Berry Unusual - April 2007
While waiting for a plane during a recent trip to the Midwest, I remarked at how ubiquitous the BlackBerry is these days. Seemingly everyone is running around with one, emailing, talking, and doing business on the go. It got me thinking about the dizzying array of hardware and software applications available to take a BlackBerry to the next level. Here are just a few must-haves for the wellheeled BlackBerry user.
THE IMPATICA SHOWMATE FOR BLACKBERRY
Say goodbye to your laptop for meetings and short business trips. The Impatica ShowMate, a lightweight, pocket-size hardware device, attaches to any projector, monitor, or screen and allows you to direct PowerPoint presentations wirelessly from your BlackBerry (or via USB cable, if your BlackBerry isn’t Bluetooth-enabled). View your slide notes on your handheld and guide your presentation as you move about the room. This ingenious device retails for $249 and can be found at http://www.blackberrysource. com.
GAMES AND PHOTO ORGANIZERS
When the meetings are over, the emails are sent, and the calls are all made, relax and enjoy the lighter side of BlackBerry use with some of the many fun software products available. Visit BPlay.com to purchase games, including Sudoku and Texas Hold ’em, as well as themes and ringtones (http://www.bplay.com). SplashPhoto is a great application that makes it easy to edit and organize photos on your desktop and transfer them to your BlackBerry. Even when you’re on the road, you can take your loved ones with you. SplashPhoto retails for around $30. Available at http://www.splashdata.com.
ASCENDO FITNESS FOR BLACKBERRY
Turn your BlackBerry into your own personal fitness and exercise coach with Ascendo Fitness for BlackBerry. Monitor your workout regime, calculate calories, get nutrition information, record exercises, and monitor progress—it’s all at your fingertips on the road or at home. You can also export workout databases and charts to your PC. For under $30, this is a must for fitnessminded individuals on the go. Visit http://software.blackberrysource.com for more information. •
