As most of you will know, if you have followed any of my posts over the last year, I love gadgets, widgets, and useful gear that I can throw in my travel bag, to use on airplanes, in hotel rooms, at the customer site, and at home too. This is an amazing time of year, with great deals leaking out of every crevice, it seems. At this time last year, I was really struggling to find portable multimedia stands to prop my iPod Touch or my Android phone up so that I could use all that beautiful screen real-estate. And what I could find was usually $30 or more. Just crazy. Well, I have a wrap-up today for you of 10 great deals, everyone of which is less than $13 (some a LOT less). These make great stocking stuffers for the techno-geek in your family or that little something for yourself too. I have several children with smartphones. I know what I am getting for them this year!
MovieWedge
This is the original prop I picked up last year, and it has been a mainstay for me. On an airplane tray table, or on the night-stand at a hotel, it’s the one I go to again and again. I purchased six of these during the last year, and I am down to one. I guess you could say I have at least 5 friends out there.
elago M1 stand – Multi-Media Player Portable Stand
This Multi-Media Player stand is so small it can fit in any pocket, with a lanyard for easy securing to your portable media player. Dense Rubber keeps the stand from slipping from surfaces, and also keeps your device in the stand. Folds closed. Compatible with nearly every phone, including the iPhone. Can be used in Portrait or Landscape, with multiple angles possible.
Elago S2 Stand (Aluminum)
elago S2 Stand holds the Apple iPhone 3G/GS vertically or horizontally. This stand is made of extremely solid aluminum construction. Any modern thin smartphone will work. My wife loves it with the Samsung Fascinate. This one is hard to use with a case on your phone.
iCarpus – The Best Hands-Free Mobile Device Stand
iCarpus is an accessory for hands-free viewing of portable devices. The ingenious compact design supports devices of ALL BRANDS, with or without third-party protective cases. Its firm grip enables horizontal and vertical positioning without adjustments. Non-slip edges provide superior protection and surface grip. Also functions as a headphone caddy. For home, office, outdoors or on-the-go, the compact design of iCarpus allows you to take it everywhere. Place it in portrait or landscape position with no assembly, adjustment or aid of other objects. iCarpus has a maximum opening of 3.5 inches and is recommended to clamp onto the sides (width) of your device. This offering comes in Silver White or Graphite. This is my personal new favorite.
Crabble: The Innovative Folding iPhone Stand That Fits in Your Wallet
No other iPhone stand comes close to cramming as much functionality into such a small package. The Crabble supports your iPhone or Touch in both portrait and adjustable landscape formats, but still fits flat and unfolded in a billfold wallet. Suitable devices include: – Apple iPhone 4, iPhone 3G/S, iPhone 2G, iPod Touch, New iPod Touch, iPod Classic (portrait), iPod Nano (landscape only) – DROID – Blackberry Curve 8900 (portrait) – HTC Touch – LG Cookie, Renoir, Viewty; – Samsung Pixon, Soul, Tocco – Sony Ericsson 302, 580, 700, 760, Experia (landscape only) N.B. In case you need to plug anything into the lower edge of your device, please note that ground clearance is only 7mm in portrait format, which is large enough for some L-shaped mini-stereo jacks. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a phone like my Droid X, where it works as easily turned one way or the other. I don’t mind the power cable sticking up. Or try one of the “L-angle” microUSB connectors.
Tiko Fold Travel Stand
This mobile gadget stand is the perfect accessory for on-the-run electronics users. Conveniently listen to, watch or read from gadgets on planes, trains, at the coffee shop or at a desk. Free your hands, sit back and relax while viewing your media player or other gadgets at one of nine adjustable viewing angles. When its time to pack up, the Tiko Fold quickly folds flat for slipping into a shirt pocket, backpack, purse or computer bag.
The Tiko Fold opens to provide a universal stand designed to hold all models of the iPhone (in both vertical and horizontal orientations), as well as the iPod Classic, iPod Touch (horizontally with headphones), iPod Nano, BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Bold, most video capable cell phones, the Microsoft Zune, Sony PSP and ebook readers such as the Amazon Kindle. Note: devices with round bottoms such as the BlackBerry Curve may not rest stably.
Available in four eye catching colors, the Tiko Fold arrives in easy to open, simple packaging. Zero assembly required and has no attachments to break or lose. 100% designed and manufactured in the USA.
The Tiko Fold Travel Stand is $9.95
iANGLE – Stand and Earbud holder
The iANGLE on one side is stand for your iPhone or iPod Touch. On the other side it’s an earbud holder. Providing a perfect viewing angle for watching movies on the go, as well as carrying your earbuds tangle free. the iANGLE fits perfectly in you pocket, backpack, or purse. This will work with any thin smartphone without a case.
SmartStand Mobile Device Holder for All Smartphones
SmartStand is a unique and universal mobile device holder that provides display and protection for all models of cell phones, MP3 Players and PDAs. The SmartStand’s soft silicone body ensures your mobile device is not scratched and protects from spills, knocks or drops. The form-fitting design is non-slip so it secures your vibrating phone in the holder while the unique and Patent Pending cord minder feature tethers the charge cord and makes charging easy while your mobile device is cradled safely on any flat surface. Whether your device is positioned vertically or horizontally the SmartStand offers hands-free display of calls, videos, texts, emails, alarms, or any content. SmartStand also comes with an anti-microbial microfiber cleaning cloth to provide a convenient way to clean your cell’s screen and kill germs on contact. With its high-quality finish and stylish design SmartStand is perfect for any desk, nightstand, kitchen; any surface where you display or charge your mobile device. It is also available in several colors.
ezeStand – The Ultimate Smartphone Stand
ezeStand is a versatile desktop holder for your Smart Phone or Personal Media Player device. It holds most of the latest Touch Screen devices including Motorola Droid1, Droid2, DroidX, iPhone 3G/3GS, Google Nexus One, Blackberry Storm, Palm Pre, iPod Touch, and many more. ezeStand holds your Touch Screen device at a comfortable viewing angle in either horizontal/landscape or vertical/portrait orientation and it will hold your phone even if you have an aftermarket cover or jacket. ezeStand will also activate the Multimedia Station mode on your Motorola Droid1, Droid2, DroidX and has room to plug in the micro USB charging cable! NOTE: The ezeStand cannot hold the DroidX in vertical orientation at this time.
IBEND Ultrathin Stand, Set OF 2
So why would someone need an iBend? ~Use at Starbucks or any coffee shop. ~Catch up on the news and check E-mail during morning coffee.. ~Makes a great stocking stuffer or gift for any occasion. ~Easily goes into any greeting card. ~Lunch or cafeteria – get ahead start on term paper or homework. ~Travel on any plane, train or automobile – for hands free Web surfing, Email reading, Movie watching virtually anything you would do on the iPhone with your hands can now be done hands free. iBend has already logged 60,000 miles ~Entertain children on long trips. In Car or plane ~Take to beach or Park ~Use for work and Presentations of any kind – whatever you need to present on your iPhone / iTouch can be now be used hands free.. ~Take anywhere you take your iPhone or iTouch – slips in most wallets, purses or most cases ~Great for corporate and school giveaways. Free shipping on all orders over 10. 2 iBENDS PER PACK . You can get the iBend in either Black and White or in a variety of Artist Editions.
The iBend Ultrathin Plain is $4.89 for 2
The iBend Ultrathin Artists Editions are $6.75 for 2
As you can see, there are a LOT of potential solutions out there right now for very little money. And I haven’t even covered some of the really intense stands that cost a lot more than $12.99. If you try any of these, please let us know how it goes for you. Happy Holidays!