Monaco Sidekick 3 Cradle





When we heard there was a cradle for the Sidekick 3 available from Monaco Wireless, so we figured we’d give it a try. Like many people, our first thought was “Aren’t these for handhelds that can’t sync wirelessly?” and we figured it seemed a little silly. But then we actually got it, and it turns out it’s quite convenient.

The Sidekick 3 cradle is not really geared towards syncing data even though there is a USB cable for connecting to your computer to transfer mp3s and themes. It’s more about charging your Sidekick 3 and/or an extra battery. The Sidekick obviously sits in the cradle as expected, and there’s a convenient spot for charging a battery behind it. So while you’re out running around all day, draining your battery sending IMs to all the ladies, you can be charging your second battery so it’s ready to go when it’s time to go out for the night. And yes, you can charge the Sidekick and an extra battery at the same time thanks to design of the cradle.

One other nice feature about the cradle is the angle that it’s tilted at. Instead of letting your Sidekick sit flat on your desk and having to pick it up everytime you want to check something, the cradle tilts it at a comfortable viewing angle while it charges. Great for those of us that work desk jobs and want to keep an eye on incoming messages but still look like we’re working. You can also flip the screen open while the Sidekick is in the cradle for quick access to the keyboard. The only buttons you can’t get to are the power and volume buttons on the bottom.

There was only one thing that we didn’t care much for on the Sidekick 3 cradle. There’s a small LED light on the front that indicates the charging, which would be great. However, if you don’t have an extra Sidekick battery in, it alternates flashing red and green, which can be a bit distracting. We asked about this and were told it was by design because there was no other way to determine if a battery was charging if the Sidekick 3 was in the cradle. With a battery in the dock, it should stay a solid red. Like most people, we’ll be keeping the battery in the cradle until it’s needed to avoid the flashing.

If you’re looking for one of these Sidekick 3 cradles, Wireless Ground has them for sale in their online store.

9 Responses to “Monaco Sidekick 3 Cradle”

  1. SDWolf Says:

    It looks like the cradle blocks the headset port, so I guess that rules out listening to mp3s while charging.

    Also, is this cradle somehow mountable in a car? /THAT/ would be cool. XD

  2. admin Says:

    yes, headset port is blocked unfortunately. It would be very cool to mount in a car. I bet someone could rig up an adaptor for the charger, and then it’s just a matter of sticking it to the dash.

  3. Portable Gadget Says:

    […] Monaco Sidekick 3 Cradle [Hiptop3] […]

  4. Electronic Gadgets » Monaco Sidekick 3 Dock: A Little Bit Convenient, A Little Bit Lame Says:

    […] Monaco Sidekick 3 Cradle [Hiptop3] […]

  5. Monaco Sidekick 3 Cradle Says:

    […] We asked about this and were told it was by design because there was no other way to determine if a battery was charging if the Sidekick 3 was in the cradle. With a battery in the dock, it should stay a solid red. Like most people, we’ll be keeping the battery in the cradle until it’s needed to avoid the flashing. It includes a USB port to transfer files to your PC, but most syncing with the SK3 is done wireless via T-Mobile’s website so the USB cable isn’t as useful as thought. The HipTop3 folks like the dock because it holds the SK3 vertically, therefore eliminating the horrible task for having to pick up your phone to see the IM, SMS or call. At least it is a cheap: $20. Source […]

  6. peanuttie Says:

    I’ve purchased the Monaco Sidekick 3 cradle and really love it especially I am able to charge the spare battery at the same time while charging the Sidekick 3! Thanks for coming up with this!

  7. piiiper Says:

    does anyone know if there’s a cradle like this for the sidekick lX?

  8. nickandhiskick Says:

    will this work for the Sidekick ID?

  9. Yezza aka Yayo Says:

    they should make this for the SIDEKICK 2009!



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