The recent availability of Bluetooth within the RIM products has made many people consider buying a Bluetooth headset along with their BlackBerry. But most of the Bluetooth headsets available have a noticeable problem: the echo. The Jabra BT250v is one of the high quality Bluetooth headsets that have corrected this mistake. Jabra is a well-known brand; in fact their previous generation...
Texas Hold ‘em is everywhere. You can’t turn on the TV after 10 pm without a least a couple of games on some channel. It’s a fast-paced game that is made for TV and for BlackBerries. It is an easy game to learn (well, the basics anyway) and a very democratic game – players seem to come form all walks of life and success is a perfect blend of luck and skill. On the Blackberry, the game...
When I was a kid, every Tuesday night was “Family Night”, which meant that we had to turn off the TV and do something together. Tuesday was chosen because it didn’t coincide with anybody’s favorite show. I’ll date myself a little to tell you that this was in the days before anybody had VCRs, so it was particularly important not to conflict with a really good episode of anything. So...
Nickel Buddy Studios recently released a new version of their Solitaire game for BlackBerry. Solitaire Buddy Gold is actually more than a single game; it is a collection of 13 different Solitaire games. I’m pretty plain vanilla when it comes to Solitaire, and normally just play good old fashioned Klondike. But after playing with the different games in Solitaire Buddy Gold, I’m expanding...
Ascendo Photos is a nifty little application that lets you load photos from your PC to your BlackBerry using the same data cable that you probably already use for synchronization. The software has two parts: the photo viewer on the BlackBerry, and the Photos Desktop, which loads the pictures onto the device. I downloaded the trial version, unzipped it, and installed it in a snap using...
When we are in front of a computer and quickly want to exchange a couple of messages with a friend, we all use instant messaging services such as ICQ, AOL, YAHOO!, MSN, etc.., but when we are away with our BlackBerry, we usually rely on email or text messaging. Well, why should we? What we all need is an Instant Messenger software for our BlackBerry devices. And wouldn’t it be nice if...
After studying a few BlackBerry typing tips, I’m getting better at thumb typing, but I sometimes sacrifice accuracy for speed, a fact revealed whenever I send an email from my BlackBerry. But now I’ve found eSpell, a spell checker from DynoPlex. eSpell is part of the eOffice suite of productivity apps for BlackBerry, but it can be purchased separately if you just want to use it stand-...
Ascendo Photos is a nifty little application that lets you load photos from your PC to your BlackBerry using the same data cable that you probably already use for synchronization. The software has two parts: the photo viewer on the BlackBerry, and the Photos Desktop, which loads the pictures onto the device. I downloaded the trial version, unzipped it, and installed it in a snap using...
We recently reviewed Google Maps, a free software from Google you can install on your BlackBerry. An updated version of this great application is now available, featuring real-time traffic information in over 30 major US metropolitan areas. The technology used for the traffic feature comes from ZipDash, a startup Google acquired in 2005. The traffic/speed database is built from multiple...
I love putting pictures on my BlackBerry. It’s a great way to take photographs of my family along when I’m on the road. I’ve recently reviewed Ascendo Photos for BlackBerry and I was very pleased with its capabilities. So when I got a chance to review Berry Pix, I was very excited to give it a try. Berry Pix by Collaborative Network Technologies is software for loading and viewing...
Most of the people I know only use one or two passwords, and they use them everywhere. Sounds familiar? Yep, not too secure… Nowadays, there is a ton of information you need to keep safe. Let’s start with account numbers, credit cards, PINs, usernames, passwords to important web sites. What about all the non-digital information? Secret code for your home security system, emergency...
QuickPlayer by QuickPlay Media is a new application for BlackBerry that delivers streaming audiocasts from a variety of channels. Loading QuickMedia QuickPlayer On my 8700, the application starts up in about 9 seconds. If you are starting it for the first time, you are presented with the Channel Guide, where you can see a brief description of all the available channels....
I’d like to be smarter. I’d like to think quicker on my feet. I’d like to remember where I left my car keys and, perhaps more importantly, where I left my car. Stuff like that. Well, in my quest to get smarter, I’ve found some help in the form of software for BlackBerry. Advanced Brain Trainer from Filao is a mobile application designed to stimulate your mind through a series of fast-...
Photo software is one of my favorite applications. Putting pictures on your BlackBerry has never been easier with all the great software choices out there. We’ve previously reviewed two other applications: Ascendo Photos by Ascendo Inc., and BerryPix by Collaborative Network Technologies. And now there is a new entry in the photo viewing category: SplashPhoto by SplashData. Although it...
Nintendo started a new trend by releasing DS Brain Age over a year ago. They have sold nearly five million copies of three Nintendo DS brain training games since the series launched in Japan. The games are based on the work of Dr. Kawashima, one of the country’s top researchers into brain imaging. Brain Age hasn’t been released for BlackBerry, but we’ve found some other brain training...
Next by Mobigloo The awards keep rolling in for Next from Mobigloo. First, Next won the game development contest sponsored by RIM earlier this year. And now Next has just won the Handango Champion Award for Best Application for Play 2006. This prestigious award was given by a panel of industry experts assembled by Handango for their Champion Awards Ceremony held on September 11, 2006...
When Google releases a new service, it is always quite an event for any Internet user because chances are it will affect our overall Internet experience. The Gmail software download for BlackBerry is no exception. The shift from client-based software installed on your Windows Desktop to Web-based application is taking place very rapidly. Most of us are now relying on web based email...
Terratial Technologies is probably best known for their best selling Ring Tone Megaplex. This service gives you access to a variety of Ringtones to download to your BlackBerry. And now they have a new product to complement their Ringtone library: HollerID Nametones. HollerID gives you access to a library of Ringtones that correspond to nearly 1800 of the most common American names....
You are at the restaurant that your significant other booked 6 months in advance, sitting down and enjoying your anniversary dinner together. The bread is warm, the wine is flowing and things are just perfect... Bzzzzz. Bzzzzz. Uh-oh, you know that feeling. It's your crackberry telling you secretly in it's gentle vibrate mode that you have a new message. C'mon why now? Your...
In search of a good puzzle game to keep me occupied in those rare instances of down time, I came across Sokaban. It looked like a good brain teaser so I gave it a shot. The purpose of the game is to move the little guy (or girl) around the gamespace, to push boxes onto the target areas. Target areas are defined by the yellow circles you see on the screen. Get all of the boxes on their...
I'm a creature of habit. I get into my routines and don't like to mess with them. Wake up, Check Email, Exercise, Check Email, Eat Breakfast, Check Email, Shower, Check Email, yada, yada, yada. When it comes to my blackberry device, I'm not one to change the wallpaper, theme, or ringtone very often. For me to even attempt to change things up, it needs to be something that I REALLY like...
If you are looking for something a little more cerebral than knocking bricks out of the air and, like me, are not too adept at Sudoko, then there is always chess. One of the oldest games in the world is, fortunately, well suited to our electronic age and especially suited to mobile devices. It doesn't require a lot of memory, doesn't require a fast thumb, you can take your eyes off...
For all those BlackBerry-abusing Curling Fans out there (and yes we know you are mainly in Canada, and mainly in Winnipeg at that!), this week marks the 2007 Tim Horton's Brier, which this year is being played at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario (not that far away from RIM's headquarters!). In honor of the occassion I thought I would bring everyone's attention to a game that's...
I recently had the opportunity to take a look at the Jabra BT500 Bluetooth headset. This is the successor to the Jabra BT250, and it is lighter and slimmer than the previous generation. Included in the package was the Jabra BT500 headset, an AC adapter to charge from a power socket, a USB charger to charge directly from a PC, 3 MiniGels, and a small manual. The headset is sleek and...
We were the first one in line this morning to pick-up the new device at our local Cingular store and over the next few days we're going to fill this post out as we get up close and personal with the BlackBerry 8800 Smartphone from Research in Motion. The Unboxing! BlackBerry 8800 Pickup at the Cingular Store BlackBerry 8800 Packaging BlackBerry 8800 Accessories...