Fortunately the new Dual Dock Charging Station from RichardSolo has me covered.
Let’s take a look.
The Hype-
“This is an easy solution for all the iPhone and iPod devices that need a place to recharge every night, or during the day. Two identical docks in one compact-sized accessory that plugs into your wall. Fits every iPhone and iPod (except shuffle), and comes with all the Apple cradles so you can customize it if you want, or just use the larger size for everything.
Easy to use and easy to love, this is a great little product.” —Richard
The Reality-
The Dexim Dual Dock Charger for iPhone 3G + iPod is a light, simple piece of gear that serves its purpose well. Aesthetically it is a mixed bag.
What’s In The Box-
The Dual charger base
Six Apple cradles— one each: iPhone 3G, iPhone 2G, iPod touch, iPod Classic, iPod nano, 5G/U2 iPod
Wall adapter/ Power Cord
The Dual Dock is a low profile, rather unobtrusive unit. It holds two iPods/iPhones securely, and thanks to the universal cradle and inserts makes it easy to put in and remove the items.
The shiny black plastic is nice-looking enough but is, unsurprisingly, a fingerprint magnet. The base of the unit itself, as well as the ring around each of the cradle adapters, is a light blue plastic. Depending upon your aesthetic sensibilities it is either a nice feature or an unnecessary add-on.
The reason for the blue trim is that, with the flip of a switch, the blue plastic trim glows. This glow will only turn on if there is an iPod in one of the two cradles. Moreover, regardless of whether there is one iPod or two cradled the intensity of the light remains the same.
While I didn’t find it unpleasant, I wasn’t overly impressed with the blue glow of the light. It wasn’t BAD, but it just wasn’t something that would sway me one way or the other.
What I do like though, is that I can stick any of my three Apple devices into the charger and they… get recharged! (Each dock gets a full 500mA charge.)
And that is the sole purpose of this unit. The dock isn’t for syncing with iTunes. It isn’t for audio out. It is first and last, about safely and easily charging two dock-connector-sporting iPods at a time. And it does it just fine at a reasonable price.
The Dual Dock Charger is exclusively sold through RichardSolo.com.
MSRP: $45.00
What I Like: Low profile unit; Simple and uncomplicated; Charges two iPods at a time
What I’m Neutral On: The glowing blue trim that works only when an iPod is in a dock and the switch is turned on
What Needs Improvement: Glossy black looks nice but is a fingerprint magnet; Blue trim may not be your aesthetic choice
