SeatBuddy hangs iPhones for viewing comfort

When it comes to in-flight movies, it's hard to beat the convenience of an iPhone or iPod Touch.

But comfort? That's another story. Either you're holding the device upright for 2 hours or propping it awkwardly on the tray table (where the slightest turbulence can knock it over).

I speak from experience when I say that both methods can leave you with strained eyes and a sore neck.

Enter SeatBuddy, which straps your iPhone or Touch to the seat in front of you for comfortable, hands-free, close-to-eye-level viewing.

As you can see in the video, the SeatBuddy is basically a rubberized case with straps that allow it to hang over the top of the seat-back tray table (which must stay closed, natch).

What you don't see in the video is that you can affix Velcro tabs (included) to each strap, thus allowing you to secure the SeatBuddy to a treadmill or the back of a car seat (by wrapping the straps around one of the headrest's poles).

I think this little gizmo is reasonably priced at $19.95 (plus $3.95 for shipping), though obviously there are other solutions that cost less.

For example, if all you need is a stand that'll keep your iPhone propped up on a tray table, it's hard to beat the $5 GoGo Stand (which, incidentally, fits in your wallet).

And don't forget my all-time favorite: The do-it-yourself iPhone business-card stand.

Of course, those solutions don't have quite the same go-anywhere appeal as the SeatBuddy, which also leaves you more room to move around in your seat and reduces the eyestrain that comes from looking downward for hours at a time.

What do you think? Is this the answer to a frequent-flier's prayer, or is $20 too much to pay when you can accomplish more or less the same thing with an airsickness bag?