Questionable leaks raise hopes that Apple will release new Lightning cable with reversible USB conne
Reversible male "Type-A" USB plugs are not new, but they also aren't compliant with the cable's official specifications, which means that newly leaked Lightning cables showing reversible USB connectors probably were not made by Apple.
Over the last week, a number of new cables showing reversible plugs on both ends --?Lightning and USB Type-A --?have surfaced online. These have been accompanied by claims that the cables were made by Apple and will be unveiled alongside the "iPhone 6."
Of course, knock-off Apple cables are nothing new, and manufacturers were quick to reverse engineer the Lightning standard shortly after it launched in 2012. Unauthorized Lightning cables, many of which could easily be mistaken for Apple-made plugs, quickly flooded the market.
One of the key selling points of the switch from the legacy 30-pin connector to Apple's new Lightning standard was reversible plugs. While 30-pin needed to be inserted in a specific direction, Lightning works from either side, making it easier for users to quickly plug in to charge and sync their iPhone, iPad or otherwise.
But while the Lightning connector is reversible, the USB connector on the other side of the cable is not. This is the legacy "Type-A" connector approved by the USB Compliance Committee, the group that sets the official standards for USB-authorized cables and accessories.
The fact that the committee has not authorized reversible Type-A USB plugs hasn't stopped cable makers from selling such products for years. For example, Tripp-Lite sells an entire range of accessories with reversible USB Type-A plugs, featuring connections to micro USB, mini USB, and even another reversible USB Type-A plug.
Last week, a number of leaks online showed a new Lightning cable with a reversible USB Type-A port. Most notably, Sonny Dickson posted pictures and video to his Twitter account showing what appear to be functioning Lightning cables with USB Type-A plugs that can be inserted into a computer or wall charging adapter in either direction.
However, there's been no indication that the USB Compliance Committee has given the greenlight to reversible USB Type-A plugs. That would mean that if Apple were to make such plugs, it might not be able to certify them as compliant with the USB standard.
The USB Compliance Committee does have a new forthcoming connector that is, in fact, reversible: USB Type-C. But the new, smaller connector features an entirely new form factor, unlike the reversible Type-A plugs shown by Dickson and others.
The specifications for USB Type-C are noteworthy because they do not specify which type of plug must be on each end of a cable. That means that authorized Type-C to Type-C cables, or even Type-C to Lightning connectors, could become a reality, setting the stage for the USB Type-A plug to begin to fade away.
Of course, that would require entirely new laptops and wall adapters with USB Type-C female capability, and that kind of transition will take time. In the interim, Apple fans are excited about the possibility of a reversible version of the traditional USB Type-A plug.
Whether the recently pictured parts are knock-off Lightning accessories made by unauthorized third-party cable makers, or if Apple really is planning to redefine the USB Type-A spec, the mystery should be settled soon enough: The company is expected to hold a media event on Sept. 9 to unveil its next-generation iPhone, and any potential changes to its Lightning-to-USB cables would likely be unveiled at that event.
Over the last week, a number of new cables showing reversible plugs on both ends --?Lightning and USB Type-A --?have surfaced online. These have been accompanied by claims that the cables were made by Apple and will be unveiled alongside the "iPhone 6."
Knock-off Lightning cables and unauthorized reversible USB Type-A plugs are not new. These "leaks" may be an example of both.
Of course, knock-off Apple cables are nothing new, and manufacturers were quick to reverse engineer the Lightning standard shortly after it launched in 2012. Unauthorized Lightning cables, many of which could easily be mistaken for Apple-made plugs, quickly flooded the market.
One of the key selling points of the switch from the legacy 30-pin connector to Apple's new Lightning standard was reversible plugs. While 30-pin needed to be inserted in a specific direction, Lightning works from either side, making it easier for users to quickly plug in to charge and sync their iPhone, iPad or otherwise.
But while the Lightning connector is reversible, the USB connector on the other side of the cable is not. This is the legacy "Type-A" connector approved by the USB Compliance Committee, the group that sets the official standards for USB-authorized cables and accessories.
The fact that the committee has not authorized reversible Type-A USB plugs hasn't stopped cable makers from selling such products for years. For example, Tripp-Lite sells an entire range of accessories with reversible USB Type-A plugs, featuring connections to micro USB, mini USB, and even another reversible USB Type-A plug.
Last week, a number of leaks online showed a new Lightning cable with a reversible USB Type-A port. Most notably, Sonny Dickson posted pictures and video to his Twitter account showing what appear to be functioning Lightning cables with USB Type-A plugs that can be inserted into a computer or wall charging adapter in either direction.
However, there's been no indication that the USB Compliance Committee has given the greenlight to reversible USB Type-A plugs. That would mean that if Apple were to make such plugs, it might not be able to certify them as compliant with the USB standard.
The USB Compliance Committee does have a new forthcoming connector that is, in fact, reversible: USB Type-C. But the new, smaller connector features an entirely new form factor, unlike the reversible Type-A plugs shown by Dickson and others.
The official USB Type-A spec doesn't allow for a reversible plug. So no, Apple won't make a new Lightning cable reversible on both sides.
-- Tip AppleInsider (@TipAppleInsider) The specifications for USB Type-C are noteworthy because they do not specify which type of plug must be on each end of a cable. That means that authorized Type-C to Type-C cables, or even Type-C to Lightning connectors, could become a reality, setting the stage for the USB Type-A plug to begin to fade away.
Of course, that would require entirely new laptops and wall adapters with USB Type-C female capability, and that kind of transition will take time. In the interim, Apple fans are excited about the possibility of a reversible version of the traditional USB Type-A plug.
Whether the recently pictured parts are knock-off Lightning accessories made by unauthorized third-party cable makers, or if Apple really is planning to redefine the USB Type-A spec, the mystery should be settled soon enough: The company is expected to hold a media event on Sept. 9 to unveil its next-generation iPhone, and any potential changes to its Lightning-to-USB cables would likely be unveiled at that event.
Comments
That said, if it was this easy, why has it taken so long for anyone of note to start to make them?
Just because it's not a part of the official spec doesn't mean that they won't or can't produce them. The lightening bit on the other end isn't official USB either, obviously. It would merely prevent them from using the USB name and logo. These are *not* USB cables, they are Apple cables with a USB connector on one end. If they change that to Apple cables that are compatible with USB Sockets, then it's the same thing.
That said, if it was this easy, why has it taken so long for anyone of note to start to make them?
Current Lightning cables do feature the official USB "trident" logo on the Type-A connector, making them sanctioned USB accessories. It doesn't appear that Apple would be able to continue using this logo if it switched to an unsanctioned reversible Type-A plug.
I don’t understand how such a plug is physically possible. Obviously the metal sheath can’t be any larger than the spec, so how can the interior pin slot make contact with the port’s slot in either direction? I see that it’s smaller than a standard, but that won’t do anything...
Why? If it work. They don't wanna make customers happy?
Cables are antiquated. I finally got fed up plugging my iPhone into my computer and turned on wifi syncing in iTunes. Now it can charge at the power or sit on the table and I can send new songs to it without touching it. It would be nice if Image Capture saw it wirelessly too so I could get images off it and it would be better if it used wifi-direct rather than the wireless network. 802.11ac is probably as fast as the read/write speeds of the NAND in the phone so there's no practical advantage for syncing by plugging it in:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7127/the-joys-of-80211ac-wifi/2
Apple made us realize with the lightning plug that any standard that is not reversible is antiquated.
Right? And having to make sure batteries are pointed the right way is SO ten minutes ago...
/s
Doesn't it seem like an awful lot of fuss over such an incredibly minor inconvenience? If people are incapable of simply flipping over a connector, it's no wonder Apple doesn't want them installing their own RAM!
It's a trivial matter here but that mindset is what would have had people still using command-lines to do everything on a computer. Until someone says it's an inconvenience, nobody bothers improving it. It wastes time having to turn things the right way. I frequently get the USB connector the wrong way up. The Thunderbolt one is easier because it has a different shape on the top of the cable end.
The new connector is smaller too:
so potentially more ports on the laptops and they'd allow even thinner designs for the sake of it, which I know you especially love. It means they can taper the Air more aggressively on the side. If they get rid of the internal fan with Broadwell, the next Air can be very thin.
edit, here's an idea of what a thinner fanless Broadwell Retina Air with USB C ports can be like:
It can be 20-30% thinner.
I don’t understand how such a plug is physically possible. Obviously the metal sheath can’t be any larger than the spec, so how can the interior pin slot make contact with the port’s slot in either direction? I see that it’s smaller than a standard, but that won’t do anything...
Clearly it will not be backwards compatible. If Apple adopts the new design they might also need to design some transition adaptor as well.
Well no, this is designed to be backward compatible. The images in the article show backward compatible reversible USB A plugs.
Well no, this is designed to be backward compatible. The images in the article show backward compatible reversible USB A plugs.
The Type C, the spec for which has been finalized, is not backward compatible. I really can't see how a new Type A will be either, at least not with a sheath.
Cables are antiquated. I finally got fed up plugging my iPhone into my computer and turned on wifi syncing in iTunes. Now it can charge at the power or sit on the table and I can send new songs to it without touching it. It would be nice if Image Capture saw it wirelessly too so I could get images off it and it would be better if it used wifi-direct rather than the wireless network. 802.11ac is probably as fast as the read/write speeds of the NAND in the phone so there's no practical advantage for syncing by plugging it in:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7127/the-joys-of-80211ac-wifi/2
Wifi syncing in iTunes still needs improvement. Devices sometimes disappear from iTunes for no reason and there is no quick way to make them reappear without restarting either the device or the computer, or both.
Apple made us realize with the lightning plug that any standard that is not reversible is antiquated.
Actually, headphone jacks, RCA and coax cables made us realize that a long time ago. And even though reversible USB plugs are not official spec, I think they did exist before Apple's Lightning plug.
The other issue with USB is why they require different connectors on each end of the cable for a computer and a device. Doesn't seem to be a problem with Firewire or Thunderbolt.
Yes, but I mean the nonstandard A up there. There’s no need for the continued existence of A or B at all since the creation of C, but the A in the article is trying to be a C (dear mother of…) while retaining backward compatibility with existing hardware. I just don’t see how it works. Maybe I’d have to hold one.
This is all moot, really. Official C is the future for everything.
It's a trivial matter here but that mindset is what would have had people still using command-lines to do everything on a computer. Until someone says it's an inconvenience, nobody bothers improving it.
Fair point. The judges will accept that answer. My comment was (mostly) tongue-in-cheek anyway. I'm easily convinced when I don't really have any energy about it one way or the other!
they'd allow even thinner designs for the sake of it, which I know you especially love.
My wife is looking at me funny because I'm still laughing out loud at that while I type this reply! Good one! Touché!
I really can't see how a new Type A will be [backward compatible], at least not with[out] a sheath.
I don't get how it's supposed to work either. Wouldn't it require an opening twice the height of a standard A jack, since there would have to be openings both above and below the pin frame?
This is all moot, really. Official C is the future for everything.
This is one case in which I'd happily replace every USB cable in the house (and there must be dozens) if a new computer incorporated that spec. The present USB plug is such an abomination that I'd welcome the opportunity to banish it just by throwing money at it. The problem is not the fact that it's not reversible per se, but that it just doesn't mate well leading one to THINK they have it upside-down when they don't (as illustrated in your diagram earlier in the thread).
The only challenge will be pocket flash drives which will need adaptors because we'll still have to use them with legacy A ports.
The only challenge will be pocket flash drives which will need adaptors because we'll still have to use them with legacy A ports.
Until they start making them with C, which should be as soon as ratification.