Posts Tagged ‘iphone car holder’

Top 10 cool iPhone accessories

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

We’re expecting the release of the iPhone 5 at some point this year and it’s fair to say the rumour mill surrounding the handset is in full swing: is it thinner than the iPhone 4? Does it have a curved screen? Is it faster? Will it have a brushed aluminium effect?  There’s so many questions and rumours flying around that it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction.  However, we thought this would be the perfect time to remind ourselves of why the iPhone 4 is such a successful handset, with a countdown of the Top 10 cool iPhone accessories…..

10. Apple iPhone 4 bumper

Every iPhone 4 owner knows that an iPhone 4 bumper or case is needed to boost the signal of your iPhone 4 and none perform better than the official Apple iPhone 4 bumper.  The perfect accompaniment for an iPhone screen protector, a bumper protects the corners and sides of your handset without taking away the style or sleekness.

The bumper contains all the cut-outs needed to keep your iPhone fully functioning like one for the charging port and volume control, making a bumper a great alternative for those who still want to show off the design of the iPhone but protect the sides and corners.

Apple iPhone 4 bumper

9. Drivetime Car Pack for iPhone 4

This iPhone 4 car holder allows you both dock and charge your iPhone whilst driving; meaning that no matter how long your journey, you’ll never run out of power and you’ll always be viewing your phone safely and legally.

Unlike other mobile phone car holders, the Drivetime car pack can be stuck to almost any flat surface meaning it can be used on both the dashboard and windscreen of your car.  The car holder also has three joints which can be moved to put your handset in a number of positions and angles, allowing you to find the most suitable one for you and your driving experience.

As this iPhone car holder is made with the iPhone 4 in mind it contains all the relevant cut-outs including one for the charging port and the lock button.

Drivetime iPhone 4 car holder

8. Power Support Crystal Front and Back Film Set

Number 8 in our top 10 countdown goes to the Power Support Crystal Front and Back Film Set, a revolutionary screen protector which offers high quality protection.  Here at Mobile Fun we do think that a mobile phone screen protector is a must for all new handsets in order to protect your display from scratches and dust and Power Support have some top quality ones available.

This iPhone 4 screen protector is made from a crystal film with state of the art cling adhesion, which means that application of the screen protector is simple, easy and residue free.

The screen protector is custom-fit to your iPhone 4 meaning that the front facing camera, home button and speaker are all still accessible and fully functioning.

Power Support iPhone 4 screen protector

7. Boxwave Keyboard case for iPhone 4

Some iPhone owners miss using a qwerty keyboard, so owning an iPhone 4 keyboard like the Boxwave keyboard allows you to have the best of both worlds.

Unlike other iPhone keyboards, the bluetooth Boxwave keyboard doubles up as a case, so you can slide it out when you need it and slide it back to be part of the case when you’re finished.  the case and keyboard are both stylish and modern, but also help to provide protection to the iPhone, as well as being functional.

Another great feature of the Boxwave is that it uses it’s own power supply which is recharged through a Mini USB cable, so it doesn’t drain your iPhone 4′s power.

The Boxwave bluetooth keyboard connects wirelessly through to your iPhone 4 meaning there’s no installation needed, just simply pair it with your iPhone and you’re ready to go.

Boxwave iPhone 4 keyboard

6. Otterbox Defender iPhone 4 case

Otterbox are at the forefront of tough protective cases thanks to their multi-layer technology and guaranteed protection.  Therefore it’s no surprise that they released a range of iPhone 4 cases which use their layered technology.

The Otterbox Defender Case contains three layers: a thin thermal-formed sheet which covers your screen; a strong polycarbonate shell which protects the handset as a whole from bumps and drops and finally a silicone skin which absorbs shocks.

This makes the Otterbox Defender iPhone 4 case both practical and protective, as all the phone’s ports and features are still accessible whilst in the case.

Right now if you buy any Otterbox Case, you receive a free Otterbox stand simply by using the rebate code ‘OTTERSTAND’ at the checkout.

Otterbox Defender iPhone 4 case

5. CaseBuddy Dock

The CaseBuddy is the answer to most iPhone owners problems: the lack of iPhone docks which allow you to charge your phone with the cover still on.

Being small and compatible, the CaseBuddy can be used with any Apple device including the iPhone 4 and even better it allows you to charge your phone whilst your iPhone 4 cover is still on and due to its size, makes it the perfect dock to take on your travels.  However the CaseBuddy will still work if your iPhone doesn’t have a cover on it.

The Casebuddy can be used as an iPhone 4 dock also due to its cradle style, making it perfect for listening to music, texting and surfing the web.  Another great feature of the CaseBuddy is its ability to hide your wires, so that the area your CaseBuddy is on remains clutter free.

CaseBuddy case Compatible Dock

4.IK Multimedia iRig Microphone

Number 4 on the list, the iRig Microphone is one of the perfect iPhone 4 accessories for aspiring musicians, journalists or those who frequently give speeches.

It allows you to record studio quality audio recordings to your iPhone or iPad simply and easily and view and build upon them with its three major apps or any other music/recording based app.  This makes the iRig great for recording podcasts and for use on the go, as the audio quality is second to none.

Singers and musicians can record and edit songs, whenever, wherever; journalists can record interviews on the go in excellent quality and those who give speeches can amplify their speech or practice and listen back beforehand.

One of the leading brands for specialist iPhone accessories, IK are known for their excellent quality.2

IK Multimedia iRig Microphone

3. The Ultimate iPhone 4 Accessory Pack

Starting off the Top 3 is the Ultimate iPhone 4 accessory pack which contains six accessories which any iPhone 4 owner should have: a desk stand, car holder, Flexishield skin, mini desk stand, car charger and a screen protector.

This is a great pack of mobile phone accessories for any iPhone 4 owner, especially those who have just bought an iPhone 4 and want to use it to its full potential straight away, as it contains everything you need to get started.

The Ultimate iPhone 4 accessory pack

2. MiLi Pico Power Projector for iPhone

Taking second place is the MiLi Pico Power Projector which lets you stream media from your iPhone and project it onto the nearest wall; allowing you to make a cinema anywhere in your home.  All you need now is the popcorn and surround sound speakers and the cinema effect comes to you.

This projector is also great for those who frequently make presentations, as it charges your phone whilst it’s docked and comes with a remote which can be used to control the volumes and menus amonst other things.

One of the most useful mobile phone spares being sold simply folds out and can even be used with laptops and your iPod touch; adding to it’s multi-functionality and user-friendliness.

MiLi Pico Power Projector

1. Incipio offGRID Battery Back Up Case

Top of our list, the Incipio offGRID battery Back Up Case solves the main problem smartphone owners have: a lack of battery power.  The offGRID doubles your iPhone 4 battery power without adding bulk to the handset, an unusual feature for battery cases.

The offGRID has a thickness of just 6mm, meaning most people would just mistake it for a standard iPhone 4 cover without realising that its actually housing a powerful battery.

Syncing and charging isn’t an issue with the Incipio offGRID as it includes a MicroUSB cable which allows you to perform these actions without having to remove your iPhone from its case.

Owning a battery back up takes away the stress of forgetting your iPhone charger as you have double the power, meaning your battery should last twice as long.

Incipio offGRID Battery Back Up case for iPhone 4

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Choosing the best iPhone Docking Station

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

iPhone Docking Stations come in all shapes and sizes and they mean different things to different people. iPhone Docks are no longer just a convenient way to sync your data with your PC, some iPhone docking stations now feature powerful speakers, alarm clocks, memory card readers and more.

If you’ve been asked for  an iPhone Docking Station, you’ll need to ask a few questions in order to make sure you get the right type and to avoid any disappointment. The two main things to look out for are:

  • Which model of iPhone is it for?
    iPhone 4 is a different shape to the iPhone 3G/iPhone 3GS. Some docking stations include a changeable baseplate so that you can use all iPhones and iPods with them, but most don’t so make sure you’re buying for the right model.
  • What is the Dock going to be used for?
    If someone is after an iPhone dock just to sync their music with their Mac or PC, buying them an alarm clock dock will go down like a lead balloon.

To give you an idea on the different iPhone Docking Stations available, here’s a quick summary of some of the most popular iPhone Docks.

iPhone Charging Docks

Simple and effective, these kind of docks provide an easy way to keep your iPhone or iPad charged, without the need to fiddle around with cables. Simply place your device on the dock and it will start charging – provided its connected to a power source. This can be either your Mac, PC or Mains Charger. If they’re connected to your computer they will also sync your music photo’s and videos.

iPhone Charging Docks

iPhone Charging Docks

While the basic function is the same for all of them, they come in several shapes and sizes, from a simple dock, to one that will allow you to dock your iPhone with the genuine Apple Bumper fitted, to one that will charge an iPad at the same time.

iPhone Alarm Clock Docks

If the built in alarm isn’t loud enough, an alarm clock dock is a great alternative. You can choose to wake up to your music, FM radio or an alarm. All your music is played back through a built in speaker and most will have all your standard alarm clock features, such as dual alarm and snooze.

iPhone Alarm Clock Docks

iPhone Alarm Clock Docks

Some of the more advanced alarm clock docks will support music streaming by Bluetooth or come with a remote control. As your iPhone is docked all night, you’ll wake up in the morning to a fully charged battery.

iPhone Car Docks

Using your phone in the car is now an everyday activity, thanks to the wide range of third party apps available. Sat Nav and speed camera apps are now a pretty standard feature on most peoples iPhone, but in order to use them safely you’ll need a way to dock your iPhone in the car.

iPhone 4 Chargers

iPhone 4 Chargers

Car docks come in a range of styles. For casual users a windscreen mount holder will do the job just fine. If you want to keep your phone charged then go for a Brodit Active Holder, or if you are a heavy TomTom Sat Nav App user, the TomTom car kit is a must have item as it will act as a GPS enhancer, holder and speakerphone.

iPhone Speaker Docks

Sometimes, it’s all about the music. Speaker docks are a great way to free the music from your phone. As with the other docks on this page, their features vary considerably. Simple speaker docks are a big improvement over the built in loud speaker on the iPhone. If you want to be able to fill a room or power a house party, you may need something more substantial – in which case you may also want to take a look at Bluetooth Speakers.

iPhone 4 Speakers

iPhone 4 Speakers

Speaker docks have a couple of major benefits over Bluetooth speakers  - they keep your phone charged and often include a remote control. Streaming your music over Bluetooth will run your battery down a little bit quicker, but it does mean that you have your phone with you at all times, making it easier to change track/album.

Another option for listening to music through powered speakers is to use an Apple Airport Express. This is a WiFi device that you can connect to any speakers or stereo with an aux-in port. You can then use the newly released AirPlay feature of iOS 4.2 to stream your music to your stereo.

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Free iPhone 4 TomTom Car Kit Adapter

Monday, September 13th, 2010

One of the hottest iPhone accessories over the last year is the TomTom Car Kit for iPhone that works with the Sat Nav App to improve usability and accuracy. The Car Kit features a GPS enhancer, speaker phone and will charge your phone while it’s docked which makes it an essential thing to have when you’re using your phone for sat nav in the car.

The TomTom Car Kit is still one of our best selling iPhone Car Holders even though it doesn’t fit the iPhone 4 very well. We’re constantly being asked when an updated version would be out for iPhone 4, and until now we’ve been kept in the dark.

Free TomTom Car Kit Adapter for iPhone 4

Free TomTom Car Kit Adapter for iPhone 4

Thankfully though, TomTom have announced that as of last Friday, anyone who purchased the TomTom Car Kit that has now upgraded their phone to an iPhone 4, can now get a free adapter that will allow you to use your shiny new iPhone with your existing kit.

All you need to do is find the serial number that’s printed on the back of your car kit (under the barcode), complete a short form on the TomTom website and then sit and wait patiently for it to be delivered!

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3 Ways to Safely Use Your iPhone 4 in the Car

Friday, August 20th, 2010

One of the top accessories for the iPhone 3G & iPhone 3GS last year was the TomTom iPhone Car Kit. It’s not the cheapest in car solution, but it did a great job of combining a GPS receiver, loud speaker and handsfree system into a compact windscreen holder for the phone.

Sat Nav on iPhone 4When iPhone 4 came out, we were all looking forward to using Sat Nav on it – mainly because of the faster processor and the ability to leave your Sat Nav running in the background while you take calls or read a text message. You can imagine our disappointment when we realised that the TomTom holder doesn’t work with iPhone 4.

When I say it doesn’t work, that’s not strictly true, it will work, but it doesn’t fit the holder very well and it’s likely to fall out. If you’re willing to pay that much for an in car solution, you’re going to want one that holds your phone securely.

It’s probably only a matter of time until an updated version comes out that supports iPhone 4 and the upcoming 4th generation iPod touch, but until then there are a number of alternatives that you should consider.

I’ve already covered Sat Nav Apps & iPhone Car Docks for iPhone 3G/3GS, but thought I’d take another look at what’s available and review the options to the TomTom kit. I’ve tried a number of different set ups to try and find ones that match the features of the TomTom kit as closely as possible. The results turned out to be very similar to those for the 3GS, but some of the pricing and features have changed.

Just as a reminder, the main features of the TomTom Car Cradle are:

  • Charges your iPhone
  • Ability to play your music through your car stereo using 3.5mm line in
  • Built in speaker for handsfree calling
  • GPS Enhancer
  • Volume controls
  • Price for Software & Cradle £149.99

In most cases, every feature could be matched, with the exception of the added GPS support, but having said that, the antenna has been improved on iPhone 4 and I’m not convinced that it’s all that necessary.

I’m also basing this on the next version of the iOS software – version 4.1 as it has full support for AVRCP, the bluetooth profile that allows you to control your music using a third party device, such as headsets, speakers and car kits.

Option 1 – Jabra Cruiser

It’s not all in one like the TomTom, but this set up will save you over £40! CoPilot Live is a great alternative to TomTom. The software has been updated for iPhone 4 and now supports the Retina Display and Multitasking. Extras like Traffic and Text-To-Speech are available via in app purchase.

The iPhone 4 Car Pack includes a secure, rotating windscreen holder for your iPhone 4 and a car charger. If you’ve already tried using GPS on the iPhone in your car, you’ll know necessary a  car charger is. Having the screen on permanently and locking on to a GPS signal drains the battery quite quickly.

The Jabra Cruiser is one of the best portable car kits available. It has a built in FM transmitter that can stream music, calls and directions from your iPhone 4 through to your car stereo using Bluetooth. It has music controls that allow you to play/pause/track skip without having to touch your phone.

Use the Car Pack and Jabra Cruiser to get the most out of CoPilot Live

Use the Car Pack and Jabra Cruiser to get the most out of CoPilot Live

Option 2 – Venturi Mini

Navigon was the first Sat Nav app for the iPhone, and has recently had a number of new features added and a price cut. The iPhone Car Pack includes a robust, adjustable holder that can hold your iPhone in almost any position as well as a car charger to keep your phone fully charged.

The Venturi Mini is a Bluetooth car kit that is designed to fit in your cigarette lighter permanently. You can charge your iPhone 4 by plugging your USB cable in to the USB port on the side of the Venturi. The Venturi works in a similar way to the Jabra Cruiser.  It connects to your phone using Bluetooth and will then stream your music, calls and sat nav directions through to your car stereo using its built in FM transmitter. If your car stereo has a line in/aux in connection, you can connect the Venturi to it using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable (the same as the TomTom Cradle). This will give  a more reliable connection to your stereo, but means you’ll have wires trailing across your dashboard.

Unlike the Cruiser, the Venturi doesn’t have track skip buttons, so you’ll only be able to play/pause your music.

Navigon on iPhone 4 with the Venturi Mini

Navigon on iPhone 4 with the Venturi Mini

Option 3 – Parrot MKi9000 Fitted Car Kit

This set up isn’t so much about saving money compared to the TomTom kit, more a case of showing you how much more you could get for the same sort of price. Without doubt, you’ll always get better audio quality using a fully fitted car kit than you would with a portable one. The Parrot MKi range of car kits have been designed with iPods and iPhones in mind and they work almost seamlessly.

The MKi9000 kit is fitted behind your dashboard and is completely out of sight.  There is a multi connector cable that has a USB port, 3.5mm headphone jack and an Apple Dock connector. This cable connects your iPhone to the car kit and will route call audio, music and directions through your car stereo at the same time as charging it. The Brodit holder that I’ve suggested here has a dock connector on the bottom too, so you can connect this cable to it, then whenever you slide your phone into the holder it will connect to the car kit without you needing to mess around with cables or plug anything in.

Co-Pilot works extremely well with the Parrot Mki9000

Co-Pilot works extremely well with the Parrot Mki9000

If you’d rather not use cables, then you can use the kit over a bluetooth connection and get the same functionality from it. A small remote can be attached to your dashboard or steering wheel and can be used to answer/end calls as well as play/pause/track skip and activate voice dialling.

On the subject of voice dialling, it’s actually a feature of the MKi9000 rather than the phone and will work with all models of iPhone. The only downside is that there isn’t a way to activate voice commands on iPhone 4 or iPhone 3GS. The prices shown here don’t include installation and vehicles without an ISO stereo may need additional cables.

Summary

All three of these solutions work great with iPhone 4 and any of the available Sat Nav applications available for the iPhone. To give you a clear idea on the differences between the TomTom Kit and the other options mentioned here, I’ve put a chart together to show the main differences.

Personally I’d opt for either the Jabra Cruiser or the Parrot MKi9000.

Features TomTom Cradle Jabra Cruiser Venturi Mini Parrot MKi
Charges iPhone
Plays Music through Stereo
Hands Free Calling
GPS Enhancer
Volume Controls
Music Control – Track Skip Has feature
Holds phone in Landscape
Music Controls
External Microphone Optional

All Prices correct as of 20/08/2010 and are subject to change.

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Brodit Round up: A guide to Car Holders

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Brodit are the market leaders in phone specific mobile phone holders for use in the car. They’ve been around for years and as phones have become smarter, so have their holders.

When I first started dealing with Brodit back in 2000, you had a choice of 2, either an Active Brodit Holder or aPassive Brodit Holders, and each one came in a choice of two mounting options – a fixed, static bracket or one on a tilting, rotating base.

10 years on and the basics are still the same, but there are now a number of other options to choose from so that you can use your phone exactly how you want to in the car.

This guide will run through each of the various types of holder available and explain some of the key differences between them.

Active Vs Passive

The main difference with all of them will be whether it’s Active or Passive. An active holder is one that incorporates a car charger. A passive one doesn’t and will just hold your phone.

As we’ve only just gone live with the range of Brodit iPhone 4 Holders, I’m using them as the examples in this post, but Brodit Car Holders are available for just about every phone on the market. The exact styles of holder will vary by phone. If you can’t see the one you want then get in touch and we’ll do our best to find you the holder you want.

Brodit Passive Holders

This is the most popular style of Brodit holder as it keeps your phone secure, but still leaves all the ports accessible. This means that you can continue to use your existing car chargers and audio cables. To use the holder you usually slide your phone into two grooves in the sides or the cradle and you can then rotate and tilt the holder to get your phone exactly as you want it. In most cases the holder his all plastic, but for iPhone and iPod touch they usually have a velvety finish that prevents scratches to the glass or metal parts of the phone.

Brodit Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel - 511164 - iPhone 4

Brodit Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel

The Locking Holder is a new style that has just been released for iPhone 4 and I’d expect it to be available for other handsets shortly. It’s the same basic holder as the one above, but has an extra support that clips onto the top of the phone. You won’t need the extra support when using the phone in portrait mode, but if you use sat nav in the car you’ll find that it does a great job of keeping the phone in place when you are using the phone in landscape mode. It also has a cable tidy at the base that you can use to keep your car charger close at hand.

Brodit Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel - 511170 - iPhone 4

Brodit Locking Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel

Brodit Active Holders

Active holders are slightly bulkier than passive holders, but only because they house a charging connector to your phone. Again, the style of the holder will very depending on your phone and where the charging port is, but generally speaking you’ll find that a cable comes out of the base of the cradle and into a car charger adapter. This could be a moulded cigarette lighter plug or a USB cable with a USB adapter.

Either way, it’s a great option if you spend a lot of time making calls while on the road as your phone will start to charge as soon as it’s docked and the engine is started. This type of holder is available for pretty much every phone on the market.

Brodit Active Holder with Tilt Swivel - iPhone 4

Brodit Active Holder with Tilt Swivel

As well as the standard holder, Brodit have also released a Locking Active holder. Again, it’s iPhone 4 only at the moment, but with more smartphones being used as Sat Nav’s I’d expect this to become a standard style holder.

Brodit Active Holder with Locking - iPhone 4

Brodit Locking Active Holder

Brodit Holders with Pass Through

If you don’t have an iPhone I’ll apologise now as the next few holders are all iPhone specific. The Pass Through Holder is slightly unusual, but is the perfect addition if you’ve got a hardwired car kit such as the Parrot MKi 9000. It’s available as a standard holder or with the locking arm, but instead of having a car charger built in, it has a second dock port in the base.

Brodit Passive Holder with Pass-Through Connector - iPhone 4

Brodit Holder with Pass-Through Connector

This sounds odd, but it means that you can plug your car charger, car kit, FM transmitter or audio cables into the holder and leave them connected permanently. When you get in the car, you’ll only need to slide your phone into the holder and your accessory will connect to the phone. No more messing around trying to find the end of your car charger between the front seats. Just plug it in and forget about it. The Pass Through Holder is only available for iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4.

Find out More: Brodit Holder for iPhone 4 with Pass Through

Find out More: Brodit Holder for iPhone 3G / 3GS with Pass Through

Brodit Holders for Phones in Cases

If you use a case or skin on your phone, you’ll know that it can be a bit of a pain having to constantly remove it from the case to put it in a holder. Brodit know this so they’ve developed a couple of holders that can take your phone while it’s in a case. The downside is that it’s only for Apple devices. There are currently two options available.

The first is a standard Passive holder that’s been moulded to accommodate iPhone 4 with a genuine Apple Bumper fitted. You just slide your phone in as you would normally. The dock is still exposed so you can still use a car charger with it.

Brodit Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel - iPhone 4 With Bumper

Brodit Passive Holder - iPhone 4 With Bumper

Find out More: Brodit Holder for iPhone 4 with Bumper

The other, more flexible solution is the adjustable passive holder. This does take a few minutes to set it up, but once done it will hold your iPhone 3G/3GS or iPhone 4 no matter what case you’ve got on it. The way it works is that the two sides both slide in, out, up and down, and once in place you just tighten a screw.

Brodit Passive Holder With Tilt Swivel - 511165 - iPhone 4

Brodit Adjustable Passive Holder

Find out More: Brodit Adjustable Holder for iPhone 4

Find out More: Brodit Adjustable Holder for iPhone 3G / 3GS

Mounting in your Car

Brodit Holders hold your phone securely, but you’ll still need to securely attach them to your car. Brodit recommend that you screw them to your dashboard, but as most of use will have spent thousands on our cars, the last thing we’re going to want to do to them is put 4 screw holes in the dashboard.

Fortunately Brodit have come up with a solution for this with the Brodit ProClip. Proclips are made from the same tough plastic that the holders are made from and are made to clip securely onto your dashboard without causing any damage. ProClips normally slot between two fascia panels on your dashboard and can be fitted in seconds with out the need to dismantle your dash or any special tools.

Brodit ProClip

Brodit ProClip

ProClips provide a flat, sturdy surface for you to screw your holder on to, and when it’s time to change the car, simply unclip the ProClip and you’ll never know it was there.  Brodit ProClips start from around £15 and will work with any screw fix phone holder, not just those made by Brodit.

Everything shown here can be found in the Brodit Car Holders section of the main site. We’ve tried to cover the most popular vehicles, but as there are so many available we can’t list them all. If you can’t see the one you need, send us an email and we’ll get source one for you.

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