Here’s my 9700 review after using it for about a month. Note, this Blackberry is also known as the “Bold 2.” I upgraded to this from the Javelin.

Pros:

• Faster! The web browsing is faster but nothing to “wow” about compared to my old Javelin on a 2G network. Apps like Ubertwitter and receiving files on BBM are a lot faster though.
• Trackpad!! I was playing around with Boyfriend’s Blackberry the other day and the trackball felt so weird… can’t imagine ever using it again.
• My fat fingers are no longer an issue! Better keyboard than the Javelin (but I still like the 8320 Curve’s better).
• Text messages are linked … BBM style!
• SPEAKERS ARE AMAZING! Well compared to older Blackberry models and even my 3rd generation iPod touch.
• Battery life is a HUGE improvement.
• It’s compatible with the Javelin’s micro-USB ports so I don’t have to replace any accessories since I have a gazillion chargers lying around everywhere (home, work, Boyfriend’s, car, etc.). My biggest fear is a dying Blackberry.
• Awesome resolution and bright screen.
• It’s the perfect size, which is the same as the Javelin but smaller than the chunky [original] Bold.

Cons:

• Leather backing looks tacky.
• Can’t seem to set my right convenience key to show ALL “messages” like I usually do with older Blackberry models. Right now, I can only set it to SMS/MMS OR Messages (BBM/email/etc) and not both. Am I missing something?
• I love how text messages are linked in a chat like BBM but I always forget that I’m texting someone and send them a billion in a row which they probably want to punch me in the face for.
• My calendar alerts can’t seem to be silenced even though it’s set in my profiles.

Rating: 9/10
I only wish there was a bigger screen. I have to admit the numbers are biased because I’ll always give Blackberries a high score.

I know iPhones can do a lot but here 10 Things iPhones Can’t Do, But Blackberries CAN!

Also read: Blackberry Javelin 8900 Review, Blackberry Curve 8320 Review.

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We use to walk by stores that sold apparel with our the Canadian maple leaf on it and we thought it was lame to wear any “Canadian” gear. Now with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, I’ve never been so proud to be Canadian! I honestly didn’t care nor felt any excitement for the Olympics until the morning of the opening ceremony on Friday and now I’m beaming with Canadian pride. It`s amazing how your perspective can totally change in one day.

My favorite quote so far is by Walter Gretzky when he said his parents were European commoners and back then, they would’ve never been able to participate in an Olympic torch relay. But here in America, everyone can because we are all equal.

Like Becca said, our opening ceremony cannot compete with Beijing because we don’t have over a billion people to tax nor do we have such a rich and awesome history like China’s to brag about but I think we did a good job [displaying Canada's culture and history] …except for the girl who butchered our national anthem. Anyway, I doubt anyone could beat Beijing (they rocked it!) unless the Olympics were held in North Korea where Kim Jong Il would imprison his people if they don’t give a spectacular performance.

It’s true, we live in the best country in the world and the most livable city in the world. Sure, we have a retarded prime minister and an extremely expensive real estate market but at least we don’t live in a place where there are constant terrorist threats and a smoggy skyline. We are surrounded by clean air, beautiful nature and lots of opportunities.

I think the Olympics is what every city needs. Beijing made me proud to be Chinese and Vancouver made me proud to be Canadian.

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xoxo

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As you all know, I live to eat and I workout so I can eat more. Losing weight, toning up or whatever your goals are, is actually really easy but the hardest part is finding motivation (and keeping it). Having the right mindset is the most important so you have to have enough drive to reach your goals even though there will always bumps along the road that’ll make you wander off. Here are some tips that helped me:

• Don’t say “I want to lose weight.” Dieting is intimidating so don’t make it your main goal. Instead, focus on achieving a healthy lifestyle and once you do, you’re going to lose weight and tone up anyway.
• Start a food journal. Weightloss is so simple: eat in a calorie deficit and by recording your food, you’ll see how many calories you’ve eaten and freak out when the numbers get too high which should be some motivation for you to stop [for the day]. Just don’t get too anal and obsessed with the calorie-counting and measuring food; it helps in the beginning but you can stop (or do it less frequently) once you understand your body and your foods overtime.
• Start slow and don’t deprive yourself. Don’t cut everything out at once or you’ll end up binging. If you’re craving for something, let yourself have it once in a while in the beginning but only a little bit (eg. a bite) and then slowly restrict yourself even more. Once you start eating healthy and less junk, your cravings will become less and less because basically, if you’re always eating sugary desserts, your body will always crave for it so once you cut it out, you’ll crave it less.

  

• Invest in cute workout gear that compliments your body. You can’t see your body with baggy t-shirts and your boyfriend’s gym shorts but with form fitting clothes (that aren’t 2 sizes too small), you’ll see your body and the progress you’ve made = motivation will go up! FYI, I think Lululemon and Bebe Sports/PH8 sweat pants are the best.

  

• Load up your iPod. Music, workout videos (you can download from Youtube), fitness apps, take notes, etc. Technolgy is so good to us so take advantage of it; you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips. There are 3 things I always need: iPod, water bottle and a towel. If I forget one of those, I’ll actually drive 20 minutes back home and to the gym again just to get it. I know that sounds stupid but back in high school if I forgot one of those, I would just not work out… which is even stupider. I’m getting there, okay.
• Read health and fitness blogs and know the science of toning up/losing weight/etc. Knowing how it works will make it much easier instead of just jumping into it and not see results and besides, it’s actually quite simple once you know how it’s done.
• Throw out the scale!! You really only need a mirror and your clothes but if you really need to, only weigh yourself once every two weeks. You’ll get discouraged weighing yourself daily and only seeing minuscule changes in progress.
• Be creative. Change your workout weekly/bi-weekly, do different kinds of cardio (machine, bodyweight, circuits, etc.), learn new ways to lift, take classes… the possibilities are endless and you’ll never get bored.

How do you guys stay motivated?

Anyway, if you guys want the link to my fitness journal, shoot me an email (don’t ask for it in the comments!!) but I’d have to have a way to validate your identity (eg. a blog/social media profile — where I’ll email the link back to an email address I find on there).

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