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BBGeekcast: June 12, 2009 – Episode 68

Joe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:09:04 +0000

It was a slow, slow news week in the BlackBerry realm, so the show will be kind of short. As I say in the opening, there’s no reason to waste anyone’s time. We’ve got a bit of dirt on the Tour, though, which is always exciting.

So click on over here to hear the BBGeekcast (7 min, 10 sec)

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss future episodes!

You can also subscribe to the BBGeekcast in iTunes.

Highlights include:

So it looks like good news for Canadians. The BlackBerry Tour will not only hit both major CDMA providers, but it could be only a month away. Latest word is a mid-July release, though there is nothing confirming that at the moment. That it aligns with what we’ve been hearing for the past month, though, is encouraging. Look for it on Telus, Bell, Verizon, and possibly Sprint.

Will the Palm Pre and the new iPhone bring down RIM from the cloud they’ve been floating on this year? Not necessarily. It could just lead Verizon to promote the Tour and Storm 2 more heavily. They do have the largest subscriber base in the nation, so it makes sense.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

BBGeekcast: June 12, 2009 – Episode 68

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

BBGeekcast: June 12, 2009 – Episode 68

Watch movie trailers on your BlackBerry

Joe — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:30:14 +0000

You might notice that we post here at BBGeeks with alarming consistency. At 8:30 Eastern time each morning, we have our daily post. How is it always up at 8:30? Future posting. It’s quite a neat feature, as it takes some of the time-related pressure off posting. I bring this up because when you read this I’m probably just getting home from seeing Watchmen at an iMax theater. So I thought that sharing a movie trailer site would be appropriate. So head to mpviews.com from your BlackBerry browser (ed note – site appears to be down at 1:30 on Friday). The videos might require OS 4.3 or higher — not sure, since I have 4.5 on my Curve. The videos aren’t great quality, but they stream right to the media player. So enjoy, and let me know if you go see Watchmen (advice: read the comic first).

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Watch movie trailers on your BlackBerry

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Watch movie trailers on your BlackBerry

iDEN BlackBerry 8350i to drop in time for holidays?

Joe — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:10:36 +0000

We love device rumors. We really do. Even when they’re for Nextel’s iDEN network. Today, we hear via BlackBerry News that Sprint plans to launch this baby on December 1. You can check out a quick rundown of the 8350i here.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

iDEN BlackBerry 8350i to drop in time for holidays?

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

iDEN BlackBerry 8350i to drop in time for holidays?

Geek Review: Blueroom Solution Themes #3

Cooper — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:41:25 +0000

Welcome back to the weekly Geek Review of Blueroom Solution themes. If you have not stopped by the Blue Room to score some great free themes for your BlackBerry yet, I suggest heading over there to see what is available.

This week we are going to take a look at a theme called the “Zen Camo Theme”

In order to download the Zen Camo Theme fro your BlackBerry 88XX or 83XX model BlackBerry, you will have to sign up as a member at blueroomsolution.com and then navigate to this link: Zen Camo Theme (OTA and DM links).

Making your BlackBerry “Blend In”

The Zen Camo theme is a great theme to download if you are a fan of hunting. Hell, even if you are just a fan of the game Big Buck Hunter you will no doubt enjoy this theme.

The background image for the Zen Camo theme is nice birch tree trunk with a few scattered leaves thrown into the mix. The styling would fit right in with the type of camo gear you would wear out on a hunt. If you have a tendency to take your BlackBerry with you as you creep through the bushes then this theme will work well to not draw attention to your position. (assuming that is that you have disabled all alerts like a true BlackBerry ~~Geek~~ Hunter would).

The icon setup for the Zen Camo theme is as you would expect. A row of icons displayed vertically down the left side of your device screen. The time stamp and battery indicators etc are all packed at the top of the screen making most items of interest easily identifiable with a quick glance.

The application icons themselves are a slightly different matter.

Each application icon is initially set to a transparent blend that helps them “hide” amongst the camo leaves in the background image. This is a slight issue to me as the icons themselves are not easily identifiable. I mean sure I can pick out the email and BlackBerry Messenger icons quite easily, but I am constantly adding new applications to my BlackBerry and it usually takes me a while to get used to which icon is associated with each new app.

This issue compounds itself when you switch over to the full screen of icons on the main display. With 5 icons across the screen all only half visible, things tend to get a bit muddy and I have to pay more attention to what I am doing. This is in my opinion a negative as far as theme design goes. When I am trying to open an application, I want to be able to identify, scroll over and activate with no more than a glance.

One clever thing that has been incorporated into the Zen Camo theme is the replacement of the hour glass timer with an image of a running deer. This was a surprise to me once I loaded the theme and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when the deer popped up =)

Overall Judgement

This is a great theme. I would not use it on my BlackBerry personally due to the semi hidden icon issue I mentioned before. This however, does not it will be unenjoyable to you. If you are a fan of hunting game, or even just dressing up in camo gear, this theme will make a great addition to your line up and give your BlackBerry some much needed styling =)

Download the Zen Camo Theme here.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: Blueroom Solution Themes #3

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Geek Review: Blueroom Solution Themes #3

What would you give up before your BlackBerry?

Joe — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:50:32 +0000

I caught this article from Seeking Alpha, regarding rising tech stocks, including RIM. But that’s not the BlackBerry-related part from this article, though it is an interesting read. Rather, the author uses the following quote: “Modern consumers would eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner before they would get rid of their Blackberry.” So I got to thinking, I’m a geek for the BlackBerry, but would I really eat pancakes (I thought the joke was ramen?) rather than give up my BB?

No, I don’t think I’d go that far. While I’m certainly attached to the device and find it hard to imagine a time when I didn’t have a BlackBerry, I think that sustenance is something slightly more important. Just slightly, though.

Take a look around your house, your room, your office. What would you give up before you gave up your BlackBerry? After deciding to keep food, water, clothing, and shelter above the BB, I’ve got my laptop computer. That’s about it. Maybe a couple of the especially good books in my collection get the nod, too.

What about you guys? Is there anything seemingly essential you’d sacrifice before you ditched your BB?

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

What would you give up before your BlackBerry?

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

What would you give up before your BlackBerry?

Video view of the BlackBerry Javelin

Joe — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:30:27 +0000

Update: I’m informed by Kevin at CrackBerry that I am, in fact, crazy. It’s not a Bold. Javelin ahoy!

Am I crazy for not yet being convinced that this isn’t the Javelin? We saw the pictures already, and now comes a video showing the Javelin from all angles. Still, looks like a Bold to me. I’m sure there are subtle differences I’m missing — or ignoring, like the chrome band on the outside. But look for yourself. Video is after the jump.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Video view of the BlackBerry Javelin

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Video view of the BlackBerry Javelin

BBGeeks WES podcast number two

Joe — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:21:23 +0000

There were some awards handed out by RIM’s co-CEO Jim Balsille. If you want a live-blogged recount of it, you can check out Doug from BlackBerry Cool. JP Morgan, TeleNav/The City of New York, and British American Tobacco were among the winners in various categories.

I thought Jim’s remarks about BlackBerry addiction were spot on. I talk about them briefly in the podcast. Also, there’s a bit on Unify4Life. It turns your BlackBerry into a remote control. Sounds pretty sweet. I’ll try to get a demo tomorrow.

So go download the podcast (3 min, 12 sec)

And make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss any updates. Next show will be our regular one on Friday.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

BBGeeks WES podcast number two

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

BBGeeks WES podcast number two

Using BlackBerry email without a BlackBerry

Joe — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:40:22 +0000

Contrary to what you might assume after reading this site, not everyone loves the BlackBerry. Real estate agents, for example, benefit from the Palm Treo and its eKey application, which allows them access to for-sale homes. I have a friend who works for a major consulting firm who insists on his device having a touchscreen interface. And I can’t count the number of complaints I’ve heard about the BlackBerry 8830’s keyboard. Yet, many people consider BlackBerry’s brand of push email to be the best in the business. RIM has a compromise: BlackBerry Connect. This allows business users to connect to BIS and BES from the compatible device of their choosing.

There’s not a whole ton to talk about regarding BlackBerry Connect, but since we haven’t touched on the subject yet at BBGeeks, I figured we’d give an overview. Basically, many IT departments prefer the BlackBerry platform. This means the business is likely to adopt BlackBerry handsets. But, as I said, not everyone prefers this.

The benefits are security for IT departments and choice for users. The BlackBerry Connect program is especially helpful for Enterprises or small businesses already using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. This allows them to integrate different devices without having to completely overhaul their servers.

Compatible devices

Of course, not every PDA or smartphone is compatible with BlackBerry Connect. But if you prefer HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, or Samsung devices, you might be in luck. However, the most limiting factor is the carrier availability. Currently, most BlackBerry Connect compatible devices are available on AT&T. They include the following:

Palm: Treo 650 or 680
HTC: Tilt
Motorola: Q Global
Nokia: 9300 and E62

T-Mobile has one compatible device, the Samsung T719. The Nokia E62 is available in Canada through Rogers and Fido, while the Motorola Q is available through Bell.

Installation

After you set up your chosen device with a BlackBerry data plan and have installed sync software on your computer, you can download the BlackBerry Connect software from your service provider’s website. Once you install it, set up your BES or BIS, and you’re set to go.

Of course, if you’re working with a business, you’re going to want to talk with your IT department before making such an installation.

Thoughts, anyone?

Without a spare compatible phone, nor with service to go with it, it’s not easy for me to test the BlackBerry Connect software. But surely someone out there uses it, or knows someone who does. What’s your or their take? Can you compare it to pure BlackBerry use? What nuanced advantages does it have over the native system?

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Using BlackBerry email without a BlackBerry

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Using BlackBerry email without a BlackBerry

No ETA for Alltel Curve release

Joe — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:35:49 +0000

With the two biggest CDMA carriers in the nation — as well as the top two in Canada — releasing the CDMA BlackBerry Curve, you have to wonder where Alltel sits in this.

The company that boasts having the largest network in the country, though it is only No. 5 in terms of subscribers, has been lagging on this, as we haven’t even heard rumors of a release through them. According to a tip we received, there’s a reason for that:

Based on documentation we received from an Alltel customer’s help inquiry, it appears an Alltel customer service representative was citing “firmware glitches.” There has actually been more than one delay in this process, and Alltel is offering no ETA on the CDMA Curve. So it looks like Alltel customers will be in limbo for the foreseeable future. Legitimate question: Which will come first, the Alltel Curve or the 9000 series?

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

No ETA for Alltel Curve release

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

No ETA for Alltel Curve release

Get 50 percent off IM+All-in-One Messenger for Blackberry

Joe — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:00:58 +0000

A while back, we had a discussion about BlackBerry messengers. After going over the basics, the conversation steered towards all-in-one messaging applications. One of those was IM+, which sells for $49.95. Yeah, the price might seem steep, but from the reviews I’ve read it sounds like a top-of-the-line product. For one day — this Friday, April 11 — the application’s price will be cut in half. Yes, you can get the IM+ client for BlackBerry for just $24.95. So head on over to the BBGeeks Store to pick up a copy. Once the calendar flips to the 12th, the price is back up to $50.

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Get 50 percent off IM+All-in-One Messenger for Blackberry

This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about AT&T BlackBerry.

Get 50 percent off IM+All-in-One Messenger for Blackberry