We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
CB member npisano couldn't wait any longer for the official Z10 dock, so he made his own.
When it comes to accessories for BlackBerry devices, the official BlackBerry Charging stand is always a top seller and considered a must-have by any diehard BlackBerry user.
Since the BlackBerry Z10 began hitting consumers hands (just a little bit longer America!), CrackBerry readers have been inquiring -- obsessively I might add -- about the availability of the Multimedia Charging Dock for the Z10. To be certain, there definitely is one. It has popped up on the internet a few times now; we know the BlackBerry Z10 Transform Case was designed to work seamlessly with the pod; and heck, I even managed to get my hands on one... so we know it's real. So why isn't available yet and when will it become available?
The BlackBerry Z10 Multimedia Dock
Long story short, the BlackBerry Z10 Multimedia Dock will become available to the general market when the Z10's BlackBerry 10 software fully supports it. I don't think BlackBerry wants to release it to the masses until it delivers a perfect user experience.
On the software side, it's pretty easy to understand what has to happen here. The Z10's homescreen and lock screen currently support only portrait orientation - so right now if you place the Z10 onto the dock, the screen stays in portrait orientation. In other words, you have to use the phone sideways. And there's no automatic prompt upon placing the phone into the dock to jump you directly into an app - such as the clock app or movie player. The dock still works fine in all other respects - the clock app supports landscape orientation, as does the media player of course (and the Micro HDMI out works fine). So once you're in the app you want to use, assuming it supports landscape, it's a solid experience. It's just getting there is a bit messy right now. I think for hardcore BlackBerry users -- like all of you reading this post wanting to know what's going on with the dock -- the current usage case would probably be fine for most of you. But overall it is less than a perfect experience, until the BB10 software supports it. So it makes sense why it's not out yet. I'm guessing this isn't a quick fix software update, would likely be to tied to a larger one (10.1?).
An alternative unofficial dock in the meantime?
Earlier this week our Adam Zeis discovered this third party dock on Amazon. It's the Sunny Savers BlackBerry Z10 Twin Dual White Wave Desktop Charger Dock & Spare Battery Charger Sync & Charger Pod (say that three times fast). The spare battery charger is a nice feature feature, but unlike the official dock there's no Micro HDMI out on this (and of course the same software challenges with landscape use will apply).
We've ordered a couple of them to test out - if they're good we'll try and get them in stock at ShopCrackBerry. Definitely not the same as the official dock, but if can't wait for the official one and don't want to craft your own stand out of a block of wood, it may be a solution worth checking out. If you have patience I'd suggest waiting for the OEM BB one. Either way, stay locked to CrackBerry and we'll report back soon on this one.
If want the Official BlackBerry Multimedia Dock, say Aye!
It's very clear that BlackBerry is listening to their user and fan base -- look how quickly battery life and Bedside mode got tweaked up in the first BlackBerry 10 OS update -- so it never hurts to express your desires. Being a young platform, BlackBerry 10 is going to continue to evolve at a rapid pace, so I'm sure knowing what matters most to BlackBerry 10 owners will help BlackBerry prioritize their to do list.
So if having a dock for your BlackBerry means as much to you as it does to me (gotta have two - one for home and office!), leave a comment saying how much want it and how you will put it to use in your life! And hopefully it will become available sooner than later.
Read more
Save 15% on all BlackBerry Accessories
It's time to gear up and buckle down for this weekend's big game! No matter what team you're rooting for this year, we can all agree that 15% off all accessories here at ShopCrackBerry is a pretty sweet deal. We've got cases, chargers, batteries, etc. for the hottest BlackBerry devices including the BlackBerry Passport, BlackBerry Classic, BlackBerry Z10, Blackberry Z30, BlackBerry Q10...
20% off BlackBerry accessories!
We're wrapping up 2014 by extending a 20% savings on all BlackBerry accessories until midnight December 31! With plenty of new products to choose from for popular devices like the BlackBerry Passport, BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Q10, you can definitely get the best bang for your buck before the new year kicks off. To receive 20% off your entire cart, use coupon...
20% off all BlackBerry Accessories
We're taking the holiday rush into consideration this year and offering you last minute shoppers 20% off our entire selection of accessories here at ShopCrackBerry. That means cases, chargers, batteries, Bluetooth and anything else you can find to stuff your stockings with! With popular devices like the BlackBerry Passport, BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10 and the BlackBerry Z30 flying...
Free Charger with any Order!
You might have noticed that we've been throwing some pretty sweet discounts your way the last few days or so. Well, we've got another little treat for anyone who places an order today. Whether it's a case for your BlackBerry Z10 or a pack of screen protectors for your BlackBerry Passport, you'll receive a Griffin USB car charger with your order—absolutely free. That is of course, while...