Blackberry - Is It Right For You?

Submitted By: Andrew Kelly

What Is A Blackberry all about - and do we need it?
Blackberry is the newest, and now the most popular, wave in personal organizer technology. Boasting the best email program available, Blackberry provides all the basic PDA features, a phone, and on the go email and internet service.
How blackberry compares to phones and personal organizers
For the most part, there is little consensus in Blackberry reviews. Some argue the gadget is overpriced and offers inadequate features in regards to the mobile phone and personal organizer. However, others live by the device and will use no other. Similar to the Windows/Macintosh war, it seems some people are just happier with one or the other. Either way, the mobile phone and personal organizer features seem to be adequate, even if only just so. Fortunately, it would seem the major complaints about the phone and organizer have been addressed in the newer models of the device. What does seem to be the consensus is that these features are secondary to the real purpose of Blackberry – the email.
Pros of Blackberry
The most advantageous feature of the blackberry is its email capabilities. Even in the early models, email on the go was the most fine-tuned characteristic and that which was sought after the most. As time has gone on, other areas of the device have also been developed to create an all-around capable product.
Cons of Blackberry
In the earlier Blackberry models, the mobile phones were horrible! Although this has been remedied to some extent, some still complain of poor audio quality and the uncomfortable design of the device when used as a mobile phone. The small screen on some of the models has also been criticized. It does little good to have browsing and email capabilities when you can not read what is on the screen!
How to choose which model is best for you
In the quest for the perfect Blackberry, it is a good idea to have some clue what you are looking for. Obviously, the email capability is important or you probably would not be looking at a Blackberry in the first place. What other features are you looking for? While most models now come with mobile phone features, some are primarily a phone, meaning they are more traditionally shaped, thinner, and provide more comfort when held to the ear. On the other hand, some retain the “calculator” square shape which is less comfortable. If you plan to use the phone feature a lot, perhaps a phone model would be better suited to you.
Likewise, the devices that are shaped more like a mobile phone lose a considerable amount of space in regards to the keyboard and screen size. So, if typing, email, and browsing are a primary focus, a square version may be better.
There are even versions on the market that come equipped with GPS and digital walkie-talkie capabilities. For an outdoorsman, or for someone who just gets lost a lot, these features could be valuable. However, these features are not as common as the more traditional PDA features.
Size is also an issue. You can go with the smaller phone versions, have a more comfortable fit in your pocket, and forego a little screen size and keyboard capabilities. On the other hand, a larger screen and keyboard means you may prefer to carry the device in a case instead of your pocket. Bulkiness and weight are considerations to keep in mind, as each model varies.
There are also more minor factors to consider when choosing a Blackberry, such as ringtone availability, speakerphone capability, and battery life. Battery life varies greatly from one device to the next, ranging from hours to several days. If you need a long battery life, keep this in mind. Likewise, some models do not come with a speakerphone, which is a major thing for some people. Be sure to check these other features when choosing which Blackberry to go with.
A Blackberry is an incredibly convenient gadget to utilize. It is important, however, to take prudence when choosing the device so it meets all of your needs. The last thing you need is another expensive collector of dust on your nightstand.

The Most Useful Free Blackberry Apps

Article by Bill Fulks
A look at some of the must-have free apps for the Blackberry.
Free Blackberry Apps

There are a bunch of really awesome apps for the Blackberry, and many of them are absolutely free. These apps let you listen to free music online, interact with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and much more. Best of all, they are absolutely free to use and download. You can download them directly to your phone using Blackberry App World, or download them to your computer and install using Desktop Manager.

Free MusicSlackerYou can actually listen to the radio with your Blackberry, thanks to free apps like Pandora and Slacker. These apps interface with online radio stations to stream music over the internet and right into your phone. You won’t believe the selection that allows you to search through songs and listen to what you want, or just let it play. Best of all, you can play it through your car stereo if you have the right kind of adapter. Why pay for satellite radio when you can get it for free on your Blackberry?

If you are unsure of which one to pick, be sure to check out this great article called Slacker vs. Pandora.

Social MediaIf you are a frequent user of sites like Facebook and Twitter, then there are some great free apps that let you interact with those sites very easily.

FacebookThe Facebook app is pretty good for keeping up with your friend’s updates and viewing news feeds. However, it doesn’t work so well when it comes to uploading photos. It also won’t show you who all ‘likes’ something that a friend posted. Despite its limitations, I think it is still a solid app and I use it all the time.

UberTwitter is an excellent interface for Twitter users, and it provides instant access to your friends and their tweets. This program is ad-supported, but that just means you will have a small banner ad at the top of the tweet listing page. You can easily ignore it by scrolling down.

Information and ReferenceYou can use your Smartphone to look up useless information like who sang the theme song to Diff’rent Strokes (it was Alan Thicke, the dad from Growing Pains), but you can also get some apps that are truly useful in a variety of situations.

PoyntOne of the most popular free Blackberry apps is called Poynt. It uses your GPS to find your location, then tells you where pretty much anything of interest is located and how far away. It’s like having a ‘You Are Here’ location on a map that follows you everywhere. It will show you restaurants, movie theaters, stores, and more. I recently used it while travelling in south Florida because I wanted some Starbucks. If you ever find yourself in an unfamiliar location, Poynt will make your life easier. This app is simply amazing, especially because it’s free.

BloombergIf playing the stock market is your thing, or maybe you just like to see how different companies are doing, then you should check out Bloomberg Mobile. It’s completely free and very easy to use, plus it gives you real-time values on any kind of stock. You can even set up your own private portfolio for it to track how your own stocks are doing.
Honorable Mention

I am giving Blackberry App World honorable mention here because it is nice to have a centralized place to get apps for your phone. The only problem is that I hate the interface for it. I found it to be incredibly slow while browsing for apps, and I usually get frustrated and quit looking after a couple of minutes. Why can’t we have some kind of iTunes clone for Blackberry?

Enhance your BlackBerry® Storm™ smartphone with BlackBerry® Authentic Accessories. Enjoy music on your device, or by playing it through external stereo systems. Access hands-free dialing. Keep it protected with sturdy & stylish cases, & powered with charging accessories.

Accessorize & maximize your
BlackBerry Storm

BlackBerry Storm Features

The next generation SurePress technology
The next generation SurePress technology on the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone – combined with SureType® technology – provides better typing accuracy as well as a more tactile feel. Type on a virtual, full QWERTY keyboard in portrait or landscape mode. Touch seven areas of the screen at four times to select multiple items.

Wi-Fi Support
Link to wireless networks or hotspots with Wi-Fi connectivity. While away from your regular home or work coverage areas, you can still access streaming audio and video1, BlackBerry information services and more.

With a powerful battery & removable back plate for easy battery swapping, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone helps you do what you love, longer.

Built for speed & endurance, the BlackBerry Storm offers fast, reliable browsing & communication coverage.

A high resolution 480x360 screen displays over 65,000 colors across a massive wide screen - generating an awe-inspiring display that enhances all your multimedia.

Snap pics like a pro with the built-in 3.2 MP camera featuring auto-focus & auto-flash. Or catch the sound & action, then share it with friends with the video camera function.

The familiar BlackBerry phone buttons are at the bottom of the BlackBerry Storm, ensuring an easy transition from browsing to call taking, without compromising current on-screen information.