Conant Custom Brass Model T-10C large dial thermometer

 This is an 8.25 inch diameter dial thermometer with large easy to read numbers with a pointer that makes it easy to read temperatures. The display can be easily seen from a window, which was our intended use.  It should be noted thermometer temperature readings that close to the house will be influenced by that location.  You would get more accurate temperatures out in the yard in sheltered locations. This particular thermometer may not be suitable for that, depending on mounting location.  

The main housing of the unit is brass, and the dial is covered by a glass crystal.  The temperature display is in Fahrenheit and centigrade.  The thermometer makes use of a bimetallic mechanism which should be accurate enough for its intended use. 

The unit is assembled in Vermont, but the components are made in China. It has a lifetime warranty.

The thermometer includes a brass mounting arm which can be reversed to mount either from the right or left side.  I am sure they think this is adequate, but for our location, mounting from the side did not work out.  For us, it was best to mount the unit vertically.  This meant that I had to come up with a different holder.  I sunk a copper pipe into the ground near the intended window.   I then used the mount arm as a template to mark and drill holes into the end of a ¾ inch flat metal strip which was inserted into the pipe.  I mounted the thermometer to that flat metal which holds the thermometer nicely.  As an added benefit, if we want, we can rotate the unit in this mount so it can be seen from different locations if needed. 

The tricky part of the installation relates to the need to adjust the thermometer reading prior to use.  This requires disassembly of the thermometer to access the mechanism.  Be sure to keep the outer box as it has the directions for adjusting the thermometer printed on the inside. My Conant thermometer read 100 degrees when it should have read 68, so you will likely have to adjust yours.

To adjust, you have to first remove the retaining ring which holds the glass crystal against the main brass housing.  This is easy enough, but I imagine could also be a way to potentially break the glass crystal.  Just be careful. Hold one hand over the crystal and the ring will spring out away from it when you pry it away as instructed.

Carefully remove the dial from the housing.  At this point, I placed the dial back over the inverted glass crystal, just to have a place to set the unit while adjusting it in order to keep the needle away from obstructions.  It is best to do this in a place next to a thermometer you trust as accurate.  It is also imperative that you allow adequate time after an adjustment for the thermometer to acclimate to the true temperature again, as it is fairly sensitive and will be impacted by you holding it during adjustments.  It took several small adjustments and several waiting periods to finally get to a point that my Conant thermometer was stable and in agreement with the source temperature.  When you think you have it right, let it sit for a good long time to make sure.  It is easier to wait then it will be to take it all apart to re-adjust when you realize you did not allow enough time. 

Reassembly is done in the reverse order of disassembly.  You might check the dial prior to closing up as it shows every finger print from any inadvertent touch you made in the adjustments.  Also, clean the inside of the glass if needed.  The tricky part here is getting the retaining ring back in place.  Just start at the bottom as directions suggest, and slowly work it in around the dial.  It requires a significant amount of pressure and dexterity to do this, but it can be done. 

Now the unit should be ready to mount making use of the provided mount and screws, or your own method if needed.   

Otterbox Defender Series Hybrid Case and Holster for BlackBerry 9900/9930 Bold

 When you purchase a smart shone for as much money as the Blackberry Bold 9900 can run you, you start to think about protection of your investment. I will give RIM credit for upgrading the included case to a much more solid feeling and protective case than I have seen in some previous Blackberry phones, but that protection only lasts while the phone is in the case. If you are as inclined to drop things as I am, it can get nerve-wracking any time you have to take the phone out to answer it, or look anything up on-line. That is where a case like the Otterbox Defender comes in pretty handy.  It includes a rugged but nice feeling silicon rubber outer covering, a holster, and a high impact polycarbonate shell.  Also included is one screen cover. One thing I find entirely lacking for this purchase from Otterbox is any type of adequate installation instructions. 

Installation is fairly self explanatory, and that is lucky since the instructions from Otterbox pretty much are a short series of small drawings on the inside of the cardboard package.  For an extra installation aide, I recommend searching on YouTube for Otterbox Defender on Bold 9900 installation procedure. There is a video that walks you through it. The installation high points follow: 

Out of the box, you will have the silicon layer stretched over the assembled polycarbonate shell.  Remove the black rubber outer covering.  Then, you will have to separate the top and bottom portions of the polycarbonate shell.  Mine unsnapped fairly easily at the left center of the shell.  

Prior to installation of the case, install the screen cover if desired. My Bold already had one installed so I am saving the included one for later. 

Now place the Bold 9900 into the bottom portion of the shell.  Position the top in place making sure it lines up in the same way as it had been prior to separation of the pieces.  Snap it together again making sure it is firmly together with your Bold inside. 

Position the rubber outer covering around the now enclosed phone.  Make note that there is a ridge around the silicone shell opening that will need to be worked into a corresponding groove in the polycarbonate shell.  This may take some work, but it is the only way the case will stay together in use. As you do this, it is also a good idea to make sure the button covers on the new defender case match the buttons of your phone and work easily.  

Now try to place the case into the holster. I have to agree with some other reviews I have seen that the holster is a potential weak point in this case.  Note that the screen has to be in towards the body, as the Bold in the case will not otherwise be firmly held. There are two spots in the polycarbonate shell that line up with the holster to hold the phone as it snaps into the holster.  Unlike other combination cases I have used, this one has no extra top latch to press to remove the phone. You have to pry the phone away from the holster to remove it.  It can happen when doing this, that the lower portion of the silicone shell will loosen.  This part of the design could be better. 

In use the 9900 is nestled securely in the Defender case combination. There are raised buttons covering the Bold volume up/down buttons on the right side. There is also a raised button over the convenience key on the lower right side, and for the keyboard lock key on the top of the phone.  There are silicone flaps that cover the earphone jack and the USB/charger port on the left side of the Bold.  These allow full function and an extra layer of dust protection.   I have read elsewhere that previous models of the Defender seem to have keyboard covers along with the screen guards. There is no keyboard protection with this particular one, but the camera lense and flash are covered by a plastic shield. 

In use, the Defender does emulate normal case functions of Blackberry provided by use of a small magnet mounted into the holster.  The holster includes a belt clip which is fully rotatable and able to be fixed in any position with a click.  It is suggested that the ratcheting belt clip be used to provide a stand for the phone. I am not sure if that is really a usable feature. It seems a bit out there to me.  

DSC Wireless smoke/heat Alarm WS4916

This is a battery powered smoke detector intended to be used in conjunction with a DSC home alarm system with automated notification of alarms to an off site monitor company.  It replaces an earlier version that had performed fairly consistently over a period of 7 years or so and then had begun to give multiple false alarms. One prerequisite of the replacement alarm would be that it had at least some thought of elimination of false alarms that went into the design. I think the WS4916 meets that requirement.

Our previous detector sent false alarms due to battery age, dust and just out of spite a couple of times, or it seemed. Nothing wakes you up at 2:30 in the morning like a fire alarm sounding in the house. And not just the run of the mill smoke detector beep. This alarm is designed to wake the dead, so you will not end up that way. It is a good thing, but also it is a good thing if you do not have the fire department come by so you can complain to them about your smoke detector not working.

About the WS4916 detector:

This is a wireless detector, and as such it runs on batteries and can be mounted in places that are not reachable by standard wired in detectors (also available from DSC).  This one runs on two (included) CR123A Lithium batteries.  Our original was powered by 6 AA Alkaline batteries, which tended to be somewhat unreliable as a power source over the long haul. (Lithium batteries like these in prior years have powered my 35 mm camera after having been used in my alarm system for 4-5 years.)

This alarm has both a photoelectric smoke detector, and a heat sensor built in. So, if conditions are present that include rapid rise of temperature to a set limit, but not smoke, the sensor will still sound an alarm.

The alarm tests for smoke or heat every 7 to 8 seconds. During this, it also monitors self diagnostics, tampers and faults.  The red LED light will flash once every 50 seconds or so. It will not go into alarm unless alarm threshold is met and exceeded.  Once threshold drops below alarm level, the alarm will reset.  The old one was not like this to my experience. In order to reset that one, you had to physically remove it from its mounted position and pull the batteries. This is no way to live when the alarm has sounded falsely.  The new WS4916 should reset OK if it ever sounds a false alarm.

One guard against false alarm for the WS4946 is that in order for an alarm to sound, the unit has to stay above the preset threshold of 75%  for two minutes prior to entering alarm mode.  So, in theory, if you are awakened by a repeating chirp, you should have time to determine what is happening prior to the unit actually waking the dead and calling for the fire department. And let me tell you, this alarm by itself is extremely loud even prior to sounding the alarm in the main panel.

Another feature that should prove to minimize false alarms is what they call “Drift Compensation”.  This works as an automatic adjustment to the sensitivity of the smoke detector over time and resets sensitivity as the unit ages and is impacted by dust or other environmental impacts.  This could have saved me at least two false alarms by itself. Once the alarm reaches its limit on adjustments, it will show on your main panel that it has “trouble”.  The unit can then be cleaned by first calling your alarm monitor service and putting unit into test, and then blowing canned air into the easily accessible smoke chamber.  The alarm company should be notified any time you need to service the unit, for cleaning, battery changes or testing.

Removing the unit from its installed position will initiate a tamper alarm and the monitoring company will be notified.  You may have up to 10 seconds to replace the unit once you have tampered with it. My old unit was not so generous about easily made mistakes like this. 

My old unit at least two times, sent a alarm based on batteries being too low, even though they tested at 1.5 volts each. For the WS4916, you should still have up to 14 days of use once the unit senses a low battery level. At that time, it will send a low battery warning to your main panel. If you fail to notice that, after 7 days, the unit will begin to chirp and continue until battery failure. The unit will still send alarms as needed at this point, but the alarm will be preceded by a chirp. 

Installation is simple and if you are at all handy, I recommend you do it yourself.  My alarm company walked me through any special instructions I would need to know about prior to installation, and you should also ask them if they have special requirements.  It is easy to do. The unit has many possible hole mount patterns, so I was able to find a combination that kept me from having to add more holes in my ceiling.  They should also help you in testing procedure after they have programmed the serial number of your new detector.  When it was all said and done, I saved myself at least $100.00 for the service call and installation. 

The smoke detector cost me just under $100.00. You can find them on the Internet in the $60-70 dollar range, but even if you get one of these you may have to pay your alarm company to reprogram your main panel for the new alarm.  

Blackberry Bold 9900

You may be familiar with the iconic look of a Blackberry, and the Bold 9900 fits that standard appearance you might have in mind. But that is where the similarities with this and any predecessor Blackberry stop.  It still has the quality feel of a Blackberry, and the great audio in a call of the Blackberry smart phones I have used. It still has a flash for the camera or video camera built in. It has all the standard buttons for navigation in calls or internet, texting, etc. Then again, it is a new phone, so just what sets it apart from other Blackberry phones? 

First, it has one of the most natural feeling and responsive keyboards of any Blackberry I have used or tried out in a store.  The 9900 is a bit wider and flatter than the previous Bold 9700 at 4.53 x 2.60 x 0.41 inches.  That extra bit of width gives just enough extra room for the keyboard that it really feels larger than the older Bold 9700. 

The screen size is 2.8 inches with screen resolution of 640x480 and has a capacitive touch screen included. The screen is fully visible outdoors, but is not the absolute clearest Blackberry screen I have seen for outside uses.

The touch screen is integrated with the standard touch track pad, and for most applications, this is seamless. Use one, use the other; it is up to you what you are comfortable with. One application that is still a bit of a chore for me is the web browser.  It seems like the touch screen wants to be used for that, and trying to use the track pad just confuses things. It may be that there is just a learning curve for touch pad applications. And since this is my first touch screen smart phone, I definitely need practice.

The phone is shipped with RIM Operating System version 7. For the most part, this is version 6 with touch added. There are other things I need to get more used to that may come easier to those more familiar with touch screens.  For example, earlier I noticed that my standard group of 6 most frequent used apps had disappeared and the screen was displaying either all apps at once, or none.  I finally discovered that at some point I had inadvertently touched and dragged the display which caused the size to adjust making the line of six disappear. It turns out you can drag the border to adjust to 6, 12, or whatever you want to include on your most used home screen apps. You can also manage panels included on your home screen, selecting all, favorites, media, downloads or frequently used apps. 

My version of the phone is for T- Mobile and is their version of 4G.  I will not comment on this further since there doesn’t seem to be any industry standard as to what 4G means to any one carrier. All I can say is that presently it says 4G. 

The phone also has the usual Wi-Fi connectivity which is extremely easy to maneuver.  Bluetooth is equally fast. I had been a bit concerned if I would remember how to set up Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on a new phone, but it is painless. 

There is one drawback at this point as far as the usually included and standard T-Mobile Wi-Fi calling feature.  This has been included on all Blackberry phones in the T-Mobile network before, and utilizes UMA protocol to enable you to make calls over Wi-Fi either at home, or in places that have no network signal.  As the 9900 is currently configured, there is no Wi-Fi calling.  T-Mobile suggests that at some unknown future point, there will be a software upgrade to include UMA and Wi-Fi calling. 

One other thing that you may want to know is that there is only one convenience key, located on the right.  This may or may not matter to you, but that is the case. For me, I never knew what to do with the second one anyway.

Otherwise, the buttons are very sleek feeling and recessed against the chrome outer rim of the phone. 

There is now a 5 megapixel camera with a high definition video camera with image stabilization, digital zoom and some special effects. 

Among the preloaded apps, many of which I do not use and have since deleted, RIM now includes Documents to Go at no additional cost.  This includes Word, Excel and Power Point.

Generally, after a bit more use I am still pleased overall with the performance of my new Bold 9900, but I have a few things to point out to the potential consumer.

In calls, I find that in the usual places I have made calls before, the Bold 9900 seems to be more stable than its predecessor Bold 9700 with the same carrier. I am not sure if this is due to slightly better coverage on 4G, but it easier to hear and has fewer signal drops as you walk around in concrete lined buildings than with the 9700. 

That being said, it comes down to the battery life being good for you. With my Bold 9900 loaded with the same basic apps my 9700 had, the battery may not be the best. I know what the specs say (see below), but the 9700 was running me about a 10% drop per 12-14 hours of use in battery life. For the 9900, I am now about 6 hours through the day, and it has already dropped to 89%.  Maybe the faster processer is more of a drain on the system? Increased speed has a price.

Related to that, the battery recharge time seems relatively quick. I ran my batter down to 9%, and after the phone reminded me to charge it soon, I plugged it in and was surprised that it reached full recharge in around 3 hours.

Waking the phone up is pretty fast since it bypasses the carrier splash, and opens to the home screen. Also, a change is that when you wake the phone, the screen stays dark unless you hit a key. This might save a bit of battery life. The network connects much faster than in the previous version Bold 9700.

Also, a bonus of the faster processor comes to light when you do a reboot or do a battery pull. I used to dread rebooting and having to wait for the system to reload. It seemed like it took forever with the Bold 9700. With the Bold 9900 the system reloads in 90 seconds from battery in to splash screen. 

The battery at 1230 mAH is a bit weak when it comes to all the increased speed of the processor in this version of the Bold. For best results, use the included charger to recharge the battery. The older ones still work in a pinch, but may not charge to 100%.  

Speaking of batteries, there is a higher capacity 1500 mAH battery in the works.  Currently, there are websites that claim to sell a 1500 battery for the Bold 9900. Problem is that they say it also fits the previous Bold and half dozen other Blackberry smart phones, and that is highly unlikely. Trust the source of any battery upgrade you make. This is a very thin phone and takes a thinner battery than the previous Bold.

Other Specs follow:

Memory: 768MB RAM, 8 GB eMMC

Expandable memory: Up to 32 GB uSD card(optional)

1230 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery

GSM Talk Time: up to 6.3 hours

GSM Standby Time: up to 12.8 days

UMTS Talk Time: up to up to 5.9 hours

UMTS Standby Time: up to 12.8 days

Audio Playback Time: up to 50 hours

Video Playback Time: up to 7.4 hours

3.5mm stereo headset capable

Integrated hands-free speakerphone

Wi-Fi: 802.11 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5GHz a/n

Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server

Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle

Direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi

Integrated GPS

Includes BlackBerry® Maps

Rain Bird 12 station easy to set timer

I had a bit of bad luck with a 12 station Orbit timer already reviewed elsewhere. This one by Rain Bird is similar to that in that it has 12 stations. But so far, that is about all it has in common.

The Rain Bird 12 station automatic sprinkler timer comes with an attached outer door that is “lockable” in that it has a place a lock can be attached (supplied by user). This door is heavy plastic, so it is not much of a secure lock. But then again, it is only a timer. They say this is suitable for outdoor use, and who am I to say otherwise? One thing, on this as others I have seen, there is no gasket on the door to ensure moisture will stay out. But, mine is mounted inside, so that is no concern for me.

The transformer is built right into the enclosure so it is as secure as other components. The transformer can be seen by pulling the cover plate from the lower part of the timer below the display and control panels. Inside you will also find the terminals for 12 sprinklers, including two common connectors and a rain sensor (purchased separately). This also has an extra terminal for a master valve-pump start also not included. Those are not used in my setup. I want to mention though that there is another version of this timer that includes a weather sensor to over-ride settings based on current conditions, but it is a bit more expensive than I wanted to do now.

One reason I chose this brand over a replacement Orbit controller is that Rain Bird unit says it has superior surge protection. My thought is that my house has issues with surges, so I want all the protection I can get. One other improvement over the previous controller I tried is that the Rain Bird claims to have complete back-up of all settings with no extra battery needed. Many other units I looked at have a battery back-up only, and those can fail. They say it "timer settings are stored indefinately" with no battery needed.

Sprinkler wires are easily connected to push-in terminals. You have to be sure you have stripped enough insulation, or connection may not be secure. Also you should use a needle nose pliers to push in wires as the terminal connectors are much closer packed than in other units I have tried.

This is pretty easy to set up using the main selector dial to set the clock time, date, and individual valve time positions. To increase or decrease values you use two up-down arrow buttons. There is a button for each day of the week to set up watering, and select frequency of watering. You can select one zone to water manually, or another for all zones. If you select one zone to run, you will have to re-set the unit to run all automatically. Rain delay can be set manually up to 72 hours. And there is a seasonal adjustment to add or shorten pre-set run times depending on seasonal needs from -90% to +100%. There is an Off selection to turn off all functions.

Display screen is a bit small for my taste, but it still is easy to see and readable. In use, screen will display current time and next zone scheduled to water. In rain delay, screen shows current time and remaining hours until schedule resumes. While watering all zones, display will show current time, which zone is ON and how long left on that zone. If you have an electrical problem in the system, the unit will tell you which station has a potential problem.

Note that this is a single program unit, with individual set start times for each valve, and with multiple possible watering times per day. If you need a unit with more than one possible program, this is not it.

I used Rain Bird timers almost 30 years ago in a retail nursery, and this has a similar feel to it even though technology is quite advanced from that earlier totally mechanical timer. Rain Bird has been around for a long time, and that has to be significant.

Orbit 12 station Easy-set Sprinkler timer model 27892

This unit replaces two now ancient (by sprinkler timer standards) 6 valve timers from different companies and eras. And that is one reason for the replacement. It is much easier to program one unit than to remember how two from different decades are programmed. And this is a good unit for easy programming. Basically, once it was wired, I programmed it without instructions.

Out of the box the Orbit easy set 12 station sprinkler timer is a hefty solidly built timer. Of course it has been a few years since I had to purchase a timer. The ones I have experience with are light weights compared to this. It comes designed to be mounted either outside or inside and has a lockable exterior door to keep others (hopefully) from gaining access to programs if that is something you need. I plan to leave mine unlocked, but it is nice to know I can lock it if I decide to.

The unit has a built in transformer with plug, but this also can be hard wired to existing 120 AC if desired. The transformer can be accessed through opening the swing out display panel. Once you open the door, you also have access to the wiring panel for up to 12 sprinklers, a pump start/master valve and optional (rain sensor purchased separately) rain sensor connection. The connections are by insertion of the wires directly, and they can be disconnected by easy insertion of a small screw driver on a plastic tab.

Program selections are seen on an easily visible LCD screen. Programming can include 3 separate programs of up to 12 sprinklers with up to 12 start times of up to 240 minutes run-time. Programming can be done with a large rotary dial to select individual functions and several “plus” and “minus” and “continue” buttons to advance to next station, or add to or decrease watering times or days, etc. Individual days of the week can be selected for each program selected, or you can select even or odd days, or every other day. Programming has so many variations, I am sure I never will utilize as many as are included. Like I said, I originally programmed mine without directions, but the directions are easy to use also, and include an easy start sheet to post near installation site for reference if anything goes wrong.

Unit also has an extra “Budget” program selection so you can add to, or decrease all watering times without resetting individual time entries. For example, if you have a time set for 60 minutes at default 100% entry and it is spring you can decrease the time to 30 minutes by entering 50% in budget selection. Range is 10% to 200% in increments of 10%.

Rain delays can be set for 12, 36, or 72 hours. If you need more time than that in rain delay, timer can be turned OFF. Or if you use the optional rain sensor, it would track all of that for you. All stations can be run manually, or you can choose any one station in any program to run manually. But, if you do this, remember to return unit to automatic running afterward. If not, it will stay on the last manual setting. This is one thing I would change. It would be nice if it returned to auto on its own after a manual run.

Unit has a battery back up to maintain program settings only. This is an easily obtainable (CR2032) lithium battery that has been used for years in many devices. You may have them already for watches or remote controls. They suggest replacement every year to avoid loss of programming. But, if unit loses program, it should return to a default setting of daily ten minute watering of each station until reprogramming is completed.

Warrantee is for six years from date of purchase

Note, I had trouble with my timer which may have been due to AC line surges. It has been replaced. See next entry.

Fan of generic drugs. . .

This technically is not a review as much as a comment on the cost of medications for those who need them to continue some part of a normal existence, such as your eye sight. Just one example that impacts me is Xalatan.

This is an eye drop to control ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Until now, I have been paying $93.00 for 2.5 ml, which barely lasts a month. In fact, it runs out in less than a month, but I am trying to convince myself it lasts a month just to feel better about the high cost.

When I picked up my prescription just now, I thought the pharmacist had the price wrong. It turns out that since I last filled the prescription, they had gotten in the generic version of this medication. Instead of Xalatan priced at nearly $100.00, it is now marketed as Lantanaprost and costs $12.00. That is a huge drop. An unbelievable drop. I get it that the folks who develope medications need to recover development costs of drugs, but I am not sure I get how they can justify the previous regulated cost of Xalatan.

ATT to buy out T-Mobile?

When I bought my first cell phone I decided that I would go with a known company at the time. This turned out to be AT&T. At that time I think they included the term “Wireless” in the name. Things went fine but I started to notice just how many services I had going on were with AT&T. I decided to trim what I could. I got out of ATT long distance. I had no choice for cable, which was also ATT for a while. But I could choose a different cell provider. I chose Cingular.

Cingular worked out just fine as long as they were in existence. They had flexible plans. They had what seemed to be better phones. And at the time, their service was better than ATT had been when I made the change. Then, I learned that Cingular was really owned by former Baby Bell Company, SBC. Well, that was OK for the time being. The service was still great for me. That was until the day that SBC bought the gutted remains of former giant ATT and decided to take on the name and logo of their former corporate owner. Yep. My cell phone now lighted up with that old familiar ATT sign on. Cingular via SBC ceased to exist.

So, is ATT really so bad that I would decide to switch carriers again just to be away from them? Maybe they are fine. But since I have been away I have been made aware I am a member of a number of class action lawsuits that deal with business practices that ATT were not up-front about in the time I was with them. I felt justified to make another switch at this point.

I chose T-Mobile at a time when ATT was fighting it out with Verizon as far as who had the better 3G coverage. The advertisements went on forever. I could not have cared less. I was happy with T-Mobile. I should have bet money thought that sooner or later, ATT would make a move on T-Mobile. Of course they would. It was as inevitable as the ATT service icon that on occasion sprung up on my Blackberry Bold. ATT and T-Mobile both use GSM, so they are roaming partners. It only makes sense that it would be a relatively simple merger of technology.

I just hope that T-Mobile subscribers do not lose anything in this merger if it goes on to be approved. I am running out of places to jump away from ATT.

Hampton Bay Antigua 56 Inch Ceiling Fan

This is a fan put out by Home Depot. Originally it was available in the brick and mortar stores in a variety of finishes. Currently it is only available at http://www.Homedepot.com in a brushed nickel or bronze finish. Both of these finishes at Homedepot.com come with matching light kit. I also found that there are still a few of the fans available in Flemish Brass through R.E. Williams Contracting (http://www.rewci.com). The Flemish Brass variety does not have a matching light as it must have been discontinued along with the fan when Home Depot stopped carrying it in the store or online.

This is a five blade fan with the individual wooden blades having a carved leaf appearance. The fan has the standard three speeds with reverse direction switch if you want to make the fan blow air against the ceiling in winter or downward to cool you in warmer months. The light kit has room for three 60 watt candelabra style bulbs and the bulbs are included in the versions that ship including the light kit. This was not the case back when the Flemish brass light kit was around. I am still looking for another one of those to match my second fan.

Here is a description of the bronze version from the website.

· 5 hand-carved featherwood blades with a medium cherry finish

· 56 in. fan blades for enhanced reach

· Hand-painted alabaster bowl light kit is included and is an optional installation

· 3-speed with reversible control for versatile use

· Oil-rubbed bronze finish complements many interior accents

· Designed for interior use

· Uses three 60-watt max Candelabra Bulbs (included)

· Ideal for large rooms up to 20 ft. x 20 ft.

· Standard mount for ease of installation

There is a limited lifetime warranty through Home Depot.

The fans themselves are fairly easy to install. Installation should be to only ceiling fan specified mounts. The included instruction book walks you through the installation process. I have seen some reviews of this fan out there that suggest the installation instructions are lacking in some way. I did not find this to be true, but if you have a problem, just read the steps again, or have someone else read them to you as you physically hold the pieces they describe in the book. It would be a help to make sure you are familiar with the terms the book uses to describe each part prior to the installation. Once you get the fan up is not the time to realize you missed a critical item.

The website suggests that this is a standard mount for ease of installation. I am not sure if that means that the version on Home Depot’s website will only work with the included short down rod or not. For the Flemish Brass version, you have a choice of using the down rod, or omitting the down rod making the fan a flush-mount to your ceiling. Either way, there is sufficient length of connection wires to drop the fan down on a longer rod of your choice. I cut off at least two feet of wire prior to mounting our fans.

All fan-internal connections were made simple by use of plastic wire connectors. Match a connector together, push it into place and the electrical connections are done, safe and secure.

One criticism may be that the light kit seems more for show than to provide actual light. If you put the light into a high ceiling room, the three 60 watt bulbs really do not provide much light. But, fan operation is smooth and noise free at any speed.

Homedics Paraspa Plus Paraffin Bath

The Homedics Paraspa Plus basically is a thermostatically controlled heated bath of melted wax. Treatments are intended for improving the skin, or for heat treatments for sore and achy hands or feet from arthritis or other common joint pain that benefit from heat. In use, once you have the paraffin melted, you do a series of dips into the wax which serves to coat your hand in multiple separate layers much as you would do in making candles. The hot wax forms a coating over your hand or foot, and seals in moist heat. After your treated extremity cools down, you simply peel the cool wax off and return it to the device to re-melt and use again later. My unit is the Paraspa Plus and it includes 4 pounds of wax, a safety grate to place over the heating element, and 30 liners. Note that the liners are not intended to place into the bath. They are an option to lengthen the treatment by slowing down the cooling of the wax once it is on your hand or foot. The bath area is also designated for elbows, but this has not been tried yet since our intended use is mainly for hands. The grate helps keep you from touching the heating element directly. You use at least three pounds but at the most four pounds of wax. One potential drawback here is the unit designed as a flat bath, so you have to place your hand or foot into a shallow tub. It can be difficult to cover the entire hand without dipping both sides. If the tub was vertically arranged, it might be easier to cover the hand all at once. The unit itself has a locking lid which helps the wax heat up more quickly, and also keeps the lid from accidently being opened by knocking it inadvertently. There is an on switch in the center of the exterior near the base. When first switched on, a light glows red to inform you that the unit is heating the wax. Heating of the wax can take up to two hours or slightly longer. Time to melting varies depending on the room temperature. Note here that I see some descriptions for this unit online that suggest that it has a variable heat selector, but the manual does not mention this, and if it does exist in the unit, I have not discovered it yet. Once the ready light shows as blue, you can push to unlock the lid and proceed to dip your hand, foot or elbow. If one of your intended uses actually is arthritis, you may need help in actually pressing the on-off switch and the lid-unlock button as they can require a bit of pressure. I do not mean to suggest that it is too much pressure, but for someone who has limited use of hands, you may need help. The unit manual suggests that it is designed to leave on all of the time. But, I would caution that you really have to set the unit up in a secure area for that to make much sense. My house is not designed for this type of device to be left on all the time I would never leave it on while away from the house. This means you have to do a bit of planning for a treatment. You need to allow it to heat for at least two hours before it is ready for use. And it needs a secure area that will not be bumped as the melted wax would be a real pain to have to clean off of countertops or rugs. It is also suggested that you wash the area to be treated prior to use. And if you have more than one person using it, to change the wax more frequently as it does get dirty over time. The unit does require periodic cleaning and I assume at that time you would want to start over with new wax.

DEWALT DWD115K 8 Amp 3/8-Inch VSR Mid-Handle Grip

For the last five years or so, I have used a 3/8 inch Black and Decker 2.2 Amp 0-1600 RPM variable speed drill with standard pistol grip and standard key chuck. This has been a pretty good drill for what it is, but it is starting to wear out a bit at this point. Hey, I am older now too. When I started to look around for a replacement I was rapidly overwhelmed by the numbers of possibilities. I decided on a corded model because I did not want to hassle recharging batteries in a project although I am sure batteries have improved since my last experience. I wanted to stick with 3/8 inch, but I wanted it to be heavy duty compared to my Black and Decker, but still easy to use. I wanted a quality name I recognized but still wanted affordability. The DeWalt DWD115K fit those needs. As luck had it, it was also the one drill my local Lowes was out of. So, at least it appears to be a popular choice. This is a 3/8" VSR mid-handle drill with keyless chuck. The weight of the drill is listed at 4 pounds. This is a bit heavier than my old drill, which was a concern of mine in my searching. But heavier duty drills I looked at felt heavy in my hand compared to my old 2.2 Amp Black and Decker. This was a concern for me because my hands are not what they were when I was younger, and the pistol grips on current day drills are hard for me to hold on to due to the heavier drill extending away from my hand grip. Although the DWD115 is heavier than my old drill, having the grip in the middle seems to help distribute the weight of the drill so I have no problem holding it in use. The DWD115 is listed at 8 Amps, so it really has a lot more potential power than my 2.2 Amp Black and Decker to do the heavier drilling I may run into in around the house jobs. And it also has higher maximum RPM at 2500 compared to the maximum 1600 for my old drill. The grip itself is comfortable enough, having a combination hard plastic and rubberized feel. The trigger is easy to use and variable speed is easy to control. In use, there are two bubble levels to help hold the drill horizontal or vertical as you drill. The keyless chuck is easy to figure out and I am sure it will be as asset once I can get to the point I stop looking for the key to change bits the old fashioned way. There is a hook of sorts on the top of the drill itself. I suppose this is to hang the drill off of a tool belt. I am not sure how handy that would be since I do not have a belt to hang it on and can see no other possible function for this hook. The one thing on this particular drill I wonder about is the forward-reverse switch. It is true it is located in an easy to access area just above the trigger. But it is a simple plastic switch that sticks out away from the trigger itself. On one side the drill goes forward. Click to the other side for reverse. But the problem I see down the road is that something could catch on this switch and break it off. The DWD115 comes in a plastic case that has a compartment that just fits one of my 4” by 5.25” box of drill bits. It also has space for my 2” by 2.5” box of driver bits. The case may seem a bit awkward to some since the hinge for the door is on the side as compared to the carry handle on top. This is a minor adjustment. The warrantee is 90 day money back guarantee, 1 year free service; 3 year limited warrantee- which seemed a bit better than most I looked at. My contractor working on my house at the time uses a similar DeWalt, so that was also a factor in my choice. Specifications Chuck Size 3/8" Keyless Chuck Yes Amps 8.0Amps No Load Speed 0-2,500rpm Max Watts Out 650W Capacity in Wood (Spade Bit) 1" Capacity in Wood (Hole Saw) 1-1/8" Capacity in Steel (Twist Bit) 3/8" Gear Reduction Single Handle Style Mid-handle grip Anti-Slip Grip Yes Anti-Lock Control No Tool Weight 4.1lbs Shipping Weight 6.4lbs

New Case Mate Leather Case Holster for BlackBerry

This review is of the Casemate Signature Combo cases. My particular application is for the Bold 9700. I have looked at least ten different case and holster combinations for my Blackberry. Each one of them had part of what I was looking for, but each one of them also had a deal breaker that lead to my returning the item for a refund. When I followed a link to Casemate my search ended. As may be said of a lot of case choices out there, this one claims to give the best of all possible worlds as far as versatility of use. It also has the comfortable feel of leather in a highly protective and snug fitting one piece case. It is important for me that my phone case offers a secure feeling when I reach for it, since I tend to be all thumbs as far as grabbing hold of my phone to use. This is true if it is in a regular case with a flap like the one included with Blackberries, or if it is simply sitting on a table. And Blackberries are not the cheapest phone out there if they are damaged in a “drop”. This is the one reason I have opted for a case for the phone with a separate holster. If a belt clip is part of the case, it is a deal breaker. If the case pops apart on impact, it is also a deal breaker. The Casemate Signature combo case consists of two main parts: a one piece wrap around case for the actual phone, and a holster to hold it via a belt clip. Both of these are covered in leather- not a cheaper leather appearing substance, as some cases I looked at on my way to Casemate, but a covering of real Napa leather. The case portion starts with a plastic wrap around cover that is then wrapped in leather so the exposed parts are leather. This is a single piece case, not a two section deal that might pop apart if dropped, or that may not fit completely snug when you snap it together or one that comes apart in everyday use. Many of the other cases I looked at were like that, and they felt as cheap as they looked. The Blackberry fits snuggly into the top of the Casemate case. It allows full function from keyboard to power/ charge cord to the camera. Note that the case would have to be removed to fit a base charger and would not fit over an adapted case back for other types of charging systems. Because the holster is totally separate, you do not have any clips directly attached to the case as I have seen in other cases I ruled out on the way to this choice. This means the case allows the phone to sit flat on a table and then easily be put into the holster for travel. Or, you can simply put it into a pocket. Clipped on and with the case/phone in, the clip allows the holster to swivel a full 360 degrees with very solid feeling “stops” so you can position the phone in a more comfortable position if seated in a car for example. Speaking of the holster, this unit does allow for the separate Blackberry “in holster” ringer options- at least in the Bold model. For the magnet controlled function to work, the phone has to be inserted into the holster with the keypad towards you. This is fine anyway because it also provides maximum protection to the phone. It is also possible to put the phone into the holster with the keyboard facing out, but in this configuration the “in holster” functions will not work. The holster, at least on my version, has the one thing about this that I dislike. Casemate recommends of course that the phone should be placed in the holster with the keyboard in. The fit into the holster in this configuration is not as good as it could be. The case/phone combination feels a bit loose, like it could be bumped out. I should qualify this with a couple of points. First, my phone has not fallen out of its case in the first couple of months of normal use so this may be a needless concern. And if my case/phone combo did fall out of the holster I would feel better about its chances with this case than others I have tried. And not all cases for Blackberries may fit their holsters the same way the Bold does. It is a bit odd though that if I turn the blackberry around so the keyboard faces out, the fit of the bottom of the case matches the bottom clip of the holster perfectly. All in all, this is the best case solution for my Blackberry that I have seen, and even with the loose feel of the case in the holster, I would recommend it. Casemate also includes a single display protector and a cleaning cloth.

Rain X Latitude Wiper Blades for my 2004 Prius

When your vehicle service guys warn you that your wipers are starting to come apart, it is always a challenge to figure out just what to replace them with. Do you go with the cheaper style that came on the car which is pretty much the older standard wiper that you can just thread into the existing mounts, or do you opt for a totally new style of blade and holder? Well, in this case I decided to go with a newer design and chose the Rain X Latitude. It remains to be seen how good these will be long term, but I have gotten a bit tired of the more standard blades and how they work in the rain. The longer one on the driver side does hop at times in lite rain. Increasing the delay helps a bit. The Rain X Latitude is a completely different appearing style of holder and blade. Here are the listed specs. They are available in many sizes. That is good for me since my car requires two different sizes; one 26 inches for the driver side, and one 18 inches for the passenger. I also have a shorter wiper on the back window, but I did not have to replace that one this time. Features Blended graphite coated rubber blade for (claimed) clean chatter free wipe Built in spoiler reduces drag, noise and wind lift Prevents buildup of ice and snow through elimination of exposed metal components Durable rubber encased substructure for increased wiper flexibility and adherence to windshield in harsh conditions Beam blade will fit all 8 wiper arm clips In use these wipers do seem to be much quieter than my previous blades. They do fit against the curves of my windshield as advertised. When you lift them away from the window, they bend down in a curve away from the center tab. Driving there is less wind noise, something you really can notice in a car that is as quiet as a Prius. I have not really used this present configuration in icy conditions yet, so I can’t say how they work in snow. But, looking at them as I have so far, I would feel better about these than the wipers they replaced. On the downside, I guess there is nothing really as perfect as some manufacturers claim. About the chatter free and clean wipe. . . In my car I can see two different size blades going at the same time. Both the 26” and the 18” can and do get things stuck under them that leave a streaky surface. Sure, it is clean but if you expect that to mean a total end to streaks, this blade is not perfect. Also, about the chatter free wipe. . . This may be a function of the length of your blades. The shorter 18” passenger side wiper appears to wipe smoothly as advertised. But the lower portion of the 26” blade tends to wiggle noticeably on its advertised "chatter free" wipe. I still do not notice any noise from this, but it is a bit of a distraction. I do recommend these, but you should be aware of the quirks as noted for the longer blades. The blade wiggle noted just be a function of the length of the blade or the type of windshield in the Prius. Your installation may differ.

HP Officejet 6500 Wireless Printer, fax, copier, scanner with photo printer-

Yikes. Doesn't anyone just make a normal printer anymore? It happens, I guess- but they are getting to be harder to find now that the all-in-one machines have gained so much popularity. Is this popularity deserved? Well, it does seem that it makes more sense than having to buy individual machines to do each function. One thing I do not like about this is that I may not really want to have or use a photo printer or scanner anymore. And I only have rare need of a fax machine. But, I do need a printer and these other features are more and more a part of that one desired thing.

One such device that includes all of the above functions is the HP Officejet 6500 wireless. It has it all, and does it all. It does so much I have not even touched the surface of discovering all of them yet. In fact, some of the features I have little need for I may never use. The all-in-one printers are like that I guess. Why did I get one then?
I wanted a duplex printer capability for one thing, and I had prior experience with HP printers. I also figured that a home copier may be in order to save me from driving across town every time I needed a small number of copies. For larger jobs, I will still use Kinko's. And, once in a blue moon, I have need of a fax machine. Having one will also take away a further need to drive across town. So, those features while not really necessary will be convenient at times.

How is the 6500 on ease of use? It seems fairly straight forward so far. You click one of the buttons for a feature, and a screen prompt helps you through the needed steps. The 6500 has an auto-feed try for convenience. In my installation, I do use that since the thing is a bit tall for my available space and it is not easy to open the scanner bed manually to place the original without pulling the unit out on my extended shelf. It has a fairly easy to load paper tray for blank paper, and a finish tray that is easy to get to on top of the feed tray. You can extend a piece on top of the feed tray that becomes a catcher for finished prints. If you do not make use of that, your prints end up shooting out onto the floor or whatever you have unit sitting on.

The scanner, copier and photo printer controls are on the left side of the control surface. In the middle you have a LCD screen that shows various menu screens like status of the printer and allows changes to settings. On the right of that, you have a key pad and other controls related to the fax machine and also the main power button. The 6500 is pretty bulky, and you should note that if you use the duplexer it will add another couple of inches to the back.

I do not plan to utilize the photo printer feature. But, if you do, it uses memory cards described here: Secure Digital; Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC); MultimediaCard; Secure MultimediaCard; Reduced-Size MultimediaCard (RS-MMC)/MMCmobile (adapter not included, purchase separately); MMCmicro/miniSD/microSD (adapter not included, purchase separately); xD-Picture Card; Memory Stick; Memory Stick Duo; Memory Stick PRO; Memory Stick PRO Duo

Set up of the 6500 is a bit involved. Unpacking it is a chore in itself with all of the tape, paper and padding to remove prior to setting it up. You have to install the printer head and cartridges, and attach the duplexer and make sure the feeder trays are set correctly. There is an enclosed sheet to follow steps one by one. Pieces that could be installed incorrectly are color coded. Line the colors up, and you should be good to go.

Small Ink cartridges included-

The one disappointment about this part is the size of the included ink cartridges. They look pretty tiny compared to the machine. I think I had seen that there are larger cartridges available and I will tend to use those once my current ink is gone. These are the higher ink capacity cartridges, HP920XL. These are much better in use, but still run a bit on the pricey side for their size. I recommend getting them at Costco. I tried one of the ink cartridge recyling places, but at the time anyway, this particular cartridge is not one they offer in the recycled format.

Printer software included is a resource hog- And a possible fix

The other thing that I had a problem with is that when I turned on the printer, it tended to freeze my computer for a number of minutes while it went through its sign-on procedures. Something was taking a huge amount of resources from my computer. I have a lap-top. Maybe a normal faster computer would not have the issue.

I spoke to an IT guy about this and he told me it is a common problem particularly with the Officejet combo types of HP printers. He suggested a possible fix was to uninstall the software, and goto the HP website. There he said I would find a listing for my printer that had three software packages to choose from. The full package is 191 megabytes, a medium package is 57 megabytes, and an IT professional package comes in at a svelte (by comparison) 25 megabytes.

I uninstalled, and reinstalled using the smallest package. I still had a problem.

UPDATE to my main system resources problem. . .

I found that I had a file called "HPWuSchd.exe" loading to my system. This is an HP program update helper that looks for updates to printer software. It is also a known resource hog- and can be usurped by mal-ware. I closed it, and printer now runs fine with no freezes. If you have such a problem, you might try to see if this program is loaded. It is not needed for printer function. Without the freezes, this is a diecent printer, adn teh extras can be a plus for the few times you may need them.

RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 Smartphone

The Blackberry Bold 9700 is available for AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers. It comes with a home charger and a partially leather belt clip case. It has the same basic layout of the Blackberry as you have grown used to seeing, with a couple of exceptions. Mine is for T-Mobile which means I get roaming on AT&T network. First, it is sleeker and slimmer appearing with a thickness of .56 inches. The case has a black and chrome appearance which adds to the sleek appearance. And the trackball is gone, replaced by what they refer to as a Track pad. The function of the track pad is much smoother than the trackball in my opinion. This is a major improvement over the track ball that could get dirty over time. Other functions are similar to other Blackberry devices. The right Convenience key accesses the 3.2 megapixel camera. It also has access to the video camera. The left convenience key launches the voice dialing option. This is the stock out of the box settings and you can change the two convenience keys to any listed phone option. At the top of the unit is a recessed mute/standby key on the far right and a keyboard lock button on the left. Down the left side you also have the stereo headphone jack and micro-USB port. Down the right side you have the volume controls. Many phones now may have Wi-Fi access. This is no exception. But this one also lets you make phone calls over the Wi-Fi connection. This is a particularly nice feature for me since my house tends to eat radio signals and my cell service has historically been spotty inside. Now, the Bold 9700 connects to my wireless DSL link and all calls are routed through that using the UMA access offered by T-Mobile. And when I traveling there will be times that the link from a free Wi-Fi hotspot may be the only service you would have for a call. I have even used this around town. For example there is no signal inside my local Toyota dealership. But they have WiFi, so I can use this to stay connected to phone service. One other thing that differs on this phone than some other devices is that you can be on the internet and if you get a phone call, you will be prompted that you have a call and given the opportunity to switch to that call. In the other Blackberry I have experience with, if you were connected to the internet on the network, you never knew you had a phone call until after you had closed out of that connection. The display is 2.44 inches diagonally, and very visible in most lighting conditions. It is just a bit harder to see though than the screen of the Curve 8350 series. The sound in a call is clear even on speaker phone, but being on speaker will eat your batter quickly, so keep that in mind. Email and Calendar functions can be linked to Outlook. I tend to use Gmail and Googlesynch since they are what I have experience with, but you can use others besides. You get access to Blackberry App World. Many of these are free downloads. Available Features * Track-pad navigation * Bright, hi-resolution screen * Full QWERTY keyboard * 3G technology * WiFi® and Bluetooth® enabled * 256MB flash memory * 3.2 MP digital camera with video camera * Multimedia player * Wireless email * Organizer * Browser * Phone * SMS/MMS * MicroSD card reader Battery & Battery Life * Battery: 1500 mAh * Talk Time: Up to 6 hours (GSM and UMTS) * Standby Time: Up to 21 days/504 hours (GSM), Up to 17 days/408 hours (UMTS) * Music Playback Time: Up to 38 hours Voice Input & Output * Integrated speaker and microphone * Hands-free headset capable * Bluetooth headset capable * Integrated Hands-Free Speakerphone * Rating for hearing aids (PDF): M3, T3 (in Ringtones & Notifications * Tone, vibrate, on-screen or LED indicator * Notification options are user configurable * 32 Polyphonic Ringtones – MIDI, SP-MDI, MP3, WAV Bluetooth * Bluetooth® v2.1 * Mono/Stereo Headset * Handsfree * Serial Port Profile * Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP) * Bluetooth SIM Access Profile supported Camera & Video Recording * 3.2 MP Camera * Auto Focus, Image Stabilization * Flash * 2X digital zoom * Video camera recording: Normal Mode (480 x 352 pixel), MMS Mode (176 x 144 pixel) WiFi * 802.11 b/g * UMA support Wireless Networks * 3G (HSDPA) compatible * UMTS: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz (Bands 1,2,5/6), 2100/1700/900 MHz (Bands 1,4,8) * GSM: 1900/1800/900/850 MHz * Quad-band support: GSM 850; GSM

BlackBerry Curve 8350i

I had the Boost Mobile unlimited plan for about a year, and the one thing that bothered me about it was that the internet access was so not user friendly that I never really used it. I started looking at other plans and other companies only to find that their plans were more expensive and data plans were not unlimited. And the one that was just as cheap as Boost Mobile was not available in my area anyway. I was just about to give in when I did one last search and found this; a Blackberry phone originally for Nextel's system that had been reprogrammed to run on the Boost Mobile unlimited plan. I chose the Blackberry Curve 8350i from Boostberry.com. At the time I did this, Boost did not offer a Blackberry for their service. This Nextel/Boost version of the phone is the same in many ways as others in the 8300 line, but different in a couple of respects. The one big one that jumps out at me is Wi-Fi access. Internet speed on the Boost Nextel network is slow at best. Wi-Fi makes it useable in any hot-spot location, including your home wireless access. The other difference is in the battery life on standby. See below for more on this. You get all factory accessories and additional bonus accessories including a Bluetooth headset and an unconditional one year repair or replacement warranty. All Accessories: GPS, voice control, and 2.0 MP digital video camera, 1 GB Micro SD memory card, battery, home charger, swivel belt holster, wired-stereo headset, USB data sync cable, software CD, Blackberry User Guide, and BoostBerry User Guide. The video camera by the way is not just a typical 5-10 second capacity video camera included on smaller phones. I am not sure of the actual capacity- I can't find any spec that has it. But I ran mine for over 2.5 minutes and it was still going strong. Since then I have learned that you have a choice of using phone memory for very short video and fuzzy image, or you can select to use the memory and for longer higher quality video. Bonus extras included: custom-fitted silicone gel case, car charger, Bluetooth headset, and Boost SIM activation kit with a $5 credit. Please note that this credit is only good for new Boost Mobile customers. If you are already a customer and choose to keep your current number, this credit will not apply. You also get a plastic holster style with a belt clip. Checking the prices of these in the stores, I may have to put mine on EBay. It is nice they include this and the gel-case, but I opted for a different holder that offers a bit more protection. Boostberry sells new and refurbished Nextel Blackberry's, with un-activated Boost SIM Starter kits. They unlock, adapt, and program the phone to make full use of Boost Mobile's $50 per month Unlimited plan. (This price at time of writing. I see they are $60 now and still a good deal.) You get Unlimited Nationwide Calling, Roaming, Email, Internet, Walkie-talkie, (SMS/MMS) Text and Picture messaging, IM, Chat, Twitter, Pandora (Music) and GPS Navigation. Your BlackBerry is fully tested and pre-loaded with more than 25 software applications including: Opera and BlackBerry browsers, Google Mobile Apps, Google Mail, Google Maps , Google Synch, Google Voice Search, GPS, LifeInPocket, WorldMateLive, Nav4All, BlackBerry Maps and MyLocation and includes turn-by-turn voice instructions. But wait, you also get IM and Chat: Nimbuzz (Skype, Google, Yahoo), EQO, Ramble (AOL IM), and the Social Networking sites: TwitterBerry, FaceBook, and MySpace. Not enough? It also has News & Weather: CNN, ESPN, Weather Eye, and BlackBerry Weather. And for the more adventurous, you can search the internet for other applications to try. There are so many, I am not sure I have found everything yet. But, of all I have found and tried so far, all work as promised. When you receive your BlackBerry for Boost Mobile you have the option of selecting a new number or transferring your current cellular number to Boost Mobile. If you are already a Boost Mobile customer, you can keep your current account and telephone number. Easy-to-follow activation instructions are included. Features and Specifications Full QWERTY Keyboard and Trackball Navigation- The trackball is a bit odd at first, but I am getting used to it. The keyboard is a bit hard to see at times, but it is still easier to use than other non-qwerty entry methods on normal sized cell phones. Wi-Fi 802.11g capable for Hotspots or home usage, and once a Wi-Fi profile is set; the connection is made in the background when you are back in range of that particular hot-spot. One thing to mention here is that if you are on a Wi-Fi connection, your phone can still receive calls. If you are on the internet using the Nextel network connection, your received calls may go to voicemail. Receive emails from multiple POP3 and IMAP corporate and personal email accounts- This is remarkably easy to set up with the included Google-Sync and your free Gmail account. Once in Gmail, you simply add your main email account and it will route through Gmail (if on the supported list). Then you contacts and calendar can also be synched to the Gmail account. With the addition of a quick download, it can also synch to your Outlook Calendar appointments. Text messaging and email include a spell checker. This is good for me, especially since I at times hit the incorrect little keys. When you have your contacts entered, highlighting an entry gives the option of using any of the possible ways to contact that person as long as you have contact options entered. But, this does not seem to work for email. For that, you still have to go to your email program and enter the email address there or copy it from your contacts to paste into Gmail. Once you contacts are in email, you can send directly from your contacts in Gmail. Bluetooth - for PC and headset communications- Also, if your car has a Bluetooth hands free option, you can connect to that. Of the three phones I have tried to connect to my car system, this was by far the easiest. Also, the other phones I had tried would only transfer one contact at a time to the car system. The Blackberry has a way to transfer the entire contact book to your car. One related thing is the formatting of the numbers. My previous phone had required me to include a "1", the area code, and the number. On the Blackberry, the one seems to be sent by default. This is how I learned how to transfer the contacts. The transfer will only work if all numbers are area code, and number format. If you do not have an area code, or you have a "1", the transfer fails. Bluetooth also lets you send pictures to specially equipped photo-Kiosks to print photos from your Blackberry camera. Or you can use the included Blackberry Desktop Manager to transfer files to and from your computer. GPS capable - For geographic location, mapping, and navigational assistance (no monthly fees) - This is pretty neat as far as I can tell. The nav4all has many options that my car navigation system lacks, including one I know I will use; Find my Parking Space. And it seems it is free with the Boostberry version of the phone. I know my regular boost phone had navigation, but it was hard to see on that puny display, and it was not free. Four hour talk-time battery life- 168 hours on standby- The talk time is about the same for all the Curve 8300 series phones, but the standby time for the 8350i is the lowest of the bunch. You can tweak the initial settings somewhat to increase battery standby time. If you do not plan to use Wi-Fi that can be turned off. If you do not have Bluetooth that can be switched off. The backlight comes set for 2 minutes. That can be adjusted to suit you, and each of these little adjustments will add to battery life. Two MP digital camera features a 5x digital zoom and flash. Video recording is also included. You can access the camera from the icon, or a programmable convenience button on the side of the phone. 1GB MicroSD card is included for work files, photos, movies and music. Multimedia Player so you can play still, video and music files you've taken or downloaded- Music files or any other large transfers will have to be by Wi-Fi since the bandwidth of Nextel is limited. Wired stereo headset and Bluetooth headset are included. My stereo headset was not in the box, but within minutes of emailing Boostberry, they responded that it will be sent later. I guess they ran out. Integrated Attachment Viewing: View popular file formats such as Microsoft Word and Excel. It also has a slideshow player. Brilliant Color display - Vibrant TFT display with 65K colors and 320 x 240 display resolution. The display really is nice in a Blackberry. And the first time I went outside in direct sun, I was happy to see that I could still see it. Powerful crystal-clear speakerphone- I had seen a couple of bad reviews of the speaker phone on the Curves suggesting poor audio quality, and I can't agree. I have found my speaker phone to be one of the best I have heard- land line or cell phone. One thing though, it really saps the battery if you are in a long call. In a regular call, calls are clear, and I have not had any drops yet. Also it seems more like full duplex than other phones I have used where one or the other side drops if the other person interrupts while you are speaking. Voice Command and Voice Activated Dialing- I have not tried this yet. I have a low deep voice, and these features usually do not work for me- So I rarely try them, or I leave it until I am really out of things to do. Google-enabled Voice search function- I have not tried this yet. Voice command lets you use your voice to look up contacts, place phone calls and get key information. Walkie-talkie: Nextel Direct Connect instantly connects you to most Boost and Nextel users. I hear this is a good feature too, but I do not know anyone else on Nextel's network, so I can't try it yet. At this point I have only had it running a few days, and I still have much to learn and set up. So far, I am happy with the purchase. I did have a problem that some Boost Mobile customers seem to have with Texting. If you do a Blackberry on Boost network, Boost Mobile Customer assistance can't help you. I had this problem, and sent a quick note to Boostberry.com tech support (which is free by the way). They had sent me a response within half an hour including a step by step fix, with the needed documentation to download to the Blackberry. All together my fix took less than an hour including the time it took to type out the description of the trouble on Boostberry.com. All in all, I am sold on Blackberry. Nextel may not be the best choice as a carrier though, and with Boost Mobile, you have Nextel signal area which definitely is limited to what it is with no sign of ever increasing. And forget about roaming since no other carrier has this particular network set-up. If that is an issue for you, go with a different Blackberry on a different carrier.