Posts Tagged ‘Tips And Tricks’

Kathy Buckworth shares some BlackBerry parenting tips

November 12th, 2009 BBerryNews

The BlackBerry Diaries

Kathy Buckworth has a book coming out that BlackBerry moms are sure to love. Traveling and taking care of her two young ones (and 2 teenagers) over the years, Kathy has compiled a host of tips and tricks for keeping the kids entertained and staying organized as a busy mother. Her book, The BlackBerry Diaries: Adventures in Modern Motherhood, is a funny tale of how a mother of two and technology meet.

Here are some of Kathy’s tips for BlackBerry moms:

What to do during down time:

  • Organize your ToDo list (make sure to get that pedicure on there!)
  • Check the traffic on your local news station’s website (shortest route to take screaming kids is a good thing)
  • Investigate the hottest BlackBerry applications on BlackBerry World (a new game, a calorie counter, you never know)
  • Send a text or email to your teen to remind them of their chores. Cybernagging at its best.
  • Google where to buy those specific dance tights. The show is tomorrow – put it in your calendar!

Some random examples of how your BlackBerry can help with parenting:

  • Using the soft glow of your BlackBerry screen to check on a sleeping baby without waking them up. Shhhh!
  • Downloading the Flashlight app is a huge help in entertaining the kids during a power outage.

© Kyle for BlackBerry Cool, 2009



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Widality President and Momentem developer talks lessons learned

November 12th, 2009 BBerryNews

091024 no1 business app screenshot

As the developer of one of the most popular business category apps on BlackBerry App World – “Call Time Tracker by momentem” – Terry has learned a lot about how to build a compelling app. In this article, he talks about how he spends his day, and there are some valuable lessons in this article for all app developers.

Terry writes:

After users download our app, they have to enter their email address to sign up for our free service. These days, most people are wary of doing that, so to overcome that our description on App World has to be sufficiently friendly and credible; the end result is that 70% of all downloads sign up for the service with a valid email address, which we believe is industry-leading.

The following day I send a welcome email to each new user, personally welcoming them and giving them tips and tricks on how to get up and running. OK, I don’t manually type them all, I use an email marketing package, but they are simple plain text emails, with no nasty trackable links, with my personal email address for them to reply to. People immediately feel they have a connection with our small company and they reply in large volumes. I am now addicted to receiving their emails every day.

I don’t push people away and ask them to fill in forms, they simply reply to my email and tell me what’s on their mind. They tell me what they like and don’t like, they tell me how they are using the app to make more money, and most importantly they tell me which features they would love to see added! I add the users to my database of “fans”, so that I can ask them later on to join beta tester groups and focus groups.

I also personally see every support request and every cancel form, so I feel the users’ pain as they work with our service. I personally follow up with as many support issues as I can, to ensure we have dealt with their request. They love that.

I literally spend 4 hours of every day engaging with our customers, and I can tell you that it’s the most valuable thing I could be spending my time on. I also spend time every day tracking our key metrics; downloads, sign-ups, the number of call tags being processed every day, email opt-outs, support issues, cancel reasons, and user demographics. I am constantly taking the pulse of our business which enables me to make fast and accurate decisions.

When we launched on App World, we found that the early adopters were eager to write in with enthusiastic praise. Then, as we moved into the early majority phase, they were far less engaged. So we had to change our techniques and we have now figured out how to get our new users to become equally excited over what we are delivering. Tweak the wording, measure the response, try something different, measure the response, over and over again, and because the app market is evolving the work is never done.

So, what has this time-consuming process of engaging with customers bought us?

  • Our user reviews are among the best on App World and our average ranking is 4.5 out of 5; people write long useful reviews because they want to help me and because they feel an affinity to my company. Even if users are unhappy to begin with, we resolve their issues so they have no desire to bad-mouth us.
  • Around 10% of all downloads are using our app on a daily basis, even months later, so we have proved that stickiness and loyalty can be earned.
  • We all know how critical word of mouth is; many of the reviews say things like “I tell everyone I know about your great service” and many people have blogged avidly about us.
  • We have learned so much about who our users are and how they use the app.

The fact that I spend 4 hours a day with customers is a nice problem to have. The acronym “AI” used to mean “artificial intelligence”, but based on what my team has learned in the past few months I think we are pioneers in the all-new world of “App Intelligence” !

I would be more than happy to receive emails from other developers on this subject …. and I will personally respond to them all ;-)

© Kyle for BlackBerry Cool, 2009



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MyBlackBerry Community Is Now Live!!

August 26th, 2009 BBerryNews

It has been a long wait for some people waiting in anticipation for the  MyBlackberry Site to go live. Well wait no longer.

myblackberry

Join the MyBlackBerry community and have your say.

  • Learn about the latest applications, tips and tricks.
  • Start a discussion about a new idea, or join in on an existing topic.
  • Rate and review what you love the best.

Sign up today by going to the Register Page  HERE!!

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The BlackBerry Curve 8520 setup guide and tips and tricks

August 16th, 2009 BBerryNews

t-mobile_curve_8520

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.

t-mobile_curve_8520_battery

Basic Setup and Getting Started

The first thing you’re going to do is unbox your device, remove the back cover and pop in your T-Mobile SIM Card. To get the SIM card in, look at the diagram and slide the SIM under the metal casing in the device. It should slide in securely. Put the battery back in and close the casing.

UPDATE: I can’t believe I left this out but of course you should set up your email. Setting up your email is easy, you can do it online at your computer, or right from your device. See the official RIM site for step by step instructions on how to set up your email.

Your device will come with a MicroSD card but you should also consider upgrading. The SanDisk 16GB microSDHC Card is the largest of its kind on the market and it will ensure you’ve got plenty of space on your device.

At this point, your device is ready to be used. Before moving ahead, lets get it some basic free software that all BlackBerry devices should have. I recommend you download:

There are a few more tweaks that you can make so your BlackBerry is a little more personal. For example, you can go into the Options > Screen/Keyboard and change the font sizes. You should also arrange the icons on your device, placing the ones you use the most at the top. To do this, simply scroll to the icon, and press the Menu button > Move or Move Folder.

For more tips about some basic device setup, see RIM’s official blog post about The First 5 Things I do When I Get a New BlackBerry. The comments have some excellent suggestions.

Contact Management and Social Networks

Now that you have your device setup done, it’s time to build your contacts and network. Staying in constant communication is a central tenet of the BlackBerry, and you’ll be amazed and how easy it is.

The Facebook app is a big part of importing your contacts. Once downloaded and run, it will update your contacts and provide pictures for them as well. Start exploring the application and let it take over your contacts. It should also populate your BlackBerry Calendar with Facebook events. Check out RIM’s blog post about the latest updates to this software.

The T-Mobile version of the Curve 8520 comes with a favorite contacts section on the homescreen. Personally, I think you should get rid of this because you’ll soon figure out that it’s rendered obsolete by much of the software available to BlackBerry. To get rid of it, you should change your theme. More on that later.

One of the great advantages that BlackBerry has over other platforms such as the iPhone, is its ability to run applications in the background. This means you can turn on all your favorite IM applications, and you’re always available. Your BlackBerry will come preloaded with IM clients such as Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, AIM and ICQ. You can find them in the Instant Messaging folder. If not, they can be downloaded from blackberry.com/instantmessaging. Another great feature of BlackBerry is that your applications are built into the Menu or BlackBerry Button. So if you’re using the camera, and you have Yahoo! Messenger installed, you can always take a picture and press the BlackBerry Button > Send As Y! Messenger
.

BlackBerry Messenger is going to be the easiest way for you to stay in contact with your friends who also use BlackBerry. The messenger is based on your PIN, which is found by either typing “mypin” in a dialogue box or going into Options > Status. Start adding all your friends with BlackBerry devices and you’ll soon have a list of contacts that you can message at any time. For more about the basic features of BlackBerry messaging, see RIM’s official blog post on the subject.


If you’re really into instant messaging, consider buying an IM client such as IM+ All-in-One Instant Messenger. This application will really help you stay in touch.

t-mobile_curve_8520_mediakeys

Multimedia and Entertainment

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is built for music and entertainment. The top of the device has media keys for when you’re listening to music. This is a new feature to the RIM product line and it will come in handy if you listen to a lot of music.

You may have taken my advice above and bought a larger MicroSD card, which will really help you store all your favorite music to the device. You can also complement the music experience with some cool software for your device such as:

Another feature that may be new to you is having a decent camera on your phone. The BlackBerry camera, while it isn’t the most powerful of mobile cameras, still provides with some fun integration into the device. For example, after taking a picture with your device, you can use the “send as” icon on the screen. This option is also available in the menu and will allow you to send the pic via email, Messenger Contact (BlackBerry Messenger) and MMS (also known as picture SMS). You can also send photos to Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, GoogleTalk, Yahoo! Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger.

Games aren’t the greatest experience on BlackBerry compared to iPhone, but you still have a wide range of puzzle and casual games at your finger tips. Some of my favorite games include:

You may be thinking that this is a lot of software so far but it really isn’t. Your BlackBerry device can not only store up to 256MB of applications on the device, you can also save your applications to your SD card via App World. See details about the latest release of App World to find out more.

Also, be sure to download the BlackBerry Cool Store directly to your device as we’ll be having sales constantly and it’s good to check for the lowest price.

t-mobile_curve_8520_trackpad

Customizations and Accessories

Themes are an easy way to customize your BlackBerry and make it your own. Personally, my favorite themes are:

Accessories are a fun way to complement the BlackBerry experience. There are a number of accessories available from chargers, to docks and cases. Here are a few accessories you may like for your BlackBerry Curve 8520:

Other Software and Fun Stuff

Your BlackBerry is an incredibly powerful device that can do almost anything you would want from a mobile device. Sometimes the feature isn’t native to the device, but there is almost always a piece of free or cheap software to help you do the trick. Some helpful applications that boost your device experience are:

BlackBerry Cool Users: What else would you recommend a first time smartphone/BlackBerry user do with their new Curve 8520?

© Kyle for BlackBerry Cool, 2009



Posted in BlackBerry Cool Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 setup guide and tips and tricks

August 14th, 2009 BBerryNews

t-mobile_curve_8520

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.

t-mobile_curve_8520_battery

Basic Setup and Getting Started

The first thing you’re going to do is unbox your device, remove the back cover and pop in your T-Mobile SIM Card. To get the SIM card in, look at the diagram and slide the SIM under the metal casing in the device. It should slide in securely. Put the battery back in and close the casing.

UPDATE: I can’t believe I left this out but of course you should set up your email. Setting up your email is easy, you can do it online at your computer, or right from your device. See the official RIM site for step by step instructions on how to set up your email.

Your device will come with a MicroSD card but you should also consider upgrading. The SanDisk 16GB microSDHC Card is the largest of its kind on the market and it will ensure you’ve got plenty of space on your device.

At this point, your device is ready to be used. Before moving ahead, lets get it some basic free software that all BlackBerry devices should have. I recommend you download:

There are a few more tweaks that you can make so your BlackBerry is a little more personal. For example, you can go into the Options > Screen/Keyboard and change the font sizes. You should also arrange the icons on your device, placing the ones you use the most at the top. To do this, simply scroll to the icon, and press the Menu button > Move or Move Folder.

For more tips about some basic device setup, see RIM’s official blog post about The First 5 Things I do When I Get a New BlackBerry. The comments have some excellent suggestions.

Contact Management and Social Networks

Now that you have your device setup done, it’s time to build your contacts and network. Staying in constant communication is a central tenet of the BlackBerry, and you’ll be amazed and how easy it is.

The Facebook app is a big part of importing your contacts. Once downloaded and run, it will update your contacts and provide pictures for them as well. Start exploring the application and let it take over your contacts. It should also populate your BlackBerry Calendar with Facebook events. Check out RIM’s blog post about the latest updates to this software.

The T-Mobile version of the Curve 8520 comes with a favorite contacts section on the homescreen. Personally, I think you should get rid of this because you’ll soon figure out that it’s rendered obsolete by much of the software available to BlackBerry. To get rid of it, you should change your theme. More on that later.

One of the great advantages that BlackBerry has over other platforms such as the iPhone, is its ability to run applications in the background. This means you can turn on all your favorite IM applications, and you’re always available. Your BlackBerry will come preloaded with IM clients such as Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, AIM and ICQ. You can find them in the Instant Messaging folder. If not, they can be downloaded from blackberry.com/instantmessaging. Another great feature of BlackBerry is that your applications are built into the Menu or BlackBerry Button. So if you’re using the camera, and you have Yahoo! Messenger installed, you can always take a picture and press the BlackBerry Button > Send As Y! Messenger
.

BlackBerry Messenger is going to be the easiest way for you to stay in contact with your friends who also use BlackBerry. The messenger is based on your PIN, which is found by either typing “mypin” in a dialogue box or going into Options > Status. Start adding all your friends with BlackBerry devices and you’ll soon have a list of contacts that you can message at any time. For more about the basic features of BlackBerry messaging, see RIM’s official blog post on the subject.


If you’re really into instant messaging, consider buying an IM client such as IM+ All-in-One Instant Messenger. This application will really help you stay in touch.

t-mobile_curve_8520_mediakeys

Multimedia and Entertainment

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is built for music and entertainment. The top of the device has media keys for when you’re listening to music. This is a new feature to the RIM product line and it will come in handy if you listen to a lot of music.

You may have taken my advice above and bought a larger MicroSD card, which will really help you store all your favorite music to the device. You can also complement the music experience with some cool software for your device such as:

Another feature that may be new to you is having a decent camera on your phone. The BlackBerry camera, while it isn’t the most powerful of mobile cameras, still provides with some fun integration into the device. For example, after taking a picture with your device, you can use the “send as” icon on the screen. This option is also available in the menu and will allow you to send the pic via email, Messenger Contact (BlackBerry Messenger) and MMS (also known as picture SMS). You can also send photos to Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, GoogleTalk, Yahoo! Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger.

Games aren’t the greatest experience on BlackBerry compared to iPhone, but you still have a wide range of puzzle and casual games at your finger tips. Some of my favorite games include:

You may be thinking that this is a lot of software so far but it really isn’t. Your BlackBerry device can not only store up to 256MB of applications on the device, you can also save your applications to your SD card via App World. See details about the latest release of App World to find out more.

Also, be sure to download the BlackBerry Cool Store directly to your device as we’ll be having sales constantly and it’s good to check for the lowest price.

t-mobile_curve_8520_trackpad

Customizations and Accessories

Themes are an easy way to customize your BlackBerry and make it your own. Personally, my favorite themes are:

Accessories are a fun way to complement the BlackBerry experience. There are a number of accessories available from chargers, to docks and cases. Here are a few accessories you may like for your BlackBerry Curve 8520:

Other Software and Fun Stuff

Your BlackBerry is an incredibly powerful device that can do almost anything you would want from a mobile device. Sometimes the feature isn’t native to the device, but there is almost always a piece of free or cheap software to help you do the trick. Some helpful applications that boost your device experience are:

BlackBerry Cool Users: What else would you recommend a first time smartphone/BlackBerry user do with their new Curve 8520?

© Kyle for BlackBerry Cool, 2009



Posted in BlackBerry Cool Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off
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