Orbit 2 - HTC Touch Cruise accessories etc, members recommendations.

[Michael_Mcr]

Proporta alu-leather case on Orbit 2

I recently ordered a Proporta alu-leather flip case designed for the Touch Cruise, to use with my Orbit 2. It arrived this morning and whilst i have only had a liited time to play with it, appears to be a perfect fit.

If I really had to find fault, its that the side plastic clasp partially obscures the memory card slot, but its a simple matter to slide the Orbit upward a few millimetres to access the memory card.

Attached are 2 quick pics.

Regards

[boz]

That does look pretty nice I must say, thanks for posting the pics.

[windows]

Mike is it just the side brackets that hold the case in place?

[Michael_Mcr]

Originally Posted by windows

Mike is it just the side brackets that hold the case in place?

Yes - there is no bottom "lip" or other type of clasp.

The side brackets are made of sturdy semi-flexible plastic and have leather cushion pads on the inside faces.

The Orbit2 is held very securely and it requires a firm thumb push to slide it upwards and out of the case.

Attached are some more pics (the side by side comparison is with an Orbit 1 in a Piel Frama flp case.)

[cyclist]

Originally Posted by boz

I purchased a portable battery backup pack for my HTC devices today from GPSforless .

I've decided to buy a battery extender, and have been comparing devices from Proporta and GPS for less. I found two at that link, which one did you get and how do you like it now you have had it for a while?
My need is to keep Orbit 2 plugged into extender in my pocket while out cycling all day, so that I can keep using Navizon, or listening to music. So my need is something that doesn't require any attention - no switching - and has some kind of indicator to tell me when the extender needs charging. How does yours measure up?

[boz]

I have found the GPS for less external battery extender to be excellent and have used it a few times, it has an LED power light and an on/off button on the same end, the coiled lead is plenty long enough for most uses, the photo is of mine to give you an idea of size.

I tend to use it once the battery is getting low but there is nothing stopping you using it with a full charge in your Orbit 2, when the charge is getting low in the extender the LED gets dimmer, if it had other low warning indicators built in then these would also drain the batteries that is why I went for one that does the job and does it well. A good tip is to use the highest capacity AA rechargeable batteries you can find for a longer lasting charge.

I ordered the Trinity - HTC P3600 version as shown here all the HTC models have the same part number.

[windows]

Cheers Mike - those extra pics give a much better idea of how it is constructed.

[ricka]

The car holder I received with my Orbit 2 turned out to pretty useless. The cradle is fine, but the suction holder and stalk are short a bit too rigid to mount to the right of the instrument binacle. Although you can swivel the cradle once attached to the windscreen, I could not get it at an angle where I could see the screen. My windscreen must slope backwards too much and the instrument binacle is too close to the door pilar

But I have found the perfect answer for those with a similar problem. I bought a Halfords Mobile Phone Holder (£14.95, Item Code 236612) which has a long fully flexible stalk. It is obviously made by the same German company that makes the holder supplied by O2 as the lugs that hold the cradle are in the same position. Therefore, you can simply detach the universal mobile phone gripper from the Halfords stalk, and attach the O2 supplied cradle.

It works perfectly and holds the Orbit 2 at exactly the right angle and very firmly in place. So I hope this helps others who need to mount their Orbit in a similar position for driving.

[Michael_Mcr]

Originally Posted by ricka

.....The car holder I received with my Orbit 2 turned out to pretty useless. The cradle is fine, but the suction holder and stalk are straight and quite rigid. Although you can swivel the cradle once attached to the windscreen, I could not get it at an angle where I could see the screen. My windscreen must slope backwards too much......

The car holder supplied with the Orbit 2 is designed to bend and indeed they do, but it does require force to the point where you think it is about to break.....you have to be very bold and brave with them

I thought as you do at first - that it is a rigid stalk, because it wouldnt bend - then on closer inspection i realised that it has multiple joints along its length.

I had to do a poor impression of a circus strongman bending an iron bar the first couple of times, then it loosened a little. ( i had to go and lie down afterwards :0)

Trust me - get the stalk in both hands and put everything you've got into it - the bugger will bend to any angle you want eventually.

Once i had mine set right, i found it very convenient just to click the suction cup to the windscreen.

Regards

Michael

[ricka]

Thanks for the reply. So I went out and tried being a circus stronman as you suggested. And it worked ! But I felt like I was going to break it in two. My new more flexible stalk can be adjusted with one hand whilst in the car, but doesn't sag, so I think I will stick with that.

So I now have a spare stalk - I wonder what use I can put it to ...