12 Must-Have Accessories for Your Smartphone
Phonedevil Magic Screen
If you’re the type to carelessly throw your phone into your bag, a screen protector is an essential investment. Relatively inexpensive, a screen protector’s clear film fits your phone’s screen to a T, guarding it from scratch-inducing elements. Trust me, it’s heartbreaking to find a giant scratch across your brand new iPhone 3GS. I found plenty of different of screen protectors on the market, but Phonedevil’s Magic Screens are my favorite. They’re easy to apply, require no cutting, and come with a cleaning cloth and a smoothing card to prevent air bubbles.
You can pick from three different editions: Clear, Mirror, and Privacy. Mirror Edition gives your screen a mirror effect when the phone is off, and it looks quite stylish. The Privacy edition uses special 3M material to prevent unwanted onlookers from viewing your screen; the screen appears turned off if you’re not looking at it head-on—a clever concept that works very well.
Phonedevil Magic Screens are currentlly available only for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but the company’s site indicates that Phonedevil will soon add BlackBerry-compatible models.
Available for: iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS
Price: Clear ($8.15), Magic ($11.50), Privacy ($16.50)
If you’re looking for all-over scratch protection, but don’t want the extra bulk of a case, check out BodyGuardz from NLU Products. The transparent scratch-resistive skins protect not only your smartphone’s screen, but also the spines and back cover. BodyGuardz are available for a wide-array of smartphone models including the Nokia N97, the BlackBerry Tour, the Palm Pre, and many others.
BodyGuardz require a little more work (and patience) to apply than Phonedevil’s Magic Screens, but the instructions are still very straightforward. I recommend working in a clean, quiet environment, as the film is quite sensitive to dust and installing it requires your complete attention. If you do screw up your first time around, you get another try: BodyGuardz includes a second skin in the package. But the hard work is worth it: When correctly applied, your phone is not only completely protected, but the film makes it look newer and cleaner, too.
Available for: iPhone 3G, Nokia N97, Palm Pre, HTC Touch Pro, and a variety of BlackBerry models
Price: $20
Outdoorsy types (or klutzes) may desire something more rugged than simply a skin, which can’t protect your phone from harsh weather or accidental drops. Check out the OtterBox Defender Series: A brawny combination of an outer rubberized silicon skin and an inner hard shell. I dropped, threw, and even kicked my smartphone, and the Defender kept it totally protected. There wasn’t a single mark or dent. The Defender also comes with a scratch-resistant screen protector.
Putting the case together requires some concentration, but it isn’t difficult. My one gripe about the iPhone 3G case is that it lacks a slot for the ring/silent switch—a function I use pretty frequently. The double-layered case is also quite bulky, so if you carry your phone around in your pocket, the Defender might not suit you.
Available for: iPhone 3G/3GS, Samsung Omnia, Palm Centro, and many BlackBerry models
Price: $50
For those who desire a more fashion-conscious case, look for the stylish series of Octo Leather Snap Cases. These gorgeous cases, made from Italian leather, come in a rainbow of colors. They might not offer the heavy-duty protection that other cases have, but they’ll at least guard your phone from getting scratched up in your bag. The Octo cases look quite nice, with seamless stitching and sophisticated metal clasps.
Available for: iPhone 3G/3Gs (Octo also makes cases for MacBooks, Amazon Kindles and Flip Video recorders)
Price: $50-$55
Belkin TuneBase FM With Hands-Free
If you spend a lot of time commuting in your car, the Belkin TuneBase FM with Hands-Free is an excellent companion to make those miles fly by. The TuneBase FM plugs into the DC outlet in your car and uses Belkin’s ClearScan technology to detect the station with the clearest signal (from 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz) to play your music. If that station’s reception changes as you travel, you simply hit the ClearScan button and the TuneBase will find a better station.
The hands-free feature allows you to answer calls while you drive without having to physically pick up the phone. Not only is this a convenient feature, but a safe one as well. The calls come in over your car’s speakers while the iPhone’s microphone picks up your voice.
Available for: iPhone 3G/3GS (also works with almost every iPod model)
Price: $100
BlackBerry Premium Multimedia Headset
BlackBerrys have a reputation for being business-only, but with great multimedia applications like Slacker Radio and FlyCast available, you’ll want to invest in some high-quality headphones. Made especially for BlackBerry phones, RIM’s Premium Multimedia Headset boasts a comfortable fit, noise-cancellation technology, and convenient built-in playback and volume controls. These controls, however, will work only with BlackBerry devices running OS v4.6 or higher. Music piped through the headphones sounds crisp and clear with no crackling or tinniness. Unfortunately, I had some issues with call quality while using the headset. While I could hear my contacts just fine, they reported that my voice sounded distant and difficult to hear.
The headphones come in a handy BlackBerry-branded leather-like carrying case, extra earbud sizes, and color plates for customization.
Available for: BlackBerry devices OS v4.6 or higher
Price: $90
Popularity: 2% [?]
· Tags: Belkin TuneBase FM With Hands-Free, BlackBerry Premium Multimedia Headset, BodyGuardz by NLU Products, Octo Leather Snap Case, OtterBox Defender Series, Phonedevil Magic Screen
