I know there are a few Blackberry Playbook tablet users out there. According to Phandroid BB Playbook users can expect the OS 2.0 update that will give you among other features
- native email client
- the ability to play Android apps….
The phandroid story can be found on their site (link) BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 Update Coming Next Month – Runtime For Android Lets Users Run Android Apps and Games http://phandroid.com/?p=81937 (http://phandroid NULL.com/?p=81937)
As a geek, I find the following info REALLY SWEET! NASA has released free ringtones using some classic NASA sounds. Even Rachel Maddow (from MSNBC) did a story on the NASA ringtones for her show this past week. I would do a full write up for this post, but I think the video from the Rachel Maddow show does a GREAT job explaining it. (Video starts with 41 seconds where Ms. Maddow talks about a satellite that was crashing down to Earth before talking about the Ringtones)
Video from The Rachel Maddow show on msnbc
The NASA ringtones are broken into 4 categories
The NASA ringtone page (LINK) http://www.nasa.gov/connect/sounds/ (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/)
From the ringtone page NASA has the following recommendations
Ringtone Directions
Android (MP3 format) – We recommend downloading the most recent version of the NASA App for Android (https://market NULL.android NULL.com/details?id=gov NULL.nasa) for previewing and installing these ringtones. The ringtones option is found on the main screen of NASA App for Android by hitting the menu button on your phone.iPhone (M4R format) – Please visit our iPhone directions for downloading and installing M4R ringtones page. (http://www NULL.nasa NULL.gov/connect/sounds/iphone_install_directions NULL.html)
Other (MP3 format) – Most smartphones can play MP3 files as ringtones. The process for downloading and installing ringtones to a smartphone may vary greatly based on phone, operating system, and service provider. Check your phone’s user manual or your provider’s website. Some providers may limit your access to ringtones not sold through their site. You can still enjoy the MP3 files on your computer.
If your like me, you like to know how much time you spend on a call after you end it. This is particularly useful for business people who need to know how much time they spend on a support call, etc for time logging purposes. Up until now, on Blackberry Curves, you have to navigate your way through the menus, go to call history, find the call you were just on, go to the menu again and show details… All to just see how much time you spent on the last call.
There is a new software update for Blackberry Curves that now show an active call timer on the screen during and after the call.
To update your Blackberry, go to www.blackberry.com (http://www NULL.blackberry NULL.com) and download the "Blackberry Desktop Manager" tool. Once you download and install, connect your Blackberry to your PC via the USB cable provided with your phone. If you have password protection on your phone, you will be prompted when running the software.
Choose "Application Loader" from the main menu and choose "Update Software". Proceed through the wizard to update your phone’s software (this can typically take anywhere from 5-30 minutes depending on how old your software is).
You should update your phone’s software at least once a month to apply any updates/fixes to your Blackberry. This increases performance, reliability, and sometimes you’ll see new features here & there..
Enjoy…
In a previous post, I talked about how a co-worker dropped his phone (Breaking the 2 rules of electronic devices). Well now I can say after taking all apart, and spending a couple of hours with a “Can O Air” to blow out the mud and whatever else that was coming out of the phone and letting the phone dry. He was able to put the phone back together (without any spare parts) and get the phone working again. So just remember the rules or this could happen to you….
Before
After
Rule#1 of all electronic devices is that they don’t work well after they have been under water. Rule#2 is if you don’t follow rule #1 then you should make sure you carry insurance on the device (NOTE – You may not want to tell anyone that your claiming insurance because your device was under water as that may void the insurance, just saying!). Well it seems a co-worker of mine, who shall remain name less broke both Rule#1 and Rule #2, and since we are all Geeks, figured that he could just take his Blackberry apart and dry it out. So here is what the Blackberry looks like…..
Now the fun part is, lets see if he can get the phone put back together and not have any parts left over. Let me just point out that I in NO WAY recommend doing this to your phone.
(http://www NULL.bluehost NULL.com/track/techgeekandmore/CODE87)