My Surprise iPhone Accessory of 2009: the Xtand
The Xtand isn’t usable with many cases (though it’ll fit my 4Voi Lorem if I take off the rubber corner pads), but it looks great, is built like a metal rock, and turns my iPhone into 3.5″ monitor buddy for a surprising number of things. I’ve taken to using Writeroom on my MacBook Pro to write up drafts before I paste them into WordPress, and my iPhone has become a great little side monitor for viewing article notes as I write. The Xtand also really comes to life with the newly released Pastebot app, which allows me to throw pictures and text to and from my MacBook and iPhone. This is a godsend for review screenshots, and it’s also been incredibly easy to use because the Xtand holds the iPhone at exactly the perfect angle for usage. You can see the screen perfectly, but it’s also very easy to tap on the device or even respond to text messages — all while the iPhone is docked and charging.
There are just two minor flaws to the Xtand: the first could easily be eliminated in a new version of the product, but the second requires a solution that I haven’t yet thought of. I still find the Xtand just a bit too light. It’s easy to tap on the screen and use apps, but I find it just a little too easy to move around on my desk by accidentally nudging it. I don’t want suction cups, but I would like it if the Xtand had just a little bit more heft. The second “flaw” is the charging solution on the stand: it doesn’t really exist. I love the minimal design of this dock, but it’s a bit of an eyesore having to loop the regular iPhone cable through a hole in the back and leave it dangling under the iPhone. It doesn’t help that the stupid iPhone cables is so long that I’ve had to tie it up with a red rubber band to get it to fit nicely on my desk.
I know those are small complaints, but considering the fact that the Xtand is priced as a premium product, I don’t think you should have to MacGyver charging solutions with rubber bands. But I’m really only sweating the small stuff because the Xtand is just so awesome in so many other ways that it makes the little things pop out more. Aside from those little kinks, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a cooler precision-cut piece of metal for my iPhone in 2009.
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Without a charger $40 is a little steep for my taste, but I have to say I am intrigued, by your side monitor. Could you elaborate more on how you use it with your reviews? It seemed like you use this as an active clip board sending clippings from Macbook to iPhone, I also have a Macbook and would love to hear more about your approach.
not too complicated – you pretty much hit the nail on the head there. I'll use pastebot to xfer pics to Mac, and text back and forth depending on whether I wrote something on the iPhone and want to write some more of it on the Mac…or if I want to keep some notes open on the iPhone while I'm in WriteRoom. I also just think the iPhone is so much more accessible thanks to the Xtand – much more so than on the old Apple dock that came with the 2G, or even with the Dexim P-Flip I reviewed a little while back.
No link to company's site? :
*goes hunting*
sorry about that – fixed
The iPhone Podium (http://www.podiumrevolution.com/) is about the same price and really heavy and solid. It's even more minimalist than the Xtand (clips don't show as much) and has a swivel ball that lets you position the screen any way you want. You still have to thread a separate dock connector through the base, though.
nice link! Thanks for that. Looks like a great alternative to the Xtand – and they've got a sale for $29 too
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