Blangkon Berry

BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK Updated and Available

2010-12-03T07:28:00.000-08:00

RIM held the BlackBerry Tablet SDK webcasts it was obvious that there were many questions that were still being worked out when it came to the specific capabilities and APIs of the tablet. RIM just sent out an update letting everyone know that the tablet SDK has been updated and the latest version is available for download. The latest version of the tablet SDK doesn’t have anything major, but rather it now supports Windows 7.

Xobni for BlackBerry Now on Sale for $1.99

2010-12-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

Xobni is running a great sale right now where they’re offering Xobni for BlackBerry for $1.99. This price is available from their website as well as App World. For those unfamiliar with the app, Xobni (inbox backwards), scans your contacts and allows you to access those contacts quickly and efficiently.

BlackBerry of spam with Antair Spam Filter Live

2010-12-03T07:21:00.000-08:00

It has been more than two years since we went over a way to filter spam using Gmail. This isn’t the most involved process, but it is a process nonetheless. You have to basically filter your email through a Gmail account, which filters spam pretty well. It’s not perfect by any means, but it does help keep those “Endeavor to use it for the children of God” emails off your BlackBerry. If you prefer, though, you can use an effective application to perform a similar function.

Antair Spam Filter is basically the BlackBerry standard for keeping spam away from your inbox. The messages still get delivered to your BlackBerry, but before they can make your LED blink Antair intercepts them. They then get stored in memory for a bit, so that you can check and make sure a real message didn’t get caught in the filter. Users also have the ability to set up whitelists and blacklists, which makes the filter even more effective.

Here’s an interesting feature: the filter can also block spoofed emails. You might notice these from time to time. They’re messages that appear to have been sent from your own email address. Apparently they can also come from email addresses in your contacts list, though I haven’t noticed that in my own email. They’re harmless, really — I know I didn’t send the email to myself — but it’s nice to have them filtered out.
The app, of course, isn’t free. Well, it is at first. You can get a free 30-day trial of Antair Spam Filter Live. That should give you an idea of how well the app works. After that, however, it costs $3.95 per month or $39.95 if you prepay for the year. Is that a worthy cost considering the free Gmail spam filter? That’s up to the individual user. As you can see, the first comment on the Gmail spam filter post actually advocates the more expensive, but simpler, Antair Spam Filter. If you are interested, it works with both BIS and BES devices, and is compatible with OS versions 4.2 and up.

Secure your BlackBerry with AppLock and BlackBook

2010-12-03T07:18:00.000-08:00

The connection between these two apps is that I don’t want to put a password on my BlackBerry. I lock the thing a lot. It goes into my pocket, and it comes out at regular intervals. Some users can deal with entering a password on every unlock. I cannot. Yet I understand the need for security. That’s why I prefer apps that protect certain aspects of my BlackBerry.

BlackBook is one app that I can’t imagine deleting. It basically gives you a hidden address book — so hidden that it can only be seen by typing in your launch-key. That is, there is no indication whatsoever that there is anything like a hidden address book on the device. It’s even listed as Clock in your applications list. You can have these hidden contacts, and even converse with them via SMS in complete privacy. If someone picks up your Berry they’ll have no idea that there’s anything more than what appears in your contacts list and SMS history.

Even if you have hidden contacts, you’ll likely want to lock certain aspects of your Berry. That’s where AppLock comes in. You can password protect specific applications so that others can’t access them. This includes the messages app, which you can do as a whole, or just set it to lock messages from certain contacts. This way you only have to enter in a password when it is necessary.

Not only do both of these applications protect your BlackBerry, they are also currently discounted. You can get AppLock for 99 cents, down from $2.99. It works with BlackBerry OS versions 4.2.1 and above. Similarly, you can get BlackBook for $1.99, down from $4.99. This works only with OS versions 5 and 6.

Flycast v2 streaming radio

2010-12-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

Getting startedAfter downloading Flycast you’ll have to set up a user account, if you don’t already have one. Your email address gets filled in automatically and after that it’s just your password and some demographic information. Enter that and you’ll be set up.
(Also, the ZIP field defaults to numbers, which is something that every app should do, but few actually do.)
Once you finish the form the setup is complete. The only thing you might want to check out before starting is the User Settings option. This allows you to select your preference of Wi-Fi or cellular network. You can also choose to restart the last station played when you restart the app. If you want you can automatically record a station, though that’s available only with an upgrade. Flycast will also allow you to play files from your music library. But we’ll go over these shortly.
Also, in case you want the reference, here is a list of Flycast stations.

My Stuff

When you start Flycast you’ll go right to your My Stuff folder. This includes your music library if you so choose. In User Settings you can choose to enable this, plus a few other features that we’ll get to shortly. That makes it a bit easier to listen to whatever you want, whether recorded through Flycast or from your own collection. It’s not a top-notch feature, but it’s nice.
Below that you have the spot for your recordings. This is available for premium users. If you go into User Settings you’ll see an option that allows you to automatically record all of the songs you listen to. Since you can always delete this songs, I do recommend keeping this feature on. As I can attest from my halcyon days of recording songs off the radio onto cassette, you don’t want to miss the opening bar for no good reason.

Guide

The second menu bar option, Guide, is where you’ll find the media selection in Flycast. Let’s run through this by menu item.
Weather: It just opens a BlackBerry browser and shows you your local weather. I clicked this the first time I used it and never plan to click it again.
On Now: Click on this and you’ll get a list of stations currently streaming. It doesn’t really tell you what station, but rather just the show name. Also, it appears to deal with only talk stations. I only saw Politics, Spiritual, Sports, and Talk as options.
Cities: Looking for a station in a particular market? You can find it here. It’s a much more manageable list than the one on iheartradio, so you’ll be able to find the market you’re looking for.
(But perhaps not the station. But more on that later.)
Genres: Pretty self-explanatory. You can find stations that play varieties of music by exploring by genre.
Audio Podcast: A big high five to Flycast for including podcasts, which has easily displaced talk radio as my favorite vocal medium. You can find podcasts from dozens of outlets, ready to listen right after you click. There are also plenty of back episodes, in case you’re particularly bored.

Search

At first I wasn’t sure that a search function would work well in a streaming radio app. But then I tried it for Flycast. You can basically search for an artist, and it will return stations that play them. This works better for some artists than others, and with some I couldn’t get the stations to work. But the option is there, so I presume it will get better with updates. Or, at least, I hope.
You can also search the SHOUTcast radio directory. That appears to bring up more results, but as with the results from the Flycast search I often got errors when clicking on the stations.

History

It shows you a history of stations you’ve frequented. No real explanation needed here.

Upgrade

Here’s one very intriguing feature of Flycast. For the first seven days after you download the app you can record up to five hours of music, for playback at any time. After that, though, you have to pay for recording space.
You can keep that five hours of recording space, which you can use and recycle as you wish, for a one-time fee of $9.95. If you want more space, you can get 20 hours for $19.95. Again, these are not subscription fees. It’s akin to buying storage space. You have five hours of music, meaning you can record and delete items as you wish, so long as you’re under your allotted time. Clearly, you’ll need a microSD card for this.

Review

Now that we’ve walked through the app, here is my take on its value to a BlackBerry user.
There are many streaming audio applications out there. If you’re seeking entertainment when you have some downtime, there are many options. I would not consider Flycast among the best options. In fact, despite my somewhat harsh words for iheartradio, I think it’s a far superior application to Flycast. There’s just not enough here to top other apps, especially those such as TuneIn which include similar features.
The app is painfully slow. It loads fine, I guess, but the lag time is unbearable. I’m having general lag problems with my BlackBerry, but they’re far worse in Flycast. It has rendered the app basically unusable. I hope that others do not experience the same issues.
I’m also not overly impressed with the stations list. I loved it on TuneIn, and was OK with it on iheartradio. But I just can’t get into the limited selection on Flycast. I did enjoy the podcast selection, even though it’s missing a few of my favorites.
With all the issues I ran into when testing the app, I cannot recommend it over our previous streaming audio app reviews. It appears to have plenty of potential, but the total package isn’t yet present.

BlackBerry Mini-USB to Micro-USB Charging Adapter

2010-12-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

The BlackBerry Mini-USB to Micro-USB Charging Adapter for the Blackberry allows you to use your Mini-USB chargers, headsets, and data cables on Micro-USB ports.
Specifications:

Male End = Micro-USB
Female End = Mini-USB
Cable Length= 3 3/4 inches

Case-Mate Signature Case-Holster COMBO for 8330 (Curve), Curve, 8310 (Curve)

2010-12-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

Enhance your experience with these unique leather case and holster combo that offer the best of both worlds.
For people on the go who desire more complete protection for their smartphone, simply slide the truly form-fit Signature leather case into the sleek form-fit leather holster for a snug fit.
Handcrafted from the world's finest-grade Italian leather which is wrapped around an impact resistant molded shell, the form-fit leather cradle will hold your Blackberry while in the leather case so your phone remains fully protected at all times.

Premium Italian Pebblestone Leather
Form-fit designed case and holster for a snug fit
Impact resistant molded shell cradles your phone providing added protection

iGrip Custom Fit Holder (Without Mount)

2010-12-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Custom designed, this holder works with your smartphone.Clip it in & go!
Your smartphone conveniently slides into place and is held securely at all times.
Holder only - requires an iGrip mount to be secured in car. See bundles in our Vehicle Mount category.
NOTE: Custom fit holder will not accommodate a phone with an extended size battery door.
MADE IN GERMANY

BlackBerry Made Simple

2010-12-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Made Simple Learning for smartphone is a book written for Windows and Mac users and contains all aspects of the smartphone. You will find dozens of hidden or little-known time-saving tips and tricks in "Made Simple Learning for smartphone" to help you get a jump start on utilizing your BlackBerry to it's full potential!
Features:

How to configure and use Wi-Fi and GPS
Synchronizing your BlackBerry with your Windows or Macintosh
How to use Direct Connect, MIKE and Walkie-Talkie feature
How to become "Master of your BlackBerry Email"
How to use Google Sync for true "Wireless Sync" without an Enterprise Server
Support for both BlackBerry Internet Service and Corporate Blackberry Enterprise Server Users
Tips and Tricks to unlock the rich Media Features of the smartphone
How to turn your Curve 8350i into something that could replace a video and audio "iPod"
How to use your Curve for Mapping (Including Google Maps)
Learn about Facebook, Myspace and Flikr on your smartphone

Blueant S4 Bluetooth Stereo Speaker

2010-12-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

With the BlueAnt S4, there is no longer any need to touch your phone or car speakerphone while driving. For the first time, drivers can communicate on the road, making and receiving calls and accessing a world of information using only their voice.
The S4 integrates with Vlingo SafeReader so that you can hear incoming text messages read aloud. Once the Vlingo SafeReader application is installed on your BlackBerry® or Android™ 2.x smartphone, your incoming messages will be read out automatically as they come in.
The S4 integrates with Microsoft BING-411 to provide a handsfree gateway to a world of information.
Just by saying the words you can hear stock quotes, movie times, directions, weather forecasts, sports results, news and traffic updates.
The S4 features integrated A2DP streaming audio functionality, so you can listen to music or podcasts and hear turn-by-turn direction information from a GPS application on your phone.
Features:

True handsfree voice controlled car speakerphone.
Make and answer calls using just your voice
Use your voice to access information services on the go.
Stores up to 2,000 phonebook entries per paired device.
Text to Speech technology reads out the name of the incoming caller
Embedded audio help talks you through setup and operation
Multipoint: connect to 2 phones and answer the one that rings.
A2DP streaming: for playback of music, podcasts and directions from a GPS application on your phone.
Full duplex, high volume speaker for rich booming audio.
Outstanding wind, road, and background noise reduction for clear calls no matter how noisy it is.
Sleek design with touch sensitive volume controls

2010-12-03T06:05:00.000-08:00

These BlackBerry Battery Doors offer a personalized edge to your smartphone smartphone.
You can replace the original battery cover with a matching color or add one that is designed to add some personal style. Colors available: Silver, Black, Red, Pink and Blue.

Compatible Devices

BlackBerry: 9630 (Tour), 9650 (Bold)

BlackBerry Battery Door for 8330 (Curve), Curve, 8310 (Curve)

2010-12-03T06:03:00.000-08:00

Lost or broke your battery door to your smartphone? No problem, we have you covered! This OEM replacement battery door ensures your covered! This door is suitable for your smartphone.

Compatible Devices

BlackBerry: 8300 (Curve), 8310 (Curve), 8320 (Curve), 8330 (Curve), 8350i (Curve)

BlackBerry C-S2 1000mAh Standard Battery for 8330 (Curve), Curve, 8310 (Curve)

2010-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Flight delays, power outages, longer-than-expected trips. You can't always recharge your smartphone when you'd like to. But with an extra BlackBerry battery on hand, you can always talk, type, and work as long as you need to. Keep it in your bag or briefcase and stay connected, powered up, and ready to get the job done.
BlackBerry batteries are designed to work optimally with your device, ensuring it is powered for longer and the battery sustains an optimal amount of charges. The BlackBerry CS-2 Battery features a secure, cryptographic chip to ensure you're using a battery specially designed to work with your BlackBerry device.
Your device will be powered longer and the battery will sustain a greater amount of charges with a BlackBerry battery.
NOTE: BATTERY MUST BE CHARGED FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS PRIOR TO USE.
BlackBerry: 8300 (Curve), 8310 (Curve), 8320 (Curve), 8330 (Curve), 8520 (Curve), 8530 (Curve), 8700c, 8700g, 8700r, 8703e, 9300 3G (Curve)

BlackBerry D-X1 Standard Battery for Storm

2010-12-03T05:58:00.000-08:00

Nobody plans to fail, but a lot of us fail to plan. Keeping an extra battery, charged and handy, is a good plan anytime. Long flights and longer meetings, power blackouts and transit snarls - an extra battery gives you the power to keep on communicating, come what may. Only genuine BlackBerry smartphone batteries work best with your device, holding their charge longer and taking the maximum number of charges over their lifetime. That's why your battery features a cryptographic chip to assure you it's genuine.
A cryptographic chip identified by a closed lock on the battery, ensuring you're using a battery approved for your BlackBerry device.
NOTE: BATTERY MUST BE CHARGED FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS PRIOR TO USE.
BlackBerry: 8900 (Curve), 9500 (Storm), 9530/9530T (Storm), 9550/9520 (Storm2), 9630 (Tour), 9650 (Bold)

Seidio Innocell Extended Battery 1600mAh OEM Size

2010-12-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

With more power than the original battery that comes with your Storm, the Seidio Innocell extended battery for your smartphone makes a great replacement battery or spare.
Keep an extra at the office and one for home.

1600mAh - Up to 15% more capacity than the original
High quality Japanese cells
Fits in existing space so no replacement door is needed
More talk and text time!

BlackBerry: 8900 (Curve), 9500 (Storm), 9530/9530T (Storm), 9550/9520 (Storm2), 9630 (Tour), 9650 (Bold)