Design-wise, the Express Dock is made to blend in perfectly with Apple’s line of Mac machines. It rocks an aluminum unibody shell with black plastic panels on the sides and back, and just like a good mullet, there’s not a lot going on in the front, but there’s a party in the back — all the ports are situated on the rear of the dock. You’ll find an ethernet port, a FireWire 800 port, three USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports (which support daisy-chaining), and separate 3.5mm audio-out and audio-in jacks.

One of the two Thunderbolt ports is used to plug the dock into your Mac, but that’s all it takes to get access to all the other ports. Instead of having to plug all of your peripherals in one after another every time you dock your MacBook at your desk, all you have to do is plug everything into the Express Dock when setting it up, and then just simply plug in the dock into your Thunderbolt port. At that point, you’ll be all set to go. This fact alone I found really convenient as I didn’t have all these cables that I had to keep plugging and unplugging every time I wanted to undock my MacBook. It’s just one single cable and you’re good to go.

While the Express Dock will work for desktop Macs like the iMac and Mac Pro, it’s essentially meant for those with MacBooks, which don’t have a lot of options when it comes to ports, especially MacBook Air users. If you use a MacBook as your main machine and want more port options, the Express Dock is about the only convenient option out there. Simply plug in the dock into your Thunderbolt port and you’ll instantly have eight more ports at your perusal, which is pretty fantastic.

However, there are some caveats. The Express Dock doesn’t come with a Thunderbolt cable in the box, so you’ll want to make sure that you have one on hand in order to connect it to your Mac. Secondly, the Express Dock requires OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to take advantage of all its capabilities. The dock will at least work on older versions of OS X, and I was able to hook up a Thunderbolt display to the dock, but it wouldn’t recognize any of the USB 3.0 drives that I had on hand, nor would the audio ports work. However, once I connected it to a Mountain Lion machine, everything worked flawlessly.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the USB 3.0 ports on the Express Dock are limited to 2.5Gbps, which is almost half the speed of what it’s supposed to be at (4.8Gbps). We’re not exactly sure why this is, but it’s still much faster than USB 2.0, which Macs are still sadly stuck at (unless you have one of the newest models). I also noticed that the dock would get hot after a short while, including both ends of the Thunderbolt cable. Nothing exploded, thankfully, but it was always a bit of a concern after I had it plugged in for an hour or so and had tons of things plugged into it. It never got hot enough that I couldn’t touch it, but I was certainly surprised that it gets a bit warm.

Portability is another thing to consider, especially since the dock is catered towards MacBooks. The Express Dock is lightweight and can easily fit into a backpack to take with you. However, the power adapter that’s required to power the Express Dock makes the device not too portable-friendly. It’s about the same size as a typical laptop power adapter, which isn’t a bad thing, since they’re also made to be portable along with the laptop its charging, but if you were to take both your MacBook and the Express Dock with you on the road, you now have two bulky power adapters to deal with. The dock can certainly be portable, but it’s really up to the user whether or not lugging it along will be worth it.

In the end, Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock is the perfect companion to a MacBook power user. However, you’ll have to think long and hard about whether or not you truly need it, since it costs a whopping $300, so it isn’t just something that you can buy impulsively. There is a cheaper option available for $250, but that’s still a hard pill to swallow. Then again, if you’re like me and constantly find yourself docking and undocking your MacBook, dealing with a tangle of numerous wires at the same time, the Express Dock could be one of the best convenience products that you ever buy. Plus, if you’re rocking a MacBook Air and wish you had more ports at your disposal, the Express Dock is a good choice for that too.

That second Thunderbolt (the first hooking the dock up to your Mac or MacBook) means you can attach up to five more Thunderbolt devices to the same machine. As we’ve already seen, Thunderbolt’s hefty throughput – bidirectional 10Gbps, in fact – means you can have RAID arrays, Full HD displays, A/V interfaces, and more, all connected and operating simultaneously.

The dock also includes a single FireWire 800 port, handy if you’ve got legacy devices but a newer Mac which dropped the connection, and both audio-in and audio-out. In total, Belkin says, you can hook up eight devices with a single cable to your Mac.

It’s not exactly cheap for a dock, and we’re a little unimpressed that Belkin doesn’t even include the Thunderbolt cable you’ll need in order to use it. Still, if you want to make your MacBook Pro the hub of a desktop setup, it’s a straightforward way to do that without needing to hook up half a dozen cables every time you get home or into the office.

The benefits of the Wireless Dock are obvious. Instead of pulling out a bundle of cables and plugging them in one-by-one, only to be left working around them and trying not to knock anything loose in the process, users can wirelessly connect to devices and leave the cords behind. Because the dock uses WiGig technology, the transfer between the connected devices will have two benefits.

The first benefit, obviously, is that data transfer is faster. Transferring a large file wirelessly, such as a full HD video, will be faster than it otherwise would be by using the standard Wi-Fi network. In addition, the data load is not a burden on the wireless network, chewing up bandwidth and slowing things down for other users.

WiGig has a relatively short range of about 15 meters. The dock offers four USB 3.0 ports, as well as an Ethernet port, HDMI, and Audio In/Out. For those who don’t have HDMI, there’s also an adapter available for VGA devices. The Wireless Dock is now available globally from Dell.com, and is priced at $249USD in the States.

[via Dell]

The Nexus 7 docking station features a 3.5mm audio port on the back. Says the website, “It is necessary to connect the USB AC adapter [when using audio output] to power the docking station at all times.” The Nexus has to be running Android 4.2 in order to use the dock. The unit measures in at 219mm x 65mm x 30mm, and weighs about 280 grams.

This is the only Nexus 7 docking station available with an audio output feature. It appears to have been available for preorder at some point, with the product page stating both “Now accepting reservations” and “Reservation has ended.” There’s no definite date for when it will be released, with the website merely stating “Will be released in early December 2012.” Of course, that could be as early as next week, so you might be able to nab one before Christmas.

The Nexus 7 runs Android Jelly Bean, and brings with it a host of hardware that makes the price-to-power ratio excellent. Inside you’ll find an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor. The display is a cool 7-inches offering 1280 x 800 resolution. It has all the trimmings, including a gyroscope and accelerometer. You can check out our full review of the tablet here.

[via ASUS]

There’s also a 3.5mm stereo audio output, for hooking up a set of speakers, and a microUSB input for charging the phone and powering the Smart Dock itself. The Note II can be used as normal when docked in place – including for making phone calls – and if you’ve a flip cover fitted you won’t need to remove it in order to slot it in.

So, you could use the Smart Dock to turn your Note II into a desktop computer replacement, with a full-sized keyboard and mouse to navigate via Android – and all the usual Android apps – on a large display. Alternatively, it could form the hub of a media system, hooked up to your TV and with external storage plugged into the USB ports.

Meanwhile, it folds up for easy transport, so you could feasibly drop it into your bag wherever you go. Clove says UK availability isn’t confirmed yet, nor pricing, and while it’s available for preorder on Samsung US’ webstore, there’s no estimated shipping date. More on the Note II in our full review.

That depends on whether Dell has sufficient time to complete its testing. According to the source, “Dell is having some issues getting Windows RT to a state where they can do robust end user testing” though specifics around the delay are still unclear.

The Latitude 10, meanwhile, will have a dualcore 1.5GHz Clover Trail processor, up to 128GB of SSD storage, WWAN, WiFi and Bluetooth options, and a multitouch 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display with optional Wacom digitizer. If it wasn’t clear that Dell is targeting the enterprise, the inclusion of Microsoft Lync clinches it.

Its docking station includes four USB ports, ethernet and HDMI. Interestingly, the leaked slides also confirm that the dock will be compatible with the Dell ST and XPS notebooks.

Going by the insiders, that isn’t the only dock Dell is working on. The company supposedly has plans for a dedicated ultrabook docking station that would connect via high-speed wireless – specific technology unknown – and help convince enterprise users that the ultra-portable Intel-powered notebooks have enough connectivity for business use.

Plug in to your notebook – USB 3.0 is best, though USB 2.0 is supported as well though you’ll lack the highest speeds of the integrated hub – and you instantly get a Full HD display, two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0 and ethernet connections. The webcam is a 720p HD unit, and the display can recharge your notebook too. It will go on sale in February, priced at $319.

As for the HP LV1911 and LV2011, they measure up at 18.5- and 20-inches respectively, use LED backlit panels running at 1366 x 768 and 1600 x 900 respectively, and each pack a single VGA input. Basic stuff, with pricing to match: the HP LV2011 will go on sale in February, priced at $135, with the LV1911 following on in March for $125.

HP also announced the Omni 27 all-in-one PC this morning, along with the HP Pavilion HPE h9 Phoenix performance PC.

What you don’t get is any peripheral support, unlike most tablet docking stations we’ve seen. It’s common to get a USB port or two, at least, for hooking up a keyboard, though since neither of the NOOK models has native USB Host support that’s probably not a great concern.

Still, given the popularity of the NOOK Color among Android device modders – one popular tweak being enabling USB Host – some extra flexibility in connections would have been appreciated. B&N appears to be locking down the NOOK Tablet at present, however, with a recent firmware update blocking sideloaded apps.

The N-Station is expected to go on sale later this month, though ReaderDock isn’t saying exactly how much it will cost.

[via eBookanoid]

The docking station has DisplayLink tech inside to provide video via USB to an external monitor, or two in this case. The dock has both a DVI port and a HDMI output. It supports resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 meaning you can put 30-inch screens on it and get full resolution. It also comes with an adapter to turn that HDMI port into DVI for dual DVI screens.

The dock also has USB audio via a headphone port and mic jacks as well. It has Ethernet connectivity with a Gigabit port. Rounding out the features are a pair of high-power USB 2.0 ports supporting Battery Charging Specs 1.1 to recharge your favorite gadgets. The dock sells for $199 and should be available soon.

[via EverythingUSB]

The Wireless Gigabit Alliance has some of the largest firms in the tech industry as members including Intel, Broadcom, Marvell, Dell, Microsoft, and lots more. WiGig uses 60GHz Ultra Wide Band tech inside with very high speeds with the trade off being a very short range. There are some caveats to the dock proposal reports VR-Zone.

One is that you would need to plug the Ultrabook in to keep it powered. The other catch is that if vPro Intel tech is important to you, you would have to connect the Ethernet cable directly to your Ultrabook. The cool part is all you would need to do for the WiGig docking station to connect to your machine is sit your Ultrabook near it. There is no indication of when this might come to market, the WiGig standard hasn’t launched yet.

[via VR-Zone]

Intel would need to get the notebook makers onboard for this. You can already dock notebooks using USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports. If you are an Ultrabook fan, this might sound like a good idea to you. The catch is if you buy this docking station specifically for Ultrabooks the dock isn’t likely to work on your next computer.

The docking interface puts a wide dock connector that looks in the photos like the old parallel printer ports to me, right next to a mini Display port connector. The setup would run signals for multiple devices through one cable. I think Intel should just stick to USB 3.0 rather than trying to set up a new standard on their Ultrabooks that looks to be proprietary. Intel has been teasing Thunderbolt for Windows PCs for a while.

[via VR-Zone]

That means, including the notebook’s own display and its HDMI output, up to four screens can be active at any one time, turning the VAIO Z Series into a performance desktop workstation. Video on the ultraportable itself is courtesy of Intel’s HD Graphics 3000, while connectivity includes WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3G WWAN, a USB 2.0 port and a hybrid docking station/USB 3.0 port, while there’s also a 1.3-megapixel webcam, fingerprint sensor and stereo speakers.

Battery life is up to 7hrs from the standard internal pack, but add the sheet battery – which covers the entire base of the notebook – and you can extend that to up to 14hrs of runtime. A backlit keyboard is standard, while custom configurations (rather than the VPC-Z21V9E pre-config) can be specified with a Full HD 1920 x 1080 LCD display online.

As for the Power Media Dock, as well as the AMD graphics card that also adds in a gigabit ethernet port, USB 2.0 port, USB 3.0 port and both HDMI and Mini D-Sub for displays. It can drive up to a 1920 x 1080 HDMI display or a 1920 x 1200 analog RGB panel. Unlike Apple’s implementation of Thunderbolt, which uses a Mini DisplayPort, Sony has customized the technology and used a USB port instead; they’re only referring to it as “Light Peak” based.

Both are already up for pre-order at SonyStyle UK, priced from £1,434 ($2,286) including tax for a Core i5 model with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The Power Media Dock is from £400 ($638) as an accessory, going up to £525 if you want a Blu-ray burner. They’ll ship toward the end of July 2011.

There are no photos of the rear of the dock, but according to Best Buy’s description there’s just one single port: an ExtMicroUSB connector, just like on the Flyer itself. That allows you to plug in the AC adapter to recharge the tablet, a USB cable to sync it with your PC or Mac, or an MHL adapter to hook it up via HDMI to your TV.

Unfortunately, none of those accessories are included in the box, not even a spare USB cable. Considering HTC will have had space on the dock for a full-sized HDMI output, it seems like a rather calculated decision not to include the port and instead expect Flyer users to buy the MHL cable separately.

We’d also liked to have seen a slot where we could store the Flyer’s stylus, given the tablet itself lacks a silo. There’s still no sign of the dock on HTC’s official accessories site, where the MHL adapter is also up for pre-order (with no estimated ship date).

More details on the tablet in our HTC Flyer 3G review and HTC Flyer WiFi review.

[via Android Community]

Perhaps the most interesting is the HP TouchPad Charging Dock, priced at $79.99, which basically does the same as the Touchstone inductive charger for webOS phones like the Pre, but in an easel format to suit the tablet. Best of all, it comes with another charger and USB cable, so you don’t have to tie up the one that comes with the TouchPad itself (a common criticism of the Touchstone), and charges the slate at the same rate as the wired AC adapter.

The $69.99 HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard, meanwhile, uses Bluetooth to hook up and has low-profile keys and auto-off that, HP reckons, means a single set of batteries are good for up to 12 months use. The $49.99 HP TouchPad Case folds either horizontally or vertically, depending on what angle you want to prop the tablet up at, and has cut-outs for the headphones and buttons. You can also charge the TouchPad in the Charging Dock without taking it out of the case.

Finally, there’s the $29.99 North America Power Charger, a 10W adapter like that supplied with the iPad 2, which has a USB port and folding prongs for easy carrying. Of course, the TouchPad itself is also up for pre-order – $499.99 for the 16GB, or $599.99 for the 32GB.

[via PreCentral]

The WOWkeys has 15 hot-keys that can be used to control your iPhone or iPod touch while its docked. They include a home button, display power on/off, a shortcut to album photos, and multimedia control buttons such as pause, play, and skip tracks. The WOWkeys can also switch over to be a keyboard for your Mac or PC with your docked iPhone or iPod touch acting as a multi-touch pad. A dedicated button switches the keyboards functionality between the two modes of use.

The WOWkeys works with both the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4 and connects to your Mac or PC via USB. The keyboard dock is available and shipping now. However, it’s a bit pricey at $100. Would you get one?

[via Electronista]

All you have to do is browse on over to JBL’s webstore here. There you’ll find the product numbers you need, just use the promo code BRACKET and you’ll be able to get a new bracket shipped to you at no cost. Thanks JBL! It’s always nice when a company actually goes out of their way to support a product like this. I snapped a quick screenshot confirming that the code actually works. Here you go.

You should also know that if you’re shopping around for docking stations, JBL is already shipping all new purchases with this bracket. So don’t let this deter you, you’re already covered. We wrote a bit more about it and have an image gallery posted here.

There’s also a regular Dock connector, so you can plug a USB sync/charge cable or a 10W AC adapter to sync or charge your iPad 2. Unfortunately neither cable nor AC adapter actually comes with the iPad 2 Dock, so factor in another $29 for the mains supply if you don’t want to keep unplugging and replugging it.

You can also hook up the new Apple Digital AV Adapter and thus connect the iPad 2 up via HDMI to a bigger display. No word on exact release dates, but we’re guessing Apple will be aiming to get this on the market on March 11.

[Thanks Paul!]

Hardware

It’s tough to pick holes in the ATRIX 4G’s spec sheet; Motorola has put together a solid list of hardware that pushes several of the limits we’ve seen on recent Android devices. Build quality is solid plastic with a fair amount of heft in the hand: it’s a dense handset, at 63.5 x 117.75 x 10.95 mm and 135g, and feels reassuringly free of creaks and flex. There’s something about the fascia that reminds us of the HTC Touch HD, discrete and sober.

Under the Gorilla Glass sits one of the ATRIX 4G’s key selling points, a 4-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen. Running at 960 x 540 it’s a welcome step up from the WVGA 800 x 480 that has become the de-facto standard for Android handsets over the past twelve months or so. That adds up to a pixel density of 275ppi, short of the iPhone 4′s Retina Display, but still noticeably crisper than most other rivals. Viewing angles are broad, colors are accurate and – as long as you’re not in direct sunlight – there are few problems with brightness. Underneath are the usual touch-sensitive Android controls, for menu, home, back and search, while above there’s a VGA-resolution webcam for video calls, along with brightness and proximity sensors.

On the left edge there’s the microUSB and HDMI connectors, while the volume controls are – somewhat unusually, but still perfectly usable – on the right.

On the angled top edge there’s the 3.5mm headphone port and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

We rarely had any issues using this, unlocking the ATRIX 4G with a quick swipe; on a few occasions it took a second pass, but generally the fingerprint system is easier than the usual Android lock screen. Happily there’s a passcode backup should you persistently encounter issues, or need to give someone else access. A speaker sits on the bottom edge, while the 5-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash is on the distinctively patterned back.

Inside, the dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 takes price of place, a set of two 1GHz cores paired with a healthy 1GB of DDR2 RAM and 16GB of integrated storage.

There’s a microSD card slot for a further 32GB, and given the ATRIX 4G will shoot 720p HD video and – with its Entertainment Center – is aiming to handle your A/V requirements, that storage potential is very welcome. Connectivity includes triband HSPA+ (as per AT&T’s 4G branding) and quadband GSM/EDGE, along with WiFi b/g/n with support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and the microUSB/HDMI ports. GPS, a digital compass and an accelerometer round things out.

It all adds up to one of the fastest Android handsets we’ve used to-date, blazing through webpage rendering and pinch-zooming, loading apps with barely any delay, sending Google Maps whipping across the screen and helping squeeze out some of the frustrating pauses that still leave some Android users looking enviously at the iPhone 4.

Motorola offers both the Laptop Dock and the HD Dock, along with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse set, which we’ll cover later on in the review.

Software

Motorola’s choice of Android 2.2 Froyo is the first disappointment of the ATRIX 4G’s software experience, leaving Google’s Nexus S as the only Gingerbread smartphone currently on the market. On top, there’s the latest iteration of MOTOBLUR, less intrusive than in its early generations, but still an acquired taste (and a potential cause of delay to future Android OS updates) with its social networking integration, modified UI and resizable homescreen widgets.

AT&T introduces its own modifications and software, including the same limitation on sideloading apps (i.e. installing them from a direct download or memory card, rather than from the official Android Market) that we’ve seen on other Android handsets from the carrier. There are workarounds online, which can address that, and it does introduce a degree of protection from potentially malware-infected apps, but the sort of power users, which will be drawn to the ATRIX 4G, might not really need the carrier’s over-protection.

As for AT&T software, there’s the carrier’s Code Scanner, Family Map, Navigator, YP Mobile and My AT&T apps already installed, along with Motorola-bundled copies of Quick Office 3.0, Vlingo Voice, Blockbuster, Need for Speed and MobiTV. That’s on top of the usual suite of Google apps (Gmail in particular looks brilliant on the qHD display, with the Tegra 2 CPU slicing through any inbox delays we’ve encountered on other Android devices). Some apps can be deleted while others are fixed, though of course a custom ROM would take care of that (and the horsepower of the ATRIX 4G is already drawing plenty of attention from the homebrew Android community) if Motorola hadn’t locked that down as well. Of course, modders have already addressed that with an (unreleased) rooting method, but it’s another degree of frustration that belies Android’s generally open, mod-friendly nature.

The useful additions we’ve come to expect from smartphones, like a mobile hotspot app, are present and work fine, with the ATRIX 4G able to share its HSPA+ connection with up to five WiFi-enabled clients. There’s also DLNA support, for wirelessly streaming content to a compatible display or audio player, though Motorola really expects users to use its HDMI output or HD Dock.

Camera and Multimedia

We’ve criticized Motorola’s cameras in the past, and the ATRIX 4G is another middle-of-the-road effort from the company. At 5-megapixels – with autofocus and a dual-LED flash that doubles as a video light – it’s not the highest resolution on a recent smartphone, though there’s undoubtedly more to mobile photography than sheer pixel count.

Still images are clean but uninspiring, with reasonable contrast and sharpness outdoors but a little too much noise for our liking indoors. We’ve had better luck from recent Samsungs. Color balance could be more accurate, too, though at least the camera boots quickly – even without a dedicated hardware button – and the ATRIX 4G processes and saves shots with the minimum of delay.

Video, meanwhile, is currently limited to 720p HD, rather than the 1080p HD the Tegra 2 is capable of. That will apparently be unlocked – for recording and playback – in a later firmware update, though Motorola is yet to commit to an exact release date. As it stands, though, video is more successful than stills in many cases, with plenty of detail, swift responsiveness to changes in lighting, and smooth recording despite the lack of any optical stability systems.

The qHD display is obviously great for showing off photos and video, but since the ATRIX 4G packs an HDMI output it’s also easy to hook up a nearby HDTV for direct playback. Plugged in – with the bundled mini HDMI to HDMI cable – the smartphone boots into a dedicated Entertainment Center interface, with a big-screen friendly UI for photos, video and audio playback. The ATRIX 4G itself shows a remote control for navigating, and the phone supports AAC, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, WMA9, eAAC+, AMR NB and AAC+ formats with video playback at up to 30fps. With the 1080p update this will be even more useful, but 720p looked good nonetheless.

Phone and Battery

Motorola’s noise reduction system is in evidence on the ATRIX 4G, and it helps the Android smartphone put in a solid showing when it comes to voice call quality. Audio on both ends of the call is clear and crisp, and the speakerphone is suitably loud.

Data, unfortunately, hasn’t faired so well. The Motorola may promise 4G speeds, but performance felt more in line with regular 3G devices than other HSPA+ handsets we’ve used. We tested the ATRIX 4G in multiple locations (with HSPA+ coverage indicated) and saw on average download speeds of 1.3 Mbps to 1.6 Mbps, while upload speeds proved ponderous at between 0.12 Mbps and 0.2 Mbps. It’s unclear at this stage whether this is entirely the ATRIX 4G’s fault, the fledgling AT&T HSPA+ network, or – most likely, perhaps – a combination of the two, but the end result is that rival 4G networks deliver better raw performance if data speeds are your primary concern.

The 1,930 mAh battery Motorola supply is a considerable step up from the sort of power packs we’ve seen on other high-end devices of late, and the company expects it to push the ATRIX 4G on to up to 540 minutes of talktime or up to 400 hours of standby. In practice, with push-email turned on and the usual mixture of daily use – Google Maps, Internet browsing, some music and video playback – we’ve seen well over 13 hours of runtime from the ATRIX 4G. Yes, you’ll be charging it nightly, but that’s par for the course for a modern smartphone.

Laptop Dock

A fair amount of the excitement around the ATRIX 4G isn’t so much the handset itself, but the accessories Motorola is offering. Flagship of these is the Motorola Laptop Dock, an 11.6-inch ultraportable notebook-style clamshell with a full keyboard, trackpad and integrated battery. Alone it has no intelligence; instead, you have to dock the ATRIX 4G into a flip-up cradle at the back, upon which the Laptop Dock boots into Motorola’s Webtop system.

The Laptop Dock hardware is certainly solid, made of brushed black metal and plastic, and with strongly-sprung keys. Despite the broad width they keys themselves are a little smaller than what we’re used to from, say, the MacBook Air, and general feel is slightly less impressive than a regular notebook. The trackpad is large – though the button bar is far too stiff for our liking – but the absence of multitouch support for two-finger scrolling and other gestures is frustrating.

As for the display, that’s a 1366 x 768 panel and is bright and reasonably clear. The Webtop system is a custom Linux build, with an OS X style dock of apps – including a full version of Firefox – along the bottom of the screen and a windowed version of the ATRIX 4G’s display floating on the left.

You can boot into the Entertainment Center – more of which in the HD Dock section – or, more likely, the browser (there are shortcuts for AT&T, Facebook and Motorola, but they simply open the relevant pages in Firefox), and both the phone view and browser view can be maximized to full-screen (though the phone image is merely magnified, not upscaled, so gets relatively pixelated in the process).

Motorola is particularly proud of the full build of Firefox installed, though the actual user experience is a mixed bag. You can certainly load up Google Docs, stream content, view YouTube and Hulu, and other full webpages in various tabs, but the Tegra 2 processor falls short of the slick experience we’d hoped for. There’s noticeable sluggishness, whether you’re opening Firefox, flicking between tabs, playing Full HD content or even just working with Google Docs documents.

Still, you can handle calls and messages while the ATRIX 4G is docked, and the integrated battery – which Motorola reckons will keep the Laptop Dock running for up to 6 hours of video playback or 8-10 hours of web browsing – recharges the smartphone as you work. Hopefully some further software optimization will give Webtop a speed boost in the coming months, since right now it’s an expensive and limited alternative to a netbook.

HD Dock

Motorola’s desktop dock is a halfway house of sorts between the Laptop Dock and the basic HDMI connection the ATRIX 4G itself offers, including not only an HDMI output but three USB ports for hooking up peripherals and a 3.5mm stereo audio output. They could include a wired keyboard and mouse, though Motorola also sent us its Bluetooth keyboard/mouse set.

What you do get over and above using the onboard HDMI, however, is access to the Webtop UI, turning your ATRIX 4G and HDTV into a desktop PC. The Entertainment Center UI can be controlled by the bundled infrared remote, which is a physical version of the on-screen controller shown when you use a direct HDMI connection.

The Bluetooth keyboard and mouse work as you’d expect, pairing with the ATRIX 4G and allowing for easy navigation and text entry. The keyboard has several Android app shortcut buttons, and the chiclet keys are easier to use than the Laptop Dock’s keys.

Price and Value

The Motorola ATRIX 4G is priced in line with most other high-end smartphones, at $199.99 with a new, two-year AT&T agreement. Both voice and data plans are mandatory, but if you want to use the tethering feature then you’ll need to step up to the most expensive data package (the cheaper plans only offer on-device data) at $45 per month. With the cheapest voice plan that means you’re looking at a minimum of $84.99 per month.

Where it gets really expensive is when you take into account the accessories. The Motorola HD Dock is $129.99, while the Bluetooth keyboard alone is $69.99; AT&T will sell you an “Entertainment Center/Webtop Access Kit” including both, plus the Bluetooth mouse, for $189.99. As for the Laptop Dock, that’s $299.99 after $200 of rebates (mail-in and instant), though you’ll need to have the tethering data plan to qualify. Alone, the Laptop Dock is a hefty $499.99, which might not get you a MacBook Air but does cover quite a few netbook and notebook options (all of which are functional without a phone docked into them).

Wrap-Up

If there’s one thing the Motorola ATRIX 4G shows, it’s that there’s no shortage of innovation in the smartphone market. The Laptop Dock may be expensive – and Palm may have previewed the idea with the Folio, and Redfly even attempted to commercialize it with the Celio – but Motorola deserves some kudos for bringing it to market and to a major carrier. There’s certainly no shortage of geek appeal, and the HD Desktop Dock is similarly useful, but right now the Webtop interface falls short of what a simple, WiFi-tethered netbook would deliver. The HD Desktop Dock is good, but its core abilities are readily served with a far cheaper HDMI cable. Early adopters can probably justify one or both, but mainstream users will likely want to wait for Motorola’s engineers to finesse the experience.

Mediocre 4G data speeds aside, meanwhile, the ATRIX itself is a solid, very usable smartphone lifted from among the Android crowds by its lightning fast performance and pixel-rich display. The combination of Tegra 2 and qHD resolution add up to one of the best Android experiences to-date. Rivals will soon begin snapping at the ATRIX 4G’s heels, but in terms of as much future-proofing as you can lock-in over the course of a two-year agreement, today the Motorola offers the best starting point.

ATRIX 4G unboxing and hands-on

The higher end model HT-S5400 7.1-channel HTiB offers two extra audio channels for more audio control to enhance movie and gaming ambience. The audio channels can support Dolby Pro Logi IIz along with having superior audio DACs. The model also features a front panel USB port for iPod or iPhone connectivity.

The more affordable 5.1-channel HT-S3400 model omits a few features including the USB port, subwoofer pre-out, and Audyssey 2EQ.

On top of this, Onkyo also announces a new Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone, the DS-A4, which provides audio, video outputs, charging, and full function remote control.

The Onkyo HT-S5400 is priced at $599, the HT-S3400 at $379, and the DS-A4 at $139. All will be available in April.

[Via Onkyo]

“By juxtaposing our two very unlike companies together we are combining inspired technology with inspired design. The end result being a blend which enhances the audio and visual aesthetics for the customer and creates something pretty delicious, ” says Ryan Heuser, president and co-founder of Paul Frank.

The chimped out docking station features stereo loudspeakers for the ultimate portable party machine. It has an interchangeable dock (adapters not included) making it compatible with any and all iPod devices and up to 6 hours of play time on one charge. Available now for $99.95 at every Paul Frank retail shop in the US or online at PaulFrank.com.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Video after the cut

A benefit of TWIST’s unusual shape is that it can stand up on its narrow edge, unlike many modern phones, and there’s a clever dock as well which changes its display according to whether a handset is in place or not. Now, it’s worth noting that Aava Mobile has made some changes to the final product design, so it won’t look exactly like this, but already it’s enough to make us wish the company would offer the Aava Core to the end user, rather than shopping around the internal chipset technology to OEM/ODMs.

Core77 also has details on a rather slick looking smartphone/docking station pair, called the Lampi, by designer Thomas Valcke. No word on whether Aava Mobile also has intentions on commercialising that, however.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/19564426[/vimeo]

Combing superior audio quality with impressive design, the iTam tam is definitely an interesting furniture piece. The dock is compatible with all docking iPod models and boasts 3 independent speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 2 circular placed midrange tweeters.

The design is based off of the 1968 Tamtam stool and can fit in pretty much anywhere with a modern decor. Available now, the stool retails for around $500.

There are 15 hotkeys for iPhone usage. Plus, if you find the right application, you can turn your iPhone into a media center remote control, an AirPlay media streamer when iPhone OS 4.2 hits, or a multi-touch trackpad. The hotkeys include a way to Pause, Play, skip a song forward or back, as well as increase or reduce the brightness of your display. You can even search, go through your photo album, or turn the display off. If you’re interested, the USB keyboard/iPhone dock will run you $100 when it goes on sale in the near future.

[via Engadget]

Hell’s Foundry has announced that their brand new DashLink will be made available soon, and pre-orders have already begun. The DashLink replaces the stock fuel tank, and in the process adds an iPhone/iPod Touch dock that will securely hold your device in place. You’ll be able to use the device in an easily accessible fashion, which will let you check your GPS, listen to music, and whatever else you may need. You won’t have to worry about any wiring being exposed, as the installation makes sure to hide all of it. There’s the standard power connection, but the DashLink will also let you connect your bike’s speakers to the dock as well, making sure you can enjoy your music without headphones. And, thanks to the Bluetooth technology in the iPhone, you can use Bluetooth headsets or headphones, if you prefer.

If you own a FLH or FLT model Harley-Davidson, you’ll be able to control the volume by using the handlebar controls. Hell’s Foundry has also made sure that a power detection tool is in place, making sure that the DashLink is not powered on if the iPhone or iPod Touch is not connected. Once you connect your iDevice, the system will start up, and you’ll be able to use it accordingly. If you’re interested, and you have an FLHT/FLTR or FLHR model that’s from 1996 or newer, then you can go ahead and pre-order now. It will only cost you $400, and it’s due out in January of 2011.

[via Gizmag]

The iClops has an autofocus lens, pivoting mount and can take 2.1-megapixel stills or shoot VGA-quality video; it can stream video at 15fps, and has a built-in microphone.  There’ll be a companion video recording app in the App Store when the iClops arrives in March 2011 for around $130, though it’s not yet clear whether Face Time will be supported.  Scosche also apparently plans to run a competition to name the iClops.

Meanwhile the Optoma Neo-i pico-projector is a desktop iPhone/iPod dock with stereo 8W speakers and a 50 lumens projector on the back capable of 854 x 480 16:9 aspect video.  There’s also HDMI, VGA and composite inputs, for using the Neo-i with external sources, together with an audio output and an optional $40 iPad connector kit.  There’s also talk of potential battery power, though we won’t know for sure until its official debut later this month, priced at around $450.

[via PicoProjector-Info]

The dual-core 1.2GHz U5400 T1125M model is apparently targeted at emerging markets, with everyone else getting the Core i3-380UM T1125N (with optional Core i5-470UM upgrade).  Both have a 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 multitouch display, 2GB/4GB of RAM, 320GB/500GB HDDs and Intel HD graphics, with the T1125N also toting an NVIDIA Optimus-compatible GeForce 310M GPU.

Connectivity includes USB 2.0, HDMI, eSATA, gigabit ethernet, audio in/out, VGA and a multi-format memory card reader, with the T1125N getting a USB 3.0 port as well.  There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and an optional 3.5G cellular modem on the T1125N, together with a 1.3-megapixel webcam and a 6-cell battery.

Gigabyte’s docking station is particularly interesting, being a more developed version of the simple dock we looked at with Gigabyte’s BookTop M1022.  As well as the slot for the removable DVD drive, it can rotate to turn the tablet – in converted orientation – to face you as you work, meaning you can use both an external display and the T1125′s own screen simultaneously.

Unfortunately there’s no sign of any pricing or specific release dates, with Gigabyte apparently aiming for a holiday launch but a CES 2011 debut in January looking more likely.

PhotoFast has unveiled a slick new dock that will help people that have lots of Apple gear in their house to charge that stuff without taking up all their outlets. The dock is called the iPADock. The dock measures in at 68.5 x 140 x 190mm, which means it is pretty large. It weighs 800g and has compatibility with the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and nano. It can also read memory cards of all sorts and gets power from a 5A/5V DC adapter.

You can arrange the dock to charge different gadgets using the charge cables that come with the Apple gear. You can arrange the dock to hold an iPad and two iPhones or up to four iPhone size devices. If you have two iPads, they can also be charged at the same time. It also has slots for you to plug in your iPad Camera connection kit. Pricing is roughly $79 here or 2500 NDT with shipping set for September.

Your money nets you a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, WVGA display, 3G/UMTS, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 5-megapixel camera; there’s also a front-facing webcam and GPS.  Unfortunately the Streak launches with Android 1.6 (complete with some Dell customizations); Android 2.x won’t be available until later in the year.  It’s also worth noting that the Streak comes carrier-locked to AT&T, even if you pay for the SIM-free version.

If you’re still undecided about the Streak, check out our review of the European version and columnist Michael Gartenberg’s piece on the challenges small Android tablets face.  If you pick up a Streak yourself, don’t forget to leave your thoughts over at our Roots page for the MID!

Meanwhile the car dock holds the Galaxy S in either portrait or landscape orientation and has a microUSB input for charging the smartphone.  It’s intended to be used with the Android in-car UI, together with voice search.

Interestingly, the press release also mentions the “Samsung WMG160 Wi-Fi HD streaming device”, seemingly a DLNA-compliant TV adapter.  That would presumably allow for direct streaming from the Galaxy S’ “AllShare” app to your HDTV; however we can find no mention of the adapter on Samsung’s site.  We’re waiting on official pricing details from Samsung themselves.

Update: The desk cradle is $39.99 while the Battery Charger is $49.99.  As for the WMG160, that’s yet to be added to Samsung’s site but they’ve sent us product details which you can see in the gallery below.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG MOBILE UNVEILS PREMIUM GALAXY S SMART PHONE ACCESSORIES

New class of smart phone accessories feature compact desktop dock, convenient portable vehicle dock, and affordable spare battery charging solution to help make the Galaxy S smart phone experience brilliant

DALLAS, August 11, 2010 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced a line of premium accessories for the Android™-powered Galaxy S smart phone portfolio. The lineup of premium Galaxy S accessories, including a convenient desktop dock, vehicle dock and backup battery charging system, will provide users with an enhanced mobile experience for each of the Galaxy S smart phones.

The Samsung Galaxy S accessory lineup includes a small, compact desktop dock providing consumers an easy-to-use option to view their favorite movies, listen to music, display as a digital picture frame and use the desktop speakerphone when making hands-free calls while at a desk or in a home office. The Galaxy S desktop dock, which also doubles as a charger, allows for useful application downloads and internet browsing features such as Google Search™ by Voice, which allows users to speak their search query. Users can download the Desk Home application from the Android marketplace by searching for “desk home Samsung”. The Desk Home application can switch brightness levels from day to night and provides one-touch access to the Daily Briefing, alarm clock, music, pictures, movie gallery and local weather so that you can always stay up-to-date with daily activities.

The Galaxy S portable vehicle dock allows users to mount their device to a car windshield or dashboard and display turn-by-turn instructions for a safe, hands-free GPS navigation experience. Users can receive and display the latest traffic alerts, location-based information and activate the Google Search™ by Voice features when the Galaxy S smart phone is in the vehicle dock. The lightweight vehicle dock rotates freely between landscape and portrait modes and is attachable to either the windshield or car dashboard. The vehicle dock also contains a micro USB connection to conveniently charge a phone while in-use.

The Samsung Galaxy S accessories lineup offers an affordable charging solution that includes three components such as an extra 1500 mAh battery, a spare battery charger with phone stand and a wall charger for charging your phone and spare battery separately. The backup charger is small enough to fit in a pocket, purse or briefcase to transport and protect a charged backup battery allowing users smart phones to always stay powered-up while on-the-go.

Customers can also personalize Galaxy S smart phones with multiple protective case options, available in a variety of colors, patterns and fabrics to fit the needs of each consumer’s personal style. Additional Galaxy S accessories include a three-pack screen protector set with anti-scratch, mirror, and privacy screens as well as the Samsung WMG1602 Wi-Fi HD streaming device. The Samsung WMG160 allows users to stream movies, music, and photos directly from a Galaxy S smart phone to an HDTV.

For more information on retail availability and a complete list of Galaxy S accessories, visit www.samsung.com.

1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.
2 Also compatible with other DLNA compliant devices such as laptops or cameras. Check device compatibility at www.dlna.org/products.

The docking station has a dock that allows the connection of a monitor in 15″ to 21″ size, a mouse, a keyboard, and speakers. The only connection to your laptop needed is in the form of a single USB dongle.

The system supports standard resolutions up to 1400 x 1050 or wide screen resolutions up to 1440 x 900. The system can stream video in up to 720p resolution in 32-bit color. The dock is on Amazon right now for purchase.

The Thermaltake BlacX 5GB USB 3.0 SuperSpeed docking station makes transferring all your essential documents, and anything else you need transferred, so much easier. It’s light weight, and measures in at only 73mm x 136mm x 88mm, it’s small enough you can carry around with you, if that’s something you’re into. The docking station itself is capable of supporting hard drives up to 2TB in size. And while it’s primarily designed to transfer data with its USB 3.0 connector, you’re able to use USB 2.0 or even 1.1 if you want, or if you don’t have an option.

In the box comes the docking station, a USB 3.0 cable, and the power cord, so everything you need to get started right after you open your new toy. And like the title suggests, at just $50 for everything that’s included (no, you don’t get a hard drive, though that would be nice), that’s a pretty great deal. So if you’ve got plenty of HD movies you need to transfer, this might just be the perfect way to do it.

[via Ubergizmo]

Docking stations for Windows machines are prolific, but MacBook users don’t have that many options. A new line of docks for MacBook notebooks have debuted called Henge Docks. The docks let you slip the MacBook into the dock on its side.

Docks are made for black and white plastic MacBooks, 13-inch MacBook Pro unibody, 15-inch MacBook Pro, and 17-inch MacBook Pro models. Each dock offers USB, Ethernet, audio cable, and some versions have Firewire cables. The docs use the MacBook MagSafe Power adapter and Apple Mini DisplayPort or DVI adapters for video out. Docks start at $59.95 and are available now.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated accessory is the iPad Keyboard Dock ($69), a way to both charge the iPad and enter text without relying on the on-screen keyboard. The dock itself feels just like a basic stand fixed to a full-sized Apple keyboard, just like you’d find with a desktop Mac, and the key-response is just the same. However there are useful shortcuts – Home, Spotlight, brightness, picture frame mode, screen lock and a trigger for the onscreen keyboard – together with a dock connector (which you can use with the power supply, VGA adapter or one of Apple’s A/V cables) and a 3.5mm audio output for speakers or headphones.

It all works as you’d expect, though we wish you could detach or at least extend the keyboard so as to move it further away from the iPad. Some sort of flexible mount – with which you could adjust the angle at which the tablet it held – would also be nice. Still, while the onscreen keyboard works well (in landscape mode, certainly), we’d definitely reach for the Keyboard Dock for anything longer than emails or basic document editing. Perhaps we’re wrong for wishing for a USB port or two, so that we could plug in a printer, but since that’s not something iPhone OS even supports at this time, it would only add to the cost.

The iPad Dock ($29) is the basic version of the iPad Keyboard Dock, and it’s one thing we think Apple should have included in with the tablet itself. Connectivity consists of a single dock connector and a 3.5mm audio output, the latter of which can be used to hook up a set of speakers; there’s no PSU included, though, so you’ll need to use the one that comes with the iPad.  As a place to keep the iPad recharged, it works a little easier than reaching for the cord, and of course it keeps it propped up for hands-free use.  Still, that would arguably be most helpful when watching videos, and since the iPad lacks a side-positioned Dock Connector that’s not something the iPad Dock can help with.

Apple’s iPad 10W USB Power Adapter ($29) looks just like a MacBook PSU in miniature, down to the removable power cable; there’s a six-foot cable in with it, rather than the PSU bundled with the iPad itself that plugs straight into an AC outlet. It also comes with a USB to Dock Connector cable. Not much you can say about a power adapter, frankly, but at least it’s reasonably small and – Apple say – it will recharge your iPad faster than a USB port can manage.

The iPad Case ($39) works as a combination folio and stand, and to be honest we’ve had mixed feelings about it. While the price is certainly a lot less than you’d pay for a leather case, the general feel of it is uninspiring. Still, the interior is microfiber lined and seems soft enough not to unduly scratch your iPad, and it does prop the tablet up at a useful angle.  That’s helpful both for video viewing and for typing, with the landscape-orientation onscreen keyboard a whole lot more usable when the iPad is at a traditional keyboard angle.  We’ve a feeling, though, that less bulky jackets will be in favor for iPad owners, since the Apple iPad Case makes things feel quite chunky.

Still to come, of course, are Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit ($29) – a pair of adapters, one with an SD reader, the other with a USB port, that plug either directly into the iPad’s Dock Connector or into one of the desktop docks – and iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29), the latter being perhaps one of the more useful iPad accessories if you want to use your tablet for proper work.  We can imagine pairing it with the iPad Keyboard Dock, for instance – plugging it into the secondary Dock Connector on the back of the other accessory – to create a mini-office of sorts. Of course, if you’re out without your Dock or Keyboard Dock, you’ll have to use a Bluetooth keyboard with the iPad, or work using the onscreen ‘board. It’s also worth remembering that the adapter only supports up to 1024 x 768 resolution, a little more than a netbook.

Official iPad Keyboard Dock and Case unboxing:

That’s in contrast to most of the other official iPad accessories, which are listed as set to ship in time for April 3rd.  The official Apple iPad case comes in at $39 while the iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter is $29.  If you can cope without the QWERTY and just want a docking station, the iPad Dock is $29 and will also ship for April 3rd.

In fact, the only later accessory is the Apple iPad 10W USB Power Adapter, which is priced at $29 but not expected to ship until late-April.  Looks like heavy iPad users will have to get used to carrying their AC adapter between home and the office until then.

Video demo after the cut

Other specs include a 320GB or 500GB 2.5-inch HDD, 1,366 x 768 display and integrated Intel X4500MHD graphics.  Both have a 1.3-megapixel webcam and WiFi, along with a fingerprint reader and optional 3G; the M1405 also gets Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.  Gigabyte reckon the M1305 will last for up to a slightly-unbelieveable 6hrs from the 3-cell 3,800mAh battery; a second, 2,550mAh power pack can be added to extend that by another 4hrs.

We still don’t know how much the two Gigabyte notebooks will cost, but we’re quietly excited.  Having dual-mode graphics in a notebook isn’t new, but it’s arguable whether most people use the higher-performance chip while on the move because of the battery impact.  Instead, they save it for when they’re back at their desk, just like the new BookTops offer.

Something we reckon a lot of iPad buyers will consider is the Keyboard Dock ($69), and while the QWERTY layout may look just like one of Apple’s regular ‘boards in actual fact there are shortcuts for controlling the iPad’s search function, homescreen and other features.  Since the iPad lacks either an SD card slot or a USB port, the Camera Connector Kit ($29) seems another likely purchase, though we’re frustrated that – given how integral iPhoto seemed to be in Apple’s keynote – neither are standard.

If you want to show Keynote presentations, the Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29) seems a sensible buy – and again, we’re frustrated Apple couldn’t squeeze either a Mini DisplayPort or Mini HDMI connector in there somewhere – and finally there’s the iPad Case ($39).  Despite Steve Jobs saying the latter is one of the nicest cases he’s seen, iLounge reckon it’s pretty bare-bones and of lesser quality than previous Apple-brand iPod cases.

Bizarrely, Google make no mention of Bluetooth on the Desktop Dock’s product page, instead burying it in the user guide [pdf link].  As expected, music is funnelled from Nexus One to Desktop Dock via A2DP – you’re prompted to pair them when you first slot in the phone – though there’s no word on whether you can subsequently play music remotely or if the handset always has to be docked.

Even more bizarre, the Desktop Dock doesn’t sync your Nexus One with your computer; in fact there’s no data transfer feature at all.  All it’ll do is recharge the phone and play music.  Still, that’s a pretty handy thing to have, and we reckon quite a few Nexus One owners will pay $45 for the privilege.

[via Android Community]

We first heard about the Nexus One Car Dock back in December, when mention of the peripheral was discovered in a leaked ROM for the smartphone.  It was then spotted clearing the FCC at the end of the year, complete with some sort of Bluetooth functionality, though Google have released no details as to how that functionality will operate.  According to the online documentation the Nexus One will automatically go into Car Home mode when placed into the Car Dock.

Meanwhile an online support question about official Nexus One accessories prompted a Google employee to suggest that “The docking stations for Nexus One are not available at this time. Stay tuned though, they should be available soon.”  That implies that not only the Car Dock but the Nexus One Desktop Dock are coming sooner rather than later.

The functionality of the dock is unclear, but it presumably recharges the Nexus One as well as perhaps allowing for desktop synchronization via USB to a computer.  The addition of Bluetooth could mean that it will also offer hands-free speakerphone functionality, though its been speculated that the wireless might also allow for remote control of home theater systems.

The first indicated accessory for the Nexus One was an official car-kit revealed in the handset’s leaked ROM.  The smartphone itself is expected to have a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, T-Mobile USA 3G and a Qualcomm 1GHz QSD8250 processor; more specifications here.

[via Electronista]

Video demo after the cut

As well as full-sized peripherals, the USB host functionality will work with external storage such as USB thumb-drives and full-sized hard-drives.  The latter, Steve has found, might not get enough power from the Archos 5 Mini Dock, however.  We’re seeing more gadgets like smartphones and PMPs supporting USB host, and it certainly adds another degree of flexibility being able to whip out a mobile gadget to check or send out a file, rather than boot up your notebook or netbook.

Steve has put together a full demo video below, including highlights of the new firmware; full details of that here.  He’s calling it a “mini web PC” setup, and with a folding or compact keyboard we can certainly see it replacing what many users would generally turn to a notebook to achieve.