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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

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11/22/2008 10:31 PM:

Blackberry hints, tips and general bitch...

So here are a few hints that I have picked up in the past two weeks that have helped me a little with my own personal Blackberry:

1. I am utilizing the free single BES license available with the Blackberry Professional Software (the cheap alternative to BES with Exchange). This DOES NOT come with SP6 which allows HTML emails to be passed to the device. Expect something in 2009 (if you believe all you read on the internet)...

2. When deleting items in your Outlook (connected to Exchange), do NOT empty the deleted items folder straight away- if you do, the items will be left on the Blackberry until it reaches the devices set "remove after" setting...there is a delay (often HOURS to sync deleted items).

3. Tasks SUCK big time

...they cannot be shown on the main screen...I rely heavily on tasks for the chores I have to do and projects I manage...I have had to completely rework these with actual reminders so that I get to see them! If you use tasks a lot be aware of the Blackberry's limitations! In addition, tasks cannot have a start date- they only have a due date (which is useless if you want to start a task on one day, mark it in progress and then complete it before it's due date).

4. Calendar items cannot be assigned categories (only tasks and contacts can have categories).

5. "Shift" and "Q" will quit an application that remains running even after you ask it to close (such as MobiPocket)- this does not work for applications that need text input on their main screen.

6. Battery life is AMAZING when compared to a Windows Mobile based device which, under moderate use, needs charging every day- Blackberrys can go several days with heavy use on a single charge.

7. To perform a reboot (similar to taking the battery out), simply hold and press the following keys together- left "Alt", right "Shift" and "Delete".

8. You can force an Enterprise Activation by pressing "Alt" and then "CNFG"- this will allow you to change the activation settings.

With the few bad points said, a Windows Mobile device you'd expect to be 100% compliant with Microsoft products (such as Exchange)...for what the Blackberry can do I am both impressed AND willing to set these issues aside and work with it for it's simplicity!

For those that know me, this is a VERY big step into the unknown...

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11/22/2008 9:58 PM:

Blackberry and Windows Live Messenger...

I was getting constant Connection Error (65) or Cannot connect to server messages with the Windows Live Messenger application on the Blackberry with my hotmail account- it was VERY touch and go as to whether it would log in...

I Googled, surfed, did just about every uninstall, install, removal of service books etc that I could think of until this morning...

Just for giggles, I tried logging into my wife's account...and it instantly sprung to life...not a software issue I thought.

So I created a NEW windows live ID and sure enough, it works 99.9% of the time (I might get an initial disconnect but the retry works)!

Cut a long story short (I had been troubleshooting for over a week), I guess there is something with my older hotmail profile that has issues (I have been an account holder since 2000). A new ID obviously doesn't have some of the "baggage" that makes the Blackberry Windows Live Messenger fail...

If you are having the same problems as I did, I hope that this little post helps- it worked for me!!!

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11/15/2008 9:58 PM:

One week on...

Now that I have had time to FULLY explore all the features/ drawbacks of the Blackberry Curve, I have to admit that I am actually impressed.

The only application that I have missed over the past week is SBSH's Pocket Breeze...wow, I loved having all the information available to me with a few clicks- a MUST have for all Pocket PC users!

My kids, however, have missed a simple "Paint" program that I use when they are bored (they can use the pen on the screen to draw simple pictures)...this was especially handy in restaurants when waiting for food

. That said, I have just found an old Java application called "Spinberry" that might help me out there (THANK YOU GOOGLE!!!).

It might take them a little while to get used to the track ball etc but that is the point...distract them from the delays!

There is obviously nothing that can sync between MS Money and the BB (as I suspected) and the fact that I am willing to export my Access databases and other Pocket PC based software to either Excel or Word based documents helps but I made a consious effort to give the Blackberry a good "go" for my personal device (before I splurge and buy a device direct from HTC).

Other than a few "quirks" with Windows Live Messenger (no surprises there), everything has gone smoothly- I love getting my new email (from ALL folders) into a single "folder" to view, instant reconciliation and the overall general ease of use- typical of a Blackberry...so far, I have not put it down for a week!

Let's see if I am still ranting in a few months!

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11/10/2008 4:30 PM:

Bought the Blackberry Curve...

I have been contemplating going Blackberry for a few weeks now and finally made the purchase yesterday. I am not saying that this will be a permanent swap, but I thought I would give it a go...

I had the BES set up with my Exchange server in less than an hour and had my emails etc synced and flying around the ethernet in no time (thanks RIM for the single user freebie)!!!

Now I have to admit that I am still really tempted by the Windows based Touch Diamond or the new Sony Experia but for now, I am going to see how the BB fairs...

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