That is when Bla1ze let me know about this super cheap website www.truesupplier.com that offers some good deals on custom BlackBerry parts. For example, you can pick up a leopard print housing for your 8900 for $13.99. Or a chrome with diamond back housing for your BlackBerry Bold 9000 for $26.99. You can also find some great OEM replacement parts in their store. The parts ship from Hong Kong from what I can tell which means that shipping takes a bit but Bla1ze highly recommends them

Check them out at www.truesupplier.com and let me know if you spot any gems!

PS: This brown weave black cover for the Bold 9000 is the coolest thing I have found so far!

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

• Buy Aftermarket BlackBerry Parts & Accessories
• BlackBerry Bold Parts For Sale On CNN.cn
• Storm Costs RIM About $203 In Parts Compared To Bolds $169
• Found A Cheap Deal For BlackBerry Batteries? Let Us Know!
• Bolds $158.16 In Parts Going For $799 @ CompUSA

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, November 20, 2009, 12:06 pm. | TrueSupplier – Cheap Colored Parts & Housings for your BlackBerry | 5 comments |

Everyday on the train home I try to catch up on work. Half way during the ride my BlackBerry usually dies. I have tried many other power chargers, but I find Duracell’s to be the best. I love the portability of the charger. I personally use the Duracell Instant Rechargeable because my BlackBerry Storm has a Micro USB slot.

I keep the device in my pocket and have a cord to the phone charging the phone as I do my work. People jokingly ask me if I have an outlet in my pocket. Everyone loves it. You can attach the Duracell Instant to any phone that can charge through a standard USB port. The Duracell Pocket which is pictured above can only be used through Mini USB. After giving out the devices and surveying the guys which they prefer I got all kinds of feedback.  Some loved the Duracell Pocket because no wires are needed (as  pictured above). But some loved the Duracell Instant because they preferred the tiny device whether it was in their pocket or lap rather than attached to the phone.  I have also used the Duracell Powerhouse which is able to charge up to 2 phones at a time. The Powerhouse is very small but made to be used on a desk.

The chargers come with a short USB cable that attaches to your computer and then to the  IN slot on the charger. It took under a hour for the red light to turn green indicating the charge was complete.  I like the Duracell Pocket’s charging light the best. The Duracell Pocket’s light is perfectly lit up and in the center so you can see from all angles. The Instant has a small red/green charging light and it must be faced towards you to see it, and the Powerhouse  light is a little dim.

• Size           8 – Small

• Weight      8 -Very light

• Variety     10 – Because of the USB port on the Instant and Powerhouse you can charge many devices

• Battery Life  8 – Holds a great charge for days

So when your battery is low all you need to do is attach the Duracell Charger to your phone and it’s charging. You can even make a phone call as it charges. Never again will I run out of battery life on my phone.

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

• Review: JavoEdge Pocket Battery Charger – Never Let It Die!
• Review: Case-Mate BlackBerry Bold Fuel – Rechargeable Battery Pack
• Review: BlackBerry Solar Charger From 100milligrams
• Review: 7 in 1 Solar Power Charger From BudgetGadgets.com
• SOLIO Hybrid Solar Charger For Your BlackBerry

Posted by Evan for ©BerryReview, November 18, 2009, 2:00 pm. | Review: Duracell Rechargeable USB Charger | 6 comments |

cost: $24.95                                                                                                     
Website:

The title says it all! Within 10 minutes of taking the device out of the package and placing it on my desk, everyone was crowed around my desk. I didn’t even turn it on. Wow! What is that? COOOL! Where do I get one?  And then I attached it to my BlackBerry Storm and played some music. Everyone was amazed of the great and balanced sound it produced. This little 3 inch toy is playing good sound! Right away friends in the office went online and bought their own.  Someone actually took mine, (If it was you please give back).  The Headphonies come in 7 different styles. They need to restock often, so you have to try and order them while they are in stock.

The Mobi Headphonies is very easy to use.  Plug the device into your computer via USB.  A red light will appear and in less than 1 hour it will be fully charged  light will turn green and will last up to 4 hours. There is no “on” or “off” switch, the device turns on and off based if your music player is connected. For the headphonies to turn on make sure the sound is off on your player/phone before plugging in. Included is an USB charging cord and audio cable. If your music player/phone has an audio jack then it will work with the headphonies.

• Price:      7  (not too high but not cheap)
• Compact: 7  (very light but bulky in pocket)
• Quality:   9   (for the size and money the best on the market)
• Looks:    10  ( JUST COOL! There is one for everyone)

I recommend buying the Mobi Headphonies, and you will be glad you did. Just make sure you hold onto it because someone is going to love it and walk off with yours.

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

• Review: Duracell Rechargeable USB Charger
• Hilton.mobi & Marriott.mobi – Book Hotels From Your Berry
• Review: Maximo iMetal-590 Isolation Earphones from Maximo
• Review: Seido Headphone adapter for 8100/8800/8830 BlackBerry
• Review: BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Speakers

Posted by Evan for ©BerryReview, November 12, 2009, 5:06 pm. | Review: Mobi Headphonies | 2 comments |

Just in time for the Holiday Season (yeah its already that time of the year) Sena has made custom laser engraving available to the public. What better way to show your BlackBerry Addicted friends/family/significant-other you care about them, than by engraving a personal message into a beautiful leather case for their favorite device. Sena makes cases for all of your favorite gadgets including, of course, their impressive BlackBerry Collection.

Sena cases are in a field of their own when it comes to style, class and quality of materials. They provide an excellent product for a very reasonable price. Their use of premium Napa calfskin leather from Italy and Turkey makes their cases not only look amazing but last forever.

This is true laser engraving meaning that your message or logo is burned into the case itself. This produces an incredibly stunning result. While it does look better on some colors/textures than others, it will add that touch of personalization to any case in their lineup. Any of the engraving can be done in one of several different fonts. Another really neat feature is the ability to upload a logo to be engraved.

More Info and Pictures After The Jump

There is an additional $9.99 fee on top of the price of the case for custom laser engraving, it also takes a little bit longer to get the case to you (an extra 2-3 days) but if you have ever ordered anything from Sena before, it will still be at your door long before you expect it to be.

Also a note for the Holiday Season, Sena also offers wooden gift boxes and gift wrapping leaving nothing for you to do once it arrives.

If you would like any further information on Sena Cases, or to purchase one for yourself or a loved one, check out their site.

I would like you all to know that I claim in no way to be a professional photographer, I feel like I did not do the engraving justice by taking pictures at night. The engraving really is quite stunning and pronounced.

In the interest of full disclosure, Sena was kind enough to send me the Tan Leather Skin case to keep after they finished the engraving.

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

• Review: SENA BlackBerry 8100 LeatherSkin Case
• Review: SENA BlackBerry 8800 LeatherSkin Case
• Fortte Leather Cases
• Review: SENA Vertical Pouch For BlackBerry 8300 Curve
• Review: Sena Classic Flipdown Case

Posted by Nate for ©BerryReview, November 12, 2009, 12:00 pm. | Sena Cases Adds Custom Engraving | Leave a comment |

Once again, the folks over at OtterBox have done it. They have made give out yet another perfect score. I went over this case with a fine toothed comb and couldn’t find one fault. The design, fit, attention to detail and overall build quality is flawless.

Some weeks ago, OtterBox sent this case out for me to review. I have been putting this review off partly because of an extremely busy work schedule and partly because I have a deep and meaningful love affair with my, OtterBox clad, Bold 9000 at the moment. I didn’t want to give the Bold up. It was robust, reliable (mostly) and, well, it’s just my favorite child right now. I’ve had the Curve 8520 sitting in the cupboard since a few weeks before release date and a brand new OtterBox sitting along side it… waiting… Waiting until I screwed up. Well it happened. Friday night the Bold gave it’s last flicker of life and succumbed to a lifetime of abuse, overuse and 300+ emails a day.

One excuse is as good as another so I swapped devices and cracked the packaging on the Curve 8520 and matching OtterBox Defender.

I was not disappointed. Overall built quality on the OtterBox Defender case fantastic. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I just can’t find a fault with this case.

Fitting is easy (when compared to the OtterBox Defender case for the Curve 8900). Again, the manufactures have used a hard membrane over the screen so when you fit the case, no annoying bubbles are formed between the screen and membrane. The keyboard is protected by a form fitted clear membrane. The only part of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 that is left un-protected is the trackpad. (A small hint, the edge of the membrane surrounding the trackpad will settle back onto the underlying button after a day or two. I thought this was going to be an issue at the start as a small but noticeable lip had formed surrounding the trackpad but it settled down 24 hours or so later).

There is a total of eight dedicated locator pins/lugs around the other edge to hold the silicon skin in place. This aids in holding the very outside layer of protection in place like no other Defender Case that I have previously reviewed.

The charge and earpiece port is covered with a two stage removable plug. This allows you to uncover just the earpiece port whilst keeping dust and dirt out of your charge port at the same time. All outside buttons are catered for, including the three media keys on top of the device making every function of your BlackBerry Curve 8520 operable whilst in the case.

Previous OtterBox Defender cases occasionally caused a ‘flashback’ effect that would render flash photography from your device virtually impossible. As the Curve 8520 has no flash, this is not a problem with this OtterBox Defender.

Sound quality from the Curve 8520 is, well lets be truthful here, CRAP at the best of times. Putting it in this case doesn’t make any difference. It still sounds like crap… I haven’t had any complaints about voice quality and have taken quite a number of calls over the weekend so that factor seems to be fine too.

The first thing you will notice about the holster is the activation magnet is offset slightly to one side. But apart from that, everything is as it should be. The twenty four position belt clip is as strong as always and the device clips into the holster firmly with a positive lock-down in the final ten millimeters or so.

Pros:

• OtterBox’s famous 3 layers of protection.
• Easier to fit than any other OtterBox Defender to date.
• Access to all buttons from outside the case.
• Firm fit on the silicon outer skin.
• Two stage plug cover for earpiece/charger port.
• Moulded keyboard cover.
• Sturdy and robust holster.

Cons:

• The old Henry Ford philosophy… Any color as long as its Black…

Conclusion:

Simply put, OtterBox have got it all together when they designed and constructed the OtterBox Defender of the BlackBerry Curve 8520. I know this device is a budget line for RIM but these days, every cent counts right… For $49.95* you can essentially purchase an insurance policy against dropping and damage that we all incur on a day to day basis.

My BlackBerry Bold 9000 has been in an OtterBox Defender case since the day I got it. When I removed it the other day, the device did not have single scratch or blemish anywhere. It was just as if it was brand new. (Except the now black trackball that started life as a white one). I work in a construction environment on a day to day basis and if this is no testament to the protection OtterBox offers then I don’t know what is.

My only gripe is the lack of color range. Come on OtterBox, at the very least bring back the yellow option. (Although, I think a drab olive green or camo would be a superb look…)

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

• OtterBox Defender Case; Nearly 6 month update…
• Review: OtterBox Defender Case for BlackBerry Storm
• OtterBox Releases BlackBerry 8520 Curve Cases
• Review: OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry 8900 Curve
• OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry Bold: Pre-Order Now.

Posted by Greg for ©BerryReview, November 10, 2009, 2:00 pm. | Review: OtterBox Defender Case for BlackBerry Curve 8520 | 2 comments |

Terry let me know that Case-Mate is now selling the Fuel case for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and will soon be carrying it for the BlackBerry Tour 9630. The main downside of the 8900 and Tour versions is that they have the BlackBerry screen facing out instead of in like the original Fuel cases. This is because RIM only put the charging contacts on the back.

Hopefully Case-Mate is working on a variant for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 since I am really missing the double battery life…

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

• Review: Case-Mate BlackBerry Bold Fuel – Rechargeable Battery Pack
• Case-Mate 25% Off Coupon Site Wide Until Father’s Day
• Hot: Bold OS v5.0.0.190, Tour OS v5.0.0.140 and Curve (8900) OS v5.0.0.190
• Preorder Seidio’s Innocase II Surface Hard-case For The 8900 Curve
• Review: Smart Skin From Case Mate for the BlackBerry Curve/Pearl

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, November 9, 2009, 7:00 am. | Case-Mate Fuel Case for Curve 8900 Now Available – Tour Coming Soon! | 2 comments |

Review: SoundID 200 Bluetooth Headset

Summary: SoundID was founded by an otologist (ear doctor) who sought to create bluetooth headsets that work with the natural sound processing of the ear. With that in mind, they created the SoundID200. The SoundID200 does one thing and does it right–gives you an earphone that safely and intelligibly delivers audio to the ear and a microphone that focuses in on a user’s voice and blocks out other sounds.

Fit: The SoundID200 gives you the option of using an ear loop like most headsets, but by default uses a smaller rubber cover with a nub that presses against the inside cavity of the ear. The default configuration is designed to hold the unit in your ear like a hearing aid–nice and snug without having to reach around the back of your ear. After using the SoundID200 for about a week I have to say, its pretty damn comfortable.

Sound: The rubber cover earpiece has a funnel that goes deep into the ear, delivering the audio straight into the ear. This makes the audio seem loud without having to hurt your eardrums with actual increased volume. Lastly, by funneling the sound deeper into the ear, the effects of background noises are decreased.

Volume: The SoundID200 also utilizes automatic volume control, which detects the how loud your surroundings are and adjust the volume accordingly. Thus, theoretically, you should never have to raise or lower the volume. But if you were to manually adjust the volume there is a single volume button. Hitting it once will raise the volume to max, twice will reduce the volume to low and three times will bring the volume back to midlevels. It might seem  weird at first, but the single button system really isn’t so complicated and makes it easier to simply raise or lower volume automatic volume control. While it used to take almost four clicks to raise the volume to max, now it only takes one.

Microphone Quality: The unit employs “black out” technology, which uses two microphones to filter out background noises. A few bluetooth headsets are employing this tech lately and SoundID employs it well.

Power: Micro usb connection, so no new power cords needed.

Aesthetic: Brushed dark blue faceplate makes it stick out from the normal headsets. The boom holds close to the cheek so no dangling. Overall, looks like a quality build.

Final Verdict: If you are looking for a no-nonsense bluetooth headset that that is sensitive to you hearing health, this is definitely a good buy.

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

• Review: BlueAnt V1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset
• Review BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth Headset
• Review: BlueAnt M1 Bluetooth Speakers
• Review: Jabra BT800 Bluetooth Caller ID Headset
• Review: New Aliph Jawbone II Bluetooth Headset – Comparison With Original Jawbone

Posted by David for ©BerryReview, November 6, 2009, 3:00 pm. | Review: SoundID 200 Bluetooth Headset | 3 comments |

I finally caved…… Anyone who knows me I am a live and die BlackBerry guy, and ZERO iphone, or anything else that starts with  an “i”. I desperately needed a body guard for my BlackBerry Storm. After doing some research I decided to go with iSkin Vibes and I am so glad I did. The Skin looks and feels amazing. It is also very easy to put it on the blackberry. As an extra bonus you get a anti-glare screen protector. Everyone I know who has a screen protector always has a bubble somewhere,no one has it  perfect. With my first try I easily put the one included on and it looks great. 2 points for iSkin!

Description:

The iSkin Vibes feels and looks like a hard case, yet it is very flexible and impossible to rip (i tried really hard to tear it).  The iSkin has an earphone hole, sync port flap and and opening for the mic. The speaker is covered but
the sound is not affected through the  case.  It also features embedded Microban
antimicrobial protection. If you are a Curve or Bold user don’t feel bad, iSkin has
the Vibes for the Bold and Vibes/Vibes FX for the Curve.

Pros:

• Price:$29.99 Well worth it
• Assortment:  Nice Colors
• Screen Film:  Easy to put on
• Design: Perfect fit and easy to push buttons

Cons:

• Sync Port: Hard to lift and plug in
• Screen Film: Size is too perfect, should be a little smaller

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

• Review: Iskin Vibes Bodyguard for the BlackBerry 8900
• iSkin Vibes: The Skin that just Screams “Look At Me!”
• Review: BlackBerry Storm Rubberized Plastic Case with Belt Clip
• Review – Speck Products Storm Cases
• Review: Smart Skin From Case Mate for the BlackBerry Curve/Pearl

Posted by Evan for ©BerryReview, October 29, 2009, 11:35 am. | Review: iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Storm | One comment |

Check it out at www.freeupyourhands.com. Let me know if you preorder one and why! you can see some of the main features after the jump.

Messages at a glance - Using your inPulse, a glance down at your wrist is all it takes to discreetly check recently received email and SMS messages. New messages are pushed directly to your inPulse. Instead of pulling out your phone to figure out who keeps texting you, just keep an eye on your inPulse.

Never miss an important call – Have you ever missed a call because you didn’t hear your phone ringing or couldn’t feel the vibration? inPulse has a built-in vibrating motor which alerts you immediately to incoming calls. Glance down at inPulse to quickly see who is calling.

Stay connected, always - inPulse lets you stay connected if your hands are full or if your phone is tucked safely away in your bag or purse. But there are millions of other times when you might wish to see you messages on your wrist.

inPulse is customizable - inPulse is probably the most customizable watch in the world. Instead of setting the time on your watch, inPulse grabs the time straight from your BlackBerry smartphone. Other settings, like custom alarms and timers as well as sleep times and message filters, can be easily modified using the large screen and keyboard on your phone.

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

• inPulse Working on Bluetooth Watch for BlackBerry?
• Preorder The BlackBerry Audio Gateway For $65
• Preorder Egrips for BlackBerry 8300 Curve
• BB Watch ???
• BlackBerry Thunder Available For Preorder On eXpansys?

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, October 26, 2009, 8:01 am. | Preorder Allerta inPulse Handsfree BlackBerry Watch | 3 comments |

Otterbox is known for making some of the toughest cases for electronics & they keep improving their product line. Just recently they launched the Commuter case for the 8900 & 8520 rim devices & Otterbox sent me a sample over for review.  With this version of cases they have taken their design and improved the form factor. The reason why I like using Otterbox is because it truly does provide one of the best protections for your smart phone. The Sample I got on the mail was for the popular Curve 8900, & the design on this new case is sort of like they cross bred the Defender series with the impact series to create a baby case.

Form Factor - the Commuter case is a lot slimmer than the Defender series we reviewed a while back, this new case as you can see in the picture below reduces the bulkiness that the defender series have and still offers a great amount of protection. With the defenders series the silicon is surrounding the hard shell of the case. In this one you only have two parts the silicon & the hard shell. The silicon part goes on the blackberry first to cover it, then the hard shell covers the back part of the Blackberry with a tight grip around it.

With the hard shell being outside it gives it a tough feel to it but smooth at the same time. This Case would suit best those that want the best protection for their BlackBerry but don’t want it to look too bulky. Also it fits great in your pocket since it does not come with a holster. You can carry it on your hands since it has a nice grip. The case can be carry in your hands, pocket or bag I guess that is why it does not come with a holster.

The Otterbox is like a time capsule for your device, it prolongs the life of your BlackBerry, or at least that is the conclusion a friend came up with when it was explained to her what an Otterbox case is. I know if i carried my BlackBerry without one I would be replacing them quite often, and it just feels weird without one now that am use to always having a case on it.

Style – The Otterbox may not be the best looking and stylish case out in the market but this new Commuter series does look a lot better than previous ones. The curve looks tough and sleek on it, while keeping the size to a minimum increase.

Placing the case on the BlackBerry is super easy, by far one of the easiest cases to put on my 8900 that I have seen. It may take some time to get use to it but is simple since it only has  two parts. First step is applying the silicon piece around  the blackberry once that is on take the hard shell part that goes on the back of the BlackBerry. The hard piece is actually a bit flexible so it won’t break that easily. To place the shell with the top part of the BlackBerry slide into place and then with your fingers stretch out a little bit the bottom section and force the bottom section of your BlackBerry in. Taking it off is easy all you have to do is pull the hard shell cover off, from the bottom and it comes off easily.

The side convenience keys are easy to use with this case, and the openings for the head phones, USB port are covered with a plug from the silicon case easily open when need to be used.

pros

• Great protection
• Easy to place on BlackBerry
• Slimmer fits easily on pockets, purse, bags
• Can be remove easily
• I like the style not too bulky
• Easily fits on your hands
• cheaper than the other series
• Does not take away from usability all your keys are easy to access

Cons

• Only one color to choose from
• Does not come with a Holster & defender series won’t fit either just FYI

I really like this design it is easy to put together or take off in case you need to remove the battery, or do something else with it, or switch to a different case. I know I usually switch them back and forth from the defender series to this one because of the holster for work but on the weekends my 8900 sports the Commuter case.

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

• OtterBox Commuter Case for BlackBerry Storm
• Review & A Chance to win a Free Otterbox 8900 Defender Series Case
• OtterBox Releases BlackBerry Curve 8900 Series Defender Case
• OtterBox Impact series for the 8900 and 8350i Curve released.
• Review: OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry 8900 Curve

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, October 9, 2009, 1:00 pm. | Review: Otterbox Commuter Case for BB 8900 | 3 comments |

The price is $79.99 which is pretty pricey for such a headset but not unheard of. Let me know if you pick one up. Personally I will be sticking with my BlueAnt Z9i for now.

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

• New BlackBerry Bluetooth Headset Coming Soon
• Review: BlueAnt V1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset
• Review: BlackBerry Wireless Headset HS-500
• Ugliest Bluetooth Headset Ever
• CA & WA Laws Boost Bluetooth Headset Sales

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, October 6, 2009, 6:46 pm. | BlackBerry Wireless Bluetooth Headset HS-500 Released | 2 comments |

Summary: The Jabra Halo is one of the most high-class bluetooth stereo headsets thus far. But at times the new technologies the Jabra Halo employs leads to reduced functionality and the limitations of bluetooth stereo technology on a whole dampen the user experience.

Comfort: The Halo’s exterior is made out of a soft yet rigid brushed black plastic. The interior is lined with a black felt material that helps keep the headset in place atop your head. For simplicity and usefulness, instead of what is becoming standard non-labelled LED indicator lights, there is a windowed status indicator with embedded LEDs within the felt interior so that a user can easily interpret what the flashing lights mean without resorting to a manual for translation. The earpieces themselves are extendable to accommodate differently sized heads. I happen to have an abnormally large head. So when trying to position the Halo into the sweet-spot straight above the ears, the earpieces couldn’t reach. I had to position the band further forward on my skull or further back. But for most normal sized heads, the extendable earpieces probably won’t be a problem. In sum, based on the unit construction alone, the Halo is a high class stereo headset.

Controls: The HALO has a sensor in the hinges of the arms that is used to power on the system when the arms are unfolded and clicked into place and turn the system off when the arms are folded inwards. The rest of the controls are located on the right earpiece. There is a single button that is used to answer and end calls as well and start and stop the music. Unlike the MOTOROKR S9HD (http://www.berryreview.com/2009/02/09/review-motorola-motorokr-s9hd-bluetooth-stereo-headphones/)the the button on the HALO is a softer push. So when the earphones are pressed to your ear and you have to push the button, the earphone isn’t pressed to harshly onto your earlobe.But the real cool thing about the HALO is the touch sliding sensor on the edge of the right earpiece. Slide your finger upwards to raise the volume and down to lower the volume. If your phone is fully compatible, then double tapping the top of the sensor will forward the music to the next song and double tapping the bottom of the sensor will start the song over or go to the previous song. On a Blackberry Curve and an iPhone the double tapping feature didn’t seem to work. But when paired with a computer and running iTunes, the double tap worked perfectly. However,  there is no customization of the double tap feature. So your double tapping skills have to be really honed and your fingers really fast. All in all, when you want to actually use the touch sensors to do anything, it runs really smoothly and just feels great. But, when you want to just adjust your headset or do something similarly harmless and touch the sensor area accidentally get ready for a whole bunch of beeps and volume changes.

Sounds Quality: The earphones on the HALO are soft and sit on top of your ear–they don’t go into your ear like the S9HD. I expected a lot of sounds loss because of the proximity to the ear canal, but surprisingly the sound really doesn’t get drowned out around the apartment. On the streets though, you can still hear the bustle of New York City through the headphones. But no headset is going to drown out Broadway. Unlike a speaker there really aren’t any sound controls for bass or treble, so you are stuck with the default sound settings. But the music sounds pretty good, definitely above average. The HALO definitely hits the highs and the bass is surprisingly deep.

Calls: Here is where the review gets tricky. The HALO uses GN Netcom’s noise blackout technology which use two microphones to block out ambient noises–by using two microphones the headset tries to block out all background noise and just keep the sound of your voice in the phone call. When I first tried to make a phone call I didn’t realize I had the headphones on backwards. The blackout technology worked so well that my wife could hear everything behind me, but my voice was completely blocked out. When turned the right way though, the headset did a good job at blocking out all other surrounding noise and focusing just on my voice. This was all on my Blackberry Curve. But when I paired the Halo with an iPhone to test the phone call voice quality I had a completely different problem, the technology would block out other noises but muffle and lower the voice of the speaker as well, making it almost unusable.

Battery Life: 8 Hours of use and 13 hours of standby. But when talking about power, I feel like I must note that the Halo only comes with a USB charging cable, without any wall charger. If you have a few USB wall charging units lying around this isn’t really a problem. But I imagine that to the average buyer, a standard charging option would be very useful.

Range: Similarly to the S9HD, when you put your phone in your pocket, have the headphones on, and start to walk the music starts to skip. The range of the headset seem to be about a few feet, which is problematic. If you are sitting, or you put the phone in a jacket or shirt pocket above the waist then your music will pay perfectly without interruption. But apparently, if you are an average height male you are too tall to really use a bluetooth headset while walking. This is just my main problem with all the bluetooth headphones I have tried so far. I don’t know why they really can’t extend the range, but one or two more feet would really make all the difference for most users.

Roundup:

• Pros: Solid construction, comfortable fit, fashionable design, glossy indicator panel, easy touch controls, soft push button, long battery life.
• Cons: Doesn’t extend far enough for people with larger heads, no included wall charger, no customization of controls, no protection for accidental use of touch controls, doesn’t fit easily into a pocket.

Final Verdict: If you are looking for bluetooth stereo headphones for your commute or around the apartment (not the gym or other sporty activities) these are the most luxurious I have seen so far. You definitely won’t be too embarrassed wearing these. But if you are thinking about whether or not you should buy bluetooth headphones in general you might want to wait until they can make a solid pair like this with a little more reliable range.

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

• A2DP: The state of Stereo Bluetooth Technology
• Jabra HALO Bluetooth Stereo Headset Coming in May
• Review: BlueAnt V1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset
• Review: Motorola MOTOROKR S9HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
• Review: Jabra Stone Bluetooth Headset

Posted by David for ©BerryReview, October 1, 2009, 2:01 pm. | Review: Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones – Ultimate Series | Leave a comment |

The Case-Mate rechargeable battery pack is a Blackberry belt clip with a built in external battery designed exclusively for the Bold (for now).

As a battery extender: In the event that you forget to charge your Blackberry and don’t have a second charger handy, a secondary battery can give your Blackberry up to 7 additional hours of usage time or 20 hours of standby time.  However, if you are using that logic, you better hope that you didn’t forget to charge your Case-Mate holster. If you have experience with battery charging cycles and are worried about unnecessarily charging your Blackberry while in the Case-Mate holster, using more charging cycles than necessary, the Case-Mate charging holster has a power on/off button for controlling when the

holster is a charger and when the holster is just a holster. In using the charging function I had no problems. The leads connect to the Blackberry smoothly and charging happens without a hitch. Turning the charging function on and off is also quite simple and I didn’t have any problems. In sum, as a battery extender/charger, the holster works great.

As a Blackberry belt carrying clip: The purpose of a phone holster, for those who use one regularly, is to keep your phone accessible while also keeping it sturdy and safe. The Case-Mate holster is open on the sides and has a pocket at the bottom so you Blackberry can slide in easily. This is actually really useful for quickly placing your Blackberry into the Case-Mate holster without having to even look or fiddle around. However, the Blackberry is only held in place by a tab that stretches about halfway across the top of the Blackberry and interlocks with a recess on its top. When you take care to make sure that the phone click into place, the tab does a great job at keeping your Blackberry secure. However, because the tab must must lock into the Blackberry recess to hold it in place, if something gets in the way of that interlock then the Blackberry will fall. For example, someone like me Case-Mate holster. Consequently, there have been many instances where a part of my shirt has got in the way while sliding the Blackberry into the Case-Mate holster–making me think that the Blackberry was locked securely into place when it was not and leading to many Blackberry scraping falls. To contrast, many other Blackberry holsters have a curved upper bracket that not only stretches over the top of the Blackberry but also hooks around partially down the face, making it almost impossible to mistake having locked the Blackberry into place. Thus, while the Case-Mate holster is slicker and easier to connect to than most, if you aren’t careful you could wind up bruising your Blackberry like I did.

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Construction: The holster itself is made out of a rubbery plastic (or a plasticy rubber) giving the unit a pretty luxurious feel, and is actually pretty slim considering that there is a battery built within. After playing around with it for a while you also notice that it is pretty solidly constructed to protect both its own battery and the Blackberry itself.

Overall, this is a very useful product with solid and impressive construction, but make sure you are paying attention when locking in the Blackberry!

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

• Case-Mate Fuel Case for Curve 8900 Now Available – Tour Coming Soon!
• Case-Mate 25% Off Coupon Site Wide Until Father’s Day
• Case-Mate Releases Smart Skin Cases For The Bold
• First Privacy Screen For BlackBerry From Case Mate
• Case-Mate Releases Backpack Back Covers For The Bold

Posted by David for ©BerryReview, September 28, 2009, 12:00 pm. | Review: Case-Mate BlackBerry Bold Fuel – Rechargeable Battery Pack | 2 comments |

Features:

• Call control button – control calling features like, answer, end, mute and voice activated dialing with the press of a button
• Automatic volume control and noise cancelation – hear and be heard loud and clear in noisy environments
• Works with selected third-party GPS mapping applications – listen to turn-by-turn directions

The price is pretty hefty at $79.99 retail but it is still listed as coming soon on their product page. Anybody thinking of picking one up when it comes out?

via BlackBerrySync

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

• BlackBerry Wireless Bluetooth Headset HS-500 Released
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• Review: SoundID 200 Bluetooth Headset
• Review: BlackBerry Wireless Headset HS-500
• Mogo Talk – Bluetooth Headset That Sticks to Your BlackBerry?

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 25, 2009, 3:07 am. | New BlackBerry Bluetooth Headset Coming Soon | 2 comments |

The iCape is essentially a haircut cape with a clear 6” by 8” window in the front so you don’t have to put your BlackBerry down while getting a haircut. There is not telling what that will do to distract your hair stylist but who cares! Check it out at icape.biz.

The iTwinge is trying to put a square peg into a round hole. They created a sleeve for the iPhone to give it a full QWERTY keyboard while uglifying the whole phone. I appreciate the elegance of Apple’s iPhone and this is just wrong… especially for $29.99! I admit that the iPhone is a pain to type on but was this really necessary?

So what is the worst cellphone accessory you ever ran into? Let us know in the comments!

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

• BlackBerry Storm theme for your iPhone
• Will The iPhone Ever See BlackBerry Connect?
• Alpine Car Media Player
• Apple ActiveSync vs BlackBerry Sync?
• Dropping 22% of Calls is Normal on AT&T in NYC???

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 18, 2009, 12:11 pm. | What’s Worse – iCape or iTwinge? | Leave a comment |

Seidio put some serious thought into the case by including their soft touch coating and including compatibility with their Innodocks and Cradles. The case is just 1mm thin so its nice and small and is made out of polycarbonate plastic. The nice part about this case is that it is simple to take on and off.

The Innocase Snap comes in black and blue currently and Seidio is running a discount for 20% off until September 20th. Just use the coupon code SNAP20 at these links (black model | blue model).

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

• Deal: 8900 Curve SEIDIO Innocase II Case Combo – $39.99 w/Free Shipping
• Preorder Seidio’s Innocase II Surface Hard-case For The 8900 Curve
• Seidio Innocase 360: Hard Case With Built-in Screen & Keyboard Protector
• Case-Mate Fuel Case for Curve 8900 Now Available – Tour Coming Soon!
• Review: Seidio Super Slim Hybrid Hard Case For BlackBerry 8300 Curve

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 17, 2009, 8:05 am. | Seidio Innocase Snap – A “Different” Case for the BlackBerry Tour | 14 comments |

You can check out the cases at this link. Let me know what you think if you pick one up!

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

• OtterBox Releases BlackBerry Curve 8900 Series Defender Case
• OtterBox Defender For 8350i Curve Now Available
• Review: OtterBox Defender Case for BlackBerry Curve 8520
• T-Mobile BlackBerry 8520 Curve Now Available – $48.88 Steal @ Walmart
• 8800 Series & Pearl 2 Series OtterBox Cases $10 Off @ OtterBox.com

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, September 11, 2009, 7:00 am. | OtterBox Releases BlackBerry 8520 Curve Cases | Leave a comment |

David B sent us in  this little tidbit on the steps forward that mobile printing has been making.

From Their Site:

“Part of “being mobile” is being completely untethered — not just with wonderful mobile devices that handle our email, schedules, contacts, music collection, photo, and video — but with our printing needs as well.   There are situations where just getting an email won’t cut it.  Sometimes you’re going to need print out an important document or photograph.  Forget to print out a boarding pass you forgot before leaving for the airport?  Want to print out that updated business proposal on-site?  Want to print without having to find or lug around a computer.

PlanOn System Solutions, Inc. has been producing scanning and portable computing solutions for over a decade.    The company’s Mobile Enhanced Print Application is a Software as a Service (SaaS) is offered as a $29.99 monthly subscription service for individual users.  The service is included for the first full year — if you use the PrintStik PS905 mobile printer ($299.99), and you get 6 months free service if using the PS900 model ($199.99).

The service captures the full content of any document or attachment, or the location of a web page currently being viewed, automatically converts it to a print-ready file format, and sends it through the Blackberry directly to the PrintStik printer (which uses thermal paper — and no print cartridges) for instant printing anywhere, anytime.

If you are a mobile road warrior, truly need to be able to print anywhere without a computer, and don’t mind dropping the $200-$300 for a printer (then another $30 per month/$360 year after the first year) — then PlanOn’s Mobile Enhanced Print Application just may be for you.

You can check out more and where to buy over at http://www.geardiary.com/2009/08/21/print-on-the-go-with-new-mobile-enhanced-print-application-service/

And thanks again for the tip David B…

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

• Planon Printstick PS910 – Printer For Your BlackBerry
• Review: PLANon PrintStik PS910 Bluetooth BlackBerry Printer
• HP & RIM Announce Internet Printing & Server Management Solutions
• Remote Print: Print to Your PC Printer Over Wi-Fi or BES
• Giveaway: Remote Print – Print Over Wi-Fi & BES – 30 Free Copies

Posted by Greg for ©BerryReview, August 25, 2009, 8:00 am. | Mobile Printing… But with a big price tag… | 3 comments |

Review: Customizable BlackBerry black Covers

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars

Price Range: Varies depending on device from $19.99 to $39.99

The guys over at coveroo sent me two samples of their customizable BlackBerry back covers for the 8900, which I have to say really do give your device a nice look. What coveroo does is replace the Back cover of most mobile devices with an etched design or high color definition of your choosing. They have a wide range of designs already available in their site or from an image you like to use. What you get is a new stylish Black cover from them in whatever color available for your BlackBerry model, I do have to point out that for the newer models the price is a lot more expensive at $39.99 add $5.00 if you like to add extra stuff like lettering or High color to it.

The one the sent me is the Black case that looks similar to the one the storm uses and I have to say my 8900 has never look so sexy with an all black back cover. I always wanted a tattoo but never got around to getting one so why not get one on my BlackBerry right. I got the design of a wolf etched into the Back cover and one with our very own BerryReview logo that I am going to give away to one lucky winner more details at the end of article.

The black cover comes with the coveroo logo at the bottom that you can hardly tell is there and whatever design you choose so it will be fit to your taste and you can show off a bit of your personality with it. I get quite a few compliments when they see my BlackBerry.  The new cover I got sure looks a lot better and feel better than the cheapo one it came with. The new cover will definitely make your BlackBerry stand out and give it a new look.

Here are some of the pros and cons

Pros:

• You get a brand new cover
• New look
• Styled to your liking
• You can choose your own design or choose from those already on the site
• you can get an etched design or High color
• Fit perfectly on your device is a direct replacement
• you have the option to design your own
• The design I sent them looked exactly the same on the cover

Cons:

• The price for newer devices such as the 8900 is a bit high, but I do have to point out that for older device the price is fairly reasonable considering you are getting a brand new back cover
• You can’t show off the design if you use a separate cover, holster, or you can do what I do, I got an invisible shield on mine so I can show it off

In my conclusion this is a really cool way to give your BlackBerry a more personalized style. I did mention above that I find the price for newer devices to bet quite a bit higher than older devices. For those using older devices you can give your device a  makeover with a brand new cover for a much lower price.

You have been wondering what you have to do to win the BerryReview back cover? (Note that this is only for the 8900 model). So here is the deal, the first user to post a comment telling us who are the first 3 writers for BerryReview will be receiving this nice looking back cover.  Sorry you can’t ask me but you do have the whole BerryReview database at your disposal to find out.

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

• Buy A 8900 Replacement Cover & Get Any Skin Free @ eSHOPlimited
• Review: OtterBox Defender for BlackBerry 8900 Curve
• Review: Iskin Vibes Bodyguard for the BlackBerry 8900
• Review: Otterbox Commuter Case for BB 8900
• Review: Zagg InvisibleShield for the BlackBerry Curve 8900

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, August 21, 2009, 11:30 am. | Review: Coveroo customized 8900 BlackBerry Back Cover | 2 comments |

Review: Maximo iMetal-590 Isolation Earphones

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Price: $59.99

Website: http://www.maximoproducts.com or at www.walmart.com

I recently got a chance to test out the new I-Metal Isolation Earphones from Maximo this is the first time I have heard of their brand and I have to say that am impressed. Honestly I am not one to spend a lot on earphones mainly because they don’t last me that long, or end up in my sisters iPhone. I got the chance to really test this ones out because I love running early in the mornings. I tested them out  during my morning runs using my BlackBerry. (I don’t own a Ipod and do have a regular mp3 player but I prefer the BlackBerrys simple mp3 player or use Pandora with it).

The package I received came in a really nice box that was very neatly arranged. The iMetal head phones come with quite a few accessories. There is a neat metallic silver carry case for the head phones themselves as well as well as a clip for your shirt, an extra 2-ft extension cable, 4 sizes of ear tips, an airline and 2.5mm adapter and  user guide.

I usually hate headphones because after a while they tend to hurt my ears, but this ones are light weight and the tips feel comfortable in your ears. As I mentioned before, I took these bad boys out for a run and they are really nice to use for running and exercise because the material is very flexible.

The head phone jack fits straight into any 3.5mm head phone port so it works right from the box on your BlackBerry or any other MP3 device that has a 2.5mm port using the adaptor.

The ear tips are soft and flexible making them comfortable to wear for a long period of time. Depending on how tightly you fit them in your ear they will block or isolate almost all the ambient sound around you. This isolation features makes them perfect for travel or to help you concentrate if you are like me and like to listen to music while studying or reading. The sound quality is very clear and specially combined with the noise isolation so you don’t have to turn the volume level up too loud to hear your music clearly. The base I found it to be low at first but that was due to the fact that you need to break them in for at least 8 hours of use for them to become adjusted to your preferred volume.  I found bass comfortable and to my likeness but my brother did said that they were not as loud as he would like them to be. (But that maybe because he pretty much has had his ears blown out since he is always using headphones to listen to music ‘vs’  myself, who only use them for work outs or when I get bored at the office)

Pros:

• Light weight and flexible.
• Really clear sound.
• Blocks outside noise.
• Comfortable ear tips.
• Extra travel accessories.

Cons:

• A bit pricey.
• My brother said the bass was too low which I disagree with.

Here are some product description from their company’s website:

iM-590 iMetal®Isolation Earphones

• For iPod®, Sansa®, MP3, and airline travel
• Lightweight alloy metal earphones with enhanced definition audio. Proprietary ear tip design provides optimal noise isolation and extended comfort. Two choices of color: platinum white and graphite black. Performance with style and comfort

Features:

• 4 sizes of ear tips
• 2.5mm stereo plug adapter
• Airline dual-plug adapter
• 2-ft extension cable
• Shirt clip
• Carrying case
• User guide

Specifications:

• Earphone drivers: 9mm neodymium
• Frequency response: 12Hz-22KHz
• Sensitivity (1KHz, 0.1V): >100dB
• Maximum SPL output: >120dB

Conclusion:

Overall I find the earphones to meet my needs and expectations and they won’t run you dry compare to other more expensive earphones that run over the $100.00 mark. They are still a bit expensive for those that are not  heavy users but I find it to be a reasonable price if you want good quality head phones.

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

• Review: iFrogz Timbre Earphones
• 30% Off The Amazing Shure Earphones & Accessories
• White Shure SCL3 Earphones $59.99+Shipping @ Musician’s Friend
• Review: Motorola MOTOROKR S9HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
• Review: V-Moda Vibe II Earbud Headset with Microphone

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, August 11, 2009, 11:30 am. | Review: Maximo iMetal-590 Isolation Earphones from Maximo | One comment |

Mr Pack was kind enough to send in a tip letting us know that the price is now all the way down to $49.99 on Amazon and even cheaper at some less known establishments. That puts it in a perfect range for gifting to a friend. I know I will be picking up one or two in the next few months as novelty gifts. The refill paper is pretty expensive at almost a dollar per page but it definitely has a look at me factor that plays in its favor. Also printing out your own pics costs about 40-50 cents for paper and ink.

Check it out at this link and let me know if you find a better deal!

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

• Polaroid Bluetooth PoGo Instant Mobile Photo Printer – $96
• Dell Wasabi Z310 Bluetooth Ultramobile Photo Printer – $29!
• Review: PLANon PrintStik PS910 Bluetooth BlackBerry Printer
• Planon Printstick PS910 – Printer For Your BlackBerry
• Callpod Phoenix Mobile Communications System – Bluetooth Conferencing System For Up To 5 Users

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 7, 2009, 2:00 pm. | Polaroid Bluetooth PoGo Instant Mobile Printer Drops to $49.99 | Leave a comment |

Personally I am a huge fan of Shure in-ear headphones since they block out ALL ambient noise but I can see where hearing your surroundings would be useful. The audio quality is not amazing but it is pretty good especially considering the fact that it is a totally new technology. I just cannot get over how this works!

Still most people will balk at the $130+ price tag of the popular Audio Bone’s but if you are one of those people who loves to have the latest and greatest (to show off)… its worth every penny.

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

• Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bone Conducting Bluetooth Headset Coming Soon
• Review: Motorola MOTOROKR S9HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
• Review: Bose Triport IE Headphones
• Review: Jabra Halo Bluetooth Headphones – Ultimate Series
• 30% Off The Amazing Shure Earphones & Accessories

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, July 31, 2009, 1:00 pm. | Audio Bone – Bone Conducting Headphones | 2 comments |

Now the interesting part is that you have to decide if you want a portrait (SureType) or landscape (qwerty) version of the screen protector. That means you need to decide which way you type and stick with it.

Its worth taking a look but their site is all flash so its a bit hard to navigate. They also only have 2 tiny pictures of the actual screen protector. $13.99 + $2.95 shipping gets you 3 covers.

via IntoMobile

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

• Review & Contest: SmartestCover – “Feel” Your Storm Keyboard
• SmartestCover Contest Winners!
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• Freedom Slim Keypad – Credit Card Sized Bluetooth Keyboard

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, July 30, 2009, 1:33 am. | SmartestCover Wants You to “Feel” Your Storm’s Keyboard | 6 comments |

Right now they are letting you register for a chance to win one of 50 of them at www.mogotalk.com. I am curious to see what people think of a headset that makes their BlackBerry even thicker. Especially when CrunchGear is saying that the 8900 model will be $129 and the 83xx model will be $99.

Mogo has a pretty good history since they also created a Bluetooth mouse that fits into an Expresscard or PCMCIA card slot on your laptop. I wonder if it will sell…

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

• BlackBerry Wireless Bluetooth Headset HS-500 Released
• New BlackBerry Bluetooth Headset Coming Soon
• Motorola Endeavor HX1 Bone Conducting Bluetooth Headset Coming Soon
• Jabra HALO Bluetooth Stereo Headset Coming in May
• LetsTalk Offering Free HS-655 BlackBerry Bluetooth Headset With Free BlackBerrys

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, July 23, 2009, 7:00 am. | Mogo Talk – Bluetooth Headset That Sticks to Your BlackBerry? | 2 comments |

Iskin sent me a sample of their new Vibes for the BlackBerry 8900, at first I though it was just like any other silicon cover but it turns out it is tougher. The package comes with the bodyguard, a clear screen film to protect your screen and some LCD anti-static  cleaning wipes to clean your screen before you apply the protective film. It also includes and instruction guide and a couple of stickers to place wherever you like.

The Iskin bodyguard comes in a couple of different flashy colors, red, blue and carbon, definitely attention getters. The bodyguard is made of a durable rubber polymer  according to their website, which is the reason why it has a really tough feel to it. The bodyguard does protect the BlackBerry from impacts and accidental drops in the areas it covers. It is easy to clean and keeps your BlackBerry protected specially if you are one of those that hates to carry a holster.

The side keys of the BlackBerry are all covered by the bodyguard with buttons on each key so you still have access to your convenience keys. The USB port and the headphone jack are also covered but they have a pull out plug that give you access to them and can easily be covered back up. The Camera area is protected as well just the lens part has a whole on it so that it does not interferes with the picture quality.

The Iskin looks really nice on the phone and has a good grip to it, I actually drop mine while I was stepping out of the car and the phone was just fine not even the bodyguard had a visible scratch on it, since it landed flat on the back side. Did not do this on purpose if you are wondering, that is why I always make sure I have some sort of protection on it.

The pros about this case are:

• Stronger protection than regular silicon covers
• Easy to put on your BlackBerry or take off
• Provides good protection
• Stylish
• Gives you a better hold while carrying on your hands

The Cons:

• The Volume buttons is hard to tell whether you have press them or not
• In my opinion the price is a bit high but not unreasonable

Overall the bodyguards offers a stylish look while protecting your BlackBerry and if you are one of those that wants to give your BlackBerry a glossy or flashy look to it this is the product for you. Check out their products at www.Iskin.com they offer other products for BlackBerry devices and other smart phones as well.

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

• Review: iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Storm
• Review: Zagg InvisibleShield for the BlackBerry Curve 8900
• iSkin Vibes: The Skin that just Screams “Look At Me!”
• Review & A Chance to win a Free Otterbox 8900 Defender Series Case
• Review: Coveroo customized 8900 BlackBerry Back Cover

Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, July 16, 2009, 3:00 pm. | Review: Iskin Vibes Bodyguard for the BlackBerry 8900 | 7 comments |