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Belkin unveils Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD for Apple's Macs

Major Apple accessory maker Belkin on Tuesday announced the Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD, a Thunderbolt 2-equipped successor to the company's original Thunderbolt Express Dock that allows users to connect up to eight additional devices to their Mac with a single cable.

The Express Dock HD comes with two Thunderbolt 2 ports, one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports that support charging, two audio output jacks —  one on the front, and one rear-mounted jack that supports microphone input — alongside one gigabit ethernet port. Unlike its predecessor, the new dock does not boast a FireWire port.

Belkin says that users can connect up to four more devices using Thunderbolt daisy-chaining. The dock does allow users to run two external monitors in that mode, with resolutions up to 4K.

"As consumer preference for a mobile and versatile workspace increases, Thunderbolt 2 continues to deliver unparalleled performance, flexibility and simplicity to personal computing," Intel's Thunderbolt marketing chief Jason Ziller said in a release. "Products like Belkin's Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD help highlight what Thunderbolt 2 makes possible."

Mac owners can use the dock in a plug-and-play fashion, but those on Thunderbolt-enabled Windows PCs will need to download special drivers from Belkin before using the device.

The Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is now available for pre-order from Belkin's website, and Apple retail stores will begin stocking it in October for $299.99. Buyers will receive the dock itself, its power adapter, and a one-meter Thunderbolt cable.

The previous Express Dock is now on sale for $149 through retailers like Amazon, a 50 percent discount from its original $299.99 price tag.