Apple Reportedly Invented USB-C, Wants it to Become Standard: Gruber

Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook debuted with just one port: USB C. This reversible port charges, offers USB 3 data transfer speeds and offers video output for HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort connections.

Where did USB-C originate from? According to well-connected Apple watcher John Gruber, sources tell him USB-C was an Apple invention, something the company created, gave to standard bodies and hopes it will become an industry standard (we already saw Google’s latest ChromeBook Pixel debut with USB-C).

The information was detailed on his podcast The Talk Show (54 minute mark), (via The Tech Block):

I have heard, can’t say who, but let’s call them “informed little birdies”, that USB-C is an Apple invention and that they gave it to the standard bodies. And that the politics of such is that they can’t really say that. They’re not going to come out in public and say that. It is an Apple invention and they do want it to become a standard.

Gruber believes there are certain contexts where Apple wants to have proprietary connectors such as the Lightning connector, but other situations where an industry standard is present. He went on to explain he heard USB-C was created alongside Lightning, but the former was given to standard bodies.

Here’s an explanation of USB-C from MKBHD:

YouTube video

In terms of design, USB-C has a similar design to Apple’s Lightning connector, particularly the reversible feature and thin design. Is is actually Apple’s invention? We don’t know for certain, but Gruber’s sources are usually pretty good.

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