We’ve been getting some really great feedback from all of you guys, and for that we cannot thank you enough.  One of the hardest things we faced when launching StudentBerry was a price point.  As a result, we’ve been paying particularly close attention to how people responded to StudentBerry’s price.  It’s pretty clear to us now that, for at least the time being, we’ve set the bar a little too high.  So from this point on StudentBerry can now be purchased for the low price of $19.95!

We’d love to thank our early release purchasers by offering a partial refund equal to the amount of the price change.  We’ll be processing those within the next few days so keep an eye out for them!  Also, all coupons currently available will also remain viable as an extra special early adopters discount.   Thanks for the amazing response we’ve been receiving over the past few days, keep the feedback coming!

So head on over to www.StudentBerry.com and pick up your free 15-day trial today!  OTA Download also available at http://m.studentberry.com!

It’s been a long time coming, but we are ready to go, so head on over to that download link and pick up a copy or head over to m.studentberry.com on your blackberry and give it a try! Start adding classes and projects and get your student life organized!

Take advantage of StudentBerry’s features:

• A complete daily, weekly, or monthly breakdown of assignments due organized by class and due date
• Easy to follow color coding lets you know what you need to be working on first
• Intuitive large project management: you’ll never fall behind on that final essay again!
• Course Information including your class times and teacher’s office hours and contact information.
• Track important dates, like exams, guest speakers, etc…
• StudentBerry’s intuitive layout and hotkeys ensure you’ll be productive from the first time you launch the app.
• and more!

And once you’ve been using it for a while, go ahead and let us know what you think!

So after some bug fixing and testing and bug fixing and testing we’ve got something we are satisfied with as users and as developers, and we want to share it with you. We are very close to finishing up our baby and we wanted to give you an update on how we are doing. We’ve come a long way from the screen shots we posted a while back, and we’re pretty happy with the final product. So, check back on Tuesday, we will have Studentberry ready to go!

One of the few things that annoys me about my Blackberry 8830 is when the pearl or trackball gets stuck and no longer moves in a given direction (usually down in my case). Usually it’ll work itself out with a few seconds of vigorous rolling, but sometimes it seems to get stuck to no end. I’m pretty sure the culprit is some form of oil that gets between the ball and the sensor, so lately when it happens I’ve been giving it a quick, light swab of rubbing alcohol with a Q-Tip and working it around with a cloth for a second. It seems to un-stick almost immediately. Just a quick tip for all you Blackberry user’s out there!

I’ve received several e-mails lately asking which Blackberry I recommend for students, particularly those in college. Instead of responding to each of these e-mails separately, I’m going to give a brief overview of the currently available Blackberry’s geared towards students. Just to make note of any biases I may have, I currently own a Verizon 8830 Word Edition and consider myself a Blackberry addict. So here we go:

One of the first things you need to consider is which cell phone carrier you are currently using. Regardless of what you want, many students are going to be limited by which carrier they’re forced to use. As a result, you should check with your provider before getting your heart set on anything. Take it from me, not doing so can be pretty devastation (Why Blackberry Curve……..WHY!?!). Second, you need to decide what exactly you’re looking for in a phone. If you’re looking for a great phone with media capabilities, push e-mail, and great stability, then your best bet may be the 8100 series listed below. This phone is similar in size to the standard phone you’re used to, but also provides the benefits of owning a Blackberry. Unfortunately, it’s smaller size and non-QWERTY keyboard mean that e-mail capabilities and web browsing are limited. If, on the other hand, you plan on e-mailing frequently and browsing the web while also enjoying the features mentioned above, then the 8300 or 8800 are easily the best bet. The larger size is often inconvenient, but for me it was worth it for the screen size and ease of use that comes with it. In the end, all of these phones are great options. When coupled with StudentBerry, the Blackberry makes a great device for students.

I’m going to stick to pointing out the differences between the phones themselves, and therefore won’t be including the pros and cons that go with owning any of the devices, such as media capabilities, push e-mail, etc…

Blackberry 8800 series

Pros:

• Larger Screen size makes browsing the internet as good as it can be on a mobile phone
• Full QWERTY keyboard makes e-mailing or texting a breeze
• Great call quality

Cons:

• Larger size makes carrying it around inconvenient, I have to use the included holster which is often annoying
• Over-sensitive mouth piece picks up a little too much background noise
• No camera (this may be a pro for some people though)

Summary:

This is really a great option if you don’t mind the size of the phone. The only issues I’ve ever had are the lack of camera and not being able to keep it in my pocket.

Read a full review at:

http://laptopmag.com/Review/BlackBerry-8830-World-Edition.htm

Blackberry 8300 Curve series

Pros:

• Includes a camera
• Same great screen size as the 8800 series
• Smaller size than the 8800
• Full QWERTY keyboard makes typing out e-mails a breeze.

Cons:

• Still a little on the large size, but not by much
• I’ve heard some complaints about picking up background noise on this device as well

Summary:

This, to be honest, seems to be one of the best Blackberry options currently available. Online reviews are nothing but positive, and users seem highly satisfied. Unfortunately, it currently isn’t available on many networks.

Read a full review at: http://laptopmag.com/Review/BlackBerry-Curve.htm

Blackberry 8100 Pearl series

Pros:

• Smaller size makes it more comparable to a standard cell phone
• Includes a camera
• Though not full QWERTY, the keyboard is still larger than normal and with practice can become quite an efficient little tool
• Let’s face it, the thing’s just pretty

Cons:

• Smaller screen size (this may be a pro for some)
• Not a full size QWERTY (this may be a pro for some)

Summary:

Basically, this phone is the way to go if you want the smaller sized option.

Read a full review at: http://www.laptopmag.com/Review/BlackBerry-Pearl.htm

Overview:

What it all comes down to is what features you’re looking for, and what features you can actually get. If you don’t mind the size and your provider offers it, I think the Curve is the way to go. My 8830, however, has never disappointed and was still enough to get me hooked. If size is an issue, then the Pearl is an awesome option. Regardless of what you choose, however, you won’t be disappointed. The only complaint I’ve ever had is the default task manager included with the Blackberry OS. Quite simply, it doesn’t provide enough features to be called a suitable solution for students. That’s why I decided to make StudentBerry. Check it out at http://www.studentberry.com/products

Also Check out Getting your Blackberry Ready for School for what to do next!