Tag: blackberry

Posted on

Unofficial Blackberry Bold OS 5.0.0.238

I had a chance to install the new leaked OS. It’s very stable compared to the previous leaks, but there are a few issues that I’ve encountered:

-Media Net and Hotspot browser is only available browsers, no Blackberry Browser
-Beejive doesn’t work (latest beta version)
-Error’s during Google Sync, but it still works
-Error’s with Pandora setup, but it still works
-Have you reinstall Facebook app
-BMM is version 4.7
-No Blackberry Appworld

Don’t let these issues here discourage you from using it. The OS is decent and you can use it everyday without any major issues. Here are some of the new features and apps list that actually work.

-Threaded SMS, finally! 😀
-Google Voice works
-Bloomberg app works
-Associated Press app works
-Wordpress apps works
-Google Maps works
-Amazon app works
-Minor UI changes

Since it’s an unofficial release I won’t be posting a link to download the OS. You’ll have to search for it yourself. Sorry.

Google is your friend.

*Update: So after a few more hours of use I found out that to get the App World you would need to re download it. The latest Facebook app works but it’s still quirky. It sometimes let me login and sometimes it doesn’t. Beejive doesn’t work whether its the lastest beta or the stable version. Other than that everything else seems to be working fine. Those error’s that pops up for certain apps are caused by the permission settings after allowing the permissions you won’t be getting any of those errors.

Posted on

More Power! Harr Harr Harr!

As many of you know I’m a Blackberry addict. I could be seen clicking away on my phone at all times of the day. For the past couple of months I’ve been contemplating on getting the Siedio extended battery for my Blackberry Bold. With my current usage my battery would be drained by afternoon without charging. At work I travel a bit through out the day so I don’t get a chance to charge my phone much, but there have been some days were my Blackberry completely died before I got off work.

seidiobattery

So I decided to pick up the Seidio extended battery. I ordered it on Amazon and it came within 3 days. Many people complain about the extra bulge the battery gave the Bold, but it doesn’t bother me at all. The extra width actually makes typing on my Bold a little bit easier. This extended battery gives it some extra weight that makes the phone feels more solid. The battery also comes with a rubberized back door to fit the battery. The new door looks good and provides a better grip compared to the faux leather OEM back cover.

The battery life is excellent. The OEM battery is 1500mAh whereas the Seidio is 3500mAh. That’s more than double the capacity. I don’t have any objective data on the difference of battery life but I know it lasts much longer than my old one. I can go a full day of heavy use and it would barely hit 55% on my battery meter.

One of the negatives of this battery is that Seidio or any other companies don’t have cases or skins that would fit the Bold with this battery. I ended buying a Seidio holster that allows me to hold my phone without the interference of the extended battery. My Bold clips into the holster with the battery sticking out away from you. This is a must-have item if you’re looking to holster your Bold.

seidioholster

If you’re looking to add more battery power to your Blackberry Bold you need to look no further than the Seidio 3500mAh extended battery. It gives you double the usage and it comes with a nice back cover.

Pros:
– Double battery capacity
– Better grip

Cons:
– No skins or covers available
– Expensive ($55+ depending on where you buy)

Posted on

Host jad and cod files on Windows IIS

For those of you who have Blackberry devices you may have downloaded applications over-the-air (OTA). Blackberry devices uses a .jad file to download OTA apps by pointing its browser to that file. OTA apps actually consists of two file types .jad and .cod. The .cod files are actually the content of the application and the .jad files points to it.

If you plan to host your own OTA files on a Windows IIS server you’ll need to make some changes to your web server to process those .jad and .cod files.

You will need to access Internet Information Services and right-click on Web Sites and select properties. Select the HTTP Headers tab and click on MIME Types. Here you will add two MIME Types:

Extension: jad
MIME type: text/vnd.sun.j2me.app-descriptor

Extension: cod
MIME type: application/vnd.rim.cod

You may need to restart IIS once you’ve added the MIME types. Open the command prompt and type in “iisreset” (minus the quotes).

Posted on

Blackberry Bold Review

bbbold

This won’t be much of a full detailed review but rather a focal difference between the iPhone and my 8310 Curve. If you want a full detailed review you can go to Endgaget, Gizmodo, or BoyGenius websites. Comparing the Bold to the iPhone isn’t fair. It would be more appropriate if the iPhone was compared to the upcoming Storm which is the Blackberry’s Touch-device.

The Apple iPhone is a gorgeous device. It’s sleek, minimalistic, and solidly built. You can also say the same with the Blackberry Bold. The big differences are their features and functionalities. The Bold can do everything the iPhone can do and then more. Email, SMS, music, video, YouTube, and even browse the internet. But features such as MMS, background apps, video recording, and cut-and-paste are not available to the iPhone. And I’m not sure why Apple hasn’t found a way to implement those features to their popular phone. I must say the iPhone’s web browser is still the King for any mobile phone device. And I hate to say it the Bold’s Browser is not even close, but it’s much better than any of the previous Blackberry devices.

So why did I switch to the Bold from my iPhone 3G? It’s quite simple. It’s the lack of those simple features that Apple has failed to implement. Having the ability to run apps in the background is a must for applications such as Beejive (a multi-protocol IM app). Cut/copy and paste should be a standard in any smart phone device. I work with emails a lot and I sometimes need to copy and paste directions or instructions and send them to someone else without having to forward the entire message. With a Blackberry it is something you can easily perform. Another big reason why I switched is the efficiency of the Blackberry. If you’re a Blackberry Power User then you know what I’m talking about. Shortcut-keys. You can instantly select a contact, text, call, cycle through apps, add a calendar event/ task/ memo, and browse the internet with no more than a couple of key presses. If the iPhone is the King in terms of web browsing then the Blackberry Bold is the King of multi-tasking and efficiency.

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the Blackberry Curve so I won’t go into detail about it. The Bold is slightly bigger compared to the Curve. At first the Bold feels awkwardly huge. Almost as if you were using the 8800 Blackberry. But after about a day of hands-on with the Bold the difference in size is negligible. If you like your Curve then you’ll love the Blackberry Bold. The new beefy hardware and updated 4.6 OS really makes the Bold shine. You can zip through apps, folders, menus without any lag. But the most important aspect of the Bold compared to any previous Blackberry devices is 3G. The updated browser with 3G makes web browsing a much better experience with the Bold.

Some of you may heard about the Blackberry 8900 Curve which will be released early next year. It’s basically the Bold squeezed into the Curve’s form factor. But you need to understand that the 8900 slightly crippled. It comes with a slower processor and it lacks 3G. The latter is a deal breaker. So if you have a Curve and you’re wondering if you want to upgrade and if you don’t mind having a slightly larger phone in your pocket then you should definitely go for it. But if you don’t care about 3G then I suggest waiting it out for the 8900. If money is no object get both. I need to get RIM’s stock to go up. 😀

Posted on

The Bold

I’m back, for now. I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to post lately, but I’ll explain it at a later date. As of Wednesday I managed to pick up a Bold. Yes, that’s right. I now have a Blackberry Bold in addition to an iPhone 3G. I love spoiling myself, and its great. Everyone should do it.

The Blackberry Bold is aesthetically pleasing and it’s solidly built. It’s lighter than it looks and the size is slightly bigger than a curve, but smaller than its 8800 brethren. Unlike any other Blackberry this Bold runs on much faster hardware. You can see it in the OS as you can scroll through icons, folders, and open apps without lag. If there’s one thing that makes this device stand out from any other phone, let alone other Blackberry devices, is the screen. The Bold’s screen is amazing. It’s something you have to see for yourself to get a full grasp of what it’s capable of.

I’ll be back later with a full comparison to the iPhone and the Blackberry Curve.