On device app stores while still all the rage are now coming off of their peak. Last summer with the arrival of the Apple App Store, several manufacturers and companies including RIM, Google, and Nokia just to name a few announced plans for their very own app stores. Carriers, the gatekeeper of the data pipe naturally want in on this extremely lucrative market. There’s only one problem, the innovation and features that keep customers happy and constantly purchasing never came from “the network” (carrier branded stores). Look at the small app centers that carriers have run for the last decade, from AT&T to Verizon to T-Mobile. You could access these pathetic excuses of WAP shopping goodness from practically any phone…but who actually did? I know I didn’t. The app selection was abysmal at the absolute best and apps and services were often overpriced. That isn’t exactly the best combination if you ask me. So, now that the App Store hoopla is starting to die down, who is trying to break in and steal the spotlight multiple months late?

The World Wide Web is quickly becoming the one stop shop if you will for everything in our lives. Everything from cooking classes, to how-to mechanic videos, to live concerts. Online video, whether it be in the form of movies, live events, or other forms, are becoming the biggest draw to the internet. All of the new found love in video over broadband connections is making broadband providers sweat. Why? Are tiered plans really all they’re cracked up to be?

While wars currently rage between labels, copyright holders, RIAA-like companies, and consumers alike, a small movement may be on the verge of starting. A new band, “We Are The Fallen” has risen from the ashes that was Evanescence. While many will confuse the old and the new, Ben Moody, the co-founder of Evanescence sees the two bands as walking the path of life on this earth peacefully rather than resorting to typical celebrity drama/bashing. So what exactly is the big deal with this new band. At first glance many will more than likely confuse them for Evanescence as it is again a group of guys with a girl fronting the band. The real difference isn’t in the structure of the band, but in how they will share their creations with the rest of the world. Hint: Don’t think of “big CD releases”, instead, think of more sporadic updates. Their approach is exciting to say the least…

Apple’s Push notifications while grossly past due from their original due date of last year, were at least delayed for good reason. At the iPhone OS 3.0 preview, Apple stated the delay was because of “developers suggesting ideas and methods of implementing the push service that they had never thought of”, which in return required a complete re-write of the service, hence the massive delay. But the real question is why does Apple refuse to bring by far the most requested and undoubtedly most important feature, background processes, to the iPhone platform?

Since wireless internet has become available, public access, especially in places such as bookstores and coffee shops has been quite popular. Such locations offer a place to eat, drink, and spend some quality one on one time with your and your computer, filling your brain with whatever it is you fill it with. In recent years, the abundance of public WiFi and rising costs in the current recession has caused many people to turn off their own home based internet and go hunting in the concrete jungle for a free ride. Now I’m not saying everyone or even a majority of public WiFi users are doing so because it is too expensive to pay for home internet use, merely that that occurrence has increased with the economic downturn. Consumers however aren’t the only group to be hit hard, retailers are just as susceptible.

While there were many things announced yesterday at WWDC, several of those pertaining to the new iPhone 3GS, one in particular left me wanting more - the camera. The old iPhone 2G and 3G cameras were 2 megapixel shooters with nothing else to aid in mobile static image gathering. The new iPhone 3GS uses a *slightly* higher resolution 3 megapixel camera, except this time auto-focus, auto-white balance, and a few other small software tweaked features are also added. As soon as I saw the camera I thought to myself “That’s it?”. Do you find yourself asking the same question?

Look at the cellphone/smartphone/mobile device you are carrying around with you. Take a second to think about every feature that it has and what it can do. We take many mundane, simple features for granted every day such as MMS, Bluetooth, and now even WiFi and 3G. Such features just a few short years ago were seen as “big ticket” items that many were willing to pay dearly for. With each new revolution or advancement in mobile technology comes with it the attention of the devout few followers, those who love their gadgets so much they would tell little Jimmy that he will have to buy his own bike because papa is getting a new Blackberry. Looking at your current phone, regardless of how new or old it is, as well as looking at what is in technology magazines and websites today as the up and coming mobile tech, what will be “the” next thing?

The iPhone version of Scrabble brings the many joys of Scrabble to the mobile world and does a great job doing it. Many hours of my life will now be gone…invested in trying to muster a 3 letter word while the computer puts together a 30 word sentence…

Coming off of yesterday’s review of BerryWeather, HandyWeather is following closely vying for your dollar and dedicated spot on your berry. As far as weather information is concerned, HandyWeather does a good job of laying out the information on the screen in a decent manner that is easy to read. Though, while the app isn’t ugly by any means, I much prefer BerryWeather’s visual appearance and overall more “modern” feel. Is it the right Blackberry weather for you?

The glossy “Aqua” style of Tiger and Leopard isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. iLeopard will appeal to those users by toning down the gloss and glare giving Leopard a new, darker lease on life.

The Logitech MX Revolution is an outstanding mouse that cuts the cord and ends a valiant quest that has stretched on for many months. Finally I can declare the search over as the MX is by far the best mouse for the money.

Blackberry users who enjoy a “deeper-than-average” weather forecast on their addictive devices will find that BerryWeather, while not perfect, brings a lot to the table. Is it enough to part with $10 of your hard earned money? If you can live without a dedicated radar and a few inconsistencies between the in-app temperature/condition current forecast and the homescreen icon’s display of temp/forecast, you’re already winning half the battle. BerryWeather while not perfect has a lot to offer. Is it your next app purchase?

Book worms and tree huggers rejoice as another eBook option has surfaced.  This newest development is making home on RIM’s popular Blackberry line of devices.  Brought to you by Fictionwise, Barnes & Noble’s online eBook reader service, the eBook app will allow you to browse B&B’s free catalog of books online as well as all [...]

A weather nut and Crackberry lover knows that finding a good, robust, and fully featured weather application for Blackberry is no small chore. The market is flooded with them (no pun intended). However, with all of the choices to choose from, the results so far (in my search so far), are proving to be more elusive and difficult than I believed. My next stop in the Blackberry Weather application scene took place using eMobile Weather.

Book worms and tree huggers rejoice as another eBook option has surfaced.  This newest development is making home on RIM’s popular Blackberry line of devices.  Brought to you by Fictionwise, Barnes & Noble’s online eBook reader service, the eBook app will allow you to browse B&B’s free catalog of books online as well as all [...]

Book worms and tree huggers rejoice as another eBook option has surfaced.  This newest development is making home on RIM’s popular Blackberry line of devices.  Brought to you by Fictionwise, Barnes & Noble’s online eBook reader service, the eBook app will allow you to browse B&B’s free catalog of books online as well as all [...]

While Windows Mobile is the market leader in smartphone world in terms of smartphone OS usage, it is hardly the prettiest thing or most versatile OS. In that regards, if you are a loyal Crackberry user who has been itching for some WinMo-esque love for your device, now is your time. If you and your Berry have been feeling incomplete, the WM 6.5 Scroll Zen theme might just fill the emptiness you’ve been experiencing. If you have a Blackberry 83xx, 88xx, 89xx, 9xxx, or 95xx, stop on by the Berry Review store and claim yours for only $6.99.

The Se7en Blackberry Bold theme by Kissberry brings the slick look of Windows 7 to the Blackberry!

If bright and flash themes aren’t quite your forte, the Opus BlackBerry theme newly released by Elecite, one of the best BlackBerry theme sites around, you’re in for quite a treat. Featuring 8 icons on the home screen (top 4 fixed, bottom 4 user customizable) as well as a today area, this theme is rather robust and ensures even the most finicky and icon happy individuals get their fill.

Those of you wanting the crisp style of the Pre with undertones of BlackBerry appeal will find Visto Theme’s latest “BB Pre” theme to be quite the catcher. Featuring Corey’s trademarked slim style banner and big, beautiful icons, BB Pre will give your BlackBerry a new lease on life and a pretty face to boot. The theme features a bottom dock with the now standard, fully user customizable icons and nice simple yet graphically intense menus. The CrackBerry Store is beckoning you…just be sure to bring $6.99 with you.

If you are a Mac or Windows 7 user who wants to spread their OS of choice to their Berry, Elecite has a solution for both Mac and Windows fans alike: The Leopard theme and Inspirat.

Gadgets are increasingly becoming common fall backs to do simple things in our everyday lives that we were once burdened with doing. Take for example the simple act of opening a door. For centuries human beings have had to open and close their own door each and every time they want to pass through. In the modern age in which we live, why the hell should we have to do that? Several decades ago the electric door came into being and brought humans their firsts taste of autonomous door opening/closing. Fast forward to the year 2009. With mobile devices that are full of mobile computing power why not make the next move?

No doubt one of the best ways to escape your current trials and tribulations in your day to day lives is to sit back and play a good video game. Another approach to the same mind relaxing goal can be had by means of alcohol. What if you put the two together? Obviously many a night have been spent with games and alcohol in the company of good friends. Such events make life worth living and all the more enjoyable. Anyone can have some consoles and a big screen with a fridge full of beer. But if you want to really impress your friends, you need to invest in the Arkeg. All great things take time and money. The Arkeg at $4,000 is no different. But what you get is well worth it…

Like many hobbies, addictions can grow and develop from a small crush to a wide following consuming the minds and actions of wide swaths of people. Techie’s in particular can grow quite attached to gadgets, hardware, software, a tech company, or even characters in techie based products such as video game characters. While at the time, a certain tattoo may seem like a great way to show off your geekiness. However, after the ink settles and you step back look at what you’ve done, one can see the utter chaos that some of bestowed upon their bodies.

While most of things that pass my eye and make their way onto the front page of Gadgetsteria have some sort of electronic circuit in them or aid something with an electronic circuit in them, this particular innovative geekified object was too good to pass up. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been in the situation when the light was a little lacking, your bowels are screaming for mercy, and there is not bathroom/port-a-potty/soft grassy patch behind a tree in sight? For many nomads and campers, this is a daily occurrence. For others, such a scenario is practically a death sentence. But it doesn’t have to be. How so? Thank the inventors of glow in the dark toilet paper.

If you think your novelty calendar was cool, I have news for you. It isn’t. In fact, it’s complete and utter crap when compared to the new title holder of the world’s coolest calendar — The Ink Calendar. How does it work, what does it do, and why is it sooooo cool? You’ll just have to hop on in and find out!

Everyone needs some humor in their lives. That is where the Lego Guy Crash Test Dummy T-Shirt (whew!) comes into play. Impress your friends by providing them with countless encounters of laughter that will never grow old.

If you are a tech/gadget junky, chances are you have at least heard of a show called Mythbusters. It is a myth debunking/confirming show on the Discovery Channel that has over the last couple of years been an extremely entertaining show while also delivering knowledge…two things that don’t play well together very often. An episode of Mythbuster that raises the show to a new level of awesomeness shows a sled outfitted with various rockets completely decimating a tiny car.

For many, MP3 player is synonymous with iPod. However, in terms of audio quality, the iPod is far from the top of the heap. Back when hard drive mp3 players were big, units such as the Rio Karma, iRiver iHP-120 (my favorite…mine still works), and Cowon’s X5 were the real kings of audio when actual audio quality was considered - something that seems to have fallen by the wayside today. If you want to bring some new school love to an old friend, in this case an old Cowon X5, reinvent your dying love with some new compact flash goodness.

If there’s one thing about Mac fanatics it’s that they love eye candy. That love spreads to others areas than just the immediate Mac operating system. For those Mac readers who want to give Google Reader a bit of Leopard flare this how-to is just for you.

Has Safari 4 beta left you wanting a blast from the not so distant and still kinda-sorta present past? If you figured that non-sense out and want to get the tabs back on the bottom in Safari 4…check this out!

The iPhone 3G is finally un-lockable. For those iPhone users that just can’t stand AT&T or who simply won’t pay for their insanely overpriced international plans, step inside and save yourself a boatload of money!

Anyone who knows something about something probably knows the big rip off, eye gouging, theft practices that goes on with the extremely over inflated cost of ink cartridges. Such wallet emptying practices never please anyone. The trend the last couple of years has been geared towards deception. For example, while ink cartridge prices have been falling on certain manufacturers models, the actual physical size of said cartridges is also falling — you’re getting the same raw deal folks. So what is a cash strapped, printer loving person such as yourself to do?

Google Chrome is my new favorite browser. I like the style of it, the speed, and the way it renders web pages. For me, it’s all good. However, the one thing that bugs me about Chrome is that Google only offers an online downloader meaning if you’re in an area void of any internet connection, you’re out of luck. However, there is a super simple way to get the entire download in one file so you can install it on internet-less machines ’till your hearts content. Want to know how?

If you have an unlocked WiFi enabled Blackberry and want to use it with T-Mobile’s UMA service, you’ll have to take a few extra steps than your locked brethren. Come inside to get your device up and running quickly and easily.