Blackberry Tour 9630

To some the Blackberry Bold was just too big and heavy, well, big and heavy for a Blackberry. That was the first reaction I received when I placed the Bold into the hands of several fans last year and it was only after seeing the performance of its large screen, full feature set, and gorgeous interface that those first impressions were forgotten. Then along came the Blackberry Curve 8900, small and slim as ever, but similarly powerful to the Bold and almost as packed with features. Which to buy? Ultimately you’d want both, or a device that exists between the two, a “missing link” berry. Such is the Blackberry Tour.

The Tour travels such familiar ground that if you have read about or played with any of last year’s Blackberry devices, you can quickly size it up in a glance and for that reason this review will be a little short.

The Tour wears the Bold’s tuxedo well. The black casing and chrome accents, especially around the trackball give it the premium sense of elegance to match the new Blackberry interface. I’m especially fond of the new backing design with its chrome logo and almost Art Deco segmentation. It actually suits the overall style better than the faux leather backing of the Bold.

The Tour’s small size allows it to fit very comfortably in the hand and similar to the Bold the keys on the QWERTY keyboard are indented so your thumbs will catch them as you spread them outwards, but offer no resistance when you move your thumbs to the centre.

One downside of crafting this hybrid is the screen. Now sporting RIM’s higher resolution interface, the 2.5” display falls just short of comfort. The main menu screen is fine for navigating features, but the fine print of web sites, Blackberry Maps, and many applications will induce just enough squinting to force you to change the settings for font sizes and display modes and even then it’s not as comfortable as it is to use on the Bold or Storm.

The Tour ranks among the best of smartphones in its feature set, somehow packing most of what you’d want into such a small body, yet each one works remarkably well. The Tour is a quad-band phone, allowing you to use it globally. It has an excellent 3.2 Megapixel camera, supported by a flash, auto-focus, and even image stabilization. There’s a built-in speakerphone, a proper 3.5 mm headphone jack, and 256 MB of internal memory with a microSD card slot for up to 16 GB more.

The Tour can act as a wireless modem, includes RIM’s Blackberry Maps with built-in GPS and a number of enhancements that come with the new RIM interface including a stylish clock, access to Blackberry World for additional apps, and a media player that can be used with optional software to sync with Apple’s iTunes.

Add that to RIM’s signature e-mail and messaging services and you have a smartphone that delivers one of the best experiences on the market.

What’s missing is Wi-Fi, a rather disappointing omission, and one that continues to perplex Blackberry fans as it shouldn’t be a difficult feature to add. It’s potential to shorten the battery life isn’t enough to justify its absence and including it would have only supported the idea of creating a Blackberry that offered the best of past models. Why try to create a Blackberry that delivers the best of all worlds only to fall short on one feature?

Wi-Fi is important, not because it can allow users to switch off their 3G connections and cancel their data plans, but because it can be used to help manage their monthly data usage and keep it under the limits. If you tend to leave your Blackberry on at night while you sleep, best to have it connected through Wi-Fi for free. Why pay for something that happens while you sleep and have no control?

While the Blackberry Tour delivers one of the best Blackberry experiences for CDMA-based networks Telus and Bell, against RIM’s past work it still falls short of the BlackBerry Bold. The gain you get with a smaller form factor does not make up for the loss that comes with a smaller screen and a lack of Wi-Fi support. The Bold is still the best Blackberry on the market.

Five Essential RIM BlackBerry Keyboard Tips and Tricks

1)Rapidly switch back and forth between blackberry application

The most basic way to switch from one BlackBerry app to another is to repeatedly hit the ESCAPE key while inside a program until you to get back to your icon screen. From there, you'd scroll your track ball or wheel to find the next app you want and then click to launch it.

A quicker and more efficient way to go from an active program to another program is to use a shortcut. While inside an application, hold down the ALT key--which is directly below the letter A key--and then click ESCAPE--the button with an arrow reversing directions and to the right of your trackball on 8000 series devices. While holding down ALT, you can then scroll left or right between apps, and you need only release the ALT key to select a program.

You need to be working in a specific application for that app to be available via the shortcut--in other words, the program needs to have been opened recently or still running. You can always access your Home Screen, BlackBerry browser, Options, Call Log, Messages and a few other apps depending on your device settings.

2) View Event Log Details, Free Up Memory by Clearing the List

Your BlackBerry's Event Log displays your system's recently run events and processes. If you're experiencing a problem with your BlackBerry or having an issue with a specific application or service, information from the Event Log can be helpful for troubleshooting. And it can be a good BlackBerry hygiene to clear out the log, to keep your device running smoothly.

To access your Event Log, go to your Home Screen, hold down the ALT key and then type "LGLG." The Event Log will then appear, and you can click a specific event for more information or hit your BlackBerry MENU key more options. The MENU key has seven dots in the shape of the letter B, and it's found directly to the left of BlackBerry devices with trackballs. You can copy event information using the MENU key and tailor your settings to log only specific types of events.

You can also free up some valuable device memory to help your device run faster by clearing your Event Log. To delete your list of events, hit the BlackBerry MENU key while any event is highlighted and then click "Clear Log." A dialogue box will then pop up asking if you're sure you want to delete the log. Once you confirm the deletion, your log will be cleared. (Donâ¬"t worry, if your IT department is running device management software along with its BlackBerry Enterprise Server, your company likely has its own record of this event log.)

3) Reboot Your BlackBerry Without Removing the Battery

Any experienced BlackBerry user knows that it's occasionally necessary to reboot your device after installing a new app, to solve performance problems, refresh your smartphone's memory or fix other minor issues. One way to do so is to remove your battery door and pull the power pack. After the battery is returned to the device, your BlackBerry reboots. This gets the job done, but it's time consuming to power down the device and then remove and replace the battery--and your battery door won't fit as snuggly if you're constantly taking it off.

The quickest and easiest way to reboot is via another BlackBerry keyboard shortcut. To reboot, simply hit ALT, RIGHT SHIFT and DELETE. The RIGHT SHIFT key is found on the bottom right corner of the BlackBerry keyboard and DELETE key is also on the right hand side and has the letters "DEL" on its face.

After pressing these three keys in tandem, your device powers down, your LED indicator turns red for a few seconds and the reboot process commences.

4) Change Your Signal Strength Display from Bars to Numbers

Most modern cell phones offer up some form of the "five-bars" to display users' wireless signal strength, and the BlackBerry default mode is no different. But if you want more precision than bars can offer, you can change to the numeric signal strength display mode.

The numeric mode shows wireless signal strength in decibels per milliwatt (dBm), a ratio measured power in decibels (dB), referenced to one milliwatt (mW).

To switch from bars to numbers, navigate to your BlackBerry home screen, hold the ALT key and enter in "NMLL." The signal display will then automatically display a dBm value. In general, a reading from -45 to -85 is considered very strong. Any reading that's lower than -85--for instance, -100--is weaker. To switch back to bar mode from numeric, just hit ALT again and retype "NMLL."

The numeric display can be helpful to determine specifics on how much a wireless signal degrades as you move from place to place. (It's also geek chic to read your cellular signal strength in dBm instead of boring old bars.)

5) Bring Up "Help Me" Screen for Device, System Data

Your device's Help Me screen displays useful device and system information like your vendor ID, BlackBerry platform version, OS version, PIN, International Mobile Equipment Identity (EMEI) number (which identifies your GSM device for the telecom carrier), cellular signal strength, free and total available memory and more. Most of this information can be found in various locations throughout your BlackBerry Options, but the Help Me offers a simple way to access all the data on a single screen.

To pull up the Help Me screen, navigate to your home screen and then press ALT, either SHIFT key and the letter H. To return to your Home Screen, hit ESCAPE or open the MENU and select Close.

Memoryup for BlackBerry

MemoryUp Pro is a powerful mobile RAM boosting tool and Java virtual machine (JVM) management application specially designed for smartphone users. It is a handy memory optimizer tool that will keep your smartphone running fast and efficiently. MemoryUp analyzes JVM RAM, recovers and re-allocates those not currently needed, and thus optimize the working performance of our mobile phones. MemoryUp is able to maintain a RAM big enough to let us enjoy ourselves without any unexpected pause due to insufficient memory.MemoryUp can reclaim lost resources and put them to better use. By reclaiming resources, the smartphone does not need to access the hard drive frequently.www.emobistudio.com will let you experience the wonderful use of your BB The program gives you a variety of configurable options so you can decide what settings are right for you. For example, you can have the program run at startup to give you an initial boost, or you can tell it to force the device to use a larger cache. These are things that might be needed by some and not needed by others, I think MemoryUp - Mobile Memory andRAM Booster simply makes BlackBerry device run smoother. It goes in and retrieves wasted memory, defragments it, and frees it up for use by programs that really need the memory.This auto "boost" feature runs in the background, constantly liberating memory that gets wasted by programs and so on. The program can even warn you if you should reach a critical point.

Blackberry Pearl 8100 Typing Shortcuts

The following shortcuts can be used when typing text in an application:

To type the alternate character on a key, hold the Alt key and press the character key.

To type an accented or special character, hold the letter key and roll the trackball left or right. Click a selected character.

To type a symbol, press the Symbol key. To view more symbols, press the Symbol key again. Type the letter that appears below the symbol to enter the corresponding symbol.

To insert a period, press the Space key twice. The next letter is capitalized.

To capitalize a letter, hold the letter key until the capitalized letter appears.

To turn on NUM lock, hold the Shift key and press the Alt key.

To turn off NUM lock, press the Alt key.

To insert an at sign ( @ ) or a period ( . ) in an email address field, press the Space key.

To type a number in a number field, press a number key. You do not need to press the Alt key.

To type a number in a password field, hold the Alt key and press the number key.

To type a letter in a number field, hold the Alt key and use the multi-tap input method to enter the letter.

To switch typing input languages, hold the Alt key and press the Enter key. Select a language, then release the Alt key. Note: To allow this functionality, on the Language screen, verify that the Use Input Method Shortcut field is set to Yes.

To select a line of text, press the Shift key and roll the trackball.

To select text character by character, hold the Shift key and roll the trackball left or right.

To cancel a text selection, press the Escape key.

To cut selected text, hold the Shift key and press the Delete key.

To copy selected text, press the Alt key and click the trackball.

To paste your cut or copied text, press the Shift key and click the trackball.

Top 20 Blackberry Tips

1. To move the cursor in a different direction, hold the Alt key and roll the trackwheel.
   
   
2. To type an accented or special character, hold the letter key and roll the trackwheel. When the desired character appears, release the letter key.
   
   
3. To switch to another application, hold the Alt key and press the Escape button. Continue to hold the Alt key and select an application. Release the Alt key to switch to that application.
   
   
4. To exit a screen or dialog box, press the Escape button.
   
   
5. To change an option field, hold the Alt key. Click a value.
   
   
6. To move directly to an item in an options list or menu, press the first letter of the item.
   
   
7. To select a check box, press the Space key. To clear the check box, press the Space key again.
   
   
8. To select a line of text, press the Shift key and roll the trackwheel.
   
   
9. To cut selected text, press the Shift key + the Backspace key. To copy selected text, press the Alt key and click the trackwheel. To paste text, press the Shift key and click the trackwheel.
   
   
10. To capitalize a letter, hold the letter key until the capitalized letter appears.
    
    
11. To insert a period, press the Space key twice. The next letter is capitalized.
    
    
12. To insert the at sign (@) and periods in an Email field, press the Space key.
    
    
13. To reply to a message, press R. To forward a message, press F. To reply to all, press L.
    
    
14. To move to the top of a screen, press T. To move to the bottom of a screen, press B.
    
    
15. To move down a screen, press the Space key. To move up a screen, press the Shift key + the Space key.
    
    
16. To turn on CAP lock, press the Alt key + the Right Shift key. To turn off CAP lock, press the Right Shift key.
    
    
17. To view sent messages, in the messages list, press the Alt key + O. To view received messages, press the Alt key + I. To view SMS messages, press the Alt key + S. To view phone call logs, press the Alt key + P. To view voice mail messages, press the Alt key + V.
    
    
18. To move to the next item, press N. To move to the previous item, press P.
    
    
19. To type numbers in a number field, press the number keys. You do not need to press the Alt key.
    
    
20. In the Calendar, to change to Agenda view, press A. To change to Day view, press D. To change to Week view, press W. To change to Month view, press M.

Text and Messaging Shortcuts for the Storm

-To copy and paste text from one location to another, lightly touch a finger to the Storm's screen at the start of the text you wish to copy. Then hold that first finger in place while you touch the end of the text with another finger. The text in between your digits will then be selected. To copy it, click the BlackBerry Menu key, scroll to "Copy" and click the screen. To paste, follow the same instructions but pick "Paste" instead of "Copy."

-To quickly search your messages for all mailings from a specific contact, find a message from that contact in your Messages application and then gently hold a finger on screen directly over the contact's name. After a few seconds, all messages from that contact appear on screen.

- To quickly search your messages for a specific subject line, or to track a thread, find a message with the desired subject line in your Messages application and then gently hold a finger on screen directly over the subject line. After a few seconds, all messages with that specific subject appear on screen.

-To precisely navigate to the middle of a sentence, or even a specific word, while typing on the Storm, gently press your finger on the Storm's screen on or around the text or character you wish to edit. Then, with your finger on the display, but not clicking it, slide your finger around until it's exactly where you want it and then let go. The specific character or set of characters will then be highlighted for easy editing.

-To delete multiple messages at once via Storm, open your Messages app and gently hold a finger on a message near the top of the list you want to delete. Keep that finger in place, and then touch another message further down the list. All the messages between your two fingers will then be highlighted. From there, you can click the Delete Messages key at the bottom or the screen to do away with the selected messages. Or you can continue to select older messages by keeping one finger on the selected messages and scrolling down. When new, unselected messages appear beneath your current selections, touch any of them to select it and all the messages between it and your previous selections. Again, hit the Delete Messages key to trash messages when you're ready. To unselect messages at any time, click the BlackBerry Escape key.

-Rapidly scroll through messages by sliding a finger sideway while reading an e-mail or text. Slide your finger to the left while in an open message to skip to newer messages; and slide to the right for older correspondence.

Storm: Navigation Tips and Tricks

-To scroll downward in a message or while viewing a Web page, place your finger lightly at the bottom of the screen--but don't click--and drag upward. To scroll down a full screen's length, slide your finger up rapidly.

- To scroll up, place your finger lightly at the top of the screen--but don't click--and drag it down. To scroll up a full screen's length, slide your finger down rapidly.

-To zoom in on a picture or a Web page, tap the screen lightly twice--but don't click it. (The BlackBerry browser also has zoom in/out options; two separate magnifying glasses for zooming in and out sit at the bottom of the browser screen.) To zoom back out after zooming in, click the BlackBerry Escape key until you return to the original view.

-To "pan," or move around while viewing a web page, hold your finger on the display--but again, don't click--and drag it in the direction you wish to move.

-To quickly switch between active applications from the Storm home screen, hold the BlackBerry Menu key until the Application Switch ribbon appears on screen. Then lightly touch the ribbon and move back and forth to scroll between available apps. To select one, click the screen when a specific app is highlighted.

-To jump from the Storm home screen to the main icon screen, put your finger on the home screen, just above the app dock, and click once. (You can also simply hit the BlackBerry Menu key while on the home screen to access your icon page.)

Storm Image and Audio Tips

-Scroll through images just as you would messages, by sliding a finger horizontally across the Storm's display. Slide your finger to the right while viewing an image to see newer images; and slide to the left for older pictures.

-To zoom in on an image, tap the screen twice--don't click. Or you can also zoom by clicking the screen one time. Zoom out by hitting the BlackBerry Escape key.

-To "pan," or move around while viewing an image, hold your finger on the display--but again, don't click--and drag it in the direction you wish to move.

-To quickly search your music library for all songs from one specific artist, find a track by that musician or group in a list of songs, and then gently hold a finger on screen directly over the musician's name. After a few seconds, all songs from that artist appear on screen.

BlackBerry Storm Keyboard Shortcuts

The BlackBerry Storm is touch-screen-based, and as such, it lacks a physical keyboard; however, three types of on-screen, virtual keyboards are available to users: 1) RIM's SureType keyboard, which is a QWERTY keyboard with more than one letter/number on each key (available only in portrait mode); a multitap keyboard that resembles the keys on a traditional cell phone (portrait mode); and a full QWERTY like the one found on your computer keyboard (landscape mode only).

To switch back and forth between keyboards in portrait mode, simply click the BlackBerry Menu key whenever a keyboard is displayed, and click "Enable Multitap" or "Enable SureType."

-To quickly bring up the Storm's onscreen keyboard, swipe a finger upward from the very bottom of the screen to the middle.

-To quickly hide the Storm's keyboard, swipe a finger downward from the top of the keyboard to the very bottom of the device's screen.

-Accented, or "special," characters can be typed via Storm in both portrait (vertical) and landscape (horizontal) views. To enter in a special character while in portrait or landscape mode, such as an ï, bring up the on-screen keyboard, depress the "i" key--but don't click it--and a number of options appear on screen, one of which is ï. To choose that character, simply click it on screen.

--To activate number lock, bring up the onscreen keyboard and then hold down the "123" key for about two seconds until a lock appears on that button. The number pad will then stay on screen until you either hide it or tap the "123" key again to return to the normal keyboard layout.

--To activate capital lock, bring up the onscreen keyboard and then hold down the "Shift/Arrow Up" key for about two seconds until a lock appears on that button. The number pad will then stay on screen until you either hide it or tap the "Shift/Arrow Up" key again to return to the normal keyboard layout.

-To change text input languages, hold the Storm in landscape mode, bring up the virtual keyboard and click the "Globe" key found directly to the left of the Space key. Next, scroll to the desired language, highlight it and click the Storm's screen to select.

BlackBerry Pearl

The BlackBerry Pearl smartphone is one phone which is not to be missed out if you are looking for a multi-functional device. It offers almost everything you'd like to find on a mobile phone and more.

Texting with the Pearl: The Pearl has been often called a 'texting' phone, i.e. a smartphone that offers more convenience when used as a messaging device. This feature is courtesy of the keypads that are easy to glide through, making the entire typing experience very intuitive and you can text long messages without tiring your fingers. It uses the SureType keyboard which is not the latest offered among the BlackBerry range of smartphones, but it is one of the easiest to use. Emphasis has been laid on easy recognition via the keypad and the silver colored ones represent the house numbers. The screen display automatically adjusts itself according to the ambient light, allowing users to read the screen with ease. The standard resolution is 240 x 260 pixels which cannot be described as the best in this segment but then for the price it carries, the Pearl does seem amply capable of displaying web pages with all the necessary details and the images are defined with strong color hues. Further, since the font size is adjustable, more web pages can be viewed when searching through lots of data.

Other Recommendable Features: The BlackBerry Pearl is MMS-friendly and capable of shooting videos and recorded images have minimal fading effect. Another nice add-on is the WiFi and it does not compromise upon speed when downloading heavier web pages. Further, the Pearl supports stereo Bluetooth via A2DP support, enabling users to enjoy stereo sound wirelessly via their Bluetooth headset.5mm audio jack gives users the freedom to use their personal headphones for maximum listening pleasure. Its texting capabilities get another boost in the form of the BlackBerry Messenger which helps communicate among BlackBerry users. It supports both POP3 and IMAP4 and has an impressive talk time of 240 minutes. Memory expansion options are particularly recommendable with the single micro-SD card slot that also supports high-capacity SDHC cards of up to 2GB.

Conclusion: This neatly-packed mobile phone can be your substitute for handling office work on the go, as it is equipped to handle all the basic requirements like handling emailing, scheduling meetings or editing documents (Word/PowerPoint/ Excel/PDF). BlackBerry Pearl may look simple in design, but it serves its purpose well as a function-oriented phone.

Blackberry Bold or Nokia E71 - which one is better?

Released within a month of each other, the Blackberry 9000, better known as the Blackberry Bold (May 2008) and the Nokia E71 (June 2008) are obvious rival smartphones from these perennial rival smartphone makers as they look, feel, and function very much alike.

Both devices are just about equally sized, at 114 mm x 66 mm x 14 mm for the Blackberry and 114 mm x 57 mm x 10 mm for the Nokia. And both weigh just about the same with the Blackberry weighing in at 133 g to a slightly lighter Nokia's 127 g.

Both devices have a QWERTY keypad occupying the bottom half of the face of the device with a small display screen (2.6 in on the Blackberry, 2.36 in on the Nokia) above it. Interestingly, the display screens on each device possess a quality superior to that of their counterpart. The Blackberry has better resolution, at 480 x 320 pixels to its competitor's 320 x 240 pixels; but the Nokia has more colors, at 16 million to its competitors meager 65,000.

Then, for a matter of simple preference, the Blackberry Bold's primary navigation is a trackball whereas the Nokia E71 uses a 5-way scroll key. Also a simple matter of preference, the Blackberry runs on the Blackberry OS, the Nokia on the Symbian OS.

Other similarities amongst these two candybar competitors are their built-in GPS with mapping capabilities (the Bold using Blackberry Maps, the E71 using Nokia Maps - each coming preinstalled), as well as voice dialing, photo calling, video calling, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, and speakerphone. They also both operate on AT&T's EDGE network and support HSDPA and 3G.

Also, both devices sport microSD card slots for expandable memory up to 8 GB, though the Blackberry has more more internal memory, at 1 GB to the Nokia's 110 MB (both devices have 128 MB onboard RAM though). And both devices have a USB v2.0 port, though the Nokia also has a microUSB port.

In terms of multimedia features they each have built in digital cameras, but the Blackberry Bold's is only 2 megapixels while the Nokia E71's is 3 megapixels. Both cameras, however, have LED flash and video recording capabilities. Both devices also have a built-in MP3 player.

Also worth noting, along these same lines, is that unlike the Blackberry (or most smartphones, for that matter) the Nokia does not have a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack but rather a 2.5 mm audio jack, making headphone and speaker compatibility a bigger issue with the Nokia. The Nokia, however, has an infrared port while the Blackberry does not.

You can view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on both devices, but you can only edit them on the Blackberry.

The battery on the Bold gives up to 5 hours of talk time and 310 hours of standby time. The battery on the Nokia gives up to 10 1/2 hours of talk time in 2G or 4 1/2 hours in 3G, and 410 hours of standby time in 2G or 480 hours in 3G.

Deciding between these two devices is a tough call, and may come down to extraneous features such as the availability of preferred 3rd party apps. Or you may just prefer the Blackberry operating system to Symbian. You may also lean towards the Blackberry Bold if you want to be able to edit Microsoft Office docs, though you might lean towards the Nokia E71 if you'd rather take crisper digital photos. Really these two devices are quite comparable.

How To Delete Application on Your Blackberry

First, go to Options.

Then, go to Advanced Options.

Finally, click on Applications.

You’ll see a notice that your BlackBerry is building an applications list. On the other end you’ll see a big huge list, containing core applications and some things you might not recognize. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: if you do not know what it is, do not delete it.

Scroll down to find the application you’d like to delete. Once it’s highlighted, hit the Menu key. You’ll see a number of options, but all we’re interested in now is the obvious one: Delete. Click it, and you’ll get confirmation. Click Yes, and it will delete the application.

Afterward you’ll be prompted to reset your BlackBerry. If you plan to delete multiple applications, say no. Say yes after the last application you’re going to delete. A reset clears the application out of device memory.

How To Transfer Data Between BlackBerry Devices

All you need to get started are two mini USB sync cables (like the one that came with your BlackBerry,) the Desktop Manager software and the two BlackBerry smartphones. (Note: If you're transferring data to or from a device with a micro USB port, you'll also need a micro USB sync cable.)

Step One: Get BlackBerry Desktop Manager, Launch the Program

First things first: You'll want to download or install RIM's BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, if you haven't already. To do so, either insert the BlackBerry user tools disc that shipped with your device and then install the software, or visit RIM's website and download it manually. The latest version of Desktop Manager is 4.6., though earlier versions should do the trick, as well.

After installing BlackBerry Desktop Manager, launch the program by clicking on the desktop icon created during installation. (If you chose not to create a desktop icon, locate the application in your computer's program files and then launch.)

Step Two: Connect Your Existing BlackBerry, Select Device Switch Wizard

Next, connect your existing BlackBerry smartphone--the one storing your personal data and applications--to your PC using the USB sync cable, and then close any unrelated dialogue boxes that appear. You know your device is connected when your BlackBerry PIN appears in the bottom left corner of the BlackBerry Desktop Manger screen, next to Device connected (PIN).

When the BlackBerry is connected to your PC and Desktop Manager, choose the Device Switch Wizard option. On the following screen, click Switch BlackBerry devices.

Step Three: Configure BlackBerry Device Switch Wizard

The Switch BlackBerry devices screen displays three columns: Current device ; New device ; and Options . The first field below the Current device heading should be labeled PIN and the value within should match the PIN digits in the bottom left corner of the application screen. If not, open the drop down menu beneath Current device and select the PIN associated with the connected BlackBerry. If your device is password protected, you'll also need to enter your passcode.

Because you new device is not yet connected, we'll ignore the middle column for now.

The Options section lists a number of options related to the device data that you wish to transfer to the new device. For example, you can choose to transfer all device data and options, as well as all third-party applications. Or you can pick just device data or only third-party apps. There are also options for updating existing applications--if updates are available--and you can manually select which apps you wish to transfer. (Note: Some applications are OS-specific, so an app that works with BlackBerry handheld OS v4.3 may not function correctly on a device running OS v4.5.)

Step Four: Transfer Data, Apps from One BlackBerry to Another

When you've specified what data and apps you want to transfer, click the Next button in the bottom right corner of Desktop Manager to proceed. A variety of progress bars will appear on screen as Desktop Manager scans your device and copies its contents for backup. This will take a few minutes, so be patient.

When the backup process is complete, another dialogue box appears asking you to select your new device. At this point, connect the new BlackBerry that you wish to transfer data and applications to and select the corresponding PIN from the drop down menu. Again, you'll need to enter in your passcode here if your device is password protected. Then hit OK. Another set of progress bars then appears to scan the application configuration on the new BlackBerry.

If you checked the Options box for Allow me to select applications to add or update option , a list of all the applications on your existing BlackBerry appears. You can then choose which apps you want to transfer from the old device to the new. To remove an app from the list, simply uncheck the box next to that application. When you're finished, click Next.

Patience comes into play again at this point, as it can take anywhere from five minutes to half an hour to complete the process. So sit back, grab a soothing beverage perhaps, and decide what to do next with your new smartphone.

Two factors worth noting: After transferring personal data and apps to a new BlackBerry, you'll likely have to log back into any programs that require a user name and password, so you may want to have your login information handy. Second, it's not uncommon to come across application errors when attempting to transfer apps from one device to another--especially if those devices are running different OS versions. The simplest way to proceed after receiving an app error is to remove the problem application from the list of programs that will be transferred using the instructions above. Then you can simply download a fresh copy of the problem app at a later time.

Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo- An amazing companion for businessmen

This beautiful newly designed BlackBerry Pearl8120 Indigo is available in a stylish solid bar casing with an array of stylish colours. The Pearl 8120 is provided with a large colour viewing display and beneath the display lies a full QWERTY keyboard. The gadget is embedded with Wi-Fi technology and a wide selection of messaging service. This smart phone is equipped with good camera features as well as built-in media player.

The Blackberry Pearl 8120 Indigo is a member of popular Pearl series. The stylish looking handset is provided with a high quality screen that is easy to use as well as it imparts a wonderful look to the handset. It has a high screen resolution of 240 pixels by 260 pixels. Coming to dimensions, the fantastic phone is 14mm deep, 50mm wide and 107mm long. It weighs around 99 grams including the light weight battery. The gadget is equipped with Wi-Fi technology which makes an individual enjoy a wireless connection. The user can also enjoy a high speed Internet connection. The gorgeous handset supports HTML Internet browser blessed with a built-in RIM wireless modem.

The device is also provided with built-in Bluetooth technology and with a USB which offers the users the ability to connect to other compatible devices quickly. Furthermore, it supports easy transfer of files as well as data. The smart phone is embedded with EDGE technology and GPRS, as a result of which an individual can experience high speed data transfers. The gadget supports 64 megabytes of built-in memory which is flash type memory.

The Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is available with easy to use messaging features that help a particular person to stay connected with his dear one's at any moment of time. It provides text messaging service as well as picture messaging service. The impressive gadget is loaded with speaker which enables the users to hear their contact without holding the handset to their ears at the time of call. The gorgeous looking mobile phone is provided with media player facility that refreshes the owners with music as well as videos. They can also make use of headsets for the purpose of private listening. The Pearl 8120 is regarded as the business user's best companion because it supports a user friendly business and communication focused features as well as some fun features to keep the users delight and entertained while on travels.

The Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is embedded with a 2 mega pixel camera that allows the users to capture still pictures as well as record the video footage. The camera is equipped with better flash and zoom options that provide owners the facility to take photographs even in the darker and duller environments also. The device is also provided with a small mirror that helps to take a self portrait picture. Thus, the Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is blessed with an array of latest and easy to use features.

Nokia N96 versus Blackberry 9500 Storm

Large number of people are using mobile phone for their personal and professional uses. These are the tiny devices that are very helpful for the present generation.

Today, in the world of advanced technology number of manufacturers are trying their level best and are producing various gadget in order to amazed the modern enthusiasts. Nokia, Samsung, LG are some of the reputed brands that have created various devices with amazing design. But the two latest gadgets that are creating sensation among the people are the Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 Storm. Such high end manufacturers has always been updating the features of their models as per the demand of the common people. While buying any mobile phone, sometimes it becomes very difficult to judge that which one to buy and why.

But, the difficulty can be erased simply by doing a comparison. In this respect you can take the best example of Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 Storm. Both of them are third generation gadgets. It is really convenient that most of the functions of these two devices are quite similar with each other. However, there are some small differences also. But, these differences do not affect the importance of these model First difference, that seems prominent between these models is its v2.0 of Bluetooth that comes with A2DP technology. This option will allow you to share data with other compatible devices at ease. The Nokia N96 has 16 giga bytes of storage space with 128 mega bytes of RAM. Whereas, the Blackberry 9500 storm is packed with 1 giga bytes of storage space with 128 mega bytes of RAM. Apart from this, the camera is the superior option of these handsets, that are highly sought by the customers.

The Nokia N96 has 5 mega pixels camera that come with the image resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. On the other hand, the Blackberry 9500 storm has 3.2 mega pixels camera. The auto focus and LED flash features are also existing in both the gadgets that allow you to capture clearer pictures in dark of night. The N96 has the VGA videocall camera, whereas, the 9500 storm has the QVGA videocall camera. But the difference that you will find is its latest messaging features that include SMS, MMS, Email and Instant messaging. These messaging packs will help you in interaction with others.

Data transferring applications permit the owners to transfer videos, images, audios, songs and excessive amount of other data to the compatible devices. The standard battery of the N96 offers 3 hours and 40 minutes of talk time and 220 hours of standby time. But, the 9500 storm gives 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time and 360 hours of standby time in single start. Such modern gadgets cannot be completed without the option of Internet connectivity. Both of them come with WAP and HTML supported browsers, through which the users can access Internet connection.

After making comparison between Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 storm, we have seen that most of the features of these gadgets are similar with each other. These mobile phones are also equipped with various other options including TV out, document viewer and editor, organizer, audio and video players, voice memo, games, FM radio, etc., You can gain more information about such smart looking models from the numerous websites. So, by taking details, one can easily make his or her decision between the Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 storm. However, it does not create any difference that which one you are buying as both of the mobiles are, appreciated at a larger extent.

Protecting Your BlackBerry

Every time you slip that device out of its holster - even if its just for a quick game of BrickBreaker - remember that you're holding a storehouse of personal information, and most likely an access point into your company network.

We've gotten so addicted to those handheld devices, its no wonder they've picked up the nickname, "CrackBerry." But, along with the added convenience and productivity, they've also blessed us with some heightened security risks. Here are four things that you can do to make your BlackBerry safer.

Don't Lose It

I know that sounds ridiculously simple. But a survery released in 2005 reported that 160,000 portable devices are left in Chicago Taxis every year. One of the things that makes your BlackBerry so convenient - its size - also makes it simple to misplace. Fortunately, this is a security risk with a simple, low-tech solution. Put the device back in your holster or purse. Every time.

Use a Password

Odds are, in spite of my sage advice, you'll leave the BlackBerry behind at some point. And when you do, you'll heave a sigh of relief knowing that your data is password protected. To set a password, simply go to Options > Security Options > General Settings and set Password to Enabled. You can also decide how long the device sits idle before it locks up. I keep mine set at 30 minutes. That's short enough so that if I do lose it, the device should be locked by the time someone picks it up. One sanity tip: If you're using a device like a Pearl that has a multi-tap keyboard, try to come up with a password that only requires one tap on each key.

Enable Content Protection

If you are using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, then the data that flies back and forth between your handheld and the server is encrypted. The data stored on your handheld is a different story.

Content Protection will encrypt your emails and other content stored in the machine. By choosing this option, you will be protected if someone were to connect the device to a USB port and attempt to read its memory. To enable Content Protection, go to Options > Security Options > General Settings. Set Content Protection to Enabled. You have the choice of applying Content Protection to your Address Book. If you do, you will lose the Caller ID function, so you will have to decide if the risk outweighs the inconvenience.

If you decide to encrypt the files stored on your media card, you have three choices. Here they are as described by the good folks from RIM:

To encrypt files on a media card inserted in the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

Note: In order to encrypt files using the BlackBerry smartphone password, verify that the password is set before you begin the steps below.

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, click Options.
2. Click Media Card or click Advanced Options > Media Card (depending on the BlackBerry Device Software version that is installed on the BlackBerry smartphone).
3. Use one of the following methods to encrypt files:
   • To encrypt files using an encryption key for a media card generated by the BlackBerry smartphone, set the Encryption Mode field to Device.
   • To encrypt files using the BlackBerry smartphone password, set the Encryption Mode field to Security Password.
   • To encrypt files using an encryption key for a media card and the BlackBerry smartphone password, set the Encryption Mode field to Security Password & Device.

     Note: To turn off encryption for a media card, set the Encryption Mode field to None.

4. To encrypt media files such as videos, ring tones, pictures, and songs on the media card, set Encrypt Media Files to Yes.
5. Press the Menu key.
6. Click Save.

Wipe the Device Before You Sell It

The time will come when you want to trade up, and the BlackBerry you love so well will be consigned to eBay. Before that happens, make sure you wipe the device clean.

During the 2008 Presidential Election, the McCain Campaign sold some leftover BlackBerries for $20 each. They also decided to throw in some confidential campaign data for free. A reporter who purchased a BargainBerry got a peek at the inner workings of a campaign by reading the emails left in memory. He also found a contact list full of McCain supporters. No damaging information squirted out, but needless to say the campaign was red-faced. All you have to do to avoid this embarrasment is go to Options > Security Options > General Settings. While you are there, hit the Menu Key and select Wipe Handheld. The prompts will guide you through the rest of the process.

Conclusion

In my experience, most security threats are the result of simple negligence, not technological failures. None of the steps I've outlined here require advanced knowlegde. But if you follow them, you will have greatly improved your handheld security.

Security for Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phone users

Mobile phone users often look for a solution to provide them security on their mobile device. Taking the right security measures at the right time can help save you a lot of trouble, especially in cases like lost, misplaced or stolen mobile phone, or damaged phones. Text Guard is a helpful cell phone application which can be used by businessmen, by corporate clients, professionals and also individuals to provide them with backup of all their mobile phone activities. The software does not only block spam text messages, but can also be used to monitor text messages activity on the specified cell phone. All you need to do is to download the software from http://www.TextGuard.com (their 30 day evaluation version can also be used) and install it on the cell phone. To keep track of their childrens activities, parents can install it on their kid’s cellular phones. This software is also helpful to protect children from spam text messages as it allows you to block spam text messages. The utility also allows SmartPhone users to archive their email and SMS text messages for retrieval later on.

Likewise, corporate and businesses clients can also install the software on multiple cell phones to monitor the activities of all those employees. Text Guard also archives texts and SMS message which means you can access the complete archive of your cell phone text messages all at one place by logging on to the website. Corporations use Text Guard to track the activities of their employees, and could use the archived messages for later retrieval and record; if necessary.

With Text Guard, you can efficiently block spam text messages on your cell phones. This can spare you the frustration and save you a lot of energy and time. You can even block certain phone numbers to stop receiving spam messages from those numbers. You can choose between the three different editions offered by Text Guard, which include the Enterprise Edition, Business Edition and Family Edition. You only pay a nominal monthly fee per account for the storage space you utilize to save the SMS text messages at one place. If at any time you feel that you are running out of space, you can always purchase more space, or delete old messages by browsing through them using the SMS text messages search option provided in the Text Guard user module.

The utility not only lets users get rid of spam text messages, but it also helps in monitoring SMS text messages on the mobile phone.

Currently, it works on Windows Mobile phone and BlackBerry phones, and will soon be available for Android and Symbian operation systems. Some other features offered by Text Guard include blocking calls and monitoring calls as well as archiving all sent and received text messages as well as email messages from the mobile phone. These text messages are saved on a remote server, and can be accessed from anywhere by accessing the Text Guard website.

BlackBerry Curve 8310 Review

What the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series seek after is "For a bigger, more well-rounded life" . Here, we will take a look at just how the BlackBerry Curve 8310, one of the specific handsets included in the Curve series, fares against similar smartphones in the market.

Just how will the BlackBerry Curve 8310 lead you to a more well-rounded life in terms of technology? What sets the BlackBerry Curve 8310 apart from the rest of the pack? Which features included with the BlackBerry Curve 8310 will make the mouth of every techie water at the thought of their being able to use it? Let's find the answers in our BlackBerry Cureve 8310 review.

BlackBerry Curve 8310 Specifications

A quick glance over the specification sheet will reveal the same tech as the BlackBerry Curve 8300. As promised,the BlackBerry Curve 8310 will sports a 2 megapixel snapper, 3.5mm headphones jack,quad-band connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, a microSD card slot,and the push email system.

Blackberry Curve 8310 as part of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 Series

Now that you already have an overview of the features that you will enjoy with the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone, here's a brief look at its background. Basically, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 is part of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series of smartphones which are developed by Research In Motion.

What makes the phones under the BlackBerry Curve 8300 is the fact that they all have full QWERTY keyboards, a built-in speakerphone, a standard 3.5-mm headphones jack,and of course the Push-Email function which BlackBerry is famous for, what's more, you will be able to use the phone internationally since it supports other network SIM cards.

A Closer Look at the BlackBerry Curve 8310 Features

So what are the plus and minus points of the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone? First, the good points. Just like all the other mobile phone units included in the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 has a sleek body with a metallic finish, soft edges and a streamlined look.

The BlackBerry Curve 8310 also has the smallest,lightest body which has a full QWERTY keyboard with an easy-to-use trackball navigation. Another outstanding feature of this smartphone is the fact that it has a voice-guided GPS which provides users with driving directions and other useful features like local business search.

So what are the disadvantages of using the phone, if any? Perhaps the only downside is the fact that the BlackBerry Curve 8310 does not offer Wi-Fi or 3G support and there's no video-recording feature included.

All in all, if there's one handset that will allow you to live a more well-rounded life technology-wise, that is none other than the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone.

10 Reasons to buy the Blackberry 8100 Pearl

This major update to the popular 7105t brings the Blackberry experience to a whole new level. Here are 10 reasons to buy the RIM Blackberry Pearl.

1. The Camera.

The Blackberry Pearl includes a 1.3-megapixel camera that features an LED flash, 5 times zoom and white balance controls. This is the first Blackberry to include a camera, and whilst at 1.3 Megapixel it is not as advanced as others on the market, it takes a great little photo and is a long overdue addition to the Blackberry.

2. MP3 Player.

This model includes other consumer features including an Mp3. The Blackberry music player supports playback of your tunes in MP3, AAC, AAC+, and eAAC+ formats. The handheld is also compatible with Java application and game downloads. You can create playlists as folders and shuffle and repeat songs within a certain folder. It also displays some track information, such as title, artist, and album art if available.

3. Expandable Memory.

Now that you can listen to your mp3’s on the go with your Blackberry you are going to need somewhere to store all your favourite songs, not just a few of them. The blackberry Pearl also sports a memory card slot.

This is the first blackberry to include this feature.

4. Size and Design.

The Blackberry Pearl is sleek and stylish unlike typical business smartphones. At a form size of 4.2 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches; 3.1 ounces, the Pearl fits easily into a pocket or handbag, and unlike previous Blackberry models it does not look over-sized and silly when making calls. The Pearl is smaller than the Treo and Sidekick smartphones. It has a glossy black and chrome finish and will appeal to business users and general consumers alike.

5. The Screen.

The Blackberry Pearl sports a 2.25-inch TFT screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 240x260-pixel resolution. The screen is super sharp, clear and is reminiscent of a miniature plasma screen television. It is great for viewing emails and web browsing. Also included is light-sensing technology so the Pearl will adjust its brightness based on the conditions you are in.

6. The Pearl.

Gone is the classic Blackberry trackwheel. This phone features a trackball below the screen (The Pearl). The Pearl is easy to use and allows for 4 way scrolling. Its sensitivity can be adjusted and when pushed in, it acts as a select button. Whilst Blackberry users who are used to the trackwheel might initially experience some difficulties adapting to the Pearl it is very easy to adapt to. New Blackberry users will quickly take to it.

7. Maps

The Pearl is also the first Blackberry to come with a map application. Blackberry Maps provides local maps and allows you to get text-based driving directions straight to your Blackberry.

8. Email.

This is the feature that made the Blackberry so popular from the beginning. You can sync with your company's server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time (Push email).

You can also support up to 10 POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts.

The email set up wizard is very quick and simple to use.

9. Voice Dialling.

The Blackberry Pearl now offers voice dialling so you can set up voice commands for your contacts and use them to dial numbers.

10. Use it with a Mac.

The Blackberry Pearl is the most stylish smartphone on the market, so it makes sense to want to use it with the most stylish computers on the market. This can be done using a program called Pocketmac. Pocketmac is the first program to allow Mac users to sync their crucial data between their Blackberry device and Entourage, Address Book, iCal, Now Contact, Now Up-To-Date, and even Stickies.

Blackberry Bold or Nokia E71 - which one is better?

Released within a month of each other, the Blackberry 9000, better known as the Blackberry Bold (May 2008) and the Nokia E71 (June 2008) are obvious rival smartphones from these perennial rival smartphone makers as they look, feel, and function very much alike.

Both devices are just about equally sized, at 114 mm x 66 mm x 14 mm for the Blackberry and 114 mm x 57 mm x 10 mm for the Nokia. And both weigh just about the same with the Blackberry weighing in at 133 g to a slightly lighter Nokia's 127 g.

Both devices have a QWERTY keypad occupying the bottom half of the face of the device with a small display screen (2.6 in on the Blackberry, 2.36 in on the Nokia) above it. Interestingly, the display screens on each device possess a quality superior to that of their counterpart. The Blackberry has better resolution, at 480 x 320 pixels to its competitor's 320 x 240 pixels; but the Nokia has more colors, at 16 million to its competitors meager 65,000.

Then, for a matter of simple preference, the Blackberry Bold's primary navigation is a trackball whereas the Nokia E71 uses a 5-way scroll key. Also a simple matter of preference, the Blackberry runs on the Blackberry OS, the Nokia on the Symbian OS.

Other similarities amongst these two candybar competitors are their built-in GPS with mapping capabilities (the Bold using Blackberry Maps, the E71 using Nokia Maps - each coming preinstalled), as well as voice dialing, photo calling, video calling, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, and speakerphone. They also both operate on AT&T's EDGE network and support HSDPA and 3G.

Also, both devices sport microSD card slots for expandable memory up to 8 GB, though the Blackberry has more more internal memory, at 1 GB to the Nokia's 110 MB (both devices have 128 MB onboard RAM though). And both devices have a USB v2.0 port, though the Nokia also has a microUSB port.

In terms of multimedia features they each have built in digital cameras, but the Blackberry Bold's is only 2 megapixels while the Nokia E71's is 3 megapixels. Both cameras, however, have LED flash and video recording capabilities. Both devices also have a built-in MP3 player.

Also worth noting, along these same lines, is that unlike the Blackberry (or most smartphones, for that matter) the Nokia does not have a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack but rather a 2.5 mm audio jack, making headphone and speaker compatibility a bigger issue with the Nokia. The Nokia, however, has an infrared port while the Blackberry does not.

You can view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on both devices, but you can only edit them on the Blackberry.

The battery on the Bold gives up to 5 hours of talk time and 310 hours of standby time. The battery on the Nokia gives up to 10 1/2 hours of talk time in 2G or 4 1/2 hours in 3G, and 410 hours of standby time in 2G or 480 hours in 3G.

Deciding between these two devices is a tough call, and may come down to extraneous features such as the availability of preferred 3rd party apps. Or you may just prefer the Blackberry operating system to Symbian. You may also lean towards the Blackberry Bold if you want to be able to edit Microsoft Office docs, though you might lean towards the Nokia E71 if you'd rather take crisper digital photos. Really these two devices are quite comparable.

By Caroline Telford

Blackberry Curve 8900: A True Mobile Communication Device

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smart phone proves to be an easy-to-use device which does great in delivering expanded functionality and reliable performance.

External Features to Flatter: BlackBerry Curve 8900 comes with one of the slimmest QWERTY keypads among all the BlackBerry phones which have been released so far. It is also the lightest in this category of smartphones and is the slimmest of all the BlackBerrys on offer. The shape has the basic BlackBerry exoskeleton but the edges and corners have been further smoothened that helps to grip the much slimmer phone in a better way and helps to fit it easily into the pockets of the executively-dressed folks — the Curve's target audience. The overall configuration evokes a feeling of sturdiness and a device that will not lose its edge even it is mishandled for a few years. One feature that immediately grabs your attention is the TFT LCD that measures around 2.4-inches and has been enriched with 480 x 360 pixels of brilliant resolution. The keypad is similar to BlackBerry Bold. However they have been redesigned to assist faster messaging, making it a breeze to use.

More Convenience & Some Add-ons: just below the screen display, all the standard navigation keys like the Talk, End, Menu, Back and Navigator have been placed. It makes the interface simplified and makes switching from messaging to talking a convenience. The side control functionality is undemanding and fulfills the promise of offering single-handed operation. The user interface features the BlackBerry's best OS — the OS 4.6.1.114 making the entire interface more interactive and it features applications that help in editing everything from Word and Excel to PowerPoint files. The biggest improvement over the older models would be its web browser. The Curve 8900 now comes with a HTML capable browser with support for RSS feeds, enabling users to get access to real-time news on the go. The GPS has been offered as a built-in feature, helping users to access BlackBerry Maps, Google Maps and TeleNav GPS Navigator. It has an internal memory of 64MB and comes with an expandable memory slot which supports microSD storage cards.

Verdict: Along with some other features like the Wi-Fi and 3.2 Megapixel camera, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 proves hard to resist as a multi-functional phone. Its design and the functionalities have been combined together in a smart and reasonably priced manner to make it appealing to both the smartphone addicts and first-time purchasers.

Getting to Know More about BlackBerry Bold 9000

With so many upcoming new technology of cell phones from different manufacturers, where does BlackBerry is being different?

Currently I have a BlackBerry Bold 9000 Phone model and I surely am enjoying this phone but I would like to know is why does this phone is unique from other mobile phones.

As what I have researched, this phone is especially designed to provide business professionals an unprecedented functionality and performance. This BlackBerry Bold model is the fastest and the most powerful having a better support for tri-band HSPDA high-speed networks around the world as well as integrated GPS or Global Positioning System and Wi-Fi networking.

This mobile phone have a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome with finished frame and stylish leather-like backplate and a sophisticated user interface and a better designed full-QWERTY keyboard.

This mobile phone can also keep yourself on track for your schedules and also provide you a spoken or text-based turn-by-turn rerouting and a local business finder service in 20 countries. This can also support mobile music and access to thousands of video clips via cellular video.

Other feature also includes a 2 megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for handsfree communication, 1 GB of internal memory with MicroSD expansion, a multi-format audio/video playback, and up to 4.5 hours of talk time.

BlackBerry Bold has a stunning half-VGA (480 x 320 at 217 ppi) colour display that is fused to the under surface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. This also includes trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry Bold also boasts a new acoustic design for enhanced phone listening quality and clarity and numerous premium phone features, including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD). Having this mobile phone really boosts one person's office productivity and connectivity.

BlackBerry 8700g Phone Review

Design:

• Pro: The BlackBerry 8700g fits comfortably in your hand. It’s not on oddball, awkward size.
  
  
• Con: Con: At 4.3” by 2.7” by 0.77,” though, some newer models of email phones are thinner and smaller. Its weight is 4.7 ounces with the battery installed, which flirts with the ceiling of how heavy a phone should be.

Software:

• Pro: Email and Web surfing are the sole reasons why you’d select this phone over other devices not designed for the serious, on-the-go emailer. You can theme it to your heart’s desire, which means you can customize its overall look and feel with the “skin” of your choosing.
  
  Popular file formats attached to emails (i.e. Adobe’s PDF files) can be viewed by default. You can also combine text and images on a single message using multimedia messaging.

• Con: In several trials during my review of the 8700g, the phone took about 45 seconds to power on. That’s too long. Also, you might find the default BlackBerry Web browser to be underwhelming with problematic Web scripting. This means what you get isn’t always like what you should see.
  
  For my review, I upgraded to the default browser to Opera, which renders much better.
  
  I experienced some disconcerting technical glitches in my trials. It randomly flickers and spontaneously reboots itself. There’s no Microsoft Office unless you use plug-ins to access Office applications through the Web. Also, reading certain file formats (i.e. PDF files) don’t render exactly as they should.

Hardware:

• Pro: Its full, 35-key keyboard is a major perk that affords familiar typing. The keys are far enough apart that you can type easily and swiftly. It doesn’t have half keys like some other devices and the keys aren’t too close together.
  
  Even when I Web surfed the phone like a madman and emailed and texted more than necessary, its rechargeable Lithium battery does the job. It’s rated at four hours of talk time and up to 16 days of standby time.
  
  The dedicated “send,” “end” and “mute” keys are a nice addition and there are also user-definable convenience keys. Thank you for the bright, high-resolution screen and the speakerphone comes in handy, too. The thumb-operated “trackwheel” translates into easing scrolling and the MP3 ringtones are fun.
  
  The phone also offers Bluetooth technology for short-range wireless communication with other devices.

• Con: The 8700g only comes with 64 megabytes of on-board memory, which you may need to upgrade if you want more software applications. There’s no camera.

Data Speed:

• The 8700g runs on an advanced data network that’s enhanced by a technology called EDGE, which allows for high-speed surfing. The phone also gives you international roaming.
  
  Newer networks (i.e. 3G networks) are even faster than EDGE, though, which said simply is being used by T-Mobile to speed up its base data network. Superseding 2G, 3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology.

Simplicity:

• It’s sometimes stupidly simple – like for emailing – and at other times exceedingly complicated. You may need help setting up corporate email and navigating the sometimes perplexing realm of software applications and plug-ins.

Price:

• For an email phone, it’s priced relatively economically by T-Mobile from $100 at the cheapest to a list price of $250 without any of the rebates or instant discounts.

The Bottom Line:

• When buying the 8700g, you’re clearly not just purchasing a phone.
  
  Most delve into the BlackBerry world for email just as much if not more so than its use as a phone. BlackBerry offers a wide array of models for the beginner all the way up to the tech guru. This one ranks in the middle and suffices happily for the layperson.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 Review

Research In Motion has overhauled its popular blackberry curve smartphone

with the 8900. This new model features a slim design, an excellent camera, and an absolutely gorgeous screen. Unfortunately, it lacks support for high-speed 3G networks, but if you can get past that omission, you'll find the Curve 8900 to be one of the best smartphones around.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 will be available from T-Mobile on February 11 for $200 (after a $100 rebate) when signing a new two-year contract.

Design

+ : The Curve 8900 is BlackBerry's slimmest full-QWERTY smartphone yet, measuring just a hair more than half and inch thick. Its case is black with chrome-colored edging, making it look a lot like the BlackBerry Bold. The 8900 is slightly smaller than the Bold, though, measuring 4.3 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide.

The screen measures 2.4 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 480 by 360--that's even higher than the resolution of the Bold's display. I used to think the Bold's screen was the best I'd ever seen on smartphone, but not anymore. The Curve's screen is gorgeous, displaying crisp graphics and bright colors. Everything from text to streaming video looked great.

The keyboard is small, but I still found thumb typing easy. The phone is light, too, weighing just 3.9 ounces.

- : The only real downside to the 8900's design is the fact that much of it is made of plastic. While that helps keep the phone light, it does feel a tad bit cheap.

Making Calls

+ : The Curve 8900's small size and light weight make it comfortable to hold next to your ear, and I found voice quality to be very good. The Curve 8900 is a quad-band GSM phone; that means you'll be able to make voice calls in many countries outside the U.S.

You also can make voice calls over Wi-Fi networks, in addition to over cellular networks. This can allow you to make voice calls in places where you have a wireless network, but the cellular coverage is spotty.

- : Making voice calls over wireless networks can save you from using the voice minutes on your monthly plan, but it does require signing up for T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling plan, which costs $10 per month.

Browsing the Web

+ : The included BlackBerry browser is excellent: It displays Web pages just as you would see them on a computer screen, and lets you zoom in and out easily.

- : The 8900 supports both Wi-Fi networks and EDGE data networks, but notably missing is support for a true 3G network like HSDPA. That means you'll have to rely on the availability of a Wi-Fi network for high-speed data access.

Messaging

+ : Like all BlackBerry phones, the 8900 is a messaging champ. It will support 10 personal or business e-mail accounts, and setting them up is a breeze. Several instant messaging applications, including AOL's AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger, come pre-installed. You also get support for text and multimedia messaging.

Software

+ : The Curve 8900 runs the updated version of the BlackBerry OS that we've seen on the Pearl Flip, Bold, and the Storm -- and that's a good thing. And, like those phones, the Curve 8900 has the DataViz Docs To Go editing suite preinstalled.

- : The Curve 8900 does not include access to the upcoming BlackBerry Application Center, which will let you download software applications directly to your phone, much like Apple's App Store. Also, the phone comes with the Standard Edition of Documents To Go, which doesn't allow you to create new Microsoft Office documents. For that capability, you'll have to upgrade to the $70 Premium Edition.

Multimedia

+ : The included 3.2-megapixel camera has auto-focus, a flash, and digital zoom, and it captured some great snapshots. You also get support for stereo Bluetooth and built-in GPS, as well as a decent--though basic--audio and video player. Video clips look great when played back on the Curve's screen, though.

- : Unlike the other nationwide cellular carriers, T-Mobile doesn't offer a lot in the way of multimedia services. It doesn't offer a music store or a video service that can compare to AT&T's CV video service or Verizon's V Cast offerings. That means you'll have to purchase your own music and videos on your computer and transfer them to the phone yourself.

Overall, I was really impressed with the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It could benefit from 3G connectivity, but even without it, this is one of the best smartphones I've seen.

How Good Is The Blackberry curve 8300

The Good:

1. Technology: The Blackberry curve 8300 works with global GSM frequencies , a convenient feature for overseas travelers. (Note that additional roaming charges from your home carrier generally apply) (score: 7/7)
2. Talk Time: 240 minutes of talking time. It is good enough! (score: 16/20)
3. Stand-by Time: A stand-by time of 408 hours. It is very good! (score: 20/20)
4. Phone Book: It can store up to 8300 phone book entries, which is quite good! (score: 20/20)
5. Memory Expansion Slot: It includes a memory expansion slot MicroSD, a useful way to store more pictures and music or transfer them from and to your laptop computer. (score: 10/10)
6. Speakerphone: It has a speakerphone, which will prove useful in a car or in other situations. (score: 10/10)
7. Full Keyboard: It has a built-in small keyboard. Useful not only when typing text but also when browsing the Internet and adding new phone book contacts. (score: 7/7)
8. Wireless Data System: Bluetooth-enabled, which is an interesting plus. Bluetooth is not really necessary but may be handy if you want to use a wireless headset or transfer data to or from your (Bluetooth-enabled) laptop, for instance. (score: 7/7)
9. Stereo Bluetooth: It supports stereo Bluetooth (A2DP). Perfect for music listeners, or even just to be more completely immersed in a conversation. (score: 5/5)

The Average:

1. Weight: A weight of 3.9 ounces is very average. (score: 8/20)

The Not-So-Good:

1. Camera: The (unknown) built-in camera is basic. Useful, but you won't make artwork with it. (score: 3/10)

BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Review

When the Blackberry Pearl 8100 was launched more than two years ago, this smartphone was a revelation. The Pearl 8100 was the first BlackBerry phone to feature a camera, an audio player, and a video player, This made the the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 the first BlackBerry designed for everyday users, not just hardcore business types.

Today, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100has lost some of its novelty, thanks to the availability of devices like the Blackberry Bold and the Blackberry Curve--both of which pack in plenty of multimedia features. But the Pearl 8100 remains one of BlackBerry's most popular phones.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is available from T-Mobile for $50, after a $50 mail-in rebate, and when signing a new two year contract. That's quite a bargain.

(Note: Similar phones in the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series are available from other carriers: The 8110, the 8120, and the 8130 are available from from Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T respectively. These models all offer slightly different features than the 8100.)

Design

PROS: Available in red and black, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is a slim, attractive phone. It was the first BlackBerry phone to omit the thumbwheel on the side of the phone in favor of a glowing navigation ball--the Pearl--that sits below the screen. Navigating the phone with the Pearl is quite easy.

CONS: Like the Pearl Flip, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 uses a slightly modified QWERTY keyboard, which fits two letters on most keys to save space. The Pearl uses RIM's SureType predictive-text software to guess what you're typing. As I've noted in other reviews, some people love this system, but I'm not one of them. No matter how many times I use it, I still find that it dramatically slows down my typing.

Making Calls

PROS: The Pearl is slim and light, making it comfortable to hold during calls.

CONS: Voice quality was mixed; some calls sounded very good, while other times, I noticed muffled voices.

Browsing the Web

CONS: Web browsing is not one of the BlackBerry Pearl 8100's greatest strengths. The 2.25-inch screen looks nice, but feels small when compared to the roomier screens you often find on today's smartphones. The phone also lacks support for 3G data networks or Wi-Fi wireless networks (a feature that was added in the newer Pearl 8120), so browsing the Web can be slow. The Pearl 8100 also runs an older version of the BlackBerry browser, which can make some Web pages harder to view.

Messaging

PROS: Despite its lack of high-speed data access, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 remains an excellent messaging phone. It will let you access up to 10 e-mail accounts--both business and personal. It also includes access to popular instant messaging clients, like AOL's AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger.

Software

CONS: Unlike the newer BlackBerry phones (like the Bold or Pearl Flip), the Pearl 8100 does not include any productivity software. That means you'll have to supply your own software if you'd like to use your phone to view or edit Office documents.

Multimedia

PROS: The Pearl 8100 was the first BlackBerry phone to add a camera, a music player, and a video player, and it remains a decent multimedia device. You can transfer your AAC, MP3, and WAV files to the phone using an included USB cord.

CONS: The BlackBerry Pearl 8100's camera is a measly 1.3 megapixels, and both the video and audio players are somewhat limited. You don't have access to a music store for downloading songs directly to the phone, and you'll have to supply your own microSD card if you want to boost the phone's storage.

The Pearl 8100 lacks the wow factor of some of today's newer BlackBerry phones. But there's a reason this phone remains available--and popular--more than two years after its debut. It's a good-looking multimedia phone with excellent e-mail features. And at $50, it's quite a bargain.

BlackBerry Curve 8330

You don't need to shell out big bucks for the latest, greatest smartphone to get a great feature set. Case in point: The BlackBerry Curve 8330. This excellent phone includes plenty of features for both work and play. And you can get it from Sprint for $100 (after a mail-in rebate) when you sign a new service contract.

Design

PROS: The 8330 features the same design as past Curves: It is petite, with a slightly rounded design, and sports a Pearl-like trackball directly below the 2.5-inch screen for navigation. The QWERTY keyboard is small, but I found it sufficient for thumb typing. The case of the 8330 is titanium, a slight change from the lighter gray of the original Curve.

CONS: The 8330 features a nice-looking screen, but it pales in comparison to the stunning screen found on the newer Blackberry Bold. Graphics are not as crisp or clear.

Making Calls

PROS: Voice quality is very good; I had no problems hearing my callers and they said the same thing about me. The 8330 is light (it weighs 4.2 ounces) and comfortable to hold during conversations, despite its slightly blocky shape.

Browsing the Web

PROS: The 8330 supports the 3G EvDO network, which helps improve video performance, and made surfing the Web noticeably speedy.

CONS: Some sites can be difficult to view on the 8330's browser, which is an older version of the BlackBerry browser.

Messaging

PROS: Like all BlackBerrys, the 8330 excels at messaging. It supports up to 10 personal or business e-mail accounts; adding one is a snap. The 8330 also adds supports for consumer instant messaging clients, like AOL's AIM, Google Talk, and Yahoo Messenger.

Software

PROS: The 8330 supports the Sprint Navigation service, which provides turn-by-turn directions.

CONS: Unlike some of the newer BlackBerry phones (such as the Bold or the Storm), the 8330 does not come with a productivity suite. If you'd like to edit Office documents, you'll need to go out and get your own software application.

Multimedia

PROS: The 8330 supports Sprint's TV service, which offers a mix of live channels (showing the same content you'd see on your TV) and content that has been specially packaged for viewing on your mobile phone. Sprint says it service offers access to more than 70 channels. Other features include a 2.0 megapixel camera that can capture still photos and video clips, and a music and video player.

CONS: When watching Sprint TV, I found the video quality was mixed, whether I was watching live TV or pre-packaged mobile content. I had to wait while files buffered, and the picture often looked blocky and sometimes broke up completely. Performance is largely related to network strength, though.

Blackberry Storm or Blackberry Bold - Which One Is Better?

Blackberry has created two great phones that have similar features. They include camera, built in GPS, Media Player, Video recording, maps, wireless e-mail, organizer, browser, corporate data access, phone, sms/mms. Although, they are different in physical appearance they have many of the same features and functions. Consumers will have to really dig when comparing and contrasting them before making a final decision.

For a more in dept look of the two cell phones, I am going to compare and contrast their most popular features starting with the Storm and then the Bold. The display windows of both has transmissive TFT LCD, Font size (user selectable), light sensing screen; supports over 65,000 colors. One however, has a 3.25 inch screen size with a high resolution of 480 x 360 pixel color display and the other has a 2.6 inch screen size with half VGA resolution of 480 x 320 pixel color display.

Next the camera on the first one comes with 3.2mp, auto flash, auto focus and 2x digital zoom. The second one only has 2.0mp with flash but is equipped with 3x digital zoom. Both may require a microSD card to enable the video recording feature depending on the amount of memory available.

The battery life has a slight difference. Stand by time is 15 days and the talk time is 6 hours vs. a stand by time of 13.5 days and talk time of 4.5 hours. Both have a removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell battery.

You will not get lost with either phone because they both offer a built in GPS system and maps. These features allow you to plan and view your trip right on the screen, save a list of favorite places you like to visit and step by step driving directions to any location of your choice.

They both have built in 3.5mm stereo with headset compatibility, integrated earpiece/microphone, speaker phone and Bluetooth ready. However, one has a touch screen keyboard (allows you to type by touch) vs. a QWERTY keyboard (allows you to type on a regular keyboard) on the other. The built in microphone is a great asset to both phones because it allows users to send voice e-mails. This comes in handy when you are in a hurry, donÕt feel up to typing or want to give a message in person but are unable to.

They both have media player which allows you to watch video or audio formatted programs, allow you to edit your Microsoft word or PowerPoint slides (copy and past, adjust font and other formatting) and doubles as an iPod allowing users to create their own playist list for easy listening.

The Blackberry Storm and the Blackberry Bold are very similar with few differences. Overall the Blackberry Storm offers a little more. It offers better picture resolution, more digital camera MPS, a longer battery life and more built in memory. However, if you donÕt like touch screens and prefer the usual keyboard style, the Blackberry Bold offers it. There are such minute differences between the two; one would have to begin to look at styles, colors, prices and services to help them make a choice.
by Caroline Telford

The RIM BlackBerry Bold Vs Apple’s iPhone 3G Battle Of The Smart Phones.

The consumers and companies win with the BlackBerry Bold can sync with a companys BlackBerry Enterprise server and it also supports Microsoft Exchange's push email server. You can also configure the Bold to work with POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail accounts as well. RIM has remained loyal to it’s core customers government and enterprise while dipping it’s toes in the consumer pools. Over the past year the BlackBerry Curve has replaced the BlackBerry 8700 as the BDOC. Meanwhile Apple has only recently made plans to venture into the enterprise market which is where they are hoping to make their next fortune.

Many people consider this smartphone to be the BlackBerry device that is designed to take on Apple’s iPhone 3G in the enterprise environment and even dip into the high tech consumer market as well. Powered by a 624 MHz mobile processor and support for tri band HSDPA and enterprise grade Wi-Fi networks the Bold makes short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering webpages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on board storage memory as well as and a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that is conveniently accessible from a side door.

If the battery is running too low, the Bold won't shut down but will disconnect the radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas, the other features of the phone remaining accessible. However if the phone is put to charge the radio antenna will not be switched on immediately but rather after 10-15 minutes of charge. Battery life was thought to be an issue on the Bold by many but it lasted three days before I decided to juice it up. There is no option to switch from 3G to Edge which I think is a travesty because every other 3G smartphone on the market has the ability to do so.

After few weeks of testing BlackBerry Bold and beside a few minor problems we only have adjectives of approval for it. The Blackberry Bold is RIM's next generation full size Blackberry that will have the latest cutting edge technology built in including a new larger keypad, 802.11 WiFi, 3G HSDPA wireless, Bluetooth, as well as a GPS chip for location based maps and services. Microsoft and Apple promote the lack of third party involvement as a security advantage but I'm not convinced that's how it will appear to the companies that have learned to trust and rely on the BlackBerry.
by Christoper West