In case you are following Apple-related news, then you have probably heard about Apple’s June announcement of watchOS 2.0. This is the operating system that powers Apple Watches, and the second major version is expected to be released this fall. One of the new features is called Nightstand Mode, and it is designed to turn your Watch into a small-screened alarm clock when it’s taken off for charging. However, this mode only works if the Watch is placed on one of its longer edges. Considering that majority of available Watch stands aren’t designed to hold the device by its longer edge, this means that many who bought a dock to hold their Watches overnight while charging – simply won’t be able to use this feature.
In addition to the Nightstand Mode, the next version of watchOS will bring more built-in watch faces, ability to place your phone as a watch face, as well as an array of new features and improvements of the existing apps. You should expect somewhat better performance out of your Watch, since many apps are now going to run natively, which means they will run on your Watch alone. In other words, the apps should bring better performance, faster response time, and load more quickly.
One of the first companies that embraced the Nightstand Mode (even before it comes this fall) is SchuttenWorks. This company is known for a range of authentically designed docks for various iOS devices, while retaining very affordable prices. Companies that use all-natural wood for their docks and stands often market their products as premium-grade, which reflects on their prices as well. If you take a look at this company’s lineup, you will see that docks and stands are fully made of wood, which got me interested in reviewing one of these products. As I said earlier, you should expect higher prices from iOS accessories that are fully made of wood, no matter if those are cases, stands, or docks.
In this article we are going to tell you more about SchuttenWorks’ Ripple dock ($50), designed for all Apple Watch models. If you take a look at Ripple, you will probably think how simple this dock is, and that there’s actually not much to be said about it. However, simple and functional designs are usually a product of hard thinking and sketching, making them very hard to materialize.
When you buy Ripple, you will get a two-piece wooden stand that uses a central cable channel, magnets, and wooden pegs. You will need to supply your own Apple Watch Magnetic Cable and place it inside the channel, positioning the magnetic part in the upper portion of Ripple, so you can easily place your Watch on top of it. Now you will need to carefully connect those two halves, and their connection will be very firm thanks to wooden pegs and hidden magnets. You can choose from two slightly different versions of Ripple, where one is made for the slightly thinner metal version of the Magnetic Cable, while the other one works with the Apple Watch Sport’s plastic Charging Cable. Once fully assembled, you will see a small dock with curved edges, and the charging cable that is coming out of its back. Now you can simply plug the cable into a wall adapter, place your Watch with watchOS 2.0 on the stand, and enjoy in the Nightstand Mode that should activate automatically. It is also worth noting that Ripple is quite small, but big enough to hold your Watch. At 3 inches deep, 2.4 inches tall, and 1.5 inches wide at its largest points, you can easily carry it around with you and place it in a bag.
When it comes to the build quality, Ripple feels premium in every possible way. You can choose from walnut, mahogany, and cherry. The product is fully made of wood, so it doesn’t have any plastic molds inside of its body. This means that the stand is actually made of wood, and it doesn’t use this material for decoration only. There are also micro-suction pads on the bottom side, so you can secure the stand in a fixed place. You can also use their plastic coatings in case you like to move a Watch stand. In addition, you shouldn’t be afraid that Ripple will harm your Watch in any way, since all of Ripple’s edges are finely polished and a bit curved. This gives very pleasant aesthetics, but also has its functional role. Once placed on the stand, your Watch will be elevated by around 1” in the front and 0.6” in the back. The stand weighs at 2.5oz.
While purchasing Ripple from SchuttenWorks’ official website, you will get to choose from three types of wood, as I mentioned earlier. You will get to select whether you use steel or plastic charger, so you can effortlessly place the Watch in its location. In case you are not sure what kind of charger you use or maybe you would like to use both, you can choose from universal model. This model is designed for the plastic charger and comes with additional inserts so you can get the perfect fit for the steel charger as well. I was really surprised to see how the company took care of these details, so your Apple Watch can be placed and positioned properly.
SchuttenWorks’ Ripple dock is one of the simplest and one of the most functional Apple Watch docks that I have recently tested. I like its build quality and I like the material quality. I think this is a great deal for $50, especially if you plan on using the Nightstand Mode. Even if you’re really not interesting in getting the most out of the newest WatchOS, you will hardly find an all-wood Apple Watch dock in this price range. This is what makes Ripple an easy pick.
