BlackBerry Preserves

All About Media on Your BlackBerry Smartphone

2010-12-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

Streaming video, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows—these are quickly becoming highly popular BlackBerry® smartphone entertainment options. So what are some tips and best practices for getting the most from media? This article gives you answers.

http://www.blackberry.com/newsletters/connection/ce/i1210/tips.shtml

Dropbox Mobile is available!

2010-10-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of having my new BlackBerry is that it will actually support Dropbox Mobile!

If you haven't heard of Dropbox, it's a cloud storage service (among the many that are popping up these days). With Dropbox, you can keep an online backup of anything you need to keep. I keep my personal stuff synced with Dropbox and it's been nothing short of AWESOME! I'm so excited to be able to install their BlackBerry edition.

Using Dropbox, you can backup your files securely, in real time, and can even share files with family, friends, or anyone! Dropbox works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and now Blackberry, iPhone, and Android phones.

Dropbox gives you 2GB of FREE storage and you can increase your storage up to 8GB through referrals or by purchasing more storage space. If you haven't signed up, I'll ask that you help me to get more storage by signing up by clicking the image below.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 just arrived

2010-10-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

I just traded in my Curve 8330 for an 8530. First impressions are:

Wow this thing is lightweight!
What do you mean there's no trackball?! Hmmm...cool.
Not liking the keyboardPublish Post
Oh, thank goodness I have more device memory! (256MB to be exact...way better than the meager 32MB in the 8330)
Whoa! OS 5 looks so different!
Wi-Fi?! Hell yeah! ^_^

Now onto my accessory purchases...

BlackBerry eReaders

2010-09-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

This year, I gave my wife an electronic book reader, or eReader (as they're more commonly known). I'll spare you the details of the purchasing process, but suffice it to say that I spent a lot of time researching and comparing multiple devices before finally deciding on the Barnes & Noble Nook. Both of us love to read, so this ended up being a perfect gift and not a day has gone by when I haven't caught her using it.

While doing my research, I thought to myself,"Wouldn't it be great if I could read books on my BlackBerry?" Of course it would! BlackBerry has Wi-Fi and 3G just like the popular e-book readers on the market, so I could theoretically download books any time I need to! That said, I took a look around for some of the best e-book reading software I could find. I'm thrifty/frugal/cheap, so free is always better. I knew I didn't want to pay a dime for any software and so I'd like to share my three favorites:

Barnes & Noble's eReader Pro: This free app, allows you to download and read any books offered by Barnes & Noble. Since I purchased a Nook for my wife and one of the benefits is the ability to share books with others, this created an excellent opportunity for my wife and I to read some of the same books. Barnes & Noble has many classics available as well as new material that's being offered weekly! You can browse through their catalog, shop and read all through a single interface.

The geek in me had to do a little research and found that the Barnes & Noble eReader uses pdb files. While this is a common standard, what I found frustrating was the reader's inability to open unlocked pdb files that I downloaded from elsewhere. In order to read any book through their eReader, you need to enter the credit card number that you used to initially sign up for their software. When I tried to open book that weren't locked, their software still prompted me for a password. Ugh!
Mobipocket: One of the more versatile eReaders out there, Mobipocket has been in the game for a long time. I used to use it on my Palm (remember those?) and their BlackBerry edition definitely satisfies my booklust. While they too offer a book shop, my favorite feature--and Mobipocket's distinct advantage over the other two, is its ability to read files that weren't brought in through the app. That is, DRM isn't in play here. I can pull down any Mobipocket files from Project Gutenberg and read them right on my BlackBerry.
OverDrive Media Console: Offered through my library for a while, OverDrive recently released a BlackBerry version! I have been using their software for years on my computer and Windows Mobile device and am excited to see it finally hit the BlackBerry. Using DRM technology, OverDrive Media Console will enable you to download audiobooks from your library for the lending term. While, technically, audiobooks aren't e-reading...my kids' teachers will tell you that reading to your children is almost as good as them reading by themselves--it teaches a love for books. Check with your local library to see if they offer audiobook downloads!

Between these 3 pieces of software, my want for a book is always satisfied. I can read anytime, anywhere!

For more great reviews on BlackBerry eReaders, check out http://www.labnol.org/software/blackberry-ebook-readers/8386/

BlackBerry App World 2.0 Goes Live

2010-08-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

http://jkontherun.com/2010/08/19/blackberry-app-world-2-0-goes-live/

Evernote for Blackberry Gets an Upgrade!

2010-08-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

In its first iteration, the on-the-go note-taking and webclipping tool Evernote had a frustratingly limited version for BlackBerry. The app allowed you to write text notes, upload shapshots, take audio notes or upload files. The challenge came in when you needed to retrieve the notes you may have taken elsewhere. The app launched a browser to view notes and lists, and most of the time, displayed nothing but shell layout information, forcing you to go back into your browser to load the mobile version of the site. Their new beta version offers fixes for these problems by allowing you to actually view your notes in the native program (read: no switching to the browser). You can grab the update directly over the air at Evernote's Forums at http://forum.evernote.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=17752

A simple OTA install and a reboot will have you singing Evernote's praises yet again!

Say Goodbye to your Reward Cards

2010-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Remember when your keychain was just for keys? Odds are, your keychain now holds more reward cards than actual keys! Want to reduce that clutter and avoid having to flip through multiple cards to try to find the right one? Then look no further. As we embrace the green, we can use technology to rid ourselves of the extra junk!

A free service from CardStar allows you to enter in all your reward card numbers into a simple, easy to use application that runs on your Blackberry! All you need to do to get started is head on over to their site using your Blackberry browser at http://m.metova.com/cardstar.xjad.

Once installed, the interface is extremely intuitive:

Add card
Select Merchant (the great thing is, you can add other card types too--not just merchant cards)
Select the category to narrow down your list or use the default of "All Merchants"
Either start typing the name of the merchant/business/organization/etc. or scroll to select.
Enter your Membership Number, then scroll up to Save.

That's it! Well, actually, you'll have to repeat steps one through five above until you've entered in all the cards you want to save.

There's a couple of other great features, if you want to enable them. First, while you're in the last step, hit the Blackberry menu button to enter Advanced Mode (ooooooh...). You can change the symbology or if you're like me and prefer the easy route, leave it on "Auto." These will come in handy if you're adding a card that isn't from one of the listed "merchants." You may have to play with different symbology types before you get the right one for your "merchant."

The second feature is one that I absolutely love--you can invert the barcode! This is really handy if you're facing a scanner that doesn't really give you a lot of space to get under the bar code reader. Essentially, there's less distance to the screen when measuring from the top (on account of the keyboard being below the screen). Setting the "Inverted" option allows you to easily scan in these situations. A couple of examples I can think of right off the bat: gas cards. Those dinky scanners don't give you a lot of space and if you go too far out, the beam diffuses. *sigh*

To use the software, fire up the CardStar program, then select the rewards card you want to use. Hit the Blackberry menu button, then "Show barcode." It will display the barcode for you to scan. Ta da! It's like magic!

If you're on the road and looking for that particular merchant, you can go into the Info tab, scroll down and select the "Find a [insert merchant name] near you." Pretty sweet, right? Also coming soon (at least that's what it says on my Blackberry) are "Deals" which I imagine will be mmm...virtual coupons. There's nothing quite so nice as being in a store, Blackberry in hand, pulling down savings. That, my friends, is technology at its finest!

I suppose I do have to mention that, if you have friends/family/coworkers who aren't Blackberry users, you could also tell them that CardStar is available for the iPhone and Android-based phones.

Alright...now that we're done with that quick little doosie...let's get on with the embarrassing part--how many cards did you have for input? I had 18.

Time-Saving Keyboard Shortcuts!

2010-05-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

I was reading BlackBerry for Dummies and found a lot of great, time-saving keyboard shortcuts that have truly made my BlackBerry experience better!

Note: Prior to now, I've always had my BlackBerry device set to "Dial from Home Screen." You'll need to disable that option to use these shortcuts. To do so, go into the Phone Options and turn off the option.

And now, I present to you--the shortcuts:

M: Messages (granted, you're also likely to have the side key already set to this)
V: Saved Messages
C: Compose
S: Search
A: Contacts (Note: you can also just hold down the green Phone key to achieve the same result)
T: Tasks
F: Profile (This is a great way to quickly set your phone to silent or vibrate during meetings, movies, or anywhere else you might get nasty looks when your phone rings)
B: Browser
L: Calendar
D: MemoPad
K: Keyboard lock (this will keep you from the accidental butt-dial or purse-dial; since I'm an Aaron, and am consequently at the top of the phone list, I get a lot of these!)

While these won't allow you to perform any new tricks with your phone, you'll be far more efficient than just trying to navigate through the icons on your phone screen.

Urbanspoon on Blackberry

2009-11-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

If you'd like some help deciding where to eat (or if you're jealous of friends playing with Urbanspoon on the iPhone) there's a new solution for you.

Urbanspoon's Blackberry app is a kind of restaurant slot machine. Just hit the space bar (or shake the phone if you have a Storm) and the wheels will spin, until they settle on a good nearby restaurant for you. You can also lock down the neighborhood, cuisine and price you are interested in. Keep spinning until you get a restaurant you want to try.

Urbanspoon on Blackberry also lets you search and browse restaurants, and uses your current location to identify the nearest restaurants to you. Now your iPhone-loving friends don't get to have all the fun!

http://www.urbanspoon.com/blackberry

BlackBerry is on YouTube!

2009-10-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's finally here: the BlackBerry YouTube channel! With lots of great how-to guides and a few commercials, it's a great place to visit for new BlackBerry users...and anyone who needs to refresh their skills!

Check it out today at http://youtube.com/blackberry

Blackberry Must-haves: Evernote

2009-10-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, your Blackberry has a Notes program that use can use to, well...take notes. It even seamlessly syncs up to Outlook. But what it doesn't do is store things in the cloud, ensuring that you won't lose your important info.

Enter Evernote.

I've been using this program for about 6 months (maybe longer) and I have to say, it's my favorite program for taking notes on the go...or anywhere, really. The benefit to keeping things on the cloud means that you don't need to worry about your hard drive crashing, or an Outlook hiccup that somehow deletes all of your notes (archiving has done this to me). With Evernote, it's all accessible, all the time, anywhere that I can get Internet access, including my smartphone.

I used to use Google Notebook, but they've dropped development of this G-app. I'm almost glad they dropped it because I might never have found Evernote; and Evernote does much more.

First and foremost, you probably want to download the program. The easiest way to get it is to download it through Blackberry App World. Once it's installed, you'll find a very friendly user interface. You're greeted by 4 buttons:

Text Note (clearly for taking text notes)
Snapshot (for taking and uploading images)
Audio Note (because even Voice Recorder won't store your stuff online)
Upload File (just because you can)

You can also search for existing notes using the small dialog box at the bottom!

Here's where it gets better.... At your Windows or Mac desktop*, you can download and install the Evernote desktop software to quickly get at anything you created while on your Blackberry. You can also use their desktop software to do webclipping (where you grab parts of web pages you're referencing), add notes/images/files, and it all syncs to Evenote! (*Linux users can install Evernote by first installing WINE and then installing the Windows binary.)

If you don't want to download the software, or maybe can't (due to your IT's blocking you), no problem! You can use their web-based interface to still add notes/images/files. If you're on someone else's computer, you can still pull up all your notes by taking a quick trip over to http://www.evernote.com/.

I never need to worry about forgetting anything ever again, thanks to Evernote!

P.S. - Evernote is also available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, Palm Pre and Windows Mobile devices.

Facebook for Blackberry

2009-10-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, everyone's on Facebook these days. If you're not, you probably should be. Maybe you're not the social butterfly, but you probably have a business or organization that you can promote while you're on there! The Facebook for Blackberrry app makes it easy to connect to your friends, family, old classmates or customers!

Within the app itself, you can check status updates, change your status, upload photos, write on walls, send messages and more! It's addicting, to be on Facebook, but as all Blackberry users know...so is having a Blackberry!

You can download the Facebook for Blackberry application from http://www.blackberry.com/facebook or through Blackberry App World!

Google Apps for BlackBerry

2009-07-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

First off, I'd like to say that whatever your feelings are about Google, you have to admit, they have made the Internet a beautiful thing. Even their most staunch opponents use Google. They've grown substantially over the years, through multiple acquisitions and by hiring some of the brightest developers on the planet. Maybe you didn't even realize it, but Google offers much more today than just the ability to search! I hope that through this post, you'll learn about more of Google's offerings. There are a lot of great apps and many of them are available right in the palm of your hand!

There are two must-have Google apps that I think everyone should use:

Google Search
GOOG-411

I'll start with #2 since everyone knows how to search using Google. GOOG-411 takes aim at replacing traditional directory assistance by offering you voice-guided directory lookups. Why pay the outrageous fees that directory assistance charges (I've heard anywhere from $0.99 to $2.99)? GOOG-411 will do the same job for free...and it can even SMS text you with the information! Just dial GOOG-411 from your BlackBerry (or any other phone) and use the voice prompts to get you the information you're looking for quickly, easily, and for FREE! Heck, you might even want to add them to your speed dial list!

Just about everyone uses Google to search for the answers they need. In fact, that's usually the first place I need to go when I open my browser. Head on over to http://www.google.com/. Note that you're greeted with a clean and simple interface that's built for mobile devices. If you're like me, you're probably going to want to make this your home page. Hit the BlackBerry Menu button then go into Options>Browser Configuration. Then scroll to the bottom and click on the Use Current button to set Google.com as your homepage.

Maybe you want a little more functionality...say, the ability to search for results before opening the browser...or maybe even searching by voice? Yes, that's right, the Google Mobile App allows you to search with the sound of your voice! How cool is that?! You can download the Google Mobile App at http://www.google.com/m from your BlackBerry browser.

Google Mobile App gives you quick access to a range of Google programs including the following:

GMail: e-mail
Google Maps: GPS-enabled directions
Google News: Top news stories
Google Reader: RSS reader
Google Calendar: web-based calendar
Google Docs: web-based office suite
Google Notebook: online notebook
Google Sync: syncs your contacts with GMail and other Google programs
Picasa: online photo albums

Let's dig a little deeper, shall we?

GMail has become one of the best entries in the web-based email market. Not only do you get an enormous amount of storage space (7GB and growing), you can also use GMail to check your regular POP3 and IMAP email accounts! Now you can quickly access your GMail through the Google Mobile App.

Google Maps is a GPS-enabled turn-by-turn directional navigation system similar to MapQuest or Yahoo! Maps. Instead of printing out directions, why not save a tree by using your phone? (Disclaimer: you should not be looking at your phone while driving.) The beautiful thing is that you can type in an address, business name, or general vicinity and GoogleMaps will help to get you there! There's no need to go out and get a separate GPS and you also have reduced security risks (I've read stories about people breaking into vehicles, stealing the GPS and garage door opener. Since some people store their home address as "Home" the thieves have access to your home, assuming you don't lock your garage door, and a map to get there!) The current version of Google Maps also includes the ability to show traffic! If you're a fan of geo-tracking, the Google Maps application allows you to join Google Latitude, enabling you to see and be seen by friends and family!

Google News is a great way to stay tapped into the world around you and abroad. Top stories can be fed right into the palm of your hand, via your BlackBerry, enabling you to stay informed.

Google Reader allows you to keep track of your favorite websites. Supporting both RSS and ATOM feeds, Google Reader gives you the ability to always get the latest and greatest updates and web content, delivered straight to your BlackBerry or computer browser!

Google Calendar provides a web-based calendar system that you can use to integrate to Microsoft Outlook. Through Google Calendar Sync, you can keep your Google Calendar up to date at all times. Additionally, you can share your Google Calendar with anyone you want; you can even make it fully public, if you like! No more messy scheduling challenges. With Google Calendar, you can have your colleagues, spouse, friends, or kids put the important stuff in your calendar so that you never forget another appointment, anniversary, or birthday! If you prefer not to install anything on your computer, you can use Google Sync to keep your calendar maintained...right from your BlackBerry!

Google Docs is a seasoned veteran to the cloud computing platform. It takes aim at competing with traditional office suites and includes word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation apps. They're lightweights compared to the breadth of features offered in Microsoft Office, but for the basic user who just needs to write letters, memos, or research papers; make basic spreadsheets or budgets, or create light presentations, Google Docs offers you that opportunity...all for FREE. You can store up to 5,000 documents/spreadsheets/presentations online, available for your access anywhere that you have Internet access. You can even upload files from your computer!

Google Notebook is an easy way to keep your collective notes in one place. Though technically, this Google project is dead, oddly, you can still use the app from your BlackBerry device. It allows you to capture quick web notes, reminders, etc. and then access them from anywhere that has Internet access.

Picasa is Google's online photo album offering. Similar to other sites, like SnapFish, Picasa offers you to upload photos from your mobile device or your computer (Mac, PC or Linux) and create online photo albums that you can share with whomever you please. You can even make your photos public, if you like! From the Picasa website, you can edit images or order prints. There's even a version of the Picasa software available for you to download on your computer, giving you the ability to do more photo tweaking, such as adjusting brightness, color balance, red eye, and a host of effects. You can sync those photos to online web albums. Who needs PhotoShop Express when you have Picasa? All this and more are offered free-of-charge.

Google is always developing new applications for end users. You can scroll down on the Google.com website while in your BlackBerry browser, to find a list of other applications available, such as Orkut, Blogger, and Tasks. Keep your eyes open, you're bound to find more applications available soon!

Pandora Radio now available for BlackBerry

2009-03-19T17:06:00.001-07:00

If you love music, it's hard to go anywhere without your favorite tunes. Most of the time, I just bring along my favorite playlists on by BlackBerry (via the expansion card) and jam away. For those odd times when I'm looking for something new and fresh that I haven't heard, I'm stuck...until now.

Well, alright...I'll fess up. I've actually used Pandora Radio for years. I love the service/project. Pandora is part of the Music Genome Project which aims to map our individual music tastes and offer new selections based on that information. Pandora Radio will give you a custom playlist that you get to vote on. Pandora adjusts the songlist based on feedback that you provide straight through your browser.

Prior to now, Pandora Radio hasn't been available for many mobile devices. Wait no more! Pandora has announced support for BlackBerry devices running OS 4.3 or higher. Just visit www.pandora.com on your BlackBerry browser to get this party started!

In case you're wondering how to check what version of BlackBerry OS you're running, go to Options->About. Check the 3rd line down (v4.x.x.xxx). If you're below 4.3.x.xxx, you might want to check with your cellular carrier and get yourself an upgrade. OS 4.5 offers HTML mail reading and DataViz's Documents to Go office suite.

Voice Memos on a BlackBerrry

2009-01-27T07:55:00.000-08:00

One of the things I really miss about my old phones was the ability to create voice memos for myself. I'm not a fan of trying to write a note for myself during my commutes and I don't like having to carry an additional device (voice recorder) if I can do it all on my phone. Unfortunately, the BlackBerry 8830 doesn't come with a voice recorder and the only decent options for voice recording are third-party software that's upwards of $30. Maybe I'm just cheap, but I don't want to pay for RIM's myopic design of the phone's software. That said, here's a nifty little workaround (hack) that will enable to you record voice memos.

First, you'll need to know your PIN. Every BlackBerry has a unique device PIN that's used to identify it on the BlackBerry network. You can find out yours by going into Options > Status. A few lines down, you'll see your PIN. You don't need to write it down. You can just highlight it, hit the menu button and select Copy.

Next, you'll need to ensure that you're listed within your own address book. Almost everyone has an entry for "Home" or something like that. You'll want to edit your entry (or create it if you didn't have one yet) and in the PIN section, hit the menu button and Paste the PIN you just copied. When you're done, save the address book entry.

Now we'll move onto BlackBerry Messenger, the means by which you'll send a voice memo to yourself. Open up BlackBerry Messenger. Hit the menu button and select Add a Contact. Select yourself from the address book, then hit the menu button and choose the Request (PIN) option. Select OK to send an invite to yourself within BlackBerry Messenger. When the request comes into BlackBerry Messenger, Accept the invitiation and you'll see the entry added to your list of Contacts.

Now the good stuff....Click on your entry in the Contacts list to begin a new conversation with yourself (I'll skip the negative implications of talking to yourself). Hit the menu button and select the Send a Voice Note option, then begin your voice memo. When you're done, hit the Stop button and then you can either Play, Send, or Cancel. I'd advise on going with the Send option because you'll be able to play or save the voice memo for future use. When you want to don't need the memo any longer, you can just open the menu and choose the End Conversation option.

Follow the steps in the last paragraph any time you want to create a memo for yourself!

UPDATE!! BlackBerry OS 4.5 now includes a voice memo function under Media.

Avoid Accidental Key Press

2008-06-30T09:06:00.001-07:00

Is there anything more annoying that hearing someone rattling on during an accidental dial? Be sure to not commit the sin!

In Options-->Security Settings-->General Settings, set the Lock Handheld Upon Holstering to Yes.

If you're not a holster user, you can use a keyboard shortcut Alt+Return to lock your Blackberry.

The New Road Warrior

2008-06-17T17:28:00.001-07:00

I was reading an article in FastCompany last night and came across some great new applications for mobile users. If you're anything like me, I hate lugging things around with me every day. From the laptop to the 3-ring binder to the ever-growing number of folders, it just gets to be too much! These apps might make me feel a little less guilty about not bringing my entire arsenal of tools to work every day. I'm going to give them a whirl. More to come for sure.

GoogleMaps: BB Maps has a contender in the market. I've actually been using this one for months and while I wish it would talk to me (announce my turns like a real GPS system), every version has gotten better and better. This is a must have!
Grand Central: The Lord of the Rings.... No, not like Frodo! This service allows you to bundle all your phone numbers (home, office, cell, etc.) into one number. Grand Central will ring your numbers according to your settings and you'll never miss another call again! Seriously, this is one number to rule them all.
Jott: If you're like me, your mind's always running rampant...especially when you're stuck in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic. Stuck without a notepad or pen while driving? Ever get scolded by your spouse for writing while driving? With Jott, you can leave yourself a message. Jott will convert that message into text and will send an email back to you. You can even blog with your voice!
WebMessenger: Love to IM? With MobileIM, you can access all of your AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Skype and Google accounts through a single interface. This beats all of the competition. Not only do you not have to install individual applications for each IM client, but you also don't have to pay a cent to use Web Messenger's services!
Viigo: No, this isn't the evil god from Ghostbusters II. If you like to be tapped into the zeitgeist, RSS is the way to go. Viigo brings all of that yummy news/gossip/blogging straight to your Blackberry. You can get up to date info from many of your favorite sites. Viigo has over 5,000 channels to choose from and, if you don't see what you like, you can add a feed from your favorite site!

I've installed each of these and they rock! Give 'em a try!

A Better Document Viewer

2007-12-20T07:22:00.000-08:00

The built in document viewer for BlackBerry is good. Is it great? Not by a long shot. It works best for text documents (Microsoft Word files, etc.) and for presentation documents that don't have a a lot of graphics.

If you've ever tried to look at a spreadsheet though, it's like getting a papercut across your eyes! The functionality just isn't there!

I found a great new program called BeamBerry. Broken up into a core triad of services, the software package are as follows:

BeamView
This software will allow you to view PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Rich Text, ZIP and other archive files in the same form that you'd see on your computer. Instead of fudging around with the trackwheel, you can actually move around the screen as if your trackwheel were a mouse!

BeamDisk
With this subcomponent, you can save your message attachments to a secured server and retrieve the files at your convenience. Here's the best part: you can use BeamDisk to attach documents to your email messages. That's been the biggest limitation that's driven me nuts about BlackBerry.

BeamPrint
Lastly, with BeamPrint, you can print directly from your BlackBerry to more than 1500 Bluetooth-enabled printers. How cool is that?!

The software is still in testing, but it's never yet made my BlackBerry crash. I did have some trouble with the BeamDisk component. Their Technical Support responded to my query withing a few hours of my emailing them. It turned out that I was using version 1.15....and they were already up to version 2.10. A quick trip to http://beamberry.com/download on my BlackBerry browser enabled me to do an OTA (over the air) install. Presto! BeamDisk was working perfectly!

To get that quick of a response from any Tech Support was unprecedented! I couldn't be happier.

For more information, head over to http://www.beamberry.com. The software's free for now as part of their Early Access Program. Don't sleep on this one!

[update]
BeamBerry's no longer free (boo hoo!)

Geek tips

2007-10-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tips for the geeks out there. This is reposted from blackberryforums.com.

Rather than looking at the bars, you can change the display of the 'signal strength' to read in real numbers. While at the home screen, hold down the Alt key while you type NMLL. The bars should change to read numbers. For the 'signal strength', if you are in the 100 area (that means -100 dBm), you will be transmitting at maximum power (2 Watts), and since coverage is hit and miss at this weak a signal, you may end up transmitting many times before the packets make it through. This might help explain any poorer than normal battery life. I consider anything at -90 to -50 excellent.
To get the bars back: While at the home screen, hold down the Alt key while you type NMLL again.
Hold down the Alt key and the Cap key at the same time, then the letter 'H'. This brings up the "Help Me!" screen that lists version, app version, pin, imei, uptime, signal strength, batterylevel, file free, and file total.
Hold down the Alt key while you type LGLG. This brings up the event log where you can clear events (frees some memory) or view them or copy the contents to mail to someone.
Alt + Cap + Del will reboot your BB.
If you would like to have delivery confirmation for your regular outgoing emails on your BlackBerry, add "<confirm>" to the beginning of your subject line. You must include the brackets. You will get an email back confirming delivery of your message.

Signing Your Email

2007-09-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

A lot of people automate their signature line in the email program they use. The trouble is that, by default, the BlackBerry doesn't pull the signature you use on your computer. Additionally, your BlackBerry cannot insert any images, so you're stuck there.

To create an auto-signature for your messages:

Enter the Messaging application.
Click the trackwheel and select Options.
Select Email Settings.
Set the Use Auto Signature option to Yes.
Input the text you would like to have included at the end of every email you send.
I recommend adding one extra line at the top so that your signature is separated from the body of your email.
Click Save.
Click the Escape button to exit out of Message Options.

Text Messaging

2007-09-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

One of my co-workers just got his BlackBerry this week and needed to know how to send a text message. Text messaging is technically called SMS, or Simple Messaging System. It's intended to provide an easy way to get a message to someone else's cell phone...up to 160 characters at a time. That said, while we might laugh at that cell phone add where a tween (who speaks strictly in text/IM speech) and her mother (who speaks English) are arguing over the cell phone bill, the point is that brevity is important. Text messaging does cost money, so if you're planning to do a lot of it, be sure that your plan includes unlimited text messaging to anyone, unlimited text messaging to subscribers of the same carrier, or that you get really good at SMS/IM speak.

Sending a text message is actually pretty simple.

Access the Messaging application, then click the trackwheel.
Select Compose SMS.
Select your intended recipient from your Address Book list, then click the trackwheel.
Select SMS [intended recipient name]
Type your message. You'll also have a counter at the top that helps you count down how many more characters you can type in that message.
When you're ready, click the trackwheel and select Send.

Replying to a text message is even easier than sending!

With the message open, press R on the keypad to reply.
Type away.
When done, click the trackwheel and select Send.

Creating Distribution Lists

2007-09-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

A common annoyance of the BlackBerry is that it doesn't sync Outlook Distribution Lists like the Treo does. This is the result of how the BlackBerry interacts with your Exchange account. Essentially, everything pulls from the Exchange server, so all those personal settings that you have set up...they're coming from your personal computer's configuration. Distribution lists that you have personally set up are little more than pointers to the actual addresses. Since they're not official distribution lists that were set up on the Exchange server, they're not going to show up in your BlackBerry Address Book.

You have two ways to work around it:

Complain to your mail admin until they either give in or black list you from any sort of privileges (Warning: there are a lot of IT professionals who are not known for playing well with others...hence the wonderful relationship with computers.)
Create a Group in your BlackBerry Address Book.

Both methods above have some benefits and some drawbacks. Obviously, you don't want to upset your wonderful IT staff, so I don't advise complaining to the point where your picture's on a dartboard. Tactfully done, they may be more than willing to help you create a corporate Distribution List.

Option 2 has the drawback of being a completely manual process. This isn't a problem if you have a small distribution list of a few direct reports or a small workgroup. It is a problem when you have large groups to whom you want to disseminate information. If you're short on time like most of us, save this task for when you have some idle time, like when you're standing in line at Starbucks.

How to create a Distribution List on the BlackBerry

From the Home Screen, click the Address Book icon.
Click the trackwheel and select New Group.
Name the group something meaningful to you. (I've always been partial to "pawns")
Click the trackwheel and select Add Member.
Select the pawn.., I mean, person whom you want to add, the click the trackwheel.
Click Continue.
Repeat steps 5-8 until you've added everyone whom you want in the distribution list.
When ready, click the trackwheel and select Save Group.

From here on out, when you create a new message, you can simply type in the name of that Group!

You can edit the Group in the future by opening the Address Book, clicking the trackwheel and selecting Edit Group.

Happy emailing!

Lost and Found

2007-06-27T18:24:00.001-07:00

Here's a great tip I received from one of my co-workers:

As you get used to having access to your BlackBerry, you're likely to start feeling a little dependent, hence the nickname CrackBerry. While I don't wish an addiction on anyone, loss of access to a BlackBerry may cause some people to go through classic withdrawl. Who knows what would happen if permanent loss of access ever occurred?!

This tip is dependent upon goodwill toward others. If you ever lost your BlackBerry, hopefully someone would return it. You can help them by setting the Owner option in your Options application. The nice thing is that even if your phone is locked (many companies require the phones to be locked after a certain period and can do so via BES), if you set the Owner information, someone can still find you.

I've set my Owner fields to include my name, office phone number and email address. My advise is that you do the same. Does the finder need to have your physical address? Probably not and in this day and age of diminishing privacy, it's a good idea to provide the minimum.

You can take it a step further by listing other important information. Examples of this would be:

In case of emergency contact [Name] at [XXX-XXX-XXXX]
Medical emergency: Allergic to penicillin
Medical condition: Severe allergy to nuts, dairy, wheat

BlackBerry as a modem

2007-06-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

While travelling in Dallas this past week, I got stuck sitting in an airport for far longer than I wanted. Wondering if the airport offered Wi-Fi, I fired up my laptop. The airport did offer Wi-Fi, but only as a paid service. Maybe it's the cheapskate in me or just the realist: paying for a "day pass" (who the heck ever spends the whole day at an airport?!), I decided to pass on paying for Internet service. I'm a geek by nature, but not an addict.

On the trek home, I remembered that the specs on my BB8703 stated that it could be used as a tethered modem. Hmmm....I used to use my Treo as a modem, through BlueTooth, but if carrying a USB cable keeps me from paying for a "day pass," count me in.

I found a little app by MobiShark that enables this function, but since I'm an admitted cheapskate, I don't want to pay for something that is already an existing function of the device.

After a little digging around in the BlackBerry Forums and several cups of coffee, I found instructions for setting my laptop to use the BlackBerry as a modem. The setup worked perfectly for me and is waaaaaay faster than what I would have expected. Enjoy!

UPDATE: If you're a Sprint user like me, you can simply download the Sprint Connection Manager for Phone as Modem software to enable use of your BlackBerry as a modem.

Blackberry Tips from my Voice Services dept

2007-06-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

A new BlackBerry out of the box has a lot of default settings that are not the best choices for an everyday user. Below are a few of the more obvious ones and instructions on how to change them. As more people get BlackBerrys I am sure other settings like these will be brought to our attention and this list will grow.

Time Zone
Out of the box the BlackBerry’s time zone is set to Casablanca (GMT). To change this:

Scroll down the Options (wrench) icon and select it.
Scroll to Date/Time and select it.
Under Time Zone: select Casablanca (GMT) and click on it, a menu should pop up, select ”Change Option”.
Find and select the Time Zone of your choice.
Once you back out of this screen it will ask you to save these options.

Note: BlackBerrys do not automatically update the time zone when you travel. If you want the time to reflect the time zone you are currently in you will have to go through these steps again and manually change it.

BlackBerry will lock it self out after a very short idle time
The default time out for the lock on the BlackBerry is 1 minute. Follow these instructions to change this to 1 hour:

Scroll down the Options (wrench) icon and select it.
Scroll down to “Security Options” and select it.
Scroll and select “General Settings”
Scroll to “Security Timeout and select it. This will bring up a menu and you can then select “Change Option”
You can now select a different time limit for the lockout. 1 hour is the longest amount of time you can select.
Exit and save these settings.

Screen goes black after a very short time:
The default is set to 45 seconds, this can be increase to 2 minutes.

Scroll down to the Options (wrench) icon and select it.
Scroll down and select “Screen/Keyboard”
Scroll down to the “Backlight Timeout: and click on “45 secs”
Select Change option in the menu and you and now change this to 2 minutes or if you want one of the other choices.
Exit and save the changes.

Sent Items in the Inbox:
The default setting on the BlackBerry is to display all sent items in the inbox. To turn this off please do the following.

Go into you inbox (messages)
Highlight and click on any message in you inbox and it will bring up a large menu.
Scroll down and click on “Options”
Scroll down and click on “Email Settings”
Select and click on any option in this screen to bring up the menu
Scroll down and click on “Folder Redirection”
Scroll down and click on your “Mailbox – Your Name”, to bring up the menu and select “Expand”
You can now uncheck Sent items. You can also select any other folders you might want displayed in the inbox on your BlackBerry.
Exit and save your changes.

Delete emails on the BlackBerry and Outlook at the same time.
By default the BlackBerry will only delete items from your BlackBerry and will not change anything on your Outlook. To have it delete items on both your BlackBerry and Outlook please do the following.

Go into you inbox (messages)
Highlight and click on any message in you inbox and it will bring up a menu.
Scroll down and select “Options”
Select “Email Reconciliation”
Under the “Delete on” option it should say “handheld”
Select handheld and choose change option in the menu.
You can now change this to “Mailbox & Handheld”
Exit and save these changes.

The center button (Convenience Key) between the green (dial) and red (hang-up) buttons can be set to bring up an application of your choosing.

Scroll down to the Options (wrench) icon and select it.
Scroll down and select “Screen/Keyboard”
Scroll down to the bottom of this screen and select on the current option for “Convenience Key Opens”
Select “Change Option”
You can now select one of the applications to be opened by this key.
If you would want your inbox to be linked to this key please select “Messages” the one called “Blackberry Messenger” is BlackBerry's IM application.

How to Maximize Free Space on Your BlackBerry for Better Performance

2007-05-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Crackberry.com

Just like your desktop and laptop, your BlackBerry’s performance can be significantly impacted by too much junk cluttering up the memory. So, you have to occasionally clear things up to help maximize performance.

What Causes Decreased Performance?

BlackBerries based on Java depend on what is called File Free Flash memory for most of the device’s tasks. Cluttering up that File Free Flash memory can lead to delays in many tasks as the device is spending an inordinate amount of time recovering blocks of memory, called “garbage collections.”

These Java “garbage collections” automatically reclaim file space that is no longer in use by the operating system. This process will also move around memory that is in use to combine free memory into larger memory blocks. A laptop, for example, will exchange memory onto the hard drive when it is running out of RAM. In a similar way, when the BlackBerry runs out of SRAM space, it is designed to swap memory out to the Flash memory. But if the Flash memory is also full, then the BlackBerry cannot perform that task effectively, which then causes more frequent and longer garbage collections.

The best solution to this problem is to free up space on your BlackBerry

Freeing-Up Space

Perhaps the easiest thing to do is regularly check the available memory on your BlackBerry. To do this, click on the ‘Options’ application and select “Status’ from the drop down menu. The ‘File Free’ display shows you the current amount of free data storage. The ‘File Total’ section tells you how much storage space remains after loading the Operating System, the phone, and the other basic applications.

For optimum performance it is recommended that you maintain a minimum ‘File Free’ of 400 to 500KB. This isn’t necessary, but you will find your BlackBerry performs much better if you can maintain this level.
Here are six simple solutions.

Delete Old Messages

One easy way to free up a lot of space is to delete old messages. You can change the ‘Keep Messages’ setting on the BlackBerry to 15 or 30 days, which will reduce the number of old messages taking up space in the memory. To do this, go to the ‘Messages’ application, click the trackwheel and select ‘Options.’ From that screen, click ‘General Options’ and change ‘Keep Messages’ to either 15 or 30 days. You should be aware that the BlackBerry will begin deleting older messages automatically when the memory gets low.

Change Appointments Settings

If you use your Calendar a great deal, then you might want to think about changing the ‘Keep Appointments’ setting to 15 or 30 days in order to avoid old calendar events taking up space. To change this go to the ‘Calendar’ application, click the trackwheel and select ‘Options’ from the menu. In ‘Calendar Options’ change the ‘Keep Appointments’ setting to either 15 or 30 days. This will not affect recurring appointments because the BlackBerry regards them as a single appointment.

Clear Browser Cache

Much like a regular computer, it is important to clear the browser cache often. Go to the ‘Browser’ application, click the trackwheel and select ‘Options.’ In the Browser Options screen, select ‘Cache Operations’ and click on ‘Clear Content Cache.’ This will clear the various caches.

Remove Unnecessary Applications

Remove any applications that you do not use. Most people have a few applications or programs they never use – the Memo Pad or a third party game program for example. By removing unused applications you leave more data space for applications that you use regularly. To remove unnecessary applications, click ‘Options,’ select ‘Applications’ from the menu. Scroll to the application you would like to delete, click the trackwheel and select ‘Delete.’

Slim Down Your Address Book

If it is possible, access addresses from your corporate directory. Software version 4.0 includes a Remote Address Lookup feature, which accesses contact info from the corporate address directory instead of including them in your Address Book. This feature is also available for devices that are enabled on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 3.5 or later for Microsoft Exchange, or BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 2.2 or later for IBM Lotus Domino.

10 Great Time Savers for CrackBerry Users

2007-05-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Crackberry.com

Blackberry users are all about the time savings. The handy little PDA can save us all a lot of time. Yet, there are lots of little hints that can save even more time. So in order to save you from perusing the manuals to find all these little gems we present our top Blackberry shortcuts.

1. Perhaps the best time saving key is the easy uppercase function. Press and hold any letter in order to capitalize.

2. In a related short cut, if you are need of an accent grave or an umlaut press both the Symbol key and the letter you need modified and then turn the side wheel until the appropriate letter character shows up. Great for those German or French CrackBerry addicts. Pressing the symbol key alone will bring up a number of useful symbols and currency signs.

3. If you find you get lot of e-mail or a lot of spam you can avoid deleting each e-mail separately and can delete all of them with one click. Click on the ‘date’ field above that day’s mails and then choose Delete Prior from the menu.

4. To navigate around the Calendar press D for Day, W for Week, M for Month, and A for Agenda. You will need to set the Enable Quick Entry field to No under Calendar Options first for this to work.

5. When using the web browser function you can access your favourite sites by hitting the K key to open up you bookmarks. If you want to add a site to your bookmarks just hit the A key.

6. To find a contact in your address book type the contact's name or initials, separated by a space.

7. When typing an e-mail address hit the Space key to enter an @ symbol. Press the Space bar again to insert a period in the address.

8. To move down a page while reading a message just press the Space key. To move back up a page press Shift plus the Space key.

9. To dial a phone number with letters such as 1-888-GOT MILK press the Alt key and typing each letter with the keyboard.

10. To activate the back light, press (but don't hold) the Power button. Double press for brighter light.

Day 5

2007-05-09T07:30:00.001-07:00

I've used my Blackberry for 5 full days now. I'm still waiting for it to crash! I've got to say that I'm quickly becoming more and more satisfied.

Sure there are some drawbacks. I still reach for my stylus whenever someone asks me to check my calendar. I'm still missing the touch screen. I still miss the ability to download attachments onto an SD card. My company has some pretty finite maximum mailbox size limits and with the Treo, I could download the attachments and remove them from the server. I've also found that when I delete messages on the BlackBerry, I still need to go back and delete them again when I fire up Outlook at my computer. Grrr!

There are some advantages. It hasn't crashed once! The BB Internet browser loads much faster than the Treo's ever did. The widescreen display allows for much better readability. (Is that a word?) My Bluetooth headset connects instantaneously. And best of all, people can actually hear me when I'm talking! (The Treo never did a good job as a phone.) Speakerphone works great when I'm on conference calls.

I know I griped about the lack of applications. I've found a few that have helped me to feel less grumbly about switching to BlackBerry.

BlackBerry HELP! This site is only viewable through the BB Internet browser. It gives you access to free games, themes, wallpapers, and ringtones. We all want to personalize and this is a great and FREE way to do so!

Google Maps I tried Google Maps for Treo. The version for BlackBerry rocks! I found that this is much easier to use than the one I used on Treo. I took a road trip over the weekend and didn't even bother to bring my GPS. Google Maps allows you to plan your trip and save it! Once you get down the keyboard shortcuts, this program will demonstrate its value. Press I to zoom in, O to zoom out, 1 for the previous leg of your trip and 3 for the next leg. Easy, right?!

Berry411 Most carriers gouge you for making 411 calls. Berry411 is your very own directory assistant! It checks Yellow Pages, White Pages and Yahoo! for any company or individual you request. You can even kick it up a notch by installing additional plugins, allowing you to search for things on eBay, movies, weather, stocks and more! This is a must-have application.

On Demand This is a free application offered by my carrier Sprint. I'm sure other carriers offer it as well. Technically, it comes from Handmark, a company that has been developing applications for handheld devices for over a decade. The program offers free access to news, weather and sports--allowing me to stay tapped into the zeitgeist! Unforunately, as far as my Google search could tell, this is only an option available to Sprint customers. Check with your carrier to be sure, though.

As I posted last week, I'm having to get used to doing things differently. GoodLink's Exchange application shortcuts were easier to use than BlackBerry's. I hate the scroll wheel, but since it's all that I have, I've picked up a few of the shortcuts and want to share them with you.

Show Incoming messages only: Alt+I
Show sent items: Alt+O
Show SMS (text) messages: Alt+S
Jump to the top of a message: T
Jump to the bottom of a message: B
Page Down: Space
Page Up: Alt+Space
Quickly pull up the Conacts list: Hold down the green Send key
Scroll through a message, letter by letter, to a specific point: Alt+Scroll Wheel
Select text: Shift+Scroll Wheel
Copy: Alt+Scroll Whell (push)
Paste: Shift+Scroll Wheel (push)

I'm hoping to test BlackBerry Messenger with a co-worker in the next week. Stay tuned for an update on that!

24 hours with the BlackBerry

2007-05-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

My new BlackBerry 8703e finally arrived on Thursday. My initial impression isn't bad, but it's definitely different! The change from touch screen to scroll-wheel is enough to drive me batty! The BB8703 was definitely designed by a right-handed person. If you hold it in your right hand, it's a breeze to use the scroll wheel with your thumb. If you're a lefty, you're likely to find that your index finger just doesn't cut it.

The weight of the BB8703 is much lighter than the Treo 650. That's an added bonus, for sure!

It's wider than the Treo 650, that's a minus....except when you're typing. I'm finding that I have to get used to an entirely new keyboard layout. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough. It's not that the BB8703 isn't using a QWERTY keyboard, it's that the special characters are in different places.

It was a pain in the butt for me to get my enterprise activation, but that's no fault of the phone or my service provider. I have learned that unless you're in an area that supports "high-bandwidth" throughput, you're not going to get your email using the BB8703. The Treo 650 was able to get mail anywhere that you have a signal.

On the positive side, it's been a full 24 hours and the BB hasn't crashed a single time yet! :)

I'm already missing some of the features of my Treo 650. I tried loading BerryTunes so that I could listen to some tunes on my road trip (via a single-ear headset), but failed to read the details....BerryTunes only plays songs through the speaker. Until RIM decides to upgrade the OS to 4.2 on the 8703 series, headsets won't work. *sigh* It's time for me to break out my mp3 player. (I just don't like to have to carry more stuff whenever possible.)

I won't be able to watch movies on the BB. That's of little consequence, I suppose.

No camera, either. *sigh* No snapshots of the kids doing something cute or funny.

As far as the productivity goes, I'm going to have to get used to how email functions on the BlackBerry. The need to click theh scroll wheel for everything is a bit cumbersome. Once I learn to use some of the keyboard shortcuts, I'm sure that will save me some time. I have quickly learned a few:

Press Alt+I to display only Incoming mail.
Press R to Reply
Press L to Reply All
Press C to compose a new message
Press Del to delete a message

I'm not ready to express disgust, but there's still time ahead. Stay tuned! More info to come as I get used to the BlackBerry.

Switching to BlackBerry Soon

2007-04-22T02:34:00.000-07:00

The verdict is in. My company will be switching from Treo 650s to BlackBerry 8703es in the next few weeks. I've started searching the web and I'm seeing a lot of one-off comments in message boards about making this switch, but no running tales. I'm hoping to document some of the joys and frustrations of switching from the Palm Treo 650 to the BlackBerry 8703e. If I can make it easier for anyone else, then my intent is fulfilled.

As a devoted Palm user for more than a decade, this switch will be bittersweet. On one hand, the Treo 650 has served me well. It's been my Swiss Army knife for when I need to do just about anything. My Treo has performed all of the following:

After reading the specs on the BlackBerry 8703e we're getting, I'll be able to use the BlackBerry for:

Phone
Email
Calendar
Contacts
Task list
Notes
Office document editor
Internet browser
Dial-up modem for my laptop
Alarm clock
Portable game station (with many fewer options)

With the Palm clearly winning in terms of functionality and scalability, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed in moving to BlackBerry. To heighten my fear, RIM's latest outtage leaves me fearful of being unplugged just when I need to be tapped in! To make matters worse, their explanation of how the outtage occurred doesn't set my fears to rest. A "noncritical system routine that was designed to provide better optimization of the system's cache" ended up negatively impacting 5 MILLION customers!

Palm has definitely had its share of problems. Between lacking any major developments in their operating system and the service issues with the Treo, I can understand how BlackBerry has gained such a strong presence. The phone call quality on my Treo leaves much to be desired. It also crashes at least once per day. The software we use to sync up to our Exchange server frequently just stops working, requiring a hard reset of the Treo. Fortunately, reinstalling the additional applications is just one button push away (thank you HotSync!).

Were it not for the scalability and many varied applications available for the Palm platform also lies with the vast amount of FREE software available for it. This, coupled with the fact that I can add an expansion SD card to the Treo gives me almost no limit to what I want to do with it. This can lead to just as much of an addiction to use of the Treo. Fortunately, I've been able to avoid the fixation and have actually been able to stay in touch with my family and friends while traveling through use of the built-in camera and camcorder.

The BB8703e doesn't have a camera (a huge disappointment). Hey, BlackBerry! If you want to help mobile professionals stay connected, put a camera on this thing! The BB seems cold and impersonal. I just about died when I saw that BlackBerry's website has testimonials from their users telling how the BlackBerry helps people to stay connected to their families! Spouses and kids often get neglected because of a CrackBerry addiction! At least with a camera you could snap a picture of yourself, wherever you are, and send them to your family and friends. This might add a little human touch while you're on the road. In any case, they did start listening to customers on this point. The newer Pearl and 8800 models do have cameras. Too bad I'm not getting one. *sigh*

Alas, the decision has been made and I'll be having to switch. I guess it's time for me to dust off the old mp3 player and start moving videos to my thumbdrive. I'm looking for solutions (preferably free) that will enable me to do everything I used to do. I think there will be huge limitations on what I can add since the BB8703e has 64MB of internal memory with no expansion possibilities. If anyone knows of any, PLEASE let me know in your comments!