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 […]
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My Surprise iPhone Accessory of 2009: the Xtand

Dec 28th 2009 by

Pastebot and 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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