Hardware
Emergency Cell Phone Charger
If you've ever been involved in building out a large scale network, you've undoubtedly heard about single points of failure. The BlackBerry network itself is a single point of failure as we saw last week: if it goes down, every single person that relies on BlackBerry email is hosed (pun intended: it is a Canadian device!). But for you personally, the biggest single point of failure is probably your battery: if you run out of juice and you don't have your travel charger, you are, well... hosed.
Which is where the latest BlackBerry accessory I found comes into play: an
Emergency Cell Phone Charger that runs off of a couple (four to be exact) double AA batteries. This gadget can be used anywhere: it generates an extra 20-30 minutes of talk time, when your battery is drained out and fits in your pocket or purse. Pick one up now before your battery runs out!
February 18, 2008 in Accessories, Hardware, Tips by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Impatica ShowMate: PowerPoint via Bluetooth
BlackBerryBlog reader Jessica Morgan sent in the news that the Impatica ShowMate won an award for most "Innovative Wireless Device" at the CTIA 2007 show. The device is only useful for a small segment of BlackBerry users, but man is it cool. A quick poll: raise your hand if you've been in a sales presentation where the sales guys laptop didn't boot or couldn't sync up with the projector. Wait, is that all of you raising your hand? What's that? That happens in every meeting? The ShowMate is aimed at any / all of you people: it's a hardware device that attaches directly to a project and can then deliver your PowerPoint presentation from your BlackBerry device using Bluetooth, which means you can be milling about the room delivering the goods AND not have to worry about your laptop going to sleep or losing juice.
You can read more about the ShowMate here or buy it now for $249.
May 22, 2007 in Hardware, Reviews by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Product of the Week: BlackBerry GPS Receiver
If you've got a BlackBerry with Bluetooth version 2.0, you need to check out the USGlobalSat GPS Receiver, available on ShopBlackBerry.com for $129.99 and Amazon.com for $117.45 (prices as of 4/4/2007). The GPS receiver will get you the ability to super charge the BlackBerry Maps application, instead of having to type in an address, your BlackBerry will know your address, which will way impress your friends and could possibly score you a date at a bar. Well, it'll impress your friends.
March 05, 2007 in Accessories, Hardware, Tips by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Blackberry 8800 vs. Blackberry Pearl
Om Malik over at GigaOM has a comparison / review of the new Blackberry 8800 compared to the Blackberry Pearl (hot on the heals of a similar review in The Mossberg Solution by Katherine Boehret of the WSJ). My question for all you readers: which do you prefer?
March 05, 2007 in Hardware, Phones, Reviews by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Otterbox: Suburban Protection for your BlackBerry
I got an email from Kristin with Otterbox a couple weeks ago about the new Otterbox Rugged Cases for BlackBerry Handsets. I didn't think much of it (cases are everywhere) but holy mackerel these things are gigantic. I mentioned Suburban in the title because it reminds me of the truck: it's almost totally encases the BlackBerry and makes it look impregnable: ready for anything. Downside: $130 for the case BUT if you work in an industry (construction for instance) where you're outside in the elements or around a lot of dust and dirt, you can probably afford one anyway. You can buy them online from otterbox.com directly for either your 8700 or your 7200 series.
February 20, 2007 in Accessories, Hardware by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Pictures: BlackBerry 8100 vs 7130e
BlackBerry Blog reader Dave Peckens uploaded some cool shots of an 8100 side by side with a 7130e. Run on over to his flickr page to check them out.
February 20, 2007 in Hardware, Phones by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
BlackBerry HS-655 Bluetooth Headset
The November 2006 edition of the BlackBerry Connection newsletter featured the very sleek and ultra cool looking HS-655 Bluetooth Headset. It looks like a lipstick case my wife might carry in her purse (which automatically dings it 10 points in my book) but that's actually the case, not the headset (btw: how many bluetooth headsets have you seen that come with a carrying case, nice touch!). The pocket case apparently vibrates to let you know that you have a call (also a nice touch) and the Bluetooth connection back to your BlackBerry is encrypted using 128-bit encryption (which is especially interesting in light of the recent news that criminals can eavesdrop on your cell phone conversations by remotely installing software on your cell phone).
You can buy it now at ShopBlackBerry.com for $139.99, but it won't ship until December 15th so you may not get it in time for Christmas. Boo hoo.
December 06, 2006 in Accessories, Hardware by ajohnson | link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)