New USB Type C coming in 2014.

[ShintaiDK]

http://www.usb.org/press/USB-IF_Press_Releases/Type-C_PR_20131203_Final.pdf

Key characteristics of the USB Type-C connector and cable solution include:
 An entirely new design tailored to work well with emerging product designs
 New smaller size – similar in size to the existing USB 2.0 Micro-B
 Usability enhancements – users will no longer need to be concerned with plug orientation/cable direction, making it easier to plug in
 The Type-C connector and cable will support scalable power charging
 Scalability – the connector design will scale for future USB bus performance

Even more fragmentation of the plugs it seems.

​

As the new USB Type-C plug and receptacle will not directly mate with existing USB plugs and receptacles (Type-A, Type-B, Micro-B, etc.), the Type-C specification will define passive new-to-existing cables and adapters to allow users to use their existing products.

 

[AViking]

Speed? Right now the problem I have with USB is it's a bit slow. Something as simple as transferring 64GB of images is stupid slow at these speeds.

 

[ShintaiDK]

No speed change.

 

[oynaz]

Speed? Right now the problem I have with USB is it's a bit slow. Something as simple as transferring 64GB of images is stupid slow at these speeds.

64GB using USB3 should not take more than 5-10 seconds.

 

[TheStu]

64GB using USB3 should not take more than 5-10 seconds.

Um...? Using what tech?

USB 3.0 is 5 Gb/s (bandwidth), which is 625MB/s.

The spec states that 3.2Gb/s is more reasonable for sustained throughput though, and that's 400MB/s.

Now, 400MB/s isn't too bad, and if you're transferring from a current gen SATA3 or PCIe SSD, to another SATA3/ PCIe SSD you'll hit those numbers easy. But at 400MB/s, after your 5-10s, only 2-4GB of data will have been transfered. You'll need 160s, or almost 3 minutes to transfer all 64GB.

I'm not saying that's bad, 3min to transfer 64GB is pretty amazing actually, but it's longer than 5-10s.

 

[PliotronX]

USB's rated throughput is theoretical, just as 2.0's "480Mbps" still tends to perform at anywhere from 90-240Mbps depending heavily on the USB controller in the host and device. I've not measured real-world throughput of 3.0 but I'd imagine a lot of HDD's are capable of faster transfer rates than most 3.0 controllers allow. Your 64GB test ran at 355MB/sec (2844Mbps) which is probably par for 3.0 real-world. eSATA is likely a might faster but a lot less prevalent.

 

[luv2liv]

if they are gonna fix it. i hope they gonna do it right!

please make it circular. you can just plug it in blindfolded. only then can people can truly stop complaining about "orientation." as of now, the lighting port has not really solved this orientation issue that people are having.

 

[AViking]

USB 3.0 is at about 110 MB/s for me. So 64GB takes about 10 minutes. On my netbook it's way slower probably because the device isn't as good. Either way it's not impressive at all.

Maybe USB 3.0 devices from the last couple years have gotten much better so definitely correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe you're writing to a SSD. I'm not. I haven't seen anything close to 400 MB/s.

 

[TheStu]

USB 3.0 is at about 110 MB/s for me. So 64GB takes about 10 minutes. On my netbook it's way slower probably because the device isn't as good. Either way it's not impressive at all.

Maybe USB 3.0 devices from the last couple years have gotten much better so definitely correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe you're writing to a SSD. I'm not. I haven't seen anything close to 400 MB/s.

All my stuff was theoretical. I get about 110MB/s over USB3 as well, but that's to a platter drive, so honestly it probably couldn't get much faster.

400MB/s is what the USB 3 spec states is the expected sustained throughput, but you're only hitting those numbers with SSDs.

 

[ElFenix]

the current micro plug sucks so if we can get one that doesn't suck, i don't mind that it's fragmenting.

 

[wasabiman123]

While this is going to be awesome going forward, it kinda sucks to lose that native USB compatibility without adapters... That's one of the main reasons USB ports are awesome, they work with anything. Always going to be annoying moving to a new standard, hopefully it will be worth it

 

[Revolution 11]

How new standards are formed.....
http://xkcd.com/927/

 

[mfenn]

USB 3.0 is at about 110 MB/s for me. So 64GB takes about 10 minutes. On my netbook it's way slower probably because the device isn't as good. Either way it's not impressive at all.

Maybe USB 3.0 devices from the last couple years have gotten much better so definitely correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe you're writing to a SSD. I'm not. I haven't seen anything close to 400 MB/s.

Bolded the key points. USB 3.0 is not magic, you're still going to be limited by the capabilities of the underlying storage device. 110 MB/s is quite reasonable for your run-of-the-mill HDD. You need a faster storage device before complaining about the bus being slow.

 

[Balforth]

only then can people can truly stop complaining about "orientation."

Nobody should be complaining about this anyway. Those USB connectors were born that way. It's not like it's a conscious decision.