The Iphone World

Archive for September, 2011

There has been talk of a device being able to overtake the iPhone in popularity for at least two years now. Ever since Apple’s incredibly popular iPhone started selling like hotcakes, people have been looking for a comparable alternative.

Some say the first devices using Google’s Android OS can take on the iPhone. However, sales and reviews beg to differ. Android devices such as the HTC Magic (myTouch 3G) and the HTC Dream (T-Mobile’s G1) are sellling well, but have not come close to overtaking the iPhone. And some reviewers say these two phones are sluggish compared to the iPhone.

However, followers of the industry still think Android might be the card up the sleeve for the battle to beat the iPhone. Motorola and Verizon Wireless are definitely agreeing with this view. The two companies have teamed up to release a new Android powered device known as the Motorola DROID.

The Motoroal DROID is touchscreen smartphone with a slideout physical keyboard. Here is a screenshot of the Motorola DROID’s full specifications: Motorola DROID specs. It will be running Android 2.0 as its operating system when it is released. This is the next iteration of the Android system (currently Android devices are running 1.6) and is said to improve upon the previous version. It will come with a 5 MP camera including flash. Perhaps the most important feature is the fact that it comes with Android. If you don’t already know, Android is an impressive OS with an app store (Android Marketplace) and multi-tasking abilities.

And Android is what Motorola and Verizon Wireless are promoting wildly with their latest advertisements. Just check out this ad: The iDon’t Commercial. The spot hits the iPhone hard and shows everything the Motorola DROID will do that it cannot. If there hasn’t been an iPhone killer yet, there is a quite a few people that think the day has come with the Motorola DROID. On November 6th, we just might find out.

When do you need a reverse phone service?

If you want to find the name and location of the owner of a specific phone number (cellular or landline) and this number is not listed in whitepages or phone books, you will need a specialized reverse phone lookup service. These services operate by purchasing access to subscriber databases of various mobile operators and phone companies. By combining multiple sources of information, they provide users with a capability to search through a huge database containing almost all phone numbers in the USA. This database includes land line numbers, unlisted numbers and cell phone numbers.

Reverse phone lookup services are bound by agreements with phone companies, which prohibit them from providing this information for free (primarily for the reasons of privacy). This is the reason why you need a valid credit card or paypal account to register and use these services. This ensures that they cannot be utilized for illegal purposes (e.g. stalking.) Besides, phone companies charge for access to their databases in the first place, so reverse lookup services try to recoup some of their costs by requiring a subscription fee.

Are there any free alternatives to paid reverse phone lookup services?

If you don’t feel like using paid services, there are a few alternatives that may help. You may look up the number in publicly available whitepages or phone books, or use an internet search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. However, if the number in question is cell phone or unlisted, you search will most likely provide no results, because such information is not publicly available. It won’t hurt to try, though.

What kind of information you can expect to find using a cell phone lookup service?

You can expect to find the owner’s name and address. Some services also provide additional information such as the list of household members.

How to use a reverse phone lookup service?

Simply enter the phone number which you are researching into the online form. Most services will immediately provide the following information for free:

Whether the phone number in question is cellular or land line.

The precise location (city and state) where the number is registered.

Whether any additional information about this number is available.

To find the name of the phone’s owner, you will need to purchase access to the service (a nominal yearly fee is usually required). As mentioned above, the registration requirement is a way of ensuring the service will not be used illegally.

Are reverse phone lookup services legal?

Yes, cell phone lookup services are completely legal, provided you use the obtained information for lawful purposes. In particular, you are not allowed to take advantage of this information for making telemarketing calls.

Music has always been a way of expressing our day to say emotions to our loved ones. It is considered as an art which purifies human beings internally and makes him/her feel better and lively. In old times people used to listen to music with the help of tape recorders but they were not handy so after sometime a tape recorder was invented and then even carrying tape recorders became tough so people started using CD player but it also became very difficult to handle as large stack of tapes and CDs was very tough to handle.

But now gone are those days when listening to music was very tough and these days people have started using MP3 players. They are now considered as the must have item for the young generation these days and have set a revolution as how people listen to music.

The best part about these MP3 players is they are portable and handy.

They are very portable can be taken along to all places and you can enjoy music in the parks, shopping malls, streets, airports, etc. MP3 players are available in several sizes, brands and shapes.

They are available in different brands, but since they are handy and are portable all of them are small and lightweight and have amazing memory to carry and store a collection of music as per your taste. One can get personalized songs in MP3 players and music lists can also be made by downloading several songs from the internet. Particular songs can added or compressed so that they don’t occupy much memory space.

One can get a wide variety of MP3 players in the market such as Flash memory player, hard drive payer, Micro hard-drive based MP3 player and MP3 CD player. All such types of MP3 players are readily available in the market and can be brought at the best possible price available in the market.

The flash memory player is the lightest and smallest MP3 player available. It has less memory space and usually stores less number of songs. It is long-lasting and can tolerate general wear and tear well. However this MP3 player has a longer battery life which allows people to listen to music for longer duration of time and does not need charging the battery again and again.

One can easily download songs from internet in these MP3 players as and when required so that new songs added so as to listen to the best music available in the recent times and can even keep themselves up to date in terms of music.

MP3 players are very much in demand these days and are very popular among the younger generation and are very good if a person is a music lover.

As per the AR Drone opinions, the machine employs a Wi-FI community to deliver video clip and pictures in excess of a wi-fi sign. The heads up show interface is shown about the apple iphone, iPod, or iPad by way of the wi-fi community and processor about the iPod, apple iphone or iPad confirms the site and pictures acquired. The photographs are sent to your receiver apple iphone at premium quality and rapidly streaming prices. It is one particular in the versatile characteristics in the drone heli which sets them apart. The firm Parrot has created some innovative AR Drone devices to boost the end user knowledge and technical features. By way of contact products like apple iphone, the knowledge will get greater. They are able to management the motion in the products by the contact signals.
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Linux is one particular in the most secure and safeguarded working programs and is utilized in a lot of functions. It can be written in robust and safeguarded coding model producing the functions sturdy and robust. It can be critical that USB selection offered in drone chopper need to be utilized to acquire upgrades and extensions from the net. This will likely support to obtain suitable video games and keep linked together with the most current updates. Parrot has invested an enormous level of investment in drone heli devices and has created the heli holding open resource assist to know-how.
The open supply implies that this machine isn’t going to rely on a certain interface. From the printed Drone heli opinions, end users can sense chill out to understand the auto-pilot mode may be strengthen and battery time may be stabilized to get pleasure from the gadget knowledge. It can be surely value getting since the pace and overall performance in the new AR Drone heli is greater compared to earlier. It fees only 0 to obtain the AR Drone chopper and offered on the internet for instantaneous invest in. It can be critical that end users ought to test the authorized affiliate merchants to prevent scam merchandise.
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The official AR Drone heli opinions have advised that this product or service is value a obtain to go well with the teenagers’ pocket. The product or service is made up of innovative performance in comparison with final model. They may be much better compared to typical helicopters toys operated from a management panel or distant. The most current product or service utilizes excessive conclude mechanical and digital AR Drone devices. The devices includes four rotors, 2 premium quality cameras, and also a distant management panel to control the motion in the heli. Together with the inclusion in the most current know-how characteristics, the iPod and apple iphone could also act since the management panel to control the movements.

Nokia’s new chief executive has made the controversial decision to continue developing its in house operating systems MeeGo and Symbian rather than adopting Google’s Android operating system.

Stephen Elop revealed that the major decision was made owing to Nokia’s dwindling share in the smartphone market. Huge competitors such as Apple and Google have been dominating the smartphone market and have been forcing the Finnish giant out of the competition.

Nokia’s go-it-alone strategy, adopted by CEO Stephen Elop, was promoted at the European conference, targeted at application developers where the company showcased its new MeeGo operating system in a bid to take back its share of the smartphone market.

The decision has faced criticism from analysts, who believe Nokia may be better off getting on board the hugely successful Android bandwagon. Google’s Android platform has become the world’s second largest smartphone operating system in just two years and industry insiders are questioning Nokia’s decision to go-it-alone.

Elop’s decision to stick with MeeGo and Symbian software to operate its midrange smartphone has faced criticism, with some industry experts believing that Nokia could have developed a lot quicker, had it not always insisted so adamantly on being independent.

However, Alberto Torres, Nokia’s executive vice president for MeeGo computers, argues it also would tie its hands in distinguishing its smartphones with new innovations, ultimately benefitting Google’s search business at Nokia’s expense.

Nokia’s decision to push MeeGo over Android stems in part from MeeGo’s capability to support not only smartphones, but a variety of products consumers use including tablets, televisions and even automobiles, it says.

Jonathan Banner, a London-based software developer, said “I think they’ve got a strong chance, but it is early days” he added. “If they get MeeGo sorted out, it’s game on.”

Nokia’s big problem, though, has been Symbian, which has been plagued with complaints from consumers and software developers that it is stodgy and hard to use compared to Android.

Using AT&T’s Phone-as-Modem Service. AT&T charges a month ( for supporting use of a standard cell as a modem, and for providing unlimited Media Net access). For BlackBerry, Palm, and Windows Mobile phones, AT&T’s phone-as-modem packages (which include Media Net access) range from to a month more, depending on whether you have a voice plan with AT&T; the cost is lower if you do. To use AT&T’s service, first download the company’s free Communication Manager software. Install the application on your phone , and connect the phone to your PC via USB.

2.       Connecting Over the Sprint Network. Sprint’s Unlimited Phone as Modem plan costs a month; and its Flexible Phone as Modem plan, a month. The flex option lets you transfer up to 40MB of data monthly. If you exceed that limit, you pay .001 for each additional kilobyte to a maximum fee of . You must sign a two-year service contract to use a Sprint phone as a modem. To get started on this service, first download the free Sprint PCS Connection Manager software and install it on your PC–but don’t open the program yet. Instead, connect your phone to your computer, and then launch the Connection Manager app. Click the Go button, and you’re done.

3.          T-Mobile’s Phone-as-Modem Plan.Internet access via the T-Mobile service costs a month, excluding voice calls. If you use a BlackBerry with the service, monthly plans range from to . T-Mobile doesn’t officially support using its phones as a modem, but some of the company’s handsets–including the Dash and the Wing–work as modems, and using them in this way doesn’t violate your service agreement. I used the Wing in my tests. Here’s how to set it up: 1. Plug the phone into the PC’s USB port. 2. If Windows automatically finds a driver for the handset, skip to step 3. If it doesn’t find a driver, download ActiveSync and install the app on your computer. Step through the setup wizard, and then restart your machine. 3. On the Windows Mobile device, go to Start, Programs, Accessories. 4. Click the Internet Sharing icon. 5. In the PC Connection dropdown, select USB. 6. In the Network Connection drop-down menu, select T-Mobile WModem Link. 7. Click Connect at the lower-left side of the screen.

4.

Modemize Your Verizon Wireless Phone If you have a PDA phone, Verizon’s BroadbandAccess Connect costs a month; the service costs a month if you use a standard cell phone . First, install the VZAccess Manager software on your phone; it should already be on the handset, but if it isn’t, you can download the app. Most standard cell phones also need the Mobile Office Kit (), which includes a USB cable and PC software. Next, install and open VZAccess Manager on your computer. Step through the wizard, then click Next, Detect WWAN device only (as shown in the screen image below), and finally click Next twice more. Select Data Cable (For tethered handsets and PDAs/Advanced Devices), and Next again. Choose the ‘Detect WWAN device only…’ option in Verizon’s VZAccess Manager software to link your PC with your cell phone in order to gain Internet access through your phone. Now physically connect your cell phone to your PC, using a USB cable. When the app identifies your phone (showing your handset’s manufacturer and model name in a pop-up window), click Yes and then Next. Your cell phone number will appear on the next screen. If it’s correct, click Next and Finish to exit the setup routine. VZAccess Manager launches automatically. Highlight NationalAccess – Broadband Access, and click Connect. In the following screen, click Continue. Then browse away.

5.     Connecting via Bluetooth – You can do without the cables if you go the Bluetooth route, though setup is a hassle. To proceed, you’ll need a Bluetooth phone and a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or desktop PC. I used a notebook running Windows Vista and a very common phone–the Razr V3–over AT&T’s network. (Some of the settings identified below will vary depending on the particular handset and carrier.) Here are the steps: 1. On your cell phone, go to Menu, Settings, Connections, Bluetooth. 2. Select Setup, highlight Power, click Change, and set it to On. 3. On your Vista PC, click Start (Start, Run in XP), type bthprops.cpl, and press Enter. 4. Under the Devices tab, click Add. 5. Check My device is set up and ready to be found, and click Next. 6. Return to your cell phone, and highlight Find Me. 7. On the PC, highlight your phone’s name and click Next. 8. Select Choose a passkey for me, and click Next. 9. Enter the passkey on the handset. 10. After Windows exchanges passkeys and pairs with your Bluetooth phone, click Finish. 11. On the PC, right-click Computer (My Computer in XP), and choose Manage. 12. Select Device Manager, click the + sign next to Modems, right-click your phone modem, and select Properties. 13. Under the Advanced tab, type AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”isp.cingular” if you’re a new AT&T customer, or AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”proxy” if you’re an existing user. Click OK. 14. In Vista, click Start, Connect to, and select Set up a connection or network. 15. Choose set up a dial-up connection, and click Next. 16. Select your phone modem, and in the ‘Dial-up phone number’ field, type *99#. (If you get an error when you try to connect, enter *99***1# instead.) 17. In the Username field, type ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM (using all-capital letters). 18. In the Password field, type CINGULAR1 (using all-capital letters). 19. Select Remember this password, and in the ‘Connection name’ field, type GPRS. Click Connect and then Close.

6.        Modem-Software Love When Your Carrier Leaves You Cold. If your carrier’s phone-as-modem service does not support your Palm or Windows Mobile phone, don’t despair. (For example, AT&T’s Communication Manager software doesn’t support phones that run the Palm OS.) June Fabrics Technology’s PDANet software may be able to help. The program, which is free to try and costs to own, lets you use your Palm or Windows Mobile phone as a modem on any Windows machine via USB, Bluetooth, or an infrared connection. (If you use a Mac, PDANet will run only through a Bluetooth connection.) I used USB to tether my Vista-based laptop to a Samsung BlackJack with AT&T’s service. Download and install the PDANet program on your PC. If it isn’t already on your system, download and install ActiveSync. Step through the setup wizard, clicking Next at each screen. Now connect your phone via USB. The PDANet driver will install on your phone automatically. Click OK. In your PC’s system tray, click the PDANet icon and select Connect.

7.    Some carrier-supplied apps don’t support the use of older BlackBerry models, such as the 8700g, as a modem for PCs. That’s where MobiShark’s Shark Modem software comes in. The program costs , but a free trial is available. According to MobiShark, the software works on all 7000 and 8000 series BlackBerrys. Before you can use it, you must download and install the BlackBerry Desktop Software (registration is required) on your PC. Then, after loading the Shark Modem program on your phone, open the BlackBerry Desktop app on your PC, double-click the Application Loader icon, and click Next. Next, connect your BlackBerry to your computer’s USB port. The BlackBerry software on the PC will automatically assign the connection (for example, ‘USB-PIN: 30191B7D’) and display it in the Connection field. Click Next, select the SharkModem checkbox to add the program, click Next, and then click Finish. After the app loads, click Close. Select the SharkModem icon on the BlackBerry. In the pop-up window, click Yes. In the ‘Connect to Internet via’ field, choose Direct TCP connect. Under ‘Connect to PC via’, select USB.

Bose has big reputation when it comes to producing good quality audio devices and their marketing strategies too are quite clever. Bose Sound Dock 10 is a good example of this. This is one of those electronic gadgets without any on board controls and the manufacturer has embedded minimal styling here with a cool remote. This system has that ‘wow’ factor which you look for in lifestyle accessories.

Bose Sound Dock 10 is very impressive in weight and size. It does a good job of being heard seen. Bluetooth dock is also available separately for £129 and through this; you can stream the music wirelessly along with memory for storing six devices. Bose Sound Dock 10 is big enough to fill up an entire room but the overall sound disappointed me a bit. Initially, it was very impressive but it doesn’t have that ‘special’ thing to justify the price tag and hype that surrounds these high end electronic gadgets. The system wasn’t really responsive while navigating the iPod play lists through the bundled remote. This might frustrate people who lack patience.

If you are looking for some kind of iPod dock, take a look at Denon S-52 which comes with plenty of features. The audio options on these electronic gadgets are really comprehensive, you get CD player, AM/FM radio, HD radio, XM satellite radio (for this, you will have to purchase add-on XM mini-tuner along with a valid subscription), USB port (for WMA audio and MP3 files playback), iPod dock, Wi-Fi and wired network connection for streaming the digital audio files on networked computers.

Denon S-52 has a dock connection for iPods and this system supports all iPods. There are adapters to fit in various sizes. One intriguing feature here is that these electronic gadgets let you control and navigate through the music with remote control on the display on the unit. You will have to close to the unit for this because the display is kind of small. But if you are having a lot of artists on the Apple iPod, you will have to spend a lot of time in front of the player because there is no way to skip through the lists.

I was also disappointed to see that the Denon S-52 doesn’t have a video out on the back. You won’t be able to play any videos. This device automatically charges your music player when you plug it inside the dock. In terms of audio quality, the Denon S-52 is really good. All major file formats like FLAC, AAC, WAV, WMA, and MP3 are supported. MP3 and WMA based internet stations too work; they are managed through the manufacturer’s Website.

Apart from standard FM/AM, the Denon S-52 has support for tuning in the digital HD stations but then, the reception depends on the signal in your area so you need to check. There is also an alarm on these electronic gadgets for waking yourself up in the morning. You can adjust the volume of this alarm. Finally, this system has detachable antennas for FM, Wi-Fi and AM.

Fortunately, the majority of the “bugs” of early internet phone service are no more and the few that remain-for the most part negligible and sometime avoidable with a little bit of careful reading and research. Originally, some of the greatest complaints of VoIP were clarity, lack of service, required contracts, and lack of 911 services. Today, Internet phone users have minimal if any clarity issues, there are many choices available without contracts (just take the time to read the fine print), 911 service is available-though it may be routed through the system differently but just as effectively- and with more cell phone towers being built in regions all over the world getting a signal and service is easy.

Now that you have had the fears dispelled, consider these positives of using Internet phone service:

1. Cost-VoIP has been shown to lower your monthly phone bill by over 50%.

2. With VoIP, you can call all across America, Canada and the territories without paying long distance charges. In addition, international calling rates are but mere pennies per minute.

3. You can count on your bill being the same price every month, making it easier on the budgeting process.

4. A long list of phone features such as voice mail, call forwarding, voice mail as e-mail attachments, 3 way calling, Caller ID and many other all included as part of your standard service.

5. VoIP works over your broadband connection, so you can make one less payment each month.

6. In business, Internet phone service often has web conferencing features, as well as services such as ring all or ring groups that allow multiple phones to ring at once ensuring that callers are answered.

7. Any changes in calling or services can be via the Internet bypassing the need to wait on hold with the phone company.

So, what is holding you back from making the switch to Internet phone service for your home or business? When you swap from traditional phone service to VoIP you are not only making a change toward the future of communication but are saving yourself time and money. Why not take the time to see what Internet phone service providers are recommended for your area and start enjoying VoIP today?

The Finnish Corporation Nokia, world’s largest mobile phone brand, is the first choice of all while buying a mobile phone corresponding to its overall support and advanced functionalities. They have launched the X-series in market which has gained widespread popularity within a short span of time. After the success of X3, X6 and X8, the company is now planning to release another gadget from this series in the form of Nokia X9 with more stylish looks and upgraded features, expected to be another milestone from the world class mobile manufacturer Nokia standing out from the rest in terms of advanced and innovative design.

Nokia X9 is expected to utilize the latest version of operating system, Symbian^4 with 1 GHz Cortex A8 chip set to speed up the gadget’s processing power. The most striking feature of the gadget is expected to be its 12 mega pixel camera aided with Carl Zeiss optics, digital zoom, LED flash light and auto focus which will enable 720p HD video recording features. Among other upcoming attractions of the gadget, HDMI port for viewing the output on larger TV screen, high speed internet downloading, Wi-Fi technology, 32 GB storage, GPS navigation, AMOLED touchscreen etc. deserve special mention.

Nokia X9 deals are also expected to be as much popular as its predecessor X6. The gadget will also feature one touch social networking with Facebook and Twitter dedicated keys at the bottom of its 3.7 inches display to let you stay connected with friends and relatives even on the go. The 3G enabled Nokia X9 will possess other standard features of X-series like GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, music player, GPS navigation, micro USB port etc. This Nokia gadget is expected to meet all your demands with ravishing looks and par excellence performance.

Nokia X9 contract deals are expected to arrive on Vodafone, Three, O2, Virgin, Orange and T-Mobile networks for 24 months. They will also provide incentives in the form of free texts, minutes, discounts and cash back offers. Other than that, a wide array of free gifts including laptops, gaming consoles, digital cameras, home appliances, mobile accessories etc. are also expected with contract deals. Besides, the gadget is also expected to arrive with flexible pay as you go and Sim free deals. Although the official specifications are not yet announced, Nokia X9 deals is awaited by all users and is expected to come with a strong wave in the mobile industry.

With the arrival of the 8700g, T-Mobile injects some life into its aging lineup of BlackBerry devices, which hasn’t seen a serious new handset (besides a small update to the compact 7100t) in more than a year. Besides the GPRS-only 7290, T-Mobile users have had to make do with the 7105t, a consumer-oriented BlackBerry with a slimmer form factor but a tricky, pseudo-QWERTY keypad. The new 8700g (also available on Cingular as the 8700c) takes the features of the 7290 and adds EDGE support to the mix, along with a speakerphone and mapping/driving directions (courtesy of Google Local). Overall, we were impressed with the 8700g’s performance, particularly when it comes to e-mail handling (no surprise there), and the added EDGE support certainly revved up its browsing. However, both the 7105t and 7290 are tempting bargains now that their price tags have plunged to 0 (with two-year service agreements).

The black-and-silver 8700g looks pretty much like your garden-variety BlackBerry, complete with a bright, 2.5-inch QVGA display and the standard full QWERTY keypad. Measuring 4.3 by 2.7 by 0.8 inches and weighing a reasonable 4.7 ounces, the 8700g is a bit bulky for a jeans pocket – then again, you weren’t really expecting to cram a BlackBerry in your pocket, were you?

The 8700g’s 65,000-color, 320 x 240-pixel display looks sharp and rich to your eyes, although the display is (as expected) tough to see in direct spotlight. The handset’s icon-driven main menu looked colorful and vibrant, as did the full-color images people saw on the web browser.

You will have little trouble typing on the roomy RIM keyboard, although some wish numeric keys and common symbols (such as the period and the comma) merited their own keys; instead, they’re relegated to second-banana status on the letter keys. People have also noticed that the entire thumb board was rattling around a bit inside the plastic 8700g shell; it had no effect on typing and didn’t seem in danger of coming completely loose, but some wish the keypad felt more solid. Back on the plus side, the 8700g is the first BlackBerry with dedicated “call”, “end”, and “mute” keys (the mute control sits on the top edge of the device), and people liked the side and front “convenience” keys, which you can assign to launch any of the 8700g’s various apps.

The quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) 8700g has an Intel XScale processor under the hood, along with a decent 64MB of flash memory and 16MB SDRAM; in different tests, most people found the handset to be relatively zippy (although none of the apps on the 8700g are terribly demanding). The phone also supports T-Mobile’s 2.5G EDGE network, making for speedy (if not bone-rattling) surfing on the RIM web browser.

Messaging is the name of RIM’s game, and the 8700g comes ready to play. Like the latest BlackBerrys that has been seen, the 8700g will check up to 10 e-mail accounts, including Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, and IBM Domino accounts and standard web and POP/IMAP e-mail services, such as Yahoo (whose subscribers get the added benefit of real-time message delivery), Gmail, and AOL. While push e-mails Exchange/Lotus/Domino setup requires the help of your handy IT department (or the use of the included desktop mail redirector), personal e-mail setup was a snap; people just entered their Gmail account info, and within minutes the 8700g was collecting their messages. The fly in the ointment, however, is that the 8700g (on T-Mobile’s network, at least) doesn’t support Hotmail or MSN accounts; T-Mobile reps told customers that talks are underway and that Hotmail/MSN service will arrive in the near future.

While the device’s e-mail management stacks up nicely compared to the rest of the RIM family, come wish (as ever) that the BlackBerry e-mail app did a better job of rendering HTML-formatted messages; even the most basic formatting (such as boldface or paragraph breaks) is often stripped away, while embedded URLs are removed and displayed next to the linked text, making for quite a mess. That said, the RIM’s messaging client will open PDFs and Microsoft Office documents, and does an especially nice job rendering Excel files.

Syncing the 8700g to our PC was a piece of cake; after installing the BlackBerry desktop software, people soon made a wireless connection with the handset’s built-in Bluetooth (a USB cable is also included), and within minutes they’d synched up hundreds of contacts, events, notes and to-dos.

The 8700g comes loaded with an impressive set of tools. First up is Google Local, which lets you access the all-too-addictive Google Maps (you can zoom and pan around the satellite images using the keypad), search for addresses, and pull down driving directions. Meanwhile, Pocket Express lets you check the latest news, sports, weather, and financial news (while most of Pocket Express’s content is free, some of the channels require a paid subscription). A shortcut on the device lets you download Oz’s instant messenger client, which supports AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. Also on tap are the standard PIM tools (such as an address book, a calendar, and a to-do list), plus a calculator, an alarm, a memo pad, and Brick Breaker.

Call quality on the 8700g was great as far as a Blackberry is concerned. Customers in New York have stated that they had no trouble chatting with their buddies. New York is a difficult place to talk because of the buildings, etc. Most customers got about 4 hours of talk time from the 8700g and five days of standby time.

With its bright screen, full-QWERTY keypad, EDGE and Bluetooth support, and characteristically superb e-mail handling, the 8700g is a strong choice for anyone looking to take the BlackBerry plunge. That said T-Mobile customers who want a BlackBerry device that fits in a pocket might be better off with the slightly smaller (if tougher to use) 7105t, which features a pseudo-QWERTY thumb board.