Lapdock 100 observations - Motorola Photon 4G

In the month that I've used the Lapdock 100, I've come across a few things that keep it from being a truly outstanding product.
First of all there are a few differences between the Lapdock 100 and the 500. (As shown below)
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I'm planning on getting the 500 as well since I need it mostly for work to connect to an external monitor. But in the meantime these are my observations of problems in the Lapdock 100 I've encountered...
01-File Manager
When trying to access photos using the file manager on the lapdock, they are presented in detail view only. there is no way to change it to show thumbnails. There is a thumbnail view to the right side of the file manager but it only showcases one photo (the one currently selected).
02-Keyboard
When you stroke a couple of keys the cursor jumps out of the line you are typing into another area of the screen, or it jumps into a previous word. if you are not looking, you end up with jumbled words since the typing was inserted elsewhere.
Now i do not know if its because my palm is reseting on the trackpad or not, but if so, Motorola needs to figure out a fix.
03-Web search is slower
While web searching, the loading of each page feels like you are on dial-up. Although this can be attributed to the fact that Webtop is linux on top of linux on top of Android (linux) or that firefox is (in my opnion) slow anyway. Either way I would love to be able to see other browsers available or at least the ones on your phone pushed over to the webtop.
04-Gallery and viewing of images in Webtop
Speaking of push over to webtop,
Unable to view photos or the gallery in webtop mode. One still has to use the phone and expand it.
05-Drap and drop files, images
Webtop does not have the capability to drag and drop, lets say photos, into an application. Such as facebook, twitter etc.
06-Touchscreen
Yeah Yeah i know, but i had to throw it in there, hopefully it will be introduced in version 5-6 of the dock.
07-Netflix orientation
If the photon is docked to the Lapdock and inserted into the holding bin in the rear of the unit, and if you try to see a netflix movie, it appears upside down.
Temp fix is to place the phone on the desk right side up, but not something once can do on a limited space such as a plane.
08-Images/movies look grainy / Increase resolution
Currently Webtop mimics whats shown on the phone in programs such as netflix. This results in a somewhat grainy picture/movies due to the 720p being blown up on the bigger lcd.
09-Citrix for Webtop (personal use) or any Remote Desktop Protocol client in Webtop
Currently Citrix only works with corporate outfits. So I can't connect remotely to my home pc or laptop. Citrix for Android only works on the phone and also does not connect to a personal pc. Then you have GoToMyPC which is made by Citrix but only works for apple products. and needs a java enabled browser which the one in webtop is not.
We really need a remote access app that works in webtop, (or at least as mentioned in #3) above have the one on the phone pushed over to webtop.
10-Pull tab of the connecting cable
Mototola needs to come up with a stronger pull tab for the cable. After a months time of inserting and pulling on the tab to get the cable out, it finally gave way and came off the cable.
11-Reserved
12-Reserved
As I encounter more issues myself or from others I'll add them to the list.
I assume most of these can be fix via a software update, or replacing webtop with Ubuntoo, etc. Currently the stock webtop version is WT-1.2.0-160 (but the developers are up to version 1.2.0-174 as per the leak in the other thread), the same applies to the OS in general. Hopefully some of these can be fix in new update (or later like ICS) and be an OTA or pass along here in xda.
TS

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Thanks for the info. As far as webtop goes, if 1.2.0-174 is stable I'll be updating UbunTop & WebTop+.
Expanding lapdock 100 features:
-webcam: most likely all that's needed is to find a webcam with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
-3.5mm headphone jack: simple mod (tap the line-out in the dac chip)
-SDCard slot: simple mod
-VGA out: not sure about this one, would need a lapdock 100 for teardown
-Ethernet: most likely all that's needed is to find a 10/100 dongle with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
01-File Manager
04-Gallery and viewing of images in Webtop
05-Drap and drop files, images
Moto's eyecandy gui is to blame. Drag&drop and view modes are there but hidden. (look at WebTop+)
03-Web search is slower
Agreed. Firefox is not properly optimized for webtop. When optimized, it's performance is equal to entry level netbook
07-Netflix orientation
Solution here. Been running rotation enabled Netflix since Evo Desktop.
08-Images/movies look grainy / Increase resolution
You will get the same effect pushing a 720 signal to most TV's as LCD native resolution and video resolution vary rarely ever match. For example my Vizio LCD TV has a native resolution of 1366x768 and all 720/1080 looks grainy/soft

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interesting, if only the 100 had the same functionality of the 500 I would enjoy the smaller screen more imo.

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Lokifish Marz said:
Thanks for the info. As far as webtop goes, if 1.2.0-174 is stable I'll be updating UbunTop & WebTop+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah last we talked, I was going to do the Ubuntop mod, but got detained. Now with jokers leak, if 174 is stable like you mentioned then that would be great since it increases the 720 signal up to 1080.
Lokifish Marz said:
Expanding lapdock 100 features:
-webcam: most likely all that's needed is to find a webcam with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
-3.5mm headphone jack: simple mod (tap the line-out in the dac chip)
-SDCard slot: simple mod
-VGA out: not sure about this one, would need a lapdock 100 for teardown
-Ethernet: most likely all that's needed is to find a 10/100 dongle with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shoot, I'll send you my lapdock 100 if you are able to modify the above. (Just send it back after you finish) lol
Lokifish Marz said:
01-File Manager
04-Gallery and viewing of images in Webtop
05-Drap and drop files, images
Moto's eyecandy gui is to blame. Drag&drop and view modes are there but hidden. (look at WebTop+)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Figures. More reason to do Ubuntop.
Lokifish Marz said:
03-Web search is slower
Agreed. Firefox is not properly optimized for webtop. When optimized, it's performance is equal to entry level netbook
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google seriously needs to finish making Chrome work on Android. But wait a minute, doesn't Chrome work on Linux? (Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/openSUSE)
Lokifish Marz said:
07-Netflix orientation
Solution here. Been running rotation enabled Netflix since Evo Desktop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmm didn't see that. Thanks for the link.
Lokifish Marz said:
08-Images/movies look grainy / Increase resolution
You will get the same effect pushing a 720 signal to most TV's as LCD native resolution and video resolution vary rarely ever match. For example my Vizio LCD TV has a native resolution of 1366x768 and all 720/1080 looks grainy/soft
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that leak pans out well, it should have upped the phone to 1028, so maybe it won't look so grainy on the Lapdock 100/500.
TS out

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Lokifish Marz said:
Expanding lapdock 100 features:
-webcam: most likely all that's needed is to find a webcam with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone found a webcam that works or at least what chipset the webcam in the 500 has?

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twospirits said:
09-Citrix for Webtop (personal use) or any Remote Desktop Protocol client in Webtop
Currently Citrix only works with corporate outfits. So I can't connect remotely to my home pc or laptop. Citrix for Android only works on the phone and also does not connect to a personal pc. Then you have GoToMyPC which is made by Citrix but only works for apple products. and needs a java enabled browser which the one in webtop is not.
We really need a remote access app that works in webtop, (or at least as mentioned in #3) above have the one on the phone pushed over to webtop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kind of obvious question but has anyone tried Teamviewer or PocketCloud? What about Logmein via the browser interface?

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CCallahan said:
Kind of obvious question but has anyone tried Teamviewer or PocketCloud? What about Logmein via the browser interface?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those first will have to ran from mobile view, which works but it's a stretched view of your device display so it's visually lacking. The 3rd one does sound promising, I may take a look at that after I see what the new webtop is like with 4.0.4.

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Have you tried running Teamviewer from the web login on the Firefox Browser? I am going to install, create an account and try this soon.
Edit to say I did login at Teamviewer.com and was able to control my PC through the Firefox Browser. I opened all of my computer programs without problems. I played some media files and the audio played on the PC (which was in the next room) but I could not hear the audio on my Lapdock.
How do you optimize Foxfire for use with Webtop?

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Ethernet Works!
Lokifish Marz said:
-Ethernet: most likely all that's needed is to find a 10/100 dongle with a chipset that matches the one in the 500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed the Ethernet theory here.
Plugged Linksys' USB300M USB Ethernet Adapter (Link was removed, look on Amazon for Cisco-Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter- It's only $28-$30) into the Lapdock 100 with Droid RAZR MAXX today. As soon as the ethernet cable was plugged into the adapter, my Razr MAXX produced a pop-up "Ethernet Connection" :victory:
Now to find a webcam that works.... :fingers-crossed: