This Week's Featured Item: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for the Storm2

Last week we all saw Adam's charging pod he can't live without, and the week before Kevin's extended battery review (big shock he needs one of those huh?) This week's accessory is one that I have grown to love, the Otterbox cases. Otterbox has been around for quite some time now, making cases that date back to the 8800 series devices, if not even longer, but they continue to change and make their product even better. Hit the jump for some more info on OtterBox and this weeks newest accessories. Be sure to leave a comment to win an OtterBox Commuter case for your device.

Ever since I first got my first BlackBerry, a 8700 series device, I have always been a fan of slim cases, or no case at all. With the devices continuing to get slimmer and slimmer, and my hands not shrinking to fit them comfortably, I have recently been seeking alternatives to the standard slim cases I was using. Everyday life has become so busy and honestly at times it can be hard to be as cautious with my BlackBerry as I would like to be, and the Otterbox has put my mind at ease knowing the device is fully protected. What I like the most about the Otterbox Cases were that they fit extremely well, very easy to install, and protect all your ports. The Commuter Series (pictured above) was my personal favorite case because while it added an amazing amount of protection from the rubber case and the plastic over it, the case also added some additional bulk which made the device sit perfectly in my hand. The Impact Series case offers even more protection, at the cost of additional bulk.

As someone who could be considered somewhat indecisive, finding a case that offers style and protection while still keep maximum comfort while the device is in hand is quite a struggle. In the early phases of my case hunt I used to overlook Otterbox, and looking back, I realize how much of a fool I was. Granted, their cases only come in black, but how many of us end up wanting to black their BlackBerry housing's out anyways? The Otterbox has quickly grown on me and become a perfect compliment to my lifestyle. I tend to be on the go often, and can't tell you just how many times I have missed my pocket with my phone, or nearly dropped a phone due to a slick surfaced slim case I put the phone in, but those days are now behind me.

With the Otterbox case protecting my BlackBerry my mind is at ease, knowing my device is fully protected. Personally, I never seem to keep a device for a very long time, and throughout all of my recent device changes, the first accessory that I always end up purchasing is an Otterbox case for the phone. Although they may look extremely bulky, or beyond comfort, I would say that many of you will be shockingly surprised with the added comfort along with the amazing protection that the Otterbox line of cases will deliver. Check out the cases for your device here.

• Check out all of the OtterBox cases in the Shop CrackBerry Store >>

CONTEST: Win a Free OtterBox Comutter Case for your BlackBerry

For your chance to win a free OtterBox, simply leave a comment to this blog post telling us what you do that would make an OtterBox the right case for you. Contest ends this Sunday night at Midnight PST. Please, just one entry per person.

NEW BLACKBERRY ACCESSORIES @ SHOPCRACKBERRY.COM

New BlackBerry Cases

New BlackBerry Batteries

New Bluetooth Accessories

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Red Case for Your BlackBerry!

We have a full supply of red cases for all devices so you can get in the spirit of Valentine's Day. You can choose from a variety of skin cases, soft cases and hard cases that will suit your needs. Check out the full line at ShopCrackBerry.com.

• See all BlackBerry Skin Cases >>
• See all BlackBerry Hard Cases >>

Until Next Time...

That's it for this week's roundup! We hope you enjoyed it! If you come across accessories you'd like to see featured in an upcoming roundup, please send us an email to blackberryaccessories @ crackberry.com.

There are numerous iPod/iPhone docks on the markets these days, but there are very few options available for BlackBerry users to wirelessly stream music from their devices. There is of course the BlackBerry Stereo Music Gateway that runs off Bluetooth, but it has limited range, about 20-30 feet from the device. For me, that distance limitation does not make the BlackBerry Stereo Music Gateway a useful accessory for me. I am constantly moving around my house, and lose connection. 

The solution to this problem has come from a new company called Cignias. They have developed an advanced wireless music system that allows the user to wirelessly stream music from their BlackBerry to the NAO Symphony System via Wi-Fi. The system also allows for streaming via Bluetooth, and the old fashioned way by a direct connection via 3.5mm cord.

This Week's Featured Item: BlackBerry Charging Pod for Bold 9700

Kevin tackled our inaugural accessory roundup last week so this week the honor is on me... One of the accessories I cannot live without is the BlackBerry Charging Pod. It has just one job, but it does that job amazingly well. It's not new to the accessory scene, but it has to be mentioned in an accessory roundup. Hit the jump for more on the charging pod and check out some of the newest BlackBerry accessories.

The Case-Mate Barely There case is one of my favorite accessories. It comes in a variety of colors, and gives a unique look to your device to set it apart from the others. It doesn't add a lot of bulk or weight to the device, and provides a good amount of protection for everyday use. This isn't a full-protection case and it really won't save you from bumps and bruises if you drop your BlackBerry, but it will keep it protected on the back and sides from everyday wear and tear. Take a look at the video for a good overview of the Barely There case.

• See all Case-Mate Barely There cases at ShopCrackBerry.com >>

When traveling with your BlackBerry you want to pack as light as possible. Trying to remember all those chargers, cases and cords can be a real pain. To get the most out of your device and still pack light, there are some key accessories you can take along. A spare battery charger can come in very handy, especially when paired up with an extended battery. You may also want to check out some retractable USB cables to cut down on the cord tangles. Check out the video above for a quick look at some of my favorite travel accessories.

• See all spare chargers at ShopCrackBerry.com >>
• See all extended batteries at ShopCrackBerry.com >>
• See all retractable USB cables at ShopCrackBerry.com >>

Verizon seems to think that BlackBerry users are looking for a better way to get songs on their device. Transfering media to a microSD card for playback on your BlackBerry is far from difficult, but with slotRadio+ you can cut out all the hard steps. The $49.99 microSD card comes pre-loaded with 1,000 MP3s and boasts an additional 4GB of storage. The Billboard HITS and Billboard DECADES cards are loaded up with 8 preset "handcrafted playlists" and make it easy as can be for you to listen to music on your device. Just pop in the slotRadio+ card, fire up your media player and you're done. The catch seems to be that you can't play the songs in any order you want -- you have to use the preset playlists, and cannot shuffle or rearrange anything. Still, you'll have some cheap tunes and an extra 4GB of storage to do with what you please. Both cards are available from Verizon for $49.99, which seems like about $30 more than you need to spend on a 4GB card for your device. Regardless, if you're feeling lazy and want to pick up the HITS or DECADES card, head over to Verizon Wireless for more info.

• slotRadio+ Billboard HITS microSD card >>
• slotRadio+ Billboard DECADES microSD card >>

This Week's Giveaway: Win a Seidio Extended Battery! Contest Details Below...

Welcome to our very first BlackBerry Accessory Roundup! We already bring you a BlackBerry Apps Roundup, BlackBerry Themes Roundup and BlackBerry News Roundup on a weekly basis, so we figured it only made sense that we go the extra distance and add a weekly BlackBerry Accessory Roundup to the routine. We hope you find value in it and enjoy it.

It might take us a few accessory roundups to nail down the format that works best, so please let us know in the comments what you'd like to see in this type of weekly article. We are writing it for your benefit. Our plan as of now is to highlight some of the some of the new products that have hit the market and/or our ShopCrackBerry.com store in the past week, hone in on greater detail on one featured item (which we'll give you a chance to win!) and make note of some great deals. To keep things always interesting, we'll mix up the contributors who put together the roundup on a fairly regular basis and from time to time put a theme to the roundups - accessories for the car, the office, the frequent traveler... sort of as we did with our Holiday Gift Guides which were well received. Enough of an intro, read on for the roundup!

Since checking out the Speck booth while down it Vegas a couple weeks ago (which was a favorite for most of the CrackBerry attendees) I have been on their site taking a look at some of their new cases being offered for BlackBerry. Adam dropped a quick announcement of their upcoming products, and I have to say they have some pretty sweet new stuff coming this year, most of which I had the opportunity to check out first hand. Speck has brought out several new cases for the Tour, Storm2, 9700, and 8520. For the first three devices, Speck has introduced their line of PixelSkin, SeeThru and Fitted Cases, which have always been popular for the iPhone but have now made it into our accessory-starved hands. For the 8520, the Fitted case is available now. The list of new product available for 2010 includes:

• BlackBerry Tour 9630 - Fitted: Black & White Plaid | PixelSkin: Black | SeeThru: Smoke
• BlackBerry Storm2 9550 - SeeThru: Smoke | PixelSkin: Black | Fitted: Black Pinstripe & Tartan Plaid Grey
• BlackBerry Bold 9700 - Fitted: Black & White Plaid | PixelSkin: Black | SeeThru: Smoke
• BlackBerry Curve 8520 - Fitted: Black & White Plaid

Now, just because you don't have one of those devices - don't worry. Speck also offers several fantastic cases for other BlackBerry devices, as well as many other personal electronic products. You can check out the available products for your device on the Speck website.

Contest: The great people over at Speck dropped me a line to offer up 5 cases to be given away to the CrackBerry community. All you need to do is leave a comment to this post. One per customer please, multiple entries will not count. Contest ends Sunday at Midnight PST.

• Check out all of the Speck BlackBerry accessories >>

While at CES, I had the opportunity to meet the great folks over at BlueAnt and have a chat with them about their Q1 headset. This sexy little piece of hardware had me smitten from the get-go, and I fell completely in love with it during the course of testing it out for this review. It seems like many people are tossing Bluetooth headsets to the curb lately, but the little guy is sure to stick by my side for a while. I haven't used a headset quite like the Q1 before, so lets get going and see how it holds up.

Speck had long made some pretty awesome cases for BlackBerry, and last week added to their extensive lineup with the announcement of their new Fitted, PixelSkin and SeeThru cases. The new cases are sure to add some flair to your device, and will come in a variety of styles for the Tour 9630, Bold 9700, Storm2 and 85xx devices. The Fitted cases feature a snap together fabric covered hard shell that offers all around protection for your device. The PixelSkin (my favorite) is a pixelated rubber case that provides both protection and grip. The SeeThru cases are simply clear ("smoke") hard cases that will include a detachable holster and rotating belt clip. These new additions will add some flair to Specks great line of products, and should be available sometime in February. The Fitted cases will retail for $29.95, while the PixelSkin and SeeThru will sell for $19.95. Check out some photos of each after the jump, and for more information, head to speckproducts.com.

One of the exhibitors at CES, Music Skins, specializes in vinyl skins which form-fit your device, giving an all around protective layer while providing a sense of flair at the same time. What originally began as an entirely music-centric lineup has branched into several genres and even includes the option of custom designs. They even offer downloadable wallpapers to match the skins, providing a 360 degree effect not found from any other customization option out there. The skins are a breeze to put on, and add no bulk to the device, allowing the use of cases, holsters and cradles. Removal is also simple and leaves no residue, as no additional substances are required to apply the skin. The skins even include air-release channels, allowing you to remove air bubbles with a quick push of the finger. While the skins are manufactured to be single-use, careful application/removal should allow multiple uses if it's taken care of.

During their press conference at CES, Music Skins announced their newest line of designs - The Beatles. While The Beatles may not be everyone's cup of tea, this marks a landmark point for the industry as it makes Music Skins the first accessory company to be authorized to distribute the Beatles brand. With 8 new Beatles designs available and a large catalog of other designs, there is something for every music lover (and for most anyone else) to be found through Music Skins.

Contest: The great people over at Music Skins have given us 25 skins to give away. Simply leave a comment to this post to enter. Multiple entries will not count. Contest closes this Sunday at Midnight PST.

• More information and purchase of Music Skins >>

One of the companies at CES 2010 this year that caused a bit of a buzz was ZAGG. Most people are familiar with ZAGG as they are the makers of Invisible Shields - voted by the CrackBerry community as the Best BlackBerry Clear Skin in 2009. At CES last they week the company showed off a couple new, entirely different products, which shows for 2010 ZAGG is really stepping up their game in the smartphone accessories space.

ZAGGbox (video above): How do you describe the ZAGGbox? Think of it as slingbox meets personal center meets Zentral Home Command. The ZAGGbox has a terrabyte harddrive that stores your personal and recorded media content and can play it all back on your tv very quickly via remote. Right now there's only an iPhone app (BlackBerry app coming soon), which allows your device to also become the remote control. From there, you can stream back any of your content right to the mobile device. It's pretty slick. No word on exact pricepoint yet, but we should know soon. This is a pretty big play for ZAGG and I can see there being demand for the product. It'll be interesting to watch them ramp up to meet the demand.

ZAGGsparq (video below): Yet another charging solution at CES 2010. This one isn't wireless, but it is portable and offers 6000mAh of backup power to recharge devices that can connect to the ZAGGsparq via a usb cable. It's a nice tight, well-designed unit. 

Good stuff from ZAGG. If all goes well, 2010 should prove to be a big year for them!

Since the BlackBerry Presenter was announced by RIM last week it has already received its fair share of coverage here on the blogs, including an in-action video. For all the hardcore Crackies out there, here's another CrackBerry video of the BlackBerry Presenter. The product manager for the BlackBerry Presenter, Ryan Bidan, gave us a live demo of it while we were on our BlackBerry booth tour at CES last week. For more info on the BlackBerry Presenter, you can check out blackberry.com/presenter.

Ok ok... so the number of companies starting to offer wireless charging solutions for smartphones is growing (it's already becoming a little overwhelming to be honest) but after leaving CES 2010 in my opinion it's the folks at PowerMat that are leading the charge. Their original 2009 PowerMat solution was already compelling and sold over 700,000 units in no time, but it's their upcoming PowerPak system that is going to blow the doors off the wireless charging market for smartphones.

Check out the video above. With their new PowerPak for BlackBerry (also to be available for a bunch of other manufacturers and devices), the standard OEM battery door remains on the device. Instead, they're replacing the manufacturer's battery with one of their own that has the magical inductive charging technology built into it. Seriously. This is something I've been hoping RIM would do (like Palm does with their Touchstone), but PowerMat is doing it now. Well, not quite now... it'll be available in June, but they had the pre-release stuff at the show working just fine by the looks of it. What I love about this solution is that it doesn't exclude existing accessories, like the bedside charging pod or cases and skins from being used, as the battery door does not change. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Can you tell I'm excited? Like seriously. Wicked. Need it NOW.

I've always been a big fan of the remote starter I had installed in my car a few years ago. Being able to start it up from my living room in the heart of winter is a great thing. When I saw the rumors on Viper SmartStart, I was excited to say the least. The app allows users to take their technology geekness to the ultimate level, allowing you to lock & unlock doors, pop the trunk, sound the alarm and start the vehicle all from a simple interface. The app will be free in BlackBerry App World, but the hardware for your car will set you back anywhere from around $300 to over $600, and after the first year the service will run you another $30/year. Some systems are already compatible with SmartStart, so you'll just need to get Viper's upgrade module (which will still cost you more than it should). As much as I'd love to rush out and get one of these hooked up, I think the price is a bit out of my range for the time being. I don't really see this being totally mainstream. While we'd all love to start out cars with a click of the BlackBerry, it just isn't likely that many will shell out the cash for system like this. Drop a comment and let us know what you think.

• More information on Viper SmartStart >>