For the latest model in the 9000 series, a highly improved version with a faster processor, added memory is being touted. On the outside, the Bold 9700 is slimmer and has a more functional trackpad. The 9700 will run OS 5.0.

Here is a list of tech specs for the Bold 9700:

- 3.2 MP Camera
- 2.44 inch display
- 624 Mhz processor
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Optical trackpad

There has been no word of pricing, or carriers who will offer the phone.

The Slick Budget Option Blackberry Curve 8520

What business users really want is a phone that doesn’t break our bank accounts, just the right affordable price, and with what we need for daily use. For business users, that’s access to mail and applications. It lacks the 3G functions and also GPS so if this is a real boggle for you, look at the more expensive Blackberry Storm.

So, what can you look forward to?

1. A simple and attractive design

2. Fits easily in your hand

3. Optical track pad button

4. Dedicated controls for multimedia

5. Wi-Fi useful for business people connecting to corporate networks

6. Fast Internet browsing

Apple users will relish the fact that it’s compatible with Apple computers. This budget choice was being offered on Amazon for just a penny during its launch. That was with a contract. What you are looking at here is a less expensive model as compared to the Storm and other models like the 8900 yet with the required functions expected of a blackberry phone.

The screen resolution reaches 320 x 240 and as stated it’s cheaper than the Storm or Bold models so don’t expect the video or images to be as sharp. The battery operates at a much reduced capacity too with less than 7 hours as compared to other models. In contrast, you will notice if you previously had an older model that the messaging functions are all intact. These functions match what is expected on the Storm model.

If you are a business user, then you will probably be making use of calendars. The 8520 has a very well structured calendar for large amounts of appointments to be recorded.

It’s good to know that there is a budget option. Since we are in economical times, it might even persuade companies to invest more in blackberry setups within their networks. It’s a great economical choice for the busy corporate user. The setup is easy to start browsing or calling over Wi-Fi.

If you are a first time blackberry business user, this is a great entrance into the world of blackberry.

The kit consists of the tools Plazmic Theme Builder and Plazmic Composer. The Plazmic Composer interface will be immediately familiar to anyone with some design experience. It utilizes the same layers and object catalogs as seen in Photoshop for example. Web designers will love the tool’s ability to weave interactive web pages for viewing in the blackberry browser, plus the vector and animation tools. Designers will also appreciate how it can create banners and embed web links.

The software which is free, can be downloaded here. It allows you to create your own themes, animated themes too, and splash screens. It also comes with a simulator that will test your work before you send it to your phone. It comes with a lot of samples that you can easily customize.

There are some known issues and you should check the site, though generally it’s ok. Some blackberry models like the 8700 may need the installation of the plazmic reader before the kit can work. Your latest install of Windows 7 may have the reader pre-installed, check with your vendor. This is the only software you need as the kit is a suite of tools for facilitating multimedia content.

Of course, most of us will be happy to just download the many freely available blackberry themes. What the kit offers you is the ability to create a set of themes and graphics that is personal to your phone, not used by anyone else; of course, if your theme is that good, you could consider allowing people to download it from your site.

Plazmic software is becoming ubiquitous. It is being seen as a useful add-on to the standard blackberry interface. The software creates the designs and does not require too steep a learning curve. Multimedia developers will love the tool. It’s a new challenge moving from the web to multimedia production for the phone.

Plazmic software is currently for the PC. If you wish to create your own themes and customize your blackberry phone to your heart’s desire, give the kit a whirl and see what graphical content you can weave together.

Verizon, in a strategic marketing maneuver, cut the price for the popular RIM Blackberry Storm. The device now costs $99 (with a two-year customer agreement), down from $200. Launched as an iPhone competitor, the Blackberry Storm’s price drop is a move designed to detract from the AT&T/Apple price cut early in the summer. Now, the Blackberry price matches the price of the new iPhone 3GS.

Blackberry used the Storm to display a variety of new components, including a more multimedia-friendly interface (including the 3.5mm headphone jack), along with on-board Flickr and Facebook versions. The device, like the new iPhone 3GS has a camera, a nice high-res display (360 x 480), and, of course, the touchscreen. To keep pace, RIM threw in the Bluetooth, expandable memory, a GPS, and its own version of downloading apps on the go, called the Blackberry App World.

It’s a great phone, but critics dislike the feel of the touchscreen. Further, many users found a very disagreeable software problem on their new Blackberry Storms. Others complained about the slow speed, fast charge drain, phone quality, and a variegated rash of other gripes.

Despite the downers, RIM is making a new Storm. Storm 2 will be bigger and better. For one, the software is going to get a ground-up fix, and the frustration-inducing touchscreen should also feel a little bit better. Beyond that, reports on the phone are kept close to the vest of RIM execs and engineers. More news will be forthcoming as the holiday 2009 launch date creeps closer.

Almost a quarter of the many millions of cell phones sold in 2008 were smartphones. So, it’s no surprise that consumer demand has influenced the arrival of so many applications for smartphones. For one example, Skype has been added to the platforms on both the Blackberry and iPhone cell phone clients.

The mobile application market is set to add that extra ray of sunshine for both phone models. It’s about flexibility and what the consumer needs to be able to access each day: checking emails, watching videos, browsing the web, networking on facebook or just updating a blog. The cell phone application market is exploding with innovations such as Wizi, a social web application that allows users to know the locations of their friends for an example in the social community arena.

The smartphones emerging just improve with each model whether it’s a blackberry or an iPhone. In the end, it’s the practical usage required by the consumer that decides which model is best.

Both are practical devices whether for business or personal use. Here are 10 points to consider before you decide on your flashy smartphone:

1.      The Blackberry models are best suited to those whom use email for business purposes on a regular basis. The iPhone with its multimedia capabilities is more suitable for regular consumers whom like browsing the web, and listening to music with access to the iTunes store.

2.      The iPhone has a much more ergonomic design and a more intuitive user interface. For example, web browsing is very simple via the user-friendly controls.

3.      The iPhone has an in-built YouTube application.

4.      The Blackberry models lack Wi-Fi ability whereas the iphone has Wi-Fi to compliment its GPRS and super-3G connections. Both models allow users to download Skype. Though, at present, it only supports Wi-Fi.

5.      The iphone has touchscreen functionality with easy sifting from one menu button to another. The Blackberry Bold has the standard push-button keyboard.

6.      The Blackberry best suits email users whom need to type quickly on a standard keyboard layout with a QWERTY layout as with computers. The preference to have a keyboard will lean the blackberry more towards business users whom need familiar access to mail on the road each day.

7.      Both phones have SAT-NAV ability with Google maps though the iPhone does not have traffic information or the real-time directions that people are accustomed to gaining via a SAT-NAV system.

8.      The Blackberry Storm model camera can record video whereas video recording is not a function of the iphone.

9.      The Blackberry Bold and Storm models have greater storage capacity locally whereas the iPhone 3G relies on remote server storage.

10.  The Blackberry Storm model has a faster processor than previous models and so downloading attachments is a lot faster than the iphone.

Perhaps this list will enable you to make an informed choice as to which phone suits your needs best. List your reasons for purchasing a Smartphone and look carefully at what you will gain from its functions. This practical approach will set you in the right direction.

Everything I’ve read on it, along with this video shows we might have something special in our midst. doubleTwist is a program that works much like iTunes. In fact it looks just like iTunes to an extent. You can connect almost any mobile device to your Mac, to transfer files. It comes with a built-in converter, so you can just drag and drop your files with ease. The coolest feature the program looks to offer, is the ability to send pictures from your device directly to flickr, Facebook, or friends and family.

doubleTwist is in beta form right now, so they’re are probably going to be bugs to work out. Also, as of now there is only a version for Mac users. Hopefully, they’re working on a Windows version to release later. With everything that it promises, it definitely looks to be worth a shot. Watch the video below for more details.

If you are interested, here is the download page for doubleTwist.

For those who are a little rough on their phones, i.e having them drop out of your pocket, or dropping them in a urinal at a bar while trying to talk to someone (no personal story there), know that Otterbox has got you covered. Literally, and pun somewhat intended. I ran across a video of Otterbox’s display at CES. I did some investigating, and found some new cases for some of the more recent handsets on the market.

The first featured case, and my favorite is the iPhone 3G Defender Case. After attaching it to your iPhone, it looks like a tank, but provides that much needed protection against drops. My favorite thing about this case, is the protective screen that comes built into it, so you don’t have to worry about fiddling around with other screen protectors.

The case comes with two protective layers, the first being the hard shell polycarbonate skeleton. Then under that is the silicone skin to absorb shock from drops, and bumps.

The case is a bit on the pricey side at $49.95. You are definitely getting what you pay for though, and not having to go through the hassle of applying a screen protector is enough to justify it for me.

The next case for the Blackberry Storm, Blackberry Storm Defender, looks a little more slim than the iPhone case. It provides the same protection. It keeps the same protective specs as the iPhone case as well.

What’s so great about the Otterbox cases, in particular for the Blackberry Storm is the accessibility of the ports. All of the phone’s physical features, and ports are accessible while encased with the Defender.

You’re looking at the same price of $49.95 as well.

The BlackBerry Curve Push to Talk Defender Case will provide all of the said features above, while allowing quality microphone, and speaker quality for the push-to-talk feature.

As an added bonus, the Blackberry Curve Defender Case also comes with a ratcheting belt clip. Again, like the other two Defender cases, this one will run you $49.95

Something else you might want to check out at Otterbox is their ‘Choose Pink’ campaign. 10% of all the Choose Pink purchases will go to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

A new leaked version of BlackBerry Storm OS has been found online. This time the new OS 4.7.0.90 is said to be the best yet by some users online. While this still is not an official release you may want to check it out anyways. Rumor has it the OS is overall faster, camera seems to work a little better and seems like it even frees up a bit of on-board memory. All I can say is make sure you do a backup before installing this new OS. If you need help installing the OS click here. After I check I install it I’ll share my findings as well.

Download OS 4.7.0.90 for BlackBerry Storm 9500 >

Download OS 4.7.0.90 for BlackBerry Storm 9530 >

Via BBS

Get Metal! It’s a great, simple, quality, user-friendly theme. With vivid pictures its pretty dang clear what each one does. A nice touch with this one is the color choice where the icons stand out from the rest of the UI with nice color (gotta see this on the phone to appreciate it). Also, newer BlackBerrys(9000 and 8200) have a scrolling homescreen while the others have a moving focus box!The theme is available for all of the latest models,- 8300, 8800, 8100, 8200 and 9000 exclusively at elecite.com

Following the BlackBerry Developer Conference back in October, I followed up with an in-depth interview with RIM’s VP of Global Alliances Jeff McDowell where we talked RIM’s App Center and upcoming App Store (if you’re confused between the two be sure to check out this article and press release).

With the BlackBerry app store initially targeted to launch in March, it’s nice to see it appears RIM is on track as they have JUST OPENED up a new site allowing BlackBerry Developers to submit their apps for inclusion in the upcoming app store! If you’re a BlackBerry Developer, this is your chance to get to the front of the line. Hurry Up! We heard from some of those involved in beta testing the submission process that it’s pretty streamlined and smooth, so be sure to report back in the comments and let us know that is in fact the case.

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