Know your USB type

As you well know, your BlackBerry uses a small USB port for data transfers and charging. Over the years this has changed from Mini USB to Micro USB. This has been a huge pain for those of us who had multiple BlackBerry chargers that were rendered useless when we upgraded devices.

If you have a BlackBerry from the 88xx, 83xx, Bold 9000, and younger series, you have a MIni USB port. If you have any of the newer models, including the Pearl flip, Tour, Bold 9700, Storm, or new Curve series (including 8900), you have a Micro USB port. Keep this in mind when choosing a charger.

If you find a charger you like and it’s Mini USB, you can get a Mini-USB to Micro-USB adapter. It’s just $10, and it also allows you to use your old charging apparatus.

Basic and cheap

This is the way I’ve gone on car chargers. You can walk into any electronics store and see a selection of car chargers that will work with your BlackBerry model. Just pick up the cheapest, easiest one, and you’re done. It will do the same thing as the more expensive ones, so why pay more?

The downside, of course, comes in the charger’s durability. As I said, I used to grab the $10 charger and run with that. The only problem that caused me was that it often broke. So it was back to the store for another $10 model. And on and on. I could still never justify getting a more expensive model, even knowing that it would last me longer. I guess I could never get over the question of how much longer. Would it be economical?

The upside is that while the charger works, it will juice up your device just like any other charger. And, if you’re lucky, it might last you a good while. Again, why pay more?

Basic and a tick more expensive

Some people prefer name-brand devices. Not only does this offer some implied assurance of quality, but it also means you’re likely getting a more durable device. Take this Motorola charger for instance. It lists at $24.95 (though only $14.95 at the BBGeeks Store) and provides no additional features over the cheaper chargers. Part of what you’re paying for, of course, is the Motorola brand. How much more durable is the more expensive charger, then?

It’s tough to answer that, since it depends on a number of factors. Do you plan to charge your device daily? Are you known to abuse your electronics? In other words, durability depends a lot on how someone uses the device. Someone who takes good care of the car charger might get more use out of the $10 model than a careless user gets out of a $25 charger.

Even if you’re paying for name brand, you probably shouldn’t pay more than $20 for a car charger — so don’t pay full price for that Motorola one. It just doesn’t make sense, at least to me, to pay more than double the cost of another charger. If the cheaper one breaks, you can get another one and you’re still at the price of the more expensive one. Unless two of the cheaper ones don’t last as long as the more expensive one, you’ll come out ahead.

Car mount

Perhaps you want to go all out with your BlackBerry car charger. You want not only the cigarette lighter adapter, but you also want a mount so you can use your GPS and not glance into your lap to check the directions. It also allows you to check your messages more easily — but only at stoplights, of course. We at BBGeeks do not encourage texting while driving. Nor do a number of states.

These BlackBerry car kits start at $20 for a basic model. Considering the price of the basic car charger that sounds like a great deal, right? Not so fast. When you’re looking at car mounts, you need to make sure that it does, in fact, include a charging port. Many, including the cheaper iGrip models, do not include a charger. That means going for a more expensive model. This, I think, makes more sense than buying a $25 straight charger, even if it does cost a little more total.

My personal favorite is still the Carcomm Mobile PDA cradle. It’s straight forward, simple, and basically ready out of the box. You can even hook it straight up to your car’s power system, as to avoid the long USB cord. If you want something a bit fancier, Cooper likes the Mr. Handsfree Genius Bluetooth Carkit. You’ll spend a bit more time setting it up, but once you do it does a lot more than the Carcomm kit.

Choices abound

The search for the right car charger might seem a bit daunting, what with all the choices. Keep it simple, though. Know what you’re looking for and know your price range before you go shopping. Once you find one that fits your criteria, read the relevant reviews, Google it, and go from there. You’re bound to find one that fits you perfectly.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

How to choose a BlackBerry car charger

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

How to choose a BlackBerry car charger

Energy currents pass through the air constantly, the the Airnergy harnesses that power. Specifically, it comes from WiFi signals, which you can find at so many locations these days.

The Airnergy unit contains a battery of its own. The component inside the device converts the WiFi signal into electricity, charging the battery. How long that takes depends on the strength of the signal and number of hotspots available. The Airnergy battery can charge anywhere — in your messenger bag, in your pocket — as long as you’re getting a WiFi signal.

Then, when your BlackBerry needs a charge, you just plug in the USB end of the device and you’re off. During the demonstration at CES, the Airnergy charged a BlackBerry from 30 percent battery to full in about 90 minutes. Of course, they had the benefit of readily available WiFi signals there, which might have aided in the charging time.

The Airnergy should hit stores this summer, and will cost $40. That seems like an incredible deal for a device that not only charges your BlackBerry on the go, but also recharges itself whenever you’re in a WiFi hotspot. Which, these days, can be quite often.

Make sure to check out the demo video.

With a hat tip to Phone Scoop.

Update: You know what they say about something that sounds too good to be true…

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Charge your BlackBerry battery using Wi-Fi signal

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Charge your BlackBerry battery using Wi-Fi signal

Engadget stopped by the Energizer booth at CES last week to check out the new line of gadget power devices, and ended up really liking the EnergiStick. To which I say: who wouldn’t like it? It’s a small unit that carriers a quick charge for your BlackBerry. It’s not a full charge or anything close, really, but it can provide you an extra 30 minutes of talk time and up to 40 hours of standby time. It does not specify how long it can power data services, but I’d guess somewhere around the 30 minutes of talk time.

While the EnergiStick can’t bring a dead battery back to life, it can give a second chance to a low-power BlackBerry. It works with both micro USB and mini USB ports, so you can get one for older and newer BlackBerry models. The only problem, as I see it, is that I’ve only been able to find it in mini USB format. You can get more information, including places to purchase at energistick.com. The in-house store is sold out, though I did find it on Amazon for $15.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Energizer’s EnergiStick gives your BlackBerry a little more life

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Energizer’s EnergiStick gives your BlackBerry a little more life

The case, which claims to reduce “hotspot” radiation by 85 percent and all radiation by 60 percent, works by redirecting the radiation. Without the case, radiation flows in both directions, both toward and away from your head. The Pong case has a module that redirects the signal, sending the radiation outward. While that sounds like it might reduce call quality or signal strength, the folks at Pong claim that your phone will maintain normal function. You can find out more about how the Pong BlackBerry Curve Case here.

If you’re skeptical about the true effects of the Pong case, you can check out a recent Wired magazine article on the subject. They were initially skeptical, but after seeing a test first hand they changed their view. “In other words, Pong’s claims seem to be legitimate: Its case reduces the amount of radiation going from the iPhone into your head to a third of what it would be without the case.” The case itself is a simple silicone skin, so it won’t take up much extra room.

If you’re interested in the Pong BlackBerry Curve case, you can get it for $49.95 at Pong’s website. The cases will start shipping in February.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Pong BlackBerry Curve case can reduce radiation

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Pong BlackBerry Curve case can reduce radiation

Note: If any of these headsets are available in our store, we’ll link there. You might be able to find a better deal elsewhere, though.

Jawbone Prime

People love their Jawbone Bluetooth headsets. Aliph made a huge splash with the original, and has pumped out two follow-ups, the Jawbone 2 and now the Jawbone Prime. It’s even more stylish this time around, coming in seven different colors. That’s good news for Jawbone users. Design seems to be the most cited reason for using the Jawbone — as one BBGeeks staffer admitted.

Jawbone prides itself on not only design, but on its noise cancellation feature. This works better than ever with the Prime, keeping external noises blocked so you can hear the other party. True, other headsets offer better overall call quality, but the noise cancellation feature helps compensate. For some reason, you’re allowed to turn of the cancellation. Go ahead, try it. We dare you.

When you slip the Jawbone over your ear — and with the Prime you don’t need to use the ear hook, though if you have ears shaped anything like mine you’ll need it — it hardly feels like you’re wearing anything. It’s lightweight and small, measuring just 2.1 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. The smooth surface means you can easily feel for the buttons.

One thing I liked about it — and remember, I don’t like much about headsets — is that there is only one volume button. Some people complain about this, but when you’re blindly feeling for a button you want the easiest possible interface. Two buttons means more fumbling. One button, even if it only toggles among various volume setting, makes life easier.

You can get the Jawbone Prime Bluetooth headset for $109.95. It comes in Black, Platinum, Purple, Yellow, Red, Green, and Brown.

Platronics Voyager Pro

While the stylish will prefer the Jawbone, Platronics has a reputation for providing the best in call quality. The latest in its line of heavy duty Bluetooth headsets is the Voyager Pro. It clearly sacrifices aesthetic pleasure for functionality, a trade-off I’m usually willing to make. But even a functional hound like me might be turned off by the Voyager Pro. It’s, uh, a bit big.

Two parts of the headset stand out. First, the back piece. This hides behind your ear, but it’s a bit bigger than other Bluetooth headsets. That’s going to be a personal call, though. Some people won’t mind the bulky back piece, some will. The part that will cause the most hangups, though, is the mouthpiece. It’s a straight headset microphone, long enough to reach pretty close to your mouth. It’s adjustable, on a swivel, so it need not always be near your yapper.

If we can say one positive thing about the design, it’s that anyone who wears it clearly means business. I don’t know if you’re calling home to mom or you’re negotiating Derek Jeter’s next contract, but if you’re wearing a Voyager Pro I’m probably going to guess the latter.

When it comes to functionality, the Voyager Pro goes unsurpassed. Even in high noise conditions you can bank on the other party hearing you, and you hearing the other party. That’s the most important thing, right? The buttons are also easy to find. The volume button, which goes both up and down, sits atop the headset, with both the power and call buttons sitting behind the earpiece.

You can get the Platronics Voyager Pro Bluetooth headset for $84.95.

BlueTrek UFO

Now this is my kind of Bluetooth headset. One reason I don’t like them is that they’re so conspicuous. Even the Jawbone, which is said to be fashionable, is a bit too much for me. But the BlueTrek UFO is just so…small. Just a bit larger than a quarter and weighing something around 0.2 ounces, sometimes you can forget it’s even there. If there were ever a headset to convert me, this would be it.

My first question upon seeing this little bugger was whether the call quality was even remotely good. Incoming voices I assume would be decent, though having the headset sit outside the ear, rather than having an earpiece, made me skeptical. The real question I had related to my own voice. Could other callers hear me, even though the microphone is essentially at my ear? Turns out, it’s no issue at all. No, the quality isn’t as good as the Voyager Pro, from either end, but it’s perfectly adequate.

To ensure that the quarter-sized device fits well on your ear, BlueTrek includes four different hooks, two metal and two rubber. You’re bound to find one that fits your ear perfectly. It also packs five buttons onto the device, and that might be one of the only drawbacks. There are the standard answer/end call, power, and volume buttons, which would have sufficed. But there are also buttons for your two favorite numbers — not useful on most headsets, especially one this small.

If you’re looking for the most inconspicuous headset, you can get the BlueTrek UFO Bluetooth headset for $79.95.

Jabra BT530

There was some thought around the office that the Jabra JX20 should get the nod here, but I stood my ground. If the guy who doesn’t like Bluetooth headsets prefers a certain model over another, I argued, then that should carry some weight. While the JX20 is small and has a good call quality, like the other headsets on this list it’s pretty expensive. Why not go for the better value headset?

Jabra features a number of headsets that run even cheaper than the BT530, but I think — and finally got the staff to agree — that this model provides the most punch for the price. It measures just under 2 inches long, and weighs just 10 grams. So it’s not quite as small as the UFO, but it certainly gets the job done.

The main feature of this headset is noise cancellation, a feature all headset manufacturers should strive to include. The noise-canceling microphone sits inside the chrome strip that runs down the middle of the device, so it’s not just there for show. The top of the device features the device’s primary buttons: the call button, plus two volume ones. Accessibility to these buttons is crucial for a headset.

The only knock on them, if there is any, is that the call button sits between the volume buttons. Some might find that to be a positive, though, since the end buttons control the volume, rather than an end and a middle button. The power button is also conveniently located on the left side of the device.

As for the noise cancellation itself, it works just fine — in many ways, just as well as its more expensive counterparts. So if you want a high quality voice experience for a lower price than the above-featured models (each of which has its own selling point), the JabraBT530 could work for you. You can get the Jabra BT530 Bluetooth headset for $59.99.

Coming soon: MoGo Talk

Coming soon in 2010 is the MoGo Talk. What makes this headset stand out is not its call quality, nor its slimness. In fact, we couldn’t even test the MoGo Talk because it hasn’t yet been released, at least for the BlackBerry. MoGo has a novel concept, though: attaching the Bluetooth to the back of your device. That not only gives you a place to stow the headset while not using it, but it also allows you to charge the headset while you charge your handset. In other words, where other devices are about design, call quality, inconspicuousness, or value, the MoGo Talk is about convenience.

To make this work, MoGo sends you a replacement battery cover, which acts as the device holster. This performs two functions. It allows the charging feature to work, and it reduces bulk. You could slap a headset holster on the back of your BlackBerry right now, but it might be a bit too bulky for a case or even your pocket. WIth MoGo, your BlackBerry will still fit into most holsters. Though I doubt it would work with something like, say, OtterBox.

Again, the device is not available for BlackBerry right now, but it’s coming soon for the Curve 8330 and the Bold 9700. It will cost $129. You can check out the MoGo product page here.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Our favorite BlackBerry Bluetooth headsets

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Our favorite BlackBerry Bluetooth headsets

As you can see to your right, the Case-Mate ID case stores your cards in a pouch on the device’s back. It’s great if you’re constantly pulling out both your BlackBerry and your wallet. As Case-Mate notes in its marketing blurb, it also makes for a slightly easier experience at airport security. No, you won’t be “one step ahead of the competition,” but it means one less item to dump in the bin. It works best, really, for those who no longer carry cash.

While Case-Mate ID provides many advantages, it also has its drawbacks, the foremost of which being its thickness. Yes, you’re reducing bulk in one pocket by moving your wallet contents to your BlackBerry case. But that just makes the BlackBerry case that much thicker. It’s not like combining a wallet and a BlackBerry, but it’s certainly thicker than a number of cases on the market. From what I’ve seen, it compares in thickness to the OtterBox Commuter series cases. The cards also block the camera hole, so you have to remove your cards before you can snap a picture.

Plus, there’s the whole issue of losing your BlackBerry. With your credit cards — and presumably driver’s license or ID — connected to your Berry, losing would be a much bigger pain. Your cell phone, email device, credit card, and ID? Yep, that’s just about everything. Recovery would be a long, tedious process.

Still, there are definite conveniences. You can check out the Case-Mate ID for yourself. It’s available for a number of BlackBerry models:

Tour 9630
Curve 8300 series
Curve 8520/8530

ID cases for the Curve 8900 and Storm 9550 are coming soon. They cost $29.99 each, and come in a variety of colors.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Combine your wallet and BlackBerry with Case-Mate ID

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Combine your wallet and BlackBerry with Case-Mate ID

Of course, it’s not perfect. If you leave your BlackBerry in a cab or on the train, you might be too far away to retrieve it anyway. But at least you’ll immediately know you goofed, and take immediate steps to correct it. That’s better than checking your pocket 15 minutes later to realize that the reason you didn’t hear your BBM sound is because your BlackBerry is not in your pocket.

The nio is available on all BlackBerry models from the 8700 up. You can get the device for $69.95 plus $8 shipping. If you’re as forgetful as me, consider it a form of insurance.

Hat tip, jkOnTheRun.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Make sure you’re never far from your BlackBerry with nio

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Make sure you’re never far from your BlackBerry with nio

NOTE: Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post for information on how you can win an OtterBox Commuter Series Case simply by leaving a comment on this post!

UPDATE: Congratulations to the Lucky Winners of the BBGeeks / OtterBox contest
Congratulations to Mallissa, Laura, Janet and Peachy! You are all winners of OtterBox Commuter Series cases from BBGeeks.
(One of you actually gets a different case but I will let you know that in the follow up email I am sending.)

Thank you all for the amazing comments/entries. We will absolutely run another one of these contests in the new year!

What it is

People know OtterBox as the case that most fully protects your electronic devices. The problem, as you can imagine by the UPS package scanner comment above, is that the cases are just a bit bulky. This is a problem for all types of smartphone users. It takes up a lot of room in a purse (though with the sizes of purses I’ve seen on the subway, that might not be an issue), and it certainly is too big for a normal pocket — unless you want to give people a different impression. Even if you clip your phone to your belt, it’s not a comfortable fit. The holster has to be as big as the case, and it creates a bit more bulk than is ideal.

This means that the Defender series is better for those working in heavy duty environments. A contractor, for instance, might find utility in the Defender series despite its bulk. The trade-off is different, because there are more risks of damaging the device. For white-collar folks, the trade-off probably isn’t worth it. Sure, there are occupational hazards there, especially during a commute. But the risk-reward payoff probably isn’t there for most people.

The Commuter series is OtterBox’s happy medium. It provides a level of protection not quite on par with the Defender series, but certainly better than most other cases on the market. At the same time, it’s not nearly as bulky as the Defender series. It makes your BlackBerry a bit bigger than before, but it can still fit in your pocket with ease.

Installation

The Defender series provides three layers of protection. First is a clear plastic screen cover, similar to Bodyguardz, but without the adhesive. It then has a silicon layer, much like a BlackBerry skin. The final layer is a hard plastic shell. It doesn’t cover the entire device, just the sides and back. That’s enough to help the BlackBerry sustain a drop onto the pavement. Just don’t do it too often.

Instead of describing the installation process, I’ve whipped up a quick video demo.

My experience with the Commuter case

Well, it certainly doesn’t look like a package scanner, which is a plus right off the bat. It fits in my pocket only a little more snugly than an uncased BlackBerry, another plus. It worked much better in dress pants and khakis, where you have a bit more pocket room than jeans. But even in jeans it wasn’t too bad.

One of my problems with the Defender series was that the plastic bar that separated the screen from the keys often got in the way of the top row and the trackball. Not so with the Commuter series, though that’s because there is no plastic bar. The case goes all the way around the main area, so there’s nothing hindering your typing or viewing. The case is so un-bulky, in fact, that I had no problem one-hand typing.

Locking your keys is essential with the Commuter series. Even when the phone wasn’t in my pocket, I found it depressed the left convenience key often. That’s actually my biggest complaint about the case. The button is super sensitive. On the right side, it took a firm depression to activate the convenience key. The volume keys, thankfully, seem to work just fine.

Need a holiday gift for a BlackBerry addict?

If you’re looking for a holiday gift for the BlackBerry geek in your life, the Commuter series could be just that. The lack of bulk and provision of protection make it one of the best cases on the market. Plus, it’s available for almost all BlackBerry models. They’re all $29.95, and can all be purchased from the BBGeeks Store using the links below.

As an added bonus, the kind folks at OtterBox have sent us a few cases to distribute to our loyal BBGeeks as early gifts for the holiday season.

Good Luck!

Curve 8900
Curve 8520/8530
Bold 9000
Original Storm
Storm 2
Tour

Unfortunately, it appears the Bold 9700 case has not appeared in our store yet. Once it does we’ll update with a link. For now you can get it from the OtterBox website. The catch — and why we’ll link to our store soon — is that it goes for the full retail price of $34.95.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: OtterBox Commuter series case for BlackBerry

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: OtterBox Commuter series case for BlackBerry

There are two models of the Mobile Companion: the C8n, which features an 8-inch screen, and the C7, which has a 7-inch screen. Both work in a similar manner. Just connect your BlackBerry via a USB cord, and you can view your BlackBerry on a bigger screen and type out messages on a near full-sized keyboard.

Hardy goes over the main points. The screen can blow up your BlackBerry screen, though because the resolution isn’t any better, the images can get a bit pixelated. That might be a turn-off to some, so there is an option to blow up the screen by about 50 percent, which is still a nice improvement. The keyboard works as normal, though the trackpad/mouse is a bit different. It works as normal in the browser, but outside of that, where there is no cursor, the trackpad functions the same way as a trackball/trackpad on your BlackBerry. One big downside, Hardy notes, is that the USB connection can’t handle video transfer, so you won’t be able to watch movies on the 7- or 8-inch screen.

For those wondering what kind of upgrade this provides over a netbook, Hardy has a few answers. This works for people who don’t need all the computing power of a PC. It also runs off your BlackBerry, so there are no issues like viruses to deal with. The battery life is also much better than a laptop; Hardy had his working up to eight hours on a charge.

If you think this might work for you and your BlackBerry, be sure to read Hardy’s review, and then head over to CrackBerry where Adam Zeis takes an in-depth look. That one is full of pretty pictures, too.

You can get the 8-inch Mobile Companion for $249.95, and the 7-inch version for $199.95.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Celio Redfly turns your BlackBerry into a netbook

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Celio Redfly turns your BlackBerry into a netbook

It is for that reason that I decided to continue my quest for the best set of Bluetooth headphones for your BlackBerry. There are many types available so you can expect to see a few more headset reviews coming down the line from BBGeeks.

This time I have decided to check out the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset.

Introducing the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset for your BlackBerry

The Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset is one of the bulkier options when it comes to bluetooth headphones compatible with your BlackBerry. Where many headsets fall into the earbud category, the Samsung offering is more along the lines of popular studio headphones on the market.

This is one full featured set of headphones with all kinds of controls located on either side of the unit. You have options to control tracks, volume settings, add some extra bass and more.

The headset itself is billed as a noise canceling device and I can attest that I hear almost nothing around me when I am wearing them. This is pretty impressive and particularly handy when you work or travel in some noisy areas

Let’s take a look at what the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset can do.

Testing out the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset

Pairing the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset with my BlackBerry Bold went smooth as silk. Taking only a few seconds to connect after entering the standard “0000″ pairing code, it was nice that there are no tricky hoops to jump through. There is nothing worse than having to spend more than a minute or two to get a pair of headphones working before heading out.

Charging the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset was easy enough. It is suggested that you charge the headset for 3 hours to gain a full charge. Once it has been powered up you can expect up to 11 hours of talk time or play time. That same charge will last for a whopping 300 hours of standby time (not tested).

As soon as I placed the headset on my noggin everything got very quiet. That is the noise canceling in action and it works well.

When wearing the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset the various controls are located in easy to reach spots on either side of the device. On the left you have your volume controls in the perfect spot so they can be easily adjusted with a quick touch along with a line in cable jack. On the right you will find you track selection, play/pause buttons and the bass adjustment options. you are able to choose from normal, wide and bass modes for your listening pleasure.

In addition to the play controls located on the headphones there are also a couple microphones and a call answer switch that allows you to pick up calls and speak to your contacts hands free.

The call button works in a variety of ways depending on what circumstance it is used. A simple press will answer an incoming call or redial the last number called if there is no call waiting. If you want to reject an incoming call you can press and hold the call button. The same technique is used to activate voice dialing when no incoming call is on the line.

Overall impression of the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset

If you are looking for a stylish set of headphones that will allow you to rock out to your favorite tunes with no wires then you may have to look a little further than the Samsung SBH600 series. While they are definitely a quality offering, they are a little too bulky and the fitting is slightly awkward. The ear pieces tend to jut out at an angle instead of sitting flush against the side of your head.

The padding on the ear pieces are comfortable enough for use over extended hours but the weight of the headset itself can cause a little stiffness in the neck after a while. This should not be a problem if used on a plane or somewhere with adequate head support.

As far as sound is concerned, the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset offers a quality experience. The multiple options for bass control is a welcome touch. I love my bass so for music that is my permanent setting but the normal and wide settings provided a nice balance while watching television shows and other video files. I am no expert audiophile but I did not see a huge difference between listening to my music over the bluetooth connection as opposed to the direct in line jack solution.

The final thing I wanted to touch on is operational distance. The last product I reviewed had some issues with the bluetooth connection within only a few feet of the BlackBerry it was tested on. The Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset had no such issues and actually exceeded my expectations. I was able to leave my office and proceed almost all the way down the hallway before the bluetooth connection got flaky. I did not bother to measure the exact distance but rest assured you can be in any room in most houses and still stay connected.

Overall I think the Samsung headset is a great buy and I would suggest it for anyone looking for a set of headphones for their home stereo system of for long haul journeys with their BlackBerry. I may be a little vain but I have to say that these are not a daily listener. If a few small changes were made to the design I think these could be a must buy product.

You can purchase the Samsung SBH600 Stereo Headset from the BBGeeks Store for $99.95 (down from $149.95)

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: Samsung SBH600 Bluetooth Stereo Headset

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: Samsung SBH600 Bluetooth Stereo Headset