CrackBerry Idol Questions and Answers - before you vote, get to know the finalists!

When we announced CrackBerry Idol back on June 3rd, we knew it would be an event that would take a while to complete. In a summer that was fairly quiet for BlackBerry news, the regular CrackBerry Idol posts definitely helped keep the blogs full. Now September is here, everybody is back to school, and it's time for us to crown the CrackBerry Idol 2010 winner and put them to work on the blogs.

Your chance to vote for your favorite contestant is coming up in just a few minutes, but before you cast your vote we wanted to give you all a chance to get to know the finalists a little bit better. Keep reading for some CrackBerry Idol Q & A and stay tuned for the final vote!

CrackBerry Idol Finalist Q & A

Question 1. Where are you from and how do you typically spend your days other than surfing CrackBerry.com?

Joseph: I live a bit south of Charlotte, NC. Right now, I'm learning how to use non-linear video editing; I plan to start classes in the Spring.
Brittany: I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have a full time job and I am in nursing school!
Dave: Proudly born, raised, and living in Detroit, Mich. Doing technology/internet support for 15 +years. Happily married and father of four. My days are filled to the brim with family and mobile tech help.
Kerri: I am originally from the Central Valley in California but currently live in Illinois. Being an Air Force spouse means moving around a lot. I spend the early mornings getting my family out the door and then work several hours at a daycare. Evenings are usually spent with my family unless I have meetings scheduled for the committees that I serve on.
Aloha Joe: Honolulu, Hawaii. A "dawn patrol" session (actual surfing), quick breakfast (acai), visit the ranch/family business office, between all of that, try to get a little work done at "some un-named" government agency. Lol. I end the day with a quick swim (2000m), then usually dinner w/ my lovely ex-pro futbol/soccer player fiancé, FJ :)

Question 2. What's your smartphone/cell phone history, starting with the device you're using now (besides the Torch you just reviewed!) and going back to your first cell phone?

Joseph: Curve 8900 -> RAZR v3m -> Moto e815 -> Moto i710 -> Some Sony Ericsson piece of crap -> some even worse Sony Ericsson piece of crap.
Brittany: 9800, 9530, LG Envy 2, LG Envy 1, Chocolate 3, Chocolate 1, Razor
Dave: My smartphone/cell phone history? Okay, you asked for it! Here's the list of every device I've used or supported. I have carried both a personal and work BlackBerry for quite some time, so personal (daily use) devices are marked with an *. Going backwards: Torch, 9700*, DroidX, 9630, Droid Incredible, 9550, 8900*, TMobile G1, Palm Pixi, 9000, Palm Treo 700p, 8130*, 8300, 8800, LG 550, 8700, 7130*, 7290, 7230, 7105, 6230, 850, Sanyo Katana*, Sprint PCS TouchPoint*, LG 1200*, and Motorola StarTac*. As you can see by the list I've often owned a SureType device. And, yeah, I've been into this a while.
Kerri: Aside from the Torch, I currently use the Curve. Before that I had the Pearl, Palm Centro, Palm Treo, Samsung Blade, Motorola Razr and a couple Nokia cell phones that for the life of me I can't remember the names of.
Aloha Joe: 9700, 9000, 8900, Pearl, iPhone...hmmm...what else?... i880 (work), iden ???, Motorola StarTac, Nokia (???)

Question 3. What do you love most about BlackBerry?

Joseph: I love the intelligence and forethought that goes into each OS. I think that's why people harp on the bugs so much; everything else works so well together that the flaws stick out like a sore thumb.
Brittany: I love how no matter what I need to get done, no matter where I am, I have a solid device that can do it all!
Dave: The speedy connection to people, of course. I'm often asked, "What are you doing on that thing?" And I answer, "If I'm not engaged in a correspondence then I'm planning one."
Kerri: I love they're reliability. My BlackBerry keeps track of everything going on in my life so reliability is a key factor in my devices.
Aloha Joe: I really meant it when I said (in my intro vid)..."It allows me to accomplish my work from just about anywhere."

Question 4. What do you like least / wish you could change about BlackBerry?

Joseph: I wish RIM could leapfrog some of its long-range plans to bring the BlackBerry's hardware up to date with other smartphones. I hate seeing this excellent communicator bashed by the likes of the iPhone and Android phones.
Brittany: I wish that they were a little faster OS wise.
Dave: I'd have to say reboot time, but it seems RIM has fixed that. Otherwise it would be the clocking that a lot of devices do for no apparent reason. Amp up the processor and OS, please!
Kerri: I would have to say the one thing I like the least or wish I could change about BlackBerry would be a faster processor. Sometimes those few extra seconds of wait time are critical.
Aloha Joe: I would like to see a greater on-board memory on BlackBerry's devices. I also would like to see BlackBerry models available on all carriers (network permitting).

Question 5. What's your favorite app?

Joseph: QuickLaunch is by far my favorite app. Set up your shortcuts and boom! Your entire BB is available with a click of the convenience key.
Brittany: Poynt and Mobile Checkbook.
Dave: If I have to choose just one app it would be SocialScope, hands down.
Kerri: That one is a toss up for me. I use Mobile Checkbook & SocialScope a lot and love how easy they are to use.
Aloha Joe: Was it even a question?...Tether! Lol. But as of recent, SocialScope is coming in a close 2nd.

Question 6. What third party apps are installed on your BlackBerry RIGHT NOW?

Joseph: QuickLaunch, Google Maps, Poynt, The Weather Channel, CB Wallpaper Changer Pro, Finger Tap, Capture It, Plug it In.
Brittany: Poynt, Mobile Checkbook, and Bejeweled.
Dave: SocialScope, QuickLaunch, Slacker Radio, Google Sync-Mail-Talk-Maps-and-MobileSearchApp, Ascendo DataVault, Dictionary.com, PodTrapper, and WordPress.
Kerri: SocialScope, Call Control, CB Launcher, Capture It, Bolt, Mobile Checkbook, CardStar, OurGroceries, DriveSafely, QuickLaunch, QuickPull, BeWeather, Podtrapper, ScoreMobile, Fandango, Vlingo, Pandora & MobiTv.
Aloha Joe: To name a few: Tether, TXTLater, Twitter for BlackBerry, Fixmo Tools, Drop Box, SocialScope, Call Blocker Pro, the "CB must have" (thanks Bla1ze!)

Question 7. Physical or touchscreen keyboard?

Joseph: Touchscreen!
Brittany: Both!
Dave: Physical keyboard!
Kerri: Physical keyboard!
Aloha Joe: Physical keyboard!

Question 8. Why do you want to be CrackBerry Idol?

Joseph: I love training and teaching; I look at this as an opportunity to showcase those talents. Helping people to understand what I understand is what I'm all about.
Brittany: I have a passion for BlackBerrys. I want to learn more about them and I think Crackberry.com needs a different perspective on things!
Dave: I'd be able to reach and help a larger audience of BlackBerry enthusiasts. Ultimately my goal is to spread the word and share my passion about mobile devices, the internet and computing in general.
Kerri: CrackBerry.com has evolved my passion for BlackBerry and as the CrackBerry Idol I would like to share this passion with others while contributing to the world's premiere BlackBerry site for CrackBerry addicts like me.
Aloha Joe: Because I would like to get paid for my "addiction." Lmao!

Question 9. If you are crowned CrackBerry Idol, what will you bring to the Crack Team and website that you think is currently missing or can be done better?

Joseph: Each blogger adds a little something different to the site. My contribution would be the more edited and polished video reviews that we've almost come to expect from the CB Idol team.
Brittany: A different perspective. It's not just middle aged men who look at the site. There are teenagers and women of all ages as well.
Dave: One of my favorite parts of CrackBerry.com has always been the BlackBerry 101 Lecture Series, http://crackberry.com/blackberry-101-how-lecture-series. I often send newbies this link and while I don't necessarily want it to be better, I do want to see it updated. I also feel the site can use more internal niche-ing similar to the "perspectives" assigned during this last round.
Kerri: The easy answer for this question would be that I bring a female perspective that is lacking from the team however, I would like to think of it as a fresh perspective and creative mind with an attention to detail that would enhance the other personalities already on the Crack Team.
Aloha Joe: CrackBerry.com seems to be pretty "chill-axed", but I think I'll bring that relaxed vibe to the site.

Question 10. In two sentences or less, tell the CrackBerry Community why they should vote for you to be crowned the CrackBerry Idol 2010!

Joseph: I've taken this contest very seriously, and hopefully the time and effort I've put in reflects that. Should I win, I promise that each article I write will be one that I can be proud of.
Brittany: I should be the next CrackBerry Idol because I am different. My reviews aren't always like the pro's but I work hard and I try my best to give you information based on how I look at the device/app/accessory etc.
Dave: I'm one of them and have always enjoyed the community engagement, check this out: http://is.gd/eTvyr/bbhubpost. Plus I'm ready for the opportunity to usher in BB7 and as a team make "mobile" better for everyone.
Kerri: When I'm given a task, I complete it with unwavering dedication. It would be an honor to be a part of the Crack Team and serve the CrackBerry community.
Aloha Joe: ...because Aloha Joe writes from a "true consumer's" point of view.

Stay Tuned for the Final Vote!

Good stuff, and good luck to all the competitors.  Keep it locked to CrackBerry for the final vote. It's coming up soon!