What Accessories Do I Need? What Can I Live Without?

**CharmCityCrab** · 07-05-2012, 09:30 PM

I've ordered an HTC One V. This will be my first smart phone. It's a big financial strain to get it, so I only want to get those accessories I truly need, at least at first. Maybe in a month or two, I can look into "nice to have, but optional", but not right now.

I ordered a microSD card, because they say the internal memory really isn't enough.

What about a screen protector and/or case? How necessary are these? Is one more important than the other? What are some good *inexpensive* brands available at reputable online retailers (I prefer Amazon, but would look where ever)?

If I were to put the phone in my pocket alongside my keys and spare change without a screen protector or case would I be asking for trouble? What about nestled next to my wallet? What are some tips for keeping a smart phone in nice presentable shape?

Is there anywhere to order a cheap extra charging cord? I presume we are looking for USB to micro-USB? Would a generic cord do? I think I have an existing car charger for my ipod that would actually do the trick as a car charger, I'd just need an extra cord, since obviously I'd want to keep the one it comes with at home.

Am I missing anything I need?

If there's stuff that's cool to have but can wait, be sure to mention that.

In a month or three, it might be feasible to do more than right this second. But I don't want to ruin my phone in the first month either, so if there's something I truly do need for it...

**vmobi** · 07-05-2012, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by CharmCityCrab

I've ordered an HTC One V. ...
...
I order a microSD card...

What about a screen protector and/or case? ...

If I were to ...

Is there anywhere to order a cheap extra charging cord? ...

If there's stuff that's cool to have but can wait, ...
for it...

A must have for any smartphone...

http://www.otterbox.com/HTC-One-V-Co...tc-one-v-cases

Micro SD ... Good idea to get one if you plan on loading music, movies, pictures, any other multi-media stuff...

Extra charging cord... maybe.

Cool stuff to have but can wait...
http://www.mophie.com/juice-pack-pow...rstion-pro.htm

Good phone choice. HTC makes a great product.

**cpcollector** · 07-05-2012, 10:11 PM

Check eBay. if you want to save money don't order straight from the manufacturers website. A good case+screen protector can easily be obtained for less than $5.

**Extraordinary** · 07-06-2012, 12:19 AM

I never put my phone with my keys or change unless its for a second by accident. With my wallet-sure... its leather and wont scratch, but I usually avoid that too.

Screen protector cant hurt, and they are super cheap on eBay. A memory card should come with the phone but it may not be a large capacity. PM me if you want one, I have extras. All sizes from 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32gb and class 2-10.

**IsLand_BoY** · 07-06-2012, 12:40 AM

Definitely a screen protector. My TPU case for my Nexus from Amazon was $8.90 and it's perfect without the big price tag. The rest you can wait. A memory card would be ideal and you can get it cheap on Amazon with free shipping.

Enjoy your first smartphone! I'm sure you'll love it. Though, be forewarned - you won't ever be able to go back to a 'dumb phone'

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using HowardForums

**Steveanderson13** · 07-06-2012, 01:15 AM

Case, screen protector, card. I use the two piece silicone snap on case. Works well. Always keep your phone separate from everything else.

**jeffmd** · 07-06-2012, 04:43 AM

bestskinsever.com for your screen protection needs. Amazon and especially ebay will offer up a cheap selection of cases, although not ottorbox quality, but functional.

**CharmCityCrab** · 07-06-2012, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the tips. SD card already ordered the other day and on it's way, so it's too late to take up the generous poster earlier on the thread on his offer.

How do these look screen protector wise?:

http://www.amazon.com/Screen-Protect...reen+protector

And this as a case?:

http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-S-Curve...ords=HTC+One+V

Remember, I am going for cheap. Right now anything much above this price range is in "next month" range money wise.

However, I don't want to buy utter crap that won't protect my phone. I don't really know what I'm looking for in this area and what to do avoid.

**jrocker** · 07-06-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by CharmCityCrab

Thanks for the tips. SD card already ordered the other day and on it's way, so it's too late to take up the generous poster earlier on the thread on his offer.

How do these look screen protector wise?:

http://www.amazon.com/Screen-Protect...reen+protector

And this as a case?:

http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-S-Curve...ords=HTC+One+V

Remember, I am going for cheap. Right now anything much above this price range is in "next month" range money wise.

However, I don't want to buy utter crap that won't protect my phone. I don't really know what I'm looking for in this area and what to do avoid.

I bought a few cases and the cheapest one turned out to be the best.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o01_s00_i00

**cpcollector** · 07-06-2012, 12:46 PM

Those are fine. If you want to save a bit more I've always used generic LCD protectors and preferred them over other expensive methods I've tried (InvisibleShield, BodyGuard, etc.)

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...id=41772186371

**CharmCityCrab** · 07-06-2012, 03:03 PM

Thanks guys.

And, yes, I do think I am going to agree with the guy who said that I probably won't be able to go back to a feature phone after this. Everything I've seen and heard indicates that it's one of those sort of epic technology migrations that really does change your life and becomes kind of integral (You know, as technology goes, not in some sort of transcendent way). Like going from CDs to an ipod, or paper books to a kindle. Just a big leap forward.

I've always liked music and had CDs, but once they became files and I eventually got an ipod, it went from stuff I'd pull out a couple of times a week to stuff I listened to everyday- surfing the web, walking the dog, in the car, while reading, in bed to help me fall asleep at night, etc.. Just a paradigm shift. And it turned my driving experience from flipping around 18 presets for 10 minutes to find a song I liked and hearing like the last 30 seconds of it (Because inevitably I'd find it when it was almost over) and repeating the search, to just kicking back and listening to my music, songs in their entirety, with no commercials or DJs or traffic and weather and the 5s.

And some talky podcasts I actually like (Not to get political, but I can't stand right-wing talk radio and that's all that was on offer on local radio). And all the things you can do with playlists- smart and regular.

Kindle was similar, went from paper books that cluttered stuff up and strained my eyes to read tiny uncomfortable type, and trying to scan pages to find just where I left off- to one device, with a font I could set very large, that left me exactly where I went off. Went from reading occasionally to reading everyday again for the first time in many years.

Now, I can't say before getting it exactly how or if a smartphone will do something similar, but I have a good feeling about it, or I wouldn't be getting one. Trust me, it's going to make things really tight financially, and I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't persuaded. I actually spent the last couple years trying to talk myself out of getting one and finally felt like it was time.

Off the top of my head, immediately having a 5 megapixel camera is going to be great to help document my dog's adventures and maybe take some nature shots. GPS could be pretty helpful, too. Never had a GPS before.

There's the ability to check sports scores, edit your fantasy football lineup, and settle arguments or questions about, say, poker rules or some sort of political or general interest topic on the fly. And check store hours and such. One can use a bank ap to see one's account balance before making a purchase or deciding just how much gas one can afford to put in the tank.

Looks like it's enough there that it can be a backup to both my ipod and my Kindle, at least temporarily if those things break and it takes me a while to raise funds to replace them (Probable). Not a total replacement because I have a big music collection (Wouldn't fit even with the largest expansion cards) and really value a lot of itunes' advanced specific features (Not duplicated enough on any other software), and I don't want to read books for hours at a time on a small glowing screen, but definitely good enough as a backup in a pinch. Enough to keep me going.

Plus, I can't count the number of times I've had my ipod in my pocket and wanted to play a song I was talking about for someone, but couldn't because I didn't have speakers to plug it into on my person- with a smartphone (where I assume some speakers are built in) and Google Play, I should be able to do that.

Also, while I wouldn't want to read a book on it for hours, the Kindle ap should be good enough that I can pull it out for 5 minutes at a doctor's office in the waiting room or while getting my oil changed or while I'm visiting people who need to leave the room briefly. I don't drag my Kindle everywhere I go.

Plus, you know, there's angry birds.

And any number of things. And I think the coolest stuff will be the stuff I discover after getting it. I think there's a lot of free aps out there.

I'm just trusting that Virgin's network can be reliable with my calls and texts. It'll be my only phone, so the calls have to go through and be received. And I send thousands of texts a month (Maybe my main way of communicating), so that's key. If I ever went back to a feature phone, it'd likely be because the smart phone or it's network didn't do the basic cell phone stuff it had to do well well-- i.e. make and receive calls and texts. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though.