GRAND Magazine - November/December 2008 - 47

BlackBerry Blackberry is a brand name but refers to the device itself as well. “Smart phone” is the generic name for this type of product, a device that combines the functionality of a phone, a basic PC, a pager, etc, etc. And iPhone is basically the same concept as a Blackberry, just with the usual Apple flourish; it has a touch-sensitive screen, really nice icons, etc, etc. There are a few new phones that ape the device’s functionality, and there’s even a Blackberry now that has iPhonelike qualities. I suggest the Blackberry over the iPhone because Blackberry has been around for many years and its technology is very solid. Apple still has a lot of quirks to work out with the iPhone series before it’s reliable in the long term (IMHO). Most importantly, teens use their phones for texting. The Blackberry is much better than the iPhone for texting, because it has a keyboard right there on the device. The iPhone uses a virtual keyboard that only appears when you need it, requiring you to hit letters on the touch-sensitive surface. It can be finicky and not very accurate. The popular phone topping all the Christmas lists this year is Apple’s iPhone, but for a teen there are a lot of things to keep in mind with a cell phone aside from fads and flash. Teens use their cell phones in a way most of us older folks just can’t understand—those phones are their constant companions and a lifeline to their friends. The iPhone has some impressive features, but it has a finicky touchpad for typing (crucial for text messages) and requires the use of an AT&T service plan. If your teen’s family isn’t on an AT&T plan, odds are they’re not going to want to break their contract just for the newest toy. Instead, go for the phone every teen wishes they could have had two years ago: a Blackberry. Blackberries are phones aimed squarely at everything teens need: Web browsing, e-mail and text messaging. The devices have easy-to-use micro keyboards for quick typing and can be added to any pre-existing family plan. Every major cell phone company has their own branded Blackberry device—find out what service your teen uses, and choose one from that provider. Blackberry units come in a variety of styles and features, ranging in expense from about $100 to about $500. Bluetooth earpiece again, it’s hard to overestimate how important a cell phone is for a teenager. They’re so important that teens are sometimes tempted to use them even in ill-advised situations. There’s a reason California enacted a “no cell phones while driving” law earlier this year. Other states with a “handset ban” include Connecticut, New York, Washington, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and some parts of Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania. What a lot of those teens would like, for both in and out of the car, is an unobtrusive way to speak with their friends while keeping their hands free. Keep your teen’s hands on the wheel this year with a Bluetooth Earpiece. The earpiece looks like nothing more than a single headphone with a way to hook the bud onto your ear. There’s a microphone on the end of the earpiece that is angled in such a way that teens can talk into the device even without having anything near their mouth. A wireless technology called Bluetooth (hence the name of the device) allows the earpiece to interact with your teen’s cell phone and keep them connected. The best in the field for this kind of device is the Aliph Jawbone 2, which sells for about $120. Other high-quality, popular models include the Aliph Jawbone 1 ($70) and the Motorola H700 ($50). Check out this list, and come Christmas morning your teen is going to be looking up from their freshly unwrapped present and say, with an amazed smile, “My grandparents got me this? Really? NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2008 GRAND 47

GRAND Magazine - November/December 2008

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