On Thursday, Nashville-based Kickshark debuted a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for its new 11 port USB-C docking station, HydraDock, for the new Apple Retina MacBook. Supporting networking, storage, interconnects, and most importantly displays, the HydraDock is the only available docking product for the new MacBook.
While sharing details about the project, the Kickshark team stated:
“Anybody considering the new Apple MacBook pauses when confronted by that single USB-C port — thinking about just how they would use their favorite accessories with that one port.
“HydraDock ends that whole line of thinking by giving you ports for anything you may want or need — from displays and networking, to storage and printers and cameras, to keyboards, mice, and trackpads, and more. 11 normal ports — not just one.”
The HydraDock dock, along with a new iPhone sync cable and 12 volt car charger cable for the new MacBook are all available on a Kickstarter campaign, with products shipping during June 2015. The HydraDock has the following:
1 — 3.5mm stereo headphone port- 1 — Gigabit Ethernet port
- 1 — SDXC card slot
- 1 — Mini DisplayPort (up to 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, w/HDCP)
- 1 — HDMI (up to 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, w/HDCP)
- 4 — USB 3.0 ports
- 2 — USB-C ports (data only, no video)
It plugs into the USB-C port on the MacBook, and is powered by plugging the Apple power adapter into the HydraDock.
The team also revealed that the Hydradock has a 12.5-inch (320mm) cable with a male USB-C plug extending from one end that connects to the USB-C port on a MacBook. The other end has a female USB-C jack where the MacBook’s power adapter is plugged — powering both the dock and the MacBook. Advanced USB 3.1 Power Delivery Specification circuitry in the device manages the power in and out of the dock, to each of the ports, and to the MacBook.
The dock was developed over the past year by the technology accelerator program in Nashville, Tennessee. The retail price for the HydraDock will be $169. However Early Bird backers on Kickstarter can save $40 and get a unit for only $129, including USA shipping.
Since its launch, the Hydradock has raised over $20,000 from nearly 200 backers. It is set to close on May 15th.
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