USB 3.0 moving on

Could it Be Time to Say Goodbye to the Traditional USB Jack?

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Guest Post By Kelsey Rausch

The USB jack that you’ve come to know over the years might not be available in the near future. While some companies like Microsoft are clinging to the traditional micro-USB and USB 3.0 specifications, others like Intel have announced plans to move on.

In late May, Intel announced that it would make its Thunderbolt 3 technology royalty-free, giving device manufacturers more incentive to actually use it. But the thing about this technology is that it utilizes USB-C to connect with computers and other devices.

Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be an issue, but the new cables are completely different. And like it or not, technology will always move forward. It’s hard to believe that the USB 2.0 specification was released in 2000 (almost 18 years ago!) and increased bandwidth from 12 Mbit/s to 480 Mbit/s (Megabits per second). Now, technology has evolved beyond what the creators of USB 2.0 likely could have imagined when that specification was released.

Fortunately, the USB-C cable offers a lot of potential. Charging computers and connecting to other devices will not only be faster, it will be easier, as the USB-C port is highly flexible in its design. Now, instead of having to constantly flip your USB cable before inserting it correctly, the USB-C can be connected in any direction.

But some companies, like Microsoft, aren’t sold on the new technology.

The company has chosen to leave USB-C off of its flagship product, the Surface Pro. Though the company has expressed support for the new technology, their primary objective is supporting their consumer base.

“I believe there was a headline that said, ‘Microsoft doesn’t believe in Type C.’ Actually, that’s not accurate. I believe in Type C, for sure, but right now I believe in our customers more,” Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Devices Panos Panay told Mashable.

In other words, just because USB-C isn’t included in Microsoft products right now doesn’t mean it won’t be there in the future. Through questions and concerns about the decision not to include the new specification currently, Panay has stood firm in his statement.

Regardless, as companies like Intel and even Apple make moves toward including USB-C in their new and upcoming products, the change to USB-C looks inevitable. The future may hold a single charger for all electronics yet.

Kelsey Rausch is a writer and an avid world traveler. When she’s not writing or listening to 80s music, you can find her exploring different countries, taking selfies with her dog Lady, and in constant search for the perfect brownie recipe.