Caleb Hunt (.com)

I love my BlackBerry – anyone who knows me, knows this fact well. I frequently get asked ”Hey, what software do you use on your BlackBerry the most?”  Well, gather around…

So, my aging Bell BlackBerry 8830 World Edition has seen better days. It’s a couple years old now, and of the three BlackBerry’s I’ve owned has lasted the longest after taking the most abuse. In the past couple weeks, there have been some nice updated to some of the software I regularly use, so I figure it was a good segway into writing up a little post on my favourite apps. However, one issue that I currently face is that until the next gen qwerty BlackBerry from Bell makes it’s way to the market (sorry Storm, you’re not for me – and I’m not ready to switch to Rogers just yet) my aging 8830 has me “on a diet” in terms of the number of apps that I have installed on my BlackBerry simply to keep enough memory free for running applications & system performance. So in no particular order, here’s my top 5 :

1. BeejiveIM (formerly JiveTalk) – http://www.beejive.com $30
Hands down, the best IM client for BlackBerry period. I’ve tried all the official clients (and gone back and forth multiple times), but each time I come back to the all-in-one interface of the multi-protocol supported BeejiveIM. Just this past week they announced support for Facebook IM which works great along my MSN & Gtalk contacts. This is the only application that I have ever purchased for my BlackBerry, and it’s worth every penny they charge for the user licence of $30 (I’m now using it on my third BlackBerry!). If you use IM and you use a BlackBerry, you need BeejiveIM.

2. Google Sync – http://m.google.com/sync $Free!
My life runs on Google’s suite. Calendar, contacts, mail, tasks & to-do’s (more on that shortly) are all sync’d OTA (Over-the-air) to my Gmail account using their free sync program called Google Sync. It’s like having your own BES (enterprise software/server) but for FREE. Sure, there are some idiosyncrasies and the synchronization isn’t instant – but for a free application when combined with the IMAP support for Gmail that the BIS 2.6 upgrade this past weekend, it makes for a pretty awesome application – one I can’t really live without on my phone. It’s a must have for me, and the price is right!

3. Remember The Milk’s Milk Sync – http://www.rememberthemilk.com $25/yr
Ok, so the one thing that Google lacked (until recently, when the tasks feature was released in the Labs) was a task list / notepad / to-do list such as that found in MS Outlook. I started using Remember The Milk to keep track of bill payments and due dates for assignments at school, and found it convenient that there was a Widget available for Gmail that gave me the tasks/to-do list that I was missing. The Pro account at RTM costs $25/year and provides OTA synchronization of tasks for my BlackBerry’s native Task Manager application. The changes are sync’d to my Gmail widget, and of course, are updated on the RTM site. They have a trial of the MilkSync app on their site, and after using it – I was hooked. The reminders via SMS are fantastic, it links in due-dates with my Calendar (which you already know sync’s with Google Sync) and makes organization a snap. Big fan of Remember The Milk, MilkSync adds the functionality I need.

4. KeePass for BlackBerry - http://f5bbutil.sourceforge.net/keepassbb/ $Free!
Ever since my good friend Mark convinced me to start using a more secure way of organizing my passwords using KeePass to generate random secure passwords and storing them in a easy-to-manage database, I’ve had to keep a copy of my KeePass database on my BlackBerry to have all my passwords at hand when my USB drive isn’t accessible. The application is free, and reads the KeePass database files that are shared between my computers housing my passwords. Need to have passwords at hand, this way I know they’re secure – and always available.

5. Chronograph - http://www.michaelportfolio.com/chrono/ $Free!
Ok, you may laugh at me for this one, but I use this application every day (and usually multiple times a day). It’s a timer. Yup, a countdown timer. I use it for cooking, for remembering to get the laundry from the dryer downstairs,  but primarily for steeping tea. It’s super useful, and worthy of being on my list. Oh, and the price is right – 100% free.

*EDIT* Micahel’s OTA link is dead, I created step-by-step instructions including all the files to install Chronograph using BlackBerry Desktop Manager here!

Runner up:

Google Maps - www.google.com/gmm/ $Free!
Since BlackBerry Maps is technically installed by default, I un-installed BB maps in favor of Google Maps and use it for all things directions related (and Latitude is awesome too, albeit somewhat creepy). Yeah, this app is a given – that’s why I didn’t include it on the list. You already know it’s awesome.

So there you have it, If I could only have 5 apps installed (outside the native BB pre-loaded applications) those would be it. These are not the only applications I have on my BlackBerry, in fact the others I have installed that I use quite regularly are:

- Opera Mini, for sites that the built in browser doesn’t render well.
- Facebook Mobile, although, with the mobile browser & email notifications, I could likely do without it (although the leaked 1.5 update sound promising)
- GPS Nav from Bell, for some reason – I never EVER get charged for using it, and it provides turn-by-turn voice guided directions. Great for traveling with friends who don’t have a GPS or a sense of direction.
- BlackBerry Wallet, for storing things like loyalty card #’s (ie Aeroplan, AirMiles, Shoppers Optimum etc..) Cards I don’t always carry in my actual wallet.
- WeatherEye, because it’s nice to know when you need to wear a jacket.
- Google Reader via the web browser, OK this technically isn’t an app – but I use it every day, great for skimming headlines (bad because sometimes I glance over important stuff). I LOVE Google Reader
- Twitter via SMS & Mobile Web, http://twitter.com/calebhunt

Three Cheers for lists!

So last night, I logged into my Bell account to monitor my usage, knowing that my billing cycle is coming up in a few days to find my text message usage looking like this:

Beginning to wonder, I decided to check out the ‘ol #belltwit hashtag on Twitter search to find that other people out there have started getting their bills and low-and-behold, people are seeing charges on their bill from the whole “we’re not charging, oh wait – we are charging. Nah, just kidding, we’re not really (or are we?)” fiasco from when they re-enabled Twitter SMS support late last month. Finding an interesting post from @empty_space, I decided to email Bell’s CS as per his step-by-step directions which he claims success in getting credited for charges. I followed them to the letter, and got this response from a Bell CS rep this morning:

I have reviewed your last three invoices and I did not see any Short Code Program charges.  However, on your unbilled usage charges, I noticed some charges for such service are currently on pending.  I regret we are not able to adjust them for you as they are valid charges.

 

I wish to clarify that Short Code Programs are text messages sent to a short code (a 5 to 9 digit number), just like a phone number.  Many companies advertise short code numbers to interact with their clients (examples:  text voting, contests and chatting).  Kindly note that short code program text messages and their associated charges are billed by those third party companies and automatically placed on your Bell Mobility invoice.  These may cost up to $5.00 per message.

 

In your case, this could be related to one of several sources.  I have listed the possible sources with their corresponding short codes:

 

(CBC Top10 22210, Chum TV Generic 332211,  Olympic Alerts 86767, Sportsnet Alerts 843638, Oil of Olay 12121, Dose mblog pills 74557, MRX Alerts 235235, Canwest Alerts 987987, Warner Bros 43892,  Extreme Sports 360360, Wireless Developer Agency 32852)

 

If you would like to stop receiving these short code program text messages, you must send a text message to the appropriate short code with the word “STOP”.  You should then receive a text message informing you that your mobile number is no longer subscribed to that service.

Blah, blah blah… The only short code that I have EVER used has been to 21212, which is Twitter. It’s interesting to note that he didn’t find any charges from the previous 3 months of bills, yet during that time – I DID send updates to Twitter’s 21212 and was NOT charged for them, and all of a sudden, I’m now being charged. I have NEVER ONCE sent a message to any “Premium” service provider.

Just got off the phone with Bell, had quite possibly the most frustrating experience dealing with one of their CS reps who is adamant that I am sending / receiving messages from a premium provider called “my thumbs” and hellbent on charging me the fees as “they are premium messages”. Twitter is the ONLY service I use and it is supposed to be FREE… Looks like I’m going to *really* have to fight for this one, they aren’t budging.

Help anyone?!

Well this one sure has slipped under the radar, I don’t know why I haven’t heard any buzz about this until today when at work they handed us information on Ontario’s new “Electronic Stewardship” program that is rolling out Phase 1 starting April 1 2009. From the OES website:

The Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s (OES) new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) program will make it easier for you to make the right decision that is best for the environment and that will keep old computers, televisions and other electronics out of landfill.

“Right decision” eh? From what I can tell from the OES website, this program has been in the works since 2007, and similar programs already exist in other provinces (ie: Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan & BC). While it got some media attention last summer in Ontario, there has been little said about it since… And with plans to roll it out next month,what does this all mean? The next electronic device you buy is likely going to cost you more.

“Phase 1″ is going to affect purchases of  Desktop PC’s, Monitors, Notebooks, Computer Peripherals (ie Mice, Keyboards, CD/DVD drives), Printers and TV’s. How much extra are you going to pay? Here’s how it breaks down:

Computers: $13.44
Notebooks: $2.14
Perephrials: $0.32
Monitors (any size): $12.03
TV’s (any size):  $10.07
Printers:  $5.05

So what if I want to purchase a computer with a monitor? It’s going to cost you an extra $25.47, and if you decided to pick up a new printer at the same time, you’re now up to $30.52 in extra fee’s for that new computer purchase. Oh, and don’t forget that you’ll also be paying GST on that electronic recycling fee. I can see some people being mighty pissed off in the short term on this new levy, especially since it seems as though it’s come “out of the blue”. However, I do see what the government is trying to do, and it makes sense. There’s a lot of e-waste in our landfills, and that needs to stop but is charging this levy going to fix the problem? It also makes me wonder, what is going to happen when I go and drop off my old monitor at the hazardous waste depot – are they going to still charge me $5 to dispose of it? It kind of seems like paying fees to pay fees, but that’s how the world works right? Look at the taxes we pay on gasoline – are our roads in any better shape because of it?

Oh, and Phase 1 is just the beginning! When they roll out Phase 2 (which is going to be submitted to the environment minister on July 10 2009, no roll-out date as of yet ) it will include basically anything electronic from turntables, video game systems, and PDA’s to cellphones, cameras and typewriters – you name it, you’ll pay extra fees on it.

Read more about it here: http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/index.html

My feeds yesterday updated me on a new BlackBerry application that allowed me to tether my device to my laptop and using my “unlimited data” that I pay for as part of my cell service with Bell Mobility – so I decided to give it a whirl, and here I am – posting without the use of any wired or wireless networks just my laptop, BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and a Mini USB cable.

I ran some tests last month to test the EV-DO network speeds but more so to see whether or not I’d end up being charged for tethering my phone to my laptop, and after a few (fairly impressive) speed tests and a few megabytes of data transfer I decided to call it quits fearing what could be $8/MB transfer charges – Yikes.

Here were my results using the direct connection to Bell when I tested it first time around:

Not too shabby… I could deal with speeds like that when needing to get on the net in a pinch. Now, The billing cycle came and went, and to my surprise there was no charges. Could my unlimited data package (which has some special promo codes on it) actually be unlimited?

See, this is the thing that has always ticked me (as well as hundreds of other Canadians) off about “unlimited data plans”. They are indeed unlimited for data transfer, but only provided that the data you transfer (browsing/email/Internet usage) is done on the wireless device itself. Tethering is completely excluded, and quite obviously discouraged at an atrocious rate of $8/MB as previously mentioned. This past year, Rogers allowed for their data allotment in their plans to be used “however the consumer wanted” – on device or tethered, it didn’t matter. If you paid for 500MB of Internet, use it how you like. What a novel concept… Too bad the other guys haven’t caught on (or are just choosing to ignore it all together).

Anyway, I’m off topic… Back to TetherBerry. TetherBerry promises: “No Tethering Fees: TetherBerry uses your phone’s data plan, so you will not see tethering fees” which is pretty cool. So, I decided to give it a shot, and here I am posting from my TetherBerry’d Internet connection.

Here’s a speed test result from last night:

Ehh… Not too bad, definitely useful. Upload cut in half, but downstream speeds are equivalent. If you note, the ISP is no longer Bell Mobility – but rather Abacus America, which appears to be located in California. Makes sense why the ping latency (and distance) is much higher in the result using TetherBerry.

I plugged back in and tethered using Bell directly again, and here were the results connecting to the same server and running the speed test again.

These results are even better than before!

I also decided to give TetherBerry the benefit of the doubt, and tested the service using a server closer to where it thought I was in California which produced similar results as to my first test connecting to a server in Toronto:

So, my un-scientific test results using TetherBerry are yielding speeds approximately half that of my un-filtered, non re-routed tethered connection directly to Bell Mobility. 

I’d also like to note, that I fired up my BitTorrent client and using the port I normally do and couldn’t get any incoming connections to be allowed using TetherBerry. From what I could tell – it was firewalled, where as it was no problem using my unfiltered Bell connection. This was a bit of a drag to realize…

Anyway all this to say that TetherBerry works and works fairly well, It does what it promises although in my test results, does do it slower. It appears that as of Monday they are going to cut everyone off unless they subscribe to a paid subscription. Now, If I was being charged to tether on my unlimited plan (which as of now, doesn’t look like I am) then this may be something that I would consider paying for – but as of now, not likely. However, I do know that there are alot of Bell / Telus / Verizon etc… users out there who are going to love it, will certainly pay for it – and I’m sure it’ll be a success. Great job TetherBerry!

You can find out more info on TetherBerry (and download the Beta) here (but only for a couple more days!) and follow them on Twitter here