Hardware Dock mod possible?

[thorasgar]

There have been lots of complaints about needing the official dock for TV output. The dock is not very mobile and prevents the use of a more smartphone/tablet like protective case.

Taking a look at this thing I wonder if it isn't possible to pull the circuitry out of it and put it in a 3D printed case. I don't have a triwing screwdriver handy to take it apart and see what would be involved. My guess a little brick could be made not much larger than the little square housing behind the dock door in the back. Although I don't know what is in the bottom part of the dock.

Maybe 3rd parties like Mayflash will develop their own solution if they can RE whatever DRM Nintendo has built into this thing, but since the dock doesn't appear to offer any significant cooling properties is it really necessary? Thoughts?

 

[Selim873]

Anything by third parties probably not, but disassembling it to put its guts in a custom plastic case. Why not?

What I really want to see is putting the dock's guts in an NES system by putting the Switch in toaster style. I don't have the knowledge for it, but it would be amazing to see!

 

[xile6]

Kinda cant fuss here, the ps4,x1 dont come wtih extra and are far bigger then the switch.

But from what was said the dock is the only way to get video out.
Now you can buy a dock and take it apart and make simple cable hook up.

 

[Kyubnyan]

Well the dock wasn't really designed to be mobile, understandably so.

 

[tech3475]

Id like to see someone come out with something more portable to the dock, similar to samsung or apple phones where you have just a hdmi adpater/charger.

The switch on a tv would be nice when travelling but with less bulk, especially since size matters when flying.

 

[Eastonator12]

There have been lots of complaints about needing the official dock for TV output. The dock is not very mobile and prevents the use of a more smartphone/tablet like protective case.

Taking a look at this thing I wonder if it isn't possible to pull the circuitry out of it and put it in a 3D printed case. I don't have a triwing screwdriver handy to take it apart and see what would be involved. My guess a little brick could be made not much larger than the little square housing behind the dock door in the back. Although I don't know what is in the bottom part of the dock.

Maybe 3rd parties like Mayflash will develop their own solution if they can RE whatever DRM Nintendo has built into this thing, but since the dock doesn't appear to offer any significant cooling properties is it really necessary? Thoughts?

I have a real question: what is the point of the usb ports on the dock?

 

[thorasgar]

I have a real question: what is the point of the usb ports on the dock?

Accessories. LAN adapter, Possible Game Cube Adapter for Smash, "Switch Draw"

 

[Eastonator12]

Accessories. LAN adapter, Possible Game Cube Adapter for Smash, "Switch Draw"

ah ok. thanks!

 

[duffmmann]

I'm surprised there isn't a charging dock for tabletop mode. Similar to the kind of charging dock that the Wii U Gamepad had. I'm talking about this device:

I mean they could pretty much take that exact design and just change the ports to USB-C, and that would work brilliantly for Switch tabletop mode, while also giving it a nicer stand than the built in kickstand.

 

[ieatpixels]

I'm surprised there isn't a charging dock for tabletop mode. Similar to the kind of charging dock that the Wii U Gamepad had. I'm talking about this device:

I mean they could pretty much take that exact design and just change the ports to USB-C, and that would work brilliantly for Switch tabletop mode, while also giving it a nicer stand than the built in kickstand.

They've got that, it's called the Compact Playstand and it folds up.

 

[Futurdreamz]

I have a real question: what is the point of the usb ports on the dock?

Maybe for plugging in the charge pad, and maybe the gamecube Controller adapter? I'll admit it's a little pointless on a system that uses MicroSD and Wifi AC, but I'm sure there's some uses...

 

[thorasgar]

Maybe for plugging in the charge pad, and maybe the gamecube Controller adapter? I'll admit it's a little pointless on a system that uses MicroSD and Wifi AC, but I'm sure there's some uses...

AC wifi is still not all that common for the masses. Some ISP all in one equipment won't even allow use of your own router. The Pro Controller also charges from USB type A ports.

 

[duffmmann]

They've got that, it's called the Compact Playstand and it folds up.

Not quite what I'm talking about, but similar. This looks like far too much bulk, and you still have to snake a cord in there through the front which probably doesn't look very elegant haha. Like I said, I'd like a dock like the Wii U gamepad has, you just set it in, there's a USB-C cord plugged into the back of the device and a usb port in the base of the device to charge it while looking nice, something like this (literally just a Switch placed in the Wii U gamepad's dock, because frankly that would be most ideal to me.

 

[driverdis]

AC wifi is still not all that common for the masses. Some ISP all in one equipment won't even allow use of your own router. The Pro Controller also charges from USB type A ports.

Pretty much all routers have WAN MAC spoofing for this reason.

 

[thorasgar]

Pretty much all routers have WAN MAC spoofing for this reason.

I will look into this. Last time I checked on DSL Reports there wasn't a good solution for WOW.