Apple is known for design simplicity and ease of use. We love it when third-party accessory makers follow Apple’s lead and come out with high-quality, good-looking, easy-to-use add-ons for our Apple gear of choice. Pivotal’s Podium for iPhone 3G is one such accessory.

Your iPhone 3G or iPod touch can stand up tall or wide for easy viewing when snapped into the Podium.

Getting the Podium set up takes all of 2 seconds—snap your caseless iPhone 3G or second-gen iPod touch into the Podium’s black plastic “fingers” vertically or horizontally, set it where you want it, and rotate your phone as needed while watching video, typing or reading email, viewing photos, and whatever else you regularly use your iPhone for. The ball bearing that connects the easel-like gripper to the actual Podium rotates 360 degrees in a lovely smooth motion. And since the stand has some heft—it weighs a full pound—it’s not likely to get knocked or tipped over as you’re using it. The nonslip, nonscratching 3M base pad adds to its stability too.

You will pay a little more for the quality of craftsmanship—at almost 70 bucks, the Podium isn’t cheap. But come on, we’re Apple users—were used to paying a premium for quality.

While we prefer the brushed nickel of the Just Mobile Xtand, we’re happy to trade cosmetic appeal for the Podium’s superior design and ease of use. Besides the original Platinum (polished nickel), the Podium also comes in Pearl (glossy white). Admittedly, the look is a bit of an ’80s throwback, but it complements white iPhone 3Gs nicely. And anyway, our cool friends tell us ’80s styles are in again.