Most phone docking stations are little more than glorified microUSB connections — cheap, plastic, and useless if you use a cover. But this! This is a iPhone dock I can get behind.
The Elevation Dock by Portland-based ElevationLab is the Cadillac of iPhone docks. Machined from a solid billet of aircraft-grade aluminium, it features a low-friction connection that doesn’t require two hands to disconnect, a movable support pad to accommodate cases of virtually any size, and a hand buffed, glass bead blasted, electro-chemically micro-polished finish. It’s solid and sturdy, what more do you want? Oh, right. Elevation Dock+.
Elevation Dock+ incorporates a shielded Line Level audio out as well as a USB wall power adaptor. The Line Level outputs better audio than the mic jack since it bypasses the iPhone’s internal amp, delivering a higher fidelity sound.
The Elevation Dock is a Kickstarter project — and not yet fully funded — but is roughly halfway to its goal of $US75,000 with 60 days to go. Pledge $US60 for the aluminium finish, $US85 for the matte black and $US150 or more to earn a custom, limited-edition finish in either green or orange. [Kickstarter via Daring Fireball]