Have you seen one of those weird circular discs slapped on the back of someone’s phone?
Chances are that’s a Popsocket. They’re hugely popular right now, especially with the younger crowd. But what are Popsockets, and what are they used for?
They’re plastic circles that attach themselves to flat phones (or cases) with a sticky, reusable adhesive. They “pop” out twice and look like a small accordion. They’re easy to remove too.
What’s so great about them and why are they so popular? We’re going to dive in and help you figure that out.
1. Get a Grip and Stop Dropping
The most obvious use of a Popsocket is as an additional grip. This is especially useful for larger smartphones. If you have a tendency to drop your phone a lot, or have smaller hands and find it hard to hold the phone comfortably, a Popsocket fixes that.
I have petite hands, so it gets difficult for me to hold my iPhone 8 Plus sometimes, especially with one hand. With a Popsocket, I can hold my device one-handed and browse without issue, plus it’s much more comfortable.
I also tend to drop my phone quite a bit. Since using the Popsocket, though, the number of drops is significantly lower. Often, I prefer carrying my phone around in my hand. The Popsocket allows me wrap two fingers around it, making my phone appear like it’s “floating” in my hand. I get quicker access to my phone this way, and I’m always camera-ready.
2. Picture-Perfect Selfies
In addition to providing a much better grip on your device, the Popsocket is great for taking selfies—if you’re into that.
Why is this? Since the Popsocket makes it easier to hold your phone with one hand, reaching the shutter button should be effortless. It also provides more freedom with the angle, and the sturdy grip means you no longer need to fumble around as you find the most flattering shot.
Before the Popsocket, I often used two hands when taking selfies, since holding my iPhone 8 Plus is a huge pain with one hand. After purchasing a Popsocket, I find myself taking more selfies because I’m able to hold my phone at more interesting angles without any fuss.
You may also want to invest in a mobile tripod if you’re looking for more smartphone camera tools.
3. Make a Stand and Prop Up Your Phone
If you need to prop your smartphone or tablet up for a better view while watching videos or playing games, the Popsocket has you covered too. There’s no need to make your own stand.
Using a Popsocket as a stand works better when there are two of them attached to your phone or tablet (especially the latter), but a single one works too.
With one Popsocket, just pop it out twice and lean your device in landscape orientation. This works best when the Popsocket is more towards the center of your phone—otherwise it just falls over and isn’t effective. This method might take a few tries to get right.
For larger devices, such as your tablet, it’s best to use two Popsockets, placed slightly off-center at the top and bottom. This way, you can prop your tablet up on a table or hang it in either portrait or landscape mode with the optional Popsocket mounts.
While putting a Popsocket on your smartphone may still work with your existing car mounts, it could become harder to fit, depending on your equipment. For those ready to completely switch over to Popsockets, the optional Popsockets Mount or Vent Mount are an inexpensive but valuable item to have around. Unlike Popsockets though, the adhesive for the regular mount is not reusable.
4. Tangle-Free Earbuds
Not everyone wants to use Bluetooth headphones, or they still might want to take advantage of their existing headphone jack. But with wired earbuds (check out wired Lightning Cable earbuds) come tangled messes. Not with Popsockets, though.
Using the dual Popsocket setup in the video above, you can wrap your wired earbuds around the Popsockets for tangle-free cord storage when they’re not in use. It may look a bit silly, but it’s easier than having to untangle those earbuds each time you dig them out of your pocket.
5. Personalize It
Popsockets come in a variety of premade designs and you can find them at brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy and Target. Or you can order Popsockets from Amazon. But the real fun comes from creating your own unique Popsocket, which adds just the right amount of personality to your device.
The only way to create a custom Popsocket is through the Popsocket website. From here, you can upload images (make sure you own them first) from your device, or import something from your Facebook or Instagram. Then add some text, change the typeface and positioning, and even pick the base colors of the button and disc.
The price for custom Popsockets starts at $15. It’s fairly reasonable pricing, and adds a splash of character to your device that’s hard to replicate.
6. Use It Only When You Need It
What’s great about about Popsockets is that you can use them only when you really need them. If the idea of having a slight bulge on the back of your phone all the time bothers you, don’t worry. Popsockets are easy to remove and install or reposition at any time.
If you’re like me and change your phone case as frequently as your socks, what do you do when you only have one Popsocket? Do you need to buy one for every phone case you own? Nope. Popsockets have reusable adhesive so you can remove it and pop it back on as often as you’d like.
To do this, make sure your Popsocket is flattened, then peel it up slowly from the bottom platform base, where the adhesive is. I’d recommend taking your case off first. If it’s a bit flexible, removing the Popsocket should be no issue.
For harder shell cases, or even on the back of the device itself, you may want to try some dental floss. Just slide it underneath the platform and it should lift and separate the adhesive.
The only concern with removing Popsockets is that you can only expose it to air for so long. For the adhesive gel to maintain its stickiness and not dry out, make sure the Popsocket doesn’t get more than 15 minutes of air exposure.
It’s also possible for the adhesive gel to get dirty over time. Cleaning Popsockets just requires a quick rinse of water, and then letting it air dry. Again, make sure it’s drying for no more than 15 minutes.
Popsockets: Simple but Life-Changing
While they may look silly at first, there are many great ways to use Popsockets. It takes time to get used to the Popsocket, but after a while, it becomes an essential smartphone accessory. You’ll find it hard to go back to a phone or tablet without one.
Read Full Article
No comments:
Post a Comment