Got a BlackBerry and Use a Mac?

Feel rejected because the CD that came with your BlackBerry doesn’t even register when you slide it into your CD/DVD drive? Welcome to the club! Was chatting with @catawungus (who was also wanting more than basic BlackBerry action) last night, and we agreed to check around and compare notes.

MacUpdate has some listings:

• PocketMac for BlackBerry mixed reviews; a lot of people seem to have the same issues I’ve been having, but not everyone; as always, YMMV.
  
• GroupCal Share iCal calendars with Outlook or Exchange users. Also seems to work in BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) environments.
• The Missing Sync for BlackBerry from Mark/Space. Again, mixed reviews, but I think it’s better-liked (and better-behaved?) than PocketMac.
• Evernote “…capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at anytime, from anywhere.”
• PocketMac RingtoneStudio for BlackBerry “…create ringtones from practically any multimedia file—from QuickTime movies to unprotected music files of all types.…” Mixed reveiws.
  
• The Missing Sync for iPhone Another one from Mark/Space. Got an iPhone or an iPod Touch along with your BlackBerry? This one might just come in handy.
• iForgot “ontrol your Mac using email, text messaging or SMS with iForgot. Use another computer, your cell phone or a portable electronic device to search your Mac for files using Spotlight, fax documents, take iSight snapshots, or forward files to other email accounts using simple commands. iForgot is there when you need it to save the day when you forget to grab a file or launch an application before you leave home.” I can’t think of any time I’d ever have had to use this. Yeah, that’s the ticket!!!
• AddressX Sync between Address Book and Exchange.
• M4P Converter Convert all of those non-MP3 and -AAC music files so they’ll play nicely with that nice BlackBerry (and you don’t need to burn and then trash a CD to do it). It only lists PPC under platform, however.
• Navizon “…a software-only wireless positioning system that triangulates signals broadcasted from Wi-Fi access points and Cellular towers to help the users find their way in most major metropolitan areas worldwide. The Navizon network is based on a collaborative database. Members with a GPS device can use Navizon to map the Wi-Fi and cellular landscape in their neighborhoods. Once they synchronize their data, it is made available to all the other users of the network. This way, users who don't have a GPS device can benefit from a positioning system. And it's free for personal use!”
• Kerio MailServer If you’re of a truly technical bent, set up your own mail server!
• e2Sync iSync and Entourage

to be continued…

Siperian vs SAP ERP

Looks like a very interesting data management Webinar:

Top 5 Reasons Not To Master Your Data in SAP ERP

Thanks, @jilldyche, for the pointer!

Google and Net Neutrality

Interesting post in CNET’s Politics and Law:

Google, universities offer tool to detect Net filtering, blocking

In a nascent stage at present, but worth heading back in a few months. Can’t wait!

What to Do? Yes, What to Do.

BeyeNETWORK has an interesting article by Bill Inmon, posted Thursday, on development methodology. In it, he describes what he calls typical results of management's ideas of getting things done:

“…The methodology was impressive. It came in several black three-ringed binders. It carried with it very official sounding text, along with lots of small line diagrams. It described many steps to be accomplished in the development process.

“Prior to the arrival of the methodology, the development at our company was done by a development staff that had been building systems for years. Then, one day, this methodology appeared – and absolutely nothing in the development process changed. The methodology was respectfully placed on a shelf in top management’s office. It probably still remains there today – untouched and unopened – continuing to gather dust.…”

He also illustrates a methodology that does work. Merit badges. Boy Scout merit badges. Hmmmm…

Now That I Have One…

…what do I do with it?

• Play Solitaire (comes with Klondike)
• Browse the Web
• Set up a BlackBerry e-mail account
• Download MapQuest4Mobile
• Add people to Contacts
• Populate the Calendar

But, wait! I’ve got stuff in in Address Book and iCal; I’m NOT going to put all that stuff onto the BlackBerry by hand, and then put any new stuff I add to the BlackBerry back on to RedBook, and keep them coordinated by hand…

BlackBerry Desktop is Windows-only (surprise, surprise…); what’s a poor Mac user to do? Poke around and report back, I suppose.

Got a BlackBerry!!

Bob and I finally got off the stick and ordered BlackBerrys (BlackBerries?), Bolds, with AT&T. Wow!

When we were buzzing around the southern Oregon coast over Thanksgiving weekend, and, come to think of it, when I was down Orange County way for my cousin’s funeral, I was testing a BlackBerry Curve, again with AT&T. On trial was the BlackBerry itself, of course, but also AT&T’s coverage and service.

The Curve was just amazing! Bear in mind I’ve used Motorola flip phones exclusively the entire time I’ve been “mobile”; that notwithstanding, the things a modern smartphone can do never cease to amaze (still)!

Having a physical QWERTY keyboard; being able to send and receive e-mail, and messages, of course; a “real“ Web browser (one that actually goes to Web sites rather than points back to where the carrier has it permanently pointed to read “Web” news); being able to jot a to-do and a reminder before you leave the dry cleaner; GPS… Do I sound jazzed?

The AT&T network was pretty reliable, even in some areas up in Oregon that looked a bit fringe on their coverage map.

We went with the Bold for a few reasons: the Curves can’t use AT&T’s 3G network and they don’t do WiFi. The Storm, at Verizon, doesn’t have a physical keyboard, and although the Storm’s is a lot easier to use than the iPhone’s (and the iPod Touch, to no one’s surprise), it’s just not there yet.