Accessories Evo Car Dock is officially out... not impressed so far

[vgsantiago]

So it appears the official HTC Ev car dock is in the wild, the initial review does not seem impressive. I'll wait to hold judgment.

http://www.goodandevo.net/2010/08/official-htc-evo-car-dock-finally-in-stock.html#more

 

[jiggy79]

I say that's one ugly duck....I'm gonna get me a clingo instead.

 

[ogrenator]

thing looks lame as hell!

 

[Mr. Ed]

No SD access.. worthless

 

[jsward12]

No SD access? That makes no sense, the damn card is under the battery.

 

[mitch27]

No SD access? That makes no sense, the damn card is under the battery.

What he meant to way is, can't access files on the SD card while using the dock. So you can't listen to music you have saved, or watch videos, etc...

 

[Raekwon]

No SD access? That makes no sense, the damn card is under the battery.

He means the phone plugs into the holder at the usb port and will only charge the phone, not mount as a hard drive so you can get to your music to listen to in the car. If that made any sense at all.... lol.

 

[brittonx]

I've been using the Bracketron Dash-Mat with my EVO. It has been working very well.
http://www.amazon.com/UFM-200-BL-Universal-Electronics-Dash-Mat-Portable/dp/B001O8NOO6

 

[RestivoBC]

I have to agree.. looks pretty cheesy. But I'll probably get it anyways to try it out.
What is taking ProClip so long?...

Edit: Yay! I'm a Member now.

 

[stanglifemike]

What he meant to way is, can't access files on the SD card while using the dock. So you can't listen to music you have saved, or watch videos, etc...

Thats the beauty of a aftermarket headunit with bluetooth built in. I listen to my music on my Evo through my car speakers with no wires at all. It is awesome!!

 

[dbpaddler]

Took them awhile to get a hold of an Evo due to the shortages. Had I known, I would have sent them mine. Have sent them my phones in the past. I always have a stable of phone to switch temporarily switch to.
Might be doing that with the Epic.

What is taking ProClip so long?...

that "official" dock looks like crap and no standard AMPS mounting so you can use your own dash mount.

 

[dbpaddler]

what he meant to say (which is not what you said) is some stereo systems access mass storage to play music (aka...plug in a hard drive and have the head unit read the files). And you can't "mount" the SD card while using the dock.

What he meant to way is, can't access files on the SD card while using the dock. So you can't listen to music you have saved, or watch videos, etc...

 

[Stepintothedark]

yeah no thanks... if you can't play music...

 

[jcthorne]

You can play music while on the doc. On the EVO and output via blutooth or headphone jack. You cannot mount the SD card as a drive because the SD card is not available to the Android programs while mounted. Nav, music player and other aps that need the SD card storage would not work.

The SD card is either used by the internal programs OR as an external drive, not both at the same time. Its an android limitation. Thats why the toggle when you connect the usb to the computer.

 

[archercc]

You can play music while on the doc. On the EVO and output via blutooth or headphone jack. You cannot mount the SD card as a drive because the SD card is not available to the Android programs while mounted. Nav, music player and other aps that need the SD card storage would not work.

The SD card is either used by the internal programs OR as an external drive, not both at the same time. Its an android limitation. Thats why the toggle when you connect the usb to the computer.

Dont think that is what they are saying either. It sounds like the pin-outs on the dock itself dont support mounting it as an HD. This might make sense though as a standard spec to Android since mounting it as an HD could break many/most of the functions of navigation.

The frustrating thing is that it doesn't support an audio out via the microUSB. That would be sweet because then you could have everything hooked up and just drop the phone into the charger. As of right now its kind of meh because you would still either need a bluetooth head unit or plug in an aux cable.

Im on the fence, will probably still go get it to try it out.

 

[dbpaddler]

The first part of his statement is completely correct regardless of anything USB related. Bottom line is if the pin out in the female connection has power only, then yes, it screws the ability for an mp3 capable head unit to see it as a mass drive and access the content.

But the Evo is still perfectly functional as a player via the headphone jack or bluetooth. So the argument that you can't play media doesn't hold water. In one specific instance it can't. If you took a poll of how many people actually use their phone as a mass drive while in the car, I think the number would be quite low.

Dont think that is what they are saying either.

The fail for me in the "official" mount is the usb connection is in the suction cup part of the mount. So you're tied into using the suction cup. You can't disassemble it and use the holder with another company's mount. Can't stand suction cups. Then again, I use a case so it makes any official mount useless.

The ProClip one is coming and has a permanent cigarette lighter adapter attached. it has the fuzzy coating to protect the finish of the phone as well. Though it will be a little more expensive because it's a 2-piece solution since you need to have a dash mount for your vehicle. The plus is you have location options instead of just sticking that thing someplace smooth.

 

[J03]

What he meant to way is, can't access files on the SD card while using the dock. So you can't listen to music you have saved, or watch videos, etc...

what he meant to say (which is not what you said) is some stereo systems access mass storage to play music (aka...plug in a hard drive and have the head unit read the files). And you can't "mount" the SD card while using the dock.

Anyone with half a brain knows what mitch meant. The others without half a brain figured it out from the other 5 people who explained it before you.

 

[archercc]

not sure what that is supposed to get me. Its more expensive than the HTC mount, isnt more compact and only works as proclip mount, which doesnt work for someone who changes cars more than they change mounts.

 

[Doyer]

The Arkon Mega Grip works fine for me for $15.

Arkon Mega Grip Smartphone Mount for HTC EVO 4G | Sprint HTC EVO 4G Car Mount

 

[dbpaddler]

Different strokes for different folks. You're not tied into the suction cup mount and cluttering up your windshield or dash. Not everyone switches cars like girlfriends and some people who own nice vehicles want something clean and integrated looking in their vehicle instead of appendage sticking off of glass and vents. so at least the proclip solution gives you mounting "options" if you're going the official route.Personally I stick with their adjustable holder which can attach to ANY type of mount that adheres to the AMPS standard which includes just about every company that does dash mounts and many that make various suction cup or other alternative mounts. Or you can be like many on this thread looking for new mounts every time a phone comes out. I get a new phone every year if not sooner, and I've been through two holders in the past 5+ yrs and that's only because phones got substantially thinner over the past few years.

not sure what that is supposed to get me. Its more expensive than the HTC mount, isnt more compact and only works as proclip mount, which doesnt work for someone who changes cars more than they change mounts.

 

[dbpaddler]

And then you figured it out... ;-)

Anyone with half a brain knows what mitch meant. The others without half a brain figured it out from the other 5 people who explained it before you.

Believe it or not, some people who have these technologically advanced phones ate not tech savvy. So two bit answers that don't spell things out followed by "doesn't play music" doesn't really help people that don't know.

 

[vgsantiago]

The Arkon Mega Grip works fine for me for $15.

Arkon Mega Grip Smartphone Mount for HTC EVO 4G | Sprint HTC EVO 4G Car Mount

I think that's basically all that is needed, a universal mount that still gives us the ability to plug in the microUSB.

Was going to buy one similar prior to my road trip last week, but after Froyo broke Pandora and the abilty to use Google NAV simultaneously figured it would be useless.

 

[Mamba24]

I think that's basically all that is needed, a universal mount that still gives us the ability to plug in the microUSB.

Was going to buy one similar prior to my road trip last week, but after Froyo broke Pandora and the abilty to use Google NAV simultaneously figured it would be useless.

For sure, that's all I need in a setup. Using the Mega Grip dash mount for $20 from the Arkon site, great deal for a dual purpose mount!

Arkon Mega Grip Dashboard & Windshield Mount for Superphones

 

[dbpaddler]

This is why I would rather have this one on ebay for less than $6 . And with the Richter mount on the holder you can pop it off and use it with a standard ProClip adapter and mount it properly just about anywhere.

 

[AyndRoyd]

Would that just screw in to a proclip mount after removing the gooseneck? Also when will proclip have a mount for the 2011 Grand Cherokee?