You can tell they’re an iPhone junky because you know what kind of freaking cell phone they have. They don’t call you.  They “call you on their iPhone.”  They don’t lose their phone or their cell.  They lose their iPhone – except they don’t, of course, because iPhone users are rarely far enough away from their iPhones to lose it.

Shopping for an iPhone junky can be difficult, because they already have the whole world in the palm of their hand.  Just ask them.  But, there is something that iPhone users love even more than their iPhones: stuff to go with their iPhone.

5 Holiday Gift Ideas For People With iPhones

iHome clock Radio for iPhone

1. iHome Docking Station and Clock Radio

I did a review of the iHome Docking Station and Clock Radio back in September.  I still love it.  I’ve since run into several readers of this site who have added it to their own wish lists because a good speaker system and iPhone compatible alarm clock is hard to come by.

The problem with most “iPhone docking stations” like this is that they are  made for iPods, not iPhones, and so you have to put your phone in airplane mode to use it, or endure the annoying buzz of interference.  This system is compatible with every single iPhone, way back to the first generation (what I had until about 24 hours ag).

The iHome docking station lets you play music over the speakers with impressive sound quality.  It also lets you wake to and fall asleep to specific playlists.  On top of that, it’s a great alarm clock that allows you to set two separate alarms and designated an alarm for a 1, 5 or 7 day schedule (no more accidentally waking up early on Saturday or forgetting to reset the alarm for Monday morning!).

The iHome iP9BR Clock Radio for iPod is $81.88 right now on Amazon. ($79 if you get it in silver.)  Buy it here.

2.  Mophie Juice Pack Case – Rechargeable iPhone battery

Juice Pack rechargeable battery case

This is something I don’t have and want desperately.

The biggest downfall of the iPhone is that the battery isn’t removeable, so heavy users can’t buy extra batteries to keep charged.  The Juice Pack addresses that problem by giving you a fully rechargeable battery that doubles as an iPhone case.

Like I said, I don’t have this and have never used it.  But reviews online as well as reviews from people I know who have this product say that it doubles the battery life of your iPhone.

You can charge the case and the iPhone simultaneously and switch the case’s power source on and off to decide if you want to save your extra battery life for later.

The juice pack will add a little bulk to the iPhone – more than a simple silicone case – but the extra power you get is worth it for someone who uses their phone constantly.

Amazon offers a variety of colors for the juice pack that will fit the iPhone first generation, 3G and 3Gs.  Click here to see the full range.

wireless head set for iPhone

3.  Bluetooth Stereo Headset

Another “don’t have, want badly” product for me. I’ve been looking forever for a headset that works for music and phone conversations, and isn’t plagued with reviews about a short product lifespan.

This looks to be the answer I’ve been looking for.

The Sony DRBT160AS Bluetooth Stereo Headset is perfect for iPhone users who like to run or workout regularly.  This headset gives you the ability to listen to music and take a call (although obviously not at the same time).  Headsets that do both can be difficult to find for the iPhone.

The “behind the head” design is ideal runners and the wireless aspect makes it perfect for just about anyone.  It’s also going to provide much higher sound quality than the stock ear buds that come standard with iPhones.

The Sony DRBT160AS Bluetooth Stereo Headset is $81.95 on Amazon. That’s more than $40 off what they’re charging at the Apple store for the same product. Buy it here.

4. iPhone Armband

armband case for iPhone

Speaking of people who run – an armband case is pretty much a necessity if you’re the type of person who works out while listening to music on your iPhone.  Otherwise you end up trying to shove your iPhone down the back of your pants.

Trust me on this – not. comfortable.  Also not comfortable?  Having to dig down the back of your pants to retrieve your slipping iPhone while you’re in the middle of a packed gym.

Ahem.

ANYway, the Tuneband from Grantwood Technology uses a silicone case to secure the iPhone in place.  The case has a screen protector, but still allows you to access all of the ports and camera.  The band itself is stretchy velcro to fit most arm sizes.

Another fun fact: it comes in lots of pretty colors!  (Oh, and navy or clear if, for some odd reason, you’re not into pretty.)

The Tuneband is designed for the 3G and 3GS iPhone models.

(Hint – it’s cheap and a great stocking stuffer idea.  Jared.)

The Tuneband Armband with Silicone Skin and Screen Protector is just $16.99 at Amazon. Buy it here. (in pink, if you’re my husband.)

5.  Go Groove FlexPod: iPhone FM Transmitter and Car Mount System

FM Transmitter Docking System

This?  Is a freaking awesome device.

You plug the device into your car’s cigarette lighter (or power source if you have a newer, snobbier car) and put your iPhone into the cradle.  Your phone is now charging.  Yay.

BUT, more than that, the FM transmitter lets you play your music from your iPod through your car stereo’s speakers.  For those of you unfamiliar with the idea of an FM transmitter – it works good.  You should have it.

For those of you who know what I’m talking about – this is one of the more advanced models of FM transmitters and seems to have a strong locking system that makes it easier to find (and keep) stations available to play your music.

Added bonus: it turns your car into a bluetooth device for phone calls.  When a phone call comes in while you’re listening to music, the music fades and the call options come up on the screen.  Accept the call and you’ll hear the voice via your car’s speakers.  End the call and you go back to the music you were listening to.

The Flexpod (that’s the official name of this thingie) also has a USB port so you can charge other USB powered devices through it.

The entire iPhone cradle is held up on a flexible gooseneck device so you can hold your iPhone steady at multiple angles.

You can watch a video on how the entire thing works here.

The Go Groove FlexPod Car Mount System is $34.99 on Amazon. Buy it here.

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Post tags: alarm clock, amazon, bluetooth headset, cell phone, docking stations, holiday gift ideas, holiday gifts, ihome, iphone, iphone accessories, iphone armband, iphone case, iphone fm transmitter, iphone gifts, ipod, stocking stuffer

Portable Bluetooth

I’m a good daughter. I call my mom almost every single day. It was important when I moved that we found a way to maintain the closeness in our relationship.

That means I wake her up at about 7:00am her time nearly every morning so that I can talk to her on my drive to work.

Because I’m a good daughter.

I am also, I have been told, a terrible driver.  I tend to disagree with that assessment (despite evidence to the contrary), but I do try to limit my distractions while driving to smoking, listening to music and pondering the meaning of life.

I tell you all that to tell you that I almost always use some type of bluetooth device while driving.  Because I am nothing if not succinct.

I’ve been using a Motorola Bluetooth Headset ever since my husband got it for Christmas a couple years ago.  It pairs easily with my phone and the sound quality is fine.  It does what it’s supposed to do.  I’d been asked to try other bluetooth headset models recently and have found that the Motorola was still my favorite.

A representative from Parrot.com contacted me recently and asked me to review their portable Bluetooth hands free kit.

My first thought was what the hell is a portable Bluetooth hands free kit?

I’d only ever used the headset version before.  You know, the little thing that sticks in your ear that makes people think you’re talking to yourself.  I didn’t even know portable Bluetooth hands free kits existed.

And yet, it seems, they do.

But what the hell are they?

It’s like a garage door opener that you stick on your car’s visor.  Except it doesn’t open your garage door or your neighbor’s garage door.  Instead, it connects to your cell phone and turns into a speaker/microphone thing.

I don’t know why companies don’t ask me to name their new products for them.  Clearly, I have a gift.

ANYway – so, I agreed to try this portable Bluetooth hands free kit thing out, but I was skeptical because the last Bluetooth headset I’d been sent was pretty crappy.  And nothing about the Parrot.com website screamed “WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN MOTOROLA!”

It arrived in the mail, I unpacked it from the box, and stuck it on my visor.

There were two buttons and a knob.  I pressed some buttons.

A woman’s voice said, “who do you want to call?” and the kids and I squeed like idiots.

“Uh… call Adam,” I told her.

“Adam Home… Adam Cellular… Adam -”

“Call Adam’s Cell Phone,” I clarified.

And she did.

Adam answered and I explained that I didn’t need anything but to hear his voice over my totally awesome new toy.  He said something about being able to hear me really well despite the fact that I had the windows rolled down in the car – which is usually a problem when I’m on my Motorola headset.  Adam hung up and the bluetooth thingie beeped at me.

I pushed some more buttons.

“Redialing last call,” the disembodied woman said.

“Shit! Wait! No!” I frantically pushed more buttons while my children giggled in the backseat.

“Who do you want to call?” she finally asked after a series of button pushing that I knew I’d never be able to replicate.

“Call Jared,” I told her.

“Calling Jeremy,” she said.

“Shit! Wait! No!”  I pushed more buttons until I heard the now familiar disconnection beep.

After three failed attempts to call my husband that resulted in me calling my brother in law at 7:00am, I gave up on the voice activated dialing.  I started pushing the dial and it said “Phonebook” and then “A” and then “J” and then, finally “Jared”.  I pushed some more buttons and finally managed to make a call to my husband.

He, too, commented on how clearly he could hear me.

A few days later, I tried to show off my new awesome toy to my friend Hilly.

I pushed the red and green buttons repeatedly until I finally got the voice call prompt.  I told her to “Call Jared”.

She proceed to call Jeremy.  And then Janet.  And then Terry.  And Tina.  And Janet again – except the last time I wasn’t sure who she’d called until a woman who was Janet and not Jared answered the phone.

Hilly was not impressed.

“Can’t you just use your phone to dial?” she asked.

I was not impressed with her suggestion and resolved to never call my husband again.

Several days later, I decided to read the 7 page owner’s manual.  Two minutes later, I figured out to press the red button to turn on the device and the green button to make a call.  And the red button once if I accidentally call the wrong person.

And?

To say “Ja. ReD.” to call my husband.

Turns out, the owner’s manual is kind of a big deal. And really easy reading.  And – well – this thing is stupidly easy to use if you actually read the instructions.

Why does no one ever tell you this stuff?

The final verdict on Parrot’s Minikit Chic Bluetooth Portable Handset thing is that I gave my husband back his Christmas present.  I’ll be using the MiniKit from now on.

You can buy your own MiniKit on the Parrot website here.

OR you can buy a Minikit Chic Portable Bluetooth on Amazon for about $25 less. (Why do companies do that??)

OR you can enter to win a FREE one from Parrot by leaving a comment on this entry before midnight on Thursday August 19th.

Because that’s how much I love you.

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Post tags: amazon, bluetooth hands free kit, bluetooth hands free kits, cell phone, motorola bluetooth, parrot, portable, portable bluetooth