Size and Comfort

The Q1 is about the size of most Bluetooth headsets, so there’s not much to report there. It has an over the ear hook that you can put on either your left or right ear by sliding it out and flipping it around. It’s lightweight though. So lightweight that there have been several occasions where I completely forgot I had it on and then got a call and was surprised by the chime in my ear.

Sound Quality

Like I said earlier, I’ve been scarred by Bluetooth headsets before. The Q1 resolved all those issues I had before. Sound comes through crisp and clear and sounds like any regular headset, and at times exactly as if I were using my phone itself. Every call I made, I was certain to ask the person on the other end how I sounded and inform them that I was using a Bluetooth. Practically everyone was surprised and impressed that I sounded so clear, especially the people who used to complain how horrible I sounded on other Bluetooth devices I had used before.

Features

If you’ve got tons of music on your BlackBerry and don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of headphones and cords, the Q1 is capable of playing stereo music. More on that in a second

Voice activation is the feature BlueAnt tries to sell the most on this headset, but I wasn’t too fond of it. There’s a short list of commands that it understands, and when you speak them, the device doesn’t really pick them up too well.

What did impress me, however, was the mutli-device pairing capability. Users can pair up to 8 devices to the Q1 and have two connected at a time. I’m using both a Bold 9700 and Motorola Droid at the moment, and I have both of them paired and connected to the headset at the same time whenever I use it.

The best thing I’ve seen from any device in a long time, especially one the size of the Q1, is the day I was listening to a little bit of Jason Mraz on my BlackBerry and then received a call on the Droid. The headset informed me of an incoming call and I answered it and spoke to the person calling me. After the call ended and was terminated, the headset seamlessly switched right back to the music. It took me a few seconds to remember that I was listening to the music on a completely different device.

Based on this fact alone, the Q1 is a wonderful device that’s worth every penny. You can purchase it from AT&T stores or online for $129.99, with the same price at Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. However, if you’re of the interest of saving $30, I suggest purchasing the headset from the BBGeeks Store for only $99.95.

This post is part of the BBGeeks Guest Post Initiative:

Chris Esparza writes for the Examiner and covers all things BlackBerry for his audience. You can read more from Chris by checking out his daily BlackBerry news or follow him on Twitter (@BBExaminer) .

If you would like to participate in our guest post initiative or would like a BBGeeks article on your site,we would be glad to hear from you. Simply email marketing@bbgeeks.com and we can discuss it further.

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

Guest Post: Examining the BlueAnt Q1

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

Guest Post: Examining the BlueAnt Q1

In the past I have reviewed a number of headset options for your BlackBerry. The previous reviews were for Bluetooth headsets so this time around I decided to check out a standard inline series of headphone for the Blackberry.

Introducing the V-Moda Vibe In-Ear Headphones

In my opinion, having a serious set of headphones is necessary for anyone who has a portable media device. You can’t play your tunes on the speaker because they sound horrible (where is my bass?!?). You can not use many of the larger headphones because once you turn up the volume, everyone around you gets to enjoy your music right along with you. while it can be quite entertaining to see who on your bus or train is digging your musical selection, it really is quite obnoxious.

With the help of V-Moda you can address all of the issues stated above. The Vibe In-Ear Headphones not only provide great sound with some quality bass but as the name indicates, they are an in-ear model so your listening sessions remain private and unobtrusive to those around you.

What can I expect from the Vibe Earphones?

The V-Moda Vibe earphones come in a number of colors including Gun Metal, LaMocha Gold, Red Roxx, Flashback Chrome and Midnight Blue. The style I am reviewing are Gun Metal and they look super slick whether in the ear or lying on the table.

The headphones themselves are crafted from premium metals and have a nice modern look and feel compared to other in-ear designs I have seen on the market. They are a premium headphone as opposed to a throwaway pair. This is absolutely reflected in their price which may cause some folks to do a double take.

As far as ensuring a comfortable fit for the user, V-Moda has been kind enough to include a number of “spare parts”. These include three sizes of replacement silicone buds in both clear and black colors. Additionally, these headphones are really light. I have been wearing them for a few days now and aside from awesome tunes pumping in my head, I am never really aware I am even wearing them.

As far as sound is concerned, the V-Moda In-ear Headphones are some of the best headphones I have ever used. The bass is deep but not overpowering. This is due to something V-Moda calls BLISS technology (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone). The mid levels and highs are represented in equally fine form and are only limited to the quality of the recording as far as I can tell. Acoustic guitars sound incredibly lifelike and electronic beats simply thump.

An additional functionality that is included that makes this particular pair of headphones an ideal match for BlackBerry owners is the hands free call answering. Located towards the top of the right cord is a handy little button/microphone. When you are playing music on your BlackBerry the button serves as a Pause/Play button, saving you from having to dig your BlackBerry out of your pocket to stop your tunes. when a call comes in while you are rocking out the button serves to pause your music and answer your call.

The microphone included in the Vibe earphones is sensitive enough that I did not have to position it at all in order to make it pick up my voice with great clarity. There is a small clip that can be adjusted and used to pin the microphone closer to your neck (collar) but this is probably on necessary to keep the microphone in one place and accessible.

I spoke to a number of people who all remarked on the voice quality while we spoke over the microphone. The quality decreased slightly when outside in windy conditions so I am not sure what kind of noise canceling is being used in those situations.

My overall impression of the V-Moda Vibe In-Ear headphones

After a about a week of using the Vibe headphones from V-Moda I have come to the conclusion that they would absolutely be a great addition to your BlackBerry accessory lineup.

If you are serious about your tunes and you use your BlackBerry often for listening to music, purchasing a pair of these headphones would ensure that you are getting the most out of your device. In my opinion there is no point in owning a pair of headphones that can not deliver clear high, mid and low frequencies. The Vibe earphones deliver in spades and will not leave you disappointed.

The V-Moda Vibe In-ear headphones can be purchased for $99.95 from the BBGeeks Store and they are worth every penny as far as I am concerned.

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

Geek Review: V-Moda Vibe In-Ear BlackBerry Headphones

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

Geek Review: V-Moda Vibe In-Ear BlackBerry Headphones

For many people this “always on” capability has modified their behaviour to such an extent that they simply can not leave the device anywhere that is not within arms reach. They have to check their email, they have to read just one more article or quickly scan Twitter or the BBM inbox. Admit it folks, you either know these people or you are one of them. That being said, I have just one question for you…

Do you take your BlackBerry camping with you?

Taking Your BlackBerry on the Road and Off

I am one of those people who, fortunately, can disconnect from my BlackBerry for extended periods of time. The only time I do this however is when I am escaping the hustle and bustle of the office life and getting out to experience nature. I enjoy camping and hiking and I do not believe that just because a device “can” inject distractions into my down time that it “should” do so. More to the point, I don’t believe I should let it.

Now just because I don’t personally enjoy having electronics mucking up my nature experiences does not mean I can not see value in having them handy. What if you are on an extended trip and are worried about a sick family member or friend? What if you are travelling alone in a remote area and want to have a means of reaching out in the event of an injury? OMG what if you get lost?

All of these are valid reasons to keep your BlackBerry handy when seeing the sights. They also bring up another very important question…

How do you ensure that you keep your battery charged enough that your BlackBerry can be used when needed?

BlackBerry Charging Options

In recent months there have been a number of products that have hit the shelves that allow you to keep some extra charge handy. There are traditional extended batteries, there are portable charging stations and there are umm…experimental charging devices that may or may not work as promised.

In addition to all those stated above there is one other option. An option that is entirely suitable for the avid outdooorsman who just can’t seem to leave his/her BlackBerry behind. yes folks I am talking about the wonderfull world of solar power and solar chargers for your BlackBerry.

Introducing the Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger for your BlackBerry

The Solio Hybrid Solar Charger is ideal for anyone who owns a BlackBerry and takes long trips which leave them away from traditional power supplies for extended periods of time. This includes nature lovers and hardcore road warriors.

Being a hybrid charger, the Solio H1000 is able to accept a charge from either a usb port from your favorite computer or the sun itself. This makes it easy to build up an initial charge and store it before your trip. During the trip if you need to give your BlackBerry a boost you can attach it to the H1000 and it will charge at the same rate that a traditional wall adapter would provide. Once the BlackBerry is charged just find a relatively sunny spot and leave the H1000 exposed to replenish whatever charge was used.

Easy as pie and no need to find an outlet – how great is that?

So What Comes in the Box?

The Solio H1000 Hybrid Charger is packaged nicely. The actual charging unit is slightly larger than I assumed when I saw images online (Approximately 8″). It is not bulky by any means though and will sit nicely on a dashboard or windowsill. For the backpackers there is a handy carabiner on one end that makes it perfect to hang from a tree or the back of your pack while hiking.

In addition to the main charging unit there are a few adapters included. There is a usb cable that is to be used to connect the main charging unit to your computer along with a Nokia N Series Tip, a Mini USB connector for BlackBerry, Motorolla etc. and a Female USB Tip for ipods and other MP3 players.

There are many more devices that the Solio Hybrid Charger can connect to but these will require the purchase of dedicated adapters. You can find a list of the additional devices the H1000 can connect to here. Most of these additional adapters are sold for $9.95.

Other than the adapters and main charging unit there is not much else in the box. The only other item is a quickstart guide that shows you how to check the charge level and hook up the charger to your portable devices.

How does the Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger Work?

The H1000 Hybrid Charger, when fully charged will provide a single charge for almost all of your mobile gadgets. This is equivalent to approximately 10 hours of music playback. It breaks down to approximately 14 minutes of talk time or 40 minutes of music per hour of solar power collected.

It is important to note that various devices may respond differently when charging. Likewise, depending on the processes running on the charged device, the estimated life of said charge may increase or decrease. (Think of a BlackBerry, when running messaging services or bluetooth, wifi etc your charge will be depleted much quicker than when those services are turned off.)

Another important note to make is that depending on the intensity of the exposure to sunlight the Solio Hybrid Charger may take longer to charge than estimated.

As mentioned above, you are not limited to charging your BlackBerry with the Solio Charger. It is compatible with a wide range of devices. To find out if your device is compatible with the H1000 you can check out Solios handy guide here.

Here are some of the technical specs as indicated by the manufacturer:

• Rechargable 3.7V 1000mAh Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Battery
• Rated output: 1.5 to 5 watts
• DC input: 5 – 6 Volts 400mA
• Solar Panel max output: 0.6 Watts

Final opinion

The Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger performed admirably. I had a few issues getting a full charge stored up when relying only on solar power. The reason for the problem was I was testing on some pretty overcast days (January in Ontario is not always bright and sunny). I have no doubt that the charger will work as advertised when exposed to intense direct sunlight.

The first charge was used to power an iPod and even without a full charge it juiced up the iPod sufficiently to keep my tunes going most of the day. The second time I charged the H1000 I opted to use the USB cable and power a dead BlackBerry 9000. This again worked flawlessly and resulted in a completely charged BlackBerry.

All in all, after the two tests I have concluded that the Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger is an ideal companion to anyone who owns a BlackBerry (or any other compatible device) . It is not a replacement for the wall charger per se but it will absolutely save you plenty of frustration on your next camping trip or long haul where you know traditional outlets will not be readily available.

One last note that applies to BlackBerry owners specifically. It is always a good idea to reduce the strain on your battery when you know you will be without a reliable power source. Even while you are packing the Solio charger, changing app settings etc. will drastically improve your battery life and thus keep you online and connected longer.

The Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger can be purchased from the BBGeeks Store for $49.95.

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

GeekReview: Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger for BlackBerry

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

GeekReview: Solio H1000 Hybrid Solar Charger for BlackBerry

To combat this confusion, many BlackBerry owners rely on shortcuts to access their most used apps. There are a number of predefined shortcuts which can be used to navigate to certain parts of your Berry and there are methods that can be used to assign apps to the convenience keys on your device. Aside from that, most users are left out in the cold when it comes to easily navigating the constantly evolving landscape of their favorite smartphone.

Thankfully some third party application developers have taken it upon themselves to build some handy solutions to the consumer needs and have made some great BlackBerry shortcut apps that are easy to download and setup in minutes.

Today we will be looking at one particular offering from a company called Mmmooo. The app goes by the name SuperQWERTY.

We have 15 FREE copies to give away to loyal BBGeeks readers – instructions on how to enter to win one of these licenses are at the end of this review

UPDATE: Contest Winners Have Been Selected:
Okay folks – we had a great response to this contest and we want to thank everyone for participating. Remember – if you were not one of the lucky ones chosen you can still grab the SuperQWERTY app for only $3.99 here.

Here is the list of winners. You will all be contacted through the email address you entered while commenting.

Xcetrachick, Andrew, Quenfis, Pink2, Andrea, Reanna Rupani, Angela, Jayne, Jonathan, Albert, Kerzhan, Joel R, Steve, Rob and Mimi B

What is SuperQWERTY

SuperQWERTY is a BlackBerry application designed to increase your productivity by making it easier to locate and launch important apps in a streamlined manor.

Essentially SuperQWERTY adds an icon to your desktop and a new shortcut to your “Q” key (be sure to disable dialing from the home screen) as well as a system wide menu option that can launch the SuperQWERTY app. To take it a step further, you are able to launch SuperQWERTY from within (almost) any application you have installed on your BlackBerry. This means you no longer have to back out of whatever application you were in when you want to launch a new one.

Putting SuperQWERTY to the test

The first thing I tested was the new shortcut that has been added to the “Q” key. Since my “Q” is already in use as a default profile switch shortcut (normal <-> quiet) I was worried there might be a conflict. Turns out this worked exactly as promised with the “Q” key now launching SuperQWERTY with a quick press. The previous functionality of the “Q” key is maintained and only switches profiles if the key is held down for a second or so.

Pressing the “Q” key brings up a complete list of every application you have loaded onto your BlackBerry. In addition to any applications installed, the app also allows access to common utilities and processes that are used on a daily basis. These include but are not limited to composing messages, launching BBM functions, message event listening, message search and much, much more.

The list of actionable items presented by SuperQWERTY is very straight forward and all apps are listed in alphabetical order for the most part. I had a couple apps that seemed to be added at random to the end of my long list. These apps launched fine when clicked but were for some reason excluded from the alphabetical sorting.

The same alphabetical list is pulled up whether you launch SuperQWERTY from the shortcut key, the icon on your desktop or by first pressing the menu button (from the home screen or within most apps) then selecting it from the recently added menu item.

To launch any application from the list provided by SuperQWERTY simply hover over its’ name and click your trackball.

QUICK TIP: Press the space bar when viewing your SuperQWERTY list in order to search for a specific title.

Setting up BlackBerry Shortcuts with SuperQWERTY

Not wanting to settle with just providing you a list of clickable app links, SuperQWERTY takes it one step further and allows you to assign your own custom shortcuts to any installed application or function on your BlackBerry.

For each application you can set a keyboard shortcut. The shortcut will be one of the 80 available keys combinations on your keyboard. You can also choose a color to associate with each shortcut so that similar tasks are grouped together for easy reference. SuperQWERTY will rearrange your list of applications as you add shortcut keys. If shortcuts are specified for an app it will be moved to the top of the list. The apps now become arranged alphabetically by shortcut key with any remaining apps displayed in the default alphabetical order by title.

At any point you can change the shortcut key and color assigned to any app on your device.

Final Thoughts on SuperQWERTY

The more I use the SuperQWERTY app on my Bold, the more I see the value in it. Despite having a large, vivid screen on my BlackBerry, it is sometimes difficult to quickly bounce between some of my favorite apps. The time it takes to identify and launch each application on my system is not usually too long but when you add up that time throughout the day it actually becomes a bit startling.

SuperQWERTY makes moving from one app on the BlackBerry to another as simple as possible and if you are looking for a way to shave a few minutes off of your navigation time and pump that into more productive tasks then it is absolutely the app for you.

My only problem with SuperQWERTY was it functioned slightly different than I had imagined. Instead of defining shortcut keys for an app and being able to use those shortcuts from anywhere, I instead had to actually launch SuperQWERTY then hit the chosen keyboard shortcut.

In most cases the same keys used to launch something from with SuperQWERTY does something completely different if pressed from the home screen which can be slightly confusing.

This adds one extra click (the “Q” key) to my navigation process which is not a huge deal. Although I would prefer if I did not have to open SuperQWERTY before using the shortcuts.

Now for the good stuff

The kind folks at Mmmooo have given BBGeeks 15 licenses of SuperQWERTY to give away to our loyal readers!

In order to enter to win one of these free licenses simply leave a comment on this post letting us know why you need it =)

Pretty simple right? Right. Please use a valid email address so that we can contact you to get your PIN information.

Leave your comments here and I will pick the winners at random on Friday afternoon (December 18, 2009).

Good Luck everyone!

The SuperQWERTY BlackBerry shortcut app can be purchased from the BBGeeks Store for $3.99

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

Geek Review: SuperQWERTY BlackBerry Shortcut Application

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

Geek Review: SuperQWERTY BlackBerry Shortcut Application

Let’s face it though, buying a BlackBerry case online is often a hit and miss proposition. Many claim to be of the highest quality and yet when you get them in the mail you find that you have spent your hard earned cash on a cheapo plastic thingamajig that won’t protect your BlackBerry from a 1ft fall let alone real bumps and scratches.

Today we are going to check out a premium case from a company called RexRegina that is made specifically for the BlackBerry Bold 9000. They make cases for a number of other BlackBerry models but I have a 9000 so that is the one I decided to take a closer look at.

What can you expect from a RexRegina BlackBerry case?

Let’s start with the packaging. Most cases that I get sent for review purposes are packaged in a thick plastic shell that I have to fight with a pair of scissors to get access to the product. The problem with this is that I am always worried I am going to damage the actual case with a random frustrated stabbing motion.

RexRegina apparently knows that people are having these problems. Either that or they have given extra thought into their packaging and are ensuring that the “premium” experience they promise is evident in all aspects of their product line. Either way I am glad they are not making me break out the scissors.

The RexRegina Winston case is packaged in what could easily pass as a box from your local jewelry shop. Elegant boxing that when opened up reveals a slick monogrammed microfiber cloth. Peeling the cloth back further reveals a luxurious leather case that is soon to find a place wrapped around my Bold 9000.

Checking out the RexRegina Winston Case

Mmmmmmmmmmm the Winston case smells like your favorite leather jacket – man do I love that smell!

The materials used to craft this case are definitely top notch. The leathers are Italian and so soft, colored with rich dyes using a process called “Aniline dying”. I don’t know too much about the various process of dying leathers but apparently the analine process gives the leather a superior depth of color when compared to standard surface dying techniques.

A closer inspection of the needle work on the RexRegina Winston case shows a priority with detail. The stitching is impeccable, tight and even across all seams of the case with no fraying evident and no loose threads to be found.

The case is a horizontal format and snuggly fits the Bold 9000 (perhaps too snuggly at first). There is a handy magnet clasp to keep your device safe and secure and a nice tight belt clip integrated into the back of the case. On top of all this, you also get a nice stylized monogram stamp with the RexRegina double R branding.

Closing thoughts on the RexRegina Winston Case

Having seen my fair share of cases for the BlackBerry, I definitely agree that the RexRegina Winston case belongs in the “Premium BlackBerry case” category. The materials used are stellar and by all accounts the case is firmly constructed and should last for a long time if you decide it is worth the purchase price.

The only downside to the Winston case for the Bold is that initially it is quite tight on the device. Because of the rounded corners on the Bold it can be a bit difficult to get the device out of the case if it is really stuck in there.

Overall, if you are looking for a premium case for yourself or that special BlackBerry owner in your life then you could do a lot worse than the RexRegina case lineup. They are worth the price for sure and you will not be disappointed once you open the box.

You can purchase the RexRegina Winston Case for the BlackBerry Bold for $49.95 from the BBGeeks Store here.

You can check out the other cases available from RexRegina at the BBGeeks Store here as well.

My only issue is

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

Geek Review: Checking out the RexRegina Winston Case

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

Geek Review: Checking out the RexRegina Winston Case

That being said, there have been a number of times where I have caught myself back tracking and saying “If only I could print this out”. These situations are few and far between but occur none the less. Most often when trying to explain things to much older people who are not as plugged in as I am.

For times like these it would be handy to have a device that would allow me to print off a quick series of instructions or a diagram or two. I do not think I will ever change my attitude towards the act of printing as a whole, but I do understand that as long as their are non tech savvy folks out there, there will always be a need for print media.

If only there was a portable device one could carry with them for just such an occasion.

Introducing the PrintStik – a truly Mobile Printer

The PrintStik is portable printing in its truest form, consisting of a single unit that measures 1″ X 10.75″ x 1.5″. With a weight of just over one pound when the paper cartridge is inserted, the PrintStik is easily stored in a briefcase, backpack or Messenger bag.

The general idea is that you can have the ability to print anywhere, any time as long as you have a Windows laptop or BlackBerry within range of the device. The PrintStik carries a roll of twenty pages at a time which are easily replaced when depleted. It also boasts a printing speed of 3 pages per minute, a rugged design that requires little maintenance and affordably priced replacement consumables.

Unboxing the PrintStik

The PrintStik comes with only a few accessories, each intended to extend its functionality depending on where it is being used. You get the PrintStik itself and a high quality nylon case for protecting it while in transit. The nylon case is sturdy and looks like it could be water proof. That being said, I can find no claims of water proofing so we will go with water resistant for the purposes of this review.

Along with the device and case you also get a USB cable and a number of power adapter options for international connectivity when charging.

Overall, there are not a lot of extras included with the PrintStik but in fact you get everything you need.

Putting the PrintStik to the Test

Once the appropriate files are installed on your BlackBerry you will notice that a new item is added to many of the contextual menus. In email there are now options to “print” “Email List Print” and “Attachment Print”. When in the browser there is now an option to “Web Page Print.

Checking out the Setting options for the PrintStik Software

After you have installed the required files on your BlackBerry you will notice a new icon has been added to your BlackBerry desktop. I am not sure what they were going for with the icon but it is a jumbled bunch of black and gray with what appear to be gears poking out at the top. In any case, look for that icon and click it to view your PrintStik customization options.

Among the items you can customize are print margins (T,R,L,B), print mode (Small, Normal, High Quality), font styling, and a handy “save paper setting” (remove white space, only printable, full page). There are also options to configure printer server settings, wireless mode settings (WiFi or GSM/CDMA) and a registration option.

Everything here looks standard and functions as expected.

Printing from the computer via usb and from the BlackBerry using Bluetooth

Printing out a document while connected to a computer was quick and easy. Once the drivers have been installed from the included CD, the process for printing is exactly the same as with any other printer. Just select file > print and choose the PrintStik from the available printers.

Printing via Bluetooth through the BlackBerry was slightly more complicated but easy enough once I bothered to read the instructions. Turns out you have to go into the apps you installed on your BlackBerry and set a bunch of permissions to “allow” before you can discover the PrintStik. These instructions are included in a PDF on the CD that contains the device drivers.

When the PrintStik is plugged into your computer it defaults to the usb connection. When it is not plugged in it defaults to Bluetooth right away and is available for pairing. To get your BlackBerry working with it you need to enter into the Bluetooth settings and search for the PrintStik. If you are prompted to enter in a pairing code you should enter in four zeros (0000).

I had no issues printing anything from either the BlackBerry or my PC. I did not attempt to use the Bluetooth on the PC to try a test print because, umm, well I don’t use it and this is a BlackBerry related review =) For what it’s worth, I am sure it functions just as well as the other two options.

Final Thoughts on the PrintStik

So what is the final verdict here? Is the PrintStik the best thing to happen to printing in a long time?

If you are absolutely positive that you need to print things and you need this type of functionality while on the road then the answer is yes. The PrintStik is a solid buy. The print quality is lacking but I imagine people using this for quick printing of mostly text so ultra crisp lines may not be a requirement.

The print quality produced by the PrintStik is in line with what you would see from a fax machine. Text printed is entirely legible but any images you attempt to print will be of extremely poor quality. The inks used are non smudging which is impressive considering the nature of the paper used. The paper is similar to the type spit out by debit machines so I was pleasantly surprised that the ink was quite stable.

Another note about the paper is that due to it’s quality (thin) it does not tear very evenly when being removed from the PrintStik. I found that I got some very rough edges on my documents. If you are planning on using this to print out information for clients you may want to consider the impression torn edges will leave.

That being said, there are definitely a couple positives when it comes to printing. I found the ability to just print enough paper to handle your needs impressive. If you were forced to print an entire page every time you initiated a print your supply of paper would be used up very fast. The price of materials was also decent. You can get a three pack of printing/paper cartridges for $24.99. This may be more expensive than some solutions but none of them will fit in your pocket.

I appreciated the fact that the PrintStik comes packaged with all the connections you will need to adapt to power supplies around the world. It would not be a truly portable printing solution if they had skimped on the adapters.

As far as compatibility is concerned, the PrintStick could support a few more devices. Currently there is no support for printing from a Mac. This is something I would like to see addressed in the future. When it comes to the BlackBerry you will need to have OS 4.5 or higher in order to connect which should not be a problem for most.

If you are looking for a portable printing solution for your BlackBerry you would do well to check out the PrintStik. It can be purchased directly from Planon for a price of $299.99.

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

Geek Review: PrintStik PS910 from Planon

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

Geek Review: PrintStik PS910 from Planon

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

Another Storm 2 review

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

Another Storm 2 review

Folks are diving into podcast listening, watching their favorite videos, and storing large numbers of pics and music on their high capacity SD cards. On top of all of that, there is an ever expanding market for BlackBerry Accessories that allow access to all the multimedia goodness.

Today we are going to take a look at the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset. It promises to deliver superior sound while maintaining all of your phone and music functionality with no wires involved.

Introducing the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

The Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset is comprised of two ear buds attached to a lanyard leading to the main device unit. The ear buds come with a variety of sizes so that you can be sure to get a snug fit and trap in all that audio greatness.

The entire setup is worn around the neck with the main device unit hanging across your chest like a pendant. This is not the standard form for Bluetooth headphones, but it did not prove to be an issue aside from the fact that you always have this pendant swinging around. I did not do any kind of exercising while testing it out but I imagine it could get pretty annoying rather quickly. The length of the lanyard cord is adjustable though, so you can play with it until it sits as comfortably as possible around your neck.

Because the pendant style setup involves a continuous loop around your neck there could be a potential choking hazard if it were to get caught on something. To combat this, Sony has included two handy safety release points on each ear. These will snap apart once any significant pressure is applied. Rest assured, the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset will not choke you.

As far as the mechanics of the Sony Bluetooth headset are concerned, everything is as you would expect from a set of wireless headphones. There is a microphone located below the right ear bud which makes talking to your contacts easy. In most cases you only have to speak in normal tones in order to be heard properly. Due to the exposed nature of the microphone however, wind interference was occasionally an issue during testing. This was remedied by cupping a hand around the microphone during particularly windy moments.

Tell me about the buttons

There is a call handling button located just below the left ear bud that easily connects and disconnects you from any incoming call. While it felt a bit awkward reaching up to my ear to initiate the function, I got used to it pretty quick. Given that I would prefer to wear the whole unit underneath my jacket or sweatshirt on most occasions, the placement of the call handling button is actually ideal.

The actual pendant portion of the Bluetooth unit is where most of your switches and buttons are. All of the standards are included. You will find volume controls, track skip controls, an on/off button and play/pause for your music. There is a small backlit display that gives you a visual indicator of when the device is ready for pairing or currently paired, battery status, Bluetooth status and more. This display is also used for track information when playing music through the headphones.

As far as pairing goes, the process could not be simpler. Just initiate the pairing on the Sony headset and use your BlackBerry to discover it. The pairing code is the standard 0000. Pairing with my BlackBerry Bold took less than 30 seconds and I was up and running.

The Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset is capable of pairing with multiple devices at once (up to 10). There is a switch on the side of the pendant unit that allows you to select single connection mode or multiple connection. If you are only pairing with your BlackBerry you will choose single but if you have another media device you would like to stream from you can use the multi-connect function to hook the headphones up to all of them. It is important to note that if you want to listen to music, the last device you pair will have to be the one broadcasting the music.

My Overall Impression

Let me start off by saying that I had high expectations for the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset. It looked stylish with its orange and black color scheme. It promised great quality sound and it was wireless! I hate wires and was in search of a truly portable, wire free solution to music on my BlackBerry.

The reality of what I received was slightly less impressive than what I had envisioned.

The unit looked slick but I am not really a fan of the whole pendant hanging around the neck look at all. As I said above, not entirely a deal breaker but just awkward overall.

The promised sound quality was delivered as far as I am concerned, the Sony HBH-DS970 performed head and shoulders above a wide variety of ear buds, and headsets I had been using previously. The ability to swap out the default ear buds for one size larger made all the difference in the world. Plus I am sure the people on the bus were appreciative of the fact that I could no get some decent volume without forcing them to listen to my carefully crafted playlist. (seriously – I took a poll).

Using all the functions of the Bluetooth headset was intuitive enough, the only major issue with talking on the phone was the wind factor as described above.

I did however have some serious issues with the Bluetooth connectivity on the particular model I received for testing. The standard operating distance should have been up to 30 feet. During my testing however, I could not get more than 4 feet away from the device without sound clipping in and out. This happened on both music and phone calls. As a matter of fact, often enough, whenever I physically moved the BlackBerry out of the line of sight of the Sony HBH-DS970 it would clip clip away.

I do not want to dismiss a quality product because I may have received a faulty one so I went ahead and read some other reviews of the Sony HBH-DS970 online. Nobody else complained of the types of issues I have been experiencing so I am willing to chalk it up to a bad batch.

I guess it is just a case of buyer beware as usual. If you find your unit is clipping audio, send it back right away and get one that works.

The Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset can be purchased from the BBGeeks Store for $89.95.

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

Geek Review: Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

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

Geek Review: Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

We’ll catch you up on everything ‘Berry that happened over the course of the week. Not only that, but we’ll rank ‘em by importance, so you can more easily skim the items and read the ones of most significance. If you only have time to read one article, for instance, you might want to head down to our 5-star section. It’s All the BlackBerry News Fit to Geek.

BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac leaked
I wanted to make sure this went on top, even though PC users might not consider it a five-star link. There are plenty of Mac users reading BBGeeks, myself included, so it’s to our delight that Desktop Manager for Mac was leaked. Here’s the Rapidshare download link. It took me a little over a minute on a cable connection to get everything. It’s in beta still, of course, version 1.0.0, so you might encounter a bug or two. I’ll see if I can find any as I explore it today. Expect a post expounding on this tomorrow.

Storm 2 to hit October 14th?
We’ve long speculated on the release date of the BlackBerry Storm 2 — and by “we” I mean the entire BlackBerry community. There have been various indicators, but perhaps none more concrete than Verizon marketing material depicting an October 14 release. Of course, the actual images have since been removed — it seems everything Storm-related goes up and then comes down within a few hours. I can assure you that they were there, though, and did in fact say October 14. Again, this is probably the ideal release date, barring any setbacks. I’m still banking on November, but October is looking more and more likely.

BlackBerry 9700 coming to T-Mobile in November?
In addition to release information on the Storm 2 this week, we also learned a bit about the BlackBerry 9700, which is set to be the first 3G BlackBerry for T-Mobile. According to TmoNews.com, we could see this hit shelves the first week in November. Again, this makes plenty of sense. It’s going to be a hot device — not only the first 3G Berry on T-Mobile, but it’s also essentially the Bold, just smaller, and with an optical trackpad. November always makes sense, because that puts it in line with the holidays. With T-Mobile rolling out more 3G markets recently, this could be a perfect match.

RIM already working on a second Tour?
The BlackBerry Tour just hit shelves in July, but it looks like RIM could already have a follow-up in the works. The BlackBerry Essex will be the next version, and will feature an optical trackpad and WiFi. What it looks like, from an outside perspective, is that RIM was already so far along with the Tour when they 1) developed the trackpad an 2) Verizon announced it would allow WiFi on devices. So they released the Tour, but this is the device that it should have been. There’s not much else known about it, so we could get a number of new features by the time it hits market. If you’re having trouble keeping up with all of these potential new devices, check out BBCool’s writeup.

Verizon cuts Storm price to $50
Unsurprisingly, Verizon is preparing for the release of the Storm 2, as we noted above. One measure they’re taking is further reducing the price of the original Storm. They dropped it from $199 to $149 a few months ago, and now it’s down to just $49.99. So if the Storm 2 is going to be a bit rich for your blood, you can can lock down an original on the cheap.

RIM improves BIS spam filtering
I wasn’t aware of this, but apparently there was a problem with spam emails to BIS email users. RIM fixed the issue, and recently let us in on the trick. Apparently they’re using software to evaluate the emails based on IP address. That means that the emails aren’t even getting to your BlackBerry. Which brings up the question of false positives. On another website we had to block a whole IP range from commenting, and we wondered how many false positives that would turn up. Same question applies here.

Who wins, girlfriend or BlackBerry?
Okay, so if you’re here you probably hold your BlackBerry in high favor. However, it can sometimes go too far. Such is the case of Molly Schoemann’s boyfriend. At least Molly is taking it in stride, composing a humorous piece on her battles with her boyfriend’s BlackBerry. It’s a short, light-hearted read, and especially apt if your significant other is particularly addicted to the Berry. Me? I choose women every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

BlackBerry on the police force?
Here’s an idea that might catch on: the Baltimore Police Department is buying all its patrol officers. No, it won’t be mainly an email thing. Instead, the devices will be used to “allow officers to run warrants, check vehicle registrations, and pull up criminal histories and suspect photos.” Sounds like a productive use to me. I hope we get some follow-up stories on this one.

Stolen BlackBerry? BlackBerry ER will help you recover it — as long as you have a GSM model, and the criminal falls into common patterns.

Adding extensions to BlackBerry contact numbers. Because what good is a Berry if you can’t add in an extension?

A walk-through of TwiXtreme. Yet another BlackBerry Twitter client, and yet another one I enjoyed very much.

Facebook 1.7 headed to BlackBerry soon. Here’s a quick but sparse preview of the new BlackBerry Facebook app.

Freedom Mobile Slim Keypad for BlackBerry review. Cooper checks out this full keyboard for your BlackBerry.

Simplify your RSS with Arr! SS. There are plenty of BlackBerry RSS readers, but this one is nice because it doesn’t hog memory.

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

BlackBerry News From The Wire for the Week of 8/31/09

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

BlackBerry News From The Wire for the Week of 8/31/09

I set up all the settings that were required, I clicked to find my location and . . . nothing. An hour later, still searching for satellites =(

With no obvious solution I jumped on the forums and saw a couple suggestions. I went outside to a local park in the attempt to free up my sight lines and get a quick lock. I downloaded Google Maps and attempted to get a quick lock through them. In the end I had no luck. I then decided I would try out an external GPS solution because I am definitely a glutton for punishment.

Turns out it was the best decision I had made so far.

Introducing the GlobalSat BT-368 Bluetooth GPS Navigation receiver

What you first notice about the BT-368 is that it looks like a mini iPhone, complete with the silver bezel and all. While it would be ultra cool if it was in fact a mini iPhone, instead the BT-368 gets it’s cool points from hooking up with all the slick new phones available on the market and providing stellar GPS connectivity. That means that even though you are a BBGeeks and would never touch another device, a family member may be in another camp all together yet still be able to borrow the BT-368 to hook it up with their phone as well.

The GlobalSat BT-368 Bluetooth receiver come packaged with a car charger, a universal power plug and a mini USB cable. This ensures that no matter where you end up you will always be able to charge your GPS unit to full capacity and ensure that it is juiced up enough to guide you to the next stop on your path.

Just to recap, you can use this awesome GPS receiver in any country and with many current phones and smart phones. This is a great value that can not be overlooked.

So what is under that tiny little hood

The BT-368 is a prime example of great things coming in small packages. here is a rundown of some of the more important specs:

• High capacity rechargable battery
• Can access 20 parallel channels for superior GPS connectivity
• NMEA-0183 compliant protocol (Default: GGA,GSA,GSV,RMC Support: VTG,GLL,ZDA) and SiRF binary protocol (yeah I really don’t know what thi stuff means either)
• Extreme fast TTFF at low signal level
• SiRF StarIII chipset
• Operation range of 10 meters (33 feet)
• Dimensions : 40 x 70 x 9.2 mm, weight : 30g

My Experience with the GlobalSat BT-368

Not much to sy here other than I absolutely loved how reliable, fast and accurate this particular receiver was when put to the test. Given that I could not even get the standard BlackBerry GPS functions to activate, I had little to no expectation of success. I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled it fresh out of the box and was up and running in minutes.

I took the BT-368 with me walking, bike riding and cruising on down the highway. I gave the actual unit to a friend and had them cross the road while I watched the BlackBerry for an interupted signal. In all cases, I was patched in and tracking very accurately. Unfortunately I could not test / compare the accuracy of the BT-368 against the standard GPS of the Bold due to my earlier connectivity issues.

As far as the Lithium Ion battery life is concerned the device says it is rated for approximately 10 hours but I only managed to squeeze out just over 9 before having to recharge.

The Final Verdict

The GlobalSat BT-368 is a phenomenal GPS receiver and should be considered a must have for anyone who wants accurate GPS locating functionality for their cellular phone, laptop or PDA. It is great for families who may want to swap between devices and it is so small that you won’t even notice that it is tucked inside your bag, purse or pocket. When driving, the unit can be placed anywhere in your vehicle and the connection is seamless.

If you are interested in purchasing a GPS unitfor your BlackBerry, the GlobalSat BT-368 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is available through the BBGeeks Store for 99.95

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

Geek Review: GlobalSat BT-368 Bluetooth GPS Receiver

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

Geek Review: GlobalSat BT-368 Bluetooth GPS Receiver