I have been using BlackBerry Messenger for some time now to organize projects around the office, and I have to say, it is providing some serious competition to my previous solution, Basecamp by 37signals. With the latest updates to BBM, the BlackBerry is an even better tool for SMB (Small to Medium Business).
While BBM doesn’t have all the functionality that Basecamp provides, it does address some core features and it is a solid platform on which to collaborate. Here is a quick guide to using BlackBerry Messenger to run your small business:
Congratulations on buying your BlackBerry Curve 8520! Now you might be wondering what to do with your new phone. I’ll take you walk you through the basic features of your device and what you can do with it. BlackBerry is a powerful platform and if this is your first smartphone, your going to be amazed at what it can do. Click through for the BlackBerry Cool guide to the BlackBerry Curve 8520
One of the downsides of being a BIS user is that you don’t get the ability to archive your deleted BlackBerry emails. Well there is a way to do it and it has changed my life.
If you’re like me, you have drunk the Cool-Aid and you’re using Google Calendar, Reader, Docs (which I’m writing this on right now) etc. Even though you love Google products, you can’t make the jump to Android because, when it comes to communication and getting things done, nothing is better than BlackBerry.
Zenprise is partnering with BlackBerry Cool to address how to resolve some of the most common BlackBerry activation problems. Through a series of 10 articles, readers will learn how to identify key log file errors, tests and configurations critical to identifying the root cause of enterprise activation issues.
The articles will explore common failures in the 4 unique stages of the activation process: stage 1 activation, stage 2 verifying encryption, stage 3 receiving services, and stage 4 slow synchronization process. Special thanks to Brian Bernard at RIM for providing the content for this troubleshooting series.
In this first article, Zenprise addresses what to do when a BlackBerry device is missing an Enterprise Activation icon on the home screen. For BlackBerry administrators, users experiencing this problem will typically not get past the first stage of the activation process (i.e., activation stage). Continue reading this solution guide for resolving BlackBerry activation issues
The menus within the BlackBerry OS can be a little overwhelming to some users, but once you start exploring these options you can tweak many settings and make your device more intuitive.
Homescreen Setup
Organizing your top six icons based on your most used apps is simple and effective. If you use the memory cleaner often (which you should) then enabling the home screen icon will save you from digging through the menus to get to it.
Options> security options>memory cleaning>enable, then switch the show home screen icon option to yes.
Make sure to aggregate all your web content into a single RSS reader so you don’t have to go clicking around. Similarly there are a few weather applications available that include homescreen icons which will let you view current conditions with a single glance at your screen. Continue reading for more tips about setting up your device
The BlackBerry device is a powerful piece of hardware and it’s only getting stronger. While these newer models do come with more on board memory and faster processors then before, they will need some continuous maintenance on your end to keep them running at peak performance.
BlackBerry power users are constantly downloading themes, apps and multimedia content and should keep an eye on available memory. There are many ways to start freeing up your memory that doesn’t involve running the desktop manager to delete unwanted items.
The most obvious place to start is getting rid of useless apps and rarely played games. Once deleted, the power user should look to aggregate apps that combine the functionality of several applications. Viigo, for example, is a podcast player, Twitter client and weather app and will save you memory in the long run. As you know, it’s also free. Read more tips that will help you optimize your BlackBerry device performance
If your BlackBerry gets covered in water, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world and if you act fast and rationally, you can save your device.
1. Pull out the battery.2. Put your device near sunlight.3. Rotate your device so all sides get sunlight.4. Leave it near sunlight for 24 hours. Some suggest in a bowl of uncooked rice or with silica gel packs.5. Do NOT put your battery back until the 24 hours are up.6. After 24 hours, put the battery back in and power on.
After following these steps, your BlackBerry should be just fine. If it doesn’t work, don’t bother trying to scam a new one from RIM. RIM has some really incredible CSI techniques to determine what exactly has happened to your BlackBerry and will know if you’re lying.
I’ve heard about RIM using some advanced testing methods to determine that a user, when asked whether he spilled anything on his device, was in fact lying and had spilled Diet Coke. The testing techniques were so sophisticated that they actually knew it was Diet in particular.
The coming weeks will be a strange one for BlackBerry users purchasing the BlackBerry Storm, RIM’s first touchscreen BlackBerry. Likely, many of these people will have never used a touchscreen device before, and will be unfamiliar with the process. “How do I use it?” they will ask. “Why does the screen move? What’s an accelerometer? Should I dip it in peanut butter?”
Thankfully, Vodafone and RIM each have provided the help BlackBerry users seek. It addition to the introduction video above, you’ll find another one after the jump on web browsing, and a link to RIM’s BlackBerry Storm Tips and Navigation PDF.
Note: do not dip your BlackBerry Storm in peanut butter. Trust us, it won’t help.
The ever helpful Ronen from BerryReview has found a super handy .ZIP file for all those new AT&T BlackBerry Bold users that need a bit of help to get rocking, or want a few tips to max out their experience. Here’s a list of the documents included in the .ZIP file:
* a BB Bold Data Sheet
* a Tips & Tricks and Shortcuts document
* a how-to on using your Bold as a tethered modem
* a how-to on setting up your Bold’s WiFi
Click on the link below to download the files and become better acquainted with your new BlackBerry Bold.
As you can tell from our Zumobi hands-on impressions post, the mobile widget application can be quite the memory hog by BlackBerry standards (highly understandable considering what it provides) and has been a little troublesome for members of the BlackBerry Nation rocking, ahem, less-than-new devices. However, our friends at Zumobi aren’t ones to rest in times of need, and have put together a video of handy memory management tips so your BlackBerry is running clean and your Zoomspace is quick.
Check out the video above (compiled partially from tips offered right here on BlackBerry Cool), but make sure to post your own memory management tip in the comments. Special thanks to the lovely Beth for compiling the video!
