5 gifts for the iPhone owner

Don't buy from Vaja. I purchased their Vaja crystal vase for the iPhone (actually, more like $300 than $200). It arrived damaged. I sent photos and asked for a prompt replacement (took almost 3 months to get the case to begin with, notwithstanding their 4 week delivery quote). Vaja said they saw no problem with the case and refused to replace it. Within one year, it fell completely apart - the cover fell off, the crystals came unglued, the dye rubbed off the leather. I asked for a replacement, under the warranty, and Vaja declined citing "unusual use." I work in am office and kept the phone and the case in my purse most days; that hardly constitutes unusual use, but since they are a foreign company there wasn't much I could do. In sum, don't buy their products. The quality is poor and the company doesn't honor its warranty.

The gogostand is be the best portable stand around... http://gogostand.com --- It's better than that batrest in terms of usability, plus it really does fit in your wallet since it's the same size and dimensions as a credit card.

I'm kind of partial to the "Movie Wedge" (which works like the folding stand item mentioned) http://www.moviewedge.com/ $10

I didn't realize that all iPhone owners were female!

The Powermat at its current state is a complete let down for me.

The fact that you have to use a case to charge is 100% fail. Regardless if the technology exists to make it possible to charge without a case. Douchemat.

So if I don't want to needlessly bulk the size of my iPhone and use this Powermat... I would have to put on the case, rest the iPhone on the mat, wait till it recharges, take off the case then use - repeat. Plugging it in never seemed better or easier.

I remember I was looking so forward to this but when I saw that extra case you needed to use, ugh.

Fail.

I've got one of the Bat Rests- and I'm far from impressed by it. Unless you've got a non-slick case on the phone it won't hold it properly or halfway solidly, and to get it to hold a consistent angle apart I had to tape it together. With rubberized legs to hold the device and a way to lock it at a consistent angle it would be much more useful- but even then it's top-heavy with the phone on it because it's such a light piece of plastic.

I saw the Powermat at Best Buy this past week. It's case is bulky in my opinion adding upwards of 1/4" total width to the phone, and the part that sits on the mat bumps out and isn't smooth. I think it would be difficult to fit in my jean pockets comfortably. Otherwise the form-fitting case looked good. I could see using it at a desk during the day where I keep picking up my phone to check email and sometime forget to hookup the cable again to charge.

Also, the Powermat is $139 if you get the iPhone case. $99 for the Powermat, $39 for the iPhone case.

"When fitted with a special case (included with the Powermat)" - no, only the "powercube" is included. The case is $39 more.

Just a quick clarification. The Powermat is SO on my list, so I investigated what I needed to charge my iPhone. The Powermat comes with a "Universal Receiver", which is a pad that sits on the mat and has a short cord to attach to any number of devices (my wife has a Treo 800w and would use this to charge it). Although I believe there is a connector for the iPhone, for the "complete" experience of dropping the phone on the mat and having it charge, you'll need to get a specialized receiver/case for the iPhone at an additional $40.

great list!

here's another gift i want: the iBooster - combo iPhone cell signal booster, charger & hands free cradle. made by Wilson Electronics. seen it online for $169 - 179.

Rowdy

These are all cool gifts! Thanks for the ideals. Another neat and cheap gift is a ear bud case called a BudCase (google it). I gave a few out last year.