Podsta: the smartphone holder for when a kickstand isn't enough [Accessory reviews]

Accessories

Podsta: the smartphone holder for when a kickstand isn’t enough [Accessory reviews]

June 29, 2011 | by Andrew Kameka

Accessories

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Not every phone has the benefit of a kickstand to prop it up and keep a phone viewable from the right angle, but everyone can keep their phone vertical with Podsta.

Podsta is a phone accessory that grips to a phone and makes it able to stand without the user needing to hold it. The flexible foam softly latches onto the sides of a phone, making it capable of standing up in portrait mode on a desk, or rest in landscape as the user watches a video while laying down. Designers gave the Podsta a unique shape that cures at the top and to the sides for stability and style, but features a three-sided back that keeps it all balanced. That proves effective for the most obvious use cases for Podsta, including:

Video chat without having to hold the phone (hands free for writing and other things)
Listen to music or watch videos without resting the phone flat on its back
Desk stand to keep your phone angled-up in a better viewing angle

The Softgrip foam material used for Podsta offers a sturdy but very light build. That will make it easy to put Podsta in a cup holder or grip onto a device without putting any undue pressure or scratching. While its sides are flexible and managed to securely fit phones as big as a Motorola Droid X2 and HTC EVO 4G, it’s not as easily to snap the bulkier phones into place. Podsta is best served with phones that have screen sizes about 3.7-4 inches. Another potential problem is that the microSD or HDMI-out ports on certain phones will be obstructed in portrait mode, so users will have to opt for landscape to free-up space when charging or connecting to a television.

Podsta comes in six colors: pink, green, black, yellow, purple, red, and silver. It retails for $12.99 and is available for sale on Amazon.com and mypodsta.com if you are based in North America. European users should visit podsta.com to order.

podsta-rear

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The folks at Podsta were kind enough to send me a free model to review but they also threw-in a few extra for the Androinica.com family. For a chance to win one, Like our Facebook page and look out for an upcoming status update tomorrow. We’ll randomly select two winners on July 5, 2011.