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Roughnecks Eat Your Heart Out! Here’s A Phone Built For You
Jun 21st
As the cell phone market evolves, handset manufacturers are all realizing one key element: people aren’t gentle with their phones anymore. Sure, iPhones and Blackberries look good in the hand and are efficient when juggling a busy life, but let’s face it, they can’t really take a tumble. Plus, when working in a less than practical environment, aesthetics mean nothing. It’s about durability.
Rogers and Telus have been battling in this “rugged” territory for years now, with Telus launching the ever popular push-to-talk Mike devices (many years ago when they were clearNET) and Rogers following suit a few years later with both the Motorola Xtreme and Samsung Rugby. Fast forward to 2010, neither company has really put much effort into that segment anymore. With the introduction of the “Otterbox” series of cases (designed to house most high-end phones safely and securely) manufacturers rely on third party case makers to protect their inventions.
Say hello to the new “tough guy” in town, the Sonim XP3 Enduro, available unlocked from Best Buy Mobile for a not too shabby price of $449.99, allowing you to bring this GSM bad boy to either Rogers or Fido contract-free. So go have fun, get your $500 worth.
To buy it via Best Buy online click here.
Full specs after the break.
Product Features
On the outside, the XP3 Enduro features a durable shell that meets the Rugged Performance Standard which makes it ideal for extreme environments, so it’s designed to stand up to just about anything. And on the inside, it’s home to must-have phone features that ensure you’ll stay connected even in the worst of conditions.
- Hardened rubber mold ensures a strong, durable casing that’s resistant to water/liquid and impact
- Can withstand a drop from 2 metres high to concrete
- Vibration protection from 5Hz to 500Hz
- A non-porous casing blocks the entry of micro-particles like dirt and dust
- Operates in extreme temps from -20C to +60C
- A shock-resistant screen features anti-glare protection
- Extra-wide keypad buttons tested to 500,000 pushes
- Built-in torch, extra long battery life with up to 18 hours talk time and up to 1500 hours standby time
- Extra-loud speakers for use in noisy environments and omni-directional microphone
- Bluetooth (1.2) with DUN, OPP, SPP, HSP, HFP support
- Dedicated alarm button to send alarm message to PoC server
- WAP support and SMS capacity up to 1000 messages
- 7 soft keys / 10 programmable short-cuts
- 2.5mm headset port and mini USB for charging
- PC synching, phonebook synch with Outlook, calendar, to-do list, FM radio, multimedia manager, supports several languages
- Includes belt clip, USB cable, wall charger, and earbuds
iBooks Available Now, Many Apps Updating
Jun 21st
The official release of iBooks is available now for download, get it here. In my quick look, it’s super smooth. Definitely blows GoodReader out of the water for PDF support. Animations are smooth, and effective. Like the iPad version, the application has hardware control over the brightness (cheaters). Chapter selection on PDFs does not appear to work, it goes by page instead. Bookmark syncing, notes, highlights and searches (on words) are all fully functional…, except in PDFs. I can’t seem to get it to work there. Don’t forget that Winnie-the-Pooh is free!
Also pouring in are iOS 4 enabled applications. Many simply getting fast app switching (which is just like multitasking for apps that don’t “do anything” like WordPress), but others getting legitimate multitasking capability as well. Engadget has a preliminary list here. Ars Technica has a massive, seven page epic on the new operating system for those that have some free time.
iOS Multitasking Works Exactly How It’s Supposed To
Jun 21st
File this under: duh. Pandora updated their famous radio streaming app and has added multitasking capabilities. I checked it out, flawless. The iPod button in the control section of the multitask bar (are there names for these things?) turns into a Pandora one…, neat right? Naturally, music continues to play. Subtle touches like that make Apple’s implementation of multitasking an interesting one for sure. Of course, some other smartphone owners see this as nothing new, but this is a big deal for Apple people (like a Pandora controlling widget on the homescreen make’s the Pandora button seem trite). As more apps become available, believe that I’ll have a few more things to say, including a full “review” of sorts.
Reminder: iOS 4 Drops Today
Jun 21st
Plug in your iDevices and mash that update button. The update apparently has come through for some, but not all. Patience everyone. As far as I know, no multitasking enabled apps are in the store - or none that I use. Unfortunately we’ll have to wait on developers for that. On a personal note, I hope iBooks drops today as well. If you’re a little anxious waiting for it, you can read the sneak peeks. MobileCrunch has some info too.
This Week In BlackBerry 6/13 - 6/19
Jun 19th
I’m glad to see that some of TheCellularGuru readers and our in-house writer GuruJustin, took advantage of the Verizon free Bold 9650 upgrade! Keep in mind, all BlackBerry devices have a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. As long as you don’t have excessive drop or water damage, you can have your device replaced if there is a hardware issue. It is very rare for a carrier to be out of stock on current replacement devices when they are ALL less than a year old, but lest call this a lucky loophole.
Dealing with tech support is never fun, but to get an upgraded device for free, makes it all worth it. A lot of Tour users have dealt with enough issues that they deserve the Bold 9650 for their troubles. Some people have purchased a Tour in the last couple of months and should not have to wait another year to get an upgrade when their 2 month old Tour is already outdated. I have no idea how much longer you Tour users will be able to take advantage of this, but it doesn’t hurt to try. If you happen to get a free upgrade this weekend, please drop a comment so we know this is still live! Hit the jump to see what else you may have missed this week in BlackBerry.
Verizon Upgrading Plagued Tours To Bold 9650′s For Free! Act Now!
6 New BlackBerry Devices Coming In Q3/Q4 2010?
Rogers Pricing Update Coming For Blackberry Bold 9700
BlackBerry App World 2.0 Coming Soon, What It Should Have Been All Along
Tell RIM How You BBM For A Chance To Win $5,000
iPhone Tips and Tricks: Installing Themes on Your Jailbroken iDevice
Jun 18th
Screenshot of Winterboards Main Page
One of the neatest things about having a Jailbroken Apple device is the ability to customize and personalize it. Cydia boasts a large amount of themes available to do just that. There are themes just for your lockscreen, graphical wallpapers, or “complete themes” that will change the entire user experience including the lockscreen, the wallpaper and the application icons. If you’re a fan of uniformity I would highly suggest using the complete themes.
Themes are a fun and simple way to make your unit an extension of your personality, mood, or even style. Cydia offers what seems to be hundreds of themes ranging from Sport Teams and Vehicle’s to Cartoons and Brand Name Clothing. The collections offered are quite amazing. Searching through the myriad of themes available is the most difficult part.
In order for your device to run themes, an app called Winterboard will need to be downloaded from Cydia. This application works as a settings protocol and manages the various themes you download.
Let’s get started.
-Open Cydia, and wait for all the packages and sources to load. This can sometimes take up to a couple of minutes.
-At the bottom left of your screen you’ll see a Search icon, click on it and enter into the search field Winterboard.
-Once it appears in the screen click on it. Another screen will appear with an “Install” button that is located on the top right corner of your screen. This will open the confirmation screen, with a confirm button also in the top right corner of your screen.
-Click it and wait for the magic to happen.
To find “Complete Themes” Click on the “Sections Icon” at the bottom of your screen and scroll down until you find it. You can scroll through the list of themes alphabetically. Screen shots are available nine times out of ten. They’re usually made available for review under the “More Information” link or the “ScreenShots” link.
When you find a theme that you’d like to download just follow the same steps you used to download and install Winterboard. When you’re ready to get your theme on, open Winterboard and click on the Select Themes Button and turn on the theme you’d like to have on your device. Hit your home key and wait for the device to respring (equivalent to a restart). Once your device lockscreen appears your theme is installed and running.
Happy customizing.
Blackberry 9700 OS 5.0.0.743 Made Official by Rogers Wireless
Jun 17th
It has been a while since we posted on a Blackberry OS becoming official for ANY carrier let alone for our hometown hero Rogers, but it has been so long since an official update has been made that I felt that this one deserved some attention. I have been using .743 since it leaked just over a week ago and for the most part have been impressed with the stability and battery life compared to the past builds. With the device dropping today to just $99.99 on a 3 year and a fresh build to load up on it, there shouldn’t be much stopping you from Blackberry happiness. Load it up and let us know what you think in the comments.
Download official 5.0.0.743 via Rogers
Follow me on twitterTell RIM How You BBM For A Chance To Win $5,000
Jun 15th
RIM is running a nice contest for BlackBerry users in the US & Canada. In order to enter, RIM is asking you for a picture or video, and a description of how you use BBM. Anyone who visits the contest site can view and vote for your entry which is how you can become a high scoring entry. RIM will choose from the highest scoring entries. The top prize is $5,000 with two $1,000 prizes for the runners-up. There are also 26 other small prizes to be given away. Some of the entries are pretty random and there’s only 134 entries so far so the odds are still very good. The contest runs until July 15th, and you can view the details below or click on over to the contest site.
Sponsor: BlackBerry®
Campaign Title: How Do You BBM?™
Rules: Click here to see complete campaign rules and regulations
Duration: June 1, 2024 12:00 AM (PT) - July 13, 2024 11:30 PM (PT)
Description: You love what you do on BlackBerry® Messenger, and we want to hear about it. Whether you use BBM™ software to share stories and photos with your friends, make plans with your BBM group, or just stay in touch with your inner circle – tell us how it’s a part of your life. Share how you use BlackBerry® Messenger with us and you could win $5,000.
Rewards:
- Grand Prize: One winner, selected from the top 25 highest scoring entries, will receive $5,000 to share an experience with their BBM group, or do whatever else they can dream up with the cash.
- Runners-Up: The second and third highest scoring entries, selected from the top 25 highest scoring entries, will receive $1,000 to share an experience with their BBM group, or do whatever else they can dream up with the cash.
- Top 25 BBM: Twenty-five Top 25 Prizes will each be awarded a prize pack consisting of one Music Gateway, one Multimedia headset and one BBM t-shirt.
- Most Viral: One winner, selected from the top 200 Most Viral entries, will receive $500 to share an experience with their BBM group, or do whatever else they can dream up with the cash. Learn about Most Viral.
Requirements: All entries must be the original creation of the participant. Your entry must be a video, or captioned photo with a description telling the world about your moment with BlackBerry® Messenger. Videos must be no longer than 2 minutes in length. You must have express written consent of any individual featured in your entry. Videos must not have not been previously published for commercial use or licensed for use by others. Your entry and / or reviews must NOT make reference to any other brand without written permission. Enter as many unique entries as you’d like but duplicate entries will be removed. Any entries that violate the Official Rules or the Brickfish Terms of Use will be removed. Any entry using the likeness of others or uses or displays copyrighted material without permission will be removed.
Legal Notice: No purchase necessary. Contest is open to members of the free Brickfish.com® website who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia or Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec), who have reached the age of majority in the state (19 or older in AL and NE, 18 or older in all other states), territory (19 or older in NT, NU and YT) or province (18 or older in AB, MB, ON, PE, and SK, 19 or older in BC, NL, NB, and NS) in which they reside as of date of entry. Brickfish.com registration is complete once activated by you via email. View complete contest Official Rules.
Via: BerryReview
Utilizing AutoText On Your BlackBerry
Jun 14th
BlackBerrys have many convenient features that the general popuation doesn’t fully utilize, one of them being AutoText. AutoText can be found in the options screen on your BlackBerry. As you can see, it comes preloaded with a bunch of entries, mainly for spelling correction. For instance if you type ‘adn’ on your BlackBerry, AutoText will change it to ‘and’.
As far as custom entries go, you can enter as many as you want, and set them to be anything you desire. For example, I have the full catalog of hidden BBM Emoticons saved in AutoText as ‘#emoticons’. Any time anyone asks me for BBM symbols, I simply type #emoticons, hit the space bar and send away. Other than emoticons, I basically use AutoText for anything I’m sick of typing all the time. Why type the same phrase or twitter hashtag all the time, when you can just type a letter or two and let your BlackBerry do the legwork?
This Week In BlackBerry 6/6 - 6/13
Jun 12th
Most of you die-hard Verizon subscribers ordered your shiny new Bold 9650′s on the 3rd via the web, but don’t forget Verizon now has Bold 9650′s in retail stores! Other than that, this week has been quite calm on the BlackBerry front, compared to the plethora of BlackBerry news, leaks, rumors and releases we’ve been hit with over the past month or so. Hit the jump to read this weeks app reviews at The Cellular Guru. Everyone be safe and enjoy your weekend!
