One of the world's least exciting sentences is, "Let's talk about technology standards!" But I promise I'm not digging down into wiring schematics, pinout diagrams, and 1,000-page protocol descriptions. Rather, I want to help you get up to speed on how USB and Thunderbolt work separately and together so you know how you can best use them and troubleshoot them when incompatibilities arise.
The path forward relies on the latest standards: Thunderbolt 4 and USB4. While not perfectly compatible with each other, they are nearly so. Most importantly, the two standards have effectively converged on a single cable type you can purchase and use almost universally with Thunderbolt 3 or 4, and USB 3.1, 3.2, and USB4 via USB-C.
USB: THE ONCE AND FUTURE UNIVERSAL STANDARD
USB was at one point the great hope of the future: Universal! Serial! Bus! All three words pointed in the right direction. Instead of many serial connectors and buses (and even some parallel ports), USB would unify many kinds of purpose into one controller with a limited set of jacks and plugs designed for different purposes. All USB devices could plug into any USB port, given the right cable.
A lovely idea, but one that was ruined by the large number of USB plug types that emerged. There are currently nine kinds of USB connectors. But that's not the only issue: even though you may be most familiar with the rectangular USB Type-A plug and jack, a USB cable cannot have a Type-A plug on both ends, whether full-sized, Mini, or Micro.
In a chart from Wikipedia's extensive USB entry (fave.co/3LM61eL), shown below, the eight kinds of USB connectors run across the top and down the side. The following points are worth noting:
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2022 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
GAMESIR X2S TYPE C: TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A SMALL STEAM DECK
If you're serious about getting a better handle on your iPhone gaming, consider a gamepad, an external device that provides physical controls-actual buttons, joysticks, direction pads, and more.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APPLES NEW IPAD PRO M4
HERE'S ALL THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE iPAD PRO REFRESH.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2024 M2 iPAD AIR
HERE'S THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE NEW IPAD AIR, INCLUDING PRICING. SPECS. AND NEW FEATURES.
Are we in Apple's post-iPad era?
The new Pro and Air raise more questions about where the tablet fits in Apple’s lineup.
ANKER 675 USB-C 12-IN-1: STYLISH DOCKING STATION AND STAND COMBO
The Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand solves several of your laptop's limitations in one user-friendly, stylish, friendly and functional product.
TIMBUK2 CLASSIC MESSENGER BAG: STYLISH UPDATE TO AN URBAN ICON
There was a time when a trip downtown was filled with the hustle and bustle of people. And a lot of those people sported Timbuk2's Classic Messenger Bag-not just bicycle messengers, but also commuters going to work, tourists sightseeing, and anyone else trying to get where they need to go.
Apple needs to become a software company again
The Al features baked into iOS 18 and macOS 15 need to be compelling enough to convince people to upgrade.
Don't expect the Mac Studio and Mac Pro to be updated at WWDC-or in 2024
Updates to the high-end desktop Macs won’t happen until 2025.
Apple's M3 chip lineup is a victim of the times
The chip that was supposed to be the next generation of Apple silicon has suddenly become a footnote in Apple history.
The iPad Pro's M4 chip breaks the rules and changes everything about Apple silicon
Now that the M4 iPad Pro is here, what will this mean for the chips coming to the iPhone and Mac?