HydraDock Adds 11 Ports to the New 12-Inch MacBook

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Posted April 17, 2015 at 5:24pm by iClarified

HydraDock is a USB-C dock for the new 12-inch Retina MacBook.

Apple's new notebook comes with just one USB Type-C port. The single port leaves users looking for solutions to connect all their external devices. The company has already released several adapters and now third party accessory manufacturers are getting in on the action.

KickShark is seeking funding for the HydraDock via KickStarter:

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.

Functionality
HydraDock is named after the multi-headed mythological serpent, and expands the single USB-C port on the MacBook into an array of eleven useful ports, including:

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)

You can pledge $129 to the KickStarter project to get on of the first units. So far $22,733 has been pledged of the $35,000 goal with 28 days left to go.

HydraDock Adds 11 Ports to the New 12-Inch MacBook

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gamerscul9870 - June 1, 2015 at 3:22pm

This https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nonda/get-your-macbook-ports-back?ref=category is a better option.

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justabrake - April 19, 2015 at 1:15pm

Bottom line is if carrying a notebook I don't want dangling adapters to carry along and stuff in my laptop bag, What is Apple trying to do make money off of adapters like selling there cheap iPhone charges that break every 6 months ! Of course.

gamerscul9870 - April 19, 2015 at 2:35pm

First off cables will last if you actually take care of it properly, second what makes you think Apple would do that for adapters, why not use one cable you intend to use, heck even if you needed adapters, just switch the other end of the USB-c as if you wanted a different type of plug. (When it will happen of course)

Greg Neutra - April 18, 2015 at 1:38pm

This might be okay if the USB-C pass through supported charging. No charging with this dock attached is a deal breaker.

gamerscul9870 - April 18, 2015 at 2:28pm

My thoughts exactly. What if we made a USB-c adapter where it's MagSafe 1/2 with USB-c ports next to it, like up to 4 or 5?

Stealther - April 18, 2015 at 2:00am

What's the point of making a portable notebook not so portable?

justabrake - April 19, 2015 at 12:18pm

That's what I thought , What was apple thinking !

gamerscul9870 - April 19, 2015 at 12:38pm

He was talking about the dock, what made you think Apple would make a notebook not portable all because of another company making something for it? What were you thinking?

justabrake - April 19, 2015 at 12:52pm

A notebook that doesn't support regular devices isn't practical! Why should any ports have to be carried along (standalone) really ? All notebooks have plenty of ports built in !

gamerscul9870 - April 19, 2015 at 12:57pm

I thought of getting an adapter that doesn't require a cord to have ports built next to each other like it's built next to the MacBook as if it were part of it. That still would make a notebook portable. Hard to explain what I am trying to say about my idea.

asdsad - April 18, 2015 at 1:59am

Good luck Apple suddenly filing a suit against 3rd party dongles connecting to their products not until they release their own overpriced version!!!

gamerscul9870 - April 18, 2015 at 2:07am

So-called overpriced version. Their are charging cables that exist over $20 a little, and the price is decent. As FTW mentioned, it would take effort to make all this due to whatever ports and how many will suit them. This has to be done. This could so,ve peoples issues once and for all and can ditch this bulky brick adapter crammer.

freddydaman - April 17, 2015 at 11:41pm

mini display and hdmi resolutions are pretty lame. no thanks.

gamerscul9870 - April 18, 2015 at 1:45am

I'd rather gat a customizable adapter with any number of ports and those built the way I wanted. Imagine the stocks Apple would make if I started buying them even in different lengths with this idea, there would be 36 plus different combinations to make out of them in terms of what's mentioned and save money from buying this, even for MagSafe due to lack of it on this hydradock. For those interested, spread the word.

gamerscul9870 - April 18, 2015 at 1:46am

Even if you add the USB-c port, it would add even more combinations.

Rocko - April 17, 2015 at 7:58pm

Hail Hydra(dock)!

goober - April 17, 2015 at 7:26pm

Its the ZX Interface 1 all over again.

Top - April 17, 2015 at 6:36pm

What about Thunderbolt?? I bought a few Thinderbolt drives that I really need

Sona - April 17, 2015 at 7:47pm

You have to buy usb-c to thunderbolt adapter. Since this "HydraDock" has so many extention ports with using a single USB-C ports, there's not much you can do other than ones that are listed and even those ports wont get their full speeds. eg. Each USB 3.0 ports can transfer 5 Gbps(gigabits) and the dock has plenty. On the other hand, the USB-C port they gonna share, is rated at 10 Gbps. Which means 1. It can already throttle if you do full-hd stream with either HDMI or USB, 2. Charging miltiple other devices through those ports will be significantly slow, 3. You cannot connect any other things if you tend to use thunderbolt device. This is why i hate the new MacBook. but looks awesome right? The look is all it matters

Sona - April 17, 2015 at 8:08pm

By the way, thunderbolt has 20 Gbps transfer rate. And USB-c(USB 3.1) is half as fast as thunderbolt.