Next gen USB cable will be reversible

The new Type-C plugs, akin to Apple's Lightning connector, will mean that users no longer have to fiddle with USB cables to find the correct orientation to plug them in. What's more, the new connectors will be considerably smaller and support scalable charging. "The new Type-C connector will fit well with the market's direction and affords an opportunity to lay a foundation for future versions of USB," said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group chairman. The specification is due to be completed by the Promoter Group by mid-2014, and the first product on the market by 2016. The Type-C connecters are initially intended for USB 3.1 and 2.0 devices. They will be similar in size to the USB 2.0 Micro-B plug found on most modern mobile phones.