DockCase Smart Hub With Built-in Display Could Be Useful As Diagnostic Tool Too

The USB hub is a device born out of necessity. It is a simple device that lets you connect more peripherals to an I/O-starved laptop such as the M1 chip-powered MacBook Pro. But do you need to know what’s going with the things that are connected to it? I don’t know. Probably not. But that does not stop DockCase from developing a USB hub that lets you know what’s going with the connected devices.

Called the DockCase Smart Hub, this high-tech USB hub is armed with a 1.54-inch display and runs off a custom operating system. Yes, you heard that right. A display AND an OS in a USB hub. And I thought tech should make life easier?

The hub is probably aimed at power users who need to know it all and knowing it all is what the display has to offer. It is able to show you the data transfer speeds, charging speed et cetera.

With this data at your disposal, it takes the guesswork out if why a peripheral is not working with your laptop. In short, it is a diagnostic tool too. But really, muggles like us probably won’t think of doing. But hey, it is there if you want to make use of it.

Anyhoo, this isn’t DockCase first USB hub with a built-in display. However, the new DockCase Smart Hub, aka human-machine interaction USB hub, now rocks a larger display, has a D-button for navigating and interacting with the OS, a new DockOS operating system with a newly developed UI, upgradeable firmware, and has better thermal management thanks to the implementation of a silent “turbo” fan.

In the I/O department, it offers a 4K/60Hz HDMI port with HDR10 support, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 3.2 Type-A (10 Gbps), one USB 3.2 Type-C (10 Gbps), two USB 2.0, and one USB-C 100W PD port.

We noted that it is missing the all-important card reader slot which its previous model has. This can be a dealbreaker for creative folks.

That aside, the DockCase Smart Hub is one of the rare breeds of USB hubs that has a removable cable. Why? Well, because it can! Just kidding. I don’t know the real reason why but hey, it is good to have anyways.

If you are keen, you can find the DockCase Smart Hub being crowdfunded on Kickstarter where you can secure one for as low as US$89, or about 40% off the eventual retail price.

The campaign is funded and so, a pledge for a product is a preorder which, if all goes as planned, should see delivery starting in January 2022.

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Images: DockCase.

via Liliputing.