BlackBerry Music Gateway by Research In Motion Limited
With RIM’s release(s) of the BlackBerry PlayBook, then Bold 9900/9930 series devices I think most users will agree thin, sleek and matte black is sexy, attractive and falls in the “gotta have it” category. This time Research In Motion Ltd has taken the same approach to their brand new BlackBerry Music Gateway.
Features
- Enjoy Wireless Freedom: Streams music from your smartphone, tablet or other devices to your stereo(1,2)
- Your Device is the Remote Control: Track and volume control from across the room, plus access your apps simultaneously.
- Connections Made Simple: Tap to connect with NFC2 or use standard Bluetooth1 for universal connectivity.
- Plays music through: Any home stereo, powered speaker system, or car stereo with auxiliary input(1,2).
- Online music services: Works with online music services and apps on your smartphone, tablet or device, such as Slacker, 7digital, and BB Music
- Product Dimensions: 60mm x 37.5mm x 11mm
- Product Weight: 22.2g
1 Smartphone, tablet or device must support A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles
2 Smartphone must support Near Field Communication (NFC) for tap to connect feature.
Unboxing – Again I was caught off guard by the very compact size of RIM’s latest accessory. The BlackBerry Music Gateway is about as long as 2 boxed chocolates yet just as thin as my Bold 9930 laying on the coffee table.
Items in the Box:
° Music Gateway
° 3.5mm AUX
° RCA
° Charger (USB)
First impressions – It’s a must-have! While this isn’t the first time I’ve said that this year.. just looking at some of their previous accessories this year: BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Leather Pocket – for the flirtatious professional. The latest indiscreet BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Charging Pod Bundle, combine it with the “that’s right I’m blasting beats through my BlackBerry” using the BlackBerry Premium Stereo Headset (3.5mm). So now I have my first Music Gateway. And it’s making my life a lot simpler when it comes to actually blazing my tunes out loud! I’ve never really considered the possibility of my PlayBook & BlackBerry becoming a remote control. Right now I’m using my BlackBerry Bold 9930 to connect/disconnect quickly over NFC.
Unlimited playlist options – Nowadays we have so many different avenues for drawing our favorite jams. For starters BBM Music. Depending on how many friends you have inside your BBM Music account, some users have 1000′s of songs to choose from. Make playlists, add your drive tunes to your favorite songs list and much more. Other options include Pandora, Rdio, & of course Slacker! Purchase full albums at the BlackBerry Music Store, and 7Digital Music Store.
BlackBerry tablet users looking to push the best sounds through your Music Gateway should check out Slacker for BlackBerry PlayBook, and the native Music Store for full album purchases, single tracks & previews.
Connecting your device to the BlackBerry Music Gateway:
° Make sure your BlackBerry Music Gateway is plugged in to an outlet, then press on the top of the accessory and notice the red and blue LED flashes. On your BlackBerry smartphone click Bluetooth > Search > BlackBerry Music Gateway, and then connect
° The BlackBerry Music Gateway can connect to the BlackBerry PlayBook as well by simply going to Options > Bluetooth > Add New Device and then selecting BlackBerry Music Gateway
° The BlackBerry Music Gateway is NFC enabled for a quick and easy pairing option. Make sure NFC Radio is turned on in your BlackBerry smartphone, then simply touch the back of your smartphone to the top of the BlackBerry Music Gateway and hold it for a moment until it vibrates and/or makes a sound
Ignite Music with Remote-access - Connecting your BlackBerry smartphone or BlackBerry tablet into the BlackBerry Music Gateway is exciting mostly because of the ability to have total control over your favorite digital mixes! With just the push of a button. Not only is everything you want right, but now you have the clicker. Be it the compact 7 inch BlackBerry PlayBook, your NFC enabled BlackBerry Bold 9790, 9900, 9930, Curve 9350, 9360, 9370 & so on.
Users can also use other non-BlackBerry smartphones/tablets/computers with either NFC capabilities, bluetooth, connect to your home stereo system, wireless speakers like a Jambox, SONOS or one of my favorites the car stereo!
Adjust the volume, change your tracks and more. You can even keep the music playing from up to 30 FEET AWAY! Plus there’s no need to have to phone docked anywhere so you can still do all the things you love to do with your BlackBerry, like send tweets on Twitter, update your Facebook status, check BBM, Email and so on and so on.
So what do you think! Personally I love it. After almost a week with it I think the BlackBerry Music Gateway will spend a fair amount of time in my car, on my PC, with my Jambox, and everywhere else I roam. Like what you see, then head over to store.shopblackberry.com/ and get one of your own. Retails for a reasonable $49.99. Comes with everything we mentioned above.
