Sabtu, 06 Agustus 2011

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community


Review: Rivet Leather Folio for BlackBerry Playbook

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 12:57 PM PDT

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Web Site: Rivet

Price: $79.90

Rivet has recently released their Leather Folio for Blackberry Playbook and they were very kind to send us a review unit. The black leather case fits snuggly to the Playbook and provides decent protection with access to all the buttons.
 Packaging:

The unit comes in a cardboard box that is nearly twice the size of the unit, with no instructions. When I pointed this to Rivet acknowledged both issues and they are working on it. To get the unit to the market quickly, they used their existing boxes for iPad folio. It is a good thing their shipping company is not charging by volume, rather by weight.

Usage:

The Playbook fits in snugly into the case. It is very lightweight and does not add too much to bulk to the unit. Initially the lid was bending slightly upwards, at the line where you fold it to make it a stand. The lid takes around a week to stretch and fit perfectly. So when you get the case and use it for the first time just give it some time.

While the case protects most of the Playbook, there is weak spots I found. First one would be at the back of the unit, where there is an opening for the camera:

The opening is great for using the camera while Playbook is still in the case, but I believe it is too big and makes the back/camera vulnerable to drops/spills.

The second part is the top of the Playbook. This really is tough spot to cover though, as the case has to leave spots open for microphones, headset jack and other buttons. At least the corners are fully covered. The corners are most prone to damages.

Other than these minor issues, the case works great. The lid stays in place with the aid of a red elastic band. You can quickly slide the band, fold the lid to the back and your Playbook is ready to use. The lid also can be folded near half ways to convert into a useful stand. This can be quite handy when you are watching your favorite show.

The ports on the bottom of the Playbook are accessible only when the lid is folded back. For my daily use, this never presented an issue.

The case is bit pricier than some others. However, Rivet has used high quality leather for their case, it feels great, it is built to last and it will keep your Playbook protected. There's a soft interior lining and the outer shell is made using rigid plastic. When all these are combined, it gives a great protection against shock and other types of damage, while keeping the bulk to minimum. The Playbook looks great and stylish in Rivet Leather Folio as well.

Overall, I love the Rivet Leather Folio for Playbook. It is stylish, lightweight and offers great protection. Highly recommended.

Pros:

Lightweight

High quality leather

Case doubles as a stand

Cons:

Camera can be susceptible to damage.

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Posted by Remzi Turer for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 3:57 pm. | Review: Rivet Leather Folio for BlackBerry Playbook | Leave a comment |


Which Carrier Will Sell the BlackBerry Bold 9900 first?

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:54 AM PDT

BlackBerry 7 Lineup

There is rampant speculation going on about release dates for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930. Its a pretty sure thing that some carrier in North America or internationally will launch the Bold 9900 before the Torch 9810 or 9850/9860 launch. The whole situation sort of reminds me of the BlackBerry Bold 9000 launch which came out in Canada before the US though thankfully this time it is not an AT&T exclusive.

So I thought we could have some fun placing gentlemen’s bets on who gets the 9900 out first. My bet is sadly on Rogers though I wish it was AT&T or Verizon.

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 1:54 pm. | Which Carrier Will Sell the BlackBerry Bold 9900 first? | 7 comments |


Devs: BlackBerry PlayBook NDK Beta Coming to Beta Zone Soon?

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 08:34 AM PDT

BlackBerry PlayBook ndk public beta screen

It looks like developers waiting for RIM to release the BlackBerry PlayBook QNX Tablet Native Development Kit (NDK) won’t have much longer to wait. According to BBNews.pl the public beta of the NDK will be opening up soon but we don’t have an exact date. It looks like you will be able to apply to participate in the beta through the Beta Zone so keep an eye out over there.

The NDK is a huge deal for developers since the PlayBook QNX is POSIX Compliant which means quite a bit of code and even full apps can be ported easily. It also gives developers a whole lot more power than the Flash or WebWorks SDK’s. At the beginning this will be mostly for games and high end apps but once RIM releases a UI framework manager things should get really interesting.

Keep an eye out on the PlayBook development landing page for more details

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 11:34 am. | Devs: BlackBerry PlayBook NDK Beta Coming to Beta Zone Soon? | 8 comments |


BlackBerry Curve 9360 Also Sporting Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 08:16 AM PDT

BlackBerry Curve 9360 Packing Wifi Hotspot

One of the features RIM has been very coy about in BlackBerry 7 has been the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. We saw it pop up in documentation and even devices before but all the devices RIM has been showing off don’t have it featured. They also seem to be glossing over mentioning it on any of the devices they have announced. We are pretty sure that it is coming to the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9810, 9850, and 9860 but RIM has not confirmed it as far as I have seen.

BlackBerry Curve 9360 Packing Wifi Hotspot 2

That is what makes it interesting to see the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot feature show up on the lower end BlackBerry Curve 9380. As you can see in the pictures the feature is there and alive. I am sure RIM is going to find a way to make sure carriers get paid extra for you to use the feature but I think it would be a huge boon for PlayBook users. It would simply allow you to tether to your BlackBerry using Wi-Fi though I am curious what it will do to battery life.

I know quite a few of you are waiting for RIM to release such a feature. Let us know why!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 11:16 am. | BlackBerry Curve 9360 Also Sporting Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot | 5 comments |


External speakers: Getting quality sound out of small devices, a review of the Bowers & Wilkins MM1 and the Jawbone Jambox

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 08:15 AM PDT

Whatever device you have, chances are, your stock speakers are underpowered and underwhelming. Speaker quality simply isn’t a high priority on cutting edge devices because typical consumers value portability and size over sound quality and bass; and unlike a display, that can be made both high quality and small (think Retina display, Super AMOLED), speakers can’t be made smaller without sacrificing quality and volume.  But external speakers give you the best of both worlds–they let you rely on small, portable internal speakers when portability is a primary concern, and let you plug in to some power when you have an itch for some bass.  Read on to find out more about two of the best options out there, the feature heavy and super portable Jawbone Jambox and the ear-meltingly awesome Bowers & Wilkins MM1 powered computer speakers.


Setting expectations: Readers of my prior hardware reviews know that I like to set realistic expectations before jumping in, often asking “does the device deliver on its promise?” Surprisingly, the marketing teams for both Jawbone and B&W paint an accurate picture of what to expect right on the box.
  • Jawbone Jambox: The front of the box has a  fun 80′s art style boombox painted on the front. Like a boombox, the Jambox is a portable source of big bassy sound; but unlike the boombox of yesteryear, the Jambox is ultra portable–the size of two candybars–and supports modern bluetooth connections.
  • Bowers and Wilkins (“B&W”) MM1: The front cover of the MM1 box promises elegance–a glossy photo of the black and chrome MM-1 speakers connected to a similarly black and chrome iMac.  And that is exactly what you get with the B&W MM1, the design is thoughtful–the materials are high-class and the speakers feel substantial–and the sound is broad and precise–having a full range, but with crisp delivery at each interval.
Photo Jul 29, 7 50 06 PM Photo Jul 18, 12 12 22 AM Photo Jul 18, 12 13 50 AM Photo Jul 26, 11 08 31 PM Photo Jul 29, 9 30 25 AM Photo Jul 29, 8 04 33 PM Photo Jul 29, 8 00 17 PM Photo Jul 30, 11 57 40 AM Photo Jul 30, 11 55 45 AM Photo Jul 29, 7 58 40 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 57 00 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 53 46 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 52 28 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 55 18 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 56 03 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 25 05 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 26 31 PM Photo Jul 29, 7 46 18 PM Photo Jul 18, 12 00 29 AM Photo Jul 17, 11 58 07 PM Photo Jul 18, 12 08 53 AM Photo Jul 18, 12 06 31 AM Photo Jul 18, 12 07 12 AM Photo Jul 31, 10 04 39 PM

 

What you came for–the Sound:The clarity of the sound that you are going to get from your speaker is going to be directly dependent on the size of the driver (the cone-like structure in the speaker).  A larger driver produces deeper sounds best, while a smaller driver produces higher sounds best. The larger B&W MM1 speakers are big enough for have larger and smaller drivers for distinct deep and high sounds.  The Jambox compensates for its small drivers by using a new system of producing deep bass–a flat structure called a moving-wall passive bass radiator.

  • Jambox: Like an 80s boombox, the Jambox can deliver on volume and pump out some impressive bass for its size. In testing, the Jambox’s volume power was good enough to be heard in a large room and in an outdoor setting.  Pure volume power is important with the Jambox because it is a portable device and you are going to lose volume when in open spaces. I used to have this problem all the time when trying to play music in my beat up old convertible; no matter how loud I turned up the volume when the top was down, the music seemed to get lost in the wind. Beyond volume, the Jambox’s sound quality is impressive for its size.  The Jambox uses stereo acoustic drivers for a fuller sound and a proprietary moving-wall passive bass radiator to get an impressive amount of bass out of such a small package.
  • B&W MM1: The sound that emanates from the MM1 speakers is unparalleled, it is the difference between hearing and feeling sound–like an orgasm in your ear (eargasm?).  When I tested the MM1 speakers connected to my television, it felt like  a completely new experience: I watched the opening credits to Law & Order Los Angeles and realized how bassy and moving  they were; I watched an episode of How I Met Your Mother and the dialogue between the characters sounded alive; and when I watched the music video-esque movie “Sucker Punch” it was like I was literally in another world (the music plays a crucial part in the plot of the movie, but more importantly, the trance-like musical tracks put the viewer in a state that coincides with the plot–really an out of the world experience). When I tested the MM1s connected to my BB Playbook to listen to music, I could hear instruments and rhythms that I didn’t before know existed in the track: I tested a song with deep bass and pointed highs–Bjork’s “Army of me”–and the MM1 speakers reproduced the spectrum of sound clearly and distinctly; and I tested a song with a variety of instruments–the Across the Universe cover of the Beatles’ “Blackbird”–and I could hear a myriad of instruments distinctly (guitar, flute, drums, harmonica etc.)
Features: 
  • Jambox: Because the Jambox was meant to be portable, a lot of its design is mobile focused.
    • The Jambox base is rubberized so it will stay in place in constantly changing and different environments.
    • The Jambox supports wireless A2DP Bluetooth connections and, while included and available, doesn’t require cord carrying.
    • A neat collapsible carrying case is included.
    • Some devices allow the user to monitor the battery of the Jambox from the phone or tablet.
    • To keep pairing simple, the Jambox has a user friendly voice guide that walks you through the steps and also gives status updates.
  • B&W MM1: Because the B&W MM1 speaker are stationary, many of its features revolve around providing quality music. But the B&W MM1s are designed with subtle features that make its use simple and clean as well.
    • The MM1 speaker housing is made out of premium materials–spun aluminum and black cloth.
    • Portions of the band around the right speaker function as power and volume buttons.
    • The underside of the speaker has notches for wire management.
    • A digital signal processor is built in so music can processed in real-time.
    • Connections: 3.5mm analog mini-jack or USB connection.
    • Ergonomic remote. (*it is worth noting that I can’t seem to get the battery cover to stop falling off)
Final Notes: The Jambox is $179.99 on Amazon. It is stylish, ultra-portable and bluetooth capable, making it the ultimate travel companion for your device.  It will give you sound that is a hundred times better than anything you can get out of your phone or tablet speakers and will even throw in some bass too. With that said, the B&W MM1′s are really the ultimate showstopper in the home or office setting.  The sound is a million times better than anything any of your current speakers will produce.  That is why, not surprisingly, they go for $499.95 on Amazon. While I can’t tell you if these prices are worth it for you, I can tell you that if you do decide to pick one of these up, your ears will not regret it.
*Note: Jawbone and B&W provided test units for this review

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Posted by David for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 11:15 am. | External speakers: Getting quality sound out of small devices, a review of the Bowers & Wilkins MM1 and the Jawbone Jambox | 4 comments |


BlackBerry Curve 9360 Has NFC Built In? (Pictures)

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 06:49 AM PDT

BlackBerry Curve 9360 Packing NFC

We mentioned when RIM announced the BlackBerry Torch 9810 & 9850/9860 that we were surprised they did not have NFC built in like the Bold 9900 and 9930. We just assumed that meant that previous reports of the BlackBerry Curve 9360 packing NFC were also incorrect. One of our new tipsters did some sleuthing and found that the BlackBerry Curve 9360 actually HAS NFC according to its OS. Odd right?

BlackBerry Curve 9360 Packing NFC 2 BlackBerry Curve 9360 Packing NFC 3 

As you can see in these pictures the BlackBerry Curve 9360 reports back that it has NFC along with the same options as the Bold 9900. Also notice the little NFC lightning bolt style icons in the picture above. The main oddity is that it does not have the NFC antenna in the battery door like the Bold 9900. I am not sure what to make of that. Let us know what you think!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 9:49 am. | BlackBerry Curve 9360 Has NFC Built In? (Pictures) | 6 comments |


BlackBerry App World 3.0 Now In Beta Zone!

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 06:23 AM PDT

blackberry-app-world-3-1

The time has come for BlackBerry App World 3.0 to start its public beta. RIM let us know that the download is now available for BlackBerry smartphone users in the Beta Zone. It has a slick new look and now splits out Apps, Games, and Themes. Check out all the new features below and in the announcement blog post.

New features include:

blackberry-app-world-3-3 blackberry-app-world-3-2

  • Sleek New Design - The BlackBerry App World experience has been enhanced to help users discover the latest and greatest apps and content, starting right on the BlackBerry App World home screen where rotating spotlight banners show off all that's new and exciting.
  • New Channels - Apps, Games, and Themes now have their own channels so users can get to what they want even faster.
  • Introduction of My Account - My Account makes managing BBID and payment options easy with direct access to all account information from the home screen.
  • New My World Features - My World gives users a streamlined view of their apps and status, and now at a glance, in addition to seeing which apps are installed and uninstalled, users can manage subscription content and services. When new updates or subscription renewals are available for apps, users will be notified using push technology.
  • App Social Sharing – When a user finds an app they can't live without, they can share it directly from the app details screen through BBM, Facebook, Twitter, email and SMS
  • Evolved App Details Screen - At a glance, users can get a quick summary, check out reviews and star ratings, take a look at screen shots, and more
  • More Search Options - Quickly find apps with a Search Bar now appearing on the storefront home screen and search results are presented across Channels as well as My World. Search Bars are also within each Channel and users have the ability to filter by App Name, Price, Rating, Newest, Best Match, or Popular

You can pick up the new version of App World in the Beta Zone at www.blackberry.com/betazone

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 9:23 am. | BlackBerry App World 3.0 Now In Beta Zone! | 3 comments |


ZonaSnap Screenshot App Adds BBM 6 Integration

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 06:12 AM PDT

354556 354550 

I was waiting for this app update to drop and Javier from ZonaBlackBerry let me know it is public. ZonaSnap is my favorite BlackBerry screenshot app and it just got better. Back in OS 5 it used to be able to send screenshots over BBM but that was unavailable in OS 6. Now thanks to the new BBM Social Platform you can once again send screenshots to BBM contacts.

New Features include:

  • Added integration with BBM 6 for send the capture to BBM Contacts
  • Added new feature for Edit the Capture
  • Fixed the blurry in some water marks
  • Added new feature for Get the License from the Menu in the Register Screen

You can pick up ZonaSnap for $1.99 in App World with a 30 day free trial

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 9:12 am. | ZonaSnap Screenshot App Adds BBM 6 Integration | One comment |


BlackBerry Torch 9860 & Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.296 Found Online

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 05:58 AM PDT

imageLast of the leaks for this morning is a newer OS for the Torch 9860 but an older one (compared to .303) for the 9900. We now have OS 7.0.0.296 leaked thanks to N4BB. Not much most people can do with this OS but if you guys are looking for one of these prerelease devices let us know.

You can pick up OS 7.0.0.296 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 @ fileserve.com

You can pick up OS 7.0.0.296 for the BlackBerry Torch 9860 @ fileserve.com

Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above and is not an official release.If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide.Don't forget to delete the vendor.xml file located in c:program files>common files>research in motion>apploader to install it on a different carriers device. Don't forget our usual warnings: do not download and install these updates if you don't know what you're doing. Incorrect procedure or just bad luck could render your BlackBerry inoperative or unstable.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 8:58 am. | BlackBerry Torch 9860 & Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.296 Found Online | Leave a comment |


BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.303 Found Online

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 05:54 AM PDT

imageThe leaked OS fun continues with the BlackBerry Bold 9900. We now have OS 7.0.0.303 available thanks to N4BB. Not much most people can do with this OS but if you guys are looking for one of these prerelease devices let us know.

You can pick up OS 7.0.0.303 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 @ fileserve.com

Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above and is not an official release.If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide.Don't forget to delete the vendor.xml file located in c:program files>common files>research in motion>apploader to install it on a different carriers device. Don't forget our usual warnings: do not download and install these updates if you don't know what you're doing. Incorrect procedure or just bad luck could render your BlackBerry inoperative or unstable.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 8:54 am. | BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.303 Found Online | 2 comments |


Unannounced BlackBerry Curve 9360 OS 7.0.0.244 Found Online

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 05:51 AM PDT

imageThe unreleased devices keep on getting OS updates but now we have unannounced devices getting them at the same time. Ashley pointed out that the BlackBerry Curve 9360 now has OS 7.0.0.244 available. Not much most people can do with this OS but if you guys are looking for one of these prerelease devices let us know.

You can pick up OS 7.0.0.224 for the BlackBerry Curve 9360 @ fileserve.com

Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above and is not an official release.If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide.Don't forget to delete the vendor.xml file located in c:program files>common files>research in motion>apploader to install it on a different carriers device. Don't forget our usual warnings: do not download and install these updates if you don't know what you're doing. Incorrect procedure or just bad luck could render your BlackBerry inoperative or unstable.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:


Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, August 5, 2011, 8:51 am. | Unannounced BlackBerry Curve 9360 OS 7.0.0.244 Found Online | Leave a comment |


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