OtterBox protects BlackBerry Curve 8350i

OtterBox 1937 Yellow for BlackBerry Bold Defender Series™

OK you bought an expensive smart-phone, and oops you dropped it. Unless you pay a replacement fee to your cell phone company, your out of luck. Replacing it can come on your dime.

At Showstoppers, Las Vegas 2009, I visited OtterBox and loved the new products that will protect many smart-phone gadgets.

Here is an alternative, which combines the need for sleek style and protection from the elements, OtterBox launches an innovative case to safeguard the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8350i smart-phone from Research In Motion (RIM).

The new OtterBox 1937 Yellow or Black, $ 49.95, case for the BlackBerry Curve 8350i provides users with interactive protection in the popular Defender Series design to shield against drop, dirt and scratches.

Three layers of protection provide added security*:

Layer 1:
- Thermal formed protective clear PVC membrane covers the keypad from dust and dirt (layer optional)
- Built-in PC windows protect the screen and camera from scratches and dust intrusion
Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell
Layer 3: Silicone skin absorbs bump and shock

OtterBox products @ ShowStoppers, Las Vegas 2009

“The new BlackBerry Curve 8350i will allow customers to work virtually anywhere with email, web access, data services and Push-to-Talk features; but those working in harsh environments need protection from the elements and that’s where the OtterBox case comes in,” said Curt Richardson, CEO of OtterBox. “This Defender Series case safeguards from jobsite mishaps like drops and scratches adding longevity to the smartphone.”

The OtterBox for BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone allows use of all functions such as the trackball, camera and flash. Sync/charge jack is accessible through a silicone plug. Sound clearly transmits through acoustic vents so users can use headset and speaker. Push-to-Talk features usable through a silicone button. An included holster style swivel belt clip offers hands-free carrying.

Otter Box @ ShowStoppers, Las Veags 2009

Environmental Protection:

Drop and Shock: Protection against drop, bump & shock
Water Protection: Not tested or recommended for water protection
Dust Intrusion: Dust does not enter in a sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of equipment

Colors:

OtterBox RBB2-CVPTT-20 for BlackBerry Curve 8350i Push-to-Talk Defender Series™

Layer 2: yellow or black
Layer 3: black
Belt clip: black

*Case NOT protected against water. Will provide some added protection against drop, bump and dust.

OtterBox for iPhone 3G Defender Series™ Cases

Visit www.otterbox.com to see the complete OtterBox case line for BlackBerry smartphones.

(Note: Product previews & reviews on the GadgetsAndGifts4U blog do not certify any endorsement of the product, but rather provide informative details on new products which might be of interest to consumers of all ages.)

iCandy Gadgets

Boring colors that cover your gadgets are old news. Why not get them a cool face lift from the gang at ColorWare.

Even President Obama, got to keep his boring black factory “BarakBerry,” maybe he will want his upgraded in custom presentational seal colors, like the one below.

One of their latest themes found the websiteis for the popular BlackBerry Curve, joining the BlackBerry Storm, DS, PC, Mac, iPhone 3G.

Your idea your doesn’t have to be out of this world. Just be certain it’s what you want before you order. A solid color will run you $129, but if you want a different top, bottom, frame or sides, it will be higher. Though you can stay with what you have since it’s the cheapest option, but it will just look like everyone else’s and have no identity whatsoever.

ColorWare which was founded in 2000 in Winona, MN, sells custom colored and engraved versions of computers and portable electronics. Or you can ship ColorWare a device you already own and get a custom paint job.

FOR GAMERS

ColorWare now does its color magic to video game consoles. Just mail in a PS3, Wii, or an Xbox 360 for clean, professional, and highly detailed colored coats.

If you send in your own game system, you’ll pay $99 for the coloring service and $25 per controller. Those prices may seem high, but are actually a bargain: ColorWare charges $399 and up for its laptop PC coloring services.

CoolWare offers color upgrades for many gadgets.

See links, FAQ’s and some more products shots below.

Digital Music Players, Computers, Gaming Consoles, Smart Phones, HDTVs

Image Galleries from CoolWare

The main website is @ http://www.colorwarepc.com/default.aspx

FACTS FROM COLORWARE WEBSITE:

What products does ColorWare customize at this time?

All products that are currently customized by ColorWare are viewable on our website under the Products tab. If you have a product that is not listed on the site please see the Prototyping section. Additional fees and production time apply for a prototyped product and some products are not eligible for prototyping.

If I want a new color in a year, can I have the color changed?

No. The ColorWare coloring is a one-time permanent process.

Does ColorWare offer any upgrade options after I have purchased and received my product?

ColorWare does not provide any after-purchase upgrade offers at this time. All available upgrades are offered when the unit is originally ordered. Any software upgrades that later become available for a computer can be handled through the software manufacturer.

Does the X2 coating go over the product screen?

Only the video model of the iPod brand mp3 player can have an X2 coating over its screen.

Can I get only the X2 coating on my product? If I have the front of an iPod colored can I get the X2 coating on the chrome back?

The X2 coating is the final stage of the coloring process and is not available on its own. In order to have the X2 coating on any part of your product it does need to be colored.

Can you just send me a colored case for my computer/mp3 player/phone?

We do not sell colored cases for any product. Our coloring process applies the new color directly to the existing case of your product. There are no replacement parts used in this process so we have no extra case components available.

What explains the price difference between buying a new product and sending in mine?

The biggest factor in the price differences are the warranties offered with each option. All new purchases from our site carry a one year parts and labor warranty that stands in place of the original manufacturer warranty. For colonizations, where you send your product to us, we include thirty days of parts coverage and one year of free labor. Please take note that the colorization process will likely void the original manufacturer warranty.

Do I have to send in my product or do you send me the pieces/skin to put on my product?

If you choose the Send In Mine service you do need to send your product to our facility. We apply the new color directly to the existing case of that product. No replacement pieces are used in this process.

Does the coloring process affect any existing warranty I may have on my product?

As far as we understand other companies’ policies our color customization typically voids the original manufacturer’s warranty. If you purchase a new product from ColorWare we do include a 1 year parts and labor warranty that covers the coloring and hardware of the product. With a new product you also have the choice to upgrade to a two year warranty. If you choose to send in a product under the Send In Mine service ColorWare includes a 30 day parts and 1 year labor warranty covering the coloring and hardware of that product. There are no warranty upgrades available with the Send in Mine service.

Can I buy the SideKick through ColorWare? What service plans does ColorWare offer?

We do not sell the SideKick. We also do not offer any service plans for the SideKick. The colorization service available through our site is for the customization of a SideKick that you already own.

Google finds the GSpot with their GDrive

Oh God, just when you thought your computer files were safe, comes Mega Giant Google to cloud the issue.

The GDrive, unconfirmed by Google, might launch later this year, making it the most anticipated software product this year aside from Mircosoft’s Windows 7.

The Google drive would move away from Microsoft Window’s operating system, in favor of “cloud computing,” where storage and processing is done in data centers. Users would no longer have to rely on their computers’ powerful hard drives.

From the video page on YouTube: Confused about the term “Cloud Computing”? Want to be “with the times” when you talk about new technology buzzwords? This video boils down a section of Cloud Computing, that of Cloud Infrastructure and Cloud Hosting in a way that everyone can understand!

It’s very common for people all over the world to use web-based services, such as email — including popular services, Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail — and photo storage, such as Flickr and Picasa.

In most cases a user would no longer have to deal with hard drives crashes, since their data would be saved on the Web, and can be accessed from any machine.

Ok true these web-based services are popular, but the user still has the original files on he or hers hard drive. I don’t know about you, but I like to have local control of what I want accessed over the internet.

There are many other similar types of services, Jungle Disk from Amazon’s web services, XDrive from AOL being one of them. They don’t work for everyone, and sometimes run rather slow and causes conflicts on your PC.

I have used GoToMyPc and hardly ever had a problem accessing any of my files from my own PC.

But wait a minute, this all sounds like a cool idea, but aren’t we forgetting one thing. Who at the other end of the data center has access to your files. Uncle Sam maybe, anyone seen the classic movie George Orwell’s 1984.

Need I say more!

We’ll keep you posted, and see if and when this GDrive happens.

Screen shots of Windows 7.

A real Football shows distance thrown

It’s about time, NFL-style football that can measure and display how far it has been thrown.So now the next time you throw a great touchdown pass you can show and brag about the distance accurately (rather than saying it went really really far).

Known as the Virtual Distance Football, the distance thrown is calculated by using sensors to detect when the ball is thrown and then the impact of a catch or fumble.

Product Detail:

Sensor accurately determines distance ball is thrown
Oversize readout shows distance
Comfort grip for throwing ease
Durable foam construction
Advanced electronics register a distance readout upon impact of the throw
Digital LCD display
Accurate to within 1 yard

Safety warning: This product contains small parts that may present a choking hazard for young children.

The virtual distance football is available from Discovery for $13.97.

Schwinn offers Quickcharging Electric Bike at CES

At CES 2009 Schwinn Bicycles made its first appearance featuring its new Tailwind eBike which utilizes Toshiba’s Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) technology to deliver an industry-leading 30-minute recharge time (through a standard residential electrical outlet), one-eighth (1/8th) the time of competing electric bikes (or less), setting a new standard for the electric bike industry.

From the Tailwind site:

Details on the Schwinn Tailwind eBike Disclosed

The Tailwind (like all Schwinn electric bicycles) is a so-called eBike hybrid and can be ridden in either motor-assist mode or as a conventional bike. The eight-speed Tailwind utilizes a lightweight, Schwinn-designed 6000 series aluminum alloy frame and an SR Suntour NEX-4610 suspension fork with lock-out.

The electric motor in the Tailwind is housed in the hub of the front wheel, an innovation found in all Schwinn electric bike models. In addition, all Schwinn eBike models (including the Tailwind) utilize the Plug N’ Drive removable battery pack which is built into stylishly designed rear bike rack systems, allowing riders to quickly detach the battery for recharging.

It is projected that Tailwind owners will realize an industry leading 2,000 recharge lifecycles with the eBike versus the industry standard of 1,000 charges before needing to replace the battery. Tailwind riders will find they can ride 25 to 30 miles per charge (depending upon such factors as climate, rider weight and terrain). The Tailwind also comes with a 20,000-mile or two-year limited warranty.

Other specs for Schwinn’s Tailwind include A Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal geared rear hub, A brushless motor with 180 watts of continuous power or 250 watts at peak power, Schwinn’s PowerDial™ on and off power assist system, with three pedal assist power settings, Rear roller braking system, Double wall alloy rims and Continental Town Ride tires (with flat protection and reflective sidewall), Inside-the-frame electric wire routing.

According to Schwinn, the Tailwind electric bike represents the next generation of eBike and will be available in early 2009 at a suggested retail price of $3199.99.

Motorola world’s first carbon neutral phone is “GREEN” with envey!

Green products populated CES this year, as many companies wanted to show off how they would cut down their carbon footprint.

Motorola, Inc. was off and running with their MOTO W233 Renew lime green mobile phone with basic features.

The outer casing on the phone is made of plastic from recycled water bottles and 100 percent recyclable, but it is also the world’s first carbon neutral phone.
The device’s smaller size takes 20 percent less energy to create compared to many other phones, and it even comes with an envelope to send in your old phone for recycling.

MOTO W233 Renew delivers the quality you expect from a Motorola device while empowering you to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only is the plastic housing of Renew made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles

Features include 2GB memory, nine hours of talk time, a music player but no camera or internet browsing capability. Come on Motorola, these features are basic to how we use other mobile phones today.

Through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation. The phone has earned Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Product Certification after an extensive product life-cycle assessment.

Renew will first be available at T-Mobile USA in Q1 2009. No price has been set yet.

Photo Credit: Roy Bassave/GadgetsAndGifts4U.com

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