I’ve already told you that I’m loving my recently purchased BlackBerry 8830, but now I love it even more!

This week Google launched a fuller integration between current BlackBerrys and their apps.  You just need to point your mobile browser to m.google.com/sync to download everything.  Perhaps a few of these items were available before and I just didn’t know it, but I’m loving it.

I can now update my calendar either on Google or the BlackBerry and they auto-sync with one another whenever possible.  No hookup to the computer, nothing to press, just set it once and the software will do the rest for you.  I now have my calendars constantly updated, which has always been one of my biggest complaints with PDAs.

The one that blew me away was using Google Maps.  It hooked into my phone’s GPS and automatically showed me where I was with all the usual bells-and-whistles, including the ability to fetch traffic reports.  (something you really need in my rural town…)  I’ve also got a really slick interface for my Gmail account now also.

Non-Google related, but still nice, I added TwitterBerry this week.  As I mentioned, I am using Twitter more now, I can now post updates without the short code, as well as check my Twitter feed on the go.  Yes, yes, I know most people use Twitter just for fun, but I’m actually using it for my blogging jobs, and it has led me to a couple of articles already.

It’s nice to have so much of the web in my pocket any time I need it.  Sure, I’m not going to do casual surfing this way, but overall I’m loving the expanded functionality I’m getting.

Here they come…

I’ll be covering the announcement for MAC.BLORGE.com, but I’m sure I’ll have commentary over here. I’m predicting full screen video with touchscreen, no clue on storage… I’m hoping huge.

Great googily moogily! ENOUGH WITH THE iPHONE! I DON’T CARE ANYMORE!

No more awkward television anchors trying to play with it.

No more play-by-play videos of how it works.

No more detailed shots of it from every conceivable angle.

I don’t even need to see one taken apart, because I’ve seen that too!

At the end of the day, it’s a phone! It is not the second coming… it won’t feed hungry children… it won’t cure cancer… IT’S A PHONE! It is admittedly cool, but it is still just a means of communication!

In the same speech where Steve bestowed iPhone love on all the employees, it seems he also mentioned this little ditty:

He then expanded upon OS X, and what it means for the business. There is one OS group that does Mac OS X for the Mac and the iPhone, as well as “some iPods we’re working on.” Could it be that the next major revision to the iPod video will, in fact, be a widescreen iPod similar to that of the iPhone? We’re not sure, but it definitely sounds like Steve is leaning in that direction.

*slaps his veins* I need my fix Steve… I need my fix.

Steve Jobs, (you know, the man I would consider marrying so I could get an endless supply of Apple gadgetry?) just gave every Apple employee who has been with the company more than a year an iPhone. No word yet on who’s paying for the service plans, but still… wow. And they were all the $600, 8gb versions.

I know everyone is getting caught up in iPhone hype (I’m looking at you Jo), and yes, I know how excited I was the day the details were announced, but then realities set in; it’s far from perfect. It’s using a slower data connection, the OS takes up 770mb of the fairly small memory, the data plans will kill you… it IS flawed.

Also, remember this is a gen 1 device. Think back to the gen 1 iPods… now think of the gen 5.5 iPods (and who knows what gen 6 will be), it’s like comparing night and day. So, yes, the iPhone is exciting, but I’m not sure I would run out for a gen 1.

Oh hallelujah! I have been waiting for this day to come for ages! T-Mobile has finally launched HotSpot @Home. Why is this exciting? Oh, let me list the ways!

For someone such as myself, I have next to no cell phone coverage in my house. I have to leave my phone on the front window ledge to get one bar, if that. This new T-Mobile service turns any WiFi router in to a cell coverage expander. In theory, you can start a call on a traditional cell network, and as you get neat your WiFi router, the call will hand off to the router, allowing you to go anywhere in your house and continue the call. I have no delusions about the hand off, but the idea of being able to use my phone inside my house finally, is really exciting.

Even cooler is any calls using the WiFi system do NOT count against your minutes. If you aren’t a big minute user, you can get a small package, pay the $10 a month fee, talk almost exclusively on the WiFi network and never use even one of your minutes. It will also handle text messaging and any of the other usual phone features.

For now, the only phone available is the Nokia 6086 , which Engadget Mobile reviewed today. They loved it except for a bit tinny sounding on the audio, but they said that happened both on WiFi and traditional cell networks. Like them, I love the idea this phone has Bluetooth included. I am sure using WiFi and Bluetooth at the same time will drain the heck out of the battery, just plug the handset in, put on your wireless headset, walk away from the phone and let it run off the wall socket. Who wants to hold the handset to their head anyway for a long conversation? And for those who wondered, yes, this phone will work with any open wireless network, meaning coffee shops, schools and so on. So long as there isn’t a login screen, you’re good to go.

Another bonus for me is I work in all metal building with NO reception at all. Well, we have WiFi at work, so I would finally have cell phone accessibility all day long. And, even better, I could use my Bluetooth headset to talk at work as I walk around the warehouse! Yes, I currently use traditional headsets, but I am tired of the cord catching on things and ripping the ear piece off my head!

More than likely there will be more handsets introduced on the not-to-distant future, and I am going to hold out for a bit, but I am so stoked by this whole concept. This technology has been out in Europe for awhile now, it’s about time we got it here!

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

I have been seeing this message since yesterday on the BlackBerry site…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

Constantly…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

It never changes…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

I am wondering just how much…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

capacity they set up for…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

because with the number of BlackBerry’s out there…

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

you would think they would have planned ahead.

This is just beyond annoying just to simply adjust the time on my phone.

Oh…and

The DST 2007 update site is currently too busy to service your download. Please try again in a few minutes.

The official release date for the Zune is the 14th, but some stores have let it slip out early. And pictured above, you can see how well that’s going for some people. Some folks are theorizing that this is due to the fact your Zune needs to talk to the Zune website at some point to set up your Zune Tag, but not allowing you to install at all seems silly to me. What if, heaven forbid, you buy a Zune and you don’t have an internet connection? You won’t be allowed to use your new gadget? How silly is that? Another point in favor of the iPod.

A recent study conducted by the Oxygen Network shows women are getting more in to gadgets. According to this study, men owned an average of 6.9 gadgets to women owning 6.6. The same study showed that 77% of women wanted a plasma television instead of a diamond solitaire necklace, but 56% would only make the same choice over a weekend in Florida. (I would still take the plasma TV)

I am thrilled to see women getting more with gadgets and electronics, but would someone explain to me why gadget makers think the way to tap this market is just to make their devices in pink?

The pink PS2 coming out in England.

Pink PSP coming out in all of Europe.

Samsung Q40 coming out in Europe

The pink Razr sold just about everywhere.

I know there are some women who will be thrilled by these (calm down Rachel), but in general, well…I think it’s kind of insulting. Can’t you just imagine these product meetings?

Executive 1 “We need to tap this growing female consumer market for gadgets. How do we do it?”

Executive 2 “Make our existing products pink?”

Executive 1 “BRILLIANT!”

What’s even more insulting is when they not only make the device pink, they think they can UNDER POWER IT! The Samsung Q40 pictured above is a perfect example of that. With the blossoming of the dual-core age, releasing a laptop with a single core only running 1.2GHz is, well, insulting. A 60gb hard drive? But let’s not forget…it’s pink! For the price of $2,460, it’s a rip-off is what it is.

If pink is your thing (again, calm down Rachel…we all know you love pink), more power to you, enjoy. If, however, you are serious about your gadgets at the same time, don’t be lulled in to being jipped in power or performance just because it has a pretty cover.

Random link, check out ShinyShiny for all your female gadget news.