Mobile Fun Blog

5 of the Best BlackBerry Pearl 3G Accessories

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

The original BlackBerry Pearl was a great phone to introduce you to the world of BlackBerry. It was great for getting new users more familiar with the BlackBerry messaging services and menu system, without having a fully qwerty keyboard, although the suretype keyboard did take some getting used to. The original Pearl only ran on 2G technology, which back then wasn’t too much of an issue because using the internet on your phone back then wasn’t anywhere near as important or popular as it is today.

The updated version – the BlackBerry Pearl 3G – is a massive improvement over the original Pearl. It has fast internet access, a simplified keyboard layout that’s more in-line with standard mobile phones and a sleeker, smoother menu system.

The Pearl 3G has also had a few cosmetic changes, the trackball that gave the Pearl it’s name is gone, replaced with an optical trackpad. The charging and headphone ports have both been changed to the standard Micro USB and 3.5mm ports respectively. The phone is also a slightly different size. They’re all relatively small changes, but they’re significant enough to mean that most of the accessories that you bought for the original BlackBerry Pearl won’t fit the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G.

If you’ve recently upgraded, here are 5 must have BlackBerry Pearl 3G accessories:

BlackBerry Car Charger – Micro USB

Battery life is pretty good on the Pearl 3G, but it could be better. As with all smartphones a car charger is a worthwhile investment. As I mentioned earlier, the BlackBerry Pearl 3G uses a different charger to some of the older BlackBerry devices so double check to make sure you order the right one. The genuine BlackBerry MicroUSB Car charger will work in both 12v and 24v vehicles (Cars, Lorries and Trucks).

BlackBerry Car Charger - Micro USB

MFX Screen Protector – BlackBerry Pearl 3G

The last thing that you’re going to want to do to the screen of your Pearl 3G is scratch it and these screen protectors from MFX are a great way to keep your screen looking like new. They can be removed easily and don’t leave any stick residue behind. They also come with a cleaning cloth to help you keep your phone looking it’s best.

MFX Screen Protector - BlackBerry Pearl 3G

BlackBerry VisorMount Speakerphone VM-605

Another accessory from BlackBerry that works brilliantly with the Pearl 3G is the VM605 Car Kit. Just clip it to your car’s sun visor, turn it on, and you’re ready to start making and taking hands-free calls on the go. It supports voice activated dialling, caller ID and verbal notifications to let you know who’s calling. If you use your Pearl 3G as your MP3 player you can listen to your music through your car stereo using the FM transmitter that’s built into the VM605. It can be used to broadcast audio from your calls, music and sat nav through your car stereo without having to connect any wires. It comes with a Micro USB charger, the same as you’ll need to charge your phone, so you won’t need to buy a separate car charger.

BlackBerry VisorMount Speakerphone VM-605

MicroSDHC Card – 16GB

If you want to store your music, photos and videos on your Pearl 3G you’ll need to increase its memory as it only has a tiny amount of internal storage – just 256MB. BlackBerry do include a 2GB memory card to get you started, but this will soon fill up so one of the first purchases you will need to make is a memory card. The Pearl 3G supports Micro SDHC memory cards up to 32GB in size. 16GB is enough to store up to 14000 high quality photos, 3000 songs and 18 hours of video. Memory Cards are currently available in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB.

MicroSDHC Card - 16GB

BlackBerry Pearl 3G Series Leather Pocket

This is one of the nicest looking pouches for the Pearl 3G. It’s made from a textured leather and features a chrome BlackBerry logo on the front that really compliments the look of the phone. The inside of the case is a fairly soft fabric that won’t scratch or damage your phone. The front and back of the case are reinforced to help protect your phone. When not in use the case folds flat, making it easy to carry around in the back pocket of your jeans. The case supports the BlackBerry holster settings and will put your phone to sleep every time it’s inserted into the case.

BlackBerry Pearl 3G Series Leather Pocket

These are just a few of the many BlackBerry Pearl 3G Cases, car kits and chargers that are available. To see the full range, head over to our BlackBerry Pearl 3G Accessories page.

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HTC Desire HD & HTC Desire Z available to order now!

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Yesterday, HTC announced that two new handsets were going to join the Desire family – the Desire HD and the Desire Z.

Rumours of both of these handsets have been floating around for a while, but they’re finally official and we can’t wait to get our hands on them!  In case you missed yesterday’s announcement, here’s a quick summary on each of the phones.

HTC Desire HD

The Desire HD is the phone that Android lovers have been waiting for. It has everything the original Desire has, along with a few upgrades – the most noticeable is the screen and camera. The screen is now a massive 4.3 inches and it makes browsing the internet and watching movies even better. The camera has been bumped up to 8MP and can record video in HD (720p) – hence the name.

Sim Free HTC Desire HD

It runs on Android 2.2  and uses the latest version of HTC’s Sense user interface. I’ve put a quick summary of the main features below and you can find full details and pricing info on the Sim Free HTC Desire HD page.

• 8 MP, autofocus, Dual LED flash
• TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours
• Display Size: 480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches
• H.264/H.263/MPEG4 player
• 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
• Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Bluetooth: v2.1 with A2DP
• Micro USB
• 3.5 mm Jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Android OS, v2.2
• Card slot microSD (TransFlash) up to 32GB

HTC Desire Z

The Desire Z is much closer in spec to the original Desire, but with one major change – it has a full slide out QWERTY keyboard – something you don’t find on many Android phones. Thinking about it I can only think of a few others that had this – the original T-Mobile G1, the Motorola Milestone and the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro.  The HTC Desire Z has a slightly slower processor than the original Desire, but initial reviews say that the 800mhz processor is more than adequate. The camera is 5MP with LED flash and is also capable of recording video in HD (720p).

Sim Free HTC Desire Z

Again, the Desire Z runs on Android 2.2 with the latest version of the Sense UI. I’ve put brief details below, for more details and pricing information, click through to the Sim Free HTC Desire Z page.

• 5 MP, autofocus, LED flash
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colours
• Display Size: 480 x 800 pixels, 3.7 inches
• Optical Trackpad
• 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
• Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Micro USB
• 3.5 mm Jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Android OS, v2.2
• Card slot microSD (TransFlash) up to 32GB

Both handsets are due for release on the 8th of October and are available to pre-order now. Initial stocks will be limited so get your order in as soon as you can to avoid any disappointment! As always, we’ve got a range of Desire HD Accessories and Desire Z Accessories available to order now, including Desire HD Cases and Desire Z Cases.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Coming Soon: Galaxy Tab Accessories

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

It’s been rumoured for months, but it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Tab is going to be released in the next few weeks. We’ve been working hard on securing a range of accessories for the next ‘must have’ gadget and I thought I’d take a few minutes to highlight some of the great new accessories that are going to be available for the first Android powered Tablet. All the accessories below are available to pre-order now, with stock due in the next couple of weeks.

If you’re planning on getting one, here are a few Galaxy Tab Accessories that you’ll want to go with it.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Keyboard Dock

Typing on a capacitive touch screen is incredibly easy, but if you are often sending long emails or writing out documents, it can get a little frustrating. This dock features a full sized qwerty keyboard that will allow you to type fast and more accurately.

On the back of the dock you’ll find all the connections you need to connect your Galaxy Tab to speakers, power or your computer.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Keyboard Dock

Samsung Galaxy Tab Screen Protector

Given it’s size, it’s unlikely that you’ll be carrying this around in your pocket! It’s more likely to spend its time in your bag with all the other stuff you carry around with you. It’s got a toughened screen, but it will still scratch. For what they cost, a screen protector is a worthwhile investment. They stick to the screen of your device without any glue and can be removed easily if and when they do get scratched.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Screen Protector

Samsung Galaxy Tab Multimedia Desk Dock

If you’re going to store photos and video on your Galaxy Tab, you’ll want a way of being able to show them to all your friends. You can of course just pass the Tab around, but why not show them off on your HD TV? The Multimedia desk dock for the Galaxy Tab has a built in HDMI port which lets you connect it to your TV quickly and easily. Just sit your Tab in the dock, sit back and enjoy photo slideshows and all your favourite videos on your full size TV.

The back of the dock also has ports for your charger and speakers.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Multimedia Desk Dock

Samsung Galaxy Tab Tech 21 Leather Case/Stand

If you’ve ever taken a look at the iPad and some of the accessories that are available for it then this case will no doubt look a little familiar!  The idea behind it is very similar to the case for the iPad. It’s not only a case, but also a stand that can be used at a choice of angles, depending on what you’re doing. The shallow angle is ideal for typing, where as the upright position is great for watching back photo slideshows and videos. When your Tab is not in use, the case does a great job of keeping it protected against knocks and scrapes, although I’d still recommend using it with a screen protector.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Tech 21 Leather Case/Stand

Samsung Galaxy Tab TV-Out Cable

If you want to be able to view your media back on your TV but don’t have a HD TV, then this is the cable that you’ll need. It plugs into the standard ports on the back of most TV’s and allows you to view everything from your Tab on your TV. It’s a cheaper option to the Multimedia dock, and as it’s so much smaller it’s easy to carry around with you.

Samsung Galaxy Tab TV-Out Cable

That’s just a small sample of some of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Accessories that we’re expecting in the next few weeks. Head over to the main site to see the full range of Galaxy Tab Cases and accessories.

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Introducing Gradwell Mobile

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

We’re always on the look out for new and exciting mobile technology so when we saw the latest offering from Gradwell Mobile, we thought it was worth sharing on here.

Now, Gradwell’s services won’t appeal to everyone as they only offer services to business, but if your company uses a PBX system, or relies on both landlines and mobiles to get things done, then I’d take a look at what they can offer you.

A lot of companies already use a PBX or telephone system, which is great for transferring calls all around your office building, but what if you’re not always in your office or don’t want to commit to long line rental contracts if you’re always moving about?

That’s where Gradwell come in. They can offer the same services that you’d get from a fixed line phone system, but using just your mobile phone and your PC and without long and expensive contracts.

I’ve been able to play with their system for a few days now and I’m surprised at how simple it is. My previous dealings with PBX systems has often left me confused, but even though there’s a lot to take in, the service I tried from Gradwell was far easier to use than you’d think. If you’re new to telephone systems or haven’t used them before don’t worry, I’ll try to keep this as simple as possible.

How does it work?

With a standard telephone system it can be quite costly to set up. You need some fairly expensive equipment installed in your office, along with a number of phone lines and the phones themselves. You then need an engineer to come out and program it all to get it working how you want it. Most systems are limited to fixed line numbers on the same network too, although more expensive systems can allow you to transfer calls to other locations.

With Gradwell’s solution, you don’t need any expensive equipment other than your PC and a 3G mobile phone. You can invest in a physical desktop phone if you want, but you can use a free PC application to handles your calls. You don’t need an engineer to visit either. The whole system is managed through a straight forward and easy to use website. Once you’re logged in, you can control the order in which the phones ring,  specify times for the phones to ring, set up queuing, set and record voice prompts and IVR, upload music for hold and much more.

The service works in two parts, a VoIP service and a Mobile Service.

VoIP isn’t really anything new – it’s been around for a few years but complicated set up and confusion over which devices will work with it have made the take up of the service relatively low. That’s all starting to change though and VoIP is looking like a very strong alternative to standard voice calls.

The Mobile Service is what really makes this stand out though. It’s new and very different to that provided by the likes of O2, Vodafone, 3, Orange and T-Mobile. All your calls are routed through your virtual phone system over the mobile network – acting in pretty much the same way as it would if it were an ordinary landline plugged into the wall. This means that you can promote just one phone number and fully control where that call is routed.

With Gradwell Mobile you can have a geographical number (01,02,03) as your mobile number rather than a traditional mobile number that starts 07. Any calls and texts that you send will then appear as if they have come from a landline number.

Benefits

There are so many different types of business that can benefit from this service, for example, a company employing home workers or people that work on the road all day could provide each employee with a mobile for their calls. All outgoing calls would have the main switch board number as their caller ID. Anyone calling the back on the main landline number could then choose from an IVR who they wanted to speak to and be routed through to them quickly and easily. This would give the appearance of everyone being in one office. Calls could also be routed to the user’s PC running a VoIP client.

Why would you switch?

That’s exactly what I asked when I was first given this to review, but having spent time with it, I can see exactly why this would be a better, cheaper option for a lot of businesses. The package I’m using is £18 per month (ex VAT), that gives me up to ten extensions – these can be Mobile phones (with the Gradwell Sim Card) , PC’s with a VoIP client installed, VoIP deskphones or a Smartphone with a SIP client (such as Fring) installed. Calls aren’t included, but calling rates are much cheaper than those charged by the mobile networks.

Recommended Handsets for Gradwell Mobile

To get started, you’ll need to sort yourself out with a Hosted PBX service from Gradwell, and if you want the flexibility of being able to divert calls to your mobile without having to use a third party VoIP application, you’ll need a Gradwell Mobile Sim and a compatible sim free 3G phone – Nokia E Series and BlackBerry handsets are ideal.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Quick Look: Dell Streak Cases

Monday, September 13th, 2010

The Dell Streak has been out for a few months now and is proving to be quite popular. While it’s never going to take off like the iPhone, it’s still attracting quite a following. It’s large 5 inch capacitive touch screen makes it perfect for email and browsing the internet, while the 16GB of internal storage make it a great choice as a portable media player.

As a result of having such a large screen, finding a case that fits the phone is a little tricky  - very few manufacturers cater for a handset this size, so for that reason we’d recommend sticking to one of the original Dell Streak Cases.

There are currently just two to choose from, a stylish leather case and a more durable hard plastic case.

Dell Streak Wallet Case – Black

This case looks great, of the two available, this is definitely the more stylish of the two. It’s a fairly simply book style case that’s made from a high grade leather with a soft, suede-like lining with a hinged, black plastic holder to keep your Streak in place. On the underside of the holder is a fold out kickstand that supports the phone at an angle that is great for watching videos.  The Dell Streak has expandable memory, so to help you keep track of where your memory cards are, there are two small pockets stitched into the lining of the case.

Dell Streak Wallet Case - Black

The only thing that’s a little quirky with this case is how it stays shut. Unlike most other cases that use a magnet or press stud, this uses an elasticated loop to keep it all in place. I found this to be a bit fiddly to keep removing and adds to the amount of time it takes to get to the phone when it’s ringing. You’ll get used to it, but it’s not the best way that Dell could have secured the case.

Dell Streak Form Fit Case – Smoke

It’s not too clear from the photo’s how this fits on to your phone, but it’s actually a clip on cover that protects the back and sides of your Dell Streak. It’s got all the necessary cut outs for the camera, speakers and volume keys and memory card ports. You can still dock your Streak with the case fitted, as the bottom inch is hinged and folds back out of the way, allowing you to charge it or place it on the dock without too much hassle.

Dell Streak Form Fit Case - Smoke

The form fit case doesn’t cover the screen, so Dell have included a high quality screen protector to keep your screen looking at its best.

There aren’t many Dell Streak cases available yet, but if you’ve seen one that you think is worth a mention, let us know using the comments form below. While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the main site to see what other Dell Streak Accessories are available.

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