Griffin WindowSeat for iPhone and iPod
With the growing litany of portable devices that can be used in the car, mounting them on your windshield might offer the convenience and functionality you're looking for. These three mounts have the same idea in mind, but differ in how well they do the job.
Adjustable Electronic Device Holder
$17.99
Available at: Canadian Tire
This unit has a very similar design and form factor to Scosche's Grip-It, but uses a slider latch with four teeth that lock in to attach the base to the holder. Despite the simple setup, the lock proves annoying after a while when it becomes cumbersome to switch out of the unlock position.
When mounted on the driver's side window in a compact car, the suction base wasn't able to withstand a half hour drive with bumps. It fared better in a minivan, but its best overall placement was on the windshield resting on the dash.
The holder has a wingspan of about 3.5-inches, though it can be easily rotated to landscape for better viewing when needed. The cushioning on the sides also does a good job of keeping the device in place. The clear plastic backing also slides out for a wallet-sized photo of a loved one.
Scosche Mobile Grip-It Portable Electronics Mount
$19.99
Available at: The Source
Scosche's mount and holder looks similar to the Canadian Tire one, but performs very well no matter where you place it. The two pieces connect so well in the back that there's no need for a locking mechanism. It proved adept at handling everything from an iPod, smartphone and a GPS unit.
The sides are cushioned, and spread out to about 4.5-inches. They can also adjust vertically for better support in cases where a landscape device is longer or access to a port is required. The rests at the bottom can help support an upright device, or slide out of the way for something tilted to landscape.
The suction latch is virtually identical to that of the Device Holder, only Scosche's suction cup manages to maintain a consistently tighter grip without falling. It also has a longer adjustable handle at 7 inches compared to the Device Holder's 6 inches and the WindowSeat's 5.5 inches.
Griffin WindowSeat for iPhone and iPod
$29.99
Available at: Future Shop, Best Buy, Apple Store
Griffin's WindowSeat suffers from the fact it doesn't have enough cushioning to keep devices in place. Considerably lighter than the other two mounts, the WindowSeat is indeed more ideal for the iPod touch and iPhone, though a BlackBerry Curve and Motorola Milestone handset fit pretty snugly in the holder, too. Mounting an iPhone or iPod already encased proved to be hit or miss depending on the case.
The WindowSeat's design limits the gamut of devices to phones that are between 4-4.3-inches. Upright is better but the iPhone and iPod touch were just fine in landscape mode as well, thanks in part to very strong suction able to withstand bumpy driving.
An included extension arm is one solid piece, so it doesn't bend or contort like the other two do, but it's up to you if you want to attach it. Griffin includes a dash mount and an auxiliary cable for easy media playback.