Texting in the Bathroom - The Toilet Dunk

I read an interesting statistic recently. As many as 59% of mobile users text in the bathroom. I guess reading magazines is old school now. Although I could not find any hard stats on this, I would guess that the number of mobile users who replace their phones due to dropping them in the toilet is pretty high too as this is a very popular search on Google. I thought I would make some recommendations for victims of the "toilet dunk" - from a mobile phone aspect anyway. Of course, this fix could apply to getting your device wet in any number of ways.

If you drop your BlackBerry or other mobile device in the toilet:

1.) Get it out fast! This is the hardest part as sticking your hand in the toilet is a very hard thing to do.

2.) Power off immediately. Take off any case or skin and remove battery, memory card, and SIM card if your able.

3.) Let the device air dry. The ideal location is outside in the sun but you can also wrap the phone in a towel with aluminum foil around it and put it in the oven on a very low temperature for an hour or so. Another option is to submerge the phone completely in a bowl of uncooked rice overnight to absorb the moisture.

4.) Reinstall battery and try to turn it on. If your phone seems to work OK, then congratulations because you are very lucky. If the phone won't power on or is acting crazy after powering on, it's over. Replace your device.

My advice is to avoid multi-tasking in the bathroom as this can be a very expensive and embarrassing mishap.

Wes

BlackBerry Screen Protection is Essential

You love your BlackBerry - it entertains, it educates, and it informs. Imagine bowing your head in BlackBerry prayer position and discovering an ugly scratch on your display screen. A scratched screen is annoying and excessive screen damage can render your BlackBerry useless.

The price tag for repairing or replacing a damaged screen will more than likely cost you more than the device is worth, so replacing your BlackBerry itself is usually the only option. This is a huge and costly hassle, thus prevention is the best medicine. It's a no-brainer that the cost of a quality screen protector is far less than replacing your device, but many people don't think about it until it's too late.

Installing a screen protector certainly isn't a complicated task, but the benefits of putting this simple protective film on your BlackBerry screen can save you a lot of headaches and prolong the life span of your device dramatically. A screen protector should be one of your first accessory purchases when you get your BlackBerry and I also recommend keeping at least one extra on hand at all times.

Browse our selection of premium BlackBerry screen protectors and do something for your BlackBerry because it does so much for you.

Wes

DecalGirl Protective Skins for Curve 8300 Series

WesWare Online would like to announce the arrival of the stylish and vibrant designs by DecalGirl for the BlackBerry Curve 8300 Series.

DecalGirl skins feature stunning, art-quality designs that cover both the front and back of the Curve 8300, including the top and bottom sections. Installation is a breeze due to the channeled adhesive backing that prevents air bubbles and allows easy removal without sticky residue. All DecalGirl skins include matching wallpapers via a download code redeemable at the DecalGirl wallpapers web site. DecalGirl's low-bulk design allows for compatibility with most third-party cases and accessories as well.

We will be adding new designs regularly a plan to offer the most current and popular designs. Take note that the DecalGirl skins for the Curve 8300/8310/8320 are different from the Curve 8330 due to placement of the LED indicator on the 8330.

Your comments are always welcome, so let us know your opinions and suggestions about the DecalGirl skins for the Curve 8300 Series.

Wes

Kindle E-Book Reader for BlackBerry Review

Kindle Reader for BlackBerry released in beta on February 18, 2010

Kindle for BlackBerry Highlights:

• simple and fast e-book purchases directly from your BlackBerry
• Whispersync technology for syncing across all your devices
• intuitive, easy to use interface
• adustable text size for multiple screen formats
• great reading on the BlackBerry Storm
• no support for notes/highlights, line-by-line scrolling, or search within book
  

Amazon recently released the Kindle reader for BlackBerry after much anticipation from the BlackBerry community. My early experiences with the Kindle app, which I tested on my BlackBerry Storm 2, were positive. The app is currently available to U.S. customers only and features Whispersync technology for syncing your e-book info across multiple devices.

The interface is very simple and intuitive with basic menu options available via the BlackBerry menu key. Options from the Kindle app's home screen include the ability to remove items, sync your e-book bookmarks across your devices via Whispersync, sort functions, archived items, and a link to the Kindle Store. There is also an "info" key that offers help and support options and a handy keyboard shortcuts tab for users who have a physical keyboard.

When you have a book open for reading, the options from the BlackBerry menu key include text size adjustments, fullscreen mode on/off, add a bookmark, a "go to" function, and a "sync to furthest location" function. Text size is the most notable of these functions and allows six different sizes, allowing adjustments for different screen formats. The "go to" function allows you to skip to the book cover, the beginning of your e-book, the table of contents, or a previously bookmarked location. The "sync to furthest location" function simply updates your devices to your most recent page read using Amazon's Whispersync technology. Full screen mode - ON removes the book title and location information from the screen adding a little more space for text to cut back on page turns.

Reading on my Storm 2 was surprisingly comfortable and the text display is quite easy to follow. I click on the right or left sides of my screen to turn pages forward or backward but users with a physical keyboard can use the space bar to page forward and "P" to go to the previous page. The Kindle reader for BlackBerry does not currently support a notes/highlights function, line-by-line scrolling, or search within a book. Amazon promises that these features will be added in the near future.

Your Kindle titles can be managed via your Amazon account in the "Manage your Kindle" section. Here you will see your e-book orders and can register new devices. Purchased titles can be delivered to your other registered devices, e.g., PC, Kindle, Kindle DX, or iPhone.

The Kindle for BlackBerry currently supports the Bold 9000/9700, Curve 8520/ 8900, Storm 9530/9550, and the Tour 9630. The Kindle store boasts more than 400,000 e-books with over 100 New York Times Best Sellers. Most books are priced at $9.99 or less yet select titles can be up to $15. Books can be purchased via your BlackBerry device with the "buy with one click" option and books are downloaded directly to your Kindle for BlackBerry home screen. One-click buying uses your Amazon account information, including your default payment method, to make e-book purchases quick and simple. You can literally have your e-book available for reading is just a few minutes.

The Kindle app for BlackBerry is available at the Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry page. This page will give you the option to send an email to your BlackBerry device with a link for the download. You can also type "amazon.com/kindlebb" into your BlackBerry browser address bar to download the app directly to your device. When you download and install the app, your BlackBerry device is automatically registered within your Amazon account in the "Manage your Kindle" section.

The Kindle for BlackBerry app is easy to use, quick and convenient, and quite addictive. Storm users, due to the larger screen size, will benefit the most from this app, but other BlackBerry users with smaller screens will benefit as well with the ease of use and extreme convenience of having your favorite reading material readily available anywhere to carry your device.

Wes

Otterbox Defender Case for Pearl 8120/8130

Otterbox Defender for BlackBerry Pearl 8120/8130 now available.

The Otterbox Defender is simply the best protective case you can get for your BlackBerry Pearl 2, or any other device for that matter. Otterbox takes their case designs very seriously; studying and researching mobile users' lifestyles and habits. The Otterbox Defender offers 3 layers of protection: first a clear screen protector, then an inner hard-shell skeleton for impact protection, and finally, it's all topped by a silicone skin for more drop protection and increased grip.

The design fits nicely over your Pearl 8120/8130 and gives it an almost OEM look. A truly genius design allows full access to controls even through all these protective layers and the case still remains relatively low-bulk. Otterbox's ClipStand holster is also included which features a rotating swivel. The ClipStand holster is designed so that the device must be inserted with the screen facing your body. This design allows for increased protection from bumps and snags on the otherwise exposed device front.

I use an Otterbox Defender on my Storm 2 9550 and absolutely love it. It is well worth the premium price tag. The Otterbox Defender for Pearl 2 8120/8130 is available for $31.99 + our $2.50 Flat Rate shipping. The case retails for $49.99.

Wes

iFrogz Luxe Case for BlackBerry Bold 2 9700 Now Available

Our customers are loving the new iFrogz Luxe case now available for BlackBerry Bold 2 9700. The iFrogz Luxe has been very popular with iPhone users thus prompting iFrogz to release the BlackBerry version.

Users appreciate the simplicity of the Luxe case in it's two piece design and easy installation/removal. The case has a soft, velvety feel with metallic finish and allows full access to controls on your BlackBerry. WesWare Online currently offers 8 different colors to suit your style. A screen protector is also included for complete device protection. The Luxe was our best-selling case for the month of January and continues to gain popularity as the word gets out.

The iFrogz Luxe for BlackBerry Bold 9700 retails at $29.99 but is available at $16.99 + our $2.50 Flat Rate shipping everyday. Click on the link for more info on the BlackBerry Luxe case by iFrogz.

Wes

Google Nexus One - Why?

The Question

Google's recent release of the Nexus One has stoked a lot of speculation and criticism. Why would Google release the "Droid-killer" Nexus One; a Google branded phone that directly competes with Google's partners, namely Motorola?

The Nexus One

HTC designed the new Nexus One, which boasts the newest Android 2.1 OS, and is getting mixed reviews. In general, the Nexus One tested faster than the Droid and iPhone 3Gs and offers great display resolution but suffers some minor design flaws such as a "too easy to hit" home button" and a low battery life. Overall, its a great phone, but is it an "iPhone-killer"? Probably not. So what is Google's ultimate goal?

Why

Google has received much criticism on its attempt to "balance" hardware manufacturers across all their products. This attempt by Google displays much confidence in the Android OS brand; perhaps too much. However, Google now holds about 70% of the PC search market share and the mobile search market is growing fast. Let us not forget that Google is an advertising company.

Google's ultimate goal may be, and surely is, to control this market and thus profit greatly through their ad programs, as Google mobile search is sure to be a common factor among all their hardware partners' devices. The release of the Nexus One will strengthen the Android/Google brand by creating competition amongst Android based hardware manufacturers. The Nexus One may simply be a tool to further strengthen to Android/Google brand and make Google search the defacto standard on the majority of mobile devices.

Google's seemingly endless supply of financial resources and expertise as well as their brand trust among users makes it a very possible to accomplish what Microsoft couldn't with the Zune "balancing" act. Google has mastered the art of providing great services for free, making their money on ads. Nexus One may be the "ace-in-the-hole" that Google's been holding. Google can't seem to fail, so it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Wes