB Type-C 3.1 is also possible to pass the video signal, something that ASUS has already given way to check carefully with the external display MB168B ; then, in summary, a single cable can power your computer and pass even the video signal to an external monitor which, in turn, is self-powered – if you please.

Devices more purpose, lightweight, portable means less problems for us users that we try to remain sane despite the perpetual and quiet battle against three thousand different cables to attack this or that device. For all those who rightly turn up their noses at the idea of ​​having a laptop with a single USB port (you understand, really) come to the rescue of the many hubs that are increasingly catching on Amazon. For example this allows you to extend the potential of much of a laptop with USB 3.0 Type-C by adding two additional USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, TF card and an Ethernet input.

As often happens in the technology sector after the initial and human feeling distrust, just trying a new product in daily life or in this case a new connector, leave the feeling of dismay to leave space to the eternal question unspoken: How did I live without this until now?

John Mattei