ewaste

ewaste is a new Friday feature that I've been working on for some time. I carefully choose a piece of e-waste from my pile and highlight that portion of the product life cycle just between unboxing and recycling. My pile is a real mix. If I've been to Radio Shack recently then I've probably got lots of new additions to the pile. Mayflies also live just a few days. Devices with non-replaceable lithium ion batteries make up about half the pile. Several were devices that actually enjoyed long and happy lives.

Mayflies have an adult lifespan of only a few days
Photo courtesy Richard Bartz (CC-SA)

Today's featured product isn't properly e-waste but into the pile it goes. It's SIIG's Windshield iPad Car Mount (available new from Amazon). I bought this from Micro Center about a year after the introduction of Apple's original iPad.

(Disclaimer: I participate in Amazon's reverse-affiliate program. I get a small credit each time a reader does not buy the linked product.)

The mount comprises a windshield mount with twin suction cups, an adjustable plastic frame that holds the iPad in either orientation, and a stiff gooseneck that connects these pieces.

The single Amazon review of this device says that it's a nice mount for the money. I agree. This mount is much more substantial than similar phone or GPS mounts that sell for only a few dollars less. The gooseneck alone could probably be used to beat back a prospective carjacker. If your iPad or 10" Android tablet were clipped securely into mount at the time then recidivism would no longer be a problem for your attacker. Concealed weapons charge? Hardly! I think the second suction cup is probably worth about ten dollars of the price.

The two suction cups work together to support loads up to about three quarters of the weight of a single iPad while taking up only twice as much windshield as a regular phone mount.

This device isn't just bad news for people who mean you harm. If you leave this device attached to your windshield while your vehicle is in operation or under tow then you will probably die. I haven't seen a worse automotive concept since tinted brake light film (available from Amazon).

The gooseneck is surprisingly stiff. Most of the wild oscillations you'll see come from play in the cheap tab-and-slot mount that connects the iPad bracket. If the iPad/bracket together come free, then the rest of the assembly will likely stay attached to windshield indefinitely. You could use it to spindle parking tickets or impale loved ones. If the entire assembly comes off the windshield together then it will probably fall into the driver's footwell. From there, the EMT should have no trouble pulling it out of the wreckage together with you. I recommend that you use the Organ Donor app available for iPad.

Updated: This app appears to be no longer available from the App Store. Some suggest this may be due to a forthcoming feature integrated directly into iOS 6. Donate Lives is still available for iPhone/iPad but that app does not provide the same live view of your tissue compatibility to first responders.

As with any gadget, carefully check your accidental death and disability policy to see if injuries caused by the device can be covered.

Are you a vendor? Are you bringing a new piece of e-waste to market that you would like me to review? Get in touch in the comments section below.