BlackBerry Lovers: Bold 9700 Is Worth the Change

BlackBerry Loses TrackBall in New Bold 9700

BY KAUSHAL PATEL (M: 9898985580)

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is a combination of Research in Motion's Bold and the recent Tour, boasting built-in Wi-Fi and GPS and a faster processer.

For T-Mobile users, it also marks the first BlackBerry to run on the faster 3G network.

Like the previous BlackBerry Bold, the 9700 features a leatherette back, which gives it a dressed-up look that appeals to women as well as to men.

It fit perfectly in my hand and, though the keys are a little small, I had no problem typing out an e-mail on the QWERTY keyboard.

In addition to the regular zoom feature, the 3.2-megapixel camera now offers a flash as well as the ability to record video.

One huge departure from previous BlackBerry models is the removal of the trackball navigator. Ostensibly in response to user complaints about the need to clean or replace the trackball, RIM replaced it entirely with an optical trackpad.

Much like the trackpad on a laptop, you simply press up or down to navigate and the movement is simple and smooth.

The screen is a tiny bit smaller than that of older BlackBerry models but the sharpness and clarity make up for the loss of space.

I found reading e-mail messages and viewing Web pages to be a breeze.

If you're a BlackBerry lover in need of an upgrade, this is one Bold worth changing for.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 by the Numbers:

4.29 inches tall

2.36 inches wide

4.30 ounces (with battery)

6 hours of talk time

Up to 21 days of standby time

Up to 38 hours of music playback time

3.2-megapixel camera

The price: $199 with a new contract from AT&T or T-Mobile

TwitterPeek Smart Phone Keeps Things Simple

TwitterPeek Handheld Device Lets You Send and Receive Twitter Messages

For those who haven't yet upgraded to a Web-enabled smart phone yet but like to tweet on the go, there's TwitterPeek, a brand new device that lets you do just one thing: use Twitter. About the size of a small cell phone, with a full Qwerty keyboard and a scroll wheel, the TwitterPeek is all you need to send and receive 140-character tweets.

The handheld also lets you retweet a message, send someone a direct message or check replies to your public messages.

The concept is pretty simple. A scroll wheel on the side (reminiscent of those on older BlackBerry models) lets you click through and read your Twitter feed.

Keyboard shortcuts help you get around quickly.

Want to reply to a tweet? Simply type "R."

Want to direct message someone? Just hit "D."

Other shortcuts move you quickly to your first and last tweet in a folder, or search through your followers list.

KaushaL PateL

9898985580

Meet Apple's Amazing Magic Mouse

Meet Apple's Amazing Magic Mouse

Wireless Multi-Touch Mouse Makes Buttons Obsolete

When you're at a computer, there is little you use more than a mouse, so it is strange that it's taken this long to design the extraordinary Magic Mouse from Apple.

The Magic Mouse is the world's first "multi-touch" mouse, which means that when you swipe your fingers across the mouse's surface, it knows what you want it to do.

There isn't a scroll wheel. There are no mechanical buttons. Instead, the device consists of a very sleek, glassy white surface, with all the buttons and parts hidden, er, magically, inside.

The Magic Mouse also keeps a very low profile. Its top is only about an inch off of the table. Still, it fits very comfortably in the hand.

Apple learned that most people enjoy holding their input devices, such as mice, between their thumbs and last two fingers, allowing them to cup the surface of the small gadget when moving it.

To Move Cursor Around the Screen, Users Swipe Fingers Across the Mouse

You can scroll up, down, left and right with one finger, swipe through Web pages and photos with two, and click, or double-click (right or left), anywhere.

The brains of the operation are deep inside the Magic Mouse. And the device knows exactly what you want to do. It won't confuse a scroll with a swipe. It even knows when you're just resting your hand on it.

Apple introduced gestures to the trackpad in its laptop line a couple years ago (and part of the iPhone's success can be credited to the multi-touch display). The company is now bringing that technology to the mouse.

Let's say you have a Web browser open and want to go back three pages. Just swipe the mouse's surface with two fingers, from right to left, to go back. No need to move the mouse and click on the arrows.

Magic Mouse works wirelessly (no cables or adapters needed) up to 33 feet away from the computer. It runs for several months on two AA batteries (included).

Magic Mouse Conserves Power When You're Not Using It

It has an on/off switch on the bottom, but even if you leave it on, Magic Mouse manages power smartly by recognizing when you are not using it. I've used it every day for a month and the computer claims I have 90 percent of battery life remaining.

It connects via Bluetooth to any equipped Mac or PC, but a Mac is required if you want to make the most of its multi-touch wizardry. There is no software to install, but be prepared to "pair" the mouse to your Mac via Bluetooth, then download a software update. Then you have to enter the control panel to turn on features like right button clicking.

There ought to be an easier process for adding a mouse. I also wish it came with rechargeable batteries, but since it means you don't need another charging station on your desktop, I believe Apple chose simplicity over clutter.

The Magic Mouse now comes with every Apple iMac desktop computer and can be purchased separately for $69.