Accessories Car holder for Desire in gel case

[Fishyweb]

Can anyone recommend a sturdy window-mounted car holder that will take the Desire in a gel case? All the decent-looking ones on Ebay won't accommodate the phone while its in the case. The cheapo universal

 

[speedycolzalez]

Any recommendations?

Take it out the case

 

[weymouthstan]

Fishy,
Get one of these:

KRUSSELL MAGNETIC MAGNET MOUNT FOR IN-CAR MOBILE PHONE on eBay (end time 16-Jun-10 14:57:02 BST)
Chuck the magnet, and stick the metal bar that comes with it to the back of the case with Araldite, or tuck it in between the case and the phone.
Then get a generic suction mount like this (I've found even the cheap ones are very sturdy):

CAR MAGNETIC WINDSCREEN MOUNT FOR PDA/ GPS / MOBILE on eBay (end time 14-Jun-10 20:58:49 BST)
stick it to your windscreen and it'll hold the Desire in a vice-like grip.

I've used this technique with all my smartphones over the years. It even managed to hold my brick of a Nokia N900 with no case and the metal strip inside the battery cover. The Desire cover is too tight a fit for that, though.
The metal strip gets slightly magnetised over time, but not enough to seriously mess with the compass. Of course you can't use the compass when it's actually on the mount.
WS

 

[Fishyweb]

The metal strip gets slightly magnetised over time, but not enough to seriously mess with the compass. Of course you can't use the compass when it's actually on the mount.
WS

Thanks weymouthstan, that looks like an interesting solution.

Does Google Maps satnav make use of the built-in compass though, or does it rely purely on GPS data to determine direction of travel, and where to point its North indicator? Can't help thinking that it must use the compass to some extent, or else it would presumably get a bit confused about which way you're facing when stationary. Any opinions on that? Or other suggestions?

 

[geemacd]

I use one from halfords, mobile fun sell it to, around

 

[geemacd]

I use one from halfords, mobile fun sell it to, around

 

[geemacd]

Universal Windscreen Mount Phone Holder

thats the one i mean

 

[weymouthstan]

Fishy,
I use Gmaps and Co-Pilot navigation just fine.
Nav programs that auto-rotate the map (which Gmaps on Android doesn't, wierdly - does on Symbian) use the direction of travel to orientate the map. If a map app shows a separate compass icon then I guess that wouldn't work.
WS

 

[Fishyweb]

That is interesting. Gmaps Navigation does auto-rotate the map on my Desire. Might it be thts it doesn't do so for you because of the magnet?

P.S. I've not used Co-Pilot so don't know if the same applies, and I've no idea why they would behave differently on Symbian!

 

[Deleted User]

I really want to know whether something like this works with the Desire as I don't trust windscreen mounts. Presently I use a very flimsy vent mount which is prone to rotating the sat nav while I drive . The Desire is more or less the same size as the iPhone anyway isn't it?

Satellite Navigation Mat - buy at Firebox.com

What do you all think?

 

[DCFC79]

I really want to know whether something like this works with the Desire as I don't trust windscreen mounts. Presently I use a very flimsy vent mount which is prone to rotating the sat nav while I drive . The Desire is more or less the same size as the iPhone anyway isn't it?

Satellite Navigation Mat - buy at Firebox.com

What do you all think?

looks good, id be interested as well if its any good

 

[weymouthstan]

Fishy,
Sorry, I wasn't clear - Gmaps Navigation does auto-rotate the map. Bog standard Gmaps when not in navigation mode doesn't. Which I find annoying because I like to just flash it up quickly sometimes to get an idea of where I am.

The magnet doesn't affect Gmaps nav mode. The only thing I find it affecting is 'car finder' type apps. Not much need for them when you're sitting in it, though...

WS