iBend
Written by Heather Leister
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I was asked to try out the iBend and the first time I saw it my thoughts were something along the lines of, yeah right…there’s no way this is going to hold up my iPhone, it’s just a thin piece of rounded plastic that bends. I was wrong. It’s not much to look at but when you’ve got it bent and your iPhone set down in it, you’ve got yourself a great little stand.
I was curious about how the idea for the iBend came about so I asked one of the creators for the story. Brandon was on a flight and ended up sitting next to Mike. They both ended up watching movies on their iPhones. Only difference was that Mike had a stand made out of a business card. The stand fell apart after an hour but it spurred some discussion and the men eventually discovered that they lived near each other in San Francisco. There was more discussion and they decided to meet up again back home and begin collaborating. Between Brandon’s engineering background and Mike’s in graphics and design the iBend was born.
So why would someone need an iBend? I received mine to go along with the OccupyBaby app. The idea behind this is to set your iPhone in the iBend and let your child watch OccupyBaby without needing to handle your phone. This is a great use for it but since my kids are old enough to touch my phone I came up with another use for my house. My husband enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. Often times his cooking escapades involve research done from his phone and occasionally there’s a “how to” video that needs to be watched. I’m thinking that he can set up an iBend on the counter and watch the video while he works his culinary magic. Now my cooking is less experimental and more functional. I could use the iBend and set up my iPhone to watch a chick flick that distracts me from the mundane task of providing nutritious vittles. Who wouldnt want to watch Mr. Darcy while whipping up a casserole?
The iBends are reasonably priced at $4.99 a pack, each pack includes two stands. There are the original black and white models and the soon to be released artist series. I have both but my favorites are the bright artist version.
Brandon from iBend has been generous enough to donate several packs of iBends for my readers. If you’re interested in winning one leave a comment below. If you tell a friend about the iBend website then go ahead and leave an additional comment.
** Update – Just got word that I’ll have 5 packs of iBends to give away! Contest is going to end Friday night.
For more information on the iBend visit: www.myibend.com
By Amber on Aug 24, 2009
Ooh, I want one.
By Lynette Mattke on Aug 24, 2009
The iBend looks like a great idea. I develop iPhone apps for kids – picture books – so the iBend is perfect to use while kids are viewing picture books on the iPhone. Keep those grubby hands off the screen! I will definitely recommend this to our customers.
By Jen on Aug 24, 2009
The iBend sounds very useful. I’m 33 weeks pregnant & just got the iPhone. I can’t wait to start using all these cool mom apps. Thanks for the help.
By Kim on Aug 24, 2009
I would love one!
By Mary Burton on Aug 24, 2009
That would be so great so use for the kids to watch stuff and not touch my phone….or heaven forbid drop it while they are holding it, which worries me. I could see how the possibilities would be endless for us house with that handy thing!
By Patricia on Aug 24, 2009
I love that it’s so small and portable for traveling. Arms get tired when watching a movie for too long. Would love to try one out on our next plane trip.
By Mark on Aug 24, 2009
Excellent! I’ve been wanting something just like this for flights myself. Oh, and I hope to win one!
By Alison on Aug 24, 2009
Looks like something that would be great on planes! My little guy loves to watch movies on my iphone when we are on airplanes, but he has to hold it and he gets whinny and I end up holding it for him. This looks like it would be a great solution for that!
By Kristine on Aug 24, 2009
Wow – that’s cool!! I’d love to try one out!!
By maddux on Aug 24, 2009
sure. I want to try one, curious to see if the kids will knock it over.
By Erin on Aug 24, 2009
I’d love one— mom of a three and four year old that can’t be trusted to hold the iphone without texting random people in error yet
By amber on Aug 24, 2009
I think this is a great idea for when my kids are watching something on the iphone. This way they dont fight over who gets to hold it the whole time.
By Kristeen on Aug 25, 2009
Nifty
By Tracy on Aug 25, 2009
I have twins. We often travel by plane and this would be fantastic! No more propping my iPhone up on tissues, cookies, or fighting with each other to hold it. Why didn’t I think of this! ;D
By Eva on Aug 25, 2009
I think the iBend looks great. Just as others have said – perfect for when you want your hands free or want your kids’ hands off! My company publishes picture books for children on the iPhone, and the iBend is a great way to watch a story on the device. And it’s so simple!
By MunichMama on Aug 25, 2009
What a cool idea! As a mom of four (ages 11 mo – 8 years) and a new iphone mom this would probably get a lot of use around here (well, I guess except with the Light Saber app *LOL*)
By Ann on Aug 25, 2009
What a neat idea.
By Jenn on Aug 25, 2009
That’s an awesome product. My daughter would be able to watch her videos instead of me holding the phone. Such a good concept!
By Tammi Law on Aug 25, 2009
That is a great idea!! I would love one!!
By Babs Roberts on Aug 25, 2009
Great for looking at IPhone while you’re working on PC! If I had had it TODAY, I wouldn’t have hit the wrong button on it while I was trying to look at it AND the PC. I was reading your great info on the Grocery Gadget and had to pick up and put down the IPhone to see it. By the way, THANKS for your site….I have just stumbled on it and for a new IPhone user, fascinated with it all, I truly appreciate the simple, direct way you explained the grocery gadget. I’ll use it for the first time tomorrow. I did have one issue….when I logged in to the online site and tried to transfer the info from the IPhone to the PC, it shut down my Google email site!! Murphy had to play so tomorrow when it’s restored I’ll shop. PLEASE send me the IBEND or I’ll break out in bad behavior!(Ha) Babs
By Celia on Aug 26, 2009
FINALLY! my hands can get a rest! whew! We have 8 children & sometimes when we go out to dinner & we’re waiting for our food to arrive the kids get restless & so I break out my iPhone and it keeps their attention with a video or movie but we all have to adjust seats so I can get to end of table to hold the phone in my hand or try to prop it up on my purse or something like that so it can be seen. I’ve had to prop it up with a dishtowel to display a recipe for cooking in my kitchen or even listening to a podcast. I NEED one of those and it’ll defintly get plenty of use. Very clever, compact, portable and practical! What more can you say!? but too cool!
By Michelle on Aug 26, 2009
Oh boy! I’m visiting your blog for the first time and right off the bat you have info and a product review I can use! my daughter is developmentally disabled and during some of her therapeutic sessions, the iPhone is the only thing that gets/keeps her attention, keeps her head up. We will now be able to help position her arms AND legs AND keep her head up! Thank you for the review–you can’t imagine the impact you have made upon the life a (terminally) ill little girl. From the bottom of my heart, we thank you.
By Ruth on Aug 27, 2009
Just bought the Occupy Baby app. Now all I need is an iBend!
By Charity on Aug 28, 2009
I could really use the iBend.
Thanks
By Charity on Aug 28, 2009
I tweeted.
https://twitter.com/ccboobooy/status/3606966212
By Jen on Aug 28, 2009
These look great!!! I live in Australia and rarely find cool iPhone accessories
. We are getting my 2 year old an itouch for Xmas, because I would like to use my phone occassionally!! Would love to have an iBend for both us to use 
By Alyson on Aug 30, 2009
Count me in if it is not too late (which Friday?).
Alyzabeth’s Mommy for Eleven Months!