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Using your BlackBerry while wearing gloves

Joe — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:03 +0000

Winter is a tough time for BlackBerry users. As we bundle up, we lose the ability to effectively use our smartphones. Maybe a scarf doesn’t get in your way, but gloves sure will. It’s particularly frustrating for touchscreen users. Have you ever tried using a BlackBerry 7 smartphone while wearing gloves? If you have, you’d know that it simply doesn’t work. Thankfully, there are some companies that are all over this.

This Christmas my parents, as a gag, got me iPhone gloves. They were normal-looking gloves, only they had silver tips on the thumbs, forefingers, and middle fingers. These silver tips apparently transfer the heat from your fingers to the touchscreen, which is how the screen picks up your movement. Sure enough, I was able to use a touchscreen in relatively normal fashion while using these gloves. There was just one problem.

See, the gloves were relatively loose-fitting. This isn’t a big issue normally, since not all gloves fit snugly around your fingers. This became a problem, though, when I started to type. It was difficult to hit the keys with precision. This was with a 9930, so there were at least physical keys. I can’t imagine typing well at all on a touchscreen keyboard. So while the gloves are a decent idea, they’re not exactly functional.

Not even a month later, we saw RIM’s own gag solution. At CES they handed out BlackBerry gloves. These were nothing special, really: just mittens with the fingers cut out. That’s a decent idea, since it lets you hit the touchscreen and type with a bit more precision. But anyone can cut fingers off mittens. And, really, that kind of defeats the point. If your fingers are exposed, they’re going to be cold. Also, it looks, well, not so hot. I wouldn’t be caught wearing fingerless gloves in the winter.

Apparently, RIM saw those iPhone gloves I got for Christmas, and they combined their two ideas. As wide selection of iPhone gloves at Amazon. I wouldn’t recommend the Isotoners, because they don’t fit snugly. The other ones, though? If you have a touchscreen phone, you might as well give them a whirl.

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

Using your BlackBerry while wearing gloves

Why you should use a case for your BlackBerry

Joe — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:02 +0000

The internet was created so people could write inane articles. Just browse through our archives and you will see some glowing examples. But just because I’ve written some pretty inane articles myself doesn’t mean I can’t excoriate someone else for doing the same. That’s another reason the internet was created: so we can rip other people to shreds when they say something dumb. So with the proper apologies to and disclaimers for Jamie Condliffe at Gizmodo, the bit about not encasing your phone is just silly. Well, at least the way that he tells it.

In the article he makes just two points. First, that a case is unnatural — even ugly. “Putting a case on your phone is a little like painting your Ferrari with rust-proofing paint, then wrapping it in burlap,” he writes. “Sure, you’re less likely to scratch it. But you obscure every beautiful detail of the bodywork.” There are plenty of things in this world I can’t stand, and poor analogies is one of them. No, your smartphone in no way resembles a sports car — not even the Porche Design P
9981. It is more like a brick with buttons. Only the brick contains valuable electronic parts, and those electronic parts digitally store important information.

In other words, it’s pretty important to protect your smartphone. While some cases are solely intended to protect against scratches and minor dings, most cases serve a greater purpose. They absorb some of the shock when the smartphone hits the floor — because we’re all clumsy in some ways and we all drop our phones from time to time. Some of them provide protection so that if you drop the phone on its face you don’t get a spiderweb crack on the screen. As we discussed just last week, there are some seriously heavy duty BlackBerry cases. They will some day save your device, when without a case it would have been toast.

The second point is a bit more absurd: it’s not worth it. You only have the phone for two years, he argues, and then you upgrade. Phones don’t have much resale value, either. Bravo. Those are perfectly obvious points. They’re also beside the point. If you drop your phone in that two-year window — which is no short amount of time — then guess what? You’re either 1) stuck without a smartphone until you upgrade, or 2) forced to pay full retail, which is around $500, for a new phone. Neither of those sounds attractive, and neither makes me think it’s worth skimping on a case.

Here’s the gem: “If you’re a real worrywart, the money you save by not buying a case go towards insuring your phone in case you drop it on the tarmac or it gets stolen.” Apparently Mr. Condliffe does not have insurance on his smartphone. If he did, he’d know that it costs quite a bit these days; Verizon is charging $11 per smartphone. You know how much an OtterBox Commuter case for the 9900 costs? Less than two months’ worth of insurance. Of course, during the life of your contract you’ll pay $264 for insurance. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get insurance; it’s to say that the cost-savings of a case doesn’t remotely compare.

It seems pretty asinine to suggest that others ditch their cases because you find them offensive. Some people like to protect their electronics, especially when the replacement will cost more than the original. But hey, when the cool kids at Gizmodo say something, we should all listen. Except not at all.

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

Why you should use a case for your BlackBerry

Hardcore cases for your BlackBerry

Joe — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:30:09 +0000

While it’s nice to travel lightly, sometimes we need to go heavy duty. Last week we covered silicone cases for your BlackBerry, and this week we’re going in the exact opposite direction. No matter how bulky they make your smartphone, some people just need a big tough case. They might not fit in your pocket any longer, at least comfortably, but with a heavy duty case you can be sure that your BlackBerry is protected at all times. Here are a few of our favorites.

OtterBox Defender

We’re clearly partial to OtterBox here at BBGeeks. That’s because we’ve tried their cases on multiple occasions and have come away nothing but impressed. The very first OtterBox case I tried was the Defender series for my 8830. The thing was massive — it looked more like a package scanner than a smartphone. But it made me feel as though my BlackBerry were invincible. True to form, I never had any durability issues when using the case.

Every time RIM releases a new BlackBerry model, OtterBox isn’t far behind with a Defender series case. If your work environment exposes your BlackBerry to physical danger, or if you’re just generally clumsy, you won’t find many better cases. Just a warning, though: this one probably won’t fit in your pocket. Guys might need a belt clip to accommodate the massive case.

This nifty Amazon search should help you find the Defender case for your device.

Ballistic Shell

Before this past week, I’d never heard of Ballistic Shell cases. I’m not sure why. But then I read this review on CrackBerry and I was won over. Imagine: a protective case that can actually fit in your pocket. It sounds like something that would appeal to a wide range of people. I only wish I had a chance to actually try it.

The most prominent feature of the Ballistic Shell case is the rubber bumper that surrounds the case. That can absorb plenty of shock, which means your BlackBerry takes less of a beating when dropped or otherwise bumped. It’s not that thick, either — not nearly as thick as the Defender case — so you can tote it around as you would with any other case. The only downside, it seems is that the rubber bumpers can make it tough to slide in and out of your pocket. Boo to that. There is apparently no compatible holster with this.

Again, hit up this Amazon search to find the Ballistic Shell case that fits your device.

Seidio Active series

Last on our list is a brand familiar to most BlackBerry users. Seidio cases have been around for what feels like forever. Like OtterBox, they have a variety of styles that fit many BlackBerry users’ needs. While most people I know choose the Surface series, because it combines protection and size, the Active case provides plenty more protection.

The only issue with it is that it’s similar in size to the OtterBox case. It does have a holster, which is a plus, since it’s tougher to fit in your pocket. But it does get the job done. I wouldn’t be afraid if I were to drop a BlackBerry encased in a Seidio Active case. It combines a hard plastic shell with a rubber coating to provide that dual-level protection that any heavy duty BlackBerry user needs.

As before, use this Amazon search to find the Seidio Active case that fits your device.

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

Hardcore cases for your BlackBerry

Silicone cases for your BlackBerry

Joe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:30:34 +0000

After years of trying out dozens of BlackBerry cases, I had finally come to a conclusion: comfort was more important than protection. Every case I’d tried had one big drawback: it made the BlackBerry too bulky to comfortably fit in my pocket. People warned me that I was looking for trouble, that going case-less was a surefire way to kill my BlackBerry. While it never came to that — the only BlackBerry I actually destroyed met its fate in a water-related accident — their warnings did take a toll. Finally I decided to go with the minimum possible case, a silicone skin. Let’s take a look at a few options for those.

When I think silicone skin, I think of the cases you see to your right. They’re there mostly for colorful decoration and not protection. Drop your BlackBerry from waist high, and it might as well not even be there. But at least your broken BlackBerry will look pretty! While having a different color BlackBerry was tempting for three, maybe four seconds, it was never a realistic option. I needed something a bit more heavy duty, but still using only silicone.

As usual, OtterBox comes through here. While their Defender series cases are too bulky for all but the heaviest duty users, their Commuter series offers something a bit thinner. Yet even those felt a bit uncomfortable. Apparently they realized this, and they came out with an even more bare-bones case. The Impact series features silicone with none of the hard plastic protection. Yet it the silicone is relatively thick and can absorb plenty of shock. It appears we have found a winner.

The Impact series case basically combines everything I like in a smartphone case. It’s ultra thin, so it sits nicely in my pocket. But at the same time, it’s thick enough to protect against some drops. I wouldn’t send it down a flight of stairs, as I wanted to with the Defender series, but I wouldn’t freak out if I dropped the cased BlackBerry on asphalt. And it’s cheap, to boot. That completely sold me on the usability of the Impact series case.

Here’s a list of Impact series cases available via Amazon:

Bold 9900/9930: $10.82
Torch 9850/9860: $9.90
Curve 85xx and 9300/9330: $10.67
Curve 9350/9360: $11.19

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

Silicone cases for your BlackBerry

Keeping your BlackBerry steady with a tripod or kickstand

Joe — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:30:45 +0000

Have you ever been in a situation where you need your BlackBerry propped up? As our smartphones take the places of other gadgets, we need this function more and more. Watching video on your BlackBerry? It sure would be nice to have something holding it up, so you don’t have to hold it up yourself or watch on a flat surface. Taking a picture? A tripod would be nice to hold the picture steady (and give you time to get into it). There are a number of BlackBerry tripods and kickstands on the market, and to our pleasure they’re pretty cheap. Here are a few to our liking.

If you have a BlackBerry 9900 or 9930, you actually already have a kickstand. At CrackBerry they show how to use the battery cover as a kickstand. It’s not the most reliable — I always envision it falling — but it is an option. Otherwise, check out these.

I really dig the Dobi Design tripod. It’s a universal fit, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right one for your device — as you would with a BlackBerry car mount. Instead it uses a clamp, which is a pretty reasonable solution. Just open it up, slide in your BlackBerry — in landscape mode — and you’re set. It’s great for watching videos. It’s even good for taking pictures and video, since the camera isn’t covered by the tripod. The biggest issue is that it’s not good for any QWERTY BlackBerry, since they don’t flip into landscape mode. That will make for some awkward video watching. YOu can get the Dobi Design tripod for $7.99.

There are a couple of other options, too. The telescoping tripod works in both landscape and portrait modes, but the clamp is a bit flimsier than the Doby Designs model. There’s also an adjustable tripod, but many reviews state that it doesn’t fit certain phones. Buyer beware on those two.

For a kickstand, it’s best to go with the simplest model. The iKross tripod fits that need. It’s a universal stand, so it will fit basically any BlackBerry. Then again, basically any kickstand should be universal, since all they do is prop up the phone. This one has a place for the BlackBerry to rest, both on the bottom and the back. You might not want to snap photos, since the camera will be angled downward. But it’s good for watching videos on a QWERTY BlackBerry. Really, a kickstand would make a lot more sense if there was a BlackBerry with a front-facing camera. These are best used when video chatting. You can get the iKross kickstand for $11.99.

Not satisfied with that? You can always get a BlackBerry kickstand case. Though I wouldn’t recommend it from personal experience. The focus on the kickstand, from what I’ve seen, takes away from the case’s overall quality.

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

Keeping your BlackBerry steady with a tripod or kickstand

An awesome BlackBerry accessory setup for under $50

Joe — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:30:29 +0000

In the past few months we’ve done a lot of work investigating the best in BlackBerry accessories. There are many categories of them, and for the most part they’ll all help you in some way or another. But how do you put it all together? That’s what we’re here to do today. There are a few different setups you can try, and in the next few weeks we’ll go over various combinations at different price points. Today we’ll go with a pretty killer setup that won’t set you back even $50.

Item 1: Charging cradle

I absolutely love this thing. It not only lets me stand up my BlackBerry while charging, but it charges a spare battery at the same time. This is great when I’m on the road and won’t be around a charger for a while. It’s basically insurance that I don’t run out of battery, even if I’m using my BlackBerry extensively — including tethering it to my laptop.

This is the centerpiece, if you will, of this setup. It’s a bit big, especially with the AC adapter for the battery, but that’s OK. Sometimes an awesome rig is dominated by one awesome piece. This one takes up $23.70, or just under half of our allotted budget.

get the Mobi Products Cradle with spare battery slot, and make sure to change your device at the top of the screen so you get the right size. The key here is to use your exiting power plug. That’ll save you a couple of bucks.

Running Total: $23.70

Item 2: Privacy screen cover

It seems our privacy is coming under fire from every direction. Whether it’s Facebook, a hacker, or just the person sitting next to you on the bus, people are always prying for our information. You can stop people from viewing your personal matters by applying a privacy screen cover to your BlackBerry.

It’s cheap, it’s simple, and it gets the job done. Just apply it as you would any other screen protector. Once it’s in place people won’t be able to see your screen. You won’t be able to see your screen, in fact, unless you’re looking at it straight on. Which isn’t a problem, since that’s what you do anyway. But that guy on the bench, glancing at your screen? He can’t see anything.

You can Amazon’s selection to get the battery that’s proper for your phone. Remember, get an original and not an extended. That extended battery means getting a new battery door, which means you can’t use the cradle, and it renders your extra battery unnecessary.

Running Total: $38.65. Do we have room for a case?

Item 4: OtterBox Impact Series case

And finally, we get to the case. Here’s the thing with cases. First, they can be one of the more expensive items in an accessory arsenal. That doesn’t work with us, because we — meaning I — picked the cradle as the centerpiece. It’s quite difficult to have two items in this package over $20. Second, with the cradle you have to remove the case. That means avoiding big, bulky cases. Thankfully, the OtterBox Impact series fits the bill

Here you can get the OtterBox Impact series for the 9900. A quick search will yield results for all other BlackBerry models, too. As you can see in the accompanying picture, it’s a pretty basic shell. It covers your device without making it too bulky. At the same time, it provides more protection than other cases its size. That’s the advantage of OtterBox. But, perhaps most importantly, it’s cheap. You can nab one for around $11. That’ll help keep us under our target.

Running Total: $49.65. Just made it.

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

An awesome BlackBerry accessory setup for under $50

Keep your BlackBerry high and dry with a waterproof case

Joe — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:30:45 +0000

If you’re in my neck of the woods, it’s rained a lot this year. In fact, “a lot” doesn’t even properly describe the level of rainfall we’ve received in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It seems as though it rains twice a week, and when it does it goes all day — heavily. Many states in this region and others realized rainfall massively greater than normal, some getting 20 inches or more above established norms. I’m sure more than a few BlackBerrys got soaked in the process. If you want to avoid something like this in the future, whether caught in a rainstorm or just on the beach, a waterproof case might be the solution.

While there are a few options on the market, two have olways stood out to me. The first comes from The Friendly Swede, an Amazon.com dealer. It’s something of a pouch, where you slip your BlackBerry into it and then seal it on the top. That not only keeps water out, but it also protects it from pressured damage, up to 100 feet. Both sides have the window, so you can still take pictures as you would normal. They might come out a little blurry, on account of the plastic film, but it’s still possible to take them. Best of all, it fits basically any BlackBerry, despite it’s smallish size.

This waterproof case is also relatively cheap. You can get one at Amazon for $23.45.

Yet there might be one that is slightly better for the job. Dry Case has a pouch that is simply great for keeping your BlackBerry dry. You see, while trackpad and touchscreen function work fine in the Friendly Swede case, trackball function doesn’t. It’s just an unfortunate aspect of the design. And since touchscreen smartphones are exceedingly popular, it’s hard to blame them for that design. Dry Case, however, works a bit better for trackball devices.

It keeps your BlackBerry dry with a vaccum-like seal. That is, you put the BlackBerry in the case and suck out the air. You’ll have to leave a little bit of air in there, as sucking out all the air does render the trackball unusable. But with just a little air you can use the trackball as well as all of the keys. This case also comes with an option for a headphone outlet, so you can listen to music while keeping your device safe from water damage.

You can get the Dry Case waterproof case for $27.24.

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

Keep your BlackBerry high and dry with a waterproof case

BlackBerry stocking stuffer: Power plug

Joe — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:30:20 +0000

We all lose cell phone chargers from time to time. More commonly, we forget them at home. Thankfully, there’s a dead easy solution to this issue. In fact, it can make for a great stocking stuffer. The idea actually came from my own loving mother, who one year put four pairs of ear bud headphones in my stocking. See, I forgot headphones all the time and always complained about it. With four pairs, she said, I could just put a pair in all of my backpacks and bags, so that I’d always have a pair. The same can go for BlackBerry chargers. Thanks to the new plug design, it’s simple and affordable.

Seriously, check it out: the charger you see pictured to your right costs just $4.50 on Amazon. You can be as kind-hearted as my mom for just $18 (plus rapid shipping). It doesn’t come with a power cord, but as long as you have yours, or can find one during your travels, you’ll be able to hook your BlackBerry up to any standard outlet.

Of course, if you forget your charger chances are you’d forget your USB cable, too. Sure, you can buy a cable separately, but if you need one along with the adapter it’s barely a few more cents. Micro USB users — that would be the newer, flat USB port — can get one for just $4.91. Mini USB users — the thicker, older jack — will find it even cheaper at just $4.60.

Sometimes the best gifts aren’t expensive, but rather provide the most value to someone. Those ear buds my mom got me might have cost $20 combined. But I never again ran into a situation where I didn’t have headphones. The same can go for these USB chargers. Get them for the traveler in your life, so she can put them in every possible travel bag. There’s no forgetting the charger then.

Get a BlackBerry power plug without USB cord.

Get a BlackBerry power plug with a MICRO USB cord.

Get a BlackBerry power plug with a MINI USB cord.

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

BlackBerry stocking stuffer: Power plug

Charging your BlackBerry on a cradle

Joe — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:51 +0000

One accessory that has grown in popularity lately is the cradle. It’s a nifty little device that allows you to charge your smartphone while it stands upright. This can be good for watching videos and other little things. Yet it seemingly works better for the iPhone and Android, devices that have charging ports on the bottom. With the BlackBerry you still have to plug the charger into the USB slot on the side. Still, there are some advantages to using it for the BlackBerry. In fact, one cradle charger in particular brings an advantage.

A few weeks ago we explored ways to extend battery life. One of those methods involved carrying a spare battery. This might seem like a nuisance. After all, once you do find a charger you not only have to charge your current battery, but then pull it out and charge the spare one. That might be a bit too much for some. But with the Mobi Products Cradle, you can charge that spare battery all by its lonesome.

It requires an extra AC adapter, which is included, but once that’s plugged in you can bring your spare battery up to speed along with your in-device one. That way you don’t have to worry about exchanging batteries numerous times. It also ensures that your spare battery is always full of life and ready to go when you need it most.

Your device charges via a USB slot. This means you can plug it into your computer, allowing you to sync and charge at the same time. If you’re not near a computer, no big deal. Remember, your BlackBerry device itself charges from a USB cable. BlackBerry models come with a wall adapter that connects via USB. Just attach that to the cradle and you’re set.

You can get the Mobi Products Cradle at the BBGeeks Store for $23.70. That link goes to the 9630 and 9650 model. To get one appropriate for your model go to Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Charging your BlackBerry on a cradle

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

Charging your BlackBerry on a cradle

What to get if you’re getting a PlayBook

Joe — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:30:06 +0000

As it turns out, the BlackBerry PlayBook might be a big gift this holiday season. Absent the big software update we were promised, it seemed as though RIM would have trouble moving units. But then came the $200 PlayBook sale, which emptied inventories at many big retailers, including Best Buy and Staples. Many of these will go as gifts, of course. Maybe you know someone who, in a few short weeks, will become a PlayBook owner. Maybe you know someone who got a PlayBook for you. In either case, you might want to suggest some accessories to go along with it. Here are a few things you should get if you’re getting, or giving, a PlayBook.

For starters, if you haven’t taken advantage of the PlayBook sale, don’t fret. While it’s true that Best Buy and Staples have restored the price of the 16GB PlayBook to $500, there is still hope for a big discount. In fact, Best Buy has some excellent deals on refurbished models. You can get the 32GB PlayBook for $169.99 and the 64GB PlayBook for $199.99. Both models are currently sold out online, so make sure to check back often. Those are even better deals than the new 16GB PlayBook for $200. If you’re not in the mood for waiting, Amazon has new PlayBooks starting at $268.

Now, onto the accessories.

Case and Keyboard

We’ve already talked about a few popular BlackBerry PlayBook cases, so that’s pretty well covered. There is another good option that did not make the list, though. A few cases actually come with Bluetooth keyboards. It looks something like a laptop, or a netbook, and it adds a level of functionality to any PlayBook. It could be one of the best accessories available.

The eWonder case works very well for this purpose. It’s a portfolio case that’s pretty well secured. That takes care of the protection part. When you open it up, you see a keyboard as well. Connect that via Bluetooth and you can treat your PlayBook like a touchscreen laptop. It will make commutes that much easier. It won’t set you back that far, either. You can get the eWonder Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard Case for $39.99.

If you already have a case and just want the keyboard, or you don’t want a case at all, you can just get the Bluetooth keyboard. There are a few decent options, but the Targus model works fine. It’s a standard-looking keyboard, with a full set of keys (minus the number pad). That should make for some natural typing, which will make you even more productive on your PlayBook. You can get the Targus Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for just under $50.

Charger

The PlayBook comes with a standard charger, which is fine and good. But there are times when you might need a quicker charge. Thankfully, RIM manufactures a number of these. There’s a travel rapid charger that uses the three-pronged outlet, which allows more voltage to pass through than the standard USB one. YOu can get the BlackBerry Rapid Travel Charger for $36.95.

There is also a rapid charging stand. It’s not much different than the other travel charger. It charges at the same rate — 2 amps — and it’s great for charging on the road. The difference is that it can prop up your PlayBook, so you can work or watch video while it’s charging. That prop-up capability will cost you a few bucks, though. You can get the BlackBerry Rapid Charging Stand for $41.99.

Screen guards

The last thing you want is for your PlayBook screen to get nicked or scratched. It has such vibrant resolution that a damaged screen would do considerable damage. A screen guard can be your friend here. Thankfully, these are cheap and simple. You can Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

What to get if you’re getting a PlayBook

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

What to get if you’re getting a PlayBook