Griffin intros Simplifi iPod dock / card reader / USB hub

Griffin may occasionally help out those that like to complicate their lives, but it also thankfully caters to those of us that prefer to keep things simple, and it looks like its new, appropriately-named Simplifi dock should appeal to quite a few in the latter camp. As you can see, it'll not only accommodate a single iPod or iPhone, but your media cards of choice, and a pair of USB devices (the ports are on the back). It also includes an AC adapter for devices that required a powered USB port, which can be conveniently ditched if its not needed. You will pay a bit of a premium for clearing all that clutter though, as the device sports a somewhat hefty $70 price tag.

[y3k.nik @ Sep 26th 2008 4:30PM]

Please dont crop the macbook picture tomorrow and say new macbook pro to come soon, like you did with the 360!

[OziD @ Sep 26th 2008 4:30PM]

not pricey when you consider apples is 50 bucks

[ybd @ Sep 26th 2008 7:30PM]

I think the prices for 80% of iPod peripherals are insane, but this price is actually somewhat acceptable.

[Hexxeh @ Sep 26th 2008 4:48PM]

Why is that Macbook Pro running Tiger?

[Tom @ Sep 26th 2008 6:18PM]

Because MacBooks used to run Tiger...

[Eric @ Sep 26th 2008 4:49PM]

This is sweet, I saw it over at zollotech earlier today.

http://zollotech.com/content/griffin-simplifi-rids-your-desk-clutter-dock-all

[Taylor @ Sep 26th 2008 5:00PM]

Talk about blogspam... they have it via MacMerc:
http://www.macmerc.com/news/archives/4610

Either link to the source or let Engadget stay the intermediary.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Sep 26th 2008 5:06PM]

Yeah, cause telling him to not blogspam is fine as long as you blogspam...

How about the source?
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/simplifi

That's the one the engadget article links to...

[Taylor @ Sep 26th 2008 5:18PM]

@testies

I'm not blogspamming, the article I linked was the one linked from the one he linked (whew, there's a mouthful). I've never even been to that site before.

And I agree with your second point.

[YpoCaramel @ Sep 26th 2008 5:28PM]

Good concept. The Card Reader doesn't really small formats like microSD or m2, very common these days, so it's not that useful. Compact Flash / Full-SD is more useful for photographers in today's environment.

[avester @ Sep 26th 2008 4:52PM]

Do you need to post every single iPod accessory out there?

[David Vogt @ Sep 26th 2008 6:08PM]

I agree. It's getting annoying.

[avester @ Sep 27th 2008 3:00AM]

Why did I get low-ranked?

Is a dock with card reader so interesting to someone?

[lostarchitect @ Sep 26th 2008 4:55PM]

i would like this a lot better if it had 4 or 6 USB ports. you're not going to clear much clutter with just 2.

[Erik Rogers @ Sep 26th 2008 5:04PM]

I think the point was that if you had a card reader, iPod dock and still needed some USB ports (which could mean a hub), you'd get all that uncluttered and also have a device that blends in pretty well with your Apple gear.

I can see where they are coming from, considering that the price of the combination of all those things (card reader, USB hub, and iPod dock) would run you more than 70$, clutter your desk more, and probably not look as sleek... I guess it's justifiable for some.

If I had a need for it, I'd buy it but 3 USB ports, built in card reader, and iTunes with a NAS and external storage... no need for a dock. Since the new iPhone 2.1 firmware I don't need to charge my phone as often.

[YpoCaramel @ Sep 27th 2008 2:59AM]

There's a reason why the Macbook Pro is the promotion pic: the bloody thing has 2 USB ports and no card reader XD

Still, I agree. No mini-SD or m2, only 2 USB ports. Nice concept, but doesn't reach the concept's full potential.

[Chris @ Sep 26th 2008 5:18PM]

Anybody know if it will handle SDHC?

[LinkDJ @ Sep 26th 2008 6:40PM]

From the product support page:

Does the Simplifi work with SD HC cards?
Yes, SD HC Cards are supported with the Simplifi

[alb.rod @ Sep 26th 2008 5:47PM]

Hmm.. their website indicates this is not compatible with the iPhone 3G. That's too bad I could use less clutter on my desk...

[ed @ Sep 26th 2008 10:24PM]

That was what i was thinking too. Why no iPhone 3G?

[pyro41787 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:41PM]

actualy i bought it on a gamble on if it would work or not for my iphone 3g and while there is no actual dock addapter for the sG i tried thema ll to see what would work and it comes with one for the ipod touch and it actualy works GREAT with the iphone 3g so go ahead and buy it, its only like 35 bucks at best buy i had 2 reward zones certificates and got 10 off was 26 total great buy imo reads my digital cameras SD and most micro sds come with the sd addapter anyway so it works for mine since i have one BUY IT

[Ross @ Sep 26th 2008 6:09PM]

$70 (around £35) is not expensive at all, considering it packs in an iPod Dock, 2-port USB hub and a range of memory card readers. I think it is a bargain, and something I'm going to consider.

When I read "hefty price tag" my eyes skimmed over the $70 and I originally thought it was $170. Bit harsh to call it a hefty price I think.

[threefingeredlord @ Sep 26th 2008 7:02PM]

You do realise it will be £49.99 - £70 here...

[NineToez @ Sep 26th 2008 6:15PM]

I'd consider picking one up... toward Christmas with a 20% off coupon. xD

[Ranjeet Sodhi @ Sep 26th 2008 9:41PM]

Doesn't seem to support the iPhone 3G. The Griffin website only claims support for the "original iPhone", but it does support both the original and 2nd generation iTouch.

[water.and.sand @ Sep 27th 2008 2:41AM]

Right. That's because even though iPhone and iPods use the same style dock connector, they require different amounts of power to charge.
So using an iPod dock, say, in your car, for an iPhone isn't a good idea. It drastically reduces the battery life.

This is what I understand, anyway. I'd love to be wrong- it'd just be simpler if I were.

[cromas @ Sep 27th 2008 5:47PM]

@water.and.sand: That bit about "different amounts of power" and "drastically reducing your battery life" was simply not true. iPod/iPhone chargers are all basically compatible with each other, none of them outputs enough power to fry anything. I think the largest power output I've seen on an Apple i-charger is 2A. Additionally, iPhone and iPod all include dedicated power chips to properly handle varying amounts of input voltage and amperage.

A more plausible explanation is that the iPhone 3G was the first i-device not to include support for the legacy "FireWire" power pins -- i.e. 12V power. The original iPhone, and the 1G iPod Touch, both support these pins. It would appear that the iPod Touch 2G does as well. Griffin is most likely supplying their power on the 12V firewire pins (as opposed to the 5V USB power pins), making it incompatible with charging the iPhone 3G.

However, it obviously supports a USB data connection for syncing, and provides USB power to its own USB hub ports with the included AC adapter, so it doesn't really make sense to /not/ provide power to the USB charging pins. Perhaps there was some reason, or perhaps they just screwed up. Maybe Griffin designed the thing before the iPhone 3G power/physical specs were out.

Whatever the case, I'd totally buy it if it were compatible with iPhone 3G. Shame it's not.

[Kevin @ Aug 11th 2009 10:36AM]

I emailed Griffin to get the details on the 3G support, here is what they said:

"The Simplifi will most definitely work with your iPhone, however, Apple has not yet approved it for use with the iPhone 3G. Before we can declare any form of compatibility, it has to be approved by Apple. It has been tested with the iPhone here at Griffin, and everything works fine. So, it will work, it just hasn't been approved by Apple yet. Also, note that it will not have an iPhone 3G dock adapter at this time, but if you get one, and you need it, just give us a call and we can send you one."

So, it supports the 3G, but Apple hasn't approved it. And, they will send you the adapter as well.

[cromas @ Sep 30th 2008 6:26PM]

I also just got a response from Griffin Customer Service that's even a bit more specific:

"From our testing, the Simplifi charges and syncs the iPhone 3G just fine, although it's not yet been approved for use with that device by Apple, so there is no dock adapter for the iPhone 3G included.

We don't make a dock adapter for the iPhone 3G yet, but we've found that the #14 adapter for the iPod touch seems to work pretty well. If you want a fully compatible dock adapter, you can go to Apple.com."

[pyro41787 @ Mar 19th 2009 5:48PM]

it charges my iphone 3g fine even if im not using the ac addapter the card reader works without the ac power also the ac is only for the usb hub if you dont need the powered hub you can skip the AC power

[Jash Sayani @ Sep 27th 2008 6:16AM]

The price-tag is indeed very hefty !

[Bad Beaver @ Sep 27th 2008 8:57AM]

Nice one. Really. Functional and good looking. Too bad it will end up at €70 or so here. Which is the point at which is really is way too expensive for what it is. Remember when iPods came with a free dock included? Those were the days...

[JMSR007 @ Sep 27th 2008 12:47PM]

Does it work for iphone 3g?

[Antp @ Sep 27th 2008 7:15PM]

Id like to point out belkin do the same thing (minus card reader) for $20 at http://svp.co.uk !!! I have one and its great. Inc. 5 usb 2.0 ports. And 1 dock. And pretiful lights on the front.

[Antp @ Sep 28th 2008 12:09PM]

^ Sory pt wrong website^
its caled belkin tunesync and is available at http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=859199 for £9.99/$20.

[Brian Hernandez @ Nov 16th 2008 5:48AM]

I want to know if I can use this as a standalone card reader...so that I can download pics off my SD or CF cards to my iPod 5G (80gb) while on the road?? That would be sweet.