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December 12, 2007

You've heard of Apple Stores; Now there is a BlackBerry Store

The maker of the Blackberry handheld wireless devices has partnered with a local chain to launch the first-ever BlackBerry Store today in Farmington Hills. The retail outlet is an exclusive deal between Ontario-based Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, and Wireless Giant, a chain headquartered in Madison Heights.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071210/UPDATE/712100445/1361

Improper use of BlackBerrys: orthopedic risk

Blackberry, Sidekick, and Treo-like devices come at a price: an ever-growing number of orthopedic complaints afflicting those who are addicted to them. You very well may be one of the eight million who face a malady no one predicted since the Blackberry was invented:
thumb problems.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-rock-positano/your-blackberry-may-be-ki_b_75099.html

December 07, 2007

JetBlue aircraft equipped for BlackBerry, Yahoo use

JetBlue has named one of its Airbus A320 planes "BetaBlue."  BetaBlue has an onboard wireless network, the only one of JetBlue's planes to boast this feature. The airborne wireless network will allow passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as the BlackBerry 8820 and 8320, to check e-mail and do limited Web surfing. But wait, you say, don't cellular phones interfere with navigation systems?  

Surf the Web + Soar the Skies = CRASH

Right?

Wrong. (Let's hope.) Somehow, the fact that the service is operated at 10,000 feet and above, uses Wi-Fi to connect to devices, and not the phones' built in cellular radio, factors in to the safety of the in-flight wireless service.

Personally, I feel emotionally divided on my views of this new service. On one hand, I am extremely excited about the prospect of being able to enjoy text messages and IMs while traveling by air. I would love to be able to get my CrackBerry fix during one of my regular 6-hour flights to visit family. But on the other hand, if the FCC thinks that cellular phone calls may interfere with navigation systems, why wouldn't this system likewise do the same? Though on a different frequency, we're still dealing with radio waves. We all know that radio waves can cause interference, so....

If anyone can explain this, I more than welcome it.

Here is the article on CNET.com.

Two BlackBerry tips: dialing with words and dialing extensions

I have wondered, for some time now, how I should dial phone numbers with words in them using my BlackBerry's QWERTY keypad. This blog post answered that plus gave me a great tip for dialing extensions.

http://www.genuinecuriosity.com/genuinecuriosity/2007/12/blackberry-1-80.html

George Clooney Congratulates Julia Roberts

December 06, 2007

Boarding passes on your BlackBerry

Soon you may be able to download an image to your BlackBerry that will serve as your boarding pass for airline travel. This type of electronic boarding pass is already common in some European countries and in (surprise, surprise) Japan. It is being tested by Continental Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration for use in the U.S. I am looking forward to having one less thing to carry when I fly. I may very well misplace my boarding pass--but I know that I won't misplace my BlackBerry!

Passengers will now be allowed to receive boarding passes electronically on their cell phones or PDAs, which will then be scanned by TSA security officers at the checkpoint, eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass, according to a press release put out by the airline and the TSA.

Continental becomes the first U.S. carrier to test paperless boarding passes.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/04/travel/main3573858.shtml

They just don't get BlackBerry culture

Modern life's epidemic of noise pollution is what attracted me to a study done by Ryerson University professor Catherine Middleton. She surveyed 200 periodical pieces over a two-year period about "BlackBerry orphans," or loved ones who have come to resent the devices. Her piece is called "Do Mobile Technologies Enable Work-Life Balance?" and her conclusion is they do not.

Professor Middleton, who teaches at the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management, found reports of BlackBerry use in the shower, at funerals, at children's soccer matches, school performances and on vacations. She came across one woman who caught her husband e-mailing under the table during their Valentine's Day dinner and another whose companion checked e-mail during their first date.

http://www.financialpost.com/analysis/story.html?id=701b09f5-c8fa-4e5c-bbeb-a7a14fed6de4&k=8269

Free spreadsheet software for BlackBerry

I haven't tried this out yet, but this looks cool. There is a free version of a BlackBerry spreadsheet program that is compatible with Excel. It looks to be legit, though very basic in its functions. I am in no way vouching for this program; I am just bringing it to your attention. I do, however, intend to try it out for myself on my BlackBerry Curve (8300). I'll let you know what I think about it.

http://www.simprit.com/free/gridmagic/

The BlackBerry is bad (You know, in a good way)

MobiTV will soon offer a BlackBerry version of their popular streaming television application, with the ability to show over 50 live cable channels on Sprint.

Impactica demoed ShowMate, a nifty little box with a VGA port that enables virtually any BlackBerry--even old favorites like the 8700--to display PowerPoint presentations at up to 800-by-600-pixel resolution. It can even show the BlackBerry's screen through the projector in all its blocky 320-by-240-pixel glory...

http://www.smartdevicecentral.com/article/The+Emerging+BlackBerry+Threat/220693_1.aspx

Here's a guy passionate about his books and his BlackBerry

Superpatron has written quite a bit about his efforts to find the perfect book finding systems using his Blackberry Web browser. He has quite a few useful suggestions.

http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/2007/12/book-finding-sy.html

December 05, 2007

KTVA-CBS 11 News needs Production Assistants

KTVA-CBS 11 News needs Production Assistants

Are you thinking about a career in TV? Live in Anchorage, Alaska? Become a KTVA-CBS 11 News Production Assistant and find out if the newsroom is where you are meant to be.

PAs are responsible for getting scripts to directors, producers and on-air talent. They are also responsible for prompting shows and handling other tasks as needed. If you are interested in getting your feet wet in the world of broadcasting, e-mail a resume to M.J. Thim. Production Assistants are compensated at minimum wage.

Bob Kushell has advice for striking writers

Bob Kushell may be frequenting the picket lines, but he still has time to make a video giving his comrades advice on how to survive marriage during the Writers' Strike.

December 03, 2007

Nominate the tech-savvy gals in your life

Research In Motion is holding their Annual BlackBerry Women & Technology Awards. The deadline to enter for 2008 is Friday, March 7, 2008.

Categories for the BlackBerry Women & Technology Awards 2008 are:

    -Best Use of Technology within the Corporate Sector.
    -Best Use of Technology by Small to Medium Business (under 250).
    -Best Use of Technology within the Multi-Media Industry.
    -Best Use of Technology by Women under 30.
    -Best Mentor.
    -Best Company Advancing Women in Technology.
    -BlackBerry Outstanding Woman in Technology.

Click here for more information

Funny article on BlackBerrys and Black Friday

"As for me, my day was a success as well. My big purchase was a BlackBerry cell phone. Now for those of you unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, a BlackBerry is a device that:

1. Gives the user instant access to e-mail, high-resolution photographs and high-speed Internet.
2. Is the size of a Buick Skylark.

"OK, yes, it takes two grown men and a dolly to move it from one room to another, but let's focus on the positive here. BlackBerrys are amazing because they allow their owners to:

--Receive work e-mails (even on weekends).
--Receive work-related faxes (even on weekends).
--Dislocate their shoulder while making a simple phone call.
--Finish all e-mails with the phrase: **Sent via BlackBerry wireless.**
--Prompt co-workers to ask, "Why don't you park your car outside?"
--Remain single well into their late 60s."

http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/nov/29/shopping_on_black_berry_friday23534/

Artist's commentary on improper BlackBerry Etiquette

http://invisibleman.com/blackberry_final.html

The benefits of BlackBerry PIN messaging and BlackBerry Messenger

This is an interesting article on how BlackBerry PIN messaging can benefit those in the corporate environment as well as those involved in emergency rescue.

http://theblackberryguy.blogspot.com/2007/11/pin-messaging-explained.html

Man with BlackBerry mistaken for gunman

The dark-haired man armed with a Blackberry — which was mistaken for a handgun in Thursday’s Carroll College incident — was none other than Montana Auditor John Morrison.

At least 16 law enforcement officers from various agencies responded to the report of a man in dark clothing slipping what looked like a handgun into his pocket while walking into the student union building at about 1:35 p.m. Thursday.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/12/01/helena/a011201_03.txt

An article about Britney AND BlackBerrys

New technology has changed the face of journalism. Salon chides a celebrity journalist for confirming facts solely through BlackBerry text messages.

According to inTouch Weekly, Britney is pregnant with her third child. I haven't been able to confirm this for  myself; Britney won't answer my PIN messages. (Hey, I only communicate with some folks that way. What's wrong with text messages? We are in a new age, people.) http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/11/30/blackberry_reporting/index.html