Let’s start with the Desktop Cradle.  It is a stand alone cradle that can be used with one of their cases or external batteries.  This is a huge plus, because a lot of other cradles do not offer the compatibility, with either a case or extended battery.  It also just plugs right in to your existing charge or usb cable you would use.  A little light on the back lets you know it’s plugged in, which I found to be a bit of annoyance when using it at my bedside, but on my desk was not an issue.  It is a good weight and size, the density of the cradle and as well as the 2 non slip pads on the bottom make it very stable.  If you drop your phone in from around an inch up, it lands perfectly and starts charging. It also comes with an insert plate to use without a case on your device, which is removable for when using the cradle with a supported case.  Such as the Seidio ACTIVE case.

The Seidio ACTIVE case is a great 2 piece case, which offers everyday protection for normal wear and tear.  It has a soft rubber bumper that slips on to the device, and then a hard plastic body guard that clips on to the device securing it all in place. This adds a bit of shock protection if dropped or slips out of your hands.  I do not recommend dropping it, but mine has slipped out of my hand while removing it from my pocket a couple of times, and the phone has survived quite nicely.

The case protects the device quite nicely, the case is snug, and doesn’t fall off.  The overall physical aspect does not make the phone feel bulky, and maintains the sleek profile of the phone.  The rubber gives it a very nice soft grip, when you’re holding the device, even loosely, it feels snug and secure.  The one benefit is that the volume, convenience, and lock button work perfect with the case on, unlike others were you almost have to wiggle it to get the button to work.

There are a few things I would improve on,  I would want the case to have port covers, even though it does offer good protection, it leaves the ports open for dust and lint when used in a pocket.  I would have also liked to see a camera cover; with that being one of the only openings on the back I found dust also liked the gather on the lens.  I had to clean it a few times before using it, but it was not a major hindrance as I often check the lens with or without a case on.  The last thing is not something I would change on the case, but include in the packaging. I would put in a screen protector, it isn’t a must have, but something I look for.  Now when ordering from Seidio you can always add one of their high quality screen protectors to your purchase. As well as an optional holster, I think it was smart to leave the holster out of the equation, because a lot of people are buying this case to be used in their pocket or purse.

Overall Seidio has done a great job. The week and a half I have been using a case it has been great.  And the desktop cradle also works well and it has become a new fixture on my desk.  You can get your own ACTIVE case or Desktop Cradle directly from Seidio.  The ACTIVE case comes in 4 colours as well.  If you are looking at getting the optional holster, grab the combo and save your self some money as well. Please note with the cradle, that it does not include the power/usb cable, but they can optionally be included in your purchase.  Check out more great products from Seidio as well as the ACTIVE case and Desktop Cradle by visiting them at their website.

Here are some more pictures:

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: Seidio Desktop Charging Cradle for 8900/8350i
• Seidio Releases Charging Cradle For BlackBerry 8100/8130 Pearl
• Seidio Opens Pre-orders for Case/Skin Compatible Cradles – 10% Off Coupon
• Seidio Innocase Snap – A “Different” Case for the BlackBerry Tour
• Deal: 8900 Curve SEIDIO Innocase II Case Combo – $39.99 w/Free Shipping

Posted by Fubaz for ©BerryReview, February 1, 2012, 9:29 am. | Review: Seidio ACTIVE case and Seidio Desktop Cradle | Leave a comment |

I have apparently become a case freak. I really want/need my devices protected. I have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and lots of opportunities for personal electronics to get knocked, dropped, dinged, scratched, scuffed, or otherwise violated. 3 of 4 phones in my house live in Otterbox Commuters. My PlayBook never leaves the house out of its OEM Convertible case.

That being said, I find that I prefer my PlayBook naked at home. The thing is just so darned comfortable as-is! Unfortunately, my paranoia has steadily grown, so I decided that a slim scuff guard of some sort was in order. Enter the Case-Mate Barely There.

The Barely There is just that. It’s a slim, semi-rigid sheath that snaps right onto the PlayBook. It’s so thin, it’s almost invisible. The box actually has the dubious tagline “Like a thong for your tablet” on the back. I’m not even kidding:

The Barely There has cut-outs for all the buttons and ports, including the dual microphones. Access to the buttons and ports is not hampered in any way due to the extreme thinness of the case, but it does add just enough bulk to prevent use of the charging dock.

It completely covers the back, top and bottom edges of the PlayBook, as well as the corners, providing adequate minimalist scuff and scratch protection. The top and bottom edges come up above the PlayBook just enough to prevent the screen from touching a flat surface if laid face-down on it, though it provides no more than a millimeter clearance. Since there’s only the barest overlap on the front edges of the device itself, bezel gestures are completely unaffected by the case.

The Barely There case, curiously, leaves the sides of your PlayBook completely open and unprotected. This is, I suppose,  a concession to the minimalist theory behind the case’s design, but in my world, danger comes from all directions, so I was disappointed by this lack of lateral protection.

I probably could have gotten over the lack of side protection, but for one glaring flaw: this case is sharp, and not in a ZZ Top kind of way. The back edges are rounded on all four sides, but every front edge of this case is sharp to the touch, making it uncomfortable to hold and shift your grip on it. The exposed sides leave a sharp edge all along the part of the PlayBook right where your hands go. Every time I reached toward the touchscreen or shifted the position in which I was holding the PlayBook, my hands or fingers caught or scraped on this uncomfortable edge. Even the front corners felt sharp, as did the thin seams around the buttons and ports. A naked PlayBook is a joy to hold; smooth, secure, and comfortable. This case makes it less so.

The Case-Mate Barely There case takes a minimalist approach to minimalist protection. It adds almost no bulk at all and provides good basic scuff protection for the back of the PlayBook, top and bottom, but leaves the sides open. You may find that its sharp front edges cause you no discomfort., but after 2 days of constantly putting the case on, getting annoyed, and taking it off again, I decided that, for me, this flaw was a deal-breaker. A case that is meant to be “barely there” should not cause a tactile distraction every time you use it. I’m sending it back and ordering an OEM soft shell.

PROS: Ultra-thin, adds no appreciable bulk, provides basic scuff protection, blends almost flawlessly into the appearance of the PlayBook, leaves ports, buttons, and bezels unhindered.

CONS: No side protection, very little, if any, impact/drop protection, sharp edges make it uncomfortable to use.

RATING: 6/10

The Case-Mate Barely There Case is available for ~$17 @ Amazon and other retailers

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Case-Mate Go Bare Sticker Cases Coming Soon & Custom Case Designs
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• Case-Mate BlackBerry Bold 9700 Fuel Case Now Available!!!

Posted by rrrebo for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 5:55 pm. | Review: Case-Mate Barely There For PlayBook | 6 comments |

We heard rumors that RIM was working on a wireless keyboard case for the BlackBerry PlayBook back in April of last year. Since then they have been very quiet on that front though I have been keeping an eye out for it. I was sent a slide deck by one of our sources who told me that the keyboard is now shipping to BlackBerry distributors and should probably be available soon. My guess is that it will coincide with the PlayBook OS 2.0 launch.

We also have more details on how the new BlackBerry Mini Keyboard works with the PlayBook. Here is a breakdown of the features listed:

• Both a keyboard and a touchpad
• Can last up to 30 days on a charge
• Comes with a case that folds over your PlayBook
• Multitouch touchpad with one finger left click and two finger right click (for remote desktop apps)
• Mouse scrolling with two fingers on the touchpad
• Charges via MicroUSB

Hopefully we will get a launch date and pricing soon! Check out all the slide deck for the BlackBerry Mini Keyboard below:

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• BlackBerry OS 7.1 Coming in December? PlayBook Keyboard Case in February?
• BlackBerry PlayBook Officially Supports Bluetooth Keyboards & Mice – Headphones Coming Soon!
• bluCTRL Now Free! Turn Your BlackBerry Into A Bluetooth Mouse & Keyboard
• Review: Scosche freeKEY Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard
• Screenshots of PlayBook Android Player Web Browser, Keyboard, & More!

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 25, 2012, 1:25 pm. | Official Bluetooth BlackBerry Mini Keyboard With Trackpad for PlayBook Coming Soon | 37 comments |

Walmart in the US has a nice discount on the BlackBerry PlayBook Rapid Travel Charger. As a reminder this charger pumps out 2A over a different cable than the usual MicroUSB and pushes out 2A for what RIM calls a Rapid Charge. It attaches magnetically to the PlayBook and keeps your MicroUSB port free. It originally sold for about $70 but Thomas let me know (via Techbargains) that Walmart is selling it for $19 in the US. Shipping to your local Walmart store is free and shipping to your house will cost you about $3 from what I can tell.

Pick up the BlackBerry PlayBook Rapid Travel Charger @ Walmart

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• RIM Confirms BlackBerry PlayBook Premium Charger Charges Phones 2X Faster!
• BlackBerry PlayBook Charger Is Not A Regular BlackBerry Charger
• Walmart Canada Offering BlackBerry PlayBook from $198+
• Free Blackberry RIM Fold Travel Charger & High Speed USB Data Cable – SET
• Walmart Selling BlackBerry PlayBook – Amazon Accepting Preorders

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 25, 2012, 9:40 am. | BlackBerry PlayBook Rapid Travel Charger $19 @ Walmart | 10 comments |

One of the most popular printer companies in existence has brought us to a whole new level: printing from our phones. The Epson 730 printer allows users to not only print via built-in wi-fi capabilities from your computer, but also directly from the most popular phones in use today.

First Impression: The printer is very sleek with an easy to read panel and a nicely sized screen.. It is not bulky or odd shaped – just square and flat. The box contains the printer, 6 different-colored ink cartridges and a power cord. No USB. It was simple and easy to set up to my computer and I didn’t have to ask my techie husband for help! I love that it connects via wi-fi and requires no extraneous cords. In my small Manhattan apartment, I am very particular about what gets hidden and what can be displayed. This printer I am happy to have out (if I had the space for it – now it sits tucked away).

Printing:

After a pain-free hookup to my laptop and my desktop, I attempt to print. It flies! Anything I print out, takes mere seconds. There is a built in capability to print double-sided (which I am a huge fan of, if only to lessen my paper usage) and it’s so quick! I immediately print out a slew of newly-taken photos and I am surprised at how smooth it comes out – not pixelated at all. My only concern is the color saturation on the photo, which makes the picture darker than it was on the screen and very intense. I print the same photo out on regular printer paper and the colors are the opposite – too light and desaturated.  After a few more photo printouts and some minor tweaks to the settings, I am more than satisfied. I also appreciate the edge-to-edge printing when using an already-cut 4×6 paper and it actually does take only 10 seconds. It’s amazing how clear and bright and fluid the pictures are… and they came from my photo printer! This is due to Epson’s patented MicroPiezo technology, the same used by professional wide format printers and different from any other inkjet printer on the market. In thermal heating, used by most consumer inkjets, tiny resistors create heat which vaporizes ink to create a bubble, then pushed out of a nozzle onto the paper. Epson printers employ a piezoelectric crystal in each nozzle that vibrates, changing size & shape, based on electric currents received and forces tiny droplets of ink onto the paper from the nozzle. Importantly, it is the different size droplets that allow for finer detailed printing allowing sharper, grain-free photo prints with smoother tonal transitions.

Scanning:

There are several ways of getting the printer to scan, be it from the computer for more detailed options or a quick scan directly from the printer’s touch panel. When I scanned a small 3×5 photo, I tried a few options to obtain better photo quality and found the tweaking menu on the PC relatively easy to use. From the front panel alone there are many ways of scanning something: scanning to PC, to PDF, to e-mail, to memory card/USB flash drive or to just convert to coloring book pages. I did try that latter option for my amusement and it works. The idea of using just the front panel and avoiding the printer middle man is great and very handy for all options.

Epson Connect:

In addition to the high-quality printing and scanning, there is a super cool feature included in this model (and just one other in the Epson Printer line): printing directly from your phone, no computer required. There are programs available to download for your non-Blackberry devices and thankfully, Epson did not leave us Blackberry users in the dark. You can e-mail your printer to print something for you! I went online to Epson.com/connect, created an account, followed a simple setup and within minutes I was typing away on my BB sending a photo to my printer. The response time was less than a minute before I received my Epson Print e-mail alert and heard the printer start up. [When logged in to Epson Connect, there are ways to customize who can print and who can be notified, among other options]. While it is true that anyone with an e-mail address can send a print job (with permission) to this printer, Epson highlights this option for Blackberry users, so no mobile device (with data) is left out.

Random fact: there is a USB port located on the printer for printing from or saving to a USB connected-device, which also doubles a phone/device charger.

Cost: Amazon ~$138

It is important to note that the cost of ink for any Epson printer is slightly lower than ink for other consumer inkjets in the same class because they have fixed print heads built in to the printer. Since the head need not be replaced every time the ink runs out, you are not always purchasing ink with cheap disposable heads and the head itself can be more precise than a disposable one, which typically requires no calibration.

Bottom Line

Worth it. Love it. For it’s simplicity in appearance and usage and high quality results from anything I attempted to do, as well as it’s superior speeds. Anyone who needs to have a printer in their home should consider this one and given the price and abilities, it’s truly great.

Disclaimer: Epson sent us a review unit to conduct this review.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Planon Printstick PS910 – Printer For Your BlackBerry
• Remote Print: Print to Your PC Printer Over Wi-Fi or BES
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• Polaroid Bluetooth PoGo Instant Mobile Photo Printer – $96
• Kodak Releases Wireless Printer – Fails To Release BlackBerry App

Posted by shannonaf for ©BerryReview, January 10, 2012, 1:30 pm. | Epson Artisan 730 All-in-One Printer | 2 comments |

Power Stretch 5-Finger Liner

The gloves have silver plated polyamide tips on all fingers for the purpose of using your chosen device without freezing your hands. The tips of each finger are sewn squarely, instead of the usual rounded, making the tops a bit too big for my own fingers. When I tried to use my tablet, repeated touches to the screen did  nothing, unless I pulled the glove tightly around one or two fingers. Those attempts were significantly more successful, although I still had to use some extra force against the touchscreen. Keeping the tip pulled back and tight-fitted around my finger also

You are outside in the freezing weather and receive a text message from your friend running late. Luckily, your holiday present were these very cool Freehands gloves that you are trying out for the first time. You just pop the tops, type the quick text back and recover your warmth in seconds when you pull the tops back on. These wool gloves are fun and attractive for the female crowd, like me. They do come in other colors and patterns as well. They are very useful and well thought-out.
As you use your selected device outside in the cold, you do not constantly pushing back the covers from getting in the way as you type. The covers attach to the back of your finger with magnets! The magnets are thin and sewn inside. You can barely see them.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: Glider Gloves (Winter Gloves for Touchscreen Devices)
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• Gadget Gloves Roundup
• Winter Gloves for Touchscreens Highlighted by the New York Times
• Question: What Are The Best Winter BlackBerry Gadget Gloves? 2010-11 Edition

Posted by shannonaf for ©BerryReview, December 28, 2011, 1:45 pm. | FreeHand Gloves Review | 4 comments |

Problem: All earphones dig painfully in your ear while lying on your side and all headphones are too bulky to lay your head down flat. Most of the time, either option will only last several minutes before causing you to turn over and try another position.

Goal: Finding the most comfortable way to listen to music or watch a program on your phone without disturbing your bedmate or roommate.

Solution: SleepPhones!

I was eager to try out this product from the first photo I saw. When I received the product for review, my first impression was ultra-comfy and simple. I was also happy with the sight of one wire coming out of the band, allaying my fear of waking up tangled and strangled by several wires when I would use my regular earphones for sleeping purposes.

Fit. The headband is a light-weight fleece with some spandex for an easy fit around your head. It is like sleeping on a cloud. The speakers were designed to be thin and covered in material patches that can be adjusted within the headband for proper ear fit. They can be completely removed when you are ready to wash the band. The band can be worn with the cord coming out of the front or the back, depending on how you sleep and where you place your phone or mp3 player. There is an extra convenience of wear the band over your eyes if you are the type of person who needs complete darkness to fall asleep.

Sound Quality. The sound emitting from the speakers is slightly muffled, which is expected when they are covered in two layers of thicker material. I found it to be similar to wearing the most basic earphones while on the subway. However, the purpose of SleepPhones is for wearing them in bed with intent of  falling asleep. Being the case, the lack of perfect sound from these speakers is not something that truly affected me.

Conclusion. I highly recommend SleepPhones for those people who bring earphones to bed. The material is super comfortable, staying light around your face without overheating you. Those precious minutes before sleep are no longer wasted trying to adjust your head on the pillow with the earphones – the SleepPhones band goes on and adjusts in seconds. Although the price may seem a bit steep, I have found them to be truly worth it. They also make a great gift for the holiday season.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: Etymotic Research MC2 Noise-Isolating In-ear Headset and Earphones
• Review: iFrogz Timbre Earphones
• Review: Arctic Sound E352 Earphones
• Review: Seidio 2-IN-1 Earbuds Headphones For BlackBerry 8100 / 8800 / 8830
• Review: V-Moda Vibe II Earbud Headset with Microphone

Posted by shannonaf for ©BerryReview, December 16, 2011, 9:00 am. | AcousticSheep SleepPhones Review | Leave a comment |

The IDAPT i4 (“i4″) is a charging solution for those that use multiple devices on a regular basis. Like others that have come before it, the i4 allows users to charge multiple devices using a single charging mechanism instead of having to have an outlet filled with multiple charging cables. But while the i4 performs the same functions as its competitors, the i4 stands out in design. From the clean looking base stations itself, to the customizable charging ports, to the vertical presentation of charging devices, the i4 is designed to stand out in a crowded market.

The Good

The purpose of a charging station is visual cleanliness; to avoid the sight of cables everywhere. But because in reality a charging base sits on your desk or bedside table, it is important that it looks good as well. The i4 looks better than other charging stations for three reasons:

1. the i4 has a simple pleasing rectangle shape that tapers inwards, creating a clean aerial view;
2. the i4 adds a little flash with a glossy black top panel; and
3. the i4 holds charging devices up vertically, putting your coolest toys on a kind of display.

Because the i4 is going for a substantial look–a feel that the charging base station is a single solid device–the i4 has taken a different approach to customization. Other charging stations I have reviewed provided a variety of plugs meant to be attached to the base station and the device (see my old Powermat review). That approach always bothered me because it seemed to betray the fundamental purpose of the device–to reduce cord clutter. Thankfully, the i4 takes a different approach, using a mix-and-match socket configuration. The i4 comes with a variety of tips blocks–Samsung 4, Sony Ericsson 2, Nokia 2, iPod-iPhone, Blackberry USB and mini USB–that fit into three compartments on its face. Simply pick three that you need and KABLAMO! you have a customized charging station with no extra wires. Combined with a USB port on its side, the i4 can charge 4 devices simultaneously.

The Bad

While a simple charging base with three tips sticking up out of it looks pretty slick, I noticed some drawbacks in testing:

1. because the tips don’t stick far out from the base, when I tried to charge any type of device with a heavy case on it, the tips did not reach out far enough to charge the device;
2. micro-USB has gotten pretty popular, but you only get one tip for each type so don’t think about charging a Blackberry and a headset at the same time;
3. another thing I noticed was that it is harder to lower devices onto smaller charging tips, It took me almost a minute to get a Blackberry connected to the micro-USB tip; and
4. according to my wife, when the i4 is placed on a night stand beside the bed it is hard to fall asleep the the charging LEDs shining bright.

Takeaway

The most frequently charged device is the cell phone. For many users who use thicker cell phone cases, having to take the case off to use this charging station may simply be too much hassle to handle on a daily basis. But, if you have a thin case or you like to let your cell phone go bare, the i4′s design is spot on. At $59.99, it also might be worthwhile to keep the i4 in mind for the upcoming holiday season.

Disclaimer: IDAPT provided a demo unit for this review. 

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

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• Gadget of the Week: Powermat Wireless Charging Pad

Posted by David for ©BerryReview, December 9, 2011, 11:03 am. | IDAPT i4, A Charging Station That Puts Your Devices on Display | Leave a comment |

Update: Looks like it may be until the 14th before the cases are available for sell.

There have been limited reports that the OtterBox® Defender Series® for BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 does not meet our high quality standards. After a thorough internal investigation, our testing indicates that any issues are isolated and unusual.

However, we are committed to providing an excellent customer experience, so today we are announcing minor enhancements to improve the product. Protective foam has been added to the interior of the case to provide a cushioned, custom fit. The holster-style swivel belt clip has been adjusted to allow for easier functionality when securing the case and the “sleep” magnet has been recessed further into the clip.

Inventory is expected to be back in stock Dec. 10, at which time you will notice a new product number listed on www.otterbox.com. Any customer concerned with their current Defender Series for BlackBerry Bold 9900 is encouraged to contact customer service (customer.service@otterbox.com or 855-688-7269) for assistance. We are committed to our customers and will address their needs as best we can.

If you are a current 9900 Defender user and have concerns simply contact them through the methods mentioned above.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: OtterBox BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 Series Defender
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• OtterBox Releases BlackBerry Curve 8900 Series Defender Case
• OtterBox BlackBerry Bold 9900 9930 Cases Coming Soon

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, December 7, 2011, 11:00 am. | OtterBox 9900/9930 Defender Series Back In Stock December 10th | One comment |

Last year Luis reviewed the SoundID 510 which shipped along with a EarPrint app that gave you added functionality from your BlackBerry. They have now released a new version of their headset called the SoundID SIX bluetooth headset that comes with EarPrint 3.0. As far as I can tell the EarPrint app in App World was updated last month but going by the reviews I hope it improves.

The new SoundID SIX headset offers:

• VoiceMenu, an improvement on voice recognition, allows you to discretely activate up to 5 features, such as voicemail, VoiceDial and BING 411– all with one command and regardless of background noise.
• Voice Prompts provide updates on connection status and identifies callers by number.
• The Clear Carbon Design is smaller, lighter, and more comfortable then ever before – it also creates a really sleek look and feel.
• Smart Touch Surface lets you control volume, mute, voice mail and voice dial, as well as auto dial favorite numbers with a simple touch.
• In addition to phone calls, you can use ActiveConnect to connect 2 media (A2DP) devices – such as a smartphone, tablet, iPad or Bluetooth-enabled PCs – and toggle back and forth. 
• With the free EarPrint 3.0 App you can unlock the array of extended features and customize the audio with Sound ID’s patented PersonalSound™

Check out more about the SoundID SIX at www.soundid.com where it is available for $129.99.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: SoundID Bluetooth 510 and EarPrint
• Customize Your Sound ID 510 Bluetooth Headset with EarPrint
• Review: SoundID 200 Bluetooth Headset
• SoundID 400 & 510: Bluetooth Headset meets Hearing Aid
• BlackBerry Wireless Bluetooth Headset HS-500 Released

Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, November 23, 2011, 1:35 pm. | SoundID SIX Bluetooth Headset Released with EarPrint 3.0 Application | One comment |

Review: Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars
Price: ~$96.87 at Amazon.com

Like many of you, I am always plugged in to my headphones. Sitting at my laptop working all day, I’ve either got a phone to my ear, or earbuds sitting in them. When Jabra announced the Jabra Sport, I thought this was the perfect item for me to try out.

After using these for the last week, I would say these headphones are very comfortable. As soon as you put them on, you forget that you are even wearing headphones. They stay in your ears well and do not feel loose. The freedom of having no wires attaching you to your phone, which would otherwise go flying when you walk away is amazing.

As one who has been using Shure headphones every day, I must say that the music quality on the Jabra Sport is mediocre. These will not be replacement headphones for any audiophile. That said, the music quality is not terrible, and if you’re using these while running at the gym, you may not notice the difference all that much with everything else going on around you.

Calls sound good on the headphones. I had doubts about the microphone being so far from your face, but I was quite impressed with it. Callers could hear me quite well in areas that had a decent amount of background noise. Hearing the call in both ears also makes it much easier to hear when you’re in a noisy surrounding.

One interesting thing I noticed, was that when placing calls while listening to music, the call would start off on the phone handset and switch over to the headset after 2 seconds. This wasn’t much of an issue but caused me to glance back at the phone to ensure I was still connected. This only occurred if music was playing at the time I placed the call, and in no other scenario I tried out.

Similar to other Jabra headsets, the Sport announces callers and informs you when the headset has been turned on or off, is in pairing mode, and allows for voice commands. These work fairly well, although I never completely trust voice commands, always double checking the screen to ensure it’s calling the right person.

Overall, these headphones are great for anyone who goes running outside or listens to music at the gym and wants freedom from wires and the ability to easily answer calls and switch back to their music afterwards, without taking a break from their workout. However, if you’re an audiophile, you may want to keep looking.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Jabra SPORT Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Coming This Month
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• Review: Jabra Freeway In-Car Bluetooth Speakerphone

Posted by Mendy for ©BerryReview, November 23, 2011, 5:56 am. | Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones Review | 3 comments |

The Jabra Supreme is the latest and greatest Bluetooth headset available for hands-free dialing and voice activation. This headset is extremely easy to use. Powering on the headset consists of simply flipping open the microphone. Upon doing this for the first time after the initial charge, voice commands instantly guide you through the pairing to your phone. Subsequent powering-on of the headset results in a greeting of “Power On…Connected”.

Receiving Calls: Upon receiving a call, the headset announces “Call from …” and announced the caller’s name if in your address book, or the number calling. You may use the Answer/End button or wait for the tone, and speak “Answer” or “Decline”. This is great for driving.

Placing Calls: Voice commands allow you to speak the name of the caller. As always, I had difficulty with the proper contact being identified while using voice commands, and found myself tending to stick to the more standard method of dialing from the phone.

Overall Thoughts: The sound quality is pretty good on both ends. Callers did not realize I was on a headset, and I was able to hear them quite clearly. The headset is quite comfortable with the foam cover over the speaker sits flush against your ear. The voice instructions, and simple flipping open/closed to turn on/off prove quite useful, especially for those used to staring at the blinking lights on their headset attempting to determine what it’s doing.

The only con I found was the ear loop. While the speaker and foam cover sit flush against your ear while being worn, I felt the ear loop was insufficient to keep the headset from moving around while you moved. This caused me to try moving less while wearing my headset, something which I shouldn’t have to pay attention to. At no point did it actually fall off or even come loose, but it was something that bothered me while using. Then again, I find this an issue for all headsets with similar loops, so it appears to be a personal issue.

Conclusion: If you want a simple, easy to use headset, this headset is for you. With it’s flip open/closed to turn on/off, and voice commands, all the guesswork is removed when using this headset. Once again, this Jabra headset has great sound quality and a good look.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Jabra Annouces SUPREME Headset & Releases ETREME2 Headset
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• Review: Jabra BT800 Bluetooth Caller ID Headset
• Review: BlueAnt V1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset

Posted by Mendy for ©BerryReview, November 11, 2011, 6:01 pm. | Jabra Supreme Bluetooth Headset Review | 3 comments |

Price: $24.95
Web Site: Trident Case
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

If you are looking for a lightweight protection for your Playbook, look no more. The Perseus from Trident Case is a great companion for your tablet. The product comes with two parts. The main part is the rubberized silicone case which covers all sides, except the screen. The case provides good protection from minor impacts. As an added bonus, it also provides a better grip. Trident Case didn’t forget to protect your screen as well, which is the second part – a scratch/smudge resistant screen protector. Also included in the package was a lint free cleaning cloth, an application card to install the screen protector and instructions:

The case fits snuggly around the Playbook. You have to keep in mind, the protection it provides is a light-duty one. It will protect well from little bumps, but if you drop the device from couple of feet onto a hard surface, it may not be sufficient. Also, screen is protected against scratches, but it being open otherwise makes me worry about using the case daily.

The ports are fully open and are easily accessible. Of course you wouldn’t be able to use a cradle when the device is in the case. The little nubs on top of the power/volume buttons make them easier to access as well.

One funny thing I noticed, the instructions are from their iPhone version, I am guessing the product was a little bit rushed:

Overall, it is an inexpensive light duty case plus screen protector combo. It is lightweight and doesn’t add bulk.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comes with screen protector
• Added grip

Cons:

• Case surrounding the long edges is a bit loose
• Silicone is a dust magnet
• Screen is only protected by a screen protector.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: BlackBerry Playbook Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case
• Review: JavoEdge Skin Case and JavoScreen 2.0 for Bold
• Review: Case-Mate Privacy Screen – Shield Your Berry From Unwanted Eyes
• Review: Smart Skin From Case Mate for the BlackBerry Curve/Pearl
• Review: DICOTA TabBook Case for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Posted by Remzi Turer for ©BerryReview, October 26, 2011, 5:52 pm. | Review: Trident Perseus Case for Playbook | 2 comments |

When I got my first Plantronics Voyager Pro I few years back I fell in love. It was a super comfy Bluetooth headset that simply worked and the battery lasted forever. Plantronics then gave it a marginal update with the Voyager Pro+ with A2DP and a voice controls. Now they have tuned the mix just a little bit more with the Voyager Pro HD.

The Voyager Pro HD adds a slick Smart Sensor technology that recognizes when you place it on your ear. It will automatically answer calls or transfer calls back and forth between your phone and headset based on this sensor. They also have their Vocalyst voice and text service on command and a few other tricks.

The Voyager Pro HD is available now on Amazon for $99 and you can read more on the Plantronics website.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Holiday Giveaway: Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth Headset
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• New BlackBerry Bluetooth Wireless Headset HS-700
• Review: Plantronics BackBeat 903 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, October 13, 2011, 5:55 pm. | Plantronics Improves on Perfection with Voyager Pro HD Bluetooth Headset | Leave a comment |

Anybody else miss the old clip on holsters RIM used to ship with all their BlackBerrys? The leather holster that comes with the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 is actually quite good but some people prefer the traditional plastic clip BlackBerry holsters. Tom let us know that Seidio has exactly those users in mind with their new BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 99309 Spring Clip Holster. It is intended for a “naked” case-less Bold and provides a spring clip that lifts to get your device in and out. The inside is covered by felt and it faces inside when you place it in the holster to protect the screen.

Features include:

• Unique spring clip lifts for quick access and easy removal
• Adjustable swivel belt clip with 7 rotating angles
• Felt liner and face-in design protect your phone from outside elements
• Easy access to connectors and function keys

You can pick up the Seidio Spring Clip Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 for $29.95 directly from Seidio.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Seidio Releases Accessories For The Bold
• Seidio Releases New Innocase Rugged Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9700
• Review: OtterBox BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 Series Defender
• Seidio Releases Full Line of Accessories for BlackBerry Bold 9700
• Magmic Releases Four More BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 Themes

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, October 11, 2011, 10:52 am. | Seidio Releases Spring Clip Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 & 9930 | 4 comments |

While at Pepcom last week I had a chance to try out Jabra’s upcoming SUPREME headset that is coming in October. The headset is a flashback with its huge mono speaker but the sound quality was great and it was super comfy to wear. It includes a nice flip boom that lets you flip the microphone back and forth to turn it on and off. It also features:

• Active Noise Cancelation blocks out background noise to ensure pristine call clarity
• Wind-Noise Reduction Technology reduces unwanted wind-noise from your conversation
• Noise Blackout™ 3.0 ensures your voice is crystal clear to the person you are speaking to
• Flip-boom Arm can be unfolded to switch ON and folded to switch OFF
• Custom Comfort provided with two interchangeable soft ear cushions and adjustable ear hook

All in all the SUPREME looks like it will be a pretty solid headset though not yet available. if you are looking for something now Jabra just released their follow up EXTREME2 headset which is currently available at Best Buy, Amazon.com, Best Buy Canada, Future Shop and The Source.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Jabra Supreme Bluetooth Headset Review
• Review: Jabra Stone Bluetooth Headset
• Jabra Wave Classic Bluetooth Headset Coming in November – Verizon Exclusive
• Jabra HALO Bluetooth Stereo Headset Coming in May
• Jabra EXTREME & CRUISER Bluetooth Headset & Speakerphone

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 23, 2011, 3:40 pm. | Jabra Annouces SUPREME Headset & Releases ETREME2 Headset | One comment |

There has been a bit of confusion about using the BlackBerry PlayBook Premium charger and charging BlackBerry smartphones. Kevin @CrackBerry speculated a few months back that the Premium Charger that ships with the Playbook charges phones faster but RIM was mum on the subject and we speculated on our own. Now RIM has confirmed on their Shop BlackBerry store that:

It’s (BlackBerry Premium Charger) designed to work with your BlackBerry® smartphone—charging twice as fast as standard BlackBerry chargers.

From what I have been able to tell by using the BlackBerry Engineering Screen the PlayBook Premium charger pumps ~1250mAh charge into my BlackBerry Bold 9930 and BlackBerry Torch 9800. That is compared to 750mAh from the new standard BlackBerry Charger Plug that RIM ships with new phones. It is also higher than the 700mAh that the older model Folding Blade Travel Charger pushed out. The PlayBook Premium Charger on the other hand seems to be able to push 1800mAh though from what I can tell my phone is only reporting 1250mAh so it could be the numbers are a little less than two times the regular charger.

Still its nice to see RIM come out and confirm that the PlayBook Premium Charger is “designed to work with your BlackBerry smartphone” instead of just happening to work. This means that RIM has probably tested it with the smartphone capacitors to make sure you are not frying the charging circuitry.

PS: I am still trying to figure out what the story is with the BlackBerry PlayBook Rapid Charger. For a rapid charger it seems to only be pushing out 2000mAh which is not much higher than the Premium chargers 1800mAh. I am not an electrical engineer by any count but let us know if you figure it out!

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• RIM Reconfirms that PlayBook Charger Charges Smartphones Twice as Fast
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• RIM Explains The BlackBerry PlayBook Low and Dead Battery State
• RIM Confirms Facebook and Twitter Apps for BlackBerry PlayBook

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 16, 2011, 8:55 am. | RIM Confirms BlackBerry PlayBook Premium Charger Charges Phones 2X Faster! | 9 comments |

Package: The package it came in is simple, folded into a small box, with an instruction manual and a retractable mini USB cable for charging the keyboard.

Getting started: First thing is to charge the keyboard if is not fully charge yet. You do not need to install any special software or app on the PlayBook. Once it is paired the Key board you can turn it on and off as needed and the PlayBook automatically connects to it.

Pairing: To pair the keyboard you need to turn on they keyboard by pushing the connect button once, a red star will light up o the right side next to it. Once you see it lit, go to the bluetooth options on the PlayBook and make sure the device is set to discoverable. Then click add new device. When the PlayBook lists the scosche keyboard click on it to pair and it will give you a number; that number you will type it on the keyboard and hit enter when you are done. The keyboard should be paired, you can test this by typing something using the keyboard.

Specifications and Features:

• Advantages and Applications -The freeKEY makes typing with your device easy and efficient. You no longer have to struggle while completing emails or getting work done away from your desktop computer. The extremely long lasting battery will provide up to 60 hours of life before having to be recharged.
• Convenient Design Flexible and water resistant, the freeKEY tucks away into your purse or messenger bag pocket while taking up hardly any room. Along with your iPad, the innovative design of the freeKEY enables it to be used with your iPad 2, iPhone, tablet, laptop and more.
• Simple Use With up to 30 feet of wireless range, this water resistant wireless keyboard will be great to unroll whenever you need it. The included retractable cable allows you to keep the freeKEY always charged and ready-to-go.
• Support Profiles: Bluetooth 2.0, HID
• Rugged high quality silicone material repels dust and liquids
• Up to 30 ft of wireless range
• Wirelessly type on your mobile devices
• Supported OS: Mac OS, iOS, Android*, Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, Vista & 7
• Battery Specs: Built-in lithium-ion battery, Charging time: 2 Hours, Battery Life: 60 Hours, Standby Time: Up to 30 Days, Operating current: <3mA
• **Requires HID Bluetooth profile

Usability: The keyboard feels soft and a bit different since is the first time using one like this one. The keyboard is big enough to type like you would on a regular keyboard. The size is good enough where the user does not feel as if they were typing on a miniature keyboard. It has good enough space between the keys that you can type fast enough using both hands. The more you use it the more you get use to typing on it.

I found that the keyboard works great when testing it with other devices including an android device, the BlackBerry but I did noticed that in earlier builds of the PlayBook OS the PlayBook would lose the connection.  It is not the keyboard but it seems the PlayBook can only handle so many Bluetooth connections at once.  The latest OS updates seem to handle the connection much better without unexpectedly dropping the connection.

Using the keyboard at first feels weird because it is fairly soft compare to regular computer keyboards. After a while I got used to it and it feels comfortable typing on it. To put it to good use I decided to finishing this review using it with the PlayBook. When theuser types the keys give feedback you feel the keys click. It is more comfortable typing on it than a netbook keyboard.  One of the best part is that you can easily fold the keyboard and take with you anywhere. Combine these keyboard with a portable Bluetooth mouse, and you are set on the go. I use it to edit documents, and sometimes to type articles when I am away from home. RIM has improved the OS to support these devices recently because I noticed that when I am using a mouse it has an indicator showing what a right mouse click will do.

The other cool part of this keyboard is that you can easily charge from anywhere you can plug it to a USB connection. The battery last quite a bit so if you use it for periods of time it can last a while.  The design, and the functionality of the keyboard definitely make it a top choice if you are looking for one to use with your mobile device, be it BlackBerry PlayBook, or the competitors.

You can purchase the Keyboard from www.scosche.com for $59.99 or Amazon where you can usually get it at a lower price.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Review: Freedom Pro Bluetooth Keyboard
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• Celluon Laser BlueTooth Keyboard

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, September 12, 2011, 6:00 pm. | Review: Scosche freeKEY Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard | 5 comments |

Etymotic Research MC2 Noise-Isolating In-ear Headset and Earphones
Cost: $99 @ Amazon
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Etymotics is well known as the company with a CUSTOM-FIT program for personalized ear molds that provide a perfect fit. They also happen to sell earphones. Their newest release, the MC2 (a universal follow up to their MC3 iPhone version), claims to be the world’s most accurate noise-isolating headset + earphones under $100 for the cost‑conscious consumer.

As far as noise-cancelling, when the earpieces are properly in the ear, you are happily removed from the noise around you. It blocks out most of the sound and allows you to clearly hear your most recent playlist. I have tested these earphones while listening to my latest obsession, Adele, and I have been able to hear her croon to me perfectly clear, well below maximum volume on both my phone and my computer. Using these definitely prevents me from hurting my eardrums on the subway. They are a bit on the pricier side. A non-audiophile like me would normally think twice about spending that much for earphones. Additionally, there is a nifty Send/End Button that, depending on your device, may also mute a call. Always a pro to have an option like that attached to your earphones.

There is much left to be desired when it comes to the fit of these earpieces. Etymotics gives you an array of buds to try to your liking, but I have yet to find one that fits me best. I have not tried their custom fit program. There are two sizes of the 3-flange eartip, or what I refer to as the plunger type buds that seal in very tightly. Etymotics explains you must take out very gently and slowly to break the seal. There are people who may prefer these tips, but it’s something you must get used to. The Foam eartip you must rub between your fingers to compress the foam before inserting into your ear. These fit and block out all noise from the surrounding, but I wish they were shaped a little less boxy and a little more rounded on the edges to fit more comfortably in the ear. The Glider eartip Etymotics states must be pushed in simply to the ear canal. These are the least fitting buds, as they fall out almost immediately, every time.

In short, it’s worth a shot to try the earphones out, especially if you are inclined to try or have used Etymotics Custom-Fit Program. They are a bit on the pricier end, so if you are having trouble with the ear pieces, you may not benefit from the noise isolation. All in all, these are far superior than the typical iPod pain-inducing earphones.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

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Posted by shannonp for ©BerryReview, September 9, 2011, 12:11 pm. | Review: Etymotic Research MC2 Noise-Isolating In-ear Headset and Earphones | Leave a comment |

I am always on the hunt for better Bluetooth stereo headphones for my BlackBerry. The current top headphones I have found are the Plantronics Backbeat with no competitors coming close though it is nowhere near perfect. Jabra is trying to throw their hat into the ring again with the Jabra SPORT Bluetooth sport headphones that look very similar to the Backbeats though sadly they are accented with yellow and have yellow cords. Otherwise I really like the design.

Key features of the SPORT include:

• Secure and comfortable fit during exercise
• US Military standard protection against rain, dust and shock
• Powerful speakers ensuring high quality sound
• Wind-noise protection microphone
• Listen to music and talk – answer/end calls, skip track
• Carrying case included

It also ships with a free download of Endomondo Sports Tracker to track your fitness activities. The Jabra SPORT will be available at Apple, Sprint and T-Mobile stores and will also be available on Amazon.com in September.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Jabra Sport Bluetooth Headphones Review
• Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones $35.99 Today Only @Amazon
• Jabra BT3030 Stereo Bluetooth Adapter – $43.99 Today Only
• Jabra Wave Classic Bluetooth Headset Coming in November – Verizon Exclusive
• Jabra HALO Bluetooth Stereo Headset Coming in May

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 2, 2011, 8:39 am. | Jabra SPORT Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Coming This Month | One comment |

Web Site: http://www.goballisticcase.com/products/blackberry-playbook-ballistic-tj-series-case

Pricing: $69.99

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

BlackBerry Playbook Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case provides excellent protection for your Playbook. However, the protection comes with a sacrifice – the weight. The case provides three layers of protection.

• Layer 1 – Inner silicone layer absorbs shock
• Layer 2 – Impact resistant hard plastic protects the BlackBerry PlayBook
• Layer 3 – Shock Absorbent polymer layer

Also the case has thicker Ballistic Corners for drop protection and a removable cover that can also be used on the back as a kickstand.

First you wrap your Playbook with the silicone layer, once it is in there, the hard plastic part snaps onto the silicone all around the unit. This combination provides a very tough protection. Let’s take a look at couple of pictures.

The Empty Unit, without the front cover:

With the Playbook inserted:

Back of the unit:

The front cover easily snaps onto the front, completing the protection (your Playbook will feel like a tank, literally thanks to weight). I liked the design of the front cover though, as it can be quickly removed and attached to the back of the unit. There you can push out the kickstand and voila. This will be a great way to interact with your Playbook on your desktop, for example to read news or watch movies. There is only one angle available with the kickstand. Also, unlike the Otterbox Defender, there is no screen protector included. To me, this is better, as I prefer to use my own screen protector, instead of being forced to use what comes with the case.

The ports on the device are accessible easily both on the top and bottom. The silicone covering the power/volume keys makes it easier to push these buttons, especially the power button. I wish there was a L shaped MicroUSB cable/adapter. This would definitely come handy when you are working on it extensively and using the kickstand. The kickstand was initially a bit hard to open, it secures itself pretty tight. However, after a week or two, I managed to open it without any need for a tool.

Overall I like the design and the protection the case provides. My biggest gripe is the added weight, as I love my Playbook being so lightweight. It feels like a feather compared to my Android 10″ G-tablet from Viewsonic. The case nearly doubles the weight of the Playbook (15 oz. Playbook vs 11 oz. case). However, if I am traveling I will most definitely store my Playbook in this case.

Pros:

• Excellent protection
• Kickstand

Cons:

• Heavy
• Kickstand is very hard to open
• Expensive

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• Giveaway: BlackBerry PlayBook Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case
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• Giveaway: & Review OtterBox For The BlackBerry PlayBook
• Review: Case-Mate Barely There For PlayBook

Posted by Remzi Turer for ©BerryReview, August 30, 2011, 12:30 pm. | Review: BlackBerry Playbook Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case | 3 comments |

A couple months ago, I posted a review of MEElectronics’ famous M9 in ear headphones with built in microphone. This month I had a chance to test out the HT-21 Headphones. They’re kind of an in between model. They’re not in ear and they’re not over-ear; they’re on-ear. Or “supra-aural” as the experts at MEE like to put it. They sit comfortably on your ears and, as you can see above, fold in on themselves. This saves space and allows you to put them in the included drawstring storage bag for easy transport between music-blasting sessions. Keep reading to find out how to get an exclusive discount on high quality products from MEElectronics.

I wasn’t so sure about the over-ear design at first, but I really like it for long-term wear. Even with well-fitting in-ear headphones I’ve found that its tough to wear them for a long time comfortably.

Here’s a great description of the HT-21’s found on their website:

Enjoy powerful bass along with class leading clarity and a spacious presentation, extreme comfort, and the convenience of a single cable and folding headband. The supra-aural design (ear cups rest on your ears) uses ear cups that swivel to fit the shape of your head/ears and a padded, lightweight, adjustable headband that is comfortable for long term wear. The cable is designed without a split, connecting only to the left ear cup, eliminating cable tangle and frustration. Sound leakage is reduced due to the closed back design of the ear cups, so you won’t disturb your neighbors like an open backed headphone. Travel with a headphone has never been easier, as the headband folds and the ear cups swivel into a compact size perfect for storage and travel during those rare occasions you will not be listening to the HT-21.

• Spacious, clear sound with deep and enhanced bass

• Closed back design offers isolation and keeps the sound from disturbing your neighbors

• Headband is adjustable to fit different sized heads

• Ear cups swivel for comfort

• Single cable (on the left ear cup) eliminates tangling

• Ear cups fold in flat and into the headband for easy storage

• Soft pouch included for storage and transport when not in use

MEElectronics has been having a really tough time keeping this model in stock. They just received a shipment and sold out immediately afterwards.

They have been gracious enough to provide a discount code for all of our readers for 20% ANY purchase at www.meelec.com. The discount is exclusive of any other promotions. Here’s the code: BERRYREVIEW. Now go get yourself some quality headphones!

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• MEElectronics In Ear Headphones With Microphone. Review and Giveaway!
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Posted by jforce for ©BerryReview, August 26, 2011, 10:02 am. | Review: MEElectronics HT-21 On Ear Headphones | Leave a comment |

The case design is the classic Defender standard, screen protector, hard plastic shell and a nice rubber overlay for a little bump protection. Another design change is that the hard plastic shell does not have the line of plastic across the screen like it has in the past. As well as they put a shield over the camera and flash, where as in the past it was left open, or the membrane would cover it and get grimy.

My first impressions were that it doesn’t feel like a defender, coming from past series’ of Defenders, they felt clunky, and too big for some of the smaller BlackBerry’s. This one feels like it matches the size and feel of the 9900 perfect. The width and depth of the 9900 really helps. With the 9900 having a bigger physical keyboard, the indent from the plastic to the keypad isn’t nearly as visible to touch as it has in the past. One more thing I really liked is how the volume +/- and mute key now all feel like their own buttons, and on the naked device I always found myself muting when changing the volume.

The holster clips nicely to a variety of belts and on to my laptop bag strap.  As stated above, the actual fit of the device in to the holster is superb, and I have had to use force to remove it from the holster twice this morning. The flaps over the side ports feels very tight, and close nicely. And the grip of the case in my hand feels a lot better than the slick feel of the naked 9900.

Overall I would say it is a great fit for anyone looking to protect their 99xx phone the best they can, without feeling like they are over doing it. The case does not feel clunky and really works well with the new slim design of the 99xx phones.

You can get more information and purchase info directly by visiting the OtterBox website

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• OtterBox 9900/9930 Defender Series Back In Stock December 10th
• Review: Otterbox Defender for BlackBerry Bold 9700
• OtterBox BlackBerry Bold 9900 9930 Cases Coming Soon
• Seidio Releases Spring Clip Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 & 9930
• Review: OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry Bold

Posted by Fubaz for ©BerryReview, August 25, 2011, 5:58 pm. | Review: OtterBox BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 Series Defender | 4 comments |

OtterBox has been more than kind to the BerryReview team as they have provided multiple PlayBook Defender cases for review. I thought I would add my 2 cents about these ultra-protective cases and possibly answer any follow up questions the BR faithful may have been having.

First of all, this is obviously not a case for the minimalist. It adds quite a bit of bulk and nearly doubles the thickness of the PlayBook. The added thickness is a small price to pay for the amount of protection this case provides. The Defender truly does defend. As usual, OtterBox has all the bases covered with everything sealed up in forcefield-like fashion…including the screen of course.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the touchscreen functionality is not affected much at all with the Defender’s screen cover in place. It does cover some of the bezel, but I have not had any difficulty using the gestures. It shows fingerprints, but only as much as the actual screen does. Easily wiped away with your snazzy BlackBerry microfiber cloth.

The only parts that are always exposed to outside air are the 2 front speakers and the 2 microphone holes on the top of the PlayBook. The headphone jack and connection ports are accessible after opening the silicone plugs, which are conveniently labeled in case you forget.

As I was looking over previous reviews I noticed some readers asking about charging dock functionality. Due to the added bulk, you will unfortunately not be able to use the standard charging dock for PlayBook while it is encased in the Defender. When I asked the OtterBox rep if they have any plans to develop a dock that is compatible with the Defender I got another unfortunate no.

This got me thinking if OtterBox has any plans to develop a more minimal (maybe Commuter or Impact?) style case for the PlayBook. I sadly report that there is nothing in the works for this right now either.

The best part about this case is the peace of mind it brings. A PlayBook is an investment and I think its best to protect it as much as possible. The Defender does this extremely well. I think of this as pretty much preserving your tablet…for future generations.

Anything else you would like to know about the OtterBox Defender case for PlayBook? Sound off in the comments!

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• OtterBox Defender Case for the BlackBerry PlayBook
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Posted by jforce for ©BerryReview, August 12, 2011, 4:09 pm. | OtterBox BlackBerry PlayBook Defender Series Case. Revisited. | 8 comments |

Normally we would not mention aftermarket car stereos but Sony’s DSX-S310BTX is pretty slick. One of our readers let us know that this new car stereo connects to your BlackBerry or an Android device and lets you control the Pandora app running on the device while streaming audio to the stereo. It works over Bluetooth and gives you Play, Pause, and Skip along with the ability to thumb up or down a song. You can view your Pandora radio station list and the name of the currently playing song. The device also gives you access to the memory card on the BlackBerry and acts as a speakerphone over Bluetooth.

All in all a very cool device that will retail for $280 when it launches this fall. Check out more details at CNet.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

• New BlackBerry A2DP Stereo Connector Coming Soon
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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 12, 2011, 11:02 am. | Sony Aftermarket Car Stereo Controls Pandora on Your BlackBerry | One comment |