Curve-acious
I've recently switched from using a Blackberry Pearl, to using a sleek red Blackberry Curve (8310, the one with GPS). While it is slightly wider than the Pearl, I really prefer the larger screen and full keyboard. I've still not memorized where all the alternate keys are, and I don't know all the shortcuts I used to with my Pearl, but I'm getting there. I really like that I can create my own folders on the home page, and move applications around to where I want them.
Here are the applications I have installed, and some comments/questions about them:
- Access to my Lotus Notes mail, calendar, and contacts via Blackberry Enterprise Server.
- Lotus Sametime for Blackberry.
- Gmail, Google Maps (with GPS, this is so cool), and Google Search. I also have installed Google News, Google Talk, Google Reader, and Google Synch, but I don't use them. Google has done a great job by providing the Google Mobile Updater application. Is anyone using Google Synch yet? I like the idea of synching my Google Calendar to my Blackberry, but I am worried it will also push the events from my Notes calendar to the web, which I don't want, as it would publish IBM confidential data. Can I control what synchs?
- Facebook app for Blackberry. I mainly use this for setting my status when not at my computer, reading friend's statuses, and for uploading mobile photos. This is great, but I don't think I have I am using it at full potential. Since I don't have my Facebook account set up to send updates to the same email account used by my BES server, I think this is limiting the information I see in the Facebook app. Also, my status on Facebook for Blackberry always displays the last status I set using this app, not my actual last status. (it does not update when I update my status on the web).
- Viigo for RSS feeds. I really like this application, it is much better than just using the built in RSS feeds via the Blackberry browser. However, I've noticed that some articles are getting duplicated. The only thing missing from this that would make it perfect in my mind, is that the author name for each article is not shown. When reading blog comments, I like to know who wrote it.
- TwitterBerry - this is a BB interface to Twitter, but I will most likely remove this, as I don't see myself getting interested in Twitter. Updating my status on Facebook is enough for me. Yes I know they can synch, but why do I care? My friends are all on Facebook.
What I am missing is small little applications for weather, stocks, and Flickr (see my photos, plus upload mobile photos). I know about full application suites such as Handango InHand (which I have installed), Handmark Pocket Express, Plusmo, and others, but I just want a simple stand alone applications that I can click on and quickly get the information, similar to how the iPhone does it. Does anyone have recommendations for these? (or other programs that you think I should be using)
Overall I really am enjoying my Curve. I think it is a considerable upgrade from the Pearl, and I'm excited about the work going on between RIM and Lotus. Both companies understand the value of mobility, especially as the unified communications and social networking trends are becoming realities in business world. I think you can expect some exciting announcements in the future!
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