Mobile Phone Accessories Review

The iPhone is, undeniably, one of the greatest wonders of modern technology—almost as innovative as its great-great-great grand-daddy Mac was back in 1984, and  exponentially more powerful.  Even before its introduction, iPhone’s rivals were racing full-speed day and night to catch-up.  Now, the cellular world is full of clever imitations and a lot of cheap knock-offs, but the original is still the greatest.  iPhone devotees, which include everybody fortunate enough to own one, will argue with their very last breath that the device is worth every penny…and then some.  And the competition is still about seven car-lengths behind.

Although it’s difficult to imagine how this handheld piece of computer wizardry could require anything extra…well, that’s life in the digital universe.  And it’s a good thing iPhone owners feel such intense devotion to the Apple brand and such willingness to fork-over the extra bucks for the best quality products.  Although cheap imitations abound among peripherals just like among phones, the Apple products still rule. 

If you’re the proud new owner of one of these miracle devices, you very soon will want to invest in a docking station, so that you can charge your phone and sync it with your music and other computer functions.  Go ahead and look at some of the off-brands just to satisfy your curiosity.  But plan to buy one of the two docking stations directly from Apple.  They offer two: the “iPhone Dock” and the “iPhone Dual Dock.”  Clever names, huh?

Both docking stations include approximately the same equipment, perform approximately the same functions, and cost approximately the same number of dollars.  They’re not exactly redundant, but they obviously are very very similar.  But, in head-to-head sibling competition, the iPhone Dual Dock emerges with a slight advantage.  Testing them individually and against one another, we had no difficulty with either dock as we charged the phone;  and both docks worked well with USB power chargers, too.  The major difference is that the Dual Dock is the only one really set-up to charge a Bluetooth headset.  Because the Dual Dock is a little bit wider and its USB cable is hard-wired into the unit, it is a little more stable.  In the end, you trade-off: you gain stability and convenience at the price of some awkwardness packing the Dual Dock for travel.  A reasonable trade in our judgment.  

Both the Dock and the Dual Dock cost $49.  Because you inevitably will want a Bluetooth headset to complement your cool phone, the Dual Dock is definitely the wiser investment.  Although your Apple Bluetooth headset will come with its own charger, the Dual Dock will afford you more convenience, more functions, and more options.

Road Warriors’ Best Choice

You’re the new road warrior on the company’s sales team, and they have equipped you with almost everything you need to make and beat your sales plan.  The new laptop is extremely cool, and the new blackberry is even better.  Setting-up your new “tools,” you discover, however, the bosses forgot one critical tool in your kit: you’re spending your whole life in your car, but you have no way to use or charge your blackberry while you’re on the road.

Searching for the solution to your problem, you quickly discover that some products will charge the berry, and other products will hold or “dock” the berry, and you can find a gazillion hands-free add-ons for the little powerhouse.  But is there one product that will perform all those functions and not leave you with a tangled web of spaghetti-like cords or a handful of left-over adapters?

Meet the Comfort Blackberry 8800 Car Kit

The Comfort Car Kit gives you a compact cradle to dock and charge your handheld while boosting your signal through an external antenna and giving you exceptional hands-free operation.  Compatible with Bluetooth accessories from any manufacturer, the unit may actually eliminate the need for some of those add-ons.  Users describe the Comfort Kit as “the perfect solution,” because everything about it is simple, straight-forward, and exceptionally practical.  The mounting bracket installs effortlessly.  The signal booster really delivers on its promise.  And, setting your blackberry in speakerphone mode, you get an easy, complete hands-free system.  You also have the option of adding a Bluetooth voice kit to boost your volume and control the unit’s functions from your steering wheel—a very cool if not totally necessary accessory.

In their reviews, the majority of users praise the signal booster, saying the unit makes their berries usable even in far-away rural towns and out there on far-flung interstates.  They also appreciate the unit’s compact design, saying that it fits neatly, conveniently on their cars’ consoles well-within easy reach yet never in the way.  All buyers recommend you shop around a little, because several on-line vendors offer deep discounts on the Comfort Car Kit—some up to 60% off full retail.

Keeping your mobile phone charged and ready to use is the first prerequisite of getting the most from your mobile life. With the Two Port Standard Charger CST-75, your phone is not out of commission while it recharges. A retractable connector allows you to piggy-back the system connector of your portable handsfree, USB cable, music cable or portable speakers at the same time. So you can handle calls, listen to music or transfer files while your phone gets the power it needs to keep you in touch, in focus and in control all throughout the busy day. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, packing light is always important. The Micro Travel Charger CMT-60 makes charging easy when away from home. Sony Ericsson was the first company to plug chargers directly into the power socket, eliminating cords. The pocket size CMT-60 builds on the success and popularity of the CMT-10 but now if the plug doesn’t match the available socket you can charge the phone with two AA batteries. The protective cover gives the CMT-60 a sleek, stylish form which won’t look out of place in an executive briefcase, handbag or rucksack. Read the rest of this entry »

Frontgate is sure that you have numerous electronic devices that need charging nightly. Why trade the power you need for a mess of tangled wires and devices? Frontgate is solving this problem with a “rich mahogany” charging station.

Thoughtfully designed for recharging cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, or games, this handy charging station can power up to four electronics at once while still holding various other items (watches, your wallet, pens…). The unit also has a built in surge-protector strip concealed inside. The dimensions are 12″W x 16″D x 6-1/4″H and it weights 7 lbs.