Well, we have a whole bunch of Blackberry items to give away! The Five Days Of Blackberry contest includes items from Griffin Technology and WakefieldSoft.

Now, I know we don’t have as many Blackberry readers as we do readers that use other platforms, so this is where I’m asking you to help out. If you know someone with a Blackberry, get ‘em to join the site and sign up for the contest! Put the contest up on any social networking sites that you belong to – Blackberry users are in for some great prizes here!
And I’ll tell you what, whoever gets the most people to sign up will win a prize at the end of the contest (to be determined!) – when they register and answer the daily question, all they have to do is say “referred by xxx”. See, it’s a win-win situation all round!

Today’s prize is geared towards the Blackberry Pearl 8110, 8120 and 8130, and here’s what we have:

FlexGrip

Griffin’s FlexGrip case wraps BlackBerry in durable silicone, providing an easy grip for the hand, but protecting against dirt, dings, and scratches. Now available for BlackBerry Pearl 8110, 8120 and 8130.

iClear

Complete access and protection accompany iClear’s custom-molded, crystal-clear shell. The durable polycarbonate case is perfect for the user who wants hard-shell protection without covering up the BlackBerry’s natural design aesthetic. Griffin’s iClear is currently available for BlackBerry Pearl 8110, 8120 and 8130.

And now, for the big question of the day:

Can you live without your Blackberry? Even if you’re not using it for work related purposes, do you feel like you’ve lost a limb if you don’t have it with you? Do you take it everywhere? Tell us your stories of what your Blackberry means to you!

Just leave your comments below!

By entering this contest, you authorize Just Another Mobile Monday, and its representatives, to provide your personal information (such as, but not limited to your name and email address) to the sponsors of this contest should you be selected as a winner. Your personal information will not be sold by Just Another Mobile Monday, or otherwise retained for any purpose except that described herein.

Sprint announced today the launch of their first Motorola “vertical slider”, featuring Nextel’s Direct Connect® push-to-talk. Per Sprint, switching from push-to-talk to an interconnect voice call is easy, via the touch of a button.  This new phone also features Bluetooth, MP3 and GPS features.

See the press release below for more details:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Oct. 12, 2009 – The first slider phone offering push-to-talk service, Motorola Debut™ i856, is now available from Sprint (NYSE: S), combining Nextel Direct Connect®, best-in-class push-to-talk services, with a stylish multimedia device for both business and consumer applications.

Motorola Debut’s compact slider form factor offers a smooth gliding action for easy one-handed operation, keeps the keypad secure when not in use and offers easy access when needed for instant communication between two people or a group of people, next door or in the next state. It is also the first device to offer the upgraded ability to switch from an active push-to-talk call to an interconnect voice call at the touch of a button.

Motorola Debut can be purchased with Nextel Direct Connect® calling plans in all Sprint sales channels, including Sprint retail stores, Business Direct Sales, Telesales (1-800-Nextel-9) and Web sales for just $99.99 with a two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate (excluding taxes).

Nextel Direct Connect is the only national push-to-talk product in the industry that offers industry-leading performance with sub-one second call set-up, connection to the world’s largest push-to-talk community and integrated business solutions, including one of the largest selections of GPS-solutions.

“Motorola Debut introduces an attractive and convenient form factor unlike any Nextel Direct Connect users have seen before,” said Danny Bowman, president of Sprint’s Sprint’s Integrated Solutions Group. “Debut is even more interesting when you combine Sprint’s industry-leading push-to-talk capabilities of the Nextel National Network and our affordable rate plans, with a rich array of multimedia and texting capabilities that help users communicate faster and more flexibly both at work and at play.”

When connected to the Nextel National Network – the fastest national push-to-talk network – Motorola Debut lets users manage their conversations, musical tastes and visual creativity with ease. Nextel Direct Connect users can also bring friends and business associates into a conversation on the fly with Group Connect® – a powerful productivity tool on the job and a convenient way to coordinate family and social activities.

Nextel Direct Connect enables our customers to get things done faster, at the push of a button. When instant communication is needed between two people or a group of people, next door or in the next state, Sprint provides a solution to get the job done – in less than a second. The Nextel National Network reaches more than 274 million people and more than 17,500 cities, and nationally, the Nextel National Network continues to operate at best-ever performance levels for dropped calls and near best-ever for block calls, based on internal metrics as of June 2009.

Motorola Debut allows busy people to work at a fast and uninterrupted pace:

* send and receive messages, calendar events, pictures, location information and more, all without interrupting a Direct Connect call
* Play music while you text or talk
* threaded texting messaging to view entire conversations all on one screen

High-Quality Multimedia Experience

With its built-in MP3 player and external music controls, Motorola Debut offers a high-quality stereo music experience through wired headphones or Bluetooth® wireless technology. The sound takes on additional dimensions for users who use the built-in 3D Audio equalizer to create special musical effects.

For users with a photographic bent, Motorola Debut’s 1.3 megapixel camera features up to 4X digital zoom and video capture. Pictures can also be enhanced with advanced imaging features to create a variety of image styles – from full color on the vivid 176X220 color display to sepia tones to black & white. Users can also use GPS Tag Images to document exactly where a picture was taken and a variety of other applications to edit photos and manage video content.

In support of these capabilities Motorola Debut features include:

* Nationwide Walkie Talkie capability1
* Music player with 3.5 mm standard audio jack
* 1.3 MP Camera with Video
* GPS & Wireless Web Enabled2
* Stereo Bluetooth® capabilities3
* Text Messaging1
* Expandable memory, supporting up to 8 GB MicroSD card4
* Speakerphone with Voice-Activated Dialing
* Large Direct Connect button that backlights when a push-to-talk call is received
* Multimedia Messaging Service for sending audio, images, text, or all three in the same message to or from email addresses and other capable users with the ability to wirelessly store multimedia on the Sprint Web site
* Pre-loaded applications, including Sprint Mobile Email & SME-W, TeleNav Navigation, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile and NFL Mobile Live
* Downloadable Games, Wallpapers and Real Music Ringtones1

Affordable Push-to-Talk Calling Plans

Nextel Direct Connect Custom Plans focus on the services used most by workgroups, which are bundled with unlimited usage, at a low flat monthly rate. Specifically, businesses can choose from the following Nextel Direct Connect Custom Plans:

* Unlimited Workgroup Communications – with unlimited Direct Connect and Group Connect® plus unlimited text messaging, mobile-to-mobile minutes and night and weekend minutes starting at 9 p.m.
o $29.99 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
* Web & Navigation – includes the above features, plus unlimited data, Web browsing and GPS navigation
o $39.99 per month per line for Nextel phones (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
o $49.99 per month per line for PowerSource and Nextel Direct Connect capable Sprint phones (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
* Pooled voice minutes can be added to either plan for the group to share
o 500 minutes for $30 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)
o Or 2,000 minutes for $100 per month per line (excluding taxes and Sprint surcharges)

For more details on Nextel Direct Connect Custom plans, visit www.sprint.com/nexteldirectconnect.

Sprint’s Everything Data plans, with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, which gives customers unlimited mobile calling on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless carrier, unlimited nationwide texting, email, Web browsing and much more, starting at just $69.99. For customers that want Sprint’s Simply EverythingSM Plan that offers a truly unlimited experience for only $99.99 per month, and they can save $1,200 over two years vs. a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan3. (All price plans exclude surcharges and taxes. Other exclusions apply.)

Sprint is the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now service with trained retail associates to work one-on-one with customers to personalize their Motorola Debut, set up features and demonstrate how it works before the customer leaves the store. Customers have the choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate at the time of purchase or they can schedule an appointment for a later time at www.sprint.com/storelocator.

About Nextel Direct Connect

With more than 16 years of expertise, Sprint is the undisputed leader in push-to-talk with the largest community of users in the world. Nextel Direct Connect has set the industry standard for push-to-talk and serves millions of Nextel Direct Connect subscribers on the fastest national push-to-talk network.

Nextel Direct Connect is the only push-to-talk product in the industry that offers:

* Industry-leading performance with the advantage of instant connection (call set-up times of less than one second)
* Connection to the world’s largest community of users, with millions of existing Nextel Direct Connect subscribers
* Nationwide and international push-to-talk services
* The largest portfolio of push-to-talk phones, including the largest selection of rugged phones
* Integrated business solutions, including the largest selection of GPS-solutions

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving almost 49 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company’s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

# # #

1 Coverage not available everywhere. Network reaches over 274 million people. Additional restrictions apply.

2Network and/or SIM card dependent feature, not available in all areas. Airtime, data charges and/or additional charges may apply. Wireless email functionality requires an email account with wireless server capabilities.

3 This device supports Bluetooth A2DP, HSP, BT FTP and HFP profiles. In order for Bluetooth devices to communicate with one another, they must utilize the same Bluetooth profile. Certain Bluetooth features including those listed may not be supported by all compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, and/or the functionality of such features may be limited in certain devices, or by certain wireless carriers. Contact your wireless carrier about feature availability and functionality.

4 MicroSD card with up to 8GB of memory purchased separately.

Last summer we heard that a European commission had agreed, in conjunction with major phone manufacturers, to set a ‘standard’ charging interface in motion for cellphones, namely the micro-USB connector. Today, Engadget Mobile is reporting that the CTIA is now contributing to the fray by declaring that micro-USB definitely is the standard to move forward with but also by adding the 3.5mm audio plug onto the list of ‘must-haves’ for phone manufacturers. (Take that HTC with your extUSB!) They’ve declared January 2012 as the date of effectiveness, which seems so far away…. yet I definitely look forward to the day when I only need one type of charger. Well, one type for my phone anyway, forget about my camera and other necessities!

GooSync, a piece of software that allows you to synchronize your Google contacts, calendars, and tasks to your mobile device will be ending free services on October 19, 2009. In its place will be GooSync Lite which features all the features of the defunct free version but it cost around $10 per year. The premium version will remain the same allowing the ability to sync multiple calendars, full contact syncing as well as contact backup, multiple syncing, and more for the price of $32 for a year, $48 for two years, or $64 for a lifetime subscription.

Technorati Tags: Goosync, Tjchan, Just Another Mobile Monday, JAMM

You have all heard the phrase, do this like your life depends upon it.  Well, that is exactly what you need to do in Galactic Bowling.  Bowl as if your life depends upon it…because it does.  Not just your life, every life on Earth depends upon how well you can bowl.   In this game, the Earth is in jeopardy by a race of aliens constructing an intergalactic highway….waitaminute, Arthur Dent…wrong story.

In reality, the aliens are planning to drain the Earth’s life force.  Good thing they love bowling.  Only by winning this intergalactic bowling tournament can you drive them away and save the Earth.  Of course, first you need to win the local tournament to become Earth’s champion.  Then it is off to compete against other alien races across the galaxy, with the fate of the world hanging in the blance.  The plot is intentionally silly, but is still felt one dimensional and sort of fell apart after the initial introduction.  The game did not give much of an indication how this intergalactic civilization came to be so bowling-centric, or why they are willing to let the fate of heir civilization hinge on whether you can beat them at this silly game.  Whatever the reasons, though, you will need to travel from one planet to the next taking on all bowling challengers.

The folks at Perpetual FX Creative were kind enough to provide me with a review copy of the game, so I fired it up on my first generation iPod Touch and prepared to save the galaxy from bowling denizens everywhere.  Let’s take a closer look.

The first thing I noticed about the game were the fantastic locations.  Although the first three games take place around the globe, you will quickly be spirited off to parts unknown…very unknown as the lanes can be found on distant worlds across the galaxy, each seemingly more inhospitable than the last. 

What I really liked here was that unlike most bowling games, it was not just the backgrounds that changed, but the whole lane.  As you progress, you will find loops, ramps, and even a possible worm hole or two.  Each lane takes on the characteristics of its location.  This is not your traditional bowling game.

In addition to exotic locations around the galaxy, you will also find plenty of other features which set this one apart from traditional bowling games.  First is the alternate game mode.  Like most bowling games, you can play this one using the traditional scoring.  Additionally, though, you can switch over to Battle mode, in which scoring is based upon the total number of pins you are able to knock over in a five minute period of time.  Speed and accuracy are the keys to winning battle mode. 

Of course, if you need a  little more practice, you can always eschew any of the up to three saved competitions, and take a run at controlling any of the game’s characters at any location in the game.  You can practice alone or play a duel against any opponent.  This allows you to practice at any difficulty level you wish; though it would have been nice if you could have played against another real life opponent.

I was also disappointed  to find that this was the only way you could play as one of the non-human characters.  It would be nice if, after completing the competition, you could play again as any character, rather than just being limited to the humans.

While you are playing the game, you will also find plenty of new surprises to help you along the way.  First, in addition to the ball, you are also armed with a laser.  Anytime you hit a pin, but do not knock it over, you will be given a few second to fire that laser at any remaining pins.  A pretty handy tool, even if you do not get to use it as often as I might have liked.

There are also five “Whammies” which you can unlock during the course of the game.  Once unlocked, you can earn a Whammy by hitting it with the ball.  These Whammies can be used at any time to disrupt your opponent’s gameplay.

Additionally, you will also unlock five special balls, which can be played at any time during the game.  It will take a little of your energy to use one, but the rewards can be well worth it.

Speaking of your energy, each time you knock over pins, you will earn some.  You can use this energy to use a special ball, or completely fill the meter to activate your super move.  Once activated, your super move will result in an automatic strike…and on to the next frame.

Before we wrap up, I should also talk about the controls, which are about as unique as the rest of the game.  The first thing you will need to do is set your position on the lane and spin on the ball.  To do this, just drag your finger left and right to position the bowler, or up and down to change the spin on the ball.  In the bottom right, you will see a power meter, just tap it repeatedly until you reach the desired strength for your throw, and then tap your bowler to set him in motion.  It is slightly more complicated than most bowling games, but once you learn how to play, it is really extremely intuitive. 

I am a huge fan of bowling games.  Heck, it is still my favorite game on the Wii.  And I absolutely loved the twists they put on the game with Galactic Bowling.  While remaining true to the traditional bowling game, they added significant new elements, including locales, obstacles, Whammies, and special balls.  They even added a storyline, even if it did have a few holes in it.  Despite all of this, I have a hard time recommending this game for $4.99.  Even in hard mode, many of the levels are far too easy, and the game is entirely too short.  As much as I enjoyed playing it, and journeying through the stars bowling in various exotic locales, I managed to complete Campaign Mode twice (in normal and hard difficulty levels) over the course of a weekend.   Because the game is so quick to complete, I was disappointed to find such a comparatively high price point ($4.99).  Sure, this is the kind of game which you can keep playing, even after you have completed campaign mode; I found playing the same levels again and again quickly lost its allure.  I really hope the developers expand upon this game to add more levels, challenges, and obstacles. 

What I Liked:

• Outstanding graphics
• Special balls and powers
• Whammie abilities
• Exotic locations and unique bowling alleys
• Intuitive controls

What Needs Improvement:

• The storyline is too one-dimensional
• Too few levels
• Too easy to win
• No way to play against other people
• Price

 Version reviews: 1.2

Developer: Perpetual FX Creative

Price: 4.99