At Computex 2011 in Taiwan this week, Asus unveiled its Padfone – a new smartphone that can be placed into the back of a magic dock transforming it into a tablet. But before you stick your iPhone 4 on eBay and start waiting for one of these things, check out this dock from ECS which does exactly the same thing with your iPhone.
It’s currently just a prototype, but it allows you to turn your smartphone into a tablet – simply by sliding it into the back of the device. It works with a variety of Android and Windows 7 smartphones in addition to those powered by iOS, but was demonstrated at Computex using an iPhone 4.
It works by taking your iPhone’s video output via a HDMI connection and relaying to the 9.7-inch display at the front. It also boasts an SD card slot, two USB ports and a front-facing camera.
It’s currently unclear how the iPhone picks up your interactions through the iPad-like display at the front while the device is hidden away inside the dock, however, ECS promises it works and that it will also be compatible with the iPhone 5 when that launches using some “simple upgrades.”
The device has been created by ECS and its partner ICE Computer, and is yet to be given a name, but will hit the market during the fourth quarter at around $200.
Essentially this is just an expensive way of magnifying your iPhone’s display, and I’m not sure I’m too keen on the idea. What do you think? Would you buy one?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsBqjHA3IiY&feature=player_embedded#at=231
[via 9to5Mac]
