This looks somewhat unsafe and unnecessary. I think that the charging station you featured a couple weeks ago is a much more viable solution. I use cradles for nearly everything I charge. Although removing clutter from my desk sounds appealing, the fact that my phone is mere inches away proves to be handy daily.

kevinzak21

I thought it was unsafe to make charging wires into a coil close to the electrical socket?

Bluebin

Adam, have you actually used this and can recommend it? I feel like the "Stuff We Like" tag should only be used in those cases.

I too saw this on Unclutterer, but after reading some of the comments on Amazon.com (which focused on how flimsy and cheaply made it is) I decided not to buy it.

glitch1138

Show me one holding a full size Blackberry and maybe... when they're in the dollar store.

pjnofrills

@Bluebin: It's a poor idea to coil active cables at all.

Not only do they create interference, but they can overheat (this is less likely with low voltage cables).

salmonmoose

bad idea. looks flimsy and the holder actually touches the prongs of the plug.

I love Lifehacker but sometimes it seems like they post things just for filler material without actually using the product.

monkeyboy

Bought it from my local hardware store as an impulsive checkout buy and it SUCKS!

IT IS HORRIBLE! It won't stick to the wall and the down force of the object on the holder wedges the plug out from the wall.

IT SUCKS!

spoofhack

@spoofhack: "IT IS HORRIBLE! It won't stick to the wall and the down force of the object on the holder wedges the plug out from the wall."

I saw a display of these set up at a store the other day, and that was my immediate impression of how it would work in RL -- thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Stay away from this one, folks. The Socket Pocket listed in the post will serve you far better (the hammock looks to suffer from some of the same design flaws as this).

BingleyJoe

Adam, ask Gina to write to Nick Denton to up your gadget buying budget (with Gawker Media valued at $150 million, Im sure he can afford it) so you can test the stuff out before it goes on the "stuff we like" list. Maybe a "stuff that looks cool, so go buy it and tell me how it works out" list might work better. Sorry to be harsh, but its clear that the "Stuff we like" list is losing its credibility. Please??

Lazarus

@all: Many users on both Amazon and Unclutterer had very good things to say about the cradle, but thanks for the input. We do sometimes test the products we feature, but the stuff we like category also includes untested items—which is why your feedback is always very welcome.

Adam Pash

This thing has to be DIY.

Dereks

I do not understand why anyone would get this. A much better solution is to get a USB hub that plugs into the wall and then you can just plug everything into that...

e6c

I'd be really nervous with anything that close to a socket.

OX4

I bought two last year in Italy. It works okay with my cell phone and DS and it saves space instead of a charge station on a countertop or table and it has a nice modern form.

I think commenters may be blowing the safety issue way out of proportion.
There hasn't been a fire risk at all by wrapping the wires or the fact that the plastic is near the socket.

I don't think Lifehacker has every claimed to be a product review site.

jmaeng

@Adam Pash:
Fair enough. Although I still think a letter to Nick Denton wouldn't hurt your gadget buying budget :-)

Lazarus

My mom got me one sometime last year. Since most of my plugs are at floor level it doesn't help me too much, but I like it. I still use it for charging things like my bluetooth headset. It makes more sense in my mom house where she uses it about one of the kitchen counters.

Spifferiferfied

I picked one up in Amsterdam and have been using it in the US for nearly 2 years. I use it for my cell (LG VX8300), which I keep at an outlet in the kitchen near my purse so I don't forget it. I like the way it keeps the counter clear. No part of it ever touches the prongs of the plug, despite the photo above. It would hold a Blackberry Pearl, but probably not the wider form factor model Blackberrys--because of width, not weight. I give it a 50/50 for the width of a Treo.

cathro

"The Driinn Mobile Phone Holder comes in a variety of colors and will set you back around $7 at Amazon."

Sounds like a waste of $7. Why not do something better with that $7 than hold something that doesn't need holding.

OmegaRed59