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Project Linda is a laptop dock for the Razer Phone
It's CES, and that means Razer is in Las Vegas with another one of its concepts. As the company recently released its first smartphone, it's not too surprising that the Project Linda hardware ties into that: It's a laptop dock for the Razer Phone.
Henge announces its latest Horizontal Dock for MacBooks, loads of ports for connecting your wares
The outfit known for their MacBook docks is up to its old tricks. Henge Docks has outed the Horizontal Dock at CES: a resting spot for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina display that connects to up to three external displays, six USB 3.0 ports, double audio outputs, Ethernet, an SD card slot and FireWire 800. Got all that? Good. The goods are housed in a solid metal frame with a Kensington security slot for added safeguarding. If all of this sounds too good to resist, options for both of the previously mentioned Apple laptops are up for preorder now for $249 with a Q3 arrival date. A Thunderbolt version is slated to arrive in Q4 of 2013 for $349. %Gallery-175401%
Clamcase's Clambook gives Android phones and iPhones a laptop shell, feels decidedly Airy
The idea of creating a full-fledged laptop companion to a smartphone isn't new -- just ask the former Palm team -- but rarely has it come across as so pretty. Clamcase's upcoming Clambook, while it has more than a slight hint of MacBook Air about it, is really meant as a large canvas of sight and sound for an Android phone or iPhone. Although the Clambook can at least be used as a big, 16:9 ratio display for an iPhone, the emphasis is clearly on more Google-inclined users that can use an MHL port: the one cable provides audio, video, power, an Android 4.0-native keyboard and a multi-touch trackpad. More recent Motorola phone owners might get the most out of it, since Webtop's full-size Firefox browser and windowed interface will kick in without needing one of Motorola's proprietary docks. We're still waiting on many basic details, like exact device support and the all-important matter of pricing, but the Clamcase should be ready for supersized Real Racing sessions by the holidays.
Belkin upgrades its Thunderbolt Express Dock before it's even available
At $399, this is a lot pricier than the $249 Matrox DS1 Thunderbolt dock we saw yesterday. That said, it'll bring superior connectivity when it arrives in September -- not least because Belkin has improved on the design it previously showed off at CES. There's Thunderbolt in and out to allow full 10Gbps daisy-chaining of further peripherals, alongside FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort (with included HDMI adapter) and audio in and out. As of the update, eSATA and three USB 3.0 ports have also been added to that healthy list.
Matrox DS1 docking station: $249 buys you Thunderbolt but no daisy-chaining
Thunderbolt has leant its air of celebrity to yet another device: the Matrox DS1 docking station, due out this fall for $249. The laptop dock has room for pretty much everything you'd want to plug in when you reach your desk, including DVI, gigabit Ethernet, audio in and out, two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0. All those connections are then funneled into a single Thunderbolt output to your MacBook or Ultrabook. This provides "one cable convenience," but the lack of an extra port means there's no scope for daisy-chaining Thunderbolt storage or other components you might pick up at some point before 2015. If that seems like an important omission, look out for Belkin's alternative expected this Summer, which finds room not only for Thunderbolt in and out, but also for FireWire -- though likely at a higher price.
Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock lends its ports to your deprived laptop via DisplayLink, available May 15th for $180
We've all been there. When you run into a scenario where your kit is one USB port short of an ideal workflow. Fret not, the ThinkPad USB 3.0 dock from Lenovo will provide help with said issue when it arrives later this month. Powered by DisplayLink's DL-3900 graphics chip, the peripheral adds five of the aforementioned USB ports, dual DVI jacks for implementing multiple displays and both gigabit Ethernet and audio connections. Not too shabby for an expansion set that connects to your chosen workhorse over a single USB 3.0 cable. Looking to take the leap? You'll have to wait a few days, but you can snag one from retailers around the globe for $179.99 beginning May 15th.
KT's Spider Concept phone is also a laptop, a tablet and a game console (video)
You probably thought Motorola had a lock on this whole docks for your phone thing, but Korean company KT quietly launched an assault on the Atrix manufacturer at IFA. Rather than a single (and underwhelming) "Webtop," KT's Spider Concept has three different accessories that expand the capabilities of the 4.5-inch gingerbread device. The laptop dock adds a QWERTY keyboard, an extended battery and a revamped UI while relying on the phone itself as the touchpad. If keyboards aren't your thing, there's the Spider PAD tablet shell which blows the interface up to 10.1-inches while adding a few slate-friendly tweaks. Last is the gaming dock, a simple cradle with a D-pad and buttons that connects to the Spider via Bluetooth. The phone itself is no slouch, packing 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor. Oh, and that 4.5-inch screen? A stunning 1280 x 800 resolution. It's kind of hard to believe all that is jammed into a package just 9.34mm (0.37-inches) thin. The phone is expected to launch in Korea in either November or December, though price and international availability are still up in the air. Check out the pair of videos after the break.
Screen Grabs: Atrix 4G cameos in Vampire Diaries, Klaus utilizes webtop for evil deeds
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com. If Vampire Diaries holds any sway, the fantasy-drama based in "Mystic Falls, Virginia" suggests that vampire / werewolf hybrids clearly prefer Android superphones. In this screen grab, you'll find antagonist Klaus keeping tabs on his shape-shifting captive from the comfort of the Atrix 4G's 11.5-inch webtop. Fans of the ethereal series will note we've previously caught the troubled character, Jeremy, logging some time with LG's Quantum, but this marks the first attempt we've seen of a Motorola handset playing a supporting role in breaking a witch's curse. [Thanks, Andrew]
Motorola promises more Atrix-like laptop docks for future phones
Motorola's Atrix 4G laptop dock was a seriously sweet concept, which is why we were so disappointed when it failed to pan out. Sounds like Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha is ready to give it another try, though -- on the company's earnings results call this past week, he told investors that Moto is planning a whole series of Lapdock devices in the second half of the year: You will see multiple devices from us in the second half launching with these capabilities, and we will expand the range of our Lapdock devices so we cover a broader price point, addressing both the enterprise premium tier as well as more consumer tiers. "We plan on introducing successive iterations of our Webtop software and accessories that incorporate improved productivity tools and multiple price points," he also said, echoing previous promises to include Webtop in all high-end smartphones starting this summer. Perhaps those closely spaced I/O ports on the Droid Bionic and Targa won't go to waste after all? If you simply can't wait, Sanjay claims there's also an official price drop inbound for the Atrix 4G -- AT&T will offer a bundle with the Lapdock and phone for $400 later this month.
Motorola Atrix docks literally and figuratively torn apart, hack enables Webtop over HDMI port
Motorola's got a fine smartphone in the Atrix 4G, but a mildly unsatisfactory pair of modular docks. Good thing, then, that you can gain the most intriguing functionality they add without buying one! Fenny of xda-developers reportedly figured out a way to modify the phone's APK files to activate Webtop mode over a standard HDMI cable -- with no dock needed as a go-between -- allowing you to experience the Atrix's PC-like functionality when connected to any HDMI-ready computer monitor or TV. Of course, you'll need a rooted and deodexed phone to give it a try, but we hear those aren't monumentally difficult to come by. While Fenny's hack could potentially make the desktop dock obsolete -- assuming you've got a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard handy -- Motorola's LapDock is still something else. It's razor-thin, it doesn't require a separate monitor, and it charges your phone. So, before you write it off entirely, you might at least want to indulge your morbid curiosity about what's inside, and thus there's a complete teardown video after the break to show you what the guts look like. Enjoy! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
LetsTalk goes out in a blaze of glory, sells Atrix 4G and Laptop Dock bundle for $250 as AT&T partnership ends
We can totally picture how this went down: AT&T appears to have made it not worth LetsTalk's time (or Wirefly's time) to sell its phones anymore, which means they're parting ways staring next month. LetsTalk -- wishing to end its AT&T relationship in the most spectacular fashion imaginable -- has elected to sell the Motorola Atrix 4G / Laptop Dock bundle for $250 on contract after rebates, essentially half of what you'll pay through AT&T directly (LetsTalk runs Walmart's wireless store portal, which we've linked). The fire sale might not fix some of the dock's flaws... but it certainly makes them a little less painful. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola Atrix 4G Laptop Dock demo units have multitouch trackpads -- but yours doesn't
We were crestfallen to discover that our review unit of the Laptop Dock for Moto's Atrix 4G didn't have multitouch capability, making scrolling a rather old-fashioned affair -- and considering that a desktop build of Firefox figures prominently into Webtop's capabilities, scrolling is something you'll be doing quite a bit of. Well, this is where it gets weird: a number of people on xda-developers are discussing the fact that in-store demo units of the Laptop Dock seem to mysteriously have multitouch added in, and at least one poster notes that a Motorola rep that visited his local store a while back had multitouch working as well. That means one of three things: either these units are physically different hardware, they're running a prerelease firmware upgrade, or they've got a feature that was pulled at the last minute, possibly because it didn't work very well. Unfortunately, the latter seems plausible because Motorola has indicated to us that the Laptop Dock's hardware doesn't support multitouch and it's not something we can expect to be added in down the road -- but we can hope. [Thanks, Caleb]
Motorola Atrix 4G review
<div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/motorola/atrix-4g-review/"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/atrix60057.jpg" vspace="4"/></a></div> It's finally here -- our <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Atrix4G/">Atrix 4G</a> review! We know you've waited and wondered, and we've finally had enough time with the phone, laptop dock, HD / desktop dock, and all the accessories to give you a proper take on this utterly unique smartphone. Did we say smartphone? Really that's not quite right, because the dual-core-CPU-sporting device actually does quadruple duty as a laptop, set top box, desktop computer, and... well, it works as a smartphone too. The Atrix 4G, which sports a 4-inch, 960 x 540 display, HSPA+ data, and a slew of other juicy specs is absolutely the first of its kind -- a multi-use device intended to replace your netbook (and maybe more) via its <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/Webtop/">Webtop</a> environment. But can a phone be powerful enough to become your laptop or hub of your home theater? Is Motorola's new phone set to be the king of the Android heap, or just another face in the crowd? All these questions (and more) will be answered in our full review... which you can read after the break!<br /> %Gallery-116636%
Motorola Atrix 4G pre-orders begin at AT&T
March 6th is the official street date, but you can lay down your money for Motorola's modular smartphone right now, as the Atrix 4G and its suite of incredible Webtop docks are now available for pre-order. $200 buys you the biometric HSPA+ smartphone on a two-year contract, and it'll cost you an additional $300 to turn it into a portable netbook of sorts -- though as we feared, you'll need to pay $45 a month for the DataPro 4GB + Tethering data plan (on top of your phone bill) to actually use it on the go. Another bummer is that the HD Multimedia Dock (enabling desktop-like functionality) will run $130, a good bit more than we thought we'd see it for. All in all, the Atrix is looking like quite an investment, so perhaps you'd be best served waiting for our full review. But don't let us tell you what to do with your hard-earned dough! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Motorola's Atrix 4G coming to AT&T on March 6th for $200, bundled with Laptop Dock for $500
Don't ever say Ma Bell lacks cahones. On the same day that existing Verizon customers began pre-ordering the CDMA'd iPhone 4, AT&T has come clean with what's next on America's largest GSM network. While announced at CES 2011, pricing and release information had eluded the luscious Atrix 4G... until now, that is. AT&T will begin pre-sales for the Froyo-powered Motorola Atrix 4G Android superphone on February 13th, with the standard $199.99 + two-year contract ($50 more than we were led to believe, mind you) getting one into your grubby mitts. We're told to expect general availability on March 6th "or earlier," putting it just about in line with the date we'd heard rumored. Moreover, those looking to buy will should have a difficult time laying off of the Laptop Dock bundle, which nets you an Atrix 4G as well as a $499.99 dock for the grand total of $499.99 on contract. You heard right -- those who opt to buy the dock at a later time will be asked to shell out five Benjamins, whereas that same tally on day one will also include the phone. It should be noted, however, that the bundle only applies if you also sign your name to a Data Pro plan and tethering add-on, so be sure you're down for that monthly hit before committing in haste. Oh, and just in case you simply can't stop spending, the carrier is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for Atrix 4G customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.
Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video
Been feeling down this cold and dreary January? Well, let Motorola "introduce" you to its new smartphone! The CES conqueror we already know as the Atrix 4G has received a fresh promo video from the mothership, highlighting its laptop and HD multimedia docks (giving us a decent peek at the docked UI for both), dual-core processor and related gaming credentials, and, of course, that gorgeous qHD screen resolution on the handset itself. It's all set to a very uplifting soundtrack, connoting all the beautiful opportunity and potential that our collective smartphone future holds. [Thanks, engadgeteer]
Motorola Atrix 4G, HD multimedia dock, and laptop dock hands-on
Earlier today, we got a complete demo and some seat time with the Motorola Atrix 4G for AT&T at Motorola's CES event, including its HD multimedia dock and laptop dock. The phone looks similar to the Samsung Vibrant, but with a black screen bezel and a tastefully patterned matte back cover. Build quality is very good, as we'd expect from a Motorola device. The QHD (960 x 540) display is gorgeous and the phone feels ultra snappy, thanks to the dual-core processor running Froyo. In fact, despite still running preliminary firmware, we recorded a blazing 2,616 score on the Quadrant test. The power button at the top back of the Atrix 4G also serves as a fingerprint reader, and there's a dual-LED flash flanking the 5 megapixel camera. Check out the gallery below and read on for the details -- and the complete demo on video -- after the break. %Gallery-112834%
La Boite Concept LD120 is the hi-fi desk your laptop's been crying out for (video)
Why more people aren't doing this kind of thing, we don't know. La Boite Concept, a French design studio with a focus on electronic acoustics, has put together the above piece of laptop-loving music furniture, dubbed the LD120. It features a total of seven drivers, including a down-firing subwoofer and a stereo pair at the rear, the latter of which is intended to bounce sound off a wall and neatly into your ear canal. You'll still only be getting 2.1 audio output at the end of it, but when it emanates from a leather-trimmed desk equipped with its own USB sound card and a cable-tidying channel in one of its legs, we're kind of willing to overlook that little detail. We only wish we could be as blasé about the price, which at €980 ($1,300) places the LD120 strictly on our "hope someone buys us one" list. [Thanks, Samiksha]%Gallery-108325%
ArcadeDock converts Lenovo laptop into retro gaming machine (video)
Dean Liou, the same fellow responsible for the ToiletPC and LovePC, has just concocted what's likely his most splendorous mod yet. The ArcadeDock Laptop Dock is a half-height arcade machine, complete with a flame job from a dark corner of 1994, a full-on joystick + large button splay and a secret cabinet for a touchpad-equipped keyboard. Put simply, this rig is designed to hold an IdeaPad Y560, and when plugged in and connected via USB, the controls you're peering at above function exactly as you'd expect them to. Toss on a couple of your favorite ROMs (Street Fighter II, anyone?), grab a Go-Gurt and settle in -- a demonstrative video is after the break, and feel free to tap that Lenovo link below if you'd like to vote this mod up above the competition.
Targus debuts ACP51USZ laptop docking station with video
Well, it's not quite as seamless as something like Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station, but Targus' new ACP51USZ model is a good deal cheaper, and will likely get the job done just fine for most folks (with a few exceptions). That includes giving you a reasonable four USB 2.0 ports (two suitable for charging devices), a single DVI port for your monitor, an Ethernet port, and a pair of 3.5mm audio jacks for speakers, headphones, or a microphone -- all of which connect to your laptop with a single USB cable. Unfortunately, this one won't work (or at least be fully functional) with Mac or Linux, but it is compatible with Windows 7, XP and Vista, and it's available right now for $159.99.
