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Agreed. As a consumer, it's a bit odd that HDMI 1.x and 2.0 used the same cables, but 2.1 requires a new cable. That seems like a good reason to bump the major

Agreed. As a consumer, it's a bit odd that HDMI 1.x and 2.0 used the same cables, but 2.1 requires a new cable. That seems like a good reason to bump the major version number.

saghm 10y ago
It's the same with USB; USB 2.0 and 3.0 were compatible, but USB 3.1 (more commonly known as USB C) is not compatible with either of them. EDIT: Actually, from consulting Wikipedia[1], it's even worse than I remembered. Apparently there's USB 3.1 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, where USB 3.1 gen 1 is literally just USB 3.0, and USB 3.1 gen 2 is what you get with a USB C cable (where the letter evidently denotes the port size/shape and the version number denotes the rate of transfer). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.1
- Dylan16807 10y ago
  The "gen 1" thing was really stupid, but it's not as complicated as you think it is. A cable can support USB 2 or 3. A cable can end in the older A/B or in C. These two are independent. All combinations exist. Most importantly, a USB C port or cable might only support USB 2.0 Whether you get the "gen 2" speed is also independent of whether you use A/B or whether you use C. The only wrinkle is that micro A/B needs a special extra-wide plug to do USB 3, while everything else fits the pins without changing shape. People get excited about using USB 3 and USB Power Delivery along with USB C, but all three of those are actually separate.
- Ajedi32 10y ago
  > and USB 3.1 gen 2 is what you get with a USB C cable Nope, it's even more confusing than that. USB-C is just the connector type. Some USB-C cables only support USB 2.0.
  - saghm 10y ago
    > Some USB-C cables only support USB 2.0. I don't even want to know why somebody thought that was a good idea...
    - seanp2k2 10y ago
      Apple does it with the USB-C cable which needs to be purchased separately from the 87w power adapter for the 15" tbMBP. The cable is only USB 2, but since it's meant for power only, you'd probably never notice. It's quite annoying though that it's a separate accessory, and won't function as a "normal" TB3 cable or even a USB 3 cable, and likewise most normal USB-C or TB3 cables won't work with the 87w power adapter at full power delivery rates. Such a mess.

Agreed. As a consumer, it's a bit odd that HDMI 1.x and 2.0 used the same cables, but 2.1 requires a new cable. That seems like a good reason to bump the major version number.

saghm 10y ago

It's the same with USB; USB 2.0 and 3.0 were compatible, but USB 3.1 (more commonly known as USB C) is not compatible with either of them. EDIT: Actually, from consulting Wikipedia[1], it's even worse than I remembered. Apparently there's USB 3.1 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, where USB 3.1 gen 1 is literally just USB 3.0, and USB 3.1 gen 2 is what you get with a USB C cable (where the letter evidently denotes the port size/shape and the version number denotes the rate of transfer). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.1

Dylan16807 10y ago
The "gen 1" thing was really stupid, but it's not as complicated as you think it is. A cable can support USB 2 or 3. A cable can end in the older A/B or in C. These two are independent. All combinations exist. Most importantly, a USB C port or cable might only support USB 2.0 Whether you get the "gen 2" speed is also independent of whether you use A/B or whether you use C. The only wrinkle is that micro A/B needs a special extra-wide plug to do USB 3, while everything else fits the pins without changing shape. People get excited about using USB 3 and USB Power Delivery along with USB C, but all three of those are actually separate.
Ajedi32 10y ago
> and USB 3.1 gen 2 is what you get with a USB C cable Nope, it's even more confusing than that. USB-C is just the connector type. Some USB-C cables only support USB 2.0.
- saghm 10y ago
  > Some USB-C cables only support USB 2.0. I don't even want to know why somebody thought that was a good idea...
  - seanp2k2 10y ago
    Apple does it with the USB-C cable which needs to be purchased separately from the 87w power adapter for the 15" tbMBP. The cable is only USB 2, but since it's meant for power only, you'd probably never notice. It's quite annoying though that it's a separate accessory, and won't function as a "normal" TB3 cable or even a USB 3 cable, and likewise most normal USB-C or TB3 cables won't work with the 87w power adapter at full power delivery rates. Such a mess.