Forgive me if this post is long in exuberance and short on details. My original thread is linked below where I describe the basics of the cradle. The original had no charging capabilities though.
I made three basic prototypes all using a right angled micro usb to usb three foot cable. Nothing fancy. It does require you have it plugged in to something with a normal USB plug. But this will always be near my computer or laptop so good to go.
One cradle was basically the same as my original only there is a micro usb jack for charging in landscape mode.
The second type was a micro usb jack to charge in normal (portrait) mode and the cradle having a molded piece to raise the optical mouse above the front lip.
The third was the same as the second only no molded piece. The phone sits flat against the bottom of the cradle and therefore the micro usb jack sits lower.
Lessons learned:
I molded the landscape jack to be at the proper angle and placed it so it docks like a hot knife through butter. But HOLY CRAP!!! Portrait mode is really a pain in the arse. No wonder there are no chargers like it on the market.
When you are holding the phone in your hand and holding a micro usb cable in the other and guiding the two together like the space shuttle docking to the ISS using hand eye coordination it seems REALLY easy. However, when your cable is fixed, except a little wiggle in it to plug it in, the process becomes a bit of a hassle.
I've noticed the port on the phone seems to accept plugs the best when they are slightly tilted to the back of the device. That coupled with the first few times I kept thinking the phone was symmeterical in my mind and the port was in the middle. It isn't. It is on the back half of the phone. I guess it is force of habit from every other device I have owned to try to plug it in expecting the jack in the middle. Also, the fact that it is a micro usb really makes plugging it in unforgiving in portrait mode.
So for me... feeling my way to plug it in took a few tries. Once you train yourself on how to do it there isn't a problem. But I didn't anticipate the annoyance factor of it.
I've also included a picture of the phone plugged in and resting on the dock. You can see the amber light and sort of make out the battery with the bolt through it. Sorry my man cave is kind of dark and that's the best I could do right now for pics.
I thought about doing a dual mode charger. But the placement of where the jack needs to be in portrait kind of makes that difficult. Also the size of the micro usb jack adds to the problem. I haven't figured out a convenient way to keep it out of the way to let it rest in landscape. Too much slack will make it hard to plug in and creates an eyesore of extra cable jutting out like a tumor.
Original Thread:
http://androidforums.com/htc-incredible/76099-my-homemade-desktop-cradle.html
I made three basic prototypes all using a right angled micro usb to usb three foot cable. Nothing fancy. It does require you have it plugged in to something with a normal USB plug. But this will always be near my computer or laptop so good to go.
One cradle was basically the same as my original only there is a micro usb jack for charging in landscape mode.
The second type was a micro usb jack to charge in normal (portrait) mode and the cradle having a molded piece to raise the optical mouse above the front lip.
The third was the same as the second only no molded piece. The phone sits flat against the bottom of the cradle and therefore the micro usb jack sits lower.
Lessons learned:
I molded the landscape jack to be at the proper angle and placed it so it docks like a hot knife through butter. But HOLY CRAP!!! Portrait mode is really a pain in the arse. No wonder there are no chargers like it on the market.
When you are holding the phone in your hand and holding a micro usb cable in the other and guiding the two together like the space shuttle docking to the ISS using hand eye coordination it seems REALLY easy. However, when your cable is fixed, except a little wiggle in it to plug it in, the process becomes a bit of a hassle.
I've noticed the port on the phone seems to accept plugs the best when they are slightly tilted to the back of the device. That coupled with the first few times I kept thinking the phone was symmeterical in my mind and the port was in the middle. It isn't. It is on the back half of the phone. I guess it is force of habit from every other device I have owned to try to plug it in expecting the jack in the middle. Also, the fact that it is a micro usb really makes plugging it in unforgiving in portrait mode.
So for me... feeling my way to plug it in took a few tries. Once you train yourself on how to do it there isn't a problem. But I didn't anticipate the annoyance factor of it.
I've also included a picture of the phone plugged in and resting on the dock. You can see the amber light and sort of make out the battery with the bolt through it. Sorry my man cave is kind of dark and that's the best I could do right now for pics.
I thought about doing a dual mode charger. But the placement of where the jack needs to be in portrait kind of makes that difficult. Also the size of the micro usb jack adds to the problem. I haven't figured out a convenient way to keep it out of the way to let it rest in landscape. Too much slack will make it hard to plug in and creates an eyesore of extra cable jutting out like a tumor.
Original Thread:
http://androidforums.com/htc-incredible/76099-my-homemade-desktop-cradle.html
It is the matte finish by the way.
