Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, iPhone, iPod touch
5 gifts for the iPhone owner
The iPhone owner on your list loves her iPhone. Really loves it. Become an enabler and give her the gifts she really wants. Here are five great gifts for the iPhone owner.WallDock - $25
iPhones need frequent charging and it isn't always convenient to connect them to your Mac. If Apple's own wall unit doesn't float your boat, check out the WallDock from Digital Lifestyle Outfitters. It plugs into any US wall outlet for cable-free charging. The top is cushioned so it won't scratch your precious and it supports a slew of devices, from the iPod classic to the iPhone 3GS. If you're traveling this season, just pop one in your bag and go.
Vaja ivolution case - $200 and up
Two hundred bucks for an iPhone case? It sounds crazy (especially if the phone cost you $99), but this is for the iPhone owner who has everything. Vaja's cases are hand-stitched one at a time from the customer's choice of leather. Select a different color for the upper and lower section, add a clip or a personalized engraving and be the envy of everyone at Gymboree. Or the target of their disdain. Either way, your iPhone will look good.
Kensington Windshield Car Mount - $39.99
Fumbling with the iPhone in the car can be dangerous, especially if you've got a turn-by-turn navigation app. Kensington's Windshield Car Mount attaches your iPhone 3G or 3GS securely and safely to your vehicle's windshield, amplifying the sound and placing it a comfortable viewing angle. If you don't want to use your windshield, the mount attaches just as easily to a vent. Finally, it includes 4 sets of swappable rubber inserts to fit 2G/3G/3GS iPhones with and without a case.
Powermat - $99
This will please the fastidious iPhone user on your list. The Powermat lets you wirelessly charge your handheld electronics, including the iPhone and iPod. When fitted with a special case (included with the Powermat), all you need to do to charge your iPhone is place in on the Powermat. You can even buy a special dock to rest on top. When charging is complete, it stops supplying power. Charge up to 3 devices at once. We'd like to get our hands on one of these ourselves.
BatRest Folding iPhone Stand - $3.99
Yes, the iPhone plays video but what good is that when it's flat on its back? Prop it up with the BatRest Folding iPhone Stand. The thin, tiny BatRest folds in half and can fit in a wallet's credit card slot for easy travel. As for durability, the manufacturers claim it can support a liter of orange juice! Finally, you can spread the base to find the best viewing angle.
There you have it, five gift ideas for the iPhone user. Now go make someone happy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian Allen said 12:14PM on 12-07-2009
That WallDock does look interesting. I saw a better picture on Amazon
That is just plain crazy to get a $200 case.
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Chris said 12:17PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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Rowdy said 12:17PM on 12-07-2009
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
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Robb said 12:29PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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jb510 said 12:44PM on 12-07-2009
Exactly... Which is why I don't get people getting all excited about this wireless charging thing... It's not really wirelessly charging your iPhone, it's wirless charging the case which is wired to your phone... I really really big thick case. I couldn't tolerate a regular case on my phone (I love my invisible shield) and sure wouldn't want that recivier thing on my phone. Also of note it says it has a micro USB passthru not a dock pass through :(
Mike said 12:39PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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Ashyukun said 1:37PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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strykerM said 6:50PM on 12-07-2009
The gogostand is be the best portable stand around... http://lifehacker.com/5362795/gogostand-holds-your-gadgets-for-on%20the%20go-viewing-fits-in-your-pocket --- It's better than that batrest in terms of usability
elle said 3:22PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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rg said 4:42PM on 12-07-2009
I didn't realize that all iPhone owners were female!
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Noah said 6:23PM on 12-07-2009
I'm kind of partial to the "Movie Wedge" (which works like the folding stand item mentioned) http://www.moviewedge.com/ $10
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nkatz said 9:43PM on 12-07-2009
I like the idea of the moviewedge 'cause it would work on all kinds of surfaces that would present problems for the gogostand or the batstand. But it doesn't look like it'd fit very easily into your pocket (let alone your wallet...which goes without saying).
strykerM said 6:52PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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Christinavorobiov said 7:17PM on 12-07-2009
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.
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