If you want to buy one smartphone car mount for life your best bet is made by RAM Mounts. Why? Maybe because they're completely manufactured in the USA. Or it's possibly because they make iPhone and laptop mounts for motorcycles and police cars, which obviously need to be more secure. Perhaps it's because Gizmodo alum and seasoned roadtripper Joel Johnson reviewed them last year and called them a lifechanger. Some choice quotes:
I'd heard of RAM Mounts for years but hadn't ever tried one. But I'm so struck by this simple effectiveness of their iPhone 4 windshield mount that I'll deign to capitalize their name, even though that drives me crazy unless I'm writing about LEGO.
Giz writers breaking style conventions because they're impressed by a company's product is a really good sign.
It's the arm that makes the RAM Mount so notable. It's the first car mount I've ever used that has almost no give. Pressing the screen on my iPhone is very nearly as stable as if it were sitting flat on the surface of a desk.
That's a huge difference from my (cheap-o) mount experiences, which, to put it in one word, were rickety.
There's nothing at all that makes this praise exclusive to the iPhone mount, either. The arm is the basis of nearly their entire product line, which supports smartphones, GPS units, fishing rod holders, netbook mounts, etc. RAM is a company that just makes mounts. And they're terribly good at it.
Gotta love a company that does one thing, does it well, and does it in the United States. And today for Gizmodo readers we went out and got an exclusive discount. RAM Mounts are a good value any day, but today through our secret Dealzmodo Exclusive links you can get 25% off.
You've got two options: the RAM Universal Smartphone Mount, which works with your iPhones, your Androids, and whatever case you decide to put on your device. You've also got the Universal Small Tablet Mount, which works with 7" tablets, so you can stick a Nexus 7, or a Kindle Fire, or even an iPad Mini on your dash. Using an iPad Mini as a GPS: now we're in the friggin' future. [RAM Mounts]
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Top Deals
Dealzmodo Exclusive! These 25% off links are active until Monday 12/10.
• RAM Mounts Universal Smartphone Mount with Suction Cup ($37.50) | Originally $50
• RAM Mounts Universal 8" Tablet Mount with Suction Cup ($41.50) | Originally $55
Accessories
• Galaxy MDT GT 610 Graphics Card ($10) | Tiger Direct via Hard Forum | Originally $35 | MIR, hook 4 displays up to one computer
• Leatherman Multitool ($16) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $20
• Peak iPad Case ($20) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $50
• 32GB Transcend MicroSD ($20) | B&H Photo via Storageaholic | Originally $25
• 64GB USB 2.0 Patriot Flash Drive ($25) | Buydig via Storageaholic | Originally $35 | Stupid MIR on page
• 1TB Seagate USB 3.0 Portable HD ($80) | Newegg via Storageaholic | Originally $130 | Use coupon code EMCJHNF24
• Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 Portable External HD ($80) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $100 | Also the same price from Newegg, hail price matching
• Logitech Squeezebox Radio ($100) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $150
Miscellaneous
• Batman The Bat Vehicle Action Figure ($14) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $20
• Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press ($20) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $30
• World's Largest Gummy Bear (5lbs) ($25) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $30
• Nintendo Mario Kart Circuit Building Set ($50) | Amazon via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $100
• Globe-Style Bar ($130) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $180
• Entertainment Earth Movie Prop Sale | Entertainment Earth via Reddit
Apple
Not today, unless you want a Macbook Pro from the era where you still had to mention WiFi as a laptop feature.
Gaming
• Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for Xbox and PS3 ($20) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $30
• Game of Thrones Art Book Bundle for Xbox ($20) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $40
• Borderlands 2 Season Pass DLC ($22.47) | Green Man Gaming via Dealzon | Originally $30 | Use coupon code GMG25-CZPYL-D5MQ6
• Guild Wars 2 ($40.6) | Green Man Gaming via Dealzon | Originally $60 | Use coupon code GMG30-PXG98-CXR61
Physical Media
Not today.
Clothing
• Disposable Santa Claus Costume ($16) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $30
Dumb TV → Smart TV
• D-Link MovieNite 1080p Streamer Box ($50) | Tiger Direct via Dealzon | Originally $100 | MIR on page
Laptops
• 15" Acer Aspire with AMD Processor + Win 7 ($350) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $400
Desktops
• Lenovo IdeaCenter with Quad-Core i5 ($420) | Tiger Direct via Desktopaholic | Originally $550 | Throw an SSD in there and you've got a screamer, MIR on page
Tablets
• Used 16GB Nook ($100) | 1SaleaDay via Brand Name Coupons | Originally $140
Screens
• 23" LG 1080p IPS Monitor ($140) | Newegg via Dealzon | Originally $210
• 55" Panasonic Viera 1080p IPS HDTV + $100 Gift Card ($850) | Amazon via HDTVaholic | Originally $1200 | The 42" may be an even better deal
Portables
• Maxwell AMP-B Over-ear Headphones ($18.49) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $30
Camera
• Sigma Mount 30mm f/1.4 DSLR Lens ($350) | B&H Photo via Cameraaholic | Originally $490
• Canon EOS Rebel T4i DSLR with 18-55mm Lens and 55-250mm IS Lens ($700) | Adorama via Dealzon | Originally $750+$300 | Add 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Image Stabilizer Telephoto Zoom Lens to cart to see price drop $50, less than Amazon and you get a $300 lens
• Canon Rebel T4i with Kit Lens + 16GB SD Card + Backpack ($740) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $800 | We saw one for $650 last week but this is still an OK deal
• Nikon V1 + 2 Lenses + Flash ($800) | B&H Photo via Cameraaholic | Originally $900
• Disposable Santa Claus Costume ($16) | Amazon via Reddit | Originally $30
SSDs
Nope.
Apps
iOS
• The Sims Medieval ($0) | iTunes via Appshopper | Originally $3
• Sniper Strike ($0) | iTunes via Appshopper | Originally $2
• Ravensword: The Fallen King ($1) | iTunes via Appshopper | Originally $3
• Final Fantasy ($4) | iTunes via Best App Sales | Originally $9
• Final Fantasy II ($4) | iTunes via Best App Sales | Originally $9
• IM+ Pro ($5) | iTunes via Best App Sales | Originally $10
Android
• Dice With Buddies ($0) | Amazon Appstore via Apps-aholic | Originally $2
• Root Uninstaller Pro ($1.28) | Google Play via Apps-aholic | Originally $2.49
• tinyCam Monitor Pro ($2) | Google Play via Apps-aholic | Originally $5
Mac
• Ultimate Maths Invaders ($0) | Mac App Store | Originally $20
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