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CaseLogic £5 - the perfect xda with ext battery case

Just found the perfect case (and its only £5.00) from Jessops!Its a soft zip up one, that is just the right size, not to big, not too small.
I hate cases that are "attached to the machine", and especially as both the xda standard case and the innopocket aluminium case dont accommodate the extended battery I've been looking for a case that zips up and has safe areas for memory cards as well.
The quest for a decent carry case criteria:
The theory was this, get a "soft case" that could;
a) withstand a drop from chest height (in theory)
b) and be easy to extricate the xda (in other words get it out!)
c) Comfortable when carrying "in your jeans pocket, or jacket.
d) Suitable for running the headphone/headset cable out of as well. Without compomising the case.
e) Stowing memory cards in without risk of them "dropping out"
f) Capable of taking an xda plus extended battery.
g) Suitable for zipping around the xda during non cradled charging.
After going in to buy a memory card, I asked Chris, the helful and excellent manager of the Jessops Tunbridge Wells branch if there was a suitable case I could use, having bought an excellent "Case Logic" one previously for my olympus 4040Z. He suggested this...
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What is it - I hear you ask Its not a "real xda case"
I know! - I'm just fed up of the standard case etc. and those leather enclosing ones that make such a stylish machine look like a piece of 70s retro vinyl.
And best of all its cheap! And looks good.
Ok so its not got the tobacco tin styling of the innopocket one, but wow! how simple a solution to a problem can you get!
Its basically a "memory card case, its just the right size, and you can either completely zip it around the xda (enclosing the aerial) or zip it around so the aerial sticks out of the inner corner.
The loops inside dont "project" and are soft elasticated loops, which dont affect the capacity of the case.
The sprung netted pockets hold a mmc/sd card without risk of it coming loose inside the case when the case iz unzipped to get the xda out.
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Its even good for leaving on a desk with the charger lead hanging out, as readers of my innopocket case review will remember I think charging it on a table with a lead dangling is dangerous for such a delicate device like "our preciousss" :lol:
Hope this helps people out... Its been perfect for my needs. :lol:

and does it fit in ur pocket? doesnt look like it unless your a greebo/bopper style person? :shock:

note point c)
Obviously if you have a pocket that will fit the xda "sans case" then it will fit. as I said it fits snugly, so is a similar size to the unit with the extended battery fitted. Dont go by the pictures, go to and try it out in a shop unless you're wearing tight "1970s style or 1980s" style jeans. The latter of course being stonewashed.
If being a greebo means wearing "black jeans" that arent drainpipe style or the ones above, then perhaps I'm one. Not sure about the bopping bit though!
Disclaimer:
All the above comments should be understandable by UK residents, who are between 25 and 40 years old. For these people, watch this thread and find out what a Greebo is... My guesses its not someone who has green antenna and threatens smugglers in bars.

Answering phone calls
Hi Derek,
Thanks for sharing with us the usefulness of this case. Just one question though- when a call arrives, is it quite a bit of a fumble to unzip the case quickly to answer the call?
I am still looking for a slim enough case that offers some protection and yet allows one to use the xda functionally without too much fuss. Anyone with other suggestions?
Thanks
V

takes about 5 seconds roughly... to get it out of your pocket, unzip it and answer the call. I just wanted something that would not let me worry about having the xda loose in a baggy pocket.
and take the battery, and not spoil the classy look of the xda in use, which the standard case and others do. imho.

LG 4x HD Fits the Galaxy S II desk dock! Plus my customcar install

I ordered a cheap desk stand from eBay, for the galaxy SII and the 4x HD fits perfectly!
I also customised a dock for my car, got fed up with trying to squeeze the phone into a rubbish looking universal mount, then connecting a trailing cable. So I hid the cables hard-wired behind the dash, and dremel'd the dock to shape, bent it with a hot air-gun, clamping it in a vice. Getting the connector to stay in place took a hot glue gun. (leaving a cavity underneath means I can still reach my headlight switch, not that i use it, I leave it set to on 100% of the time on the Volvo, as it makes no difference - the daytime running lights are set up to be the main dipped headlights anyway!)
I think now I've got a working prototype I'll buy another and redo it a bit neater. (The dock is only about £4 from china!) as the plastic has reacted a bit to the heat!
The dock is simply squeezed into the gap in the dash trim, it holds fine.
The phone jiggles a bit and it isn't angled towards the driver quite right, but it's fine, and certainly easier than having to fiddle the phone and charger in every time I get in the car!
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look great !!! cool man ^^

I Should add, people have commented on two things - firstly in a crash it's going to fly out very easy and be dangerous (Though surely any cheap phone mount will also! Only something like a Brodit will hold it very securely)
Secondly (and quite worryingly!) Perhaps the charging socket will wear out from sitting wobbling around?

Nice but isn't mobile blocking your air-conditioning channel?
Sent from my LG-P880 using xda app-developers app

Yeah, but sitting in the flow of air wasn't a big deal for me. Most universal mounts mount onto a vent!
I since removed this! Firstly, the phone wobbles quite a lot - I was worried that the charging socket could get worn out.
Also, in the event of a crash it would fly around quite easily!
I now use a Clingo, but I modified it by screwing the tip of the ball-joint onto a Brodit base, so it's held next to my stereo

Hi, can you please give the url for the dock you bought ?
Thanks.

elepreta found
Wow!! what a creative idea, charging and cooling at the same time. Good job.

@Ben-B can you post the ebay link? looks like a really good idea for us 4x drivers. I assume ANY S2 docks will do right?

Life'sGood said:
@Ben-B can you post the ebay link? looks like a really good idea for us 4x drivers. I assume ANY S2 docks will do right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have one like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sync-Charge-Cradle-Dock-Station-Charger-For-Samsung-Galaxy-S2-S3-S4-i9300-i9500-/231021608377?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=&hash=item35c9f5fdb9
Though I've now added a shim of card (taped on the back part with black electrical tape) to hold it at just the right angle.
Just to clarify, I'm just talking about desk stands here, the car cradle idea was just me bodging a desk stand, but I don't use that any more.
I doubt a real G S2 car cradle will hold the 4x, the width would have to be the same and I'm sure it's not!

[REVIEW] Kickstand4u by xda member Mouseglider

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What is the Kickstand4u™?
It is a kickstand you can apply to any device period. It is a plastic piece with 4 adjustable settings (two for phones and two for tablets) for different viewing angles and different orientations. It is attached using an adhesive sticker.
What comes with the Kickstand4u™?
The kickstand with adhesive backing(duh), alcohol wipe, installation instructions, and a spare adhesive backing.
What finishes come with the Kickstand4u™?
Clear, semi-clear, glossy black, and matte black.
Does it work with tablets?
Yes. 7" tablets and 10"+ including iPads (BOO APPLE!) Mouseglider is in the process of making an extension for tablets. Not sure about the ETA on this.
Installation & Removal:
Kickstand4u comes with installation instructions that a chimp can follow. The adhesive comes with a small strip of adhesive that you can use to figure out where to apply the kickstand. The adhesive is pretty strong as it held up a few tablets I had with no issue or signs of popping off with just a few millimeters of contact. The install on my Galaxy S3 was simple and quick and I had it working in no time at all. I had to play around with the proper placement and the correct orientation for a tablet. Tablet install instructions can be found here(http://mouseglider.com/kickstand4u_tm_instructions.html).
Removal is a bit trickier as this is an adhesive. So some of you that don't want to slap on something to your naked phone might not want to use this. I have tried the removal off my Galaxy S3 and it sent smoothly without any sticky residue, scratches, or any gunk left behind.Mouseglider has removal instructions on his site http://mouseglider.com/kickstand4u_tm_faq.html .
Installation: 9 out of 10 (10 is highest)
Removal: 7 out of 10
Use, Durability, Practicality, Function
Once the install was done, I was pretty much blown away by how much I actually use a kickstand. It is a bit stiff when you first use it but it breaks in after about a week of daily use. I have used many different types of kickstands from ones built into phones (Evo 4G, Evo 4G LTE, Thunderbolt) and ones built into cases (Seidio Convert, Seidio Active) and this is by far the best kickstand I have used to date. The width of this kickstand makes it ideal on different surfaces and in car use. Those thin little stands would not hold up to a sharp turn in a car. I use these on my Nexus 7 for car rides for the kids and it stays standing through all turns and stops.
I also applied two of them to my Nexus 7. My GOD this was awesome. A 7” tablet is great for watching videos in bed but I always had to hold the damn thing. I put two of these on and left it on my nightstand and it does WONDERS.(One would work just fine too but I wanted two damn it!) I now have insomnia because of this thing. I slapped it onto the back of the Nexus 7 without any issues despite the textured back. It has held on strong and I actually use my Nexus 7 more because of kickstand4u.
While the kickstand on phones is not a new idea, the ability to slap it on whatever and where ever is what makes this stand out. I'm sure you can find other uses for this on other devices. Can't get any simpler than this.
Use: 9 out of 10
Durability: 8 out of 10
Practicality: 8 out of 10
Function: 9 out of 10
Pros:
Very sturdy
4 viewing angles
Easy Installation
Different finishes for different devices
Cons:
A little long to remove but you won’t be doing it often.
Insomnia from watching stuff on your device all night long because of this thing.
Overall:
Buy it if you do a lot of video viewing or want to prop your phone or tablet up at work but don't want to buy a dock or have a dock made for your device. Awesome for movies on tablets and for flights instead of holding your tablet up.
Where can I get one?
http://www.mouseglider.com/pro1445718.html

Review -- TrekStor Smartbag M

So this is my review on the TrekStor Smartbag M. It was designed for the iPad Air but I thought I'd give the Nexus 10 a go and see how it is.
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Comes in 4 colours: Red, Black, White and Tan Leather. Leathery finish to it which makes it feel quite premium. Not quite sure whether it is PU or Leather, but it feels very nice. Inside is lined with microfibre material that is stitched in place very well. Quality of the stitching all around the sleeve seems good like the interior of a nice car
So flat it has roughly the same profile as a magazine. There was a concern where the N10 was bigger in length than the sleeve's measurement but this hasn't been as big as I thought. It leads to the sleeve being a tiny bit open, but you can judge from the pictures as to how much of an effect it has. the opening itself has magnets embedded inside it so that it can fold and stay folded in the different shapes and not fall apart.
So it folds into two different types of stands; One at 20 degrees and another at 45 degrees. Folding the sleeve into stands is really easy and you can't really mess it up by doing it incorrectly. Just undo whatever you did and fix it correctly and you're good to go.
Putting your tablet on the 20 degree stand in landscape mode feels very stable and is not going to fall off the side very easily. If you play a game and tap the side of the screen, you might have to tap it really hard to make it fall off. In portrait mode for things like web browsing is really nice too because the case supports the full length of the tablet and then at least you don't have the light bouncing off and hitting you in the eye.
At 45 degrees, it's still easy to fold and putting your tablet up there doesn't affect the structure and support of the case. Part of the reason is the case provides the weight needed for stability and it comes across as very stable. All the buttons and ports are reachable in both portrait and landscape mode.
Overall, I'm really happy with it.

Mine arrived today (hooray Amazon Prime) and I thoroughly agree with this review.
It really is surprisingly stable with the tablet in landscape; I was expecting it to wobble even a little bit, but it's rock steady.
Outer material is fairly nice (I went for the black one) and slides into my back-pack better than the soft-touch back of the bare tablet. (I got this for the stand functionality more than protection!).
I just hope the "new car smell" goes away soon! :silly:
(incidentally, anyone else think the photos in the OP make it look a lot like a manilla envelope or Jiffy bag?)

chaosdefinesorder said:
Mine arrived today (hooray Amazon Prime) and I thoroughly agree with this review.
It really is surprisingly stable with the tablet in landscape; I was expecting it to wobble even a little bit, but it's rock steady.
Outer material is fairly nice (I went for the black one) and slides into my back-pack better than the soft-touch back of the bare tablet. (I got this for the stand functionality more than protection!).
I just hope the "new car smell" goes away soon! :silly:
(incidentally, anyone else think the photos in the OP make it look a lot like a manilla envelope or Jiffy bag?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forget anyone else....i thought it looked like a mailing envelope colour when I took those pictures but in reality it's a bit more tanned than that

Very nice...and th price?

choao said:
Very nice...and th price?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got mine from Amazon UK here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AFWCW40
Looks like a similar price from elsewhere (including eBay and direct from manufacturer) but delivery makes the difference

Homemade Car Magnet Stand

I do a lot of homework comparing specs when shopping for devices, but always forget to consider accessories.
I guess I am also cheap, but spending 75$ + on smartphone holder seems silly.So, like with my GNex it's time to build docks and stands again.
More will come, this time with turbo charging and Qi instead of pogo pins.
This stand was a quickie until I get a chance to do more serious tinkering.
The section base is from an old broken and undersized universal stand
The main bracket is from some IKEA cabinet I cant find link to.
The magnets are neodymium similar to BAC6 BAC6
The rest is random screws & bolts from the junk box.
I still need to cut/drill the bracket to allow for connection of car charger, pics to follow when I get access to tools next week. It holds good on kevlar back especially with the slight support from bracket lip underneath. Finding a good suction surface in the car is another story...
I open the floor to questions.
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[/IMG]

Interesting, but looks a little "home made". But if that doesn't bother you, that's fine

Augman said:
Interesting, but looks a little "home made". But if that doesn't bother you, that's fine
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Click to collapse
Thus the home-made in the title.
There are a little bit less than ZERO accesories for sale here in Norway,, and I enjoy tinkering.
If you check out the Galaxy Nexus forum there were many people creating their own cool docks and chargers.
I don't use the phone as a status symbol, so it doesn't bother me.
I won't switch to an iPhone just for the accessories so I gotta make my own.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/accessories/diy-workshop-mods-homemade-docks-t1700672

subvertz said:
Thus the home-made in the title.
There are a little bit less than ZERO accesories for sale here in Norway,, and I enjoy tinkering.
If you check out the Galaxy Nexus forum there were many people creating their own cool docks and chargers.
I don't use the phone as a status symbol, so it doesn't bother me.
I won't switch to an iPhone just for the accessories so I gotta make my own.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/accessories/diy-workshop-mods-homemade-docks-t1700672
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I respect your stance about status symbols, and I applaud you for taking the time to invent your own car mount. I don't think I would have the patience or capability.

It would be pretty neat if you integrate a QI charger into that

windraver said:
It would be pretty neat if you integrate a QI charger into that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, that would be cool. I wish they would make a screen protector that wraps around the back of the phone and connects into the battery-- the screen protector could be a mini solar panel, and any light the screen sees would be converted in to energy. How about that for an idea?

Augman said:
You are right, that would be cool. I wish they would make a screen protector that wraps around the back of the phone and connects into the battery-- the screen protector could be a mini solar panel, and any light the screen sees would be converted in to energy. How about that for an idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's an interesting thought. But the issue with be the solar panel but the circuitry to regulate and control the power. A phone case would be thick enough though. Intergrate seven Qi wireless solar power charging. Boom!
Edit: I used speak to text to write that. You have failed me Google. But I'm not fixing it, figure it out

Nice bit of handy work. How comes you didn't just go for one of those universal type holders? There's plenty available on the market with most shipping to Norway?
Either way, good work on the one you made :good: