All about docking stations

Smartphones, laptops, tablets have become an integral part of our life. We no longer notice how small devices with a bunch of useful functions in the blink of an eye are at hand, no matter where we are: at home or at work, in the city or hundreds of kilometers from civilization. Nevertheless, the modest dimensions of smartphones or tablets do not allow to fully demonstrate the excellent quality of music, video and data transmission, and there are often no necessary connectors on the case. In this case, a docking station becomes a useful addition to portable electronics. In the question of what a docking station is, and what exactly it is intended for, we will examine a little lower.

Purpose and functionality

Do you need a docking station? On the one hand, this is not a mandatory device, but it greatly simplifies the life of the owners of various devices. A docking station is a special design that connects to your gadget using a group of connectors or wireless connection technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and expands its capabilities. After the gadget has connected to the docking station, together they make up a single media device.

“Docking station” in English means “docking station”. Imagine the docking of spacecraft for further flight in the open spaces of our Universe. This is done for longer orbital operations, increasing the life support resources of spacecraft, facilitating further flight and piloting. In a narrow sense, the docking station for devices does the same thing - it allows you to recharge the gadget and make it more functional.

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

• Wired telephone station (including for stationary). The power source in this case can be both electricity and USB-connector. Docking stations used in cars receive power through the power supply.
• Wireless. Data transfer and connection is via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.
• "Doc" designed exclusively for recharging devices. Such stations can be synchronized with both smartphones and smart appliances, for example, a robot vacuum cleaner. After completing their work, they return to the docking station to charge the battery.
• Universal docking stationwhere, in addition to the battery charge, there are still a lot of different functions. You can connect several gadgets at once to a universal station and get a single device with wide functionality. For example, the docking station of smartphones and tablets based on Android is also designed to connect keyboards, which greatly simplifies the typing process. Docking stations are synchronized with devices using a program or drivers that are usually included.
  

• Multimedia docking stationIt has a wide range of functions related to video and audio output. So, with its help you can copy, play data, adjust the sound. The quality of this will certainly be much higher.

Mobile docking stations

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

• In the form of an ordinary stand. It does not have any functionality and serves only for convenient fixation of the device so that you can more comfortably watch movies or play music. You can install the phone on the stand both horizontally and vertically.
• Charger. Helps to charge the phone in a securely reinforced position.
  

• Multimedia station for a smartphone it combines a set of functions: this is a regular stand, a portable charger, and playback of video and audio formats. In this case, the sound will be fed through the built-in speakers, which will undoubtedly improve the sound quality.

Android based

For Android smartphones, the third type of docking station is the most interesting and useful. Today in the market of electronic gadgets presented their wide choice with a variety of functions, connectors and built-in speakers. Good speakers with powerful bass will turn even the quietest smartphone into a real stereo. In addition, among modern models there are dock stands with powerful acoustic sound andsound amplifier.

Managing the gadget based on the Android operating system occurs via USB connection. To do this, you need to install in the smartphone a special application for the docking station (read the instructions and follow the installation rules). After launching the application, we connect the smartphone to the docking station. Then you can use the remote control for more convenience: you can easily turn on the audio, adjust the volume and equalizer settings to your liking, watch your favorite movie.

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

IOS based

Docking stations for iphone also often help out their owners. They are necessary and as a stand (which, for example, will protect the smartphone from falling on the floor), and in the form of a charger. Another useful feature is simplification. information synchronization process (data, audio files) in iTunes on a PC and smartphone. Also, using the docking base, you can connect your smartphone to a TV or music center at any time.

It is worth choosing, first of all, those stations that produced directly by Apple, however, there are universal. The only problem is that buying a docking station from another manufacturer, you automatically lose the warranty on the Iphone. Cheap docking stations may malfunction, or even cause the device to burn out. Apple docking stations are usually available in the same colors as smartphones themselves - it will look stylish.

Not all IOS stations are universal: some of the devices manufactured are designed for a specific iphone. If you purchased a universal docking station, you can easily synchronize with any of the gadgets based on IOS.

Almost all docking stations for Apple products have on the case three base connectors: Lightning port plug, a port for connecting to a personal computer and a standard 3.5mm mini-jack connector.

Expanding laptop functions

Very often laptop owners come across lack of connectors, ports, card slots. Buying a docking station solves this problem. To help the user, additional USB connectors, PS / 2, several types of video outputs (VGA, S-Video and DVI), analog and digital ports for audio, PCMCIA slots, ExpressCard, COM are added to the standard set of ports in the laptop.In the configuration docking station for a laptop may be available and the power supply, which slightly speeds up the process of charging the device.

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

Depending on the manufacturer of the laptop, there are different types of connectors for connecting the docking station. Therefore, as is the case with smartphones, it is better to opt for the docking station of the same company as the laptop. However, there are dock stations with standard connectorsand the connection is via USB.

Synchronizing a laptop, netbook or PDA with a docking station, you actually become the owner of a full-fledged computer that performs the same functions as a stationary PC. Using the station, you can connect an external monitor and keyboard, optical mouse, network cable, modem, office equipment - scanner, printer, etc. Thus, if you doubt what to choose: a stationary PC with all the components or a mobile and compact laptop, you can come to a compromise option and use the docking station. It is not necessary to purchase a laptop with a wide diagonal and a full-fledged keyboard, it is much more profitable to connect a monitor, mouse and keyboard, if necessary, using the Docking station.Laptop will remain easy and comfortable to use, you can take it with you on a trip and use it to perform everyday tasks.

If you frequently transfer data use hard drive, a portable docking station can also be useful for more comfortable and efficient work. In this case, it connects directly to the PC. You will only have to insert the hard drive into a special slot on the “dock” case. The most important thing to consider when buying a station for a drive is the required hard disk, or form factor, as well as the interface and connection type.

There are docking stations that allow you to connect several hard drives at once. Their cost is certainly higher, but this overlaps with the convenience of transferring large amounts of information.

Tablet PC Docking Stations

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

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

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

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

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