Tag Archives: Blackberry cell phones

A particularly interesting article on MobileCrunch.com discusses the concern of the Indian government's crackdown on use of BlackBerry devices due to their encryption mechanisms, while India DOESN'T seem to be concerned about encryption on Google, Apple products, etc. As the author points out, "...we’ve seen elsewhere in the world lately that people don’t need encryption to topple a government." Therefore, the Indian government really probably has bigger, more important things to think about.

And what does encryption really do anyway? Good hackers can kill off encryption without even thinking about it. You have to REALLY invest in security to ensure absolutely solid encryption...and someone will still come along to bust it up eventually. In the meantime, that kind of investment isn't one RIM (Research in Motion), BlackBerry's manufacturer, is really putting a lot of stock into.

One comment on the article did intrigue me, however...a respondent proclaimed: "Terrorists used Blackberry during 26-11 Mumbai attack; they did not use a Apple/HP laptop with a Cisco router and Google service to communicate with their masters." Well, to be perfectly frank, DUH!!! Why would anyone pour all of that time and money and energy, not to mention have the terrorists actually enacting the attack on Mumbai carry around laptops, on Apple or HP products and Cisco routers when they can just use BlackBerrys? I'm not saying it's right, but get real here: a lot of clunky equipment vs an easily-accessible handheld device. Which would YOU use?

If you're interested in picking up a BlackBerry, check out ThriftyComputer.com's incredible selection of unlocked GSM BlackBerrys and get yourself hooked up for a STEAL! Just don't try to use them in India...

With the proliferation of smartphones on global GSM markets, it's difficult NOT to wonder if/how they affect the crisis...or at least the pubic reaction to it. Nowadays you can snap a picture of anything going on around you and, assuming you're in an area that supports your network, as most global 3G networks do, send it to your friends, your family, CNN, you name it. Smartphones have the capacity to make all of us instant eyewitnesses, automatic reporters.

But, do they go too far? Should the oppressive regimes ruling over these lands catch protestors, vreporters, photographers, journalists or just your run-of-the-mill tourist taking pictures and sending them, could that mean potential trouble for them...and their families?

Smartphones can virtually replace laptops these days. Whether it's an iPhone, an LG slider, a BlackBerry or one of myriad others, they usually carry the functional means to snap and send photos in the blink of an eye. But could that spell trouble for those using these devices to report from parts of the world from which the public desperately wants information...but at the cost of their loved ones? Methinks not.

I suppose we shall see how it all pans out...in the meantime, check out ThriftyComputer.com for great deals on unlocked GSM, CDMA and networked cellular phones!

How many of us have been stuck somewhere we would rather not be at the worst of times? I can personally tell you it is not a fun situation. This week’s snow blizzard in the North East crippled cities, along with airports and the transportation we all have become accustomed to. Many were stuck in Airports over night even days as flights were cancelled. Imagine having to lie on the hard airport floor, bored to death not knowing when you might be able to make it back home. Imagine having to watch the same cnn broadcast over and over again while hearing all the complaints various people are talking about. This is where a smart phone comes in handy, now the hectic world is closed off while the world you want becomes reality. Almost all airports have a free charging station so why not put that smart phone to usage in a major way. The beautiful thing about a smart phone is that it sometimes provides a get away from the norm. It’s not a laptop but with all the applications around we are able to treat it like one. For example, many people found out about their cancelled flights by using their smart phones. News does not hide from the customer on the web. Word of mouth travels in such a rapid pace that we tend to receive all of our news on our smart phones before any other outlet. Looking for a hotel near the location you are stranded in? As the new saying goes, there’s an app for that! The beauty of a smart phone is that if you can conceive it, there is probably an application for that. Now there is no excuse to keep up with the news, find a much better alternative to the airport floor and sometimes horrendous food. On a day like the one the blizzard created there were two groups of people. There were the ones bored to death not knowing what to do to kill time. Then there was the group that embraced their smart phones and decided to put it to heavy use. This group was still uncomfortable with their unfortunate situation, but now had the power to do something about it. They were not confined to just the airport, now they had the world at their fingertips. Bills were still paid, work got done, sports were still watched, conversations continued worldwide with the help of a charging station of course. Now instead of hours of twiddling your fingers, you were now able to spend those hours doing things that could free your mind from this ordeal and even become productive. Now you would be able to watch the TV channels of your choosing, search for the news you want and not to mention you get to block all the commotion around you. What is there not to like about smart phones? If only they could transport us to our desired location, now that’s an application to dream about!

The BlackBerry Curve 8320, part of BlackBerry’s 8300 series, is one of the smallest, sleekest and most functional smartphones on the market. Want to send a text, photo or email? BlackBerry’s built-in messaging services and full web browser allow you to send, receive and access anywhere you go. Feel like making a phone call? Simply speak the name of the person you want to call and BlackBerry’s voice-dialing function gets that ball rolling. Speaking of which, its updated Trackball features enhanced sensitivity and simplified scrolling over older BlackBerry models.

As an unlocked GSM phone, which basically means you can use it on any GSM network, like AT&T or T-Mobile, your phone’s performance will end up being tied to the performance of the service provider you choose.

The upside? You get to choose the provider, the contract, the plan, instead of the other way around. Purchasing an unlocked GSM phone is the only way to do this simply and effectively, and the Curve 8320 is a perfect model to demonstrate this powerful option. Surf the web effortlessly on its built-in browser, seamlessly snap photos to send to friends and fam, even expand its memory with a microSD card (up to 8GB) to make sure none of those precious moments are lost due to lack of storage capacity.

Thanks to its GSM feature, BlackBerry allows for seamless connectivity in and outside of its built-in EDGE network: the phone shifts from EDGE to GSM and back without you ever even knowing it. Access your favorite social networking sites or check web-based email on its powerful browser, pre-set to Google for easy search functionality. The 8320 Curve gives you access virtually anytime, anywhere.

Unlocked GSM cell phones can be used with a cell phone service provider of the user’s choice and all features of these phones are also available to the users. ThriftyComputer.com is the top online store that sells unlocked phones from popular brands like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry and many more. The company also provides wide range of accessories for all these brands along with unlocked phones. Buying unlocked GSM cell phones gives the users of these cell phones great degree of freedom as they are not tied down by any plan set by the service provider as in carrier bound cell phones.

Why Buy An Unlocked GSM cell phone
Unlocked GSM cell phones also fetch a better price in the resale market as the next user knows that he will be able to use the phone with the carrier of his choice. The unlocked GSM cell phones are also ideal for users who travel a lot to international locations and need to use their cell phones there. By using an unlocked GSM cell phones, users can insert the SIM card of any company in that phone and use it to save money on the international roaming charges.

Unlocked GSM cell phones offer Complete Access to Features
The unlocked GSM cell phones also give users complete access to the phone’s features. Locked cell phones often restrict users from accessing all the features of the said phones or some features like web surfing are locked only to the carrier’s services. In unlocked GSM cell phones users can use these features with the service provider of their choice and no features are restricted for them to use. At ThriftyComputer.com, the unlocked GSM cell phones are sold at affordable prices. You can choose a cell phone from top brands like Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC and many more. Browse through the website www.thriftycomputer.com to find out more.

The Scene: A Diner, Anywhere in Queens, NY
Our Protagonist: Danny K. He's just your regular guy, who loves his new Samsung BlackJack smartphone.
The Other Guy: Simon Berry. Knows all the cool apps for his BlackBerry Curve.

Danny: Waitress, could you bring us some tea?
Simon: So, Danny, you got a spring in your step. New lady in your life?
Danny: You trying to get me to kiss and tell? I got something else on my mind tonight. I love Blackjack!
Simon:Really? I'm more of a Poker man myself. I've been playing Mobile Texas Holdem on my BlackBerry BlackBerry game developer Magmic is offering Hold'em for free.

Danny: Blackberries are great. Sometimes, I still think about my BlackBerry 8120 Pearl Titanium. She was a good phone.
Simon: Yeah, too bad you lost her to me playing Texas Hold'em Poker.
Danny: You won that phone fair and square. I learned my lesson anyway. Now I'm into the Blackjack.

Simon: You're playing Blackjac?
Danny: Not the game, the phone. The SGH.

Simon: SGH? I googled SGH and looks like it stands for Singapore General Hospital. is that like some kind of daytime soap opera?

Danny: No, not Singapore General Hospital. Samsung Blackjack is also known as the Samsung SGH i617. It's got Windows Mobile, GPS, 2 megapixel camera, and a very nice full QUERTTy keyboard. My phone can take your phone any day, in hands on combat.

Simon: You mean phones-on combat? Are you challenging my phone to a duel? Dude, that's just weird.

Danny: All I mean is this is a great phone. Samsung Blackjack 2 Red is only $149.99 unlocked plus $8 for USPS shipping and handling. All at ThriftyComputer.com.

We win! We win! The New York Times headlines today proclaimed that the BlackBerry Curve is more popular with consumers than the iPhone.

That's good news for us at Thrifty Computer. We've got over 40 flavors of the Blackberry in stock and on sale.

The research group NPD said that Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry Curve moved past Apple Inc's iPhone in the first quarter to become the best-selling consumer smartphone in the U.S.

In honor of Blackberry's victory, here is our list of:

Top Ten List of Reasons to Love a BlackBerry over an iPhone

1. The BlackBerry’s phone call quality is better than the iPhone
Maybe this is the most important point. A smartphone should be many things to you - constant companion, loyal friend, calendar, email and computer sync - but above all, it should be a phone. Call quality is essential, and the iPhone call quality is well known to be subpar.

2. There are so many free applications for the BlackBerry.
Just check out these sites for lists of many free Blackberry applications available for download. Among the applications that aren't free, many are very affordable ($5 and under.)
Take a look at BlackBerry Downloads on CNET for more details.

3. With a new Unlocked BlackBerry smartphone from ThriftyComputer, there's no need to switch carriers. The iPhone is currently locked up tight with A T & T. The iPhone is locked, where the BlackBerry is simply loaded.

4. The iPhone is expensive compared to similarly equipped BlackBerries. At $399 for an 8 GB version and $499 for 16 GB of storeage, you can get a shiny new BlbackBerry Pearl or Curve for much less. Even the higher end BlackBerry devices, like the 820 and 8830, are as much as $100 cheaper than the cheapest iPhone. You can get a BlackBerry Pearl at ThriftyComputer for only $154.95.

5. No Removable Battery, No Backup Power Supply for the iPhone
The Apple iPhone's Li-ion battery is built into the device and cannot be removed. If your iPhone battery dies while you're away from a power outlet or don't have a charger handy, well....that's it for the music.
You can pick up extra batteries for your BlackBerry for as little as $20, making this a very convenient feature. Plus the battery runs out faster on the iPhone simply because it is used for more tasks. This makes it unreliable for when one must take the device somewhere overnight without the opportunity to recharge.

6. Recent Chuck episodes parodying Steve Jobs are freakin' me out. What is Steve Jobs really is plotting with rogue government agents to take over the world, one iPhone at a time? I'm not willing to take that risk. Are you?

7. The iPhone does not have internal GPS. GPS is very helpful when used with programs like Google Maps. Not every BlackBerry has this feature, but every single new model line from the 8100 series forward has at least one handheld with GPS. For example, the Curve 8320 doesn't have internal navigation functionality, but the 8310 and 8330 do. The Pearl 8100 lacks GPS, but both the 8110 and 8130 also have it. And all three 8800 series device have built-in GPS capabilities. So if satellite navigation is important for you, you've got a lot of options when it comes to BlackBerrys.

8. The iPhone lacks basic cut and paste capabilities. Come on, cut and paste! cut and Paste! I have cutting and pasting since my days of eating glue in kindergarden, and I'm not about to stop now.

9. Constant contact.
The iPhone does not synchronize calendar and contact information wirelessly, which makes it less dependable for information ultimately stored on a server

10. Even AT & T employees prefer the BlackBerry! This internal memo from an AT&T manager who prefers the BlackBerry is now public for your enjoyment.

My limited corporate experience involved a lot of BlackBerry smartphones and even more company-sponsored alcoholic beverages. I'm wondering, what would it take to transform your normal, everyday BlackBerry into a DrinkBerry?

Having only an extended bar tab as a research budget, I set to discover the alcoholic potentials of the BlackBerry. One hour of drunk-texting later, I think I have the answers.

Start with the Bartender Pro. The Bartender Pro was built specifically for the BlackBerry Storm. This neat little application contains recipes for 81 cocktail and 44 shooter recipes, with free updates on the way. With only your BlackBerry in hand, you can be a professional bartender (or good enough to fool your friends) at a moment's notice.

How about calculating your bar tips? Once the drinks kick in, this doesn't get any easier. Tip Calculator is a handy little BlackBerry application that can be used to calculate tips quickly and easily, even when splitting tips up among multiple parties. It also provides a "suggested gratuity" function, for when you're not sure how much to tip.

Of course, you don't want to spend too much on your new Blackberry. That would cut into your beer money! The best way to get a very nice (and unlocked, which is important) BlackBerry is just to go to a quality discount dealer like ThriftyComputer.com. Special discounts this week for the BlackBerry Pearl 8220 and the 8120 Pearl Titanium.

Lastly, let us leave you with this recipe for BlackBerry Wine:

Ingredients:

* 4 lb blackberries
* 2-1/4 lb granulated sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon pectic enzyme
* 1/2 teaspoon acid blend
* 1 Campden tablet, crushed
* 7 pints water
* 1 package wine yeast and nutrient

Preparation:

Thoroughly wash the berries and place them in nylon jelly bag bag. Crush them and strain the juice through the bag into the primary fermentor. Be sure to press as much juice as possible, leaving the solids relatively dry. Tie the jelly bag tightly, and insert it into the fermentor, along with the sugar, pectic enzyme, acid blend, Campden, and 7 pints water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, cover, and allow it to rest for 24 hours.

Sprinkle the wine yeast and nutrient over it and allow it to sit, stirring once daily, for 5 days. Strain the solids and rack into a dark 3-gallon secondary fermentor. Add additional water to make up the volume, and apply an airlock. Rack the wine in 3 weeks, and again in 2 months. Bottle. For the best flavor, allow a year for the wine to mature before enjoying it.

Makes 3 gallons.

Just saw the latest episode of Chuck - and there's nothing more exciting (for this techie, at least) than Spy Gadgets.

And what's the top CIA-Approved Gadget for 2009? Gotta be the new ObamaBerry. According to the Washington Times, Obama's new high-security Blackberry is almost ready to be released by the NSA. It's reported to be an upgraded (and in some respects, downgraded) version of the BlackBerry 8830.

According to The Washington Times, Obama will be able to send text and e-mail messages and make phone calls on his new BlackBerry, but only a pre-approved list of VIPs with the secure software also loaded on their phones. The new BlackBerry is made secure by Genesis Key's SecureVoice technology, turning any BlackBerry Curve or 8830 into a hack-resistant smartphone. The software can be used to access Top Secret-level classified information.

The Feds are getting in on the secure BlackBerry action as well. According to an article in networkworld, AT&T will soon be providing federal department FEMA with BlackBerry 8820 smartphones.

If the government really wants to save your tax dollars and get a good deal, it's no secret that they'd save money buying phones from an independent retailer instead. If security is their concern, ThriftyComputer offers a 30 day money back warranty on all items, plus five star reviews from EBay. Maybe FEMA is in a hurry? After all, they are the Federal Emergency Management agency. Not a problem - ThriftyComputer offers super fast priority shipping.

If the 8830 is what your after - get your BlackBerry 8830 smartphone even before the President gets his - Brand New World Edition 8830 BlackBerries are on sale for only $174.95 at ThriftyComputer.com. just don't tell Obama - it''s not nice to make the President jealous.

The moment you have a Blackberry you need to start thinking about customizing it. A Blackberry is more than just a cell phone. It is the iconic work tool which has made the successful transition into must-have lifestyle accessory.

This means that there can be absolutely no excuse for not getting your hands into its workings and making it thoroughly your own, so let’s get started.

In order to set up your ring tones first, enter your address book and choose a number to use to set up your customized ring tone. If you can't find your address book, simply press the menu key which is the key with the 7 dots on it next to the trackball (cell phone mouse). From there you should be able to scroll using the trackball to the Blackberry’s address book.

Once you find the contact that you want to customize with a unique ringtone, scroll to that name, and then, press the menu key. A list of items to do should appear. At this point, using your trackball, scroll down to EDIT, and press down on the trackball, thus, choosing to edit.

Next your contact's complete page should appear. Now, hit the menu key again, and scroll down with the trackball to ADD CUSTOM RING TONE. Choose this selection.

We are almost there now. At the very bottom of the screen, there should appear a slot that says CUSTOM RING TONE. Right underneath this line should be a highlighted tone of some sort. Select this highlighted tone by pressing the trackball down. A list of tones should appear. Don't choose any of them as you are creating a CUSTOM Ring Tone.

Now, scroll up to the very top of the list of tones until you see the word BROWSE. Once there, select it by pressing down on the trackball. Another screen will appear which allows you to select from PRELOADED RINGTONES or VOICENOTES. Choose VOICENOTES. After choosing VOICENOTES, an option should appear that allows you to RECORD. Press RECORD. At this point, you can record a song or even your voice – anything as long as it original, or at least something you recognize! When the microphone shows up, press the trackball down again, and it will start recording until you stop recording by pressing the trackball down again.

Once you have paused recording, look at the voice note number which is on the bottom right of the screen. For example, VN 00019 is what it should be similar to. This is the assigned number for that voice note. Using the trackball, scroll over to the square at the bottom which means stop and select it.

Your recording is now officially stopped. Now a list of voicenotes should appear, and the one you just recorded is on this list. Do not locate nor select the voice note here! Press the ESCAPE KEY, the key to the right of the trackball with the curved arrow. Press the ESCAPE KEY one more time. (You are pressing the ESCAPE key twice in total) This will bring you back to a list of voicenotes to select from on a different screen. It is the same one that you started from to record.

Scroll down this list of voicenotes until you come to the voicenote that you just recorded as you can recall the VN(voicenote) number that you memorized. If you have a long list of voicenotes, it should be the last one automatically. Select it. At the bottom of the appearing screen should be your voicenote selection right underneath the CUSTOM RING TONE slot.

Finally, press the menu key - remember the one with the seven dots to the left of the trackball? Then scroll down to SAVE. You have now completed customizing your ringtone for that contact! If you want to you can repeat the process for as many contacts as you want – the point is that your Blackberry is your own lifestyle accessory and you can make it yours in every way possible.

If you are looking for great unlocked Blackberry deals then check out our unlocked Blackberry Cell phone page with prices starting from as low as $49.95 for the original QWERTY Blackberry 7230 PDA cell phone.

Thrifty Computer brings you quality electronics at great prices.