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XVIDA iPhone/iPad accessories have a magnetic personality
A little over a year ago I did a review of the XVIDA Boomerang, an iPad stand/mount project that graduated from Kickstarter and went into full production. Now the company that spawned the Boomerang has an entire family of accessories, all of which use strong magnets to mount your iPhone, iPad or just about anything else in your life wherever you need them. Today I'm looking at three of the XVIDA accessories: the iPad Air/iPad Air 2 version of the Boomerang (US$79.99, currently on sale for $59.99), the iPhone 5/5s version of the StickyCase ($24.99), and the accessory Air Vent Mount ($19.99). Boomerang for iPad Air/iPad Air 2 While the Boomerang kit I tested for this review was designed for the iPad Air, XVIDA now includes a small converter that makes it fully compatible with the iPad Air 2. Note that the converter is not included in our giveaway prize kit. Like the original Boomerang, the new model is an X-shaped device that can be used to prop your iPad up at a 22°, 45° or 66° inclination. Lay that X-shape out flat and snap the two free ends around the corners of your iPad Air, and you'll notice a metal plate in the center - right over the Apple logo on the back of your device. That metal plate attaches magnetically to the included Multi-Mount. The Multi-Mount itself can be mounted on metallic surfaces via magnetism, things like refrigerators and many whiteboards. It can also be attached to walls, glass, or ceramic with the included 3M VHB adhesive sticker. Or if you're looking for a more permanent installation, just use a screw to attach the Multi-Mount to a wall stud or furniture. That same plate also works with the other available mounting accessories, including the Air Vent Mount, a Suction Cup Mount, a Headrest Mount, and even the iMac-like Desk Stand. Installing the Boomerang is fast and easy. The iPad Air slides into a set of clips that is marked with a "1" sticker. To use the Boomerang with the magnetic mounts, you put the other corners of the iPad AIr into the two other clips marked "2". To use the Boomerang as a standalone stand, you pop the "2" corners out and then flip the free legs out to the pre-set angles. Use the Boomerang with the Air Vent or Suction Cup mounts, and you have a way of using an iPad Air as a really big navigation aid. I'm not sure I'd recommend putting a full-sized iPad into the windshield area of a car, though - that's an awfully large space to block in your field of view. Conclusion The Boomerang for iPad Air/iPad Air 2 looks good, is incredibly thin, very lightweight, and installs/removes quickly. It's easily adjustable, works with a number of mounts, and has a fairly decent price point (especially when on sale). On the negative side, the Boomerang doesn't offer any protection for your iPad. Rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s The StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s ($24.99) is what brings your iPhone into the XVIDA ecosystem. Before I go any further, please note that you can pre-order this case for the iPhone 6 for delivery next month. However, there's no word about one for the iPhone 6 Plus. That's really not an issue, since if you already have a case for your Plus, all you need to do is buy a $17.99 StickyPad for Smartphones and you're ready to rock and roll. This case really isn't all that special in terms of looks. It's a matte black (or white) case with one very special feature - a covered metal plate in the back that serves to stick it to any of the magnetic mounts. If you have a Multi-Mount, the windshield-mounted Suction Mount for Smartphones ($19.99), or that ever-popular Air Vent mount I'll review next, you just slap the encased iPhone 5 or 5s up against the magnet and it sticks. Conclusion The StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s gets bonus points for mounting flexibility, but it's really kind of drab. If you already have a more colorful or more protective case that you've installed on your iPhone, just get one of those StickyPads and stick it to the back of the case. That way you get the best of both worlds. Rating: 2-1/2 stars out of 4 stars possible Air Vent Mount I've talked about this accessory several times already. For $20, you're getting a mount that installs into an air vent in your car, has a pivoting head, and features the XVIDA magnetic mount. Take any of the cases or stands - the StickyCase, the Boomerang, or even a regular case with a StickyPad on the back - and you have a way of mounting your iPhone or iPad so that it's clearly visible from the front seat of the car (don't look at it while driving!). The Air Vent Mount features a spring-loaded arm that goes through one of the vents and has a metal hook that grabs the back of the vent slat. On the front is a rounded piece that fits into a slot on the back of a piece that includes the mount, a lockable ball joint, and a few stabilizer arms. It's quite easy to install and feels sturdy. Of course, when you want to use either a StickyCase or a Boomerang with it, you just take their built-in metal plate and bring it near the mag mount, and magnetism takes care of the rest. The Air Vent Mount holds even a full-sized iPad Air in place with very little movement, and it works really well with an iPhone. Conclusion For mounting an iOS device in your car, the Air Vent Mount is an adjustable and versatile piece of equipment. The price is right, and it feels like it will last. Rating: 3 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We at TUAW love our giveaways, which give our readers a chance to get some really great gear at no cost. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 24, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a kit containing a Boomerang for iPad Air, a StickyCase for iPhone 5/5s, and an Air Vent Mount, valued altogether at $124.97 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Ingenious Xvida Boomerang stands out in the crowd
There are a lot of iPad stands and mounts on the market, as well as a superabundance of iPad cases that have some sort of stand built into them. When something comes along that is totally unique, it grabs my attention. That's the situation with the Xvida Boomerang (US$79.99 for Boomerang and Multi-Mount), a Kickstarter graduate that's now in full production here in the USA and available through BiteMyApple.co. Design The Boomerang gets its name from the shape of the two back-to-back "boomerang" shapes that make up the device. In between those pieces is an ingeniously-designed metal tilt mechanism that locks securely into specific angles -- 22°, 45°and 60°. The back of the Boomerang has four extremely powerful magnets on it. Those magnets grab onto other other accessories that are available from Xvida -- a rather swoopy and dramatic Desk Stand ($89.99), a Headrest Mount ($24.99), a Suction Cup Mount ($24.99), and a car Air Vent Mount ($24.99). The starter kit comes with one Multi-Mount (two for $24.99), which has a strong adhesive on the back and also comes with a screw, plastic wall anchor, and washer for more permanent installation. You can also just stick your Boomerang-equipped iPad to metal surfaces like a refrigerator. The Boomerang is designed to work with the 2nd- through 4th-Generation iPad, and weighs just 4.6 ounces (130 grams). It's also incredibly thin -- just about a quarter-inch (6 mm). Functionality Installing the Boomerang takes just a second. You slide the iPad into one pair of clips on the side that is conveniently marked with a "1". To finish installation and use the iPad on a flat surface or with one of the accessory mounts, you just put the other iPad corners into the other pair of clips. To use the Boomerang as a stand, you simply pop the "2" corners out and then flip the free "boomerang" down. It clicks into position and locks at one of the pre-set angles. To get the stand completely flat again, you must first flip the free boomerang piece so that it's flat against the one connected to your iPad. That unlocks the mechanism, at which point you can fold it flat again. And that's pretty much about all you need to know about using the Boomerang. When you want to connect it to one of the accessory mounts, it's just a matter of sticking the center of the Boomerang near the mount and the magnets take over. I chose not to mount the Multi-Mount on a wall or window since the review item is being given away, so I just used it as a stand and to attach it to my refrigerator as a big "fridge magnet". It worked well on both counts. One feature I love when the iPad is laying flat is that the back of the Boomerang has four small rubber feet that keep the iPad from moving. One other mounting accessory that I'd like to see Xvida develop is a hand grip. For those who need to work with their iPads while standing, that would be a perfect addition to the product line. Conclusion With the Boomerang, Xvida definitely "thought outside the box" and the result is an iPad stand and mount that is unlike any other on the market. In terms of utility and light weight, the Boomerang excels. Pros Unique design with good looks Adjustable to three locked positions, and usable with a number of add-on mounting accessories Very lightweight Easy and fast to install and take off Cons When combined with the optional accessories, the Boomerang is quite expensive No protection for the iPad Who is it for? The design-savvy iPad owner who wants a versatile mount and stand accessory Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to end up with a Boomerang Starter Kit courtesy of BiteMyApple.co. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 20, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Xvida Boomerang Starter Kit valued at $79.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Stylish Boomerang iPad mount/stand now shipping
Nothing makes me happier than to see a Kickstarter or Indiegogo project not only get funded, but make it to the newly-redesigned BiteMyApple.co online store. That means that even if you didn't have an opportunity to back the project, you can purchase the product outright. That's the case with the über-cool Boomerang (US$79.99 with one Multi Mount), a mounting/stand design with legs that mimic the shape of the classic Australian weapon/toy. Whether you're using the Boomerang as a table stand for your iPad (as shown above), sticking it to a Multi Mount attached to a window or the wall, or decide to attach it to the optional Desk Stand seen below ($89.99, requires Boomerang), the unique magnetic mounting interface will keep your iPad close at hand. You can also use one or two "legs" of the Boomerang as a hand grip for iPad photography. The original Boomerang Kickstarter project had 516 backers and raised a total of over $50,000. Xvida, the company that's producing the Boomerang, also has an air vent mount, a suction cup mount, and a headrest mount available as options for $24.99 each. Additional Multi Mounts are also available directly from the company for $24.99 for a package of two. The Boomerang works with the second through fourth generation iPads.
