Review: SOTI Pocket Controller-Pro 8 – Now with Bluetooth Support and Notifications

SOTI Pocket Controller-Pro for BlackBerry is one of the few productivity apps I consistently rely on day to day. For me it’s more than just the ability to use BBM from my desktop. Need to capture a tricky screenshot for a 101 that no other app will get? Check. Want to type on a regular keyboard instead of the small keys of the BB? Check. Peace of mind that it looks like I’m being productive at work when I’m actually on my BB. Che….Alright you caught me red handed. That’s the beauty of Pocket Controller; it lets you stay focused on the task at hand without having to constantly stop to check your BlackBerry.

That being said, I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn it’s been updated to version 8.0. This version includes even more amazing productivity features and bug fixes. So let’s break each down one by one and hopefully I won’t be caught goofing off at work. If you’re unfamiliar with SOTI Pocket Controller-Pro you can check out my original review.    

Bluetooth Support

Have you ever been in an area with no Wi-Fi and no USB cable? Many users asked for Bluetooth support and after patiently waiting a few months it’s finally here. While Bluetooth itself has a slower transfer rate than USB or Wi-Fi, sometimes I barely notice it. Although, a couple of times there can be an intermittent 3-5 second delay. I found these “lags” mostly during screen transitions not in an application. While it’s not the fastest connection Bluetooth range does surpass that of the USB cord. Plus it’s great in a crunch when Wi-Fi is unavailable.  

Notifications

I've said it once and I've said it before, I'm lazy. I don't want to go through extra steps or clicks to accomplish a task. With notifications I can stay focused on doing my job yet still feed my BlackBerry addiction. Distractions from having to switch screens or look for the flashing light when receiving emails, texts and phone calls are a thing of the past. Each popup brings you to the application as you cannot reply directly from within the notification box.

Email

Instantly reply, reply to all, and delete pushed emails from your device by clicking on the link in the popup.  It will display who the email is from, the subject, and body of the message. 

SMS

Good new is you can receive and reply to text messages. Bad news is responding to messages is limited to GSM devices and there is no Caller-ID. At the time of this post there is an issue with replying to SMS on OS5 devices. The developer is releasing a new version shortly to correct this. Luckily that's what 12-months free upgrades are for.  

Phone

Answer or ignore all incoming calls, end conversations, and see who's calling all from your desktop with one click of a button.

Notifications Panel

I am a multitasking freak at work. So much in fact they asked me to slow down. Little do they realize how hard it is for me to do that. This panel is the answer to my going in a million directions at once. Not only does it show you the time and battery level but by using this panel you can quickly access and respond to recent emails, texts, and phone calls.

My favorite though has to be the application switcher. Thanks to this one tab everything is now at my fingertips. Easily access all of your currently running apps without the need for extra clicks. Switching back and forth is so effortless I found myself going between Twitter and BBM more than I should.

Pros

• Easy to pair
• Improved speed and performance 
• Notifications panel increases productivity and maneuverability 
• Pick and choose which email accounts to link 
• Notifications panel can be docked with program or appear as a separate box

Pocket Controller Pro does exactly what it sets out to do. Being able to combine the functionality of Pocket Controller and desktop notifications is an unbelievable experience. Hypothetically one could now spend all day at work on their BlackBerry without anyone knowing or missing a beat. Finally, I must mention the outstanding tech support on my Bold’s SMS issue. They were able to narrow down the issue to the specific line of programming code. That’s the level of service you receive with 12-months of technical support after purchasing. With all these new features you certainly won't be disappointed.  

SOTI Pocket Controller-Pro is available for all devices running OS 4.6 and higher for $35.99. It’s currently on sale for 50% off for a limited time. Hurry, sale ends Friday May 20th at BlackBerry App World and May 30th at the CrackBerry App Store.