Belkin TuneSync Charging Dock for iPod (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently bought this item and I am quite happy with it. If you buy an Apple Cradle it's about $40 and add a USB 2.0 5-port Hub (which by the way most of them are really ugly and only 4-port) for $20 it's already a bit higher than buying this single device that helps you avoid clutter on your desktop as well.
Pros: no cable clutter, slim design, cradle for ipod and usb 2.0-hub, audio out, usb 1.1 and 2.0 compatible.
Cons: The leds on the front are a bit flashy for my taste, ipod re-connects and goes to "do not disconnect" mode every time I power up any other ac-powered devices connected to the hub.
Overall: Good device, great price.

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The Belkin F5U255q TuneSync for iPods integrates an iPod dock with a five-port USB 2.0 hub. With its slim and elegant design and top-load dock, the TuneSync saves your valuable desktop space, and adds a convenient stereo-out jack that lets you listen to your music by connecting your stereo, powered speakers, or headphones while the iPod charges.
Designed to work seamlessly with all your USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices, the Belkin TuneSync lets you connect up to five USB 2.0 devices, such as your printer, scanner, hard drive, digital camera, media readers and more to your computer, and guarantees 12 Mbps per port for connected USB 1.1 devices. This unit features LEDs that monitor your device's activity for master power status and all port activity, and simultaneously charges and syncs your regular iPods through the dock connector, or your iPod shuffle via the USB port.
Compatible with any iPod or iPod shuffle--including the iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G, iPod mini, iPod 3G, iPod 4G (Click Wheel), iPod color, and iPod 5G/5.5G Video--the Belkin TuneSync comes in a white finish that complements any home decor, and is backed by a manufacturer's lifetime warranty. This unit requires no additional software in order to operate, and needs only your regular Pentium based PC with Windows 98SE or higher, or a Mac (note that Macs running versions prior to OS X 10.2.7 do not support high-speed mode), and an open USB port in order to take advantage of your iPod's sync feature.
What's in the Box Belkin F5U255q TuneSync, 7 dock adapters, power adapter, USB device cable, user's manual and warranty information.

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Griffin Simplifi Dock for iPod and iPhone, Media Card Reader, and USB Hub in One Device (Aluminum) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been searching for a few secondary iPhone docks for a while, as I've wanted to use the iPhone (first generation) docks as audio docks on a couple of stereos in the house. Moving the came-with-it dock to that venue meant I wouldn't have one at my Mac. Technically I didn't need it (just needed the USB to Dock Connector Cable) but I wanted the ease of docking. Apple's price for their docks are rather high -- and I figured if I was going to spend the money, I might as well get something with extras.
Enter the Simplifi which, while not doing anything earth-shattering, adds a few pluses to the arguably-required dock for your iPod or iPhone: a two-port USB hub and a camera card reader, capable of handling the most common types (Compact Flash, SD (including SDHD), xD, and Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro).
A warning if you use Memory Stick Pro (the little card); it will read the small cards but you need to use the adapter (that makes it sized to the original cards). You can put that little card all the way in there, and it'll read it, but it's too small to be able to pull back out. (Yeah, I did it. To get the MSP out, I just kind of stuck the adapter on it and pulled it back out. Boneheaded move as I knew it was too small for the port.)
The finish is nice and the build seems good. The unit is a bit heavy, unlike some USB hubs, which always (and, to me, inexplicably) always try to be the lightest object on the market (which aids in their flipping over, leaning, falling off the back of your desk, etc.).
Included is an AC adapter (which gives it some extra juice should you have the unit a little too far down the chain or connected to an unpowered hub) and a very short USB cable. Maybe that's just me; the USB cable is a mini USB to regular USB plug, and about a foot long. I figured this was no problem as I had plenty of longer cables on hand, but whenever I used one of them (and I tried several) my iPhone would eventually bounce off as "unrecognized", scaring the bejeebus out of me. Going back to Griffin's included USB cable solved the problem. (FWIW, a quick response from Griffin tells me that an extension cable, and not a replacement, would be a better solution). I got around the issue by making it the "first stop" off my MacBook Pro's left USB port, and hooking my other hub downstream of it. (FWIW, hooking it up to the hub via the included cable wasn't an option as the hub is pretty far removed from where I wanted the dock to be.)
It's a little on the pricey side; nearly as much as Apple's own Universal Dock. Still, it's go the added card reader, though some may consider that unnecessary fluff. I like it for the weight and the fact it's not a dead end (i.e., it's a hub); the card reader capability is lagniappe. After a few weeks of daily use, I'd recommend it.
PROS
- USB2 hub (has two "free" ports when in use)
- Card reader for most popular camera cards (see above)
- iPod/iPhone dock*
CONS
- A little pricey
- Included USB cable is short**
*Note that I confirmed with Griffin that, though their site and literature is not yet updated, the Simplifi works with docking iPods and iPhones (including the 3G; confirmed this with Griffin via email)
**Again, per my review, you have to use the USB cable it came with; trying to use an aftermarket miniUSB to USB male will cause drop-outs. I emailed Griffin about this and they recommended using a USB extension cable with the included cable rather than using an altogether different cable (in fact, they offered to send me one).

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