I agree, it wasn't very forward thinking regarding cell phones. But I imagine when they were designing the current layout back in 2006-2008 not a ton of people had smartphones yet.
I found this holder mount on amazon a few days ago. I thought I would share since I've searched the boards looking for a good solution The Nimbus Mount
That can not be good for the switches and mechanics of the shifter, between the weight of the phone and any stresses of turning or stopping.
Just to address the point, the weight of the phone is negligible at best compared to the steel post that it sits on. (Unless you have a cinder block for a phone which wouldn't fit on any mount ) It doesn't affect the mechanics or gear shifting in the slightest.
It's both the weight and distance from the fulcrum point. There have been well-documented shifter failures in Gen IIs. But hey, it's your car!
What is this ^ ? Where can I get one? Where does it go in the vehicle? (not necessarily in that order)
Can you please explain what material the shaft is made of how it adversely affects anything in the Prius? You seem to have a very good understanding of it. I assume you have taken it apart and analyzed everything underneath all that plastic.
The shifter shaft material is immaterial. The issue is vehicle dynamics accelerating the phone mass fixed to the end of the shifter shaft and how that may unexpectedly result in shifter actuation.
I use a phone mount on my shifter with Galaxy S3 w/extended battery and the only time my shifter moves is when I move it with my hand. The phone doesn't move when taking off or stopping. Might act differently on the Gen II since the shifter sticks out of the dash at a more horizontal angle.
You can download the 3d plan and if you have access to a 3d printer make your own. Konica Minolta iPhone dock for Toyota Prius - GrabCAD