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Google Nexus One Deskstand and Car Dock Reviewed

Android UK — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:45:00 +0000

Google made headlines with is Nexus One, however its really the accessories that bring it to the next level. After opening the Google style boxes its clear that the build quality of the products is as high as the boxes they are delivered in. The Desktop and Car dock are both amazing items and firmly take your nexus and puts it up high where it can be shown and used.

Desktop Dock

This dock is elegantly designed and really suits my desk very well. But the dock is more than just good looking, the features that make it really compelling is its functionality which make me think that someone over at Google actually gave some thought to usability when designing the phone. Firstly it charges the phone using the pins on the bottom of the phone, this eliminates the issue of finding the right cable to charge the phone and then forcing it into the micro usb port. When it comes to using the phone, it can be picked up without the dock still been attached to it really easily.

The coolest feature of the product is that the phone knows when its docked and automatically switches to clock mode. “Clock mode” is an app that comes built in with the Google Nexus One with which gives you quick access to your alarm and has a photo frame mode and can pump out you favourite tunes while charging,

Car Dock

If like me you are not chained to a desk the whole time, then the car dock is a life saver.

Like the Desktop dock, Nexus one Car Dock has a superb build quality. It feels really solid and is by far the best car dock I have ever bought. Like its Desktop companion, the device is charged using the pins on the bottom, this removes the need to firstly plug the micro usb. A clever touch is that it removes the need for that untidy wire dangling from your windscreen by allowing you to run the cabling neatly around the edges of the dashboard.

When docked, the phone automatically switches to navigator mode as soon as it is seated in the dock and uses the loud speaker on the back to shout out the turn by turn instructions. It took me quite a a while to realise there is a volume control on top.

The dock comes equipped with its own cable that you should. The dock requires a 2 amp connection so the average cigarette usb charger won’t have enough juice to use the dock to it full potential.

The dock really comes into its own when using the Google Maps Sat navigation. The turn by turn navigation works a treat, but you will need asbestos gloves to handle the phone when you remove it from the dock. It gets very hot! I think the 3G radio, GPS and CPU really heat up the device over long use. I paralleled the test using my Acer liquid and it also got really hot so it might require further investigation to it’s cause.

Where to get them

At the moment they are not being stocked by Vodafone, although I hope this will change soon.

The desktop dock(link here) and Car dock (link here)is currently available from Expansys

Here are some pictures of the items below without the phones.

Most wanted: Android Desk Genie

Android UK — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:23:14 +0000

The Desk Genie Universal Desk Charging Stand

(Comment: Spending so much time on phone, I thought it would be a good time with Christmas coming up to look at other items which aren’t always covered by blogs or other news. To this end I have come up with the Most Wanted section for the blog. As the name entails, I will only really be writing about things that I recommend. I hope you enjoy!)

While designs for phones have moved forward in leaps and bounds, designs for phone accessories seems to have advanced at a more leisurely pace.Whilst researching my annual Christmas wishlist I realised how few android accessories are available on the market which for us android owners presents a problem. Even the big carriers like Orange’s and T-Mobile’s own stores don’t sell accessories for the handsets The good news is that if you look hard enough there are some really great gifts out there to make your android phone feel right at home.

Last week, after some digging, I struck gold in the form of the Desk Genie Non slip deskstand

Non slip??

Its salient feature and genius is the use of a non slip pad to hold the phone in place which obviates the need for any clamps or clips on the dock. The result of this is that the desk genie can be used with pretty much any phone- even a bulky Blackberry seems to sit well with it. For sad obsessives like me who carry around more than one phone, then this works a treat.

I must admit I was quite sceptical when I saw pictures of it on the internet, however I can vouch that it works well. Its quite amazing to see the phone when its on the dock appears to defy gravity. What is even more priceless is to see the confused look on your workmate’s face when they realise that the handset is not stuck to the dock and can be removed easily-in fact my “magic” phone stand was quite the object of fascination.

Additional functions:

As a bonus, it is also usb connected thus allowing it to charge your existing handset. It even comes with selection of interchangeable heads so it works with Mini usb(G1) and micro usb (DEXT), which is a clever touch. It is thus be compatible with all current Android handsets on the market.

It also can act as a desktop memory card reader for your camera, and act as a desktop dock for your usb stick( did I mention it also has shiny blue light on it??) It doesn’t require any drivers- which means its really easy to install.

Good Price

Coming in at only 15 quid, it is a good functional gift for the one you love(and yourself)– in addition to mine I have bought one for the boss, and I will probably get one as a great Secret Santa gift.

Summary

The genie is an ideal phone companion for people like me who spend most of their days chained to the desk. Instead of letting my trusty G1 or Orange DEXT sit either sprawled on my desk or precariously perched on my tower unit whilst charging, it now has a good looking functional home next to my lcd monitors.

Pick one up from Mobile fun’s accessory store.

Have you got a great Mobile Accessory to talk about-? Feel free to send me details via the contact androidbloke link. If its something I like I may talk about it too!

Welcome to the Accessories Review Section- more reviews coming soon!

Android UK — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:28:50 +0000

Here at Android bloke, we are passionate about technology and our phones, and we love to see things that make the experience of using mobile devices better. We are looking to create a showcase of quality accessories that users will be able to trust and enjoy.

If you feel that your product represents these values and you would like to have reviewed- please feel free to contact us.