Android fans are always on the go, and that often means having a safe but accessible set-up when driving from Point A to Point B. Arkon sells a line of universal car mounts that provide such an experience. Arkon’s smartphone mounts fit a variety of devices, ranging from the HTC Desire, EVO, and Incredible, to the Motorola Droid, Droid 2, and Droid X (full list of phones supported available here). I tested three Arkon products for phones that are set-up in a variety of ways: Friction Dash Mount, Windshield Mount, and a Removable Air Vent Mount. Each is made of light but secure material. They all feature cushioned edges that prevent the phone from moving or being scratched. The Arkon Friction Dash Mount retails for $19.95 and a little on the hefty side depending on your vehicle. This may not be the best solution depending on your car; I found it difficult to install and remain in place because of my oddly shaped dash. The mount cannot be installed over where the airbag deploys, so setting this up was troublesome. However, I can attest to the quality of the Windshield and Air Vent mounts. The Windshield mount is much easier installing and feels more likely to work long-term. The hinge is easy to turn and comes with an optional adhesive to stay on the dashboard. Not bad for $19.95. The Air Vent mount, which costs $14.95, has practically the same holder. In fact, the main holding portion of each product tested is practically the same; the differences come into play in the mechanism used to mount each to the car. The Arkon line of products is stable, and easy to secure or remove your phone from the mount. Each mount is adjustable to rotate between portrait/landscape or into a better viewing position for navigation, music playing, or storage when driving. Each is reasonably priced and there are a variety of options. Visit Arkon.com to browse the full line. Here are a few photos and a quick video sample.
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Protecting a phone from scratches and scuff marks is a priority for many, but some people don’t like the bulk or unnatural feel that comes when using many of today’s modern smartphone cases. Anyone looking for added protection without added size ought to consider XO Skins. XO Skins provides cases that are thin but durable. The material offers a tight fit that prevents scratches and is thin enough to make your phone fit comfortably in a docking station. The best thing about XO is that it feels good. I initially installed the anti-glare screen protector sold by Sprint but removed it because I did not like the way the material felt on my thumb. The XO Skin for my EVO 4G is the complete opposite; my thumb glides across the screen and feels perfectly normal. I would prefer the back of the skin have a little more grip, but it’s tolerable. Once on the phone, XO Skin does a great job of protecting your device. The material doesn’t add any bulk or residue, so your phone still looks good. While others may choose to perform stress tests with knives, I opted to use the real world tests of seeing how XO performed in my day-to-day travels. Despite dropping out of my pocket onto cement, grazing my keys, and nicking the edges of my night table as I swatted the phone to stop the alarm, my EVO held up nicely. My only complaint with XO is the same complaint I have for most protective skins: installation. Despite following directions to the letter, I was unable to get out all of the air bubbles on the skin. I’m convinced this has more to do with my poor installation skills since this a problem I commonly have, so get someone to install it for you if you typically have trouble applying protective skins. When I removed the protective layer after a month of use, my EVO was as pristine as the day I bought it. XO Skins is one of the better phone skins that I’ve used and one of the few that I recommend. XO Skins :: HTC EVO 4G Skin Protection XO Skins are available for a variety of devices for $11.99; available at XOSkins.com
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Coming quickly after the official unveiling of the Droid X, we are now seeing some of the first accessories which include a car dock and a home dock. Both products are currently listed on the Motorola website, and the official names are the Car Mount for Droid X and the fancier sounding Multimedia Station for Droid X. In terms of pricing, expect to pay $39.99 for the car mount and $49.99 for the multimedia station. Plus, in regards to the multimedia station, that will work best with an HDMI cable and that will set you back an additional $19.99. As for the Car Mount, this is fairly self-explanatory in description in that it will allow you to use your Droid X in your car. Basically its a car cradle that will automatically launch a dashboard app when your phone is docked. That app will then offer quick and easy access to features that will often use in a car such as Maps Navigation, music, voice search and calling. The car mount will also keep your phone charged while in use and has a 3.5mm jack that will allow for a connection to your car stereo for better sound. Moving on to the Multimedia Station and you will find a home dock that will allow you to dock and charge your phone. Of course, there is also the option to connect an HDMI cable and display video and images on your HDTV. All in all it looks like two decent accessories for Droid X owners. [via Motorola ]
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If you are in the market to purchase a protective skin for you shiny-new Android phone, you may be extremely confused by all of the choices that are out there. These skins have been proven to be effective in protecting your device from the minor damages of everyday use and some have proven to just
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What’s the difference between an Acer Liquid E Ferrari edition and a regular Acer Liquid E? A whole lot of red and what’s likely going to be a slightly higher price tag. Acer has officially announced the special edition Liquid E Ferrari, which will bring Ferrari’s traditional of cross-promotional gadgetry to the Liquid E. The special
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Accessories will likely be plentiful for a phone as popular as the HTC EVO 4G, however its nice to be getting a little sneak peak at one. The accessory I am referring to is the HDMI dock and it appears as if it will be available at Best Buy. Though it seems likely to believe
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The Zeemote JS1 is a Bluetooth joystick that runs on two AAA batteries, costs as little as £11 in the UK and can be used with Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG and BlackBerry phones to control various games from FIFA to Need for Speed. However, it looks entirely possible that Zeemote could be adding Android to
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The folks at Wrapsol recently sent Androinica an evaluation package of their newly launched “Wrapsol ultra” flexible protective covering for the Nexus One. After a week of usage, I have done enough testing to offer some opinions about Wrapsol’s newest Android product. Product Overview Wrapsol’s ultra line is marketed as a “remountable drop and scratch protection system.”
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BlueAnt has been known as a maker of quality Bluetooth headsets and an innovator in the industry. In that tradition, the BlueAnt Q1 is an attractive headset with voice command features, A2DP streaming audio, multipoint device access, and even an integrated Android application. This headset is pretty stacked so let’s take a closer look and
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And here we have more leaks involving the HTC Incredible, interestingly enough though, these latest leaks are not surrounding the handset itself but instead a few accessories. Nothing terribly exciting here, but it looks like the HTC Incredible will have a car mount and a snap on cover/case available at launch. The car mount is
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The HTC EVO hasn’t even been released but we’ve already received a sneak peek into the range of accessories that will be available for Sprint’s upcoming device. A few leaked images reveal a number of accessories you may consider purchasing when the EVO is released this summer (June, perhaps?) Sprint’s many phone ad-ons are reminiscent of
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Assuming this latest report over on TmoToday is accurate, it looks like Nexus One owners will soon be able to purchase accessories in T-Mobile retail stores. According to the details, the retail stores have begun to receive a selection of goodies including covers and cases. And given that we seem to have some photographic evidence
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The Bluetooth headset industry has produced a lot of players, but the BlueAnt Android application gives one company a unique feature to standout. BlueAnt Wireless, which produces the Q1 headset, has announced that it has paired the device with an Android 2.0 app for added control. The Q1 Android app now makes it possible for users
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Nexus One is currently the most powerful Android phone available in the market right now. There other cools ones coming too, like the HTC Desire, but for now, Nexus One is the one to go for if you want to experience Android OS.
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Between the shirts, keychains, plushes, and collectible vinyl figures that have circulated the Android world in recent months, it’s becoming chic to put Andy on everything. The latest item with an Android logo is a pillow made to order for just $19.99. The pillows are designed by Etsy seller Craftsquatch and are custom-made. It takes 2-6
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The Amzer Jelly Case is made out of 100% premium silicone and is a great, light-weight option for protecting your Google Nexus One PB99100. The durable silicone absorbs any shock your Google Nexus One PB99100 may receive from any …
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When I heard the Nexus One Car Dock accessory was coming I wasn’t at all surprised – the Motorola Droid had the same thing and it became necessary since Google.
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Seidio Online is getting ready to begin shipping a double capacity battery for the Nexus One. The battery is noted as being a 2800mAh battery, which indeed is double the existing 1400mAh battery that ships with the Nexus One. Though this battery is available for order, it is noted that it will not begin shipping until
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Seidio Online is getting ready to begin shipping a double capacity battery for the Nexus One. The battery is noted as being a 2800mAh battery, which indeed is double the existing 1400mAh battery that ships with the Nexus One. Though this battery is available for order, it is noted that it will not begin shipping until
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