Once in a while, someone picks up on an idea, and puts out a product that's deceptively simple, but incredibly handy to the right people. Such a product is SeatBuddy. A hands-free way to watch videos on your iPhone or iPod Touch, SeatBuddy is a godsend to those really in need of a solution, and not a bad purchase for those who may occasionally want the added convenience.
Incredibly simple, SeatBuddy is a flexible "sleeve" to put your iPhone in, which then offers the ability to attach it to the back of a seat, or a variety of other places, so that you don't have to hold it. Now, let's face it, a lot of people just aren't going to have that much use for such a product. But, for those who travel a lot, this is a clever idea.
With the straps and velcro, you can now attach your iPhone just about anywhere. You can easily use your tray table in a plane, or the headrest or glovebox in a car, but you can also attach it to a treadmill or bike machine.
I don't know how many times I've seen people watching video on their iPhone, and holding it up in front of them while they walk a treadmill (or trying to work out laying it on it), or laying it on their tray during a flight and hunching over it. The last flight I was on, two different people were holding their iPhone and taking notes on a pad. I personally am certainly not the target market when it comes to the possibility of watching a seminar of some sort on my iPhone, but those people are apparently out there, and they look to me like they wouldn't mind a solution.
The iPhone and iPod Touch offer a lot of convenience when you're on the go, especially in combination with other things like iTunes or Tivo, which give you worlds of options for getting movies and TV shows at your fingertips, but sometimes it's a pain to actually watch them. This product fills a gap, and if you actually use your iPhone for watching videos frequently, you'll be glad you have it.
The product seems quite sturdy, and looks to be crafted with an eye to the double need of strength and flexibility. Via my own rigorous testing I can also tell you that your iPhone is pretty well going to stay in no matter what you try.
As I say, there are countless people who aren't going to get much use out of this, but there are countless others who might use this almost daily, and may not even know this is out there. It's the kind of product that you wonder about when you do see it, and I can tell you that if you're thinking about it at all, you won't regret picking it up.
In the interest of full disclosure, the folks at SeatBuddy sent me one of these via a promotional opportunity through www.fuelmyblog.com
Are You Screening?
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
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