Cheap Alternative to the desk dock

**Traviz** · 09-08-2010, 04:29 PM

I picked up a griffin travel stand for $10 at Walmart, together with a cheap micro USB cable, you have your self a cheap alternative to the $40 Samsung desk doc.

Also it's small enough to carry in your pocket if needed.

I took a few pics of the stand in use.

**pooginowski#AC** · 09-08-2010, 04:32 PM

I really like the look of it. It's nice and actually goes with the phone.

**egeorge1** · 09-08-2010, 05:59 PM

Looks pretty nice, does the phone recognize it is on the dock the way it does with the Samsung dock?

I got the Samsung for home but at work I got cheap and made one of those business card stands.

**trooper54** · 09-08-2010, 06:30 PM

Trav, is that beautiful widgets for the clock?

**Traviz** · 09-08-2010, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by egeorge1

Looks pretty nice, does the phone recognize it is on the dock the way it does with the Samsung dock?

I've just been using the cable that came with the phone, so no, no auto opening/closing of the desk dock app.

But you can download the desk app and manually open it if you like.

I did notice something about usb cables, I have one that came with an auto charging kit that only provides power, no data at all.

When I use that I don't get a usb connection notice, it simply provides power, showing the charging battery icon.

**Traviz** · 09-08-2010, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by liquidjesus

Trav, is that beautiful widgets for the clock?

Yes Sir, thats beautiful widgets, smaller home weather widget, with the stock skin.

**paulh13** · 09-08-2010, 07:30 PM

+1 for Beautiful Widgets! Awesome number of options for Clock/Date/Weather for your Epic.

**caliskimmer** · 09-08-2010, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by paul1956

+1 for Beautiful Widgets! Awesome number of options for Clock/Date/Weather for your Epic.

I second that! Beautiful Widgets is definitely beautiful

**seistoes#AC** · 09-08-2010, 09:36 PM

Here is another inexpensive alternative. It's a mesh business card holder that I picked up for about 4 bucks at Office Depot. Click on link below. Sorry I don't know how to directly imbed the pics. Newbie here.

**cmenglish** · 09-09-2010, 09:56 AM

I bet that dock doesn't accidentally press the volume keys. ._.

**dragonol2** · 09-09-2010, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by cmenglish

I bet that dock doesn't accidentally press the volume keys. ._.

I see what you did there... I hate this issue / design flaw w/ Samsung's dock...

**liquidxit2** · 09-09-2010, 10:17 AM

Kinda expensive, but I needed the keyboard. My freedom pro keyboard comes with a dock. Works well and fits inside the keyboard (is completely removable too).

Originally Posted by cmenglish

I bet that dock doesn't accidentally press the volume keys. ._.

Originally Posted by dragonol2

I see what you did there... I hate this issue / design flaw w/ Samsung's dock...

Hmm thats weird mine doesn't press the volume keys, but it is a PITA to change the volume with it in the dock.

**Traviz** · 09-09-2010, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by seistoes

Here is another inexpensive alternative. It's a mesh business card holder that I picked up for about 4 bucks at Office Depot. Click on link below. Sorry I don't know how to directly imbed the pics. Newbie here.

I like that option too, I may pick one of those up to try it out.

Here's the image embedded. To embed an image just click this

in the editor, then paste the web link to the image.

**cmenglish** · 09-09-2010, 11:06 AM

Is that the Night Clock app?

Originally Posted by Traviz

I like that option too, I may pick one of those up to try it out.

Here's the image embedded. To embed an image just click this

in the editor, then paste the web link to the image.

**FaerieInk** · 09-11-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Traviz

I picked up a griffin travel stand for $10 at Walmart, together with a cheap micro USB cable, you have your self a cheap alternative to the $40 Samsung desk doc.

Also it's small enough to carry in your pocket if needed.

I took a few pics of the stand in use.

Looks really nice. How do you get your screen to flip orientations while it's on the stand? I just checked my display settings and I have it set to automatically switch orientation, yet it doesn't seem to want to do it unless the keyboard is open.

**seistoes#AC** · 09-12-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by cmenglish

Is that the Night Clock app?

Yes. I am using the Night Clock App. If you choose dark colors it "dims" the light very low which is what I prefer. It's a really great simple app.

**cmenglish** · 09-12-2010, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by seistoes

Yes. I am using the Night Clock App. If you choose dark colors it "dims" the light very low which is what I prefer. It's a really great simple app.

I do the same thing.

Best clock app I've found thus far.

**JRA** · 09-14-2010, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by FaerieInk

Looks really nice. How do you get your screen to flip orientations while it's on the stand? I just checked my display settings and I have it set to automatically switch orientation, yet it doesn't seem to want to do it unless the keyboard is open.

I'd like to know that too... is that a custom launcher that puts the non sprint icons on the vertical bar etc? If so, which one r u using?

**Epic Journey** · 09-15-2010, 09:32 AM

I'd like to give a good THWACK on the side of the head to the designer of the Epic dock. Not only do I have to be really careful to not turn the volume off, but I can't plug in the earphones. The jack is covered by the dock! grrrrrr.

**m5james** · 09-15-2010, 04:35 PM

The Samsung Multi Media dock has a headphone jack on the back of the unit and uses the microUSB as signal. Basically a partial teaser for the possibility of still adding TV-Out to the Epic, but that's for another thread.

Personally I want a Samsung dock, but I'm not willing to pay $35 shipped for it from eBay when to me it's worth easily half that.

**FaerieInk** · 09-15-2010, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by m5james

The Samsung Multi Media dock has a headphone jack on the back of the unit and uses the microUSB as signal. Basically a partial teaser for the possibility of still adding TV-Out to the Epic, but that's for another thread.

Personally I want a Samsung dock, but I'm not willing to pay $35 shipped for it from eBay when to me it's worth easily half that.

It does have a headphone jack in the back, but it doesn't work... at least until 2.2 comes out.

**m5james** · 09-16-2010, 12:35 AM

I stand corrected as I thought that downloading either the "Car Home" or "Desk Home" app via the Market would activate the option when plugged into the dock. Now it's down to Sprint and seeing if they're true to their word about releasing 2.2 by the end of the month.

**Traviz** · 09-16-2010, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by FaerieInk

Looks really nice. How do you get your screen to flip orientations while it's on the stand? I just checked my display settings and I have it set to automatically switch orientation, yet it doesn't seem to want to do it unless the keyboard is open.

To get your screen to rotate, use Launcher Pro as your dock.