On lower-priced laptops and Netbooks, something typically sacrificed is the ability to link up with an external display through anything but a VGA output. With the Targus USB 2.0 Docking Station with Video (aka the ACP51US) it doesn't even matter what, if any, display output your notebook or Netbook has, though.
Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7 systems, the wedge-shaped dock uses DisplayLink technology to connect to an external monitor up to a resolution of 2,048x1,152 pixels. A single USB 2.0 port on your laptop is all that's needed to add an external monitor, up to four USB devices, Ethernet, speakers, and a mic. Two of the four USB ports are powered, too, in case you need an always-on option for charging a couple USB devices like your cell phone or MP3 player.
This kind of connectivity doesn't come cheaply, however. The docking station will set you back roughly $160.
(Credit:
Revo)
There are many docking stations for the iPod/iPhone on the market, but if you're looking for one that's different--possibly in a good way--Revo has something for you.
The company announced on Monday its newest digital radio, the Ikon, which may be the first to come with a full-color 3.5-inch touch screen and an icon-based user interface. It also supports multistandard radio capabilities and works as a dock for the iPod or iPhone.
According to Revo, a European designer and manufacturer of digital audio devices, the Ikon can receive the full roster of digital radio standards, including Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), DAB+, Internet radio, and, of course, conventional FM radio with RDS.
The device can also display color station logos, station descriptions, track and artist information, and news headlines.
The Ikon can wirelessly stream digital music from any PC or Apple computer (presumably via a Wi-Fi connection), displaying full-color album artwork and track information when available. It's one of a limited number of digital radios certified by Apple for use with the iPod or iPhone as a high-quality iPod/iPhone sound system. The device is compatible with all existing iPod and iPhone models.
Apart from its terrestrial and Internet radio capabilities, Ikon will also provide access to online music service Last.fm and comes with a free 30-day Last.fm trial subscription. (Editor's note: Last.fm is part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET News.)
In regard to sound quality, the Ikon boasts NXT's patented "Balanced-Radiator" loudspeaker technology, which creates high-performance sound, with satisfying bass on a compact device.
All this sounds very exciting, but there's a catch: the Ikon isn't cheap. It will be available worldwide sometime in October for an estimated price of around $450, which makes it possibly the most expensive iPod/iPhone docking station of its size.
(Credit:
NewerTech)
If you do a lot of work that involves transferring data from one hard drive to another, you'll probably love the NewerTech Voyager hard drive dock.
This the first quad-interface hard drive docking station that supports FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. The device can turn any 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA hard drive, up to 2.0TB, into a fully bootable and hot-swappable external drive solution.
NewerTech Voyager is compatible with both Macs and PC and features plug-and-plug installation with no software or driver needed. All you need to do is plug in a new hard drive, and format it if need be. You can of course--and I believe this is the main use of the device--put in an old hard drive to access data from it.
... Read more
(Credit:
Speakal)
I don't know about you, but this thing won't scare me.
Speakal, maker of the unbearably cute iPanda, on Wednesday once again got (most of) us charmed with its new cute iPod docking station called iBoo.
The audio system comes in the shape of a friendly ghost with design elements that work in most settings: from the bedroom to the office to the kitchen. In addition, the iBoo's small footprint and light weight make it suitable for toting along on the go.
Made to be both an audio player and a decorative piece, the iBoo incorporates design elements as functional components. The smiley mouth, for example, acts as the sensor that receives remote control commands. The eyes, on the other hand, are two mid- and high-range speakers, while the sub woofer is hidden below in the "belly" of the ghost.
(Credit:
Speakal)
The unit features rubberized feet to prevent rattling while the subwoofer is fired up high. Other than the remote, you can also control the volume by touching the iBoo itself.
The iBoo works as an iPod dock with numerous included cradles. It also has a standard auxiliary 3.5mm input jack for connectivity to an external player.
The iBoo is available now in red, white, and blue versions, with a price tag of $90 that includes a one-year manufacturer's warranty.
Sony's dock gives notebook owners display options.
(Credit: DisplayLink)On Monday, DisplayLink announced that its network display technology is now available in the new Sony Vaio USB Docking Station VGP-UPR1.
The DisplayLink technology that allows users to connect multiple monitors to their systems via USB 2.0 is embedded in the docking station. The dock is compatible with Sony Vaio notebooks as well as other notebooks that have USB 2.0 connections. This could be useful for mobile users and travelers that have the rather rare and unique need of using more than one monitor to do their work.
The dock can be used with any display with an analog or DVI connection and which has a resolution of up to 1600x1200-pixels.
The dock includes the following connection options:
- Ethernet port
- VGA
- DVI
- Audio connections
- Four USB ports
- Headphone port
- Microphone port
- DC in
The dock supports Windows 2000, XP and, Vista 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which includes support for the Aero interface and costs $199.99.
(Credit:
Spirit of St. Louis)
Forget about those updated boomboxes and cassette MP3 players. If you really want retro, this is the way to go.
This system from the Spirit of St. Louis Collection is designed to look like a World War II-era radio, like other models in the line, but this one has an iPod dock, CD player, and stereo speakers. And Chip Chick notes that it does have a working three-band radio as well, so it isn't totally artificial.
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
If you have an ExpressCard slot in your laptop, here's one way to make better use of it. Targus has a nifty device called the ExpressCard Docking Station that works somewhat like a port replicator. But instead of proprietary connectors, it utilizes the ExpressCard slot.
In addition to four USB 2.0, Ethernet (10/100/1000) and serial ports, the dock comes with standard VGA and DVI connectors that are useful to hook up to an external display to a laptop. According to the specifications, the dock supports up to 1,600x1,200 video resolution. The presence of audio jacks for front, rear, and center speakers as well as microphone and S/PDIF connectors also makes the device compatible for use with external surround-speaker systems.
Oddly, there is no FireWire or S-video port built in. We were also hoping to see HDMI connectivity added to the mix. There's also another issue, albeit a minor one: The dock is powered by an AC adapter, which means limited mobility unless you plan to use this primarily at the workstation.
The upside to this is that the USB ports are "always on," meaning that the dock can continue powering or charging devices even when the notebook is off. Power-hungry USB devices like external 2.5-inch hard drives typically work better with powered USB ports too.
(Source: Crave Asia)
You have music, and you have a personal music player. You likely haven't purchased either from Philips, but the Dutch electronics maker wants to be the relay guy that passes music from your device to a home or office audio system.
The Philips BTM630. Click for a gallery of the other products shown off Thursday.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News.com)The best example of Philips doing that is the BTM630, a Bluetooth-enabled desktop audio system with a lot going on. An iPod dock/charger is embedded in the top, along with an SD card slot and a USB port. The slot-loading CD drive on the front can be used--besides playing music--to rip audio files that can then be transferred to a USB drive using just the Philips system and no PC.
Any device equipped with stereo Bluetooth, like a cell phone, can play music from the phone over the BTM630. An LCD on the unit's face will show the song playing, so if someone calls mid-song, the system pauses the tunes, displays the caller's number and will allow hands-free Bluetooth calling right over the audio system itself. It's officially available in September for $199.
The iPod Remote is a lot less hardware for the same price, but it also takes up much less space. The dock plugs directly into any audio system or television and doesn't do anything fancy really. But the remote does--it's a regular universal remote, but on the top is an LCD screen that shows the iPod menu and can be navigated via the remote itself. It's also $199 and ships in September.
For more Philips audio products, click on the gallery.
Rounding out this week's wireless USB news is Toshiba and its Wireless UWB Port Replicator.
The Portege R400 series is one of Toshiba's high-end laptops (with a twisty screen!), which can now be paired with a wireless port replicator docking station that needs no cables to connect with peripherals like a printer, monitor, projector, mouse or external hard drive.
(Credit:
Toshiba)
The dock uses an ultrawideband technology that will stream uncompressed video wirelessly to a monitor at 1280X1024 resolution. It's available now for $499 and can be purchased separately.
It's been a big week for Wireless USB. Earlier both Dell and Lenovo announced laptops that can make USB connections sans cables. D-Link and Iogear announced Wireless USB hubs and adapter kits shortly thereafter.
These kinds of products make me happy because it means a lot less of this kind of situation on or under my desk.
(Credit:
Fair-kaeuflich)
Now this is what we like--truth in advertising. Or truth in blogging, at least.
Apparently as weary of iPod docks as we are, Uber-Review is spot-on in its assessment of this accessory in saying it does "absolutely nothing." OK, it does let your iPod rest in a little red hammock while it recharges. But that's about it.
Even its German manufacturer seems to acknowledge its limited existence, having given it a suitably superficial name: the "Load Thing." Still, if there's one thing we appreciate as much as honesty, it's a low price. So we have to respect this item's $13 tag, even if it doesn't do anything.
