Blackberry Tips

I was at the launch today of the new Blackberry BOLD 9700.  Fantstic device – more on that soon.

However, something became clear to me – LOADS of people don’t know all the tips and tricks that are easy to use on your blackberry.

I ‘tweeted’ these through an account called @Blackberry140 – Hoping to help people make the most of their blackberry – I’ve listed them for you below.

Most recent at the top, are the Blackbery Tips published @Blackberry140

Autotext #4: When composing – type mynumber (then space) to insert your phone number
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Autotext #3: When composing – type lt (then space) to automatically type the LOCAL TIME – “7:18:17 AM”
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Autotext #2: When composing – type ld (then space) to automatically tupe the LOCAL DATE – “Mon, Jul 6, 2009”
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Autotext #1: When composing – type br (then space) for a LEFT BRACKET “(” – easier than shift etc.
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while on a call – you can make notes. MENU – ADD NOTE – then type away. Escape to close. Read notes under View Call History/Edit Notes
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Use left and right side BUTTONS for better apps – OPTIONS/Screen-Keyboard then choose the app you want to launch on pressing those buttons
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Use Blackberry Messenger – its the fastest way to communicate with your fellow blackberry users – Look in “instant messaging” folder if lost
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Separate your SMS’s from Emails – In Messages, MENU/OPTIONS/General – Set “SMS & Email Inboxes” to “Separate” – Tidy’s things up
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Set a ringtone for a specific contact: Contacts – then Scroll to the contact you want (don’t click it) – MENU – Add Custom Ringtone!
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Change your default sending account (assuming u have Multiple) – Options/Advanced Options/Default Services – Calendar/Mail/Contact changable
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Download Google Talk for your Blackberry – goto http://blackberry.com/googl… on your blackberry browser #Blackberry
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Dialling Phone Numbers with WORDS in them :in Phone App, Dial Numbers as Normal, Hold Down the ALT key and dial the letters when needed
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Current System Info (good for technical support info) – Hold “Alt” and (left) “shift”, then press “H”.
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Looking for your IMEI Number? Type “*”, “#”, “0”, “6”, “#” on the Home screen.
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Change ‘importance’ of your message – while composing – MENU/OPTIONS – change importance to Low/Normal/High
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To go to the next message, while reading one, N will show NEXT, P will show previous – same works for SONGS and PICTURES in Media Player!
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Turn off the Green Coverage LED – OPTIONS/Screen-Keyboard – LED Coverage Indicator “Off” – Simple #Blackberry Tip
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Want Calls but not Email (on Holidays?) – OPTIONS/MOBILE Network/Data Services – Choose OFF – calls come in, sms come in, NO EMAIL!
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select multiple messages – hold shift (aA) and move scroll wheel – just like Holding Shift and arrow down/up on your PC
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to Reboot your Blackberry without removing battery – Press alt+CAP(aA)+Del (hard to do, but possible)
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While typing, press SPACE bar TWICE to insert a full stop, and capitalise next letter typed. Great for wordy emails or documents.#Blackberry
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When reading a message – press SPACE to scroll down a page. #Blackberry #Tip
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when composing an email to a ‘non contact’ – press space for @ and dot’s in the email address field. #Blackberry #Tip
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Don’t scroll through your contacts – type basic letters or initials and Blackberry will sort results for you! fast, and easy
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Web Browser shortcuts,press K to open your bookmarks. To add a new bookmark at any time, press A
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Clear out your inbox – Scroll to a Day Marker (Thu, Jun 11, 2009) press MENU, then either Delete Prior – OR – Mark Prior Opened #Blackberry
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not finished reading a long email? – do other things – then Next time you open the email – press G – takes you to the spot you were reading
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Track your blackberry, locate your missing blackberry, backup your blackberry OTA – www.smrtguard.com – It’s excellent for power users
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Quick LOCK keyboard for those with no LOCK button (like the 8900) – Press and Hold * or A key
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Quick swap to VIBRATE mode on Blackberry – press and hold Q or # key. Same key to revert to your last phone mode.
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text shortcuts – in composing >Menu/Edit Autotext/Menu/New – replace icct with “in car cant talk” – save. type icct in text to show message
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throw away your iPod, use your Blackberry as a music player – Download Blackberry Media Sync to Sync Itunes playlists – http://bit.ly/mK68C
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silent ringing, except for special calls? – Profiles / Advanced / Except For + Menu – New Exception, Choose person, and specific ring-tone
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want 5 different icons on your home screen? goto the main icon list, move the 5 you want to the top row (ALT+Trackball then MOVE)
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your alarm has 3 options – ON, OFF and Weekdays only. Very handy for work day wake ups, often overlooked #BlackberryTip #Blackberry
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make the buttons on the left and right side do what you want – OPTIONS/SCREEN-Keyboard, then choose a new action for the Left and Right key
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when listening to music on your blackberry, press the UP volume button for a little longer than normal to goto NEXT track. Down for Previous
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from your inbox, to view ONLY SMS messages, press ALT then S (shows sent and received)
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Downloaded a good app, want it on your home screen. Find it. ALT+Trackball, MOVE TO FOLDER, choose and click HOME #Blackberry #BlackberryTip
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Marriage advice:CLOCK/MENU/OPTIONS in ‘Bedside Mode’ – DISABLE LED – that stops the flashing light. OR, Disable RADIO (but no phone then!)
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In your Inbox – Shortcuts Help – T=Top of list, B=Bottom of List, N=Next Day, P=Previous Day, U=Next Unopened, C=Compose New. #Blackberry
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Create a new calendar event/appointment from any Calendar View – Press C to create. #Blackberry #BlackberryTips #BlackberryTricks
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When Viewing your calendar, switch views with shortcuts: W=Week, D=Day, M=Month, A=Agenda.
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An overview of your calendar is the best place to start – In Calendar – menu/options/General Options – “Initial View” – Choose WEEK
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combine your SMS and EMAIL inbox – In Messages, menu/options/General Options – SMS and Email Inboxes – Choose COMBINED
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find the text on screen too big? make it smaller – OPTIONS (spanner icon),Screen/Keyboard, Font Family (try Alpha or Casual), Size (try 7)
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Clear clutter by hiding icons – hover over an icon, press ALT+trackball, scroll down to HIDE. Same keys to SHOW ALL to see hidden icons
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Trevor Long

Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head. He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair. Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave. Like this post? Buy Trev a drink!

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