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Topic: Smartphones

Back the Ultima: a sweet looking universal smartphone holder

Summary: Can the Ultima succeed where others usually break?

Joel Evans

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

The website, KickStarter, is known for allowing designers to come up with a great product, and then raise money to help it go mainstream. It has birthed many amazing creations and its latest, the Ultima, is claiming to be the "world's finest universal smartphone holder".

That's quite a claim, but if you watch the video below, you might start drinking the kool-aid. According to Nik Conomos, the company's founder:

The most exciting feature about 'Ultima' is its intuitive holding mechanism. To open you press and hold the release button then place your phone in the holder and press in the sides till desired hold. Once you press in the holder it cannot be pushed backwards until the release button has been pressed, even if you use force it will not move backwards!

I've seen plenty of these holders in the past, but the mechanism that he's talking about is always the first to fail. The holders are usually pretty inexpensive, so maybe the fact that he's making this out of high grade aluminum will be the differentiator?

If you have an interest in seeing the Ultima come to market, make a pledge at KickStarter.com

Topics: Smartphones, Hardware, Mobility

About

With more than 15 years of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently the VP of Strategy Integration for Mobiquity, an enterprise-class mobile solutions provider.

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4 comments
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  • RE: Back the Ultima: a sweet looking universal smartphone holder

    They need to get Richard Garriott as a backer.
    wendellgee2
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Back the Ultima: a sweet looking universal smartphone holder

    I'm unimpressed. They may have improved the strength of the ratcheting mechanism to increase durability and/or holding strength (hello Kmart, I'd like to talk about licensing some craftsman ratchet patents), but the extension (even with telescoping) is limited. There is no cabling control for power or wired audio output (sure its old school, but Bluetooth still doesn't work reliably for me) The suction only attachment is also limiting as window mounted site obstructions are illegal in many US states.

    For the likely price (extrapolated from this marketing production value) I want a modular system with varying mounting options and built in cabling. My 5 year old GPS has this. It moves from my motorcycle and two 2 different cars in 2 different mounts easily and securely.

    Admittedly my system is specific to one hardware model, but that doesn't stop me from wanting the same features in a universal mount.
    travelfeet@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Back the Ultima: a sweet looking universal smartphone holder

    $85? I have one that works equally as well. I paid less than a third of that price and it performs perfectly. In fact, the goose neck arm is far more flexible (sorry for the awful pun) accommodating even my windshield which due to the extreme depth of my dashboard is quite far away and is at a radical angle. I even have a quick release button. Again, $85?
    MikeyrInFL
    Reply Vote

  • Might want to look at the competition

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1689824368/capta-stick-it-lean-it-wrap-it-attach-it?ref=live

    When it comes to pricing, for the capta with a flexible suction mount and a pu pad (like the capta pad but seperate) for only $30 dollars...think you might be out priced. oh and out designed.
    broughman@...
    Reply Vote
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