Technocel Snap-On Cover w/ Holster

[UncleMike]

My Technocel cover and holster arrived the other day, but I've been too busy to take/post pics until now. First, the cover fits like a glove, and snaps together easily, leaving no wiggle room once installed. The holster is reminiscent of the OG Droid holster sold by Verizon, but this one is designed for use only with the cover. The ratcheting mechanism on the belt clip is weak, allowing the phone to spin too freely. While this is a far cry from the belt clip on the shell/holster sold by Verizon for the Bionic, it's no worse than the belt clip on the previously mentioned OG Droid holster. My only other complaint is that the spring clip sticks out farther than I would like, but this seems necessary to allow the phone to push the clip out of the way when you're placing it in the holster.

But does it fit in the docks? Standard dock - yes, easily. Car/vehicle navigation dock - physically, yes; dock detection, no. But there's good news - at least for those willing to take a dremel or file to their dock. The problem with the car dock is that the phone with the cover installed sits too high in the dock for the USB connector on the dock to insert all the way into the phone - otherwise the phone fits fine, and the retaining latch easily reaches over the phone without having to force the phone into position.

I was able to remedy the problem with the USB connector by removing the back from the dock, removing the USB connector, enlarging the opening that the connector comes through (using a file), and slide the connector up about 3/16", epoxy the connector in place, and re-assemble the dock.

Here are some pictures of the cover, holster, and dock (pre and post surgery), as well as the installed dock, using the i.Trek IG-PSTARA sticky dash mount (small adhesive rectangle with post & ball).

Bionic Car Dock and Technocel case and holster pictures by MetroConnect - Photobucket

 

[MtnbikerChk]

Here are some pictures of the cover, holster, and dock (pre and post surgery), as well as the installed dock, using the i.Trek IG-PSTARA sticky dash mount (small adhesive rectangle with post & ball).

Bionic Car Dock and Technocel case and holster pictures by MetroConnect - Photobucket

wish I had the guts to do that LOL

when my Seidio dock broke (after a year) with the OD I just ripped out the connecter and dremel'd a hole through the bottom and ran a cable up through it. It wasn't pretty but it did the job!

 

[UncleMike]

wish I had the guts to do that LOL

when my Seidio dock broke (after a year) with the OD I just ripped out the connecter and dremel'd a hole through the bottom and ran a cable up through it. It wasn't pretty but it did the job!

It wasn't that big of a deal. It took a while because I used a file to enlarge the opening instead of using a dremel - it's much harder to remove too much material with a file. And, I only proceeded with the modifications when I convinced myself that I could re-position the USB connector to its original location if need be.

 

[sponge]

I received my Technocel Cover/Holster today and it works fine in my Motorola car dock with no modifications.

 

[UncleMike]

I literally had to force the phone into the dock, with my thumb directly below the USB connector on the dock and other fingers on the opposite side of the phone, to get the phone to detect the dock. Removing the force immediately caused the phone to no longer detect the dock.

Here's a picture of the USB connector with the phone in the (modified) dock. Does your phone sit lower than this?

 

[sponge]

Here are a couple of pictures. The phone seems to seat well in the dock, and makes good contact with the USB connector. Sorry - the close-up is fuzzy.

 

[MtnbikerChk]

It wasn't that big of a deal. It took a while because I used a file to enlarge the opening instead of using a dremel - it's much harder to remove too much material with a file. And, I only proceeded with the modifications when I convinced myself that I could re-position the USB connector to its original location if need be.

the problem I've found with the Seido case is really that it's hair to deep on the ends - it's like they didn't taper it enough so it doesn't sit all the way in the dock - because the rear part of the case only in the dock does allow the usb connector to pop through completely. SO I'm thinking I might file down the dock itself!!

 

[johnlgalt]

Nice mods. Only reason I cannot use this though is that I have 2 extended batteries...

@Bikergal - did you remove the insert also from the dock to allow cased phones to fit? just curious - I'm betting you did, but had to ask....

 

[MtnbikerChk]

@Bikergal - did you remove the insert also from the dock to allow cased phones to fit? just curious - I'm betting you did, but had to ask....

yes.

 

[UncleMike]

I just wanted to update this thread with the results of an unintentional drop test. Last week my phone dropped from a height of about 3 feet onto a paved (but well worn) parking lot. I cringed when I heard it hit the pavement, and again when I finally located my phone under the center of my work van - face down!

The cover had a scratch on the front near the lower right corner, and a small area on the bottom right back corner where the rubberized coating got scraped off, but the cover stayed on the phone, and phone itself was unharmed.

Prior to this "test", I believed my phone was properly seated in the holster - and it may have been. But I've noticed several times that it's too easy to (without looking) think that the phone is properly seated when in fact it's not. The bottom of the holster only wraps around the phone at the corners, allowing the phone to be inserted in the holster with one corner sticking between the two bottom corners of the holster, and the opposite top corner to be retained by the clip. The holster DOES hold the phone this way, but not well, and I think this is what lead to my "test".

 

[welbinator]

once again no love for us extendies.

 

[UncleMike]

I think I jinxed myself with that previous post. Today, while going through contortions to get out of a boom lift bucket, my phone flew off my belt and landed on a sidewalk from a height of about 5 feet. The case now has a few more dings, and the phone has one too. Both halves of the case, and the battery cover flew off upon impact.

While I'm thankful for the protection that the case provided, I'm starting to look for car and desk dock options that work with the Otterbox Defender.