I’m always looking for a great case that is protective as well. I found the Trident cases, and for the BlackBerry they actually have three levels available. I love how the series are named after different mythical characters. This case appears to be like the Otterbox and Ballistic rugged styled cases. Check it out…

Not that I’m Daphne of Scooby Doo, but I am pretty accident-prone. I’m always interested in a case that’s going to look nice yet offer that sense of security and assurance to relieve my worried mind. I saw the Trident cases and became very interested. They have several types of cases and cover different types of mobile smartphones and tablets, but the one I am reviewing is the Trident Aegis case for the BlackBerry 9930. There are three different types of cases for the BlackBerry: Perseus series, Aegis series, and the ultimate Kraken series.

Trident is a great name for a company. The Trident is a three-pronged spear used for fishing and as a weapon and is featured in mythology by the Hindu god Shiva, and also more known is Neptune or Poseidon, not to mention the devil. And of course all their series of cases have just as classic of names.

Perseus is a name we all know from the famous movie Clash of The Titans. The word stands for soldier, and the Perseus case is a light-duty case, too light for me. This case sells for $14.95 plus shipping.

Kraken is a case named after an old Norse legendary sea monster, and is very much similar to the Defender case by Otterbox. It too comes with the built in screen and holster, as well as the thick and durable covering. Unlike Otterbox, BlackBerry options for a Kraken Trident case are in a few different colors. This case offers the best protection for anyone who’s lifestyle requires heavy-duty protection. This case sells for $44.95 to $49.95 plus shipping. I wasn’t able to find the BlackBerry on their website, but they are available for BlackBerry on the Amazon website here.

Now the Aegis series. Aegis in the ancient times was a large collar or cape to show the protection given by a religious higher authority or the holder of a protective shield meaning the same. Wearing the aegis shows sponsorship, protection, or authority drawing it’s power and protection from a higher source or deity. This was the case I thought sounded best for me.  It states protection for an active lifestyle. It’s slim and easy to keep in a bag or pocket. This is the case I ordered. I also liked it has different colors available, so I chose the green/black Aegis case. Other colors available are black, red, pink, and bright baby blue. This case sells for $29.95 plus shipping.

When I finally got my case, I was pretty stoked. The case comes with a screen protector you can install with the installation card and the cloth. The case is in two parts, the silicone lining and the hardened polycarbonate plastic shell. It also has silicone plugs that cover port openings. I really like the silicone case, which has the Trident emblem that stands out in the back, which is really a nice embossed feeling. The polycarbonate case includes the name on the case and dust filters. You’ll have to check out the strength of this Tritan’s shield.

The packaging is nice, and easy to open. I took apart the case and found that it took a few minutes to get worked onto the phone, but after that it fits very nice. I love the way the silicone plugs the ports. It’s not a thin plug, but a nice inset one so it won’t be easy for the plug to come undone in a purse or pocket. The color is nice, the case feels very solid, and it would be very similar to the commuter case for BlackBerry except that it does have different colors available and I really like the Trident emblem on the back. There’s even a place for a cell phone charm on the case.

There’s no con to the case at all. I like having a screen protector I can install, and love having a case that’s thick enough to protect my phone, but thin enough I can take it on the go. Is the case worth the price? Yes, and if you like style, fun, protection, and different colors, check them out.

P.S.

The only downside I found was that while Otterbox and Ballistic both offer their heavy-duty Defender series for the BlackBerry PlayBook, all the Trident offers is the Perseus series for the PlayBook.

If you want to read more about the Trident cases, check them out here

For BlackBerry cases click here 

[rating 5/5]

I run several apps on my BlackBerry, which leaves my BlackBerry needing a charge twice a day or more, not to mention my InPulse smartwatch that lasts four to six hours as well. The last trip I took left me with a dead phone and watch before I reached my destination, I needed a solution for the next time.

My search for the Charging Grail, the solution of all solutions, led me to look at Powerbags. I wanted one that I could carry my laptop, my BlackBerry, my BlackBerry PlayBook, my electronic odds and ends, and keep them powered up. There’s nothing more frustrating than being without a phone or watch and waiting for them to charge. I keep spare batteries charged for my Bold, but it would be even more convenient if I didn’t have to worry about battery swaps.

Powerbag designed by ful come in an assortment of charging bag types and different on the go batteries. They have backpacks, messenger bags, and briefcases. The briefcase collection has the Business Class Case, the Wheeled Briefcase, and the Rolling Office. The Messenger Bag Collection has Tablet Messenger, Messenger, and Instant Messenger. The Backpack Collection has Sling, Backpack, Deluxe Backpack, and the Business Backpack. For me, I felt the Deluxe Backpack would meet my needs and I ordered it. The bag comes in one of two colors, black or red. I chose black. It didn’t take long for my Powerbag to arrive and I was definitely far from disappointed.

For the Deluxe Backpack Powerbag, the following are the features:

Removable, lightweight rechargeable 6000mAh battery: The built-in battery system charges the average smartphone 4 times and includes Apple, Micro-USB and Mini-USB connectors and a USB port. Charge literally hundreds of devices including smartphones, eReaders and many tablets. Tablets must be charged with their own USB cable through Powerbag’s on-board USB port.

External one-touch battery level indication and power button:The logo button turns Powerbag on or off when you press and hold for 2 seconds. Or press the logo button once quickly to see how much power you have left.

Water-resistant AC adapter charging port:When it’s time to recharge Powerbag simply connect the included AC adapter and plug it into a wall outlet.

Suspension-contoured back straps: The contoured straps and back panel are designed keep you comfortable even when your Backpack is filled to the brim.

When my Powerbag Deluxe Backpack arrived, I immediately began checking out the literature and the different compartments. I really like how there’s a place for everything! I don’t need a ton of room, but I have quite a few gadgets I like to keep on hand when I’m traveling. The directions call for charging the Backpack, so first you need to remove the removable battery, take off the little plastic that covers the prongs, and reinsert the battery. Now it’s ready to charge. I found the charging cord, unwound it, plugged it in, and let it charge till all the bars stayed lit.

The literature that comes with the Powerbag:

• The device tag (4 Smartphone charges and charges tablets, smartphones, MP3, Bluetooth, GPS, Games, and eReaders)
• Quick Start card that you’ll want to read first to learn how to charge the bag before use and a toll free number for support
• Owner’s Manual

The Deluxe Backpack is available for $169.99, and for now ground shipping is free. The bag is durable, it works great in charging all my devices, and I found loops in the bag, where I could place the usb cable into the battery usb port and run the cable along the backpack to the padded tablet pocket. The only thing that would have been great is if the Apple cable was one that could have a piece to make it micro or mini instead since I don’t own any Apple products.

I think it’s also important to let you know that there are three sizes of batteries available, so you can purchase a spare, or customize your bag accordingly. They have the 3000mAh battery for one or two charges, the 6000mAh battery for 4 smartphone charges, or the 9000mAh battery for a charge up to 6 times! You can find the battery sizes and pricing here.

The bag is stylish, I chose this particular bag because it fits my particular lifestyle. There are different prices available for different styles of bags, and some of them have more colors to chose from. As you can see by the pics, I had to have my BlackBerry PlayBook cases, CyberClean, HDMI cable, V-Moda headset, some usb cables, my Cube, my Toddy Cloth, a few packets of Sugru putty for those times you never know, stylus, and all I need is to throw my laptop in, my BlackBerry, and BlackBerry PlayBook, and I’m ready to roll! I absolutely love this bag and I know I can handle the next trip without worrying about having to turn off my phone because it’s going to die, or my PlayBook not lasting whether we’re on a plane or hike. I’m prepared for fun and my BlackBerry is more than prepared as well. No more dreaded dead batteries, which makes me happy.

You can purchase the Powerbag Deluxe Backpack for $169.99 designed by ful here

Or you can check out the different styles and grab the bag that fits you best here

“Need Power? It’s in the bag”™

[rating 4.75/5]

From time to time we read or hear about SAR ratings and the dangers behind them. Even BlackBerry pro user and CIO journalist Al Sacco has written about the subject back in June 2008. After hearing the subject come up frequently, I decided to purchase a Pong case and explain the subject. Check it out…

So first we’ll touch on the subject, what is SAR? It stands for Specific Absorption Rate and it’s the metric to measure the device’s radio frequency energy that the device emits. In order to pass the FCC’s inspection, the device’s SAR must measure equal to or less than 1.6 watts per kilogram.

Why should you be concerned about SAR? While studies are not as concise as we’d like, a small group of doctors and activists along with the FCC have concerns over the possible connection between cell phone use and brain cancer, hence the inspection and ratings. There is no proof that cell phones cause brain cancer. There is however a new study published in the Feb. 23 Journal of the American Medical Association by Dr. Nora Volkow found that a cell phone’s electromagnetic field can cause changes in brain activity. This does not prove cancer, but does show that the brain can be affected. I was really surprised to see some of the BlackBerry devices in the top highest SAR devices, and we’ll post the list toward the end.

Time Magazine’s online TIME Healthland has a great slideshow in which there are tips how to lower your risk of exposure from your cell phone which are as follows:

• Use a wired headset 
• Get used to texting!
• Don’t use your cell phone as an alarm clock, get a real alarm clock (cell phones still emit energy even when not in calls)
• Don’t carry your phone in a shirt or pants pocket, or your bra (just in case there is a possibility of exposure to cancer)
• Use a radiation-blocking case by Pong Research. The case can reduce the radiation percentage by 2/3rds! There was an independent test witnessed by Wired Magazine in 2009 which proved the case does work.

So now with the Pong case. There are four different styles of BlackBerry that Pong Research has cases available for.

• BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 for $59.99 in Black Leather Touch style
• BlackBerry Bold 9700/9780 for $49.99 in black or neon green
• BlackBerry Curve 9300 for $49.99 in black or neon green
• BlackBerry Curve 8520/8530/9330 for $49.99 in black or neon green

I purchased the BlackBerry Bold 9930 Black Leather Touch Pong case. The case shipped about five days later and while it seemed a bit pricey, I was very curious. I don’t have a lab or a way to visualize how the case affects the energy, I was more concerned with not only the health benefit and the effect on my reception would be. The box is a nice classy white box with a blue banner as you see.

When I opened the box, my case is carefully laid out so I can see the Pong name. Taking out the inside and sliding out my case, I find the plastic envelope which contents include: The card, the screen protector and the Pong screen cleaner.

The card has Pong Case Benefits:

• Reduces your exposure to cell phone radiation
• Protects your phone’s signal strength
• Durable Lexan cover adds protection for your smart phone
• How do I place the case onto the phone?
• How do I remove the case from the phone?
• And How do I clean my case?

There’s a Congratulations on your Pong case purchase on the other side and a barcode, which when scanned verifies and congratulates you on your authentic Pong case along with a discount for future purchases of their cases.

Installing the case was fairly easy. The phone must be placed with the volume and convenience key side going in first, then the other side snapping in. The case isn’t too light, which I like. The volume keys and the convenience key are left open, the top and bottom of the phone are open, and the other side has the micro port and the earphone port spaces. I love that the access to my keys is easy, and that the ports are open. The speakers, camera and flash have spaces open in the back. The case is fairly thick. While the case is designed for radiation protection, I can see where it may offer some protection aside of that. It’s not an Otterbox, Ballistic, or Trident case, but this case has your health in mind more so than the phone.

My reception hasn’t been compromised and I actually have found myself using this case more often than other cases that I have. The only thing I have yet to test out on the case is NFC. The case seems a tad bit thick and appears to have a slight cushion of space between the back of the phone and the case, so I’m wondering if share by NFC would be affected, my guess is that it would. I’ll have to try that out later.

I like the style of the case in the back with the arrow like shape and the brand on it. It’s both stylish and useful. Great for those who are concerned about SARS and the ratings, and perfect even for the business person as it’s not girly or manly, just professional. It lets the BlackBerry Bold’s beauty shine through but it’s also a nice sense of security knowing that I have more protection from my phone’s energy.

Here are the CNET cell phone radiation levels for RIM: CNET

If you are looking for a stylish case that has your health and safety in mind, look no further. Pong Research has the only case that is the first patented solution proven in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) – certified laboratories to dramatically reduce your exposure to electromagnetic radiation (“EMR”) exposure while protecting phone performance.

For more information, and to truly understand how testing works, I encourage you to check out the article by Wired Magazine when they went Inside A Cellphone Radiation Lab to witness the testing. The article is extremely informative and I’m sure will be of interest.

Check out the cases at Pong Research, and while BlackBerry devices aren’t the only phones they make cases for, they’re worth checking out and if you purchase a case or two, you definitely will find yourself very content with the case. There’s no need to worry about SAR with Pong in the house. Please don’t judge me on my choice of background, my BlackBerry is my baby and it gets very pampered. Has anyone else checked out the Pong cases? What do you think of it? Have you ever heard of the SAR ratings or thought about it? Share your comments with us.

Purchase your Pong case by Pong Research and find out more here

[rating: 5/5]

I had seen BBMShirts quite a bit, but never tried one before. The shirts are nice, come in different colors, and there’s a variety to choose from. I’m going to show you the tshirt, hoodie, and even the temporary tattoos. Check it out…

BBMShirts are the only ones that display your BBM Barcode to be scanned and friends added to BBM right from your wear. Or just wear it to show your love of BBM and BlackBerry. You give your pin when ordering and the Barcode is created from your pin. You’re unique, flaunt the shirt that shows no two BlackBerry pins are ever alike and are as unique as you are.

The way the BBMShirts works is that you choose the style of  your BBM Barcode display of : BBM ME!!!, PING!!! Me Baby, or a custom catch phrase. You can also choose to have a custom Avatar from Jingu displayed. There’s different styles from short sleeves, long sleeves, and hoodies. There’s even temporary tatoos. The pricing is great too. So let’s begin.

I was checking out the BBMShirts site in my quest for something different. I found the prices to be very nice. TShirts are only $20, Long Sleeve TShirts are only $25, and hoodies are only $30. The temporary BBM Tattoos are $15. I set out to try a Tshirt, hoodie, and the BBM tattoos. I ordered my package and it came quickly. For a side note, I’d also like to point out that customer service with BBMShirts is exceptional. The colors available for your shirts are black, white, pink, blue, grey, and red. I would like to see dark or emerald green added to the color lineup as well, only because it’s one of my favorite colors.

When the shirts and tattoos arrived, I anxiously opened the package. The Tshirt is 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It’s very soft and sheer. Directions state to hand wash in cold water (inside out) and do not place in the dryer or attempt to iron it. The hoodie is 80% cotton and 20% polyester. It’s very warm and soft to the touch. The hood is warm, the hands pocket section is warm, it’s all around cozy. Directions state to machine wash warm with like colors, tumble dry low, no ironing necessary. For the review, I’m sporting the pink BBMShirt Tshirt, the black hoodie, and of course the temporary tattoos. My package was an envelope of 15 temporary tattoos and instructions. They’re easy to apply and wear. But my question now is will the shirts and tattoos scan with the BBM Messenger scanner? Let’s see.

I opened my BBM, went to add contact, and by barcode. The camera came up and sure enough it scans easily with the shirt and hoodie. I was really impressed at the idea and it’s a great conversation piece, but for me it’s also wearing the “I’m proud to show my love of BlackBerry”.

Now to try the temporary tattoos. To apply the tattoos, you clean the skin and dry it where you’re going to apply the tattoo. Next remove the adhesive backing off the clear side, stick on to the skin, then take a warm towel or sponge to the back of the paper and hold for about ten seconds. The finished product is the tatoo. Applying it was easy, but harder to scan because of the shininess of the tatoo. But the tattoo looks nice even if I’m not able to scan. It also stays adhered to the skin until you remove it, which is about a week if you take care of it. The tattoos are a great alternative solution to getting the real thing, especially when pain is a factor.

I really like that you can choose different sayings for your barcode, including making your own. I also love the fact that Jingu apps allows you to even post your avatar on the BBMShirts. I’d like to see BlackBerry’s Avatar be another choice as well. There’s so much you can do with these and it adds to the BlackBerry and BBM pride in a fun way.

All in all, I find the shirts and the hoodies to be a great idea, great for gifts even for yourself. The temporary tats are fun too,

CONS: The only cons I could find are only requests. I’d like to see the BBM Avatars available with the Jingu Avatars, and also have green added to the color lineup. The tshirt is a bit sheer so ladies, be sure to sport a tank or camisole beneath it. The tats were more for show for me than actually being able to have them scanned.

PROS: The price is nice, the Tshirt and hoodie are very soft, the hoodie being very warm. The tatoos were a nice touch as well. For the price, the items are in a great price range and the quality of the materials are great. If you are looking for comfort and style, and having fun with the BBM brand, look no further, it’s all found here.

You can check out the BBMShirts and order your favorite saying, personalized Avatar, or your own catch phrase with your barcode here

The quality and customer service warrant a five star review. Just wait till you check them out. Let us know what you think.

[rating: 5/5]

I’ve seen the inPulse watch featured on different sites, and my curiosity finally got the best of me. I ordered the watch and waited for it, which wasn’t long at all. The InPulse watch works with your BlackBerry and displays time and messages from your BlackBerry on the watch. Check it out…

First off, the website for inPulse shows the following features of the watch:

• Push emails, sms, calendar alerts & caller ID
• Customize fonts and colors
• Set filtering options for emails
• Manage notification/vibration profiles
• Manage multiple inboxes
• Download smartwatch apps

I had to get this just to see how much it does. When I received it, the inPulse came in a nice box, two bright orange rubber bands that kept the box and the Getting Started Card together. The Getting Started card has a barcode which you scan and the directions appear on getting your phone and watch prepared and loaded.

Here are the tech specs:

• Physical Dimensions: 5cm long, 3.6cm wide, 1.2cm thick
• 1.26″ Colour OLED Display: 96 x 128 pixels
• Charges via micro USB in 45 minutes
• Vibrating motor
• Simple single button input (no touch screen)
• CSR BC4-ROM Chipset
• NXP LPC2103 ARM7 Microprocessor
• 1MB SPI Flash
• Programmable via Bluetooth to Mac, Linux, Windows
• SDK is similar to Arduino, code in C

There are two colors available for the inPulse Watch: Chrome and Black. They start with a price of $149. I had to have the chrome, which has a black band and the chrome colored watch. I took off the rubber bands, scanned the card with my PlayBook, and opened the box. There sat my phone. Out of the box the watch has no software. It must be loaded on by your BlackBerry. So you need to download the app then go to the app store of the watch and download the software.

The band is somewhat wide and it’s adjustable. It fits a bit loose which is okay. The plastic sheets that cover the face and back have kept it nice and shiny. There’s a single button on the right side and the other side has a rubber port cover that comes completely off to reveal the charging port. The back is nice and smooth chrome with a black strip across. And of course, the name of the phone and manufacturer.

First off, I plugged the watch into the charger. After it turns on it gives you a Bluetooth pairing code which you’ll pair to your phone for the connection and the installation of the software. I downloaded the software to my phone, followed the directions while I had the watch charging, and after the app was loaded I went into the App Store of the watch app and downloaded the software and loaded my watch. It was really interesting to see the watch respond. I have a 9930, and the software works great with it. After loading, you can go into the app and change some features of the phone such as how it responds to different emails, set up the alarm, texts, time fonts, etc. I really like how easy it is to customize. One thing I did notice was sometimes if you stay out of range for too long, or if the watch runs out of life or the phone has to be restarted, it loses the Bluetooth connection. If it doesn’t reconnect, you have to go to the orange N icon and click on it, go to the InPulse App Store and click on the main software and it should reconnect.

Customer service is great too, they are quick to respond, answer any questions, and address your concerns. That’s really important for me. I played with the watch for a couple days, and here’s what I’ve seen. Battery life is a little over 6 hours. Not bad at all. There’s no display for battery life so you have to guess. The rubber port cover comes off very easily and is easy to lose, so please keep it somewhere out of the way of kids and pets. The Bluetooth feature works great but can disconnect if out of the range of the watch. I see the watch being a great feature for the business person in meetings and for etiquette can’t answer his phone, but needs to read his messages as well as for us who drive and can’t always answer our phones and pick them up because of Bluetooth laws (although I use Vlingo and let it read my messages as I drive). I found a great use for the watch simply because I can’t always answer my phone, but I can still read my messages without seeming rude. Your watch vibrates as you get a message, so you always know what’s coming through. The Bluetooth reconnects easily if you find yourself out of range of the watch.

Another great feature of the watch is if you are a developer you have the ability to design your own watch face and change the watch yourself. There are also other apps and clock apps available to download to your watch.

Pros: Messages are displayed and works great with your BlackBerry. It’s a nice style and customization is easy. It’s a fun way to read your messages at your wrist, know that you’re being BBM’d or who’s calling you. The caller ID works great, as well as showing which of your contacts is trying to reach you. The alarm works great. Charging the watch out of the box, connecting it, and loading the software is easy.You can decide the color and type of font, and the types of alerts which is a nice factor.

Cons: The BBM displays only a BBM page, not the message. There’s no warning when the battery life is running low and nowhere to see the battery except when it’s charging. I would like to see the charging port cover be adhered somehow to the watch. I’d like to see more than one button on the watch, but after you figure out how to use it. The disconnection and manual reconnecting can be a bit tedious when they don’t reconnect on their own.

When I first got my watch, I loaded it and had more frequent manual reconnects. I tried installing a different watch app from the store onto my InPulse and the watch died on me during install so the app when it charged was not functional and wouldn’t connect. I had to do a reset on the watch and reload the software, which I chose the default one. It then worked as perfect as could be. Whether it just needed to be reloaded or whether it was OS 7, I’m not sure. So if you get the InPulse and the watch is having issues, reload it. This is definitely a real neat gift for the tech lover and geek, even if it’s you. I can see the techie and the business person using this and finding the real value in this. I love it, I just wish the battery life were a little more long lasting and the Bluetooth connection stronger, but it’s hard to tell whether it’s the connection or OS 7. The app for the BlackBerry had been updated a bit ago to be compatible with OS 7. All in all, I love it. It’s also a great conversation topic when your wrist is buzzing and someone asks, “What’s that?”

You can purchase your inPulse SmartWatch here, starting at $149.00

[rating: 4.25/5]

We are only about 8 days away from the BlackBerry Developers Conference, and it’s expected that RIM will unwrap their new QNX smartphone platform, which was rumored to be called BBX. Well it seems the BBX name might be a go. During the QNX Auto Summit in Japan, it seems the presentator left BBX, along side of Android and iPhone for supported platforms for the QNX Car 2. So as you can see from the slide above, I would say that is pretty good proof that RIM is going with the BBX name. Personally I love the BBX name, it brings a sort of X-factor to the smartphone platform. Start the count folks… 8 days and counting.

[via CrackBerry]

This app allows you to track every part of a domestic and international flight with real-time updates and live tracking maps. That way you can see your flight, when it’s stopping, if it’s ontime or delayed. This is a very detailed and informative app whether you have travel arrangements or a loved one you’re going to pick up from the airport. Check it out…

First I’ll go over the features of the app and the updates:

• View live flight tracking maps
• Track domestic and international flights.
• Full international coverage with over 4,000 airports worldwide.
• Covers 1,400 airlines across the globe.
• Check gate numbers, delays and cancellations.
• Airtime, aircraft, and speed & altitude (US).
• Predict flight delays with airport warnings and historical delay forecasts.
• Pro-level flight status coverage rated #1 by the WSJ
• Save flight itineraries up to 11 months in advance.
• Enhanced Map experience Users can choose either Google or BlackBerry maps and can now pan and zoom (new).

I installed the updated application on my BlackBerry Bold 9650. The app installed easily and my next task after checking out the features was to use a flight. So I found one that is scheduled for later in the month. It found it easily installed. The app is extremely easy to navigate and it’s a great resource of information. It even allows you to save flights which is nice so you can have the flights ahead as soon as you book them and keep track of them.

When you open the app you have the following in the menu:

• Detail View: The details of your flight from beginning to destination, and time with the flight number.
• Map View: I love this, Google Maps or BlackBerry Maps view
• Delete Flight
• Add Flight: To add a flight, you must have the number, airline, and date.
• Refresh
• About
• Options: How the app accesses the internet.
• Shutdown

I opened the app, listed the flight information, I can see the flight has one stop before the destination. I also see the map to each part of the flight and on the day of the flight I’ll be able to see if there’s delays on the way to the airport.

I can see this as a great way to keep on top of your flights and know what’s going on, whether you’re expecting company at the airport, or you are the frequent flier.

Pros: Everything about the app is great from the speed to the saving of flights.

Cons: I couldn’t find anything about the app I didn’t like.

FlightTrack is available from the BlackBerry App World for $4.99. It’s a great app to have on hand if you make quite the few trips to the airport.

Grab your copy of FlightTrack v1.1.0 by Mobiata for $4.99 from BlackBerry App World here

Mobiata is compatible with OS 4.5 and higher.

[rating: 5/5]

I remember all those commercials, “You sunk my Battleship”, and enjoying the game of Battleship. SeaBattlSE by Toysoft Development INC. is a fun game, but recently they changed it to include using BBM and playing with your friends! Check it out…

I had to try SeaBattleSE and try it out for myself, especially since it’s available in the BlackBerry Sync Store. I have to admit, the game is fun. On a rating of ease of use and the way it works, it scores a 4.5, however in the rating of speed of the game, it’s in the 2.5/3 out of five stars. But my outlook of the game wasn’t about the speed so much as the novelty of using it on my BlackBerry through BBM with my friends. We had fun with it trying it out, and it doesn’t work until someone signs on to play.

I installed this game on my Bold 9650 with OS 6 and BBM 6. It installs easily. With SeaBattleSE, you can change your status of BBM to “Playing SeaBattleSE” , you’re also enabled to invite friends to play you through the game as well. Playing is fun, after finding a friend to play, you line up and position your ships(Carrier, Battleship, Submarine, Frigate and mime sweeper) and then take turns trying to hit each other’s ships. You can message through the app too. The first one to get all the opponents ships wins. The sound effects and graphics are nice too. I had fun playing the game, and we were able to get the idea playing back and forth.

It’s still a little slow, but I’m sure this will change with future updates. It works great through BBM and when you’re done, it asks if you want to change your status back to the previous status you had. For now, you can only invite others to play who have BBM v6, which you can find on the BlackBerry Beta Zone if you are a registered member or want to register, which is free.

SeaBattleSE is available in the BlackBerry Sync Store for only $.99! For a fun game you can play with your friends and use BBM in a new way, you don’t want to miss out. The previous version didn’t work for me, but since the new update it has worked great, the only con I could find was the speed, but the concept of it is something that I really like.  The rating reflects the speed because I don’t want anyone to expect a fast game, but you’ll love what it can do and the idea of it is great as far as how it works with BBM.

If you’re interested in a game to play over BBM, have fun playing, and is priced under $1.00, then SeaBattleSE is a game you won’t want to miss.

Grab your copy of SeaBattleSE for $.99 from the BlackBerry Sync Store here

Compatible with BlackBerry Devices: Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Bold 9780, Curve 8900, Curve 8910, Curve 8930, Curve 8980, Storm 9500, Storm 9530/9530T, Storm2 9550/9520, Torch 9800, Tour 9630

[rating: 4/5]

Our friends at Accessorize Mobile had the chance to review the popular OtterBox Defender Series case for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Overall they seemed pretty happy with this rugged case for the PlayBook. In the review the team pointed out that this case may not be great for everyone, as a fair amount of bulk comes with that much protection. You also get a chance to see the Defender Series multimedia kickstand in action, which is pretty cool! Check out the review from the link below.

Read the OtterBox Defender Series for BlackBerry PlayBook Review at Accessorize Mobile

• Create Tasks from incoming (or outgoing) emails or SMS messages
• Assign Projects and Contexts to your tasks
• At-a-glance view of tasks for the day
• Ability to Delegate tasks or Projects via email
• Seamless calendar support (appointments show up in Day View in Viira)

And much more! You can find the full feature set here. So what is new in this installment of Viira? Here is what’s new in Viira 3.0:

• In-Basket. All unassigned tasks, no matter where created, will land in your In-Basket as your task “bucket” to sort through and Do, Delegate, or Defer
• Search. This version of Viira allows you to search your ever-growing list of things to do. Just press “s” and start your search. Its that simple!
• Reminders. User’s asked, and Viira listened, adding a much requested option to have a task “grab your attention” by setting not only a due date, but also a “due time”
• BlackBerry Tasks integration: If you prefer the simplicity of the native BlackBerry Tasks app to add your to-do’s you no longer have to import tasks entered here every time. They just magically appear in Viira’s In-Basket!
• Hide Completed. You can now also see what progress you have made in completing a project by hiding completed tasks, freeing up valuable screen and mental clutter.

Not sold yet? Lets take a closer look at these new improvements in a real world scenario!

Say you wake up in the morning and need a reminder of things you need to do for the day. Open up Viira and switch to “Day View” quickly get an overview of tasks and appointments for the day.

As you are getting ready for the day drinking your coffee and checking up on the weather, you receive an email you need to follow up during the day. From the Messages view in your BB, simply hilight the message and hit the menu key to “Create a Viira Task.” Viira automatically copies the header information and the first 300 characters of the email so you can see who sent you the email and what the contents is to jumpstart your memory when you look at it later.

You are leaving the house, and realize you finished all the milk and need to get some more before you get home. If you have “Dial From Home Screen” turned off on your BlackBerry, you can hit the “T” shortcut to quickly open the native Tasks Application and enter your task there. Viira will add your task to the In Basket for review later.

You can carry on during the day adding and checking off tasks as you go along and sort through your In Basket at the end of the day, checking off your completed tasks and assigning tasks to do the following day.  It doesn’t get easier than that.

But just in case, you can’t find your way around Viira, after you install it, you will see Viira has included a series of projects and tasks to help you get started with their GTD task manager app.

Viira is available for $29.99, or $19.99 if you are upgrading from Viira 2.0. From KartaMobile.com, Viira’s home on the web:

Viira 3.0 offers a free trial and is compatible with all modern BlackBerry devices all the way back to OS 4.6, including the BlackBerry Torch, Storm, Storm2, Style, Bold and Curve. If you have tried Viira 2 in the past Viira 3 will also import all your Viira 2 data.

PROS: No need to have data coverage as all your tasks live inside the app locally. Adding tasks is very intuitive and easy to do. Switching views is as easy as switching tabs. Very tight integration with almost every aspect of your BlackBerry, including Calendar, Mail Messages, SMS Messages and Tasks  making it a true “Super App.”Additional software allows you to use Viira in windows with their Outlook Plugin.

CONS: Day Tasks created in Viira do not show up in native Calendar, unlike the native Tasks app. Only way to back up your data is to create a back up of your BlackBerry using Desktop Manager (for Windows or Mac). Viira Plugin for Outlook is currently not available for Mac but even if it were, the price is a bit steep at $69.99

Overall, this is a great app to get your life and daily to-do’s in order, and considering that task managers range from $0.99 to $59.99 in App World based on features, the $29.00 price tag for this versatile app with the range of features it offers is just about right. If you use or have used other task managers for BlackBerry and have been left unsatisfied, definitely give Viira a try.

You can grab a copy of Viira for BlackBerry from the BBSync App Store for $29.99.

Also, if you are interested in learning more about David Allen’s Getting Things Done approach to productivity, you can pick up a copy of his National Bestseller book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.

Are you using a “to-do” app for BlackBerry? What is the feature you use the most? Sound off in the comments below.