Navigon iPhone 4S / 4 Car Holder with Charger

Navigon iPhone 4/4S Car Holder and Charger

I actually own a Navigon as my iPhone 4S car charger and what I personally like about it is its curved style.  It looks a lot more stylish than other car charger and dock combos, but does the job just as well.

This car holder can be stuck to your windscreen at the angle to suit you with the simple suction cup.  Therefore you can position it in a place on your windscreen which is not only safe but also comfortable to use.

When using the Navigon you can angle it so that your phone is in either a portrait or landscape view, which is great for when using the maps feature of your iPhone, or for plugging in phone chargers, FM transmitters and other accessories.

Using an accessory like the Navigon you still have all the features of your phone available but your phone is docked safely and securely whilst doing so.

The included car charger is a simple USB charger meaning you can use your own cable and it’s compatible with both cars and trucks.

USB Car Charger Adapter

USB Car Charger Adapter

The USB car charger adapter is in my eyes a staple accessory for any car.

Cheap and cheerful, this USB plug slots into the cigarette lighter and will charge any accessory via USB.  This means not only can you charge your phone, but you could charge a Kindle, hand held gaming system like the DS and even tablets.

This means that if you’re on a long journey, you can keep your passengers occupied without the fear of batteries running out and calls of ‘Are we there yet?’

Compatible with any USB cable, this charger can be used on its own or with a dock, making it multi-functional and essential.  The plug can hide away in your glove box when not in use but you’ll be glad it’s there when you run out of juice!

Genuine Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 Vehicle Dock

Genuine Samsung Galaxy S2 Vehicle Dock

The last dock and car charger on my list is the Genuine Samsung Galaxy S2 Vehicle Dock.  In a similar way to the Navigon it docks and charges your phone, so it’s a great Samsung Galaxy S2 car charger.

Being an official product, the perfect fit and compatibility is assured with this vehicle dock.  It clips your phone in place safely and securely ensuring that it won’t fall out if you take a corner too hard.

Like the Navigon it can be attached to your windscreen by a simple suction cup, meaning you can dock your phone safely and legally, at the most comfortable angle for you.  To add even more comfort you can view your phone in portrait or landscape, so again it’s great for SatNav apps.

The USB charger fits nicely into the phone and like all Samsung chargers keeps your phone fully juiced whilst you’re on the go.

Sleek and sophisticated, this is a great vehicle dock and charger for all S2 owners.

So that’s my top three; whether you agree or disagree let me know through the usual channels

What better way to celebrate than by getting a brand spanking new Blackberry case!  Here’s a few of our favourites.

Otterbox Defender for Blackberry Bold 9780

The first case is for the Blackberry Bold 9780 and is from the Otterbox range.  What’s great about Otterbox cases is that they provide three layers of protection: a thin thermal-formed cover for the screen and keys; a polycarbonate shell to protect the handset and a final silicone skin which absorbs shocks.

When combined this leads to the ultimate in protection , all whilst the Blackberry Bold 9780 case aims to remain as sleek and stylish as possible.

Otterbox for Blackberry Bold 9780

Dicota Hard Cover for Blackberry Curve 8520

The next case is for the popular Blackberry Curve 8520.  When the handset first arrived it was used primarily by business men but since then the BBM features have attracted a lot of teenagers to the handset.  The Dicota Blackberry Curve 8520 case is perfect for those teens who want a stylish yet sophisticated case.

Made from an impact resistant hard plastic, the Dicota hard cover snaps onto the back of you Blackberry and offers slim protection and a perfect fit.

One of the most fashionable blackberry curves cases, it offers protection from scratches and scrapes whilst giving you access to all the ports and features of the handset.  Even better the case offers extra grip to the handset to help you avoid those butterfingers moments.

Dicota Blackberry Curve Case

Samsonite Mobile Phone Holster

Samsonite are well known for their high quality luggage so when purchasing a Samsonite Blackberry Torch case you know that you’re getting a high quality product even without the ten year guarantee!

The case is made from genuine leather to add style and protection and it’s perfect for both work and socialising.   This Samsonite mobile phone holster will fit a lot of different phone models due to it’s size – Krusell also do a similar style case.

Being a holster style cover means that every inch of your handset is protected but in order to use the features and ports of your handset it must be removed from the case.

Samsonite Mobile Phone Holster

BlackBerry Presenter With Blackberry Mobile Phone

I was pleasantly surprised that RIM had taken the time to think about the design and styling of the Blackberry Presenter – its chrome and ebony detailing gives it a feeling of quality.  The seamless curves and chrome banding are only broken to reveal a VGA and SVHS output to connect to a projector or monitor, a PAL & NTSC switch for both European and North American compatibility and a USB port, which doubles to facilitate syncing with your Blackberry Presenter desktop application for software updates and also as a power source, as the BlackBerry Presenter does not have an internal battery.  Also included in the box is a quick set-up guide, leather pouch to transport your BlackBerry Presenter around in, a USB Data lead, and USB tipped power adaptor with the usual plethora of mains travel adaptors to plug in wherever your final destination may be in the World.

Setting up the Blackberry Presenter from out of the box is fairly straight forward and quick.  Just a visit to the BlackBerry website to download the desktop software for the computer and the Presenter software for my BlackBerry Torch and it is good to go.

Plug in the power lead and connect the BlackBerry presenter to the projector or monitor, then switch the Presenter on by pressing the LED button on the top, this should then illuminate red to indicate that it is on – a BlackBerry splash is displayed on the presentation screen.  You can then open an attachment from your email, however the PowerPoint presentation needs to be downloaded to the phone before the Presenter software will recognise it -  with this in mind, it might be a good idea to download the file in good time before the  presentation is scheduled to start otherwise your audience can be in for a lengthy delay.  Then choose ‘presenter’ from the options menu on your BlackBerry phone; the phone will attempt to connect via Bluetooth to the Presenter device – which has a range of up to 10 metres, but I found I could extend on that quite easily without encountering problems.  You will then be requested  to enter a pin number, which will be provided on the BlackBerry screen, it is also located on the base of the Presenter.  The LED on the Presenter goes from red to blue to confirm that a successful connection has been acquired, after which the first PowerPoint slide  displayed on your phone will appear on the presentation screen. Using the touch screen, qwerty keyboard or toggle button of the phone you can then navigate from slide to slide.

The Presenter application has some useful features such as being able to follow your speakernotes on the phone while your audience view the slide.  Also there is a feature whereby you can freeze a slide while you search through the presentation to choose another one, therefore allowing you to re-organise in real time the order of your slides.  Also you can regain the audience’s attention by using a ‘Blank Screen’ option which will present a solid blue screen.  Animations and slide transitions also work well.

Where the Presenter dissapoints is with it’s limited font support, so you may find that the original  fonts are not available and are automatically substituted for default ones.  Also the Presenter cannot show embedded videos and no sound is possible due to the lack of audio ports.

In conclusion, I find the BlackBerry Presenter can be a useful, portable, lightweight  accessory to have with you when travelling to business meetings whereby you might expect to provide a PowerPoint presentation to add a bit of punch to a pitch.  “It does what it says on the tin”  although for the price you can be forgiven to expect an internal battery, better font support, audio and video compatibility and a better phone application that allows seamless and speedy streaming of PowerPoint slides without the added hassle of downloading files to your phone or internal memory card.  If lugging a laptop across the city or country does not appeal,  then the BlackBerry Presenter provides a compromised but credible option.

The BlackBerry HS-500 has a brushed metal finish that’s similar to that found on current BlackBerry smart phones and incorporates the latest noise cancelling technology to make sure your calls are as clear as possible.

BlackBerry HS-500 Bluetooth Headset

The Features of the HS-500 include:

• Noise blackout technology with two noise cancellation microphones
• Multipoint technology lets you connect 2 devices at the same time
• Pair up to 8 devices – 2 at a time
• Crystal clear sound by advanced DSP (digital signal processing) technology
• Intelligent volume controls and audio shock protection
• Dual wearing style ear gel or flexible ear hook
• Dedicated on/off slide switch
• Micro USB Charging
• 6 Hours talk time
• 120 Hours stand by time

The BlackBerry HS-500 is expected into stock in the next few weeks and you can Pre-Order the BlackBerry HS-500 now for priority despatch and to avoid any disappointment.

Features, specification and release dates are subject to change

To confuse things a little, BlackBerry have recently started to give their handsets nicknames such as BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Storm & BlackBerry Bold. These names aren’t always the model number of your phone as there are currently 5 handsets that carry the name Pearl and 5 handsets that carry the name Curve. To get the right accessories for your BlackBerry you will also need to know the 4 digit model number that normally starts with an 8 or 9.

This short guide will show you a few quick and easy ways to work out which BlackBerry model you have.

Check your phone

BlackBerry 8300 Curve Rebadged by O2

This might seem like a really obvious thing to suggest, but most handsets will normally have their model number printed on the housing somewhere.  If you have bought your BlackBerry direct from your network, you may find that the model number has been replaced with the networks logo. If this is the case – try the next step:

Check the box

Model Number Printed on BlackBerry Box

Again, it might seem obvious, but if you’ve got the box to hand, look for a sticker with a series of barcodes on it – your model number will be printed on here.

Check on the Phone

Your model number can be seen on the 'About' Screen

All BlackBerry phones have an option in the settings menu to show you information on your phone. This is probably the quickest and easiest method of checking your model number.  From the main menu choose; OPTIONS -> ABOUT.  This will then show you your model number on the top line and information on the software running on your BlackBerry will be shown underneath.  To go back to the main screen from here, just press the back arrow 3 or 4 times.

Last Resort

Model number is printed on the IMEI label

If you can’t turn your phone on and you don’t have the box, there is one last way to find out the model number of your BlackBerry, and that is to remove the back cover and battery from your phone and look on the IMEI label.  The IMEI label is normally a white sticker with a couple of barcodes on it.  Your model number will be printed somewhere on this label.

I think I’m safe in saying that most people have, or have had a Hotmail account. Up until recently it was my main email account outside of work, but as I needed my own email while I was out and about, Hotmail lost its appeal as it was a web only email service and was only accessible by logging into the web/wap site on my phone – a slow and frustrating process.

Thankfully, Hotmail have now added POP3 support to their email services. For those that aren’t up to speed on email jargon, POP3 is a protocol that lets pretty much any email program send and receive email. So now it doesn’t matter whether you’re using your mobile, iPhone, BlackBerry, Mail on Ovi, Outlook, Thunderbird or any other email program, you can now get your email where ever you want!

To set up Hotmail on your phone or email application, these are the settings that you’ll need:

• POP Server: pop3.live.com (Port 995)
• POP SSL required: YES
• Username: Your windows live ID/Email Address (myname@hotmail.co.uk)
• Password: Your usual sign in password
• SMTP server: smtp.live.com (Port 25)
• Authentication Required: Yes (Same username and password as above)
• TLS/SSL required: Yes

If you’re not familiar with setting up email on your phone, most handset manufacturers can send the settings through for you. Just make sure you have all the information listed above to hand, and then click on your manufacturer below to go to their email set up wizards.

• Nokia
• Sony Ericsson
• Motorola

If your handset manufacturer isn’t listed here, this just means that they don’t have a settings wizard, so you’ll need to consult the user manual for your handset to find out how to set up your phone for email.

For BlackBerry handsets, please see our guide on Setting up BlackBerry Email.

iPhone users simply need to add a new account, enter your username and password and the rest of the settings will be downloaded for you.

If you have a Samsung handset (Tocco Ultra in particular) and are having problems configuring your email account, the settings are explained in detail on the Mobile Fun Forums

Fed up of cables trailing across your desk? Do you find yourself constantly crawling under your desk to find the end of your charger? Well this Wireless Charging Pad from WildCharge could be the answer that you’re looking for.

Wireless Charging has been floating around for a while, but never really taken off until now. WildCharge is a simple concept. You have a charging pad that is connected to the mains, and a protective skin for your phone that has built in contacts to supply the power to the battery. To charge your phone, simply place it on the pad. It doesn’t matter how your phone is placed on the pad, as long as its facing upwards. The pad is completely safe and can be touched with no risk of getting a shock.

Now, I have to admit I was a bit weary of wireless charging, but was extremely surprised at how well it works. As soon as your phone is placed on the pad it starts charging, and charge times are the about the same as they would be using a standard charger.

The WildCharge is available now for the BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve and is priced at £49.95. Replacement charging skins will be available to purchase separately, so when you replace your phone, you’ll only need to replace the skin. Wireless charging for the iPhone and iPod Touch are coming very soon.

Check out the Video below to see the WildCharge in action.

Without doubt, the most popular mobile email solution around at the moment is BlackBerry from Research In Motion (RIM). I’m sure you will have heard of them, but are probably wondering just what exactly do they do, how they work, and what’s the difference between them?

Are they easy to set up?
There are two different set-ups for BlackBerry Email, (BIS and BES) and this can cause some confusion.

BIS stands for BlackBerry Internet Service, and is what most of us would use to access our email. Setting up your email through BIS is extremely simple and is done either through your network providers website or through the handset. Once set up, BlackBerry email servers will check your existing email accounts for new messages and push them through to your device. BIS can be used by individuals, as well as companies large and small.

BES stands for BlackBerry Enterprise Server. BES is a more expensive option and is normally used by larger companies running email software such as Microsoft Exchange and requires BlackBerry software to be installed to the server and licenses obtained for each user. If you have been given a BlackBerry by your employer, there is every chance it will be running on BES. BES devices will have been set up by your IT department prior to you receiving the device. Depending on the security settings on your BlackBerry, you may also be able to add a BIS account so that you can access personal email on your BlackBerry as well. A word of warning though, this could breach your employers IT policy and get you into trouble, so its best to check with them first!

BlackBerry handsets used to be all about email, but not any more. Although email is still a very important part of a BlackBerry, its not their only feature. BlackBerry have realised that we want more from our phones than just basic functionality, and their range now has a handset that should suit just about everyone. They come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours, and can match, if not beat, the features of most phones made by Nokia and Sony Ericsson. Most BlackBerrys now feature a digital camera, music player, expandable memory and Sat Nav, eliminating the need to carry several devices around with you.

My personal favourite is the 8900 Curve, its small enough to carry in your pocket, but big enough to use easily and the Sat Nav works exceptionally well. There are currently 8 devices in the BlackBerry handset range. They range from the smaller BlackBerry Pearl, right through to the full touch screen BlackBerry Storm.

Here’s a quick summary of each of the handsets:

First time users, or people that aren’t quite sure about making the switch to BlackBerry should consider the BlackBerry Pearl. The BlackBerry Pearl is more of a cross-over device. It has all the standard BlackBerry features, but looks and feels more like a normal handset. The Pearl series have a "SureType" keypad. A cross between the standard keypad found on most phones and a full QWERTY keypad found on most BlackBerry’s.

BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is the original Pearl and has a 1.3MP Camera with flash, expandable memory and internet access.
BlackBerry Pearl 8110 has all the features of the 8100, but with the addition of built in GPS and a 2MP camera.
BlackBerry Pearl 8120 has all the features of the 8100, but with the addition of Wi-Fi for faster internet browsing and a 2MP Camera with Flash.

Not everyone that likes to email likes to carry round a big phone, BlackBerry knew this, hence the BlackBerry Pearl, but for some, even that was too bulky, so they have now introduced the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 . The specification of the phone is very similar to the BlackBerry Pearl 8210; 2MP Camera, Wi-Fi, Suretype keypad, expandable memory, but in a more compact flip design and with a newer version of the BlackBerry Menu System.

The BlackBerry Curve is the most popular range of BlackBerry handsets. They feature a full QWERTY keyboard, making typing much quicker. A larger screen than that on the Pearl makes reading emails and browsing the Internet much easier. If you use email regularly then the Curve is a good all round handset.

Blackberry Curve 8300 is the original Curve and has a 2MP Camera with flash, expandable memory and and high resolution light sensing screen.
Blackberry Curve 8310 has all the features of the 8300, but with the addition of a 2MP camera and built in GPS. The mapping software is subscription based.
Blackberry Curve 8310 Maps for Life Edition has no subscription costs for the mapping software.
Blackberry Curve 8320 has all the features of the 8300, but with the addition of Wi-Fi for faster internet browsing.

The BlackBerry 8800 is aimed at the business user. The 8800 has a longer life battery giving up to 22 days standby times. Built in GPS allows it to be used as a Sat Nav device (although there is an extra subscription cost for this). The 8800 is ideal for those that work in places where cameras are not allowed as there is no camera on the 8800.

The BlackBerry 8820 is an updated version of the 8800 and has the same specification, with the addition of Wi-Fi for faster internet access and support for Stereo Bluetooth and higher capacity memory cards.

 

BlackBerry’s first 3G device for a few years was the BlackBerry Bold. The Bold is a more advanced handset that will appeal to people that need their phone to do pretty much everything. The screen is a higher resolution than most other BlackBerry’s, making images and videos appear exceptionally clear. The Bold is one of two BlackBerry devices that support 3G, and gives download speeds of upto 3.6Mbps. The Bold can be used as a modem to connect your laptop to the internet. WordToGo software allows you to edit attachments, as well as view them. The MP3 player on the Bold is compatible with iTunes, making it easy to sync your music.

The BlackBerry 8900 Curve is the replacement for the original Curve series. It has both GPS and Wi-Fi, unlike the 8310 or 8320 which made you choose one or the other. The 8900 Curve is essentially the baby brother to the BlackBerry Bold. The only real missing feature is 3G, but BlackBerry devices have been running perfectly well without it for years, so unless you do a lot of internet browsing, the 8900 Curve is a better priced alternative. Screen resolution is the same as on the Bold, but the phone is smaller and lighter and is the first BlackBerry to feature a 3MP Camera.

With almost every new phone coming out now with a touchscreen, BlackBerry didn’t want to be left behind so they introduced the BlackBerry Storm. Its touchscreen interface is unique, as rather than being touch sensitive, the glass screen presses in. It’s something you need to see really as its not easy to explain! The device is (and we expect it to always be) exclusive to the Vodafone network, so no sim free version will be available. Featurewise, it has a high resolution screen, 3MP Camera, GPS, and 3G connectivity, but interestingly lacks Wi-Fi support, meaning that all your downloads will need to go through your mobile network, rather than your free home Wi-Fi network.

As touchscreen is new for BlackBerry, its getting some very mixed reviews, so if its one you’re considering, check out some reviews online first, and go and have a play in your local Vodafone store before comitting to a lengthy contract!

Genuine BlackBerry Cases

Genuine BlackBerry
Genuine BlackBerry cases are designed to compliment your BlackBerry, while keeping your phone as accessible as possible. BlackBerry are one of the only manufacturers who offer phone specific cases in a range of styles and colours – and the only manufacturer that offer silicone cases. Genuine BlackBerry cases range from Protective Skins to Executive Leather Pouches. BlackBerry Skins protect your device from knocks and scrapes, without adding any extra bulk to your phone while the leather cases add style to your BlackBerry and normally cover the whole device. Your BlackBerry can still be charged and synchronised with out having to be removed from the case thanks to cut outs in the case for chargers and data cables. The BlackBerry pouches are similar in design to the original pouch provided with the BlackBerry Curve. They protect the phone from everyday knocks and some some also feature the magnet that puts your BlackBerry into quiet mode when insterted into the case.

• Genuine BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry Pearl 8110 / 8120/ 8130 Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry Curve 8300 Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry Curve 8310 / 8320 Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry 8800 Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry Bold Cases
• Genuine BlackBerry Storm Cases

Piel Frama BlackBerry Cases

Piel Frama
The Piel Frama range of BlackBerry cases are hand made, with meticulous attention to detail. Every Piel Frama case is assembled by hand, to create designs that perfectly complement your BlackBerry. As with the Genuine BlackBerry cases, your BlackBerry can be charged and synchronised without having to be removed from the case thanks to cut outs in the leather. Each case has space for storing credit cards or business cards. All Piel Frama cases are a vertical flip design and have a removable belt clip.

• Piel Frama BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Cases
• Piel Frama BlackBerry Pearl 8110 / 8120 / 8130 Cases
• Piel Frama BlackBerry Curve 8300 / 8310 / 8320 Cases
• Piel Frama BlackBerry 8800 Cases

PDair BlackBerry Cases

PDair
PDair BlackBerry cases are Executive Leather cases that protect your phone and keep it looking stylish. PDair BlackBerry cases are available in a range of styles, including; Book Case, Sleeve Case and Flip Case. Most of the PDair BlackBerry cases have a magnetic sensor built in that activates the “In-Holster” profile settings. They have a secure belt clip that can be easily removed if not required and have cut outs in the leather to allow your BlackBerry to be charged or connected to your PC with out having to be taken out of the case.

• PDair BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Cases
• PDair BlackBerry Pearl 8110 / 8120 / 8130 Cases
• PDair BlackBerry Curve 8300 / 8310 / 8320 Cases
• PDair BlackBerry 8800 Cases
• PDair BlackBerry Bold Cases
• PDair BlackBerry Storm Cases

Krusell BlackBerry Cases

Krusell
Krusell BlackBerry cases are designed for the everyday user. Krusell’s “cabriolet” design leaves the keyboard open, making typing much easier, and the open top allows for quick removal of your BlackBerry device. Krusell cases are also compatible with the Multidapt range of holders – a unique interchangeable clip stystem. Learn more about Multidapt.

• Krusell BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Cases
• Krusell BlackBerry Pearl 8110 / 8120/ 8130 Cases
• Krusell BlackBerry Curve 8300 / 8310 / 8320 Cases
• Krusell BlackBerry 8800 Cases
• Krusell BlackBerry Bold Cases
• Krusell BlackBerry Storm Cases