Watch: What you need to know about USB-C and Thunderbolt 3

Last updated 4 years ago

Apple's decision to pare down connectivity options on its latest MacBook laptops to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 has left some users confused about each protocol's unique capabilities and limitations. AppleInsider presents a short history of the two standards and how they coexist in Apple's latest devices.

For more videos like this, subscribe to the official AppleInsider channel on YouTube.

Follow AppleInsider on Google News

7 Comments

cmka~+ 42 comments · 13 Years

About 7 years ago

I like that you guys are foraying into more video content, but white-balance! swap out the bulbs in your Ikea lamp with something a little closer to 6000k. If you can't brighten your key light (or window?) then the bulbs in the paper floor lamp should be dimmer as well.

appex 670 comments · 11 Years

About 7 years ago

"What you need to know about USB-C and Thunderbolt 3". Just one thing: they are standards that Apple should use in ALL devices. No more proprietary connectors.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

About 7 years ago

appex said:

"What you need to know about USB-C and Thunderbolt 3". Just one thing: they are standards that Apple should use in ALL devices. No more proprietary connectors.

USB-C is proprietary. It's owned by the USB-IF and requires their licensing to use. Thunderbolt 3 isn't a connector, it's protocol, but the protocol is proprietary. It also requires an Intel chip that can support the protocol.

https://www.usb.org/members_landing

So far, I've seen no evidence that Intel will license a primary controller chip to be used in any ARM-based mobile devices, and it's silly to expect that when USB 3.x speeds would be a huge boost in performance over devices still using USB 2.0 controllers. Additionally, Apple does use the USB protocol in their iDevices.

https://thunderbolttechnology.net/tech/certification

randominternetperson 3095 comments · 8 Years

About 7 years ago

appex said:

"What you need to know about USB-C and Thunderbolt 3". Just one thing: they are standards that Apple should use in ALL devices. No more proprietary connectors.

The mantra at Appex, Inc. will be "never do anything that someone else hasn't already done." The mascot can be a sheep.

lorin schultz 2744 comments · 10 Years

About 7 years ago

1. The presenter says the USB spec works out to roughly 125 megabytes per second, but the graphic says 1250 MB/s.

2. With due respect to the presenter, there's a reason for hiring professional on-screen talent. Kudos for a valiant effort to the person in the video, but I found his presentation rushed, and often had trouble making out what he was saying. Articulating clearly without sounding pretentious is really difficult, which is why people who are good at it get paid to do it. A person who is good at recognizing the differences between various bikini styles may or may not be the best person to model them.