The USB Promoter Group has takes a few cues from Apple on announcing a new Type-C USB connector, which will be changing the format of the old faithful USB connector to something a little smaller, smarter and shinier. Okay, maybe not that last one. Speedier. Speedier works.

The planned new Type-C USB connector will be smaller, closer to the USB 2.0 Micro-B size than anything else, but it will be reversible, meaning that you won’t have to worry about plugging it in the wrong way around on your first go. It will support scalable power charging as well as USB 3.1 and there are new-to-existing converters planned so that you won’t have to replace every device that you own when it becomes available. It’s expected to be finalised some time in 2014.

Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman, said in the announcement release “While USB technology is well established as the favored choice for connecting and powering devices, we recognize the need to develop a new connector to meet evolving design trends in terms of size and usability.”

“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.”

Source: Ars Technica