Third-party HTC Shift accessories
Since it’s become quite clear that I’m now incapable of letting more than a few days go by without talking about my new HTC Shift X9500 and because it’s no secret around here how much I adore accessories, I think it’s only fitting that I put the two together.
You’ve already seen the impressive accessory bundle included with the Shift, so now it’s time to take a look at all of the third-party accessories that are available for it. There are many universal add-ons that would complement the unit quite nicely, but what follows are only those items that have been designed specifically for it.
For extra official accessories, like the 2700mAh battery ($95) or AC adapter ($58), eXpansys is generally the best place to go. Their selection sort of makes up for their prices.
Cases
Piel Frama leather case
Also available in tan, the Piel Frama leather case ($130) is fashioned out of top-quality cowskin leather and is kept shut through a magnetic closure. It also features an "ABS insert for maximum protection" and is lined in leather.
Proporta Alu-Leather flip case
Highlights of the handcrafted Proporta Alu-Leather case ($35) include an aluminum "screen saver system," interior SD card pockets, cut-outs to enable in-case use, and a magnetic closure.
Full Body invisibleSHIELD
Advertised as "the toughest, most durable gadget scratch protection film available on planet Earth," the full body invisibleSHIELD 
($30) is a 0.2mm thick "virtually indestructible" clear skin that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Vaja leather case
Vaja has been teasing us with a "Sign up for the upcoming release of our HTC Shift cases" page (albeit in the smartphone/PDA section) for months. The company’s line of UMPC carrying pouches is certainly nice, but the real Shift case should be worth waiting for (provided the wait doesn’t go on much longer).
Screen Protectors
A screen protector is included with the Shift, but you really need to apply it perfectly the first time for best results. Here are a few alternatives if you don’t:
- invisibleSHIELD ($18)
- ExpertShield ($13)
- eBay Stores (various)
ClearTouch Crystal is actually my favorite because it’s washable and reusable, but there isn’t one made especially for the Shift (the Samsung Q1 one should work just fine, though).
Car Mounts
Piel Frama windshield case holder
Designed exclusively for use with the company’s leather cases with removable belt clips, the Piel Frama windshield case holder ($53) uses a "strong suction disk with a security closure" to stick onto a car windshield or "plain part" of a dashboard. The 8.3" arm is flexible and includes a snap closure so that the flap on flip-style cases stays out of the way.
This is actually pretty useless for the Shift case, which may not even come with a belt clip, but it’s advertised alongside it with a "Why not mount your device in the car?" invitation. At the very least, it could get the encased Shift off the passenger seat.
Proporta magnetic docking mount
The magnetic vehicle docking system ($20) is made for use with Proporta Alu-Leather cases. The magnetized base will automatically attach to the case’s aluminum insert and can also be slipped under the beltclip post for additional security. A "tough, lever-activated, suction mounting system" is used to attach the mount to a windshield.
Car floor/seat bolt and cup holder mounts
MountGuys.com offers two car solutions for the Shift.
The first is the car floor/seat bolt mount kit ($18), which can attach to the passenger seat bolt or be permanently affixed to the car floor with "floor mounting hardware" (supplied). The Shift stays on the 6" x 6" mounting plate with strips of "heavy duty Velcro."
The second is the cup holder mount ($17), which actually uses the FlipStart 1.0 in its name but includes the Shift in its description. Like the previous mount, this one uses "heavy duty Velcro strips" to keep the Shift in place. The mounting plate tilts to allow for adjustable viewing angles, but I don’t think it swivels and turns. Installation, according to MountGuys.com, takes just 15 seconds.
It’s impossible to talk about car mounts without mentioning RAM, whose UMPC mount collection is growing, but since they don’t yet have anything specifically for the Shift, I’ll just provide a link to their website.
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So those are all the third-party accessories I could find. Other than a docking station and an extended battery, there isn’t a whole lot left to be desired. If you know of any other accessories designed for the Shift (or even some that just work well with it), feel free to drop it in the comments.
