USB gets a Lightning cable makeover: First glimpse of reversible USB 3 cables

By Jeremy Kaplan April 2, 2014

Reversible, USB Type C cable — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The ubiquitous USB cable is set for a major revamp — and here’s the first image of its new look.

Announced in December by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, a trade association that controls the USB specification, the new cables aim to solve a problem that’s likely frustrated anyone who’s ever fumbled behind their computer to plug in a pesky digital camera or other gadget: Which way is up? The new cable will come in an entirely new design that’s reversible, calling to mind Apple’s anything-goes Lightning cables.

Called USB Type-C, the new connectors will feature an entirely new design with a smaller size, and most important, users will no longer need to be concerned with plug orientation — no more fumbling behind that PC, in other words. Seen here are the first-ever renderings of the cable, obtained by The Verge from Foxconn. They look more like Micro HDMI than the standard, wide-body USB plugs we’re all familiar with,

The new cables will also support USB 3.1, and a bandwidth of up to 10Gbps. According to The Verge, the design and the full spec have not been finalized just yet, but the folks in charge are confident enough to release these images.

Needless to say, the plugs aren’t compatible with anything you currently own. Next stop, dongle city.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Mobile

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As Editor in Chief, Jeremy Kaplan transformed Digital Trends from a niche publisher into one of the fastest growing…

Computing

Power up your tech game this summer with Dell’s top deals: Upgrade for a bargain

Dell Techfest and best tech on sale featured.

One of the best times to upgrade your tech stack, be it your desktop, a new laptop, or some high-resolution monitors, is when great deals are to be had. Well, I'm here to share that thanks to Dell's top deals, you can power up your tech game and have most of the summer to make it happen. Maybe you're happy with your current system or setup. That's excellent, but you're likely considering upgrading somewhere, and that's precisely what these deals are all about. Dell has a smorgasbord of deals on laptops, desktops, gaming desktops, monitors, accessories, and so much more. We'll call out a few of our favorite deals below, but for now, know that you should be shopping this sale if you're interested in anything tech-related.

What summer tech should you buy in Dell's top deals?

Computing

I love the MacBook Pro, but this Windows laptop came surprisingly close

Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

There are some great machines in the 15-inch laptop category, which has recently been stretched to include the more common 16-inch laptop. The best among them is the Apple MacBook Pro 16, which offers fast performance for tasks like video editing and the longest battery life.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 is aimed not only at other 16-inch Windows laptops but also at the MacBook Pro 16. It offers many of the same benefits but at a lower price. Can it take a place at the top?
Specs and configurations

Computing

How to set an ‘Out of Office’ message in Microsoft Teams

Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

Many people use Microsoft Teams regularly to communicate with colleagues both inside of the office and remotely. It is considered one of the most efficient ways to ensure you can stay in contact with the people on your team, but what if you need to let people know you’re not readily available? Microsoft Teams has a method for you to set up an "Out of Office" status for your profile to let staff members know when you’ll be gone for the afternoon, for several days on vacation, or for an extended period.
Where do I go to set up my ‘Out of Office’ status for Teams?
It is important to note that your Microsoft Teams and Outlook calendars are synced. This includes your out-of-office status and automatic replies. So, whatever you set up in Microsoft Teams will reflect in Outlook. Similarly, you can set up your out-of-office status in Outlook, and it will be reflected in Teams; however, the former has a more straightforward instruction.

First, you can click on your profile icon in Teams and go directly to Schedule an out of office, as a shortcut. This will take you to the settings area where you can proceed. You can also click the three-dot icon next to your profile icon, then go to Settings > General, then scroll down to the bottom of the page. There, you'll find out-of-office settings and click Schedule.