Develop Bugs

USB Cradle Dock with Battery Charger

My phone sits by my computer most of the time, and with my HTC Mogul, then HTC Touch Pro, then EVO 4G I've bought a combo cradle/battery charger. I haven't seen one mentioned available here for the Epic 4G Touch and I just found/bought one on eBay and thought I'd mention it for others interested in a device like this. Once I receive the item I can post a review if you guys would like.
Item Link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270857928655
Pics:
http://jpegbay.com/gallery/001248357-1.html

Please post a review of you get a chance. We'd love to hear from your experiences.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

This looks like the one I had for my Touch Pro 2... it worked nicely and was cheaper than the official docks.
I am interested in your impressions as well.
thanks

Question for anyone that has purchased this dock..
Have you been able to charge your phone with any type of case on it? Thanks.

Just a quick update. I got the charger, but I don't have an Epic 4G Touch yet. The first seller I bought the phone from ended up being from a scammer. I gave the dock/charger to a friend, and bought another one that's already here. I should have the Epic 4G Touch from another seller here by Tuesday and will post my impressions soon after.

Damn, sorry to hear that..

Ok guys...
Im also looking at desktop cradles and found this other one:
From an Amazon vendor:
$22 (includes shipping):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OTXKK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3CZ5XR3PIAJMS
It's basically almost the same design as the one the OP linked to. What do you guys think?
I kind of wanted one that you could rest the phone in and charge it with a cover on, but I don't think that's gonna happen.

killabee44 said:
Ok guys...
Im also looking at desktop cradles and found this other one:
From an Amazon vendor:
$22 (includes shipping):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OTXKK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3CZ5XR3PIAJMS
It's basically almost the same design as the one the OP linked to. What do you guys think?
I kind of wanted one that you could rest the phone in and charge it with a cover on, but I don't think that's gonna happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this one is better because you can turn your dock on its side like if you were watching Sprint TV...

killabee44 said:
Ok guys...
Im also looking at desktop cradles and found this other one:
From an Amazon vendor:
$22 (includes shipping):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OTXKK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3CZ5XR3PIAJMS
It's basically almost the same design as the one the OP linked to. What do you guys think?
I kind of wanted one that you could rest the phone in and charge it with a cover on, but I don't think that's gonna happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one looks nice, but some of the reviews for this brand (for other phones) mentions it covers up the speaker so when the phone is docked the sounds are silenced since the speaker is at the bottom. Although this may be true for all these 3rd party docks.

It's cool, Paypal resolution against the scammer just resolved today and they sided with me and already credited my PayPal account.
---
For that other cradle from Amazon, though you probably can put it on its side I'd be concerned with the side buttons/hitting the desk and possibly being pressed in, and possibly the device itself slipping out. The other concern I have with that model is that I can't clearly see the extra battery charger compartment. The one I got should accommodate extended batteries, but I can't tell on that model.

Found this one... similar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KiDiGi-BATT...Accessories&hash=item45ff08a39d#ht_4184wt_940

Gorguts said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KiDiGi-BATT...Accessories&hash=item45ff08a39d#ht_4184wt_940
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it looks like the one from Amazon just a different brand.. it also covers the speaker so I wonder if you can hear the alarms or music... there may be enough room behind the actual phone to allow the sound to be heard, but it doesnt look like it.

Quick first impressions:
* Feels solid and fits snugly, so pay attention when docking the phone in as it aligns only one way.
* When no battery is in the battery charging slot there's a LED that flashes crazy fast green/red which may bother some people. You can always cover it up with electrical tape. I don't notice it most of the time since my phone blocks the LED anyways when docked.
* A significant negative and quite surprising difference in the dock compared to the docks I had for my EVO 4G / Touch Pro and Mogul are that this dock only has one USB slot. So it either charges the battery and phone from a wall plug or it charges the battery and connects/charges the phone via your computer's USB port. My previous phone docks had 2 USB connectors, one for the battery and one for the phone. I haven't tried connecting this to my computer or charging an extra battery yet but I'm figuring trying to charge two things at the same time via one USB cable, especially when connected to a computer USB port would not be very efficient.
Update 12/09/2011: Argh, deal breaker, just got my Trexcell 3800mah Extended Battery, but because of the location of the battery contact on the battery and dock it won't fit, .

Killabee and talynone
that second black dock is the one I am interested in. my PRIMARY concern with docks that use the charging jack on the phone (whatever happened to dedicated dock "contacts" on phones Cheap SOB's)
is that I want the phone IMMOBILIZED while in the dock. ie I don't want to be able to TILT the phone forward while in the dock "stressing and breaking" the usb jack on the phone.
IE I want the dock to RESTRICT the movement of the phone to vertical only (insert remove dock connector type motion)
the first dock in this thread would NOT prevent the phone from tilting forward.
the second one I am not sure about. do those sides "wrap" around the edge of the phone enough to restrict its movement to a solid slide and NO forward slop?
Here is a video of what I mean. (its processing give it a few minutes to process)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhWtz5EU_Rg

nerys71,
I saw your video and can tell you that the phone in this dock is not restricted from tilting. So yes it will tilt while charging. I am talking about this dock:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OTXKK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3CZ5XR3PIAJMS

ahh pity. I assume you have it? does the phone protrude past the front "AT ALL" in that dock? IE it looks like it would be friendly to modding it with 2 "lips" on the front to prevent the phone tilting.

Yeah I have it. It doesn't pertrude at all. The phone sits flush.

Desktop Dock Existence Question

Perhaps this is a thread better for Q&A, but I figure it is specifically about an accessory. As I've done searching through various gadget sites and Google I've yet to find an accessory for the SGSIII as below:
Coming from the Droid X, there existed a dock which when the DX was placed in it the phone would go into desktop dock mode. I forgot where I got mine. I think it was an ad on droid-life that I clicked through. I've seen that Samsung has a dock that charges the phone and is a multimedia dock, but it appears as if it holds the phone in portrait mode. Is there a dock that allows the phone to sit in a landscape position and have the screen show a clock, calender, etc.?
On another note, does anyone know if the SGSIII's dock is triggered via magnets as the DX was?

mikejr83 said:
Perhaps this is a thread better for Q&A, but I figure it is specifically about an accessory. As I've done searching through various gadget sites and Google I've yet to find an accessory for the SGSIII as below:
Coming from the Droid X, there existed a dock which when the DX was placed in it the phone would go into desktop dock mode. I forgot where I got mine. I think it was an ad on droid-life that I clicked through. I've seen that Samsung has a dock that charges the phone and is a multimedia dock, but it appears as if it holds the phone in portrait mode. Is there a dock that allows the phone to sit in a landscape position and have the screen show a clock, calender, etc.?
On another note, does anyone know if the SGSIII's dock is triggered via magnets as the DX was?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S3 does not trigger by magnets.
you have 2 options:
USB trigger, or NFC tag.
BUT samsung has a nice dock with multimedia out, and there are a couple aftermarket ones too... that i can't yet link to.

Hopefully they'll release a desktop dock with HDMI and USB OTG on it, in addition to a charger port. Would make a nice portable computer...

I wish I could put my DX into the "desktop dock" mode to snap a picture of it. It doesn't seem to want to cooperate with CM7 on it. Perhaps it was a Blur thing. I mainly wanted to have this big ass clock/calender/news ticker to sit on my desk. I sit on the corner of cube row so people probably would break their neck as they rounded the corner checking it out!

[Q] Car Dock Mode vs. Desktop Dock Mode

OK, here's my setup:
Note II VZW phone, completely stock (Go Launcher Ex installed)
CarHome Ultra App
iBolt xProDock Car Dock **
Samsung Galaxy Desktop Dock Station (recently RMA'd)
** I originally ordered the iBolt xProDock for my HTC Droid DNA, which came with the dock, HTC charging "arm" and 9ft USB cable. After having to switch phones to the Note II, iBolt was kind enough to send me the Samsung charging arm at no cost.
Disclosure: This is my first Samsung Android phone owned.
With my HTC phones, even the DNA, when I put the phone in a Car Dock, it would prompt to start the HTC Car Dock app (or in my case, a choice between HTC's and CarHome Ultra, which I would choose to always open CHU). If I put the phone in a "home/desktop" dock, it would ask if I wanted to start the "Desk Mode/Desk Clock" app.
With the Note II and the docks mentioned above, when I put it in the iBolt car dock, it prompts if I want to open CHU or Desk Clock. When I put the phone in the Samsung OEM Desktop Dock Station, it prompted the same thing. When I plug the phone into the Car Dock and choose CHU "Always," then when I put the phone in the Desktop Dock, it would start the CHU app. (Likewise, if I chose Desk Clock>Always for the Desktop dock, when placing the phone in the Car Dock it would start that app.)
Questions:
Does my Note II really not know the difference between docks?
Anyone know of stock settings for the Note II to get it to see the difference between the docks? (No, I don't want to mess around with NFC tags or Tasker programs if I can help it.)
Is there a Desktop Dock that will ask to start the Desk Clock app that isn't the OEM Samsung one? (The one I had for 2 days was very cheap and broke. VERY poor build quality, especially for what it cost me!)
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions/help.

I'd like to know this too. I have the Note 2 for Sprint, the iBolt car dock, and the Samsung Smart Dock. At the moment, it always opens CarHomeUltra in either dock. I'm guess I may have to make GentleAlarm or the Samsung like Dock Screen the default, and use NFC to force it for the car mode when I'm in there.

Wow, no answers or even additional "me too" complaints. I guess not many people use both a car and home dock. I want to use essentially the same setup as the OP but with a S4. My old Droid 3 (running Gingerbread) would nicely launch the appropriate dock app depending on the dock - Bedside for the home dock and Car Home Ultra for the (obviously ) car dock. My new S4 launches the same default app once it's chosen regardless of the dock. Seems like a huge step backwards.

[Q] Smart Dock on Note 8.0?

I'm wondering if anyone has tried using the smart dock with the Note 8.0
Note II is really similar, so I would hope that the Note 8.0 will work
The Samsung site says Note II and Galaxy IV so now I'm a little iffy.
The MHL and OTG adapters are pretty universal, but I can only use one at a time
2 usb ports plus the HDMI would be great for me at the office since I can plug in the tab and have it running on my 2nd monitor (along with KB and mouse)
Has anyone tried yet?

kisaten said:
I'm wondering if anyone has tried using the smart dock with the Note 8.0
Note II is really similar, so I would hope that the Note 8.0 will work
The Samsung site says Note II and Galaxy IV so now I'm a little iffy.
The MHL and OTG adapters are pretty universal, but I can only use one at a time
2 usb ports plus the HDMI would be great for me at the office since I can plug in the tab and have it running on my 2nd monitor (along with KB and mouse)
Has anyone tried yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works great. I tried it with mine, and I have seen reports of other users using theirs.

robyr said:
It works great. I tried it with mine, and I have seen reports of other users using theirs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you able to put the Note 8.0 into landscape when using the Smart Dock? Also, is the device stable enough to be written upon with S-pen while docked?
BTW, is there any other way to get USB- OTG and HDMI functionality simultaneously? (sans the Smart Dock)

I have the Smart Dock for my Note II and it works well. I haven't received my Int'l 3G Note 8.0 yet to test it, but it's good to hear that others have it working.
Since the Smart Dock holds both devices in Portrait orientation, it will not automatically put the display in Landscape mode unless you are playing a video. You would have to use a 3rd party app such as "Orientation Control".
I doubt you could write on the Note 8.0's screen successfully while in the dock. The dock is roughly 3" square and is not heavy enough to stabilize the tab for anything but very light screen taps or swipes. The device is not secured in the dock other than the by microUSB connector. The device just rests in the dock under its own weight, vertically.
The Smart Dock is not made to hold the device physically in a Landscape orientation. I'm not sure if a microUSB-to-microUSB extension cable would work to retain the functions and allow a separate landscape "holder" or case/cover to be used without the actual Smart Dock attached? Hmmm...
Oh, AFAIK, and I've researched fairly thoroughly, I couldn't find any other way to achieve HDMI, Audio, and USB OTG simultaneously. You might be able to use the Allcast Media Hub for wireless HDMI & Audio, and then connect a USB OTG adapter to the Note 8.0's microUSB/MHL port, but I haven't tested that.
Hope this helps.

bbfoto said:
I have the Smart Dock for my Note II and it works well. I haven't received my Int'l 3G Note 8.0 yet to test it, but it's good to hear that others have it working.
Since the Smart Dock holds both devices in Portrait orientation, it will not automatically put the display in Landscape mode unless you are playing a video. You would have to use a 3rd party app such as "Orientation Control".
I doubt you could write on the Note 8.0's screen successfully while in the dock. The dock is roughly 3" square and is not heavy enough to stabilize the tab for anything but very light screen taps or swipes. The device is not secured in the dock other than the by microUSB connector. The device just rests in the dock under its own weight, vertically.
The Smart Dock is not made to hold the device physically in a Landscape orientation. I'm not sure if a microUSB-to-microUSB extension cable would work to retain the functions and allow a separate landscape "holder" or case/cover to be used without the actual Smart Dock attached? Hmmm...
Oh, AFAIK, and I've researched fairly thoroughly, I couldn't find any other way to achieve HDMI, Audio, and USB OTG simultaneously. You might be able to use the Allcast Media Hub for wireless HDMI & Audio, and then connect a USB OTG adapter to the Note 8.0's microUSB/MHL port, but I haven't tested that.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it was very helpful. I was thinking of getting the Smart Dock in lieu of the HDMI adapter. USB-OTG + HDMI at same time isn't much of a necessity for me. HDMI is still primary for me. Audio, when required could be used from the 3.5 mm jack.
Guess, it would be better to go for the HDMI adapter.
BTW, do you have any experience on HDMI to VGA converters?Do they work well? Actually I need to hook up the Note 8.0 to a VGA projector?

^No worries.
I don't have a ton of experience with HDMI-to-VGA adapters, but I would trust the people at the following link to steer you in the right direction...
http://www.comprehensivecable.com/
Click on the "Adapters" tab, have a look, then shoot them an email. They're very helpful and knowledgeable.
You might also try http://www.monoprice.com
VGA doesn't carry Audio signals, so you would most likely need a unit that would extract the audio from the HDMI as well as the Video signal, and then route the Audio to a separate connector/cable. I have seen some VGA cables that also have a 3.5mm Stereo audio plug at each end, so you can hook up the audio output from your PC's sound card and plug it into the 3.5mm audio Jack on most video projectors. You can find these at http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=180-285
Good luck.

bbfoto said:
^No worries.
I don't have a ton of experience with HDMI-to-VGA adapters, but I would trust the people at the following link to steer you in the right direction...
http://www.comprehensivecable.com/
Click on the "Adapters" tab, have a look, then shoot them an email. They're very helpful and knowledgeable.
You might also try http://www.monoprice.com
VGA doesn't carry Audio signals, so you would most likely need a unit that would extract the audio from the HDMI as well as the Video signal, and then route the Audio to a separate connector/cable. I have seen some VGA cables that also have a 3.5mm Stereo audio plug at each end, so you can hook up the audio output from your PC's sound card and plug it into the 3.5mm audio Jack on most video projectors. You can find these at http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=180-285
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I have seen some which can extract audio from the HDMI feed.
There are a number of listings on eBay in my country. I would love to get it from a reliable website, but most of them are overseas and the customs department in India makes it a lot of hassle.
I ordered a display adapter from dx.com once. No problems with website or the product, but it was held up for a month at the customs office and finally I had to pay a 50% duty as well.
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA

I picked up a smart dock today and I am playing with it right now.
Some issues, having to repower up the dock for usb to work after tablet is inserted.
And I am not having any sound come out of the 3.5 jack on the back of the dock.
Also it I am using a HDMI to DVI adaptor for my moniter and I am using an orentation control app with it.
Wish it worked with my Galaxy s3.

Ravanous said:
I picked up a smart dock today and I am playing with it right now.
Some issues, having to repower up the dock for usb to work after tablet is inserted.
And I am not having any sound come out of the 3.5 jack on the back of the dock.
Also it I am using a HDMI to DVI adaptor for my moniter and I am using an orentation control app with it.
Wish it worked with my Galaxy s3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your Note 8.0 battery level above 80% when you put it in the dock? If not, the tablet will draw too much power from the power adapter just to CHARGE the tablet, and the USB ports do not have sufficient power. If your tablet or phone battery is over 80%, this isn't a problem and you shouldn't have to "re-Dock" it to get the USB ports to work. Samsung should have made the power adapter more powerful (3 or 4 amps).
To get audio output from the 3.5mm rear Jack, you need to go into SETTINGS > ACCESSORY > AUDIO OUTPUT MODE, and Check the box for "Use External Speakers when device is Docked".

Ravanous said:
I picked up a smart dock today and I am playing with it right now.
Some issues, having to repower up the dock for usb to work after tablet is inserted.
And I am not having any sound come out of the 3.5 jack on the back of the dock.
Also it I am using a HDMI to DVI adaptor for my moniter and I am using an orentation control app with it.
Wish it worked with my Galaxy s3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear, are you able to Use the S-Pen when docked, any way to keep the tablet physically in a landscape position?
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA

agambhandari said:
Just to be clear, are you able to Use the S-Pen when docked, any way to keep the tablet physically in a landscape position?
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I had answered your Portrait/Landscape question in paragraphs 3 & 4 of Post #4? Read through it again. The smart dock does not hold the tablet in a Landscape (horizontal) orientation at all. You could possibly use a case or cover on the Note 8.0 that would hold it in landscape, or use Samsung's Note 8.0 Car Mount and then connect the tablet to the Smart Dock with a 11-pin Male-to-Female micro-USB extension cable.
Hope this helps.

bbfoto said:
I thought I had answered your Portrait/Landscape question in paragraphs 3 & 4 of Post #4? Read through it again. The smart dock does not hold the tablet in a Landscape (horizontal) orientation at all. You could possibly use a case or cover on the Note 8.0 that would hold it in landscape, or use Samsung's Note 8.0 Car Mount and then connect the tablet to the Smart Dock with a 11-pin Male-to-Female micro-USB extension cable.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I had already read your post.
But the other member claimed to have already used it with the Note8, whereas you told me that you were still expecting your note 8, so I was keen to know more about the actual experience of a user.
BTW, Do you know if 11 pin USB extension cables are available?
Sent from my Spice Mi-310 using XDA

Take a look at a picture of the smart dock, or look at nztechfreak's YouTube review of it. Just from its physical size and design there is no way that the Smart Dock can support or hold a tablet in a Landscape or horizontal position when on a desk/flat surface...or any surface.
For reference, I just tried my Note II in the Smart Dock with the phone and dock laying on its side. The dock will hold the Note II in landscape position, but the phone is at a perfect 90° angle to the table's surface, which makes it hard to use the touchscreen, and it will easily become undocked, as there is no pressure or weight to secure the device. And there is nothing directly behind the phone to keep it from moving or sliding back when you press the screen. Also, at least one USB port will be inaccessible because it or they will be against the table's surface when the dock is laying on its side. This dock was simply made to only hold a PHONE (either the Note II, SGS3, or SGS4) in a vertical Portrait position. It's obvious from the design that it was not made for landscape use whatsoever. It just happens to hold the Note II on its side because the dock is the same width as the phone.
I don't believe that Samsung will ever make a LANDSCAPE Desk dock for the Note 8.0. It is clear from its general design that Samsung intended this tablet to be used as a "Notepad" in a Portrait (vertical) orientation. The only odd exception is the position of the IR Blaster on the side (the SGS4 IR Blaster is on the top). I would definitely like a landscape desk dock as well, but I'm not convinced that it would be practical for this particular tablet. However, there is a car/windshield mount listed on Samsung's web site that looks like it will hold the tablet in landscape mode.
I'm searching for the extension cables now and will post here if & when I find them.
Thanks.

I never tried the S-Pen while in the dock. Also I tried the settings mentioned above to get the 3.5 sound to work, but no luck.
I took it back, I'll wait for a proper one to come out, or try with the wifi all share hub and build somthing that way.

Got one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/23108138465...769&_trkparms=ga1m=T1&ga2m=T0&ga3m=T1&ga4m=T2
If I hook up USB+charger and THEN the HDMI, it works. For some reason (lack of power???) it won't accept a flash drive if I plug a hub in and the flash drive into that. (I use a Bluetooth keyboard and a USB mouse.)
Haven't bit the bullet on the official smart dock yet though :'(.

Samsung Desktop Dock for $16.00

At Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLW1P5O/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Automatically puts your handset into a customizable desktop mode, arranging your phone's key features for more convenient use when doc
Your phone is fully functional while charging in the Multimedia Dock. Watch your handset stream news, local weather, or just play with your apps while charging!
Functions whether or not the Flip Cover or Protective Cover is installed
Compatible With Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Note 2, and Galaxy Nexus mobile phones
3.5mm Stereo Connector Port for connecting to external speakers

schneid said:
At Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLW1P5O/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Automatically puts your handset into a customizable desktop mode, arranging your phone's key features for more convenient use when doc
Your phone is fully functional while charging in the Multimedia Dock. Watch your handset stream news, local weather, or just play with your apps while charging!
Functions whether or not the Flip Cover or Protective Cover is installed
Compatible With Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Note 2, and Galaxy Nexus mobile phones
3.5mm Stereo Connector Port for connecting to external speakers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will this fit with an extended battery? If not, does someone know a dock which does?

sambahb said:
will this fit with an extended battery? If not, does someone know a dock which does?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know but I'll tell you when I get mine. The pictures look like there is some wiggle room. Enough for me to give it a shot.

schneid said:
Don't know but I'll tell you when I get mine. The pictures look like there is some wiggle room. Enough for me to give it a shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does not fit my official extended battery cover with Diztronic cover. Thickness is not an issue but the male USB plug is too short to reach the jack. You all can have fun with that statement.

Any more updates on this dock?
I'm looking for something that will charge and put my phone into dock mode. I have a blue tooth connected speaker that I can play music out too.
Ideally I would prefer if the doc was horizontal so that I could watch video on it as well, but I haven't seen much available like that.

Dock
I'm interested in some updates on this as well. However I'd assume from seeing the low rating on Amazon that this isn't that good.