Another Image of New Lightning Cable with Reversible USB Connector Surfaces

[utazdevl]

It's going to fit. It's going to fit just like all the other reversible Type "A" USB plugs which have been around for years fit and have always fit.

The 'tongue' of the Type "A" plug is central in the middle of the plug, a little of its thickness one side, a little the other. The mating piece of the socket is and always has been just a little away from center allowing the plug to contact it. The only differences in this plug, the really only difference, is instead of the area behind the tongue on the plug one side being full of plastic, it's empty and the tongue has connections both sides.

If you look at the two pictures of the two plugs on the front page, allow a little leeway for the fact that they have been held at two slightly different angles, just imagine trimming away most (80%) of the plastic at the top of the 'old' plug to leave a hole.. you now have the new plug. That plastic doesn't do very much, adds a little bit of mechanical grip, makes the plug go in one way. The reason it's there at all in the original design is that making one set of contacts is cheaper than making two sets of contacts, one on either side of the tongue on the plug and the USB group was concerned to make sure USB plugs were cheap to manufacture. If you only have contacts on one side, the plug MUST go in one way up, hence the blanking plastic to ensure that happens.

I'm fairly surprised at the number replies castigating Apple for coming up with a plug which won't fit a normal Type "A" socket, number one because it's very clearly absolutely going to fit it and two because they just aren't that stupid.

If I am wrong and it actually does fit without shoving the electrode piece inside the port to the side, that's great. I actually hope that is the case. I even just watched a video that shows how it might, in fact, fit (though no explanation of how was given, just visual proof that it does fit).

All that said, I just don't see how it is possible, but hey, I have been wrong before and will likely be wrong again.

 

[Gjwilly]

If I am wrong and it actually does fit without shoving the electrode piece inside the port to the side, that's great. I actually hope that is the case.

The piece inside the port can't move which is why the corresponding part inside the cable end does move.
It flexes slightly in either direction.
That's what makes it reversible and compatible with all existing USB ports.

 

[doelcm82]

So how come none of my cables from Apple have ever broke? NONE.

You're just lucky.

Lucky people like you have pristine looking white cables from Apple.

Unlucky people like me have sturdier, longer, better-made cables in various colors, and we pay less for them than you do.

I don't envy you lucky people.

 

[utazdevl]

The piece inside the port can't move which is why the corresponding part inside the cable end does move.
It flexes slightly in either direction.
That's what makes it reversible and compatible with all existing USB ports.

OK, that makes some sense. Does that lead to more potential for breakage on the cables port?

 

[2010mini]

You're just lucky.

Lucky people like you have pristine looking white cables from Apple.

Unlucky people like me have sturdier, longer, better-made cables in various colors, and we pay less for them than you do.

I don't envy you lucky people.

Mine came with the phone. I didn't have to spend anything extra. So it was you who paid more

 

[doelcm82]

Mine came with the phone. I didn't have to spend anything extra. So it was you who paid more

I usually like to have a spare or two, so I don't have to carry one back and forth everywhere I might need one. The third party cables are still better than the one that came with my iPhone. You only have one cable?

 

[2010mini]

I usually like to have a spare or two, so I don't have to carry one back and forth everywhere I might need one. The third party cables are still better than the one that came with my iPhone. You only have one cable?

No, I have more. All the iDevices in my house use lightning cables. Plus I can always get more from my job. We give out ipod touches locked in a scanner to our customers. So we have tonnes of these cables, still unwrapped, lying around.

Since my original cables have never failed, I've never had to get a replacement. (Which would cost me nothing)

 

[juanrp]

Seems useful..to a point.

Maybe no more fumbling around trying to get the darn plug in

 

[doelcm82]

No, I have more. All the iDevices in my house use lightning cables. Plus I can always get more from my job. We give out ipod touches locked in a scanner to our customers. So we have tonnes of these cables, still unwrapped, lying around.

Since my original cables have never failed, I've never had to get a replacement. (Which would cost me nothing)

As I've said, you're lucky. Apple's cables don't hold up for me and a lot of other people, but we can buy more durable and reliable cables from third-party sellers.

It was tough back when Apple was the only source for Lightning cables, but now there is a lot of choice in colors and length, too.

 

[rhoydotp]

I hope that Apple will use this reversible USB cable, I hate to try several times to insert the USB connector in my PC.

isn't it a 50-50 chance? so you only need to try max of two times ... unless you have thousands of devices to plugin daily, then, I understand your excitement

 

[RenoG]

What if you turn the plug 90 degrees. Ah hah you didn't think of that did you

you just gave me a conundrum, ok now i totally understand this why this thread is now 10 pages deep.

 

[utazdevl]

FYI, I have finally seen enough videos and had it explained to me enough times that I now understand how the port can be reversible. I think the idea is a bit gimmicky but I can see some value and how it can help avoid a mild annoyance.

 

[amoda]

Source?

Link

USB, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, is a standard. The group designs it and the tech companies choose to adopt it or not.

Apple does have proprietary cables though, like FireWire and Lightening.

 

[wikiverse]

Technology is forced obsolescence, not Apple's business model. You act as if Apple is the only one that progressively adds to and improves products.

There is a difference between progressively adding and deliberately withholding.

Apple does the latter and is famous for it. I'm not complaining about it. Just pointing out the facts. Apple is THE forced obsolescence case study in almost every business school in the world.

 

[wigby]

There is a difference between progressively adding and deliberately withholding.

Apple does the latter and is famous for it. I'm not complaining about it. Just pointing out the facts. Apple is THE forced obsolescence case study in almost every business school in the world.

Apple products live on the bleeding edge of technology...technology is the forced obsolescence that business schools can't teach because they are looking at affects and not causes. Apple customers tend to have and spend more money so Apple can get away with it easier than most other tech companies but they all force it because they have no choice if they want to be considered a tech company.

As far as withholding features, that's another trait that Apple excels in too. But there is a big difference between your customers bemoaning the removal of a floppy drive or optical drive or legacy 22 pin connector and when your customers brag to others about those very things. Apple has a way of making the removal of older, more comfortable technology a benefit to their customers as well as themselves. Some of it is good timing, some is good technology and some is just good marketing.

 

[koruki]

What good does the screwdriver do? I don't see any visible screws on my iPhone. I guess you could use it to pry the phone apart...

put your classes on =)

 

[wikiverse]

Apple products live on the bleeding edge of technology...technology is the forced obsolescence that business schools can't teach because they are looking at affects and not causes. Apple customers tend to have and spend more money so Apple can get away with it easier than most other tech companies but they all force it because they have no choice if they want to be considered a tech company.

As far as withholding features, that's another trait that Apple excels in too. But there is a big difference between your customers bemoaning the removal of a floppy drive or optical drive or legacy 22 pin connector and when your customers brag to others about those very things. Apple has a way of making the removal of older, more comfortable technology a benefit to their customers as well as themselves. Some of it is good timing, some is good technology and some is just good marketing.

It's not about removing old technology. If you recall the original iPad didn't have a front facing camera... In 2010... As the ip4 was being released.

Don't forget the iPad 3 which was outdated after less than 6 months because of a lack of lightning connector.

A larger screen didn't appear until the iPhone 5.

Apple are not on the 'bleeding edge of technology.' It is their entire business model to deliberately withhold features so that a product will need to be upgraded. That's not because technology is rapidly advancing, front facing cameras were in phones as early as 2002, for example.

I really don't see why you have to deny that apple do this. It is common knowledge and is celebrated as a successful business model.

Does it suck for consumers? Sure. But it keeps shareholders happy and that is the number one concern of any business.

 

[Ifti]

Still looks like USB2 though?

I don't care about reversible cables - just give me USB3!

 

[wigby]

It's not about removing old technology. If you recall the original iPad didn't have a front facing camera... In 2010... As the ip4 was being released.

Don't forget the iPad 3 which was outdated after less than 6 months because of a lack of lightning connector.

A larger screen didn't appear until the iPhone 5.

Apple are not on the 'bleeding edge of technology.' It is their entire business model to deliberately withhold features so that a product will need to be upgraded. That's not because technology is rapidly advancing, front facing cameras were in phones as early as 2002, for example.

I really don't see why you have to deny that apple do this. It is common knowledge and is celebrated as a successful business model.

Does it suck for consumers? Sure. But it keeps shareholders happy and that is the number one concern of any business.

You make it sound as if they sit around with a checklist of things to keep out of each product instead of what they really are doing which is...

deciding how to make the best device they can make at the best profit margin they can squeak out. That doesn't come without compromises to many aspects of every product. Every company does this.

If Apple's key to success was really withholding technology, I don't think their customer satisfaction ratings would be higher than the industry average, do you?

 

[wigby]

It's not about removing old technology. If you recall the original iPad didn't have a front facing camera... In 2010... As the ip4 was being released.

Don't forget the iPad 3 which was outdated after less than 6 months because of a lack of lightning connector.

A larger screen didn't appear until the iPhone 5.

Apple are not on the 'bleeding edge of technology.' It is their entire business model to deliberately withhold features so that a product will need to be upgraded. That's not because technology is rapidly advancing, front facing cameras were in phones as early as 2002, for example.

I really don't see why you have to deny that apple do this. It is common knowledge and is celebrated as a successful business model.

Does it suck for consumers? Sure. But it keeps shareholders happy and that is the number one concern of any business.

If you think Apple is withholding technology, what about Google? They've built the world's most popular devices knowing full well that 90% of those devices will not be or are not possible to upgrade. Fragmentation is a huge problem that actually affects customers in the form of trojans and viruses. All Android partners know that customers will have to buy new hardware in order to upgrade. Why aren't you blaming them? Why isn't Google the worst perpetrator of this crime? They have the largest marketshare and affect the most people so stop blaming Apple just because they make the most money and have the best customer satisfaction rankings.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...e-different-versions-of-android-hold-10-share