Blackberry tech round up October 2009

All the assignments, quiz and work really drained up my time *sigh, this is my first post since like almost 2 months ago!

Anyway RIM (Research In Motion well known for its Blackberry products line) finally look after the minor population in the Computer society, "Apple Macintosh".

Blackberry Desktop Software

The new release of Blackbery Desktop Software bringing great relief to the communities (Blackberry Mac users). Seriously I've been using series of synchronizing tools to sync my blackberry to my Mac but none of them really worked flawlessly "I'm talking about you Missing Sync!" being a pay app but more like I'm paying for troubles than solving one. Luckily the official synchronizing tools from RIM is free of charge! oh boy!

Then I start to download the app from Blackberry website and try to give it a go. The downloaded file size is about 26.7 MB large.

And will took about 43.1 MB of spaces during the installation to my HDD.

After some quick installation process, I am ready to sync my BB for the first time using this app. Plug my phone, loading then some quick set up, my phone was detected correctly without any trouble whatsoever.

I really really really happy now! finally after year of troubles the day finally came! as everything being able to be sync perfectly from contacts, calendars, notes and tasks (never use my BB for music!). The desktop manager also provide us with the ability to upgrade your current installed software version on your BB. So I really recommend for anyone out there using BB and Mac try download this app to make some proper backup for all of your data in your BB :).

Blackberry Messenger 5.0 (BBM 5)

Remember when I wrote about the leaked version of BBM 5 where there are 50 percent chance that you will lose all of your BBM contacts? worries no more as RIM now release the official version of its messenger update.

I approach this with caution base on the fact that the possibilities of me losing all of my BBM contacts still imminent, I made some backups then start to download the updates from my BB. 3MB is quite a big stuff for a BB app and I'm expecting something really good from RIM. Apparently the result is YES, it's pack with huge features. Some of them I can name:

• You can put pictures alongside your display name
• More fancy emoticon
• The ability to create groups and start conference (love this feature)
• Remote backup and internal backup of your BBM contacts (Awesome!)
• More efficient memory management (After install this my free application space went up to 27MB from previously around 12MB top!)
• Barcode scan for groups (which I never been use yet)

So far it went alright for me with understandable slowdown if your groups start to pile up with text chat among members. All of my contacts still intact, the backup feature was brilliant, my BB had more space than ever! Overall the updates really please me up. Keep up the good work RIM!

Google Map for Blackberry

It's been out for sometimes, but yeah it saves me a couple of times when I'm lost so its really worth to mention. Basically Google map provide us with the GPS like service on mobile phone even if you dont have GPS on your phone or want to save your mobile battery as GPS really drain battery rather quickly. GPS also require the phone to lock into satellite which I reckon require some times. Google maps on the other hand using Javascript and DHTML technology and detect our location using Google database and cellphone tower. It might not be as accurate as GPS but hell, it works fine for me with point by point location and address searching event when I'm walk!

Windows Live Messenger Version 2.5.27

This update of the popular Windows Live Messenger from Microsoft really improves the overall experience of the Windows Live in BB. Main differences I experience:

• New layout and easier navigation overall

• Ease of status updates, personal message and display name

• Ease of contact options choosing during chat. For example during my chatting session with one of my mate, I can choose the option of calling him, text him or open his facebook page from my chatting screen
  

• Faster login, faster navigation, more stable connection overall (Sending and receive chat to the counterpart is faster, no more disconnection every 5 mins)
  

• Multi chat and the ability to switch to different chat room (seriously handy)
  

Again fully recommended for download. Go to your blackberry homepage from your BB Browser NOW!


Yahoo Messenger 2.5.27

Recognize the same version number with Windows Live? YES this two instant messaging services almost identically provides the same features and services. YES I also knew that Windows contact and Yahoo contact now can be integrated into one messenger service. But call me old school I still like to have two different instant messaging service applications both on my notebook and my BB too handle different contacts and here we are. As I mentioned the features is almost identical but if you have the older version of mobile Yahoo Messenger then you should try to update yours.