Maybe I'm just doing something stupid, but I can't seem to get the phone to fit in the navigation dock (with insert removed) while the phone is in the shell that comes with the shell/holster combo. It seems to fit fine in the desk dock though. Since I got my phone and dock at Costco, there's no real packaging with it, so I don't know if it's claimed to fit. Is it supposed to fit?
It does fit in the Car Dock with the Shell installed. When putting it in the dock flip up the tab on the top. Then, place the phone in and onto the USB plug. After that take and fold down the tab on the top to lock it in place. It's a very tight fit but it does work. If you try to put it in the dock without flipping up the locking arm on top it won't go in right.
I have an OG Droid with the Droid 2 car dock, so I'm familiar with the retaining clip on the top of the dock. With my OG Droid, the phone would slide in from the top with the back of the phone parallel to the back of the dock, primarily because there are small retaining tabs on each side that the phone must slide behind. This Bionic and dock don't seem to work that way. If I slide the phone into position as described above, the male micro USB connector on the dock doesn't line up with the female connector on the phone - and they appear to be misaligned about the thickness of the shell. Any one else having problems?
I can't be the only one with this problem. Since I bought my phone at Costco, the docks came with it, but there was no retail packaging or instructions. If there are instructions included in the retail packaging for the car/navigation dock, can someone post a copy, or let me know if there's anything in there regarding the purpose of the insert and what specifically it's intended to work with?
Actually, the insert is for people who don't have an extended battery. @UncleMike: You have to take that insert out to use with the Shell/Extended Battery. Once removed flip the little arm on top up. Then, slide the phone onto the USB connector. Then push the top of the phone towards the dock and flip the arm down to hold the phone in place. Pictures: Step 1: Mount dock on windshield and flip up the little lever on top. Step 2: Slide in from the top at an angle and push onto the MicroUSB Connector at the bottom of the dock. Step 3: Push on the top of the phone and flip down the locking arm. Notes: If you don't push in the top you end up with the arm sitting on top of the phone and not holding it in the dock. Also, with the shell installed you can't use the power button on the side of the dock to turn the phone on and off. It doesn't line up. So while the phone will fit with the shell installed it's not perfect and a little forced and the buttons don't line up properly. Just make sure the screen is on before inserting into the dock.
FYI. If the retaining clip gets in the way a lot, its easily removable. Use a small flat heat to remove the rubber covers on each side of the clip.. Use an allan wrench to unscrew the bolt while holding a finger over the side with the phillips head (its spring loaded). Remove the bolt. nut and spring. Then on the bolt side, put the white plastic bearing in and it will pop right off. I hate these clips as they really just help reduce vibration but make it more cumbersome to remove the phone quickly. Hence, I removed them on my DX car docks as well. There just isn't enough vibration occurring in my cars to make it worth keeping.
Without the arm the Bionic wouldn't stay still while docked with the Shell on. The shell makes it sit forward a little and it would just bounce around unless held in place.
I see. I run with no case on my phones. I would still think the lip on the right side of the dock would hold it in, but I don't have a case to check with.
Thanks Tosa90. Your pictures very clearly show that the phone doesn't properly fit in the dock with the shell on, but that it can be forced into position. My concern is that forcing it into position, and keeping it there, will cause a great deal of stress on the USB connection, eventually leading to failure of the connection on the dock, the phone, or both. The dock and insert are both contoured in such a way that they both appear to be designed for the extended battery (there's more room behind the body of the phone than there is behind the camera). With the naked phone in the dock with the insert, there is a gap between the body of the phone and the dock - about 3/16". I can't imagine what it's for other than the extended battery. I have the extended battery and cover on order, and they should be here Tuesday, so I'll be able to see first hand how the phone with the extended battery fits without the case, both with and without the insert.
