Using a Blackberry as an iPod Remote Control

As a gadget boy, I have a Treo 600 on one hip and a Blackberry 7290 on the other. In my IBM ThinkPad T42 laptop bag, I have my 60GB Video iPod. I am generally using at least two of these devices at once–while on the train or walking. When driving, I usually can only swing one at a time. With all of these devices in close proximity to one another, I have noticed some strange phenomenon.

The Blackberry is a noisy device. In a radio frequency (RF) interference sense, the Blackberry shouts over everything. I can always tell when I am receiving a new email a few seconds before it actually gets delivered, for if the Blackberry is anywhere near a speaker or telephone, there is a telltale staticy sound that one hears whenever the device is sending or receiving information. When this happens on a conference call, it can get quite annoying.

Now I have confirmed that the Blackberry “communicates” with the iPod. The good news is that I have not experienced hearing any interference while listening to the iPod, but almost worse, the Blackberry adjusts the volume on the iPod! At first I thought I was imagining things–perhaps I bumped the volume control wheel, or the case that protects the easily scratched pod was the culprit. After some definitive tests, I have confirmed that if these two devices are next to one another and the Blackberry communicates with the mother ship, your iPod’s volume will change–sometimes lower, but sometimes to an ear-splitting full volume.

Like quarrelsome children, I have learned to keep these two devices apart, but I am considering upgrading my iPod software and enabling the volume limiting function to safeguard against a “Blackberry volume boost.”

If you have had similar experience, please comment.

3 comments August 3rd, 2006