Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/498229
U N I V E R S A L S E R I A L B U S ( U S B ) P O R T S a r e by f a r t h e m o s t c o m m o n t y p e o f p e r i p h e r a l c o n n e c t i o n . If you own a laptop, desktop, mobile phone or even a tablet, you've most likely encountered the USB con- nection cable without even knowing it. They're used to connect devices like printers, hard drives and key- boards, and even to charge your smartphone after a day of being out and about. The newest USB connection is called USB-C. You'll see it first on Apple's latest MacBook, but it won't be unique to Apple laptops. In time, you'll see it spread to everything that currently uses the older, larger USB connector. USB-C is a great upgrade to current USB technology, and although it may take a bit to become as popular as current USB connections, it'll certainly simplify the way we work with devices when it does. Again, this new technology was just announced. If Apple is pushing it, chances are it's going to spread fast. We figured this is a perfect time to get our readers up to speed on it. Remember — you read it here first. It's more powerful. The bidirectional power output of USB-C can reach up to 100 watts, which is why Apple is using it as a charging connector for their new MacBook. Being able to charge a peripheral or host device means cutting down the amount of wires currently needed to make devices work. Photo credit: Apple It's tiny. About one-third the size of the USB connectors you're currently using. USB-C cables will feature the same connection on both ends, allowing for reversible plug orientation. That means you won't have to worry about plugging it in upside down. It's faster. Thanks to USB-C's use of the new USB 3.1 standard, data transfer speeds will reach up to 10 gigabits per second, which is two to 10 times faster than previous USB connectors. USB-C The latest USB connection standard to rule them all by Terry Ng Know & Tell Tech tips 10 www.cta.org What's different about the new USB-C connector?