What is a smartphone dock, laptop, tablet: features and capabilities

Smartphones, laptops, tablets have become an integral part of our lives. We no longer notice, as small devices with a bunch of useful features in one moment are at hand, wherever we are: at home or at work, in the city or hundreds of kilometers from civilization. But, modest dimensions of smartphones or tablets do not allow you to fully demonstrate the excellent quality of music, video and data transmission, and the necessary connectors on the case are often missing. A useful addition to portable electronics in this case is the docking station. In question, what is a docking station, and what it is intended for, let's understand a little below.

Purpose and functionality

Do you need a docking station?? On the one hand, this is not a required device, however, it greatly simplifies the lives of owners of various devices. The docking station is a special design, which connects to your gadget using a group of connectors or wireless technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and expands its capabilities. After, how the gadget connected to the docking station, together they form a single media device.

Depending on the functions and capabilities of the stations, there are several types.

• Wired phone station (including for stationary). The power source in this case may be electricity, and a USB connector. Docking stations, used in cars, receive energy through the power supply.
• Wireless. Data is transferred and connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
• "While", designed exclusively for recharging devices. Such stations can be synchronized with smartphones, and with "smart" appliances, for example, a robot vacuum cleaner. After finishing his work, they return to the dock to charge the battery.
• Universal docking station, where, in addition to the battery charge, there are still a lot of different features. You can connect several gadgets to the universal station and get a single device with extensive functionality. Example, the docking station for Android-based smartphones and tablets is also designed to connect keyboards, which greatly simplifies the typing procedure. Docking stations are synchronized with devices using software or drivers, which are usually included.
  
• Multimedia docking station, which has a wide range of functions, related to video and audio output. So, you can use it to copy, reproduce data, adjust the sound. The quality will be, certainly, much higher.

Mobile docks

Docking stations help open up much more smartphone capabilities for the user, allowing you to not only comfortably charge your phone, but also turn it into a quality media player. All this applies to Android, and iOS devices. There are three types of stations for the phone.

• In the form of an ordinary stand. It has no functionality and serves only for easy fixing of the device, to make it more comfortable to watch movies or play music. You can install the phone on the stand as in the horizontal, and in the vertical position.
• Charger. Helps charge the phone in a secure position.
  
• The multimedia station for a smartphone combines a set of functions: this is the usual stand, and a portable charger, and video and audio playback. The sound will be output through the built-in speakers, what, undoubtedly, will improve the sound quality.

Android based

The third type of docking stations is the most interesting and useful for Android smartphones. Today in the market of electronic gadgets there is a wide choice of them with many features, connectors and built-in speakers. Good speakers with powerful bass will turn even the quietest smartphone into a real music center. Besides, modern models include dock stands with powerful acoustic sound and sound amplifier.

The gadget is based on the Android operating system via a USB connection. To do this, you need to install a special application for the docking station on your smartphone (read the instructions and follow the installation rules). After launching the program, connect the smartphone to the docking station. Then you can use the remote control for convenience: you can turn on the audio without any problems, adjust the volume and equalizer to your liking, watch your favorite movie.

Most docking stations are universal for all electronics on the Android OS, because they are equipped with the same USB port, and have no strict limits on the size of the smartphone to be connected.

Based on iOS

IPhone docks also often come to the rescue of their owners. They are also needed as a stand (what, example, will protect the smartphone from falling to the floor), and in the form of a charger. Another useful feature is to simplify the process of synchronizing information (data, audio files) in iTunes on PC and smartphone. Also with the help of the docking station you can connect your smartphone to a TV or music center at any time.

It is worth choosing, primarily, those stations, which are manufactured directly by Apple, however, there are also universal. The only problem is, that buying a docking station from another manufacturer, you automatically lose the warranty on the iPhone. Cheap docking stations can malfunction, or even cause the device to burn out. Apple docking stations, usually, are issued in the same color decisions, as smartphones themselves - it will look stylish.

Not all iOS stations are universal: part of the devices, released is designed for a specific iphone. If you bought a universal docking station, then you can easily sync with any of the gadgets based on iOS.

Virtually all Apple product docks have three base connectors: Lightning port plug, a port for connecting to a personal computer and a standard 3.5 mm mini-jack.

We are expanding the functions of the laptop

Laptop owners are often faced with a lack of connectors, ports, card slots. Buying a docking station solves this problem. Additional USB connectors are added to the standard set of ports in the laptop to help the user, PS / 2, several types of video outputs (VGA, S-Video і DVI), analog and digital ports for audio, PCMCIA slots, ExpressCard, WITH. A power supply may be included with the laptop dock, which will speed up the charging process of the device a bit.

Some models are additionally equipped with another battery and a large hard drive slot.

Depending on the laptop manufacturer, There are different types of connectors for connecting a docking station. So, as in the case of smartphones, it is better to stop at the docking station of the same company, as a laptop. However, there are docking stations with standard connectors, and the connection is via USB.

Synchronizing laptop, netbook or PDA with docking station, you actually own a full-fledged computer, performing the same functions, as a desktop PC. With the station you can connect an external display and keyboard, optical mouse, network cable, modem, office equipment - scanner, printer, etc.. So, if in doubt, what to choose: desktop PC with all components or mobile and compact laptop, you can come to a compromise and use the docking station. You don't have to buy a laptop with a wide diagonal and a full keyboard, much cheaper monitor, connect the mouse and keyboard if necessary using the Docking station. The laptop will remain light and comfortable to use, it can be taken with you on a trip and used for everyday tasks.

If you frequently use a hard drive to transfer data, then a portable docking station can also be useful for more comfortable and efficient work. In this case, it connects directly to the PC. All you have to do is insert the hard drive into a special slot on the Dock case. The most important thing, What you need to consider when buying a drive station - this is a necessary hard drive, or form factor, as well as the interface and connection type.

There are docking stations, that allow you to connect multiple hard drives. Their cost, certainly, above, but this more than overshadows the convenience of transmitting large amounts of information.

Tablet docks

For the tablet, the most convenient and popular are the "docks" in the form of a keyboard. They became widespread with the release of Windows 8, which meant comfortable work on the tablet, and on the user's computer. At the same time, transformer computers with a keyboard stand were released. A tablet was connected to this stand, and some stands were also equipped with an additional battery.

Docking stations are very convenient when working with a tablet - they weigh much less, than the same standard laptop. Tablet and docking station are convenient for people, often make business trips or just relax away from home. Entering text in the editor is not very convenient, even with a virtual touch keyboard - it takes up a lot of space on the screen. The portable keyboard is indispensable here.

Apple, example, has released the iPad Pro, to which you can connect a keyboard.

The docking station for the tablet significantly expands its capabilities - it functions as speakers, charger, keyboard and design with all the necessary connectors - the choice is solely up to the user.

So, if you intend to improve your gadget, then feel free to go to the nearest store for the docking station. This is the optimal solution to continue the autonomous operation of the device, battery charge and disclosure of all necessary functions. Docking stations have different price ranges depending on the specific manufacturer, however, in any case, you will definitely not regret this purchase.