Crimson is a new theme by Cocky Culture. Tony from Cocky Culture has some really nice themes, and this one is just as unique and stylish. There’s a little bit of everything in this theme. It’s dark, colorful, and with the skull and the swords making the cross bones, it’s sharp and alluring.
I couldn’t wait for the U2 Mobile Album to be released. I waited and waited anxiously, purchased the CD No Line On The Horizon, signed up on the U2 site, Â and today it finally arrived. The previews had given us a glimpse, a taste of what was to come, so what is the Mobile Album?
Cocky Culture has a variety of themes, very unique and very original. We’ve posted the review of Conquest, which is a fave of mine. Â The theme I’m reviewing is Rocker Chic. The theme is very rock styled and classic. And there couldn’t be a better time for a new theme, especially with the fifty percent sale!
Lately I’ve noticed that there have been a few mentions of the Empower SMS Viewer, as well as it being on sale in the BlackBerry Sync Store, and it caught my curiousity. I had to know why this app is gaining popularity, and what it could do for me. I decided to download the app and find out for myself.
There are some places we can’t have our phones ringing, like in meetings or some professions may not allow the ringing of the phone. There’s an app that not only let’s you know you’re getting a message, but personalize your emails, messages and messenger with the color of the LED light, all in your hands.
![id_theft_big_box[1]](http://blackberrysync.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/id_theft_big_box1.jpg)
Last week I presented the SMobile Security Security Shield Parental Control Edition. Today I’m reviewing the SMobile Anti-Theft And Identity Protection. The product is pretty similar however, it does not have access to viewing everything on the handset, it is primarily what it states, Anti-Theft And Identity Protection.
SMobile Anti-Theft And Identity Protection is $29.99 for an annual subscription. It is an application that you download and install on your phone, and access to an online Lock, Wipe, Backup, and GPS locator dashboard online, allowing you to protect your information. Ever since the Etisalat incident, awareness of spyware and viruses directed at smart phones and BlackBerry smart phones is becoming more of a concern. We have reviewed the Roblock and SmrtGuard producsts, but SMobile is different. It has the anti-virus which the others don’t. There have been an increasing amount of malicious software targeting BlackBerry handsets, mainly because they are the standard PDA phone for email used for business. The BlackBerry devices do use powerful email-encryption and security system, making it difficult for outside parties to access. The Etilasat would forward email to another email address. SMobile classified the Etilasat “upgrade” as spyware.
![smobile1[1]](http://blackberrysync.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/smobile11.jpg)
Remember a few months ago we gave an overview of SMobile Parental Control? In light of the Etisalat incident and the concerns of parents, we felt that a full review of SMobile Systems Parental Control would be a great way for us to experience it first hand and enlighten our readers.
SMobile Systems is a security company based in Columbus, Ohio. What makes them different is that they are the leading provider of security solutions for mobile phones. Their software for consumers is varied and includes SMobile VirusGuard for the BlackBerry at $19.99 a year, SMobile Anti-Theft and Identity Protection (with Remote Lock, Wipe, Backup  and Restore with GPS tracking) for $29.99 a year, SMobile Parental Controls and Monitoring for $29.99 a year, SMobile Security Shield Standard Edition (Point Guard Anti-Spam, Call Filtering, Theft Protection with the Remote Lock, Wipe, and Backup, GPS locator, Anti-Virus) for $34.99 a year, and SMobile Security Shield Professional Edition (The Standard Edition plus a firewall) for $39.99 a year.
The Product we are focusing on this review is the SMobile Security Shield Parental Control Edition. Â It contains the following: Email and Text Message Monitoring, Call Monitoring, GPS Locate, Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware, View Contacts, a Monitoring Dashboard, Application Monitoring, and the Lock, Wipe, Backup and Restore. All this for merely $29.99 a year. Now reasons for the software are a given. We live in a world that we must protect our children. It’s not as it was back when we were growing up, and our parents weren’t blessed with the technology we have the access to today. In light of the sexting, child predators, and other worse possible scenarios, imagine being able to arm your family with the peace of mind to monitor it all and make sure your precious child’s safety is held in top priority. And all you need is their cellphone and your pc. SMobile created just the answer and has made it available for parents inexpensively.
For the description of the product, this is what it states:
“SMobile Security Shield Parental Control Edition is the first complete suite of security software applications to protect mobile devices and their pre-adult users from:
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By utilizing the innovative Parental Control Dashboard, parents can easily and effectively gain insight into their children’s mobile activities, as well as offering protection from the effects of device loss or theft. Security Shield software communicates with the dashboard server, and also provides an additional level of protection:
SMobile Security Shield Parental Control Edition for feature phones such as the Rant, Envy II, Razor, the Juke and many others will be available for purchase in early Summer, 2009.”
When a purchase is made, the builds are available for direct download. The user purchases the product and then sent an email which instructs the customer to visit www.smdownload.com from their browser to download the app for their device. I downloaded and installed the application portion of it on my BlackBerry Tour 9630. It would be as if I were installing it to my child’s phone, and I would have access to it from my pc after installing it.  It installed rather quickly. The app went into my download folder as a green x with swollen ends. When you click on it, it will ask for your username and password. It displays the green x and SMobile Systems Security Shield. On a white screen you have the Virus Guard displayed, Monitor and Control, and Backup and Restore. When you click on the Virus Guard, options of Virus Guard, Update Now, Update Log, Settings, Support Info, Help, and About appear.
Clicking Virus Guard will show the Monitor Status, Last updated, and the License Expiration. Update Log shows update history, Settings show how often to do Auto-Update Frequency and your choices are one hour up to never. I had to set my MDS to off for it to work, License Key, Server, Phone number it is used on (1 and area code, prefix and number), User name and password in stars. Support Info displays the MDS which is off (unless you’re on the BES), License Key, Server, Phone Number, User, IMEI, and Device PIN. Help Displays the Overview of the product as what it does and how it updates. About displays Security Shield V8.3.7, @ 2009, SMobile Systems and the website. It states A mobile security solution providing essential anti-virus and anti-malware protection. This runs in the background.
Monitor and Control shows SMS: hopefully enabled, Voice Enabled, Email Enabled, Picture Enabled, Log File Size, and Even Count and the Last Posted Date and time. Clicking Backup and Restore shows the last backup and the last restore.
The first thing of course I did was update it to it’s current updates. Then noticed how it uses very little energy on the phone. Now here’s where it gets fun. The Parental Control Dashboard that you have access to online. First you register the product on your phone, then you go online and set up your login for the Dashboard. You also have access to the Lock, Wipe, Backup, Restore and GPS locate.
The Parental Control Dashboard is nothing short of high tech amazing. When you log in there are the following access from the phone: Home, Reports, Account Settings, Picture Viewer, and Glossary. In Home you have Messages, Applications, Contacts, Locations, Send Commands, and History. In the Messages, there are full explanations of incoming and outgoing. You can view each and every email and text IN ITS ENTIRETY. The full message. From whom and what everything written is, with date and time included. In the Reports, you can look up certain reports by recipient, sender, message type, time and dates. You can set alerts to be notified if certain messages are considered potentially harmful. In Account Settings  you can change the account management as to the email and phone number of the manager. You can also decide in Handset Management what monitoring is enabled and how large or small log event and size are. In Picture Viewer, you are able to see all pics sent and all pics taken with the phone. This includes all vehicles of communication from email and text to the messengers themselves. In Send Commands, you have the ability to Lock the Handset, Unlock the Handset, Wipe the Handset, Back Up the Handset, Locate the Handset, and Send All Messages. This now gives you the ability to lock it up if there’s reason, or if it’s stolen. Unlock at will, and wipe and backup in case it’s stolen. Now here’s a really helpful asset. The Glossary, which has all the latest text and messaging acronomys and lingo you could ever want to know. So if you’re reading the text and can’t understand them? Don’t worry, the Glossary is there as your decipher tool, so you have your very own texting Rosetta stone.
So my experience with it, extremely impressed. It’s light on the phone, and I love the fact you can see everything and have the ability to be the parent and the guardian. No error messages, which made my experience even better. The online Dashboards are extremely easy to use. If you don’t have children of age for this product, I would highly recommend one of the SMobile Security Shield software. It’s light, works great and is good to have just in case. For the software, I definitely rate it the highest. And for the dashboards, they are very easy to navigate, and easy to understand and read. Support is very good, customer service is fast to address any issues, a big concern to me, also rated high. The program I have to admit, exceeded my expectations. I was shocked to see the picture and text content come in. I like that third party apps are viewable as well. While the review was aimed at the BlackBerry phone, if you’re child has a different phone, the product can still be installed and used, just make sure that it is available for the handset. This is the best comprehensive security software in my opinion that I have seen yet to monitor your child and protect your child, your child’s information, and the phone.
You can purchase your copy of the SMobile Security Shield Parental Control Edition by SMobile for $29.99 a year here >
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It’s no secret that OtterBox cases provide some of the best protection on the market. Well this time we put the OtterBox Defender for the Curve 8900 through its paces. We gave it the ole’ bump here and there, drop off the table and even kick across the floor… And the case is still like new. If you’re looking for the best protection for your BlackBerry then look no further, the OtterBox Defender Series is here. Read over mini review of the Defender case. Read More
ZonaSnap is a capturing app or utility for the BlackBerry device that can allow you to take screenshots. It gives you the options: Send to Photobucket; Send as Email; Save Capture; Help; About; and Close. The other great thing about it, it’s FREE. While I used Capture It, this is a great app as well, and works as a great compliment.
I was really interested in this app when we received the email from Felix of ZonaBlackBerry.com. The app was developed by the staff, better known as Javiergv. The program comes in English or Spanish. The details of this product are as follows:
Features:
I downloaded the app from the link given, and it installed quickly. I changed the key which usually opens Capture It, to use the ZonaSnap. It worked quick. When snapping the screenshot, it buzzes then displays a pic on top that has a blue icon on top that says ZONASnap and a red one with a Z and BlackBerry symbol that says ZDNABlackBerry. Clicking the options button, I get the following options: Send to Photobucket (if you have an account, or you can make one), Send as Email, Save Capture, Help (which has detailed instructions how to use the application to it’s full extent, all shots are stored as .jpg, About, and Close. If you choose Save Capture, then the app has a file under pictures in your media where you can find the pictures. From there you can send as you normally would.
I really like that the application is easy to read, use, and follow. For usability and readabilty, it’s a five star app. I also appreciate that it allows you to choose to save and send. I know there have been times I have accidently hit the side button and ended up having to delete a mistaken pic with Capture It. But with Capture It, it goes directly to your pictures. You have the option to send right away with ZonaSnap, which is nice. For being free, it allows you more choices and less limitations. I don’t have a Photobucket account, I use TwitPic for a pic storing online place as well as Flickr.
I can’t say that I found any faults, although it would be nice in the future to see the ability to send to messengers from the ZonaSnap. I use the ScreenShot capture apps for one, the review pictures, but also for tech support. If I have a customer/friend who cannot find something or needs guidance with their BlackBerry, I have found this to be the most valuable tool for that, and sometimes pictures speak louder than words.
Pros: The price is nice, at Free. The app allows you the choice of saving or sending from the time the screenshot capture is taken. It makes a folder to keep your screenshots in, so they’re easy to find. using it is so easy, clear concise intstructions are included in the Help option, it’s not a large file at all and doesn’t freeze. I am highly recommending this app if you can use it, you certainly will not be disappointed. It’s extremely convenient.
Cons: Not really a con, but more a wish that the app will eventually give the choice of sending to a messenger as well, or even as text. I didn’t deduct points for it, but like I said, more of a wish.
You can download a FREE copy of ZonaSnap v1.1.08 from the BlackBerrySync Store here >
Or if you’d like the Spanish version, you can download that here from the BlackBerrySync Store as well.
Compatible with BlackBerry OS: 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7
Compatible with BlackBerry devices: 81xx Pearl Series, 8220 (Pearl Flip), 83xx Curve Series, 87xx series, 88xx World series, 8900 (Curve), 9000 (Bold), Storm
Rating:
We were given the opportunity to review an updated product for the BlackBerry: Total Control. It’s a video surveillance software program you can run without a third party server. There are no monthly fees or annual suscriptions to pay to use, and allows you to view and control live video stream.
First I’m going you to give you a short description of Intelligent Designs Group, LLC. They are a group of software developers and integrators within various industries who have collaborated together for the main purpose of bringing intuitive software with the focus on the mobile client market. They develop their own software clients, handle direct integration projects, develop OEM software, etc.
For this particular app, the price is a one-time fee of $59.99 for a single camera version. There are also multicam versions available, the up to four version is $79.99, and the up to eight webcam version is $89.99, the up to sixteen webcam is $99.99, the thirty two webcam is $119.99, and the sixty four web cam is $149.99.
The features included are:
Download was pretty quick and easy. I evaluated this software on a Curve 8330, OS 4.5. There is a free trial available, so it’s a good way to get an idea of how to use it and if it’s going to be a useful app for you. I can see this being of value to the small business owner and to the family or single person who would like to monitor their home and prized possessions.
Once downloaded, a little white square with cam is the icon and reads democam. Clicking on it, the app reads Total Control Software Suite MultiCam Edition and the green words of LIMITED DEMO VERSION run across the cam which sits in front of a white background. It also has the web address of www.totalcontrolapp.com at the bottom. Clicking the trackball, it brings up a bottom bar with zoom in and out, play, stop, left, right, up, down, home, screen, save, and end. The screen option actually splits the screen so you can view two cameras.
Clicking on the Option button brings up the options of: Start; Select camera; Next Camera; Previous Camera; Auto Switch; Camera Shot; Icons; Set Up; System Settings; About; and Close. In About it tells me how many days I have left, how many number of cams I can see which are two, the version 1.15 and information on the developer. System Settings allows me to choose my connection. By default I have Direct, but the user may change the settings to BES or WIFI. You can also set the Autoswitch delay in seconds. In Set Up, you are able to name your camera, the make and the models will populate for you to choose from. You choose the Mode and if you’d like, the resolution as well. It allows you to also put in Login Info if necessary. In Icons, you may choose Small or Large. In Camera Shot you may choose Save A Shot or Load the last Shot. The other options are pretty much self explanitory.
I think it goes without saying that the software is more for cams that you add to your pc, and for web cams that are integrated into laptops it requires the downloading and installing of a program known as WebCamXP. This will actually work with most cams that are not mentioned, but will not guarantee working with an integrated webcam. For this reason it is best for a security/surveillance option. To find the WebCamXP program you need to Google it and install it to your own computer, not the BlackBerry.
For the sake of the evaluation, I chose to use the test cams for the app. Set up is very easy. You can can input all the information as to the address of the camera, any details, and the phone will find the camera or let you know if it cannot find it. The app supports JPG and MJPG formats, MJPG being the preferred method for the video streaming. Using a trackball does allow you better viewing capability. With this software you are able to keep your ip address hidden, and the worry of someone accessing your video information is alleviated by the fact there is no third party server. You can switch back and forth between cameras which I did. I found this to be really neat as the camer refreshes every so many seconds.
For rating this product, it’s fairly easy to use and I had no problems setting the cameras up. For that I rated it a 4.75 out of five stars. For usefulness, this is a great asset to someone who would like to keep an careful watch over thier home, children, pets, etc, and to the small business owner watching over the business in the evening or during the day as well. For that I give it a 5/5 stars. For the price, it’s a great price when you keep in mind there are no monthly or annual charges for the program. Just a one time download and it’s yours to keep. So the cost would be worth it to the individual or business owner who would like the convenience of knowing they have that piece of mind mobile. Customer service is prompt in support and resolving any issues, which leaves me feeling assured and much more confident in using the product. So in rating this product, I wasn’t evaluating it in general, but more against the description and what consumers might benefit from it, the consumers who would know the value and I really do recommend this software for surveillance purposes.
Pros: It works with several different web cams, and it can switch back and forth easily. I had no problem in setting up the cameras. It refreshes nicely and gives you the ability to take snapshots if you need them. One time fee makes it very attractive as well. I love security and surveillance software, especially today where it’s a good idea to be safe, and not have to use hindsight to say, “I really should have used that when….” The app can be purchased for one camera, up to four, or up to thirty-two cameras if you have that many.
Cons: It only has two cams at one time on the demo. It’s not supportive of the integrated webcam. The demo version has bright neon green LIMITED DEMO VERSION across the screen.
If you are interested, by all means try the surveillance software, you’ll be impressed to say the least. I really like it for keeping a vigil over your home or business. And customer service is more than happy to assist and guide you through any issues and technical difficulties you might encounter. Don’t just take control, take Total Control.
You can inquire about your copy of the Total Control App from the Total Control Website here
and purchase your copy of the Total Control App of your choice from the merchant site here >
Compatible with OS: 4.1 and up, and the other version supports 4.3 and up.
Personally, I have never used surveillance software before. If anyone else has, we would like to know what your experience with it is, if you find it useful, and how it has helped or hindered you. If you’re considering it, we’d like to know what is your reason, so that others may benefit from another viewpoint. We’re really interested in your comments and views, please share!
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