Archive for September 4th, 2009

BlackBerry Bold Mobile Phone Review – Connect With the Ultimate BlackBerry

You may be more used to thinking of the BlackBerry as the mobile phone for business users, but you might have to change that opinion.  BlackBerry has entered the competition for smart phones for the general consumer market, with its own range of phones and applications for download.

Despite being very popular in the United States the BlackBerry didn’t take off in quite the same way in the United Kingdom, but with the development of new applications and a new customer focus perhaps BlackBerry will begin to change this history.  It may even become as popular in the UK as in the States.  However, it does have one heck of a challenge, not only from the Apple iPhone but also from other manufacturers, including big names like Nokia and Samsung, entering the smart phone and application market.

The BlackBerry Bold is certainly a feature rich phone with a responsive touch screen that can be used by anyone.  The stylish design and easy to use QWERTY keypad make using the phone a pleasure.  Many phones have buttons that are too small to be practical when trying to type, unless you have the smallest fingers, but the Bold phone makes this a thing of the past.  The chrome styling adds a touch of class and quality to the build of the phone, and certainly makes it an eye-catching and desirable design.

When it comes to connection options you can choose from WiFi, USB, GPS and Bluetooth, with both 3G and HSDPA connectivity.  These features work well and you may be surprised at how quickly you can get things done using this phone, but believe it, this is a classy piece of merchandise and the browser even works well on this model.  The battery life is also quite impressive for this type of phone, as the case included in the sale package helps to save battery power by automatically shutting off the screen and buttons.

Now for the problems – if you want a great camera then you won’t want the BlackBerry Bold, but to be honest none of the smart phones really offer much in the way of camera excellence, so you’re probably not placing that at the top of your list of priorities.  The other issue is the applications available for download and the support for them, however I’m sure this will only improve with time.

So overall, would I recommend the BlackBerry Bold?  The simple answer is yes, but for a longer answer I would say do your research and decide what features and support are most important to you and then choose the most appropriate smart phone.

BlackBerry Applications – What Software Developers Need to Know

If you’re going to be writing applications for the BlackBerry platform there are a few things you need to know before you get started.  We have put together a list of some things you might find useful when you start developing your applications.

All software needs to be written for Java Micro Edition as this is the support for the platform.

You will need to learn the specific APIs for BlackBerry devices

Test your application on the simulator available in BlackBerry’s Java Development Environment, which can be downloaded for free.

Understand the entire BlackBerry infrastructure, from the APIs to the Enterprise Server and the Internet Service before you go too far with your programming.  The more you understand about all elements of the software platform the easier you will find it to develop your application.  It’s easier to write something in the right way to start with than to have to go through your entire work and correct items that need debugging.

Finally, test your app on the real thing – this is the only way you’ll know it works the way you want it to.  Simulators are all very well, but the real thing will show up any differences between what you want and what appears on the downloaded app.

Whatever you choose to do there is plenty of room out there for your ideas; the world of downloadable apps is still relatively new and as long as you have created something that people want, or don’t yet realize they want but won’t be able to live without once they have it, you should be on to a winner.  But don’t be fooled, it isn’t easy!

Apple iPhone 3G Review

The Apple iPhone is quite a special entertainment and communication module, styled in an up to date and fresh way.  It combines the functions of a music and video player, with internet access and a GPS device.  On top of that you can roll in a camera and the ability to download apps and play games at the touch of a button….oh yes, and you can make phone calls on it too!  The quick to respond touch screen functions make it a user-friendly format which even those with chunky fingers can use to easily type.

The ability to download one of millions of apps straight to your phone also adds to the overall appeal of this unit.  The apps feature provides you with access to a wide range of facilities at the touch of a button, like the latest sports results, or the ability to gamble online.
When it comes to managing your contacts and e-mails you can’t beat the ease of use of the Apple iPhone – you can manage everything seamlessly through the wireless synching available.  And if you’re lucky enough to find a WiFi hotspot near where you are you can also connect to the internet for free!

With good battery life and a handy pocket size the Apple iPhone really is the gadget of choice for anyone wanting to stay on touch with the world, wherever they are, and could almost be considered as an essential requirement for any business user.
As you can probably tell from the above review that I really do rate the iPhone, but to be clear about this I do mean the latest greatest 3G version, which addresses many of the functions that were missing from the previous offering.  I look forward to seeing what the future developments on this phone will encompass.

Apple iPhone – The Best Business Mobile?

When it comes to the new Apple iPhone 3G I have to say I was impressed by the ease of use, speed of response to inputs, and feeling of control.  When trying to move back to my previous phone I found that I missed several features just in normal use, let alone all the additional functions that the iPhone had allowed me.  The size of the keypad on this phone is one of the features that makes it so much more user-friendly, especially when it is turned to landscape as opposed to portrait size.

Some of the great features available are a simple to use GPS facility which you can use to track your movements, spot locations, provide direction, and pinpoint photographs taken on route; inbuilt Wifi functionality that allows you to easily connect to the internet at hotspots and in the office, without having to log on to another computer or spend money on vast fees; and of course the app store – how could you fail to be impressed with this – the array of downloads available is already outstanding let alone when more and more businesses develop their own iPhone apps.

For any business wanting to keep pace with current technology and keep stepping forward in the world of online commercial opportunities then the Apple iPhone itself has to be an essential requirement.  The development of apps suitable for each business are also going to prove to be the difference between those businesses that grow and succeed and those that fail to thrive.  All in all the Apple iPhone can surely be recommended as the best business mobile currently on the market.