Google says you can expect USB Type-C to hit Android devices in the near future [Duh]

USB Type-C is fixin’ to become the new industry standard in how we transfer, power, and display content to external monitors in our next generation devices. Earlier today, we saw the arrival of the all new Chromebook Pixel 2, coming equipped with two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (because it’d be downright silly to only offer only one, right?).

For those unaware, USB Type-C is symmetrical, meaning there’s no “wrong way” to insert a connector into the port. All those late nights, fumbling around trying to nail your USB cable into your phone like a kid on prom night will finally be a thing of the past. And we couldn’t be happier.

With Google officially making the move to Type-C, you might be wondering if we’ll soon see this port in future Android devices. In what should be a surprise to no one, that answer is a resounding yes. In their latest Chromebook Pixel short on YouTube, Google Product Manager Adam Rodriguez (1:14) says specifically:

“We at Google are very committed to the USB Type-C spec, expect to see this in a lot of Chromebooks and Android phones in the near future.”

Did Google actually say we’ll see them use Type-C in the next Nexus device? No. But now that they’ve officially committed to it, it’s probably more than likely. Our bodies are ready. You can watch Google waxing poetic on the new connector that will soon come equipped on their over-powered netbook and future devices in the video down below.

Google’s new Chromebook Pixel has 2 Type-C USB ports and 12 hours of battery life

Google has refreshed the Chromebook Pixel, and set it inside their snazzy new online storefront. This 2015 refresh brings a number of very notable changes that will probably have you itching to upgrade.

The biggest is the inclusion of not one, but two USB Type-C ports. Why is that a big deal? To now, Apple’s new Macbook (announced at the same event we heard about the ridiculous Apple Watch price tags) was the only device known to launch with the next generation USB port.

USB Type-C is a flexible new standard that serves multiple functions. It’s a charging port for one, and can also be used as a high speed USB 3.1 port, video-out and more. It’s reversible, to boot, so there’s no need to make sure you’re plugging the cable in the right way — either side is the right side.

There are adapters available for purchase that’ll let you connect Type-A USB 1.0 to USB 3.0 products to the laptop (there are two Type-A USB 3.0 ports available so this might not even be necessary), as well as adapters for direct USB 3.1 Type-C to HDMI, MiniDisplay and other video-out standards. It’s a pretty big deal and we’re glad to see more and more products popping up with the technology.

That’s not all. The 2015 Chromebook Pixel gets a whopping 12 hours of battery life compared to the 5 hours promised in the previous generation. It’s also a bit thinner by 1mm, sports Intel’s latest Core i5 and Core i7 mobile processors, and still looks downright gorgeous. Here’s the full spec sheet in case you’re wondering what, exactly, you’re in store for:

Dimensions

• 11.7” x 8.8” x 0.6” / 297.7mm x 224.55mm x 15.3mm

Weight

• 3.3 lbs/ 1.5 Kg

Screen

• 12.85″ display with a web-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio


• 2560 x 1700, at 239 PPI


• 400 nit screen


• 178° extra-wide viewing angle

Processor

• Intel® Core™ i5 Processor, 2.2GHz or Intel® Core™ i7 processor, 2.4GHz

Inputs

• Multi-touch screen


• Backlit Chrome keyboard


• Fully clickable, etched-glass trackpad

Battery

• Up to 12 hours of battery life¹

Ports & Connectors

• 2 USB Type-C (up to 5 Gbps data, 4K display out with optional HDMI or DisplayPort adapter, 60W charging)


• 2 USB 3.0 ports


• SD Card


• Headphone/Mic combo

Camera

• 720P HD Wide Angle camera with Blue Glass

Memory

• 8GB or 16GB

Storage

• 32GB or 64GB of Flash Storage²

Wireless

• 802.11ac Wireless with support for A/B/G/N/AC, 2.4 and 5ghz, 2×2 spatial streams


• Bluetooth 4.0 BR/EDR/LE Smart Ready controller

Audio

• High Power Stereo Speakers, Dual Microphones, Headset jack,


• Support for headset with microphone

Graphics

• Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Integrated)

Video

• Supports 4K video output over DisplayPort™™ or HDMI with optional Type-C video adapter cable

Charger

• Type-C USB Charger, new industry standard

Overkill for a laptop that basically runs nothing but a web browser? Possibly, but at least you’ll know you’re equipped with a device powerful enough to handle whatever innovations Google’s Chrome team comes up with next. And there’s always the ability to replace it with a Linux distribution if you’re handy enough to do something like that.

The 32GB storage, 8GB of RAM and Core i5 kit starts at a cool 9, while the 64GB storage, 16GB of RAM and Core i7 version will Cost about 0 more. Not bad for all the cutting edge goodness stuffed inside this portable package. The device ships a mere couple of days after placing your order so head to the Google Store to secure one if you’re interested.

ASUS reveals an 8-inch ZenPad tablet with 4GB of RAM, Quad HD display and USB Type-C

ASUS has had quite the day at Computex. we got a new smart watch and a selfie phone, and you can bet they have a good crop of tablets on the way, as well. This is the ASUS ZenPad 8.0, an 8-inch tablet that can either be very affordable or pack a whole lot of punch (depending on which you fancy).

There’s the base model — simply dubbed the ASUS ZenPad 8.0 — that has a 1280 x 800 display, 16GB of internal storage, an Intel Atom X3 chipset, a 5 megapixel rear camera and more. Not bad for those on a modest budget.

What really gets us excited is the ASUS ZenPad S 8.0, which is a whole different beast. This thing packs Intel’s Atom Z3580 chipset (top-line stuff for their mobile line), 4GB of RAM, 2,048 x 1536 resolution, your choice of 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera and USB Type-C. We’re sure it’s going to be more of a wallet buster than its weaker brother, but with these specs (and ASUS’s history for quality) we’d argue it’ll be worth it.

ASUS also has 7-inch and 10-inch models planned, but the company hasn’t yet released any details about them. We’ll expect the 7-inch variant to be on the affordable side, while they’re bound to go balls to the walls for the biggest option. Unfortunately all we can do is speculate until they unleash some details or we stumble upon some juicy leaks. Either way, the 8-inch tablets are enough to satisfy our undying need for new tech for the time being.

Official: OnePlus 2 will be one of the first smartphones to feature a USB Type-C port

OnePlus is officially getting the hype train rolling for their upcoming OnePlus 2, the followup to last year’s (frustrating) OnePlus One flagship. Today they announced on social media that the phone will be the first Android flagship to feature USB Type C, a reversible port that doesn’t care which way you insert the cable in (similar to Apple’s Lightning port on the iPhone).

The connection does more than just charge devices (which tops out at 5A/20V/100W vs USB 2.0’s 2.5V), allowing video output as well thanks to higher 10Gbps speeds. Google committed to the new connector back when they unveiled the Chromebook Pixel 2 in March, so we expect it will also arrive in this year’s Nexus launching at the end of this year. OnePlus seems confident their flagship will be the first to use the new spec, so we expect a OnePlus 2 launch is right around the corner.

[Twitter]

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 could be one of the first Android devices with USB Type-C

The next big thing from Samsung is scheduled to be the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. The device is due to launch this year sometime before September, but in typical Samsung fashion the rumors are already flying. The latest rumor claims that the Note 5 will be one of the first Android devices with a USB Type-C port.

You’ve probably heard of USB Type-C as the “reversible charging cable.” It can be plugged into your phone at any orientation. No more fiddling around with your cable to get it in the right way. There are some other more practical benefits to USB Type-C as well. It offers transfer speeds of up to 10 gbps, and increased charging speeds.

Android M supports USB Type-C, but we wouldn’t bet on that meaning the Note 5 will have it. Samsung has shown in the past that they don’t need to wait for Google to implement their own features. Android M finally has fingerprint scanner support, but Samsung has been doing that on their own for a couple of years already. What do you think about the Galaxy Note 5 rumors?

[via SamMobile]

This is what the OnePlus 2’s USB Type-C cable will look like

It was only a couple of days ago that OnePlus confirmed their latest smartphone would look to use USB Type-C, a new USB standard that features identical-sided cables, two-way transfer + charging (your smartphone could charge your wireless headset!) and more.

So how does it look? For OnePlus 2, pretty damn sexy. You can see a photo of it above, courtesy of MyDrivers. It features OnePlus’s signature red, the logo on each end, and a flat tangle-free design to protect the innards of the cable.

It looks pretty neat, and we’re sure it’ll do well to get folks excited for the OnePlus 2 and the possibilities enabled thanks to the advent of USB Type-C.