Motorola releases two multi-device docks
Docks are excellent accessories for both tablets and phones, but are often ignored by users because they won’t work with cases or they don’t want to buy new docks for every device. Motorola has now cleverly (or obviously, if you ask consumers) created a dock that is adjustable in such a way that neither (many) cases nor different devices will be an issue. in fact, the new HD Dock and HD Station accessories even work with both tablets and phones.
The HD Dock will allow you to connect to a larger screen as well as connect speakers, while the HD Station will add USB ports to that. I assume charge and sync works for both as well. There are a few nifty software features as well, such as Smart Modes (phones only) that e.g. launch the calendar when connected to the dock in the office. Mobile View is a feature that allows you to see the phone screen on part of the large screen and a browser or something similar on the other. In other words, you get more than just a stationary “set of cables”.
As for compatibility, the supported tablets are the Xyboard 10.1 and 8.2, and (I assume) the international versions, called the Xoom 2 10.1 and 8.2. A few phones are also supported, and the idea here is that this will last for a while so you can keep your $50/$100 (respectively) docks for a while. I love the concept, and it’s great to see a company that not only uses the same connectors on both tablets and phones (Samsung doesn’t, and it annoys me to no end since I have a Samsung tablet and phone) but also goes as far as making the spacing/configuration the same in order to allow for these docks to exist. After the Xoom 1, Motorola has been on my “please take its business license away”-list, but things like this can help it get off that list. The digitizer pen in the Xyboard 10.1 doesn’t hurt either.
[HD Dock | HD Station via Droid Life]
