Tag: blackberry

What I’m running on my BlackBerry

Well I have to say – I was very apprehensive about getting a BlackBerry when Laurie originally suggested it to me a couple months back. For one – they didn’t seem to have many of the of the features and options I wanted in a phone. And two – every time I had looked at data plans in the past – the cost was just too outrageous. But after close to a month of use with my BlackBerry Curve – 8310 I’m sold. Granted our data plans aren’t near as cheap in the U.S. as they are in the U.K. – but they’re a lot cheaper now than they used to be.

After searching for a better browser to use on my BlackBerry (aka CrackBerry) I thought I’d put together a list of some of the software I’ve added to my device to make my day so much easier.

  • Google Mobile Suite – this was the first software I added to my phone and I use it daily. Comes with Google Mail, Google Reader, Google Maps, Google Search, Google News, Picaso (which I don’t use) and Calendar Sync. If you’re already using Google products such as Gmail this is a must have. And I love Google Maps with the built in GPS. It’s saved me several times when my original directions weren’t as good as I thought – or when I got lost trying to take a shortcut.
  • Google Talk for Blackberry – downloaded this from the mobile.blackberry.com site. Works great. It logs me off randomly from time to time but it’s a great way to keep in touch with folks when I’m away from my desktop. Laurie and I most often use BlackBerry Messenger (that comes with the phone) for an ongoing chat – but I use GTalk to keep in touch with others I chat with throughout the day as well.
  • TwitterBerry – Thomas found this software for me. Love it. Makes Twittering so much more fun from my BlackBerry. Although, I wish they had a feature for alerting you when Tweets are posted from your friends, rather than just getting the typical txt messages. The software makes replying to Tweets so much easier – but it could be faster if you were alerted about new Tweets in the software (like Gmail does) rather than via txt messaging.
  • Flickr for Blackberry – after trying a couple other programs to send photos to Flickr, I found Yahoo Mobile’s software for Flickr. I could really care less about the rest of the software package (and removed most of it) but the Flickr app is great!
  • Trimble Geocaching Navigator – priceless! I’ve really only taken full advantage of this software once but this really bumps up my enjoyment of the geocaching game. I’m running a 30-day trial right now but plan on buying a one year subscription ($40) to the service after that runs out. Connects your BlackBerry with GPS directly to the Geocaching website and lets you search for geocaches X number of miles from your location and then shows you the details, descriptions, hints, logs etc – all on your phone while you search for the geocache. Awesome.

Well that’s about it for now – minus a couple random games I’ve found for free. But as the list grows I’ll try and remember to come back and update this list as well. I found a great app the other day that also uses the phone’s built in GPS to guide you to your parked car in the parking lot. May have to get that a bit latter as well.

The only feature I’d really want to add/change would be built-in Wi-Fi. The feature comes with some of the higher-end models so I’m hoping that when the time comes to upgrade (2 years from now) it will be common place for sure.

What software/hacks are you using most?

McDonaldization, Wal-Martization and Fundamentalism

I think I was able to read two paragraphs this morning while listening to the encounter band practice before church this morning.
Two paragraphs but both quite powerful.
I really enjoy how some of the recent writers I’ve been reading from take “modern day terms” we’re familiar with and put them into context with the Gospel. For instance, rather than an Insurgency in Iraq (meaning a sudden increase in the number of soldiers) these writers would suggest an Insurgency of Love. They challenge me to think of the “third way” that I believe Jesus often told us to live by.

So here’s what grabbed me this morning, in between the band playing Praise you In This Storm and Now My Lifesong Sings…

The fact is, all religions of the world are under threat– from fundamentalist Islam, but more, from the McDonaldization and Wal-Martization of the world, from global consumerism, from forces that emanate not from Arabia or Afghanistan, but from New York and Hollywood– forces that make all religions equally superflous, trivial compared to the lust for a new car or a new pair of jeans.

Granted, as I told Laurie, I Twittered about this paragraph on my brand new Blackberry.

How hard it is…