After proclaiming "little birdies" told him Apple created USB-C and gave the specs to rivals, Daring Fireball's John Gruber has eased off his proclamation but still contends Apple led development of the standard.
Gruber, developer of the Markdown syntax of the markup language, stated on his podcast, The Talk Show, that Apple invented USB-C.
"I have heard, can't say who, but let's call them 'informed little birdies,' that USB-C is an Apple invention and that they gave it to the standard bodies," stated Gruber on the podcast. "And that the politics of such is that they can't really say that. They're not going to come out in public and say that."
The USB-C standard was submitted for standardization in 2012, around the same time Apple released its Lightening cables. Around that same time, Apple and other hardware manufacturers released products that support USB-C, 9to5Mac points out.
Apple, not known for being modest about its innovations, released its first product to support USB-C after Google had already done so.
The evidence points to several tech companies pitching in on the development of the USB-C standard.
Gruber, after being called out by 9to5Mac, took to his blog to temper his previous comments. His comments on his podcast were hyperbolic, he admitted.
"It was a brief aside," states Gruber. "I certainly didn't mean to imply that no other companies contributed to the final spec. Only that from what I've been told, Apple ought to be getting (and taking) credit as the leading company behind USB-C's innovations."
Gruber points to the design of the new standard to back up his assertion that Apple led the development of USB-C. Everything about the USB-C standard jives with Apple's design goals and that's something you can't say about previous USB ports, Gruber states.
"I'll also point out that USB-C is a very Apple-like design," says Gruber. "It is reversible, thin, and because it can handle power, high-speed data transfer, and video, it (obviously, given the new MacBook) allows for a significant reduction in ports on a laptop."
Apple is just one of many companies listed as contributors to the USB-C cable and connector specification. Some of the other companies include AMD, Dell, Foxconn, Google, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Seagate, Tektronics, Texas instruments and VIA Technologies.
For those unfamiliar with USB-C, check out Marques Brownlee's explaination below:
Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Marques Brownlee
