Part of the fun of tech gadgets and accessories is seeing the inventiveness of small companies -- in creating seemingly simple things that are just the right answer to perhaps small but irritating problems.
For example, photo accessories like the Olloclip Photo Lens (see previous post) further enhance the iPhone as a powerful camera. But the more your phone is like a camera, the more it would be useful to have a way to support and stabilize it, especially for shooting video of long events.
Enter a simple solution -- the Studio Neat Glif Tripod Mount & Stand for iPhone 4/4S and 5.
Just slip it on the end of your phone, and it adds a standard tripod mount thread-- so you can set up your phone camera for shooting on a tripod, monopod, or other support. It also can be used to prop up your iPhone at different angles
Studio Neat offers the Glif mount for $20 for the iPhone 4/4S or 5, plus the Glif Plus bundle with two other devices for $30. This includes the Serif cross-strut to keep the phone secure in mobile situations, and the Ligature keyring loop that attaches to the tripod thread on the Glif.
They also offer the Cosmonaut wide-grip stylus for touchscreens at $25.
The Glif mount is simple and smart, and is designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. Not bad indeed for two guys with an idea, fired up through a Kickstarter campaign.
See my Holiday Gadgets 2012 coverage of Portable Accessories for more imaging devices and other useful and fun ideas.
Find the Studio Neat Glif mount for iPhone on Amazon.com