Is this the ultimate geek test?

happygeek 1 Tallied Votes 453 Views Share

Just how much of a geek are you? Do you know who Sergey Brin is? Can you solve a Rubik's Cube, in under five minutes? Do you know the value of Pi beyond 3.14? Would you spend a small fortune to get satnav on your mobile? Or maybe strap a large sucker to your thigh to hold your iPhone in place when sitting down in public?

I did not make that last one up, honest. There really is a company which is marketing an iPhone accessory which is, essentially, just a large sucker cup attached to some velcro which straps around your thigh that you whack your iPhone on to keep it nice and stable when you want to use it sitting down away from a desk or table top.

The Thiphone (yes, that is what it is called) is described as being the 'universal thigh mount' for your iPhone which allows you to write an email and drink a frappuccino at the same time. No, seriously, this is such a geek magnet of an idea that it is exactly the kind of advertising which might just work. The manufacturers even reckon it makes driving safer as you can have your iPhone, controlling your in-car music, out of your hands and on your leg while motoring.

At a cost of $29.95 (£18) there is one thing that the advertising does not mention - you are pretty much guaranteed to look like, well, a geek if you use one. It is, I would argue, the ultimate geek test. The people selling this get one thing right, even though I think they are talking about the attachment mechanism, when they admit "It sucks. Really" - umm, yes. Fashion sense apart, I am not sure I would want a 3GS strapped to my thigh, considering how hot they can get.