I didn't mean that the whole world should just adopt Apple's cable; instead, a new one could be developed, that is actually useful (i.e. as useful as Apple's cable).

I understand. I also agree. I'd love to see a new micro-USB replacement which is reversible.

In that case expect to see a multitude of world-wide, multi-year lawsuits about how Apple owns this idea and how its patented and yadda yadda yadda.

In this current US-led lawyerocracy, it's better to play it safe and just not poke the dragon with a stick.

USB is a ubiquitous standard by now. Sure it could have been a better standard, but at least now we have a standard (sans Apple). That is definitely a change for the better.

> I'd love to see a new micro-USB replacement which is reversible.

And does not feel so fiddly I still fear breaking them.

I don't see why they don't make the usb ports reversible.

If they made USB ports reversible they wouldn't be USB anymore, and not just in shape either, the technology required to make them reversible also requires devices both upstream (e.g. computers, power bricks) and downstream (phones, tablets, etc) to "understand" that the port could be communicating in either of two modes (reverse and non-reverse, and to flip the data channels accordingly).

The technology exists. Just would require starting again from scratch.

You can make reversible connectors without intelligence (adaptiveness). Just use 2x the number of contacts, in a mirrored layout.

Requires more physical space for the same number of contacts, but USB doesn't require that many contacts to begin with.

This is how the older Fitbit accomplished the task and it works just fine.