IoPort
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Intel: Thunderbolt coming to PCs, prototype shown at IDF 2011 (update: video!)
Guess what, Wintel loyalists? "Apple's" Thunderbolt I/O port is coming your way. If you'll recall, Thunderbolt was actually built with Intel's collaboration (Light Peak, anyone?), and sensibly, the chip giant is now making it possible for the port to appear on non-Mac machines. The news was just broken here at IDF, where a Haswell-based machine was briefly teased with a heretofore unpossible T-bolt port. Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group, was on-stage to showcase six pre-production Ultrabook designs (all based on 3rd generation Intel Core processors), but stopped short of telling us exactly when the Thunderbolt I/O port would make its debut on commercially available rigs (Acer and ASUS are onboard for a 2012 launch!). Naturally, we're hoping it's sooner (tomorrow) rather than later (the 2013 launch of Haswell). Update: Video of the unveiling is now embedded after the break! %Gallery-133734%
Apple plans to make Thunderbolt, USB ports thinner, more durable
A patent uncovered by AppleInsider suggests Apple may be improving the I/O ports on its desktop and notebook Mac computers. The approved patent describes several design changes that make the USB or Thunderbolt ports slimmer and more aesthetically pleasing. The bulky shell enclosing could be removed and replaced with a single, seamless material that expands dynamically to fit the cable. The port could also be crafted so that it matches the color and texture of a computer giving the sides and back of the machine a smooth profile. The patent also describes an improved manufacturing process that would eliminate any imperfections in the current port design. In a standard I/O port, finger contacts extend to meet the cable and form an electrical connection. The stamping process to create these fingers often leaves sharp edges that wear down the connection prematurely. Apple's patent would eliminate these burrs and increase the lifespan of both the cable and the computer port. This design would also give a satisfying click to let users know when their plug is seated properly.
