I have used my CraigsDocks car dock for a little over a month now and I could not be more pleased with it's functionality.
As I stated on another thread about car mounts what kind of mount you get is totally dependent on your vehicle's interior and where you want the phone. I don't want my phone on the top of the dash and I tried an Arkon vent mount with the N4 in my previous vehicle that didn't work because of the weight. It vibrated on rougher roads causing the screen to reflect.
The first thing I want to address is the cost which is $70-100 depending on which options you order. Mine has a custom made base plate to accommodate mounting it exactly where I wanted it and that additional cost is quoted after you've supplied measurements & pictures. It is dependent on the amount of custom fabrication necessary. I'm guessing most users won't need a custom fabricated base plate. This unit is hand made by Craig himself and is not a mass production product. It's probably the most expensive car mount/dock on the market however it is also the last one you will ever buy because it is universal for both the vehicle & the phone (with or w/o case and/or extended battery). There is nothing to wear out as there is no plastic or springs. The entire mount is hand milled aluminum and the adjustments are threaded with set screws. The quality is exactly what you would expect for the cost & IMO the design is as much modern industrial art as it is pure functionality.
Before purchase I was comparing it to a ProClip mount which was about $60 but the ProClip didn't have the dock functionality and it was both vehicle & phone specific. Considering I get a new phone every 2 years & a new vehicle every 3 years in a fairly short time span I'd have spent more for way less functionality if I'd purchased the ProClip instead.
This is not only a superb mount it is also a dock meaning that when I insert my phone the modified mini USB>USB cable automatically triggers the phone's native car dock app whether the cable is plugged in to my 12v car adapter or not. On my phone I have the Car Home Ultra (CHU) app installed which is automatically triggered by the phone's native car dock app so without any screen input from me I have Car Home Ultra open on the phone every time I insert it in the dock. The only time I have to use screen input is if the screen is locked and I use the fingerprint scanner. So instead of having to set up the phone every time I get in the car it has the screen always on with CHU and provided I've got the cable plugged in to the 12v adapter it's always fully charged/charging. To me this functionality is a phenomenal step up in the car. I know the CraigsDocks mount isn't the only one that has a dock feature but I think there are only a couple of others.
My mount has the ball mount tilt + swivel option and the combination of that and the custom fabricated base plate put the phone exactly where I wanted it. I think my interior is about as difficult as it gets to mount a phone the size of the N4 and have it no further away than my right steering column stalk controls without blocking other screens/controls/air vents. The location is so functional it is actually easier for me to use the CHU digital speedometer on the phone than to read the car's speedometer. Considering I use my phone primarily for business it's important for me to be able to see who's calling/make calls/conference calls looking away from the road as little as possible & I just don't like an on the top of the dash mount. The CraigsDocks mount/dock is available with a suction cup or windshield extension for those that prefer those locations.
So on a 1-10 scale I rate the CraigsDocks mount dock a clean 33!! I absolutely love it. To me it was money well spent because I don't know how I could make my phone any more functional in the car than it is & it's located exactly where I wanted it. On top of that I never have to buy another car mount. Thanks Craig!!
http://www.craigsdocks.com/samsung-galaxy-s3-s4-s5-note-3-4-car-dock/
BTW, I'm using an Otterbox Defender case. These pictures show it w/ the Otterbox plastic screen cover & an iCarez glass protector. Since they were taken I've removed the Otterbox protector & installed a Zagg HDX.
Other thing I want to mention is the CHU screen shown in the pictures is not my home CHU screen because that one has sensitive info on it. I highly recommend the Car Home Ultra app too. I have mine set to turn off Wi-Fi which I'm always forgetting to do and make the phone's home screen button default to my CHU homepage.
Related
If you are unfamiliar with Brodit products, let me first explain how they work.
You buy two parts, the 'Proclip' which is specific to your car, and a holder which is specific to your phone.
The ProClip locks into the joins around the trim of your dash meaning no screwing, sticking or suckering but ensuring a rock solid fix. This is why you buy a specific one for your vehicle as all dash trims are different.
The holder is designed exactly (and I mean exactly) for the phone, again ensuring a snug and secure fitment. The holder screws into the proclip with supplied self-tapping screws and you end up with a very secure overall unit. The added benefit is that if you change car, you need only change the proclip, and if you change phone, just the holder.
Brodit offer passive and active holder, the difference being whether or not they have a charger built in. I went for the active holder for my Nexus One and the fit is perfect. You slide the phone in from the top and the waiting usb charging plug lines up so perfectly it just slides straight in. It's quite erotic
The holder can be tilted to allow landscape or portrait use and an adjustment screw in the middle dictates how tight this movement is. The charger is a simple cigarette lighter plug but has an attractive blue lightening bolt light on it when it's plugged in.
The build quality on Brodit parts are second to none and the made-to-measure design ensures they fit far more snugly and securely than any universal part is ever going to manage, plus you have no fear of having to drill holes in your dash or leave sticky residue. They often have several proclips available for each car to give you flexibility on placement, plus the holders can be angled fairly flexibly so you always get a good position, handy if you use it for sat nav etc.
They are very stable so you can poke away at the screen without pushing the phone around in the holder or messing up your viewing angle.
I have had 3 different cars and 5 different phones since I first discovered Brodit and always use them.
The only drawback is the price. They are not the cheapest because of the relatively high cost of making them to measure. I believe they are worth the cost, especially if you use your phone in the car a lot (for music, satnav etc).
In the UK, they sell here: http://www.dsldevelopments.com/
Rest of the world, go via here: http://www.brodit.com/
Actually the US dealer is: http://www.proclipusa.com/
I have one in my car and it is hands down the best mount available.
Hi,
I searched a long time for a good car holder. Now I bought the brodit active holder and want to give you some feedback on it.
Positive:
- Build quality is very good. The plastic doesn't look cheap but very good.
- Despue the fact that the brodit holders are not glued or drilled to the dashboard, it's very very stable.
- The holder is active, that means if you push it in into the holder it gets energy
- The cable to the cigarette plug and the plug itself is looking good as well. A little light on the plug is showing that energy is.
- The car specific part can be fixed without drilling. So in a leasing car you can remove it after some years again.
- Inserting and removing the phone is easy. It's not to tight and not to loose, just perfect.
Interesting to know:
- I read that the brodit car holders a consisting of two parts, the car specific part and the device specific part and therefore you can switch the holder between the cars. That doesn't work as I expected because the device specific part and the car specific part are connected with a screw. So you can't easily take it to car A today and car b tommorow.
- The same applies to the orientation of the phone. Landscape is possible. But you have to open the screw with a scredriver. Adjust the holder as you like it and thight the screw again. You won't change it from day to day or even during the drive.
Edit 01/31/2011: Both is probably possible if you have the right extra parts from Brodit. Thanks for your feedback guys.
Negativ:
- There is a "open area" for the headspeaker plug in the holder frame. But this one has to little tolerance (or HTC changed the dimensions of the phone). I couldn't insert the plug. It's not important for me as I have a bluetooth connection to my auto radio.
Summary:
I would buy it again. It's a bit expensive (ca. 75 EUR for both parts of the holder) but worth the money as I haven't find something comparable.
Any chance of some pictures to see it in action? im after a car holder aswell
Good one
Brodit are the best car holders in my opinion i use them for years now and in different cars never had any problems whit them it wont fell of the fit is perfect if you get the right part to place it in your car they made for every car its own part so look out you get the right part for you brand and type of car
Regards Wielo
Yu cannot movt from car to car because you have to fasten the holder to the clip with screws. But you can buy 1 clip for each car and buy the removable adaptors (I don't remember how they call them, something like clip & move) so that you can easily transfer to different cars.
Orientation: not true, you can just rotate and move at any angle you like.
Charger: bad thing is that it is not recognized as dock which would be very nice to have.
Also, I received one which was very tight for the phone, so tight that I couldn't take the phone out of it and most times, the sim cover would get off and stay in the cradle. I received a replacement which seems to have been altered to allow more room for the phone. If you have similar case, you should request replacement from brodit directly since resellers deny the issue.
Some picture would be really helpful!
I am looking to go Brodit's way - I particularly like the option of the molex connector for getting direct power from the power, thus hiding cables! The price though is kind of heavy...
Regarding the picture, you can see it pretty good on that site. Go with the mouse over the small pictures:
http://www.gps-haus.de/Zubehoer-n-H...nzuenderkabel-fuer-HTC-Desire-HD::104540.html
Regarding the "moving it from one car to another". You are right. There are some extra parts that can be bought.
Regarding the orientation, you may be right as well. I didn't know that there is that much extra parts you can buy. There is probably one that allows it. With my solution it's not possible. At the moment I am a bit overwhelmed how many extra parts there are. It's difficult to know which one is good for what.
andreasy said:
Charger: bad thing is that it is not recognized as dock which would be very nice to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not a big problem for me. I use tasker in order to configure/control the phone. If the bluetooth connection to my radio is connected, I have a trigger to do whatever I want.
I am getting my new car - a 2004 Mazda 6 with a bluetooth parrot installed so that part should be taken care of...
However when i need to use the satnav on the phone i need a holder that FITS the MAzda 6 dash..
I have had a look at the Brodit holders - either they block the info screen of the Mazda or they cover the air vents - both of which is a great big 'no' from my point of view.
Has anyone inhere got a Mazda 6 and have a cradle they would recommend that doesent look like cheap crap or something out of a horror movie ?
It it ok that it is a universal holder as the missus got a Wildfire - so if it could hold that as well - that would give me wife points so a passive holder is probably what i am looking for.
So - anyonme with actual experience with anything that looks good ?
I use a Clingo Universal Car Phone Mount in my Lexus IS250. It doesn't look too bad. It holds the wife's DHD in a silicone case. It says it won't work on silicone based cases but it does. And I use mine without a case and it works perfect.
Also should the "pad" lose it's stickiness just run under hot water and rub with your finger, dry it and it's as good as new.
This is definately one to consider!
I was looking for something more permanent though that could be installed somewhere on the dash. If that is not possible - then this is the one i will get...
Thank you for your reply
I was looking for exactly the same, this was purely an interim purchase. But It works very well and isn't limited to a particular handset model, so for me it's a keeper.
it's really nice thing
Ok it's ordered from ebay...lets see if it's as good as the video claims (never seems to be the case but lets try it anyways)
I think I got mine for about £16 off ebay.
I had similar issues with Brodit's ProClips in that the one they sold for my 2005 MG ZS didn't actually fit anywhere like what their installation diagrams suggested.
I found DashMount, however, who manufacture similar style mounts, but out of more solid metal sheeting and often in totally different locations to Brodit's mounting.
Have a look at this:
http://www.dashmount.co.uk/index.ph...applicable-with-dealer-fitted-CD-upgrade.html
Alright - so i recieved the Clingo universal hands-free mount - and what a load of ####!
It simply cannot hold the DHD if i have the cig plug charger plugged in it - it falls out of the holder within 2 minutes.
So that was 15£ wasted
Seriously?
Does it fall off the green pad? I've yet to have it fall off the pad. Sometimes it sticks that firmly I struggle getting it off. And is that with your case on?
It could be that the wife's case isn't silicone.
i dont have a silicone case on - it's just the bare phone and nothing more.
I have not yet tried with the wifes wildfire
3 seperate times the phone fell off the holder - and all 3 times it was when i had the charger plugged in. If i leave the charger out i think it can hold it - but then i dont have any more power left on the phone if/when i drive listening to music and using satnav etc
So i think im looking again for a holder that has some gripping arms of some sort - maybe an active holder - i dunno yet...
This clingo holder is not in the glove box - and it stays there...
Hello there,
I bought / use this holder. It perfectly fits the phone, sadly without any type of case. It can be rotated 360 degrees. It can also be found without the gooseneck holder, or with a fixed arm. It has holes for the camera, flash and speaker. The suctioncup is amazing, it is sticking on the windshield for almost a month now. The only anoying thing about the gooseneck is that it bounces around alot because of the weight of the phone. Probably the fixed arm is better but I had no choise.
Good Luck,
Ivan.
I have found an inexpensive and very reliable one that I have been using with my Nokia 6120 classic to my HTC Desire HD 40mm to 110mm adjustment.
http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=KR0005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox2m7tramdY
Now the one I have is exactly the same but I got it from Media Markt in Germany and it has been with me no less than 10 times across the pond. Thus far its been perfect BUT it is not wide enough for landscape mode unless I rotate the whole thing.
I hve been searching for the best mount for my phone in my car - but I had some very specific requirements:
1) Cannot get in the way of seeing out the windshield
2) Cannot block the Air Conditioning Vents
3) Be conveniently located to allow for each answering while driving
4) cannot get in the way of the onboard computer/Navigation screen
It seems simple enough but believe me, it took a ton of searching.
I finally found a very cool holder from Pro Clips USA
They offer several different styles for different types of automobile or truck interiors - I picked up what they called their 6 inch Pedestal (they have a flexible 6 or 10 inch Pedastal in addition to a number of other "CLIPS" for different types of interior set ups - I attached it in a very conveniently located 'cup" that is at the front end of the center console between the two front seats - directly in front of the shifter.
So there are two pieces I had to buy - the Pedestal itself and the piece that holds the phone. The holder is adjustable so it can be adapted to fit our phone with or without a case. once positioned properly, the phone simply slides in to place or slides out when you leave.
Total Cost about $50 bucks. Same as the price Samsung sells their Windshield mount for.
I am extremely pleased with how it looks and even more with how it works.
I drive a 328IX and I just did not want the phone to get in the way of my view out the front or in front of the dashboard computer or air-conditioning - and this worked out exceptionally well for me.
The pedestal can even be "positioned" slightly - bending it one way or another for the optimum position - and the Pro Clip attachment that actually holds the phone - also swivels and rotates. t
If you are looking for a really "Custom Install" - this just might work for you too. I attached some photos - as I was using my phone to take photos, I put the case in the holder so you can get an idea of how it looks when the phone is I in place.
Try an iottie... It works for many models of phones...
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Tetrax is my favorite. You can choose X-Way or Fixway. Fixway will suit your conditions better, as it can be mounted anywhere as opposed to covering the vents.
I prefer the XWay though. I use my phone as a GPS often, in addition to having it plugged in charging on a long roadtrip. This is a good way to burn up the phone. Having it on a vent keeps it cool. NOTE: Wouldn't do that with the Nexus 4 though. It will eventually shatter the rear glass, given what I've heard.
The benefit to Textrax over Proclip is that it works regardless of the phone's case. I've had the same Tetrax mount through several phones and three cars. All I've ever had to do was order another pack of adhesive-magnets for $8. They don't interfere with any signal that I've seen. I've never liked the adjustable mounts because they lose their grip and drop the phone too often.
I also like this
I just got the current Samsung Vehicle dock and have to say, it's TERRIBLE. There are large side arms that grab the phone and they GET IN THE WAY. There doesn't appear to be any way to reduce this, short of hacking up the plastic and rubber.
It's a shockingly dumb design. It's not like the arms need to be that deep. Because none of the phones intended for this dock would ever need that much grab area. Because if you put a thick case on the phone, well, you'd have no need for the wireless charging aspect of this dock. Which is the only reason you'd shell out the money for it, as it's quite a lot more expensive than a non-charging one. That and the click-to-release button is kind of awkward to use. It's tucked around the back and, depending on how you mount the dock, kind of hard to get to if the usb power cable is in the way.
I should point out that with a Spigen Neo Hybrid case the S6 still charges in this dock. But the side ears still get in the way.
So, any suggestions on other wireless Qi charging vehicle docks that are known to work reliably with the S6? While still allowing some reasonable use of the phone while docked?
wkearney99 said:
I just got the current Samsung Vehicle dock and have to say, it's TERRIBLE. There are large side arms that grab the phone and they GET IN THE WAY. There doesn't appear to be any way to reduce this, short of hacking up the plastic and rubber.
It's a shockingly dumb design. It's not like the arms need to be that deep. Because none of the phones intended for this dock would ever need that much grab area. Because if you put a thick case on the phone, well, you'd have no need for the wireless charging aspect of this dock. Which is the only reason you'd shell out the money for it, as it's quite a lot more expensive than a non-charging one. That and the click-to-release button is kind of awkward to use. It's tucked around the back and, depending on how you mount the dock, kind of hard to get to if the usb power cable is in the way.
I should point out that with a Spigen Neo Hybrid case the S6 still charges in this dock. But the side ears still get in the way.
So, any suggestions on other wireless Qi charging vehicle docks that are known to work reliably with the S6? While still allowing some reasonable use of the phone while docked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Airdock 2.0...
Tylt makes a dock with wireless charging built in. If I was gunna get a car dock that's what I would look in to
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
The reviews for the Tylt are all over the map, and lots focus on crappy manufacturing issues.
The Airdock isn't for me. I prefer having some physical borders of some sort to avoid having to fiddle with positioning the phone for charging.
I've had Droid slider phones for years and loved their molded cradles (that and the keyboard). I've used a number of Qi charging pads with some tablets and really dislike not having a reliable plunk-it-down way to get them situated. Curiously, though, a Bobj case for a Nexus 7 straddles a Docooler pad perfectly. Trouble is it leaves the tablet looking like a drink coaster...
The Samsung dock fit right onto the same ball as the one in the back of my D4 mount.
I've also kept all my vehicle mounts on a Pro-Clip bracket. I'm using this one currently. I've had different mounting brackets over the years, and swapped around different mounting components. I use a Dual-T screwed onto the bracket and then a Dual-T Ball (from Arkon, iirc). This lets me pop just about all of it off the bracket to reduce theft risks. These have been MUCH more stable and useful (for me) than any sort of suction cup, vent or other mounting gizmos.
I've ordered an iOttie, we'll see how that goes.
Yep, as I expected, the iOttie is an improvement, at least in usability of the phone while docked. The side clamps on the iOttie sit higher on the side of the S6 than the Samsung dock. The right side clamp is mighty close to the side power button, but JUST barely below it. I may, at some point, nibble a small bit of the rubber out of that part of the clamp to avoid the button entirely. But for now it's not a problem. The S6 charges just fine in the dock. The lower clamp drops down enough to allow the S6 to detect the coil. And it also slides left/right to allow plugging an audio cable into the headphone jack on the bottom of the S6, should you so desire.
I'll report back more in another thread for it. But that won't happen until I get my replacement Pro-Clip mount for my Jeep. I managed to crack the tab that it uses to fit into the seam of the dashboard. Either it was me being ham-fisted, UV damage to the plastic or some combination of the two.
Regardless, FedEx tracking claims it'll be here on Tuesday. I won't hold my breath as FedEx has routinely missed their delivery targets. UPS, on the other hand, seems to be glad to get stuff in and out of their system as fast as possible, regardless of the delivery speed selected. FedEx seems to think that unless you've 'bent over' for their overnight fee then they'll route it to Hell and back instead of anything that might be quicker.
How is the charging speed in the Qi docks compared to the power usage of the phone sith gps nav running? I remember most of the phones I had were slowly discharging when using 1 amp charger in the car, I had to switch to 2 amps to make sure they sustain the power drain and charge the phone while navigating. Qi has like 750 mA charging current if I recall, isn't that too little?
Been using the air dock for couple of months now. Overall have really enjoyed it, works well when you position it properly.
It takes a bit do getting used to but once you have the right surface and positioning technique it works a charm!
+1 for air dock.
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