BlackBerry Tips

I was hoping this would happen and have been saying that these two guys need to step down for the last year!  Thrilled today.  Though my thoughts were to have a super dynamic new person to replace them.  Not sure about the new CEO Thorsten Heins, the company's former chief operating officer,  I have never heard or seen him.  Your thoughts?

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/67100--rim-s-co-ceos-balsillie-and-lazaridis-step-down

You can get it unlock here for free at http://freemyblackberry.com/

Home Screen

Message list

Typing

Phone

Camera and video camera

Camera flash status

Calendar

Battery power level

This use to be fairly complex.  Something went wrong with your device and you just didn't know what to do or downloading software and plugging in your BlackBerry was scary!   Finally RIM has made it much easier.

1.       go to www.blackberry.com/updates

2.       plug in your usb to your computer and your BlackBerry

3.       Follow the instructions

It isn't a bad idea to always have the latest update.  It fixes things in the background that you man not even be aware of!

Darci LaRocque | President / Speaker / Trainer

Recent Testimonial:

"In 2011, we engaged Swirl Solutions to help manage our wireless expenses with the simple goal of reducing our monthly cellular bill from our Wireless Carrier. We are a very busy organization and knew that we were not optimizing the solutions available to us in the marketplace.  We wanted to leverage the knowledge and experience that Swirl Solution provides.

  Swirl Solutions not only delivered on this goal,  they exceeded our expectations by reducing our annual spend on cellular by over 30%. They delivered the results in a very timely and professional manner. It was a great experience for us."

  Tracey McVicar,  Partner
CAI Capital Management Co.
www.caifunds.com

Direct from RIM themselves

Charging

• Charge BlackBerry® smartphone as much as possible
• Use wall chargers as the preferred charging method

Media

• Reduce volume
• Use headphones
• Load media using the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager (Avoids resizing)
• Turn off equalizer settings (Media – Options)

Browsing

• Visit mobile sites where applicable
• Turn Repeat Animations to a lower setting (Browser – Options – General Properties)
• Close browser when finished using (close with ESC key, not red End key)

Screen/Keyboard

• Reduce Backlight Timeout (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
• Reduce Backlight Brightness (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
• Holster smartphone (turns off LCD automatically)
• Set Audible Roll to mute (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
• Key Tone Off (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
• Use a sleeve when storing the smartphone in a pocket

Network Connections

• Turn off unused connections when not in use, i.e. GPS, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®
• Use Auto On/Off
• Use single mode only (1XEV, 2G only, 3G only)

Shortcuts

• Use shortcuts instead of activating Java® menus (Browser – Options – Browser Configuration)

Camera

• Turn off flash (Camera – Options)
• Set picture size to Small (Camera – Options)
• Set Color Effect to Normal (Camera – Options)
• Set Picture Quality to Normal (Camera – Options)

Applications

• When exiting, be sure to close the app, not leave it running in the background (close with ESC key, not red End key)
• Log out of third-party applications when they are not needed (Instant Messaging, etc.)

Indicators

• Set Audible notification to Off (Profiles)
• Turn off coverage LED (Profiles)

GPS

• Use the zoom out function to get the largest viewable area that you can still use usefully

How to quickly add contacts to BlackBerry Messenger

Adding people to your BBM contact list is easier than ever.   Thanks to BlackBerry connect for the information below:

Made a new friend? Have a new colleague? It's easy to add them to your BlackBerry® Messenger contact list. Simply scan their BBM™ barcode with the camera on your BlackBerry® smartphone or let someone scan yours. You can also add contacts by using their PIN or email address.

Send text messages to contacts that don't have a BlackBerry smartphone? If your smartphone is running BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 or later, you can add them to your BBM contact list also, so you don't have to keep switching between apps.

How to add people to your BBM contact list

Adding a contact by scanning a barcode:
To scan barcodes your BlackBerry smartphone must have a camera and BlackBerry Device Software 4.6 or later. When you add a contact by scanning a barcode, the person might need to accept your invitation before the person is added to your BBM contact list.

1. On the Home screen or in the Instant Messaging folder, click the BlackBerry
   Messenger icon.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click Invite Contact.
4. Click Invite by scanning a PIN barcode.
5. If you are prompted, click Continue.
6. Hold your device so that all four corners of the barcode appear on your device screen. Continue to hold the device until you hear the success beep.

Displaying your profile barcode:

When you display the barcode for your BBM profile on your device, other people can scan your barcode and add you to their BBM contact list. You must accept the person's invitation before you are added to the person's BBM contact list.

1. On the Home screen or in the Instant Messaging folder, click the BlackBerry
   Messenger icon.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click View My Profile.
4. In the PIN Barcode field, click Show.

Adding a contact by typing an email address or PIN:

When you add a contact by typing an email address or PIN, the person must accept your invitation before the person is added to your BBM contact list.

1. On the Home screen or in the Instant Messaging folder, click the BlackBerry
   Messenger icon.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click Invite Contact.
4. Click Invite by sending a PIN or email message.
5. Type part or all of the contact information.
6. Click the contact information.
7. If necessary, change the Send using field.
8. If necessary, change the Category field.
9. Click Send.

Adding a contact that uses text messaging:

To do this your BlackBerry smartphone must be running BlackBerry Device Software
5.0 or later.

If you add a person who uses text messaging as a contact to BlackBerry Messenger, you can receive text messages from the person and you can send text messages to the person in BlackBerry Messenger. This feature allows you to send and receive text messages and instant messages from one application.

Depending on your wireless service plan, this feature might not be supported. Extra fees might apply for sending or receiving text messages.

1. On the Home screen or in the Instant Messaging folder, click the BlackBerry
   Messenger icon.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click Invite Contact.
4. Click Add a text messaging contact.
5. Type part or all of the contact information.
6. Click the contact information.
7. If necessary, change the Category field.
8. If necessary, type the name that you want to appear in your BBM contact list.
9. Click Add Contact.