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Will 2006 be the year for BlackBerry viruses?

Russell Shaw — 2006-02-19T11:26:00+00:00

Filed under: 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100x, 7100v, Security, 7100i, 7130e

Several security experts think that because of the increasing number of smartphone users as well as the comparative ease of spreading viruses across these platforms, that smartphone security will be tested this year.

Attacks on smartphones haven't reached the critical mass needed but it will happen sooner rather than later," antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky, tells Red Herring.

"Mobile phone attacks scale very well for fraud," Internet Security Systems chief technology officer Chris Rouland also tells the publication.

"Phone viruses are propagating quickly and they have only been gated by the fact that there are not enough smartphone users today," he told the magazine.

Rouland added that because phone carriers would likely have to bear the $100-per-incident cost of cleaning infected handhelds, only a few hundred infected phones are enough to cause a problem.

Yet network security executive Simon Klalaf disagrees. The Vernier Networks CEO tells Red Herring that the financial incentives that spur malware writers to develop viruses are not there for smartphones.

"Putting a worm on laptops where the objective is to steal financial or personal data is a bigger problem for everyone," he tells Red Herring.

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Here are five beautiful and free BlackBerry 7100 theme screens

Russell Shaw — 2006-02-16T09:33:00+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7100i

BlackBerry-enthusiast site BlackBerry Cool had these first, but I ain't above spreadin' the link love about GUI eye candy.

Like these pretty BlackBerry 7100 themes from Keith.

Keith didn't design these themes, but he is making them available for free. These theme screens aren't downloadable individually, but they can be downloaded as a grouped Zip file.

I like them is what I think.

What do you think?

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Spot for BlackBerry now compatible with more BlackBerry models

Russell Shaw — 2006-02-09T14:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7290, 7250, Fun, 8700, 7100i, 7130e

Boris Boege of Skylab Mobile Systems writes to tell me that their GPS mapping tool "Spot for Blackberry" now supports all Bluetooth enabled Blackberry devices in combination with a Bluetooth GPS receiver.

Former versions were only compatible with BlackBerry 7520 and BlackBerry 7100i. Both of those models have an integrated GPS receiver.

Now, Spot for BlackBerry has been rev'd to support the BlackBerry 7100 Series, the BlackBerry 8700 Series as well as the BlackBerry 7250 and BlackBerry 7290.

"Spot for Blackberry" costs $49. A time limited demo version is available free for download.

Further information is available at: http://www.skylabmobilesystems.com/en/products/spot_bb.html

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Complete ringtone creation package for BlackBerry 71xx series

Russell Shaw — 2006-02-04T15:33:00+00:00

Filed under: 7100, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, Fun, 7100i, 7130e

If you have a BlackBerry 7100, and want to create your own ringtones, you may wish to consider downloading and installing Millennium Studios' BlackBerry 7100 Series Ringtone Builder Package.

The Package includes:

A digital video with ringtone creation instructions:
A link to software that helps you convert sound files from the .wav or ,mp3 format to the BlackBerry format;
5 MB of hosting space on the Millennium Studio's ringtones web server, with uploading privileges for six months;
10 free ringtones, pre-configured for your BlackBerry and available on Millennium Studios' web server for you to download and install on your BlackBerry if you wish.

Total cost is $24.95, but Club Handango Members pay just $22.46.

Click the Read link below this post and you'll ring up Handango.com's BlackBerry 7100 Series Ringtone Builder Package page.

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MiniRingtone lets you convert sound files to ringtones

Russell Shaw — 2005-12-12T11:49:56+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100x, 7100v, Fun, 7100i, 7130e

With MiniRingtone for BlackBerry, you can create your personalized ringones from your (legally, of course) downloaded music files on your PC or from CD tracks.

You choose your favorite .mp3, .wav and.aiff audio, import it into the MiniRingtone utility on your PC, edit your selection and then synch up your BlackBerry to your PC to import your new ringtone.

MiniRingtone for BlackBerry works on all 7xxx series BlackBerrys. The utilty costs $24.75, but Club Handango Members pay $22.28.

Click the Read link below this post and your browser will take you to the MiniRingtone for BlackBerry page on Handango.com.

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UK-based BlackBerry carrier O2 selling to Telefonica

Russell Shaw — 2005-10-31T14:18:05+00:00

Filed under: 7100x, 7730, 7230, 7290, International

With more than 145 million landline and mobile customers in Europe, Latin America and Africa, Madrid, Spain-based Telefónica S.A. is one of the world's largest mobile, Internet and landline access providers.

Today, Telefónica is announcing it is acquiring U.K.-based O2 - the wireless business that was spun off by BT (formerly Birtish Telecom) in 2001. O3 has 24.6 million subscribers in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Purchase price is about $31 billion U.S.

O2 currently carries four BlackBerry models- the BlackBerry 7730, BlackBerry 7290, BlackBerry 7230, and BlackBerry 7100x. That roster, plus O2's service plans, should not change as a result of the acquisition.

Both companies say that O2's current management will continue to operate the business, which will retain its brand and its headquarters in the UK.

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Two sets of polyphonic ring tones available for Blackberry 7xxx

Russell Shaw — 2005-10-10T10:06:27+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v

Maybe your BlackBerry 7100 has no distinctive ring tone. If so, I'd bet that many times, you have reached for it in a crowd of users whose handsets also lack distinctive ring tones.

A minor embarrassment, but one that would be avoidable if you downloaded at least one of two new BlackBerry-compatible Polyphonic Ringtones sets from Studio Cuts.

Both of these sets are compatible with BlackBerry 7xxx series models, and cost $5.99 ($5.39 for Club Handango members).

Click the Read link below this post, and you'll land on the Studio Cuts Vol 1 Polyphonic Ring Tones page on Handango.com

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Germany's O2 adds the BlackBerry 7100x

Russell Shaw — 2005-09-07T07:09:27+00:00

Filed under: 7100x, 7290, International

Cellular carrier O2 Germany, the brand name of GmbH & Co. OHG , says it is adding the BlackBerry 7100x phone and the BlackBerry Connect-equipped Nokia 9300 smartphone to its portfolio.

The carrier, which is owned by British-based mmO2 plc, already offers the BlackBerry 7290.

"Employees in smaller enterprises, those who are self-employed, and freelancers without their own email server who often travel on business and need to remain in touch with the office now have an important advantage in their everyday business life by using BlackBerry," said Karoola Bode, Vice-President Business at O2 Germany.

Through a roaming agreement with T-Mobile, O2 Germany subscribers in most of that nation can access their network without roaming fees.

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Stock Tracker lets you chart your investments on your BlackBerry

Russell Shaw — 2005-09-01T07:00:23+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, BlackBerry OS 4.x

If you are an active stock market investor, you know that information is not only "power," but hopefully a path to equity.

StockTracker can help you manage both the information and equity parts of trading. It offers customizable, full-featured charts and market data, customizable portfolio tracking, and watch lists that send alerts to your BlackBerry when individual stocks you specify attain a specific per-share pricing level.

A 60-day subscription purchase of Stock Tracker costs $9.99, or $8.99 on Club Handango. You'll need a BlackBerry 71xx, running at least BlackBerry OS 3.8. But OS 4.0 wouldn't hurt.

Click the Read link below this post, and you'll be on track to the Stock Tracker page on Handango.com.

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Consultants release two BlackBerry how-to e-books

Russell Shaw — 2005-08-30T10:48:38+00:00

Filed under: Support, Tips, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7700, 7730, 7750, 7780, 7500, 7510, 7520, 7200, 7230, 7280, 6700, 6710, 6720, 6750, 6200, 6220, 6230, 6280, 5800, 5820, 7250, BlackBerry OS 4.x, 7270, BlackBerry Enterprise Server

Ned Johnson and Martin Trautschold are consultants with more than eight years of combined experience working with BlackBerry using corporate and individual clients. Trautschold, in fact, has presented at the Annual RIM BlackBerry Wireless Enterprise Symposium.

Now, Trautschold and Johnson have combined to write two BlackBerry Made Simple 150-plus page PDF formatted e-books for BlackBerry users.

BlackBerry Made Simple covers 6500, 6700, 7200, 7500, 7700 and 7100 series BlackBerrys.

BlackBerry Made Simple- The Definitive Guide for 7100 Series covers all BlackBerry 71xx models.

Both books are $19.95 apiece.

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Consultants release two BlackBerry how-to e-books

Russell Shaw — 2005-08-29T09:48:38+00:00

Here's an easy but powerful PC-to-BlackBerry photo transfer tool

Russell Shaw — 2005-06-16T10:20:13+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7730, 7750, 7780, 7230, 7280, 7290, Fun
Pix2Phone is one of the coolest PC-to-BlackBerry digital photo import tools I've seen. Plus, its free.

Here's how it works.

Point your PC Web browser to the Pic2Fone website at (you guessed it!) www.pix2fone.com.
Download and install the Pix2Fone browser extension. The extension works with Internet Explorer and Firefox.
When you are ready to import a photo from your hard drive to your BlackBerry, open the folder on your PC where your photos are stored.
Right-click on the file name of the photo you want to export to your BlackBerry.
A drop-down menu appears. Select Save Picture to Mobile Phone. Your chosen image is sent from your PC to the Pix2Fone Web service.
The Pix2Fone service will process your request and format the image you have chosen for optimum display on your BlackBerry. (If you are using the Pix2Fone service for the first time, you will be asked to enter the name and model number of your device.
After the photo is formatted, a download code appears on your PC.
Print out the download code, and then point your BlackBerry Web browser to: wap.pix2fone.com.
When your BlackBerry browser calls up that address, enter the download code you received on your PC. The picture then loads to your BlackBerry.
Pix2Fone is compatible with BlackBerry 7100 series models, as well as BlackBerry 7230, BlackBerry 7280, BlackBerry 7290, BlackBerry 7730, BlackBerry 7750 and BlackBerry 7780.
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Got BlackBerry 7xxx? This service offers more than 1,000 ringtones for one price

Russell Shaw — 2005-06-06T06:57:18+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7700, 7730, 7750, 7780, 7500, 7510, 7520, 7200, 7230, 7280, 7290, 7250, 7270, Fun
I've just noticed that BlackBerry Ring Tone Megaplex has just passed 23,000 downloads on Handango.com.

Given that many other fun and useful utilities do well with amassing 100 downloads, the popularity of the Ring Tone Megaplex is that much more amazing.

For that one price, you get unlimited download access to the more than 1,000 tones in the Ring Tone Megaplex library. The library inventory is updated at least once a week, sometimes more.

Ring Tone Megaplex is compatible with most 7xxx series BlackBerry devices. Once you purchase, download and install Ring Tone Megaplex, you access the service via their proprietary interface, not through an open Web site.

RingTone Megaplex' list price is $19.95, but I found it listed on mobile software site Handango.com for $17.96. That's 10% off.

As you might suspect, the Read link below this post takes you to the main BlackBerry Ring Tone Megaplex page on Handango.

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Finally! A real BlackBerry Bluetooth keyboard

Russell Shaw — 2005-06-01T08:50:57+00:00

Filed under: 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7520, 7290, 7250, Gear
When BlackBerry users hear the term "Bluetooth," they'e long conditioned themselves to envisioning a Bluetooth-enabled headset. Not anything more ornate, such as a way to connect to a Bluetooth keyboard.

No more.

eAccess Solutions is now marketing a BlackBerry Bluetooth Keyboard especially for te device. Works with the BlackBerry 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100v, 7100x, 7250, 7290 and 7520. Has five full rows of 63 keys, comes in a leather zipper pouch, is only 5 5/8" x 3/ 3/4" x 11/16" inches when it is closed,and runs on just 2 AAA batteries.

The eAccess Solutions e-Store site notes that while the regular price of this unit is $119.99, it is now available thru the site for $98.99. To reach the page with a shopping cart link click the Read link below this post.

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Chase the bad ninjas

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-23T08:41:09+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, Fun
BerryGames is out with a three-games-in-1 BerryGames collection. Works on any 7xxxx series BlackBerry.

For $15, you get:

Chinese Chess Pro, a scaled down version of the oldest chess game in the world;
Fluid X Screen Saver, which uses a two-dimensional particle engine to generate hypnotic patterns, man. Kewel, mahn.
And:
White Ninja. Control the White Ninja, collect all the gems and rubies and go to the next level. If you make it to level 10, let us know!

You'll need BlackBerry OS 4.0, and knowledge of this games' download page on Handango.com. I can help you with that. Click the Read link below this post.

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Oh, that dreaded "Internal error 4198"!!

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-16T08:58:54+00:00

Filed under: Support, Tips, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v
Last night, two posters on BlackBerryForums.com reported that all of a sudden, their BlackBerry 7100s are not synching the way they should.

Few are more furious than ifeuer: he complains that when he tries to perform an Intellisync operation with Outlook, he gets an "Internal error 4918, transaction cancelled."

Proving that misery loves company, poster Doug Ward sympathizes. He writes that he had been having no problems for eight months, but now, "diddlesquat when I try to sync with Outlook 2003. I too get the same 4918 error."

To the rescue comes "Super Moderator" NJ BlackBerry. Apparently, ifeuer and Doug Ward are so ticked, they've scrambled the error number. It's "4198," not "4918." NJBB thinks the problem is probably corrupted Outlook files. He suggests that the two aggrieved parties delete their Outlook profiles and create new ones.

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Book Web site has chapter with everything you want to know about Desktop manager

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-12T10:58:26+00:00

Filed under: Support, Tips, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7200, 7230, 7250, BlackBerry OS 4.x, 7270, BlackBerry Enterprise Server
While we are not in the business of selling books around here, it would be deficient of me not to mention that Mobile Guide To BlackBerry went on sale today. Que Publishing is the house.

Aimed at BlackBerry 7100 and 7200 users, the book covers such tasks as managing BlackBerryfrom your computer, personalizing your device, sending and receiving text messages and emails; making phone calls, organizing your to-do list, and working with third-party applications.

Now, here's a hint. The Web site for the book has a sample chapter on how to install and configure your desktop manager. Click the Read link directly below this post, and you'll be able to peruse the chapter.

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To win this game, make your balls disappear

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-10T06:50:52+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, 7700, 7730, 7750, 7780
A new downloadable game for BlackBerry rates your skill on the amount and numerical value of balls you can make disappear on the playing board (shown at right).

Players get points for each ball that they disappear. Generally speaking, if you move one ball to an adjacent box with a same-colored ball already there, one ball disappears and you get points for it. You can move balls horizonally, vertically or diagonally.

Designed for the BlackBerry 7700 and 7100 series, KoLines costs only $2.95 and is downloadable from the Web site of mobile device software developer Handango.com. I've placed a hotlink to KoLines' download page in the Read link directly below this post.

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Reviewer: BlackBerry 7100s "all work, no play"

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-06T09:16:47+00:00

Filed under: 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v, Competitors
BusinessWeek personal tech columnist Cliff Edwards has been testing an unspecified BlackBerry 7100 model - but is sticking with his Treo 650 for now.

Distilling Edwards' comments, he seems to fault the discount-priced BlackBerry 7100 family for looking like a cell phone, but not offering a camera, music player or even a memory-card slot for expanded services. He correctly notes that some 7100 carriers don't even support IM.

Well, different strokes for different folks. Edwards admits he "loves" his Treo in large part because "messaging is a joy."

And that BlackBerry 7100? "All work and no play," he scoffs.

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Convert your iTunes or MP3 tracks to BlackBerry ringtones

Russell Shaw — 2005-05-03T11:01:01+00:00

Filed under: Software, 7100, 7100t, 7100g, 7100r, 7100x, 7100v
A new product called MP3 Ringtones for 7100 BlackBerry converts any of your MP3s to a ringtone that will work on any BlackBerry 7100 series phone.

After you download the program, you can upload your ITunes tracks or MP3s (legally purchased ones of course) to the site of developer Vodaberry Ringtones. They'll convert your track to a ringtone, and then send it back to you to manage or program on your MP3 Ringtones software.

This product costs $20, and is available by download from Handango.com. The download page for this product is linked from the Read prompt directly below this post.

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