Review Time - ShortcutMe (AKA ShortCut Berry)

For the last couple of days I have had the pleasure of reviewing Fonwares, ShortCut Me. I have been trialing the new version for the BlackBerry Storm and have been pleasently suprised by the nifty little program.

You can see ShortCut Me in action in the Video below:

Basically it does exactly what it says on the tin. Its an application that can be assigned to convenience keys and when pressed brings up a menu of all the tasks you use on your phone like launching an application, turning the flashlight on, calling/emailing/SMS a friend and many many more. Not only can you have access to all of these out of the box functions but you can fully customize it to suit your needs.

I tested the product on the BlackBerry Storm, but it is available on all OS’s including the latest 4.7.0.141 Storm OS. One of the things I look for in an application is the speed and functionality of the program. First up the speed! It is lightning fast, considering the amount of programs I have running on my phone ShortCut Me runs without any hitches and extremely quick! My memory was down at 4mb yesterday and I was still getting tremendous responsiveness with the application. One comment I liked from a member of the BlackBerry Community who uses this was:

“The speed of this application is impressive. Even me trying to crash it on
purpose, it takes it like a champ. Multi-tasking is actually pretty easy
with this. Once you learn all of your shortcuts, you will be zipping through
them like a hot knife through butter”

When I first read that statement I thought maybe it had come from someone who developed the application but to be fair its a true statement.

As regards the functionality of the application, what more could you ask for? Press one button and bring up your top 70 tasks (or less if you choose) and fire away with what you want to do. Now setting it up was a little time consuming but believe me once you have it set up you will wonder how you lived without it. What impressed me most about the application was the ability to set the convenience (side) keys to perform multiple tasks. You can set different applications to load up on one click, two clicks, 3 clicks etc. For example I have mine set up like this:

Right Hand Convenience Key:

• 1 Click - Open Short Cut Me
• Double Click - Run BB Messenger
• Triple Click - Make A Call
• Quadruple Click - Send A Text Message

You can also set double triple, and quadruple on the opposite side that you have ShortCut Me set to.

There is also a handy little pdf guides available for both Storm Devices and TrackBall Devices located here:

Storm PDF User Guide For ShortCut Me

BlackBerry TrackBall User Guide For ShortCut Me

Instead of me waffling on about how many things this app can do here is a list of the main features as found on the official ShortCut Me website:

• 70 out of the box, yet customizable shortcuts for major BlackBerry applications.
• Remove the unwanted shortcuts to shorten the ShortcutMe list as you wish.
• Assign single-letter shortcuts to your favorite tasks/applications.
• Set shortcuts for launching any of your application that is not listed in the 52 pre-defined ones.
• Shortcuts are active from anywhere, so press the shortcuts and fire an application without closing the current app.
• Create shortcuts for opening your favorite web pages.
• Create shortcuts for directly call/email/PIN/SMS a friend.
• Create shortcuts for opening a new Task or Memo.
• Create shortcuts for turning Radio and Wifi off/on.
• Assign 3 applications to each convenience key (double/triple/quadruple clicks).
• Assign 3 applications to ENTER-key (double/triple/quadruple clicks).
• Double click the convenience key (from anywhere) to lock your Blackberry.
• Access to any application while internet browsing without exiting the browser.
• Turn your Blackberry quickly to a Flash Light from any application.
• Avoid the annoying “Say a Command” voice because of the accidental convenience key clicks.
• No more worries about loosing your shortcuts when upgrading/changing BlackBerry or its software.
• User-friendly configuration process provided by Copy, Paste, Select, and Multitap in menus. (e.g. Copy a phone number from your Address Book and paste it in SB to create a Call shortcut).
• Modify most of the configuration settings on PC then load it into ShortcutMe.
• QWERTY, QWERTZ, and AZERTY keypad support.
• Shortcuts provided for the following major applications: Address Book, Alarm, BlackBerry Messenger, Brick Breaker, Browser, Calculator,Calendar, Camera, Clock, Face book, Flash Light, Garmin Mobile, Global Search, Google Mobile App, Help, Home Screen, LBS, Lock, Manage Connections, Memo Pad, Memory Cleaner, Messages, My Space, Options, Phone, Profiles, Tasks, TeleNav, Twitter Berry, Video Recorder, Voice Dialing, Voice Notes Recorder, and many other popular 3rd party applications.

In conclusion we have decided to give this product a 10/10 score and personally this is one of my top 5 premium applications.

We ran a competition in the forums for this application and the 20 lucky winners will be recieving a PM shortly regarding this.

For those of you unlucky enough not to have won a copy you can buy your copy of ShortCut Me for the extremely reasonable price of $4.99 click Buy Now below or navigate to the application in BlackBerry Application World

Screen Shots:

Minimum Requirements:

• For for Blackberry series: 81xx, 82xx, 83xx, 88xx, 89xx, 90xx
  • Blackberry handheld series:
  • 90xx series (Bold),
  • 89xx series (Javelin),
  • 88xx series,
  • 83xx series (Curve),
  • 82xx series (Pearl Flip),
  • 81xx series (Pearl)
  • Blackberry Software 4.3+ (4.3, 4.5, 4.6, and 4.7)
  • English Language
• For for BlackBerry series: 95xx (Storm)
  • Blackberry handheld series:
  • 95xx series (Storm),
  • Blackberry Software 4.6+ (4.6, and 4.7)
  • English Language

For for Blackberry series: 81xx, 82xx, 83xx, 88xx, 89xx, 90xx
Display Dimensions
240 x 160, 240 x 240, 240 x 260, 240 x 320, 320 x 240, 480 x 320, 480 x 360
Operating System
4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7

For for BlackBerry series: 95xx (Storm)
Display Dimensions
480 x 320, 480 x 360
Operating System
4.6, 4.7

Product Review - Arkon Car & Desk Mounts (WIN ONE HERE)

We get asked to review quite a lot of new products for the BlackBerry brand here at www.Berry365.com  and when Hendrik from http://www.arkon.com was in touch asking if I would like to trial some of their new range I was only to happy to oblige.

They sent me a whole host of BlackBerry mounts to try out and the first 2 I have chosen to review are as follows:

1.    Travel Windshield Suction / Dash / Console Mount for BlackBerry Storm  -
2.    Multi Angle Adhesive Dash Mount for BlackBerry Storm -

Travel Windshield Suction / Dash / Console Mount for BlackBerry Storm

This one is a really well built piece of kit. It is essentially the same as what you would get for Tom Tom or other satellite navigation device to mount it to the window.
Now I don’t know about you but I have had several Sat-Navs and the mounting devices are usually a bit flimsy and always falling off the window. I work on bumpy off road tracks sometimes and having a £300 device falling down and cracking is not something I enjoy seeing. The suction on this baby is immence. It hasn’t fell down once since I have stuck it up.
Its fully manouverable and once you have it positioned you twist the dials to tighten it in place making it really secure. There is also a stickable circle included that you can stick down to your dash board allowing you to place the suction pad on that if you don’t want it on your window
Now I have this device I think I’ll be signing up to Find and Go and replacing my sat-nav for the multifunctional Storm.

Click Images Below For Larger Size

For more information on this product refer to the PDF from Arkon: http://www.arkon.com/manuals/BBSTORM115.pdf

Multi Angle Adhesive Dash Mount for BlackBerry Storm

Next is this uber cool mount that you can basically stick or screw down to a table. If you spend a lot of time next to a desk then you could really do with having one of these placed right next to your monitor.
Not only does it look cool and give your Storm the prominence on your desk it deserves but it is really quite useful. I used to have it in my pocket a lot and with it going off all day I was up and down getting it out but now It has a dedicated place to sit and I always know where it is.
Once again the quality of the product is there to be seen.

I’m a little bit sceptical when it comes to accessories but Arkon have obviously chosen wisely when it comes to the manufacturing of these products. The packaging was good and the delivery time from the States was exceptional.

Unfortunately these items are from America so you would have to check the shipping to the UK until we open our store when we will be stocking these items.
For more information on this product refer to the PDF from Arkon: http://www.arkon.com/manuals/BBSTORM128.pdf

Click Images Below For Larger Size

If you live in the UK and you would like to win one of these just reply to this thread stating which one you would like and why. Winners will be chosen at random on the 18th of May. If you win we will contact you by email requesting your postal address to send it to.

BerryWars Blackberry Storm Game - Thumbs Up!

For everyone who loved the old classic Dope Wars and other such versions on the pc and other devices. Now we have it people! There is finally a version out for the Blackberry Storm!…..Berry Wars

As you can imagine it plays much like the old game. You’ll have 30 days to make as much cash as possible. Each day you will travel to locations in New York, buying low and selling high. You can buy clothes to carry more contraband and purchase a small assortment of weapons to protect your bad self.

Hardcore Dope Wars players will remember having to run, bribe or fight themselves away from police and rival dealers and thankfully much of the same is included in this sweet little number.
When playing this game I did find that going up against a small child who was trying to mug me quite amusing. Because even though I had a Tech 9 machine gun, he still managed to deal me 3% of damage! Watch out for him, he’s not as innocent as he looks!

Of course with most new releases, there is always room for improvement. A few extra places to travel, more weapons and perhaps a 30, 60 or 90 day length game option wouldn’t go a miss. A few more “I’m in the money” drug bust notifications would be cool too, or that could just be me being greedy and wanting a higher score!

But for $2.99, (that’s’ about £2.00 here in Blighty) you can’t go wrong! It’s a fun little way to pass some time and release the inner drug dealer, without getting shot at or spending time with your new boyfriend in prison.
Grab yourself a copy here http://www.mobihand.com/product.asp?id=29400&n=Berry-Wars and enjoy.

Screen Shots click to open gallery

IM+ All-in-One Messenger Now With FaceBook Chat - Reviewed

To Buy IM+ All-in-One Messenger Click Here>>

Being a user of a couple IM clients and a confessed Facebook addict.  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this little gem.

This new IM client from shape services allows you to chat within AIM iChat, MSN/Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo, ICQ, Jabber Google Talk, MySpace and Facebook chat in one handy little application.

There are some nice features available, Including an IM Push mode that enables you to send and receive IMs as emails and save precious battery life!   There is no cost per message and it fits in nicely with your data plan. You can “Stay on-line”, even if your connection is lost and you’ll still receive your messages.  It also includes cheap SMS worldwide from IM+, just 5 cents to US, Canada, UK and most other countries.

This app incorporates an online translating tool, so you’re able to translate messages into 9 supported languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, if your that lucky to have friends in other countries.

There is another perk with this app for BlackBerrys with 4.6 and higher OS.  You receive incoming messages to your message inbox just as you would with an email or a text.

The software is simple and easy to use and is almost fully customisable and an excellent way to keep in contact with buddies on the move.

Now I’ve been having fun with this app for the past few days and it almost does exactly what it says on the tin.  On initially receiving this product, the Facebook chat was not a function that worked.  And after a few emails back and forth to shape customer services, I was able to find out there was a problem with the gate servers, It has now been fixed in an update available from the Shape Services website.   Unfortunately the avatar support they claim to have is another function that is not currently working on my device, but I am confident they will fix that very soon with a future update.   All in all, it’s a minor hiccup, which can be overlooked due to the apps functionality.

Some people may have mixed views on the price of applications, but seeing as this has been reduced to $19.99 from $49.95 until may 1st, it is worth every penny and is a nice compliment to the new Facebook 1.5 application.  I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I have.

To Buy IM+ All-in-One Messenger Click Here>>

To View More BlackBerry Products From Shape Services Click Here>>

QuickLaunch for BlackBerry Bold and Curve Released this saturday

Erik over at www.Nikkisoft.com got in touch with Berry 365 to tell us he was releasing the awesome QuickLauch for the Blackberry Bold and Curve this saturday, the 27th. He asked us to road test an early release and one of our team members Mandizzle was only too happy to oblige:

I’d like to start off by saying WOW!

That’s truely how I feel about this nifty little app.  QL has a customizable dock to which you can add shortcuts to just about any application, as well as shortcuts to SMS/EMAIL/CALL specific contacts.  It’s a super small program and barely uses any system resources.  The best part is QL only runs on demand and you don’t have to worry about another app running in the background.

I was initially just going to write up a quick review and post a screenshot or two but after playing with QL for only a few minutes I was so impressed that I decided to be a bit more thorough so that you could see every facet of this well made application.

Installing QL was as simple as pointing my BB browser to the OTA (Over The Air) link and hitting the Download button.  Once installed, the first thing I did was change my Left Convenience Key to QuickLaunch.

I then loaded up QuickLaunch and played around a bit with the Options. I was able to configure if I wanted the Launcher to appear on the left/right side of the screen as well as the size of the font. One of the cool things QL offers is a Device Information screen which gives you all the info that you could see by pressing ALT+RIGHT SHIFT+H.  But the nice thing about checking Device Info from QL is that it’s a lot more aesthetically pleasing and also the information is presented neatly all on one screen.

I was then able to hit the menu button in QL and a menu popped up allowing me to add/edit/delete/move shortcuts.

I also decided to add a shortcut to Berry365 (surprise, surprise!) just so I could access it easily without having to go to browser > favorites.

This is the final result of what my QL looks like as I type this. I just have a few shortcuts on there that I can’t access from my homescreen. I have Dial from Homescreen set to OFF so that I can use certain keys from the keypad as shortcut keys.

All in all I give QuickLaunch 2 thumbs WAY up!  It is incredibly easy to get set up and going.  QL integrates flawlessly with the BB O/S and looks like an app that came with the O/S.  Actually, if I were RIM this is something I would integrate into future O/S builds.

If you’re like me and you like to hit as few keys as possible then I suggest you rush over to Mobihand and grab your copy of QuickLaunch , it’s well worth the $4.99.  TRUST ME!!!!

Great job on developing QuickLaunch, Erik!

Thanks and good night!

Mandizzle