The Case-Mate Hybrid case offers two layers of protection for your device, and brings a sweet look along with it. The base of the case is a silicone skin, and its covered by a hard plastic shell to hold on tight. It wraps around the entire device, leaving only the front screen and keyboard exposed. It has covers on the side buttons, and offers a good amount of protection that should keep your device safe from a few drops on the pavement (we've all been there). The case is a bit bulkier than some, but the overall two-part design is very cool. The Case-Mate Hybrid Case sells for $29.95 at ShopCrackBerry.com and is available for the Bold 9700, Tour 9630 and Storm2.

More Best-Selling BlackBerry Tour Cases:

Contest and Sale: Chance to win a Free 5BARz Road Warrior; Save $20 if you purchase the 5BARz Road Warrior from ShopCrackBerry.com by March 26th. Full Details below...

We got a new accessory into the ShopCrackBerry.com store this week that I haven't had a chance to use personally yet, but in speaking with some of the folks who have used it and checking around the net it is getting glowing reviews.... and I'm talking about the 5BARz Road Warrior by Cel Lynx.

With a retail price of $299.95, the 5BARz Road Warrior isn't what you'd call a cheap accessory, but for those who are continously dealing with weak signal strength on their BlackBerry due to where they live, work, drive, travel, etc. this is an accessory you'll want to check out. The 5BARz Road Warrior Cell Signal Booster is plug and play - just make sure the unit is plugged into an AC source or car adapter and the other end into your BlackBerry (or other smartphone). From there you should see your weak signal strength immediately take a big jump up, seeing those 5 full bars where you normally would see less. Be sure to check out the video above and 5BARz product page for more details. And we'll definitely be following up with a more in-depth review on the blogs here soon.

5BARz Sale: Until March 26th, you can save $20.00 on the 5BARz Road Warrior when you purchase it from ShopCrackBerry.com. All you need to do is use coupon code 5barz at checkout. Sale ends March 26th at Midnight PST.

Contest - Win a Free 5Barz!: Simply leave a comment to this blog post letting us know how owning a 5BARz Road Warrior could help you in your day to day BlackBerry use and you'll be entered to win. Contest entry closes this Sunday, March 21st, at Midnight PST.  Good luck!!

This Week's Featured Item: Micro/Mini USB Car Charger

  BlackBerry MicroUSB Charger (see all car chargers)

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Compared to the competition, BlackBerry Smartphones typically have pretty stellar battery life (especially that magical Bold 9700). That being the case, I'm sure every BlackBerry owner reading this can relate to a time when they ran out of juice before having a chance to get back home or to the office to plugin.

Just last week actually I was on day two of my battery and was driving out to my parents in the early evening (mom's bday) and my battery level dipped into the red. It wasn't a big deal for me as I just plugged my BlackBerry into the Car Charger I keep in my vehicle and recharged the phone. For me this is a no brainer - as long as I have owned a BlackBerry I have always made sure to have a car charger... just in case. This event prompted me to wonder if all BlackBerry owners are like me and have car charger? Had I not, I would have had a rough evening of being unconnected. 

Be sure to cast your vote on the poll above. I'm really curious to see the results of this one. From there, if you don't own one I suggest you pick one up. It's definitely a must-have BlackBerry accessory in my book.

• Browse All Car Chargers at ShopCrackBerry.com >>

Barely There Case for BlackBerry Storm 2 (see Bold 9700)

The Barely There is Case-Mate's new line of sporty cases for the BlackBerry Storm2 and is also available for other BlackBerry device models including the Bold 9700, 9000 and Curve series. These cases are designed to protect the design of the BlackBerry Storm2 while allowing more of it to show.

Features of the Barely There case include:

- Extremely slim profile
- Impact resistant flexible plastic shell
- Covers the back and corners of the BlackBerry Storm2 9550 or Storm2 9520
- Full-Face Screen protection included

For the BlackBerry Storm2, the Barely There cases come in a variety of cool colors including Black, Green, Royal Blue, Metaillic Silver and Blue. The cases retail for $19.95 and are currently available from ShopCrackBerry.com at the link below for $17.95 If you don't have a Storm2, be sure to check out the Case-Mate product listings for other BlackBerry device models.

• More info / purchase Barely There Cases for the BlackBerry Storm2 >>
• More info / purchase Barely There Cases for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 >>
• See all Barely There and other Case-Mate cases for BlackBerry Smartphones >>

Power. For those of us who love and rely on our BlackBerry Smartphones, it's like air. Without a charged battery in our devices, we feel naked, unconnected. For some of us, the solution is an extended battery for longer life. Others prefer to carry around spare batteries, ready to swap a fresh one in when the current one gets low. I am out and about constantly, and not always near a charger, so portable solutions have become a bit of an obsession for me. I came across the BluePack S3 in my search, and came away thoroughly impressed. Read on after the jump for a full review.

Back in January we first got news of the Viper SmartStart app for BlackBerry. The app lets you control a compatible Viper system in your vehicle and allows you to start the car, turn on/off the alarm and more. The system is now available for purchase with a MSRP of $299, and works with compatible Viper, Clifford and Python systems.

"After we introduced Viper SmartStart for the iPhone, we quickly heard from our dealers and customers who carry BlackBerry devices. They are just as passionate about their choice of smartphone and they have been anxiously awaiting Viper SmartStart for BlackBerry," added Simmons. "By leveraging their smartphone user interface, Viper SmartStart introduces a whole new value proposition to customers. From operating key functions on their vehicle without using their key, to remote unlocking if a family member is locked out of their car, to the most advanced vehicle security features ever available, Viper SmartStart is truly creating a new paradigm for the future of the remote start and car security category." 

The app is working with the Storm, Curve and Bold series on release. For more information on the Viper SmartStart system, head to viper.com/smartstart. Check out the full press release after the jump.

One of the best selling cases for all devices, the Innocase II Surface from Seidio offers great protection for your device. The two-piece design allows it so snap on, keeping it locked tight and actually making it quite hard to remove. The inside is linned with a soft material to keep your device scratch free when the case is in place. There are open areas for all of the buttons and ports, as well as exposed charging contacts, so (with a little maneuvering) you can still use the Seidio charging pod with the case on. Check out the video above for a quick look at the case. The case is available for almost all devices and sells for $29.95 at ShopCrackBerry.com.

• More information and purchase of the Seidio Innocase II Surface >>

This Week's Featured Item: Jawbone ICON "The Hero"

With all the laws governing cell phone use while driving, bluetooth accessories are becoming a must for us consumers. The Jawbone ICON series bluetooth headsets provide a stylish look in a small, lightweight device. Featuring a dedicated on/off button and Voice Activity Sensor (VAS), it quickly becoming my favorite bluetooth headset to date. Hit the jump for more on this great accessory.

 

The best selling Made Simple Learning Training Center is now available for the Bold 9700 and Curve 8500 series smartphones. The Training Center's include the Made Simple e-book for reading on a PC or Mac, VideosNow, and VideosToGo. VideosNow includes 134 videos for computer viewing, and VideosToGo includes 110 videos for viewing on the go right from your device. Each set will help you learn the ins and outs of your device, taking you through all the applications and settings on your way to becoming a BlackBerry wizard. Each Training Center is available for $29.95. If you purchase before February 28th, you can save 30% but using the coupon code 639A3FC42A. Head to either of the links below (9700 or 8500) and enter the code at checkout in the coupon field.

• Made Simple Learning Training Center for the Bold 9700 >>
• Made Simple Learning Training Center for the Curve 8500 series >>

A rather interesting addition was just made to the BlackBerry App World test center category. ShopBlackBerry, the website that RIM uses to sell accessories for BlackBerry smartphones now has a mobile application. You can download, install and shop for items directly using your device. Part of the description goes:

"With great features like automatic device detection and catalogue updates you can shop for a wide and expanding range of accessories compatible with your BlackBerry smartphone. Address book integration and secure credit card purchasing makes ShopBlackBerry Mobile one of the most convenient and safest ways to shop for BlackBerry® accessories."

Pretty cool, although the credit card purchases thing seems a little off to me since BlackBerry App World uses PayPal. At this time Visa and Mastercard are accepted at checkout but I hope to see PayPal integration later, given this is a "Test Center" app. Most users should now see it appearing in app world if you wish to download it and check it out, if not you can always check out the Shop CrackBerry Store instead.

• Download The Shop BlackBerry App From BlackBerry App World>>

OtterBox has long been know as the leader in "ultimate protection" for mobile devices. Their Commuter series cases are one of the top selling, and for good reason. The Commuter provides great protection for your device, giving you a step up from standard hard cases by using a skin/hard plastic combination. The Commuter is a mix of both the Impact and Defender series cases from OtterBox, combing the best of both worlds. The case fits extremely well, and completely covers the sides and back of the device. If you're looking to step up the protection on your BlackBerry, the Commuter may be just the thing for you.

• Check out the line of OtterBox Commuter, Defender and Impact cases >>

This Week's Featured Item: Case-Mate Fuel Case for the Bold 9700

Its no secret that BlackBerry users sometimes struggle to get through a day one just one charge. Extra or extended batteries can only go so far, and having to plug-in every time you find an outlet isn't ideal. Enter the Case-Mate Fuel Case. This amazing case not only holds your Bold 9700 and keeps it secure, it also adds "fuel" by giving you up to and additional 7 hours of talk time (or 20 hours of stand-by time). Hit the jump for more on this awesome accessory and to see what else is new this week.

We celebrated Valentine's Day in style with a load of great contests. Our biggest was for the chance to win a complete Schlage LiNK Starter Kit along with 3-months of service. The folks at Schlage were kind enough to help us out again by offering up a great product for one lucky CrackBerry reader. After looking through all of the 250+ comments, they got back to us with the grand-prize winner:

Winner of a Schlage LiNK Starter Kit and 3-months of service

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Congratulations to ebedoun. If you missed out on this one, you can still check out the great line of Schlage LiNK products including deadbolts, keypad levers, thermostats, lighting modules and more on the Schlage LiNK page. Check out the winning entry after the jump.

• More information on all the Schlage LiNK products >>

Its just about time for the most romantic holiday of the year, and no matter if you're married, single, engaged or whatever - you know you'll want your first true love (ahem .. your BlackBerry) looking spiffy on Sunday. To help you out we have loads of wallpapers, themes and apps to get romantic with. You can jump into the free wallpaper gallery for an easy facelift, and check out what we have in the CrackBerry App Store if you want to get it on with a new theme.

Also don't forget to check out our Valentine's Day contests. You can win a complete Schalge LiNK starter kit, a Slacker Radio Premium subscription and some great apps from Twinkler Software and Toysoft. You only have a few more hours to get in on the action, so check out the original contest posts and leave a comment if you haven't already. Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Media

• Valentines Day Wallpapers >>
• Valentines Day Themes and Apps >>

Valentine's Day Contests

• Get Your Valentine's Day Groove On with Slacker Radio Love Stations - 10 Subscriptions Up for Grabs! >>
• Happy Valentine's Day Helps You Get One on One With Your Loved Ones - Contest for Free Software Bundle! >>
• Contest: Show Your BlackBerry Some Love This Valentine's Day.. Win a Free Schlage LiNK Starter Kit & 3 Mo. Free Service! >>

You love your BlackBerry... why not give it a special treat for Valentine's Day - the Schlage LiNK System & App! The Schlage LiNK App allows you to control you home, security, and energy from anywhere through the Schlage LiNK mobile application. For the person looking for control, convenience, and peace of mind, giving their Blackberry the Schlage LiNK App is a true sign of love, not only for the phone but the owner as well!

Contest Prize and Entry: In 50-ish words or less, leave a comment describing why giving your Blackberry the Schlage LiNK system is the ultimate Valentine's Day gift! The winner will receive a Schlage LiNK Starter kit of their choice and 3 months of free service! The deadline is 12 noon PST on Valentine's Day and Schlage will pick their favorite entry and we'll announce the winner on the blogs that evening.

Not familiar with Schlage LiNK? Schlage LiNK allows you to....

• Improve security by easily accessing your lock away from home- no more hiding keys!
• Manage your security by receiving text message alerts when specific codes are entered at the door
• Save money by turning down your heating and cooling while away and by reducing energy consumption
• Simplify your life by easily scheduling the Trane Remote Energy Management thermostat from the Schlage LiNK interface
• Customize the system to your lifestyle by adding additional Z-Wave products to your Schlage LiNK system for further control

For more information on the Schlage LiNK system, jump on over to link.shlage.com. Spread the word, share the love and best of luck in the contest!