BlackBerry Myths Busted!
This is an article that was originally written by Mark Rejhon on a Brighthand discussion board, they have an article New Handheld Killer App with a debate between PocketPC/Treo/BlackBerry users going on. Mark has posted the following for PocketPC/Palm users:
BlackBerry Myths
The Modern era BlackBerry.
(Vastly superior to 2003-era and 2004-era BlackBerrys)
There are many myths about BlackBerrys not having good image quality and not good for anything except email. That USED to be true.
MYTH: RIM is only good for email
That used to be true, but not any more. BlackBerry smartphones have traditionally been branded with the one thing it does brilliantly – send and receive email. But with new devices such as the Pearl, Curve, and the upcoming Bold we now see great voice facilities as well, which means device convergence is now the case for many users. HTML Email, PIM, web browsing, voice and applications all in one small stylish handheld device. Perfect!!
MYTH: Blackberry has poor quality screens
That used to be true, but not any more. The latest models (from the 88XX, 81XX, and 83XX series, as well as the upcoming models from the 90XX, 91XX, 93XX, and 95XX series) feature bright, vivid, and crisp screens.
MYTH: BlackBerry has poor PIM
That used to be true, but not anymore. There are several third party PIM’s such as PocketDay and eWorks. You now have multiple addresses and categories. Plus, it’s faster to update information on a BlackBerry than on a PocketPC/Palm, with tips like BlackBerry Calendar Tricks There are even program for special organizing systems like NextAction! which focuses on implementing GTD (Getting Things Done) on your BlackBerry.
MYTH: BlackBerry can’t do Internet apps
Wrong again. That used to be true that you required BES and MDS, but not anymore. Especially with BlackBerryOS4. See Configuring Internet on BlackBerry … You can even use certain models of BlackBerry as a modem for laptop
MYTH: BlackBerry does IM poorly
All new models of BlackBerry feature support for not only BlackBerry Messenger, but for the hottest messenger services around including: AOL, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger,
While not freeware, BeeJive (formerly JiveTalk) is an excellent multi-protocol IM application for the BlackBerry and considered by many to be the best IM client available.
MYTH: Not Much BlackBerry Software
That used to be true, but not any more. The past few years has seen an amazing growth of BlackBerry software with the number of programs easily being the thousands.
Some of the most popular applications for BlackBerry today are Google Maps, Viigo, Opera Mini, and BeeJive.
MYTH: It is not possible to use the standardized vCard, vCalendar, iCalendar attachments on your BlackBerry without a BES
Until now it was only possible to use vCard attachments with a BES that supports them. Now this is possible with every BlackBerry with the help of an application called vCardMaster.
MYTH: It is not possible to integrate calling card access or callbacks for cheaper phone calls
The free program BBCalls allows you to conveniently access the Jajah callback service via your BlackBerry. With BerryDialer you can use any calling card with your device.
For other posts dispelling other BlackBerry myths, see Why BlackBerry?and BlackBerry versus Sidekick as well.
Easily Done on BlackBerry
Look at what you can *easily* do on a modern BlackBerry:
Verichat (Instant Messaging
Trillian-style software from www.verichat.com
More info in Instant Messaging FAQ
PocketDay (3rd Party AgendaToday clone
3rd Party BlackBerry Video Gaming Screenshots
Magmic.com , Microforum.com , and several others)
BlackBerry Is Now Themable!
Photo Viewing Finally Good Quality
GTPhoto, or the BlackBerryOS4 builtin photoviewer.
Word/Excel EDITING Now Possible
With the release of OS 4.5, each BlackBerry comes with Documents to Go pre-installed. This allows each user the ability save, send, receive, edit, and compose Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.
BlackBerry Video Creator
One more MYTH is “The BlackBerry cannot do multimedia!” That is just wrong! With the release of the BlackBerry Pearl, RIM brought the first Multimedia compliant BlackBerry. There are already tools available for converting your (home) videos to a format your Pearl understands: BlackBerry Video Generator v2.0
Bluetooth GPS is Possible!
All BlackBerries with Bluetooth also support Bluetooth GPS.
Companies such as Skylab Mobilesystems or TeleNav are now producing GPS software and hardware for BlackBerry devices. However, you have to check whether the software you want to use is compatible with it.
New BlackBerries (Pearl, Curve, etc.) support Bluetooth GPS paring as JSR-179. That means you can use software which is designed for Internal-GPS-BlackBerries with your Bluetooth GPS as well.
