Unknown connector on rugged tablet

[German_John]

Heya,

 

so I've just bought two rugged tablets on the cheap (if anyone cares, available in Germany, pretty fast, too, actually) and they have a weird connector at the bottom, see picture attached. 

The manual calls it a "multi-purpose interface" in German, but only an "interface" in other languages... there's two threads (picture), and on the back of the tablet there's four more threads. Also on the back, there are four metal contacts... little, rectangular things.

 

Does anyone know about these? 

[Volbet]

What brand are the tablets? It looks like a proprietary connector for connecting it to a docking station and potentially peripherals.

[feehi]

3 minutes ago, German_John said:

Heya,

 

so I've just bought two rugged tablets on the cheap (if anyone cares, available in Germany, pretty fast, too, actually) and they have a weird connector at the bottom, see picture attached. 

The manual calls it a "multi-purpose interface" in German, but only an "interface" in other languages... there's two threads (picture), and on the back of the tablet there's four more threads. Also on the back, there are four metal contacts... little, rectangular things.

 

Does anyone know about these? 

Posibly a 30 pin connector

 

Also, did it not came with the cable?

[German_John]

1 minute ago, Volbet said:

What brand are the tablets? It looks like a proprietary connector for connecting it to a docking station and potentially peripherals.

Brand is i.onik (German, not a "proper" brand; devices seem to be re-branded acer iconias), and I can't find first party accesories, so I don't think so... I think the ones on the back might be for an antenna or a batter pack maybe?

 

2 minutes ago, feehi said:

Posibly a 30 pin connector

 

Also, did it not came with the cable?

That'd be strange... the settings menu lists HDMI options, maybe for that?

And no, it only came with a micro USB cable and wall adapter

[Squish4058]

Its a standard connector I think but they dont name it anything because different manufacturers name it different things and wire them differently. The manufacturer of the tablet probably sells a dock for it, The reason they dont use a standard connector is so you buy their docks. My advent vega tablet from 4 years ago had one that looked similar

[Volbet]

14 minutes ago, German_John said:

Brand is i.onik (German, not a "proper" brand; devices seem to be re-branded acer iconias), and I can't find first party accesories, so I don't think so... I think the ones on the back might be for an antenna or a batter pack maybe?

Lonik as in the washing machine manufacture?

 

Plenty of manufacturer will have equipment made with proprietary connectors and then fail to release any hardware for them. 

Basically, they order X amount of tablets with the connector, but then they fail to sell a quantity that will justify the cost of proprietary hardware. 

A lot of ThinkPad computers have a docking connector on the buttom, but some of them don't have docks made for them. 

 

The screws on the back could very well be for WiFi antennas. 

Usually a battery pack wouldn't be screwed in, but I guess it's possible aswell. 

[German_John]

2 minutes ago, Volbet said:

Lonik as in the washing machine manufacture?

 

Plenty of manufacturer will have equipment made with proprietary connectors and then fail to release any hardware for them. 

Basically, they order X amount of tablets with the connector, but then they fail to sell a quantity that will justify the cost of proprietary hardware. 

A lot of ThinkPad computers have a docking connector on the buttom, but some of them don't have docks made for them. 

 

The screws on the back could very well be for WiFi antennas. 

Usually a battery pack wouldn't be screwed in, but I guess it's possible aswell. 

no, that's a lower cas i there  i.onik

 

Well, that's possible. I just find it weird that such a small manufacturer would do that... I think I'll contact their support (also confused about their IP ratings - one lists it as IP67, but the online manual says IP65, and if it had both that'd be really cool) 

 

They're really small for antennas though. But maybe they make them that size... they list an optional additional battery in the manual, so I thought maybe that attaches to the back

 

[Volbet]

2 minutes ago, German_John said:

no, that's a lower cas i there  i.onik

I'm getting too old for this shit

I need one of those senior friendly Doro laptop

 

4 minutes ago, German_John said:

Well, that's possible. I just find it weird that such a small manufacturer would do that... I think I'll contact their support (also confused about their IP ratings - one lists it as IP67, but the online manual says IP65, and if it had both that'd be really cool) 

 

They're really small for antennas though. But maybe they make them that size... they list an optional additional battery in the manual, so I thought maybe that attaches to the back

 

As you said, it's more than likely a rebrand of some sort. 

The kind of connector can probably be found on a varity of no-name tablets throughout the world.

i.onik has probably just mass ordered those tablets at a no-brand maker and they just checked the box that said "proprietary peripherals connector". 

[German_John]

2 hours ago, Volbet said:

I'm getting too old for this shit

I need one of those senior friendly Doro laptop

 

As you said, it's more than likely a rebrand of some sort. 

The kind of connector can probably be found on a varity of no-name tablets throughout the world.

i.onik has probably just mass ordered those tablets at a no-brand maker and they just checked the box that said "proprietary peripherals connector". 

Damn, that thing... come on... it's just got bigger print on the keys and a dumbed-down (probably Linux based?) OS... and costs a thousand bucks, probably...

 

Well, since Google reportet the login as "on Acer Iconia" I checked Acer's site and the docks they have appear to have the right shape, and two pins or screws that seem to fit... they're also more expensive than the tablet itself, so that's not going to happen... 

 

Thanks though!