PocketBerry » Reviews

Review: PowerSkin for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 & 9780

Kal Chebli — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0000

It’s not the first time we see cases that charge your BlackBerry on the go. In the past we reviewed the Case-Mate Fuel Case which was was hard shell case with a built in battery to charge your BlackBerry a full charge and a half. This time around we are reviewing the PowerSkin for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and 9780 which provides a silicon case solution with a built in battery that will charge your BlackBerry.

One of the most convenient features I found in the PowerSkin is the way it connects to your BlackBerry smartphone. In the Fuel Case by Case-Mate, we saw the connection that was made between the phone and the case was through the charging contacts used for charging docks on the very bottom. For some reason it would flicker sometimes or dirt/lint would get in which interrupted the contact. In the PowerSkin, it’s a built in micro USB cord that plugs into your BlackBerry from the inside of the case so you don’t have to worry about ever being disconnected.

As for the charge it gives off, I was able to get a whole full battery charge and change, I’d say about 1.25 worth of battery which is great for being on the go. On the back of the case, you’ll see four lights which show you how much charge is left in the external battery. There’s a button on the back you can push at anytime which will show you the battery’s status and also activates the charging once pushed for about two seconds.

My next favorite feature is that you can technically use this for any other BlackBerry smartphone. Say you’re out with some friends who also have BlackBerry devices, you can lend it to them, and the micro USB wire can stretch out enough to plug into another device whether or not it’s a Bold. So now you have a universal micro USB phone charger.

The case doesn’t block you from using your camera either. The backside contains an opening for both your flash and camera so you can still snap pictures at ease. With that said, your convenience keys, volume buttons, and mute/screen lock button are accessible through the case.

When it comes to needing to charge your BlackBerry, there’s no need to take the PowerSkin off. Once you plug your BlackBerry with the PowerSkin on it, your BlackBerry will charge first, and then the case which is the priority you’d most likely prefer. You can charge the case separately via micro USB of course as it comes with a super short cable to do that.

Here’s a good video demonstration showing how the PowerSkin works:

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

Features include:

One piece tough case
Soft silicone rubber
Provides up to twice the power
100% recycled case
Rechargeable
Lightweight
Smart battery technology
On/Off button
LED battery status lights
Patented XPAL Power^® battery technology

Power Capacity: 1150mAh
Input Spec: 5V, 0.7A
Output Spec: 5V, 0.7A
Talk Time: 230 Mins^*
Standby: 265 Hours^*
Product Dimensions:
4.45L X 2.75W X 0.9H inches
11.3L X 7W X 2.3H cm
Weight: 0.17lbs / 77.1g

The PowerSkin for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and 9780 is currently on sale for $49.99. Not the cheapest price for a BlackBerry case, but keep in mind you get great protection for your BlackBerry along with a mobile wireless charger built into it. If you’re constantly on the go, I would definitely recommend this as a great accessory.

PowerSkin for BlackBerry >>

Hands On: Need for Speed Shift on the BlackBerry Torch 9810

Mac Jadalhack — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Need for Speed was never the greatest game on BlackBerry. It launched for the BlackBerry PlayBook which provided an incredible experience with 3D game play we’ve been anxious to see come from RIM for a very long time. With the new device line up which includes the BlackBerry Torch 9810, we see better enhanced game play. I picked up the Torch 9810 yesterday from AT&T and saw a link in games for Need for Speed Shift. Although it was only a demo, it exemplified how good game play can get on it as the graphics were real smooth and responsive when driving around. Below are a couple of screenshots from the game, but simply hit the jump to check out more.

I have only tried out the demo, but the full game is available for only $4.99 in BlackBerry App World. The full version includes more cars and levels to play on of course. We haven’t seen gameplay on BlackBerry smartphones come this nice so it’s definitely a huge improvement. Only thing I didn’t like about the game is the music. It was too old school and polyphonic which didn’t match up the game’s graphics too well. Other than that it’s definitely a must game to get if you’re looking for 3D game play. You can click the link below to check out Need for Speed Shift on your device, but it looks like to get the Torch 9810 3D version, you have to buy it within the game itself after downloading the demo. If you discover its own link available in App World let us know!

Need for Speed Shift >>

Torch 9810 vs Torch 9800: On Screen Keyboard Comparison

Mac Jadalhack — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0000

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is the second generation of the Torch 9800, based on the same form factor with changes mainly under the hood. On the exterior we see it appear in a nice silver finish with a silver gridded battery door rather than a rubber “ribbed” one. There’s a bunch to compare between the two, but I wanted to start out with the on screen keyboard and how much better the new 9810 one is versus the 9800. The old 9800 keyboard is pictured on the left, and the new 9810 keyboard on the right.

Speed of course plays a big factor. If your fingers moved fast enough, the 9800 couldn’t always keep up with what you were trying to type. The Torch 9810 is fast enough to keep up so you can type at ease as if it were a real physical keyboard.

The buttons on the 9810 appear to be a bit smaller, but don’t let that throw you off – it’s still better. By better I mean the device picks up every key you intend to type. I know many of the blogs aren’t getting so into the on screen keyboard since the majority prefers a real QWERTY keyboard rather than on screen, but it is an excellent alternative on the new Torch.

We also see some keys moved around. The symbol key has been moved to the lower left hand corner and gives you both numbers and symbols. The older 9800 keyboard gives you one for numbers with a few symbols and another key for all symbols.

So what’s in place for where the symbol key used to be? It’s now a dedicated key for just the period key. So where the period key used to be is now a comma key dedicated. This way you’ll have access to both the comma and period at any time.

The enter key is now all the way on the bottom right hand corner, where it used to be the capital (aA) button. The capital button is now where the old enter key was as seen in the screenshot. You still get two, one on each side directly parallel of each other.

Since the symbol key has been eliminated and merged with numbers, you get a key dedicated to languages instead now. If you only have one language installed, that key will change and become a question mark key. By then you’ll have a period button, comma button, and question button at ease, where you didn’t have all three before.

Over all, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 keyboard is far better than the original Torch 9800. It’s definitely a completely different experience with it with all the new features factored in, including the blazing fast 1.2GHz processor.

Hands On with Video Options in BlackBerry 7 OS

Mac Jadalhack — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:17:00 +0000

The BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and other OS 7 devices record video in awesome quality. For those who haven’t gotten their hands on an OS 7 device yet, I figured it would be nice to check out some options available such as video recording options. You can record videos in 720p HD, which is a huge improvement to see in a BlackBerry.

The options menu lets you customize how you want to record your videos. You get video light on/off which we had before, image stabilization, scene mode, and video format. In Scene Mode, you’ll see Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Closeup, and Beach. In OS 6, we had different settings for the camera depending on the scenery around you so it’s nice seeing available here. The auto feature works well, but if you want to play Mr Video Expert you can try the others as well. Then for video format, you can record in awesome HD which gives you 720p in 1280 x 720 resolution, then normal in 640 x 480 which is the BlackBerry Bold 9900’s screen resolution (varies by the device you’re using), then MMS Mode in 320 x 240 resolution.

When recording videos, the layout looks pretty much the same as OS 6 where you get the record button and flash next to it along with the timer on the far right.

By default OS 7 devices tend to be HD in the video recording menu. This may be obvious news to most of you, but if you’re trying to make clips you can send fast and easy on your BlackBerry, please make sure to lower the resolution, maybe to MMS Mode if you really have to. Also, image stabilization really helps. You’ll see a huge difference in video playback.

Video recording works great over all on the BlackBerry, and again it’s great to see RIM put in such high resolution support on their new devices. HD recording is nice, but make sure you have a big enough memory card to support large media. I averaged at about 100MB per minute for some HD clips I took so you’ get the idea.

Review: Dead Space for BlackBerry PlayBook

Mac Jadalhack — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Yesterday we let you know that Dead Space by EA Games has made its way to the BlackBerry PlayBook. It’s grown in popularity already on the Apple iPad, so it was nice to see EA match it up with PlayBook support. We didn’t get into the game play much when we let you know about it as we were excited to try out first hand. So here’s some screenshots of the game along with a video overview after the jump.

The controls in the game are really easy. You use your left thum to walk around forward, back, left, and right. Your right thumb is used to face/look different directions. Then when you want to use your unique weapons you’ can swipe up on the left side of the screen (with the saw). Other weapons require you to aim and tap the screen to shoot.

To get a real good idea of the game before grabbing a copy, check out the video below to see how it goes.

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

As I mentioned in our other post on the game, I’ve been playing Dead Space on and off via iPad and it’s been an awesome experience so far. I haven’t finished the game completely yet, but hopefully will some day. Wish there was a way to transfer saved game from iPad to PlayBook!

Dead Space is indeed a pretty scary game to play. I don’t care how brave or how old you are, those demons come out of nowhere and will skeeve you out a bit. If you’ve been waiting around for good 3D games to hit the BlackBerry PlayBook, especially after seeing the powerful Need for Speed from day one, then check out Dead Space for sure.

If you’re looking for a new adventure/action game, then Dead Space is good for you. As I said before, it is really spooky, but again lots of fun and challenging at the same time. It’s not offered free like Need for Speed, so don’t get high hopes. Then again it’s a quality game worthy of the $9.99 price tag for sure.

Dead Space for BlackBerry PlayBook >>

Review: Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case for BlackBerry PlayBook

Mac Jadalhack — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0000

There’s a wide variety of cases and covers for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Ballistic has provided cases for BlackBerry smartphones in the past and of course support the PlayBook too. For a few weeks I’ve been using the Tough Jacket case by Ballistic on my PlayBook. One thing you need to know about the Tough Jacket, is that it provides maximum protection for the PlayBook and does bulk it up quite a bit. Similar to OtterBox products, the Tough Jacket provides a three layer solution:

Layer 1 – Inner silicone layer absorbs shock
Layer 2 – Impact resistant hard plastic protects the BlackBerry PlayBook
Layer 3 – Shock Absorbent polymer layer

Since I started using my PlayBook, I’ve been using it raw dog (no covers or protection on it). Going to the Tough Jacket was a huge change since it’s a lot bulkier as seen in the images. After a while you get used to the size and accept that it really is protecting your tablet. The corners are equipped with extra rubber cushion which helps in the event of tragic incident when you drop it.

What I like most about it is that the outside layer is plastic. I have a problem using rubberized cases as they’re just not comfortable in hand. Some disagree and like rubber on the outside of their devices, but the plastic feels more natural.

Standing your PlayBook up on a table has never been easier. The kickstand is built into the front cover which comes off and gets clipped on the back of the PlayBook. I’ll admit that the kickstand is a bit of a pain to open up, but I guess that feature is there to avoid it from deploying on its own.

Charging your PlayBook tablet and accessing the media keys up top is still possible. For the charging ports on the bottom, you just have to flip open the rubber layer and plug your wires in that way. You can press the media keys up top right as you would without a case. No need to pop off any panels there. The touchscreen remains raw with no screen cover as some of these cases get a built in film to go over the screen. Some may like it because it gives you more protection, but it’s too much of a different feeling when you’re swiping around on the tablet.

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

Here’s a nice video showing the whole layer system for those looking for more of a virtual tour.

Overall if you’re looking for a case that will give you lots of protection for your BlackBerry PlayBook, you should definitely check out the Tough Jacket by Ballistic. It’s $69.99 to buy, and the price might drive away from it, but protection has its price tag.

Quick Review: Ascendo Money for BlackBerry

Ryan — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:00:13 +0000

I guess being able to control all your finances on your BlackBerry is a plus. Although you may not want to keep all the stress at your finger tips, you can manage your money better at least. Ascendo Money is an app that has been available for BlackBerry for years and seems popular too. Here’s some key features of the app:

Great password feature with recovery if you would forget!
Quick launch to add a transaction with ease.
Guidance to help to get you started
A online faq and user guide
You can set up as many different accounts as you want
Currency change allowed (good for me in UK)
You can set up direct bank connect (America)
Schedule transactions
Setup budgets and track them
Create reports from your BlackBerry and view charts

This is a full on program, you can even sync with your PC and have keep everything updated. you will be in more control of your finances as Ascendo Money can help you track your spending, stay within budgets, pay your bills on time and plot your course to financial freedom.

It cost $29.95 which i think is well worth the price taking into account what you get.

Below is a list of the full features of this application:

Create an unlimited number of accounts such as checking, savings, investments, retirement, credit cards, debit cards, etc.
Display the total of all accounts to determine your net worth.
Set currency, starting date and starting balance for each account.
Manage account registers to keep track of withdrawals and deposits.
Display running balance and ending balance for transaction register.
Record payee, date, amount, category, type, payment method, status, transaction number and memo for each transaction.
Set user-defined field to store check numbers, investment types or other important data for each transaction.
Automatically increment and display next check number when creating transactions in your checking account.
Use auto-complete to select a payee in as few as two clicks.
Automatically set default values for category, type, status and payment method based on the payee you select.
Access information quickly and intuitively using Roll & ScrollTM to move up and down the transaction list and horizontally across fields.
Customize how the transaction register is displayed by setting font size, font family, scrolling method, field ordering, field size and field alignment.
Create an unlimited number of categories such as automotive, clothing, meals, entertainment, utilities, etc. to classify transactions.
Split transactions over several categories.
Create an unlimited number of types such as personal expenses, business expenses, business incomes, etc. to further analyze your spending.
Set budgets for categories of expenditures.
Compare actual amount spent and percentage of budget for each category.
Schedule recurring transactions such as rent, car payment and salary deposits.
Select recurring transaction frequency to be daily, weekly, monthly, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, yearly.
Set number of occurrences or specify that recurring transaction has no ending date.
Make transfers from one account to another.
Generate numerous reports to show spending by payee, category, type, payment method and deposits versus withdrawals.
Display bar graphs and pie charts for spending by category, type, payee and payment method.
Reconcile accounts by setting account balance amounts & start dates.
Forecast balances at future dates to determine if scheduled transactions will overdraw your account.
Send account transactions by email in text delimited format so that you can import them into productivity applications like Excel.
Set over 20 options to determine screen layout, screen display, navigation, default currency and many more.
Set default date format for different international conventions.
ASCENDO MONEY DESKTOP (Included)
Synchronize financial information with Ascendo Money for BlackBerry.
Display accounts and registers in single view.
Show balances for all transactions, and cleared transactions.
Set budgets and track spending by category.
Schedule recurring transactions.
Reconcile account balances.
Forecast balances at future dates.
Import & Export in Quicken Interface Format (QIF) to exchange information with Intuit Quicken (Version 2008, 2004 & earlier), Microsoft Money and other personal financial managers.
Import & Export in Comma Separated Values (CSV) format to exchange information with Excel, Access, File Maker and other 3rd party applications.
Backup and Restore data files.
Vista Compatible.

I’ve played with one too many personal finance applications for BlackBerry and have found Ascendo Money to be one of the better ones. It’s nice to have the mobile interface along with the Ascendo Money Desktop Edition included as well so you can manage on your computer or BlackBerry at any time. Click the link below to check out more on Ascendo Money.

Check out Ascendo Money for BlackBerry >>

Overview of Foursquare with BBM 6 Integration

Jon Destouche — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:07 +0000

Ever since the launch of BBM 6 with itsSocial Platform and apps such as Foursquare (which has been upgraded to support RIM’s Social Platform), there has been a lot of talk of what it can do. Let’s take a look at foursquare with Social Platform. One of the many awesome features is:

First awesome and obvious feature is the ability to let your friends or family on BBM know where you are at. Your BBM contacts may not be on Foursquare, or have a Facebook or Twitter to know what you are doing. What a great way to let them know where you are and what you’re doing.

Also you have the ability to show off your badges in your profile. Right now it looks like it only allows three badges at a time to be displayed (maybe with a future update it will show all your badges). This is a great feature now you can really show off your badges with your friends.

You can also control your privacy settings with the foursquare app. Foursquare with Social Connect doesn’t post to your BBM without your permission. It confirms that you want to share with your BBM contacts, even after you select “share with BBM”

It’s a really great feature that RIM is rolling out, and it’s great to see how developers are making their apps (such as foursquare) to take advantage of their services. If you haven’t already you can download Foursquare here and if you haven’t downloaded the new BlackBerry Messenger, you can grab it here

Review: SoundID 510 Bluetooth Wireless Headset

Kal Chebli — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:00:26 +0000

With hundreds of Bluetooth headsets on the market, picking the wrong headset is a common mistake. It is not an easy choice cyphering through all the options to find the right headset for you. As far as Bluetooth headsets go, there is a newer and better solution day in and day out but one headset offers a feature another may not. One headset that seems to pack all the right punches without compromise is the Sound-ID 510. Sound-ID is one of those companies that are less heard of but have been around since the turn of the century. The company has developed headsets in the past but all with the dedication to their mission statement “combining deep knowledge of the human ear with cutting-edge Bluetooth technology and patented adaptive noise compensation techniques.” The company was founded by an Otologist which proves they have a dedicated to pursuit to delivering perfection in sound via Bluetooth. One of their latest products which we will deeply cover in this review is the Sound-ID 510.

This Bluetooth 2.0 headset has a sleek basic mainstream design with only one push button but that’s where the similarities end in comparison to other headsets. This headset is developed on the core idea of super sound quality which is customizable to each users taste. The headset comes packed with 3 sensitive microphones to eliminate wind and background noise from all ends of the call. With A2DP, you can stream music or navigation directions all without having to buy Bluetooth headphones. Comfort is important with a headset especially for those who wear it all day and this headset is designed for just that with multiple earplug and over ear options. High techies, this is what you’ve waited for; connect 2 devices simultaneously with Multipoint. Now you can steam music of you tablet and answer calls as they come in without switching Bluetooth devices. Keep your hands off your phone; voice prompts have never been more convenient. Aside from its amazing battery, 135 hour standby time and the 5 hour talk time, the key features are its USB connectivity and EarPrint Application which allows you to upgrade your firmware to keep current with the times and stay up to date with the latest add on features. Why buy a new headset when you can update your current one. This headset has so many features that there are some I don’t ever see myself using such as its Pass Thru Mode; this mode allows you to boost sounds passing thru working almost as an amplifier. Those with hearing difficulties or who indulge in eavesdropping may find it more useful than others.

With only one button you may ask yourself how it can be packed with numerous features and options but that’s where the touch sensitive panel comes in handy to pull the load. In a call or while streaming music, you can raise and lower volume by simply sliding your finger in the favored direction against the touch pad. The headset also allows you to mute or unmute a call by simply placing your finger on the touch sensor for 2 seconds. This feature is definitely convenient for those that take calls and step away from their phones. To reject a call without touching your phone, just hold the main button down for 2 seconds. Want to redial, hit the main button twice. The headset itself allows you to adjust and play with more features directly from the headset but a number of more advanced features can be controlled by the Sound ID application for the headset which you can download OTA to your BlackBerry.

Sound-ID’s EarPrint application is designed solely to integrate with your headset so the user can customize every feature they’d like. The application allows you to adjust the in call status indicator weather you prefer it on or off. Same goes as well for noise reduction. If you’d like to turn off noise reduction and use the headset natively, this lets you do that. That feature I don’t use that I spoke about before, Pass thru mode, can be enabled or disabled through this app. When enabled, you can decide whether you want the sound streaming in focused or full 360 degree surround sound amplification. Never worry about misplacing your headset again; with the Find My Headset feature, you can locate your headset if it is turned on and within range. Once activated, the headset LED will blink and the headset will start emitting multiple loud beeping sounds for 20 seconds at a time. The application has a built in sound level meter which will display the decibel level from a safe to dangerously loud range. The visual battery meter will come in handy when you’ve gone a day or two without charging it. When you do charge it, it will go from empty to full in less than 2.5 hours. The applications greatest user controlled option is the personal sound adjustment. While in a call or listing to music, you can drag the slider bar up down or left to right to adjust the sound quality you hear to your personalized comfort. You can have preferences saved for music as well as calls and if clarity is ever an issue, you can always readjust mid call. If you get too boggled down with all the settings options, you can always reset your headset and app to factory settings through the application. The application’s biggest flaw is load time and response time but I’m confident as more release’s come out, that issue will be resolved.

I made sure I used this headset for a substantial amount of time before putting up the review and one thing I can vouch for is call clarity and comfort. You know my type as soon as you see the headset in my ear all day every day. Believe it or not, this headset made a cameo in my driver license picture and it’s mainly because I find it so comfortable that it’s more convenient to keep it on than to reach in my pocket multiple times thought the day to answer calls. I’ve experimented with more headsets than I can count or try to remember but what’s important about this one is that is has the call clarity of the jawbone family and the comfort of the Plantronics ear gels. I couldn’t stand how uncomfortable the jawbone’s line was but loved the clarity and as for the other main contender in the market, it was the opposite for my Plantronics headsets. I loved their comfort but saw room for improvement in their noise canceling. This might be a brand name less heard of but for sure offers a cutting edge product for a slightly lower price than the top dogs on the market. You can pick this up for $129.99 but comes with a one year warranty and outstanding support. If you have one, please drop us a line and let us know what you think of the headset. If you are in the market for a different headset, let us know and well try to get a review up for it so you know your options before you buy.

Quick Review: Aqualux for BlackBerry PlayBook – Addicting, fun to play, and good graphics

Mac Jadalhack — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:30:12 +0000

I’m usually a sucker for “Top Purchased Apps” when it comes to application stores. That’s how I came across Aqualux which appeared to be high on the top purchased list in BlackBerry App World for PlayBook. Aqualux is really fun and addictive game where you have to get pipes together from start to end so that “aqua” (I don’t know why they don’t just call it water) can flow through. The game looks and sounds easier than it really is though.

There are different pipes that work differently. For example. Orange piping can’t be moved at all. Those are in place and must be worked around. Yellow piping can be switched with other yellow pipes around it. Then there’s the silver piping that can be rotated in different directions, but not moved around. I’m sure there’s more as the game goes on, but I’m only on level 10 at the moment. There’s lots of cool surprises in the game including portals where the aqua flows to it and out in another portal.

Although the game isn’t 3D, it has really good graphics and music goes really well with it. Something I’ve noticed about a lot of other PlayBook games and applications it’s that they seem so rushed. I know RIM had a special promotion of giving out free PlayBooks to developers who successfully submitted an app to App World, but I think RIM lowered the standard of apps way too much.

Any way, not to get off topic here, Aqualux was definitely done right, and you seriously forget your playing this game on a PlayBook. While playing this game, it felt like it was on an iPad or Android tablet, which some of you may think of it as an insult when in reality it’s a good thing. Let’s face it. Both Android and iOS do have great games that run way smoother than they do on BlackBerry. Seeing a game operate this smooth on a BlackBerry is something we’re very native too and are getting used to.

Game complaints? As I mentioned before, the game is overall great to play. What I wish they had though is a hint button where the game helps you on the next move. I’m not saying I get ditzy when it comes to the game, but sometimes you just want to move forward than get stuck for a few minutes. Perhaps we can see that happen in future updates.

At a price of $2.99, it’s very fair priced. There are games on App World for BlackBerry smartphones, not even PlayBook that will ring you up $4.99 and up, and might really not be worth it.

Check out Aqualux at BlackBerry App World >>

PocketBerry » Reviews

Review: PowerSkin for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 & 9780

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Hands On: Need for Speed Shift on the BlackBerry Torch 9810

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Torch 9810 vs Torch 9800: On Screen Keyboard Comparison

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Hands On with Video Options in BlackBerry 7 OS

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Review: Dead Space for BlackBerry PlayBook

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Review: Ballistic Tough Jacket Series Case for BlackBerry PlayBook

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Quick Review: Ascendo Money for BlackBerry

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Overview of Foursquare with BBM 6 Integration

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Review: SoundID 510 Bluetooth Wireless Headset

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Quick Review: Aqualux for BlackBerry PlayBook – Addicting, fun to play, and good graphics

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