MyBlackBerry — RIM’s Online Rant Board

Tomorrow RIM will launch MyBlackBerry. It’s a community in which BlackBerry owners can build a unique profile around their specific device…perfect timing for early BlackBerry Tour adopters who may currently be unclear about their selection of apps. Users can share and rate their favorite apps, ask and answer questions regarding accessories and functionality as well as tips and tricks to make using your device much easier and more efficient.

As you can tell from the screen shot below, a list of “Top Apps” and “Top Tags” among other things will be part of the “Applications” tab…and likely static throughout.

RIM’s efforts may be thought of by some as a waste of time and money considering the existence of other established social networks (Twitter, Facebook). But I think it’s a good idea considering BlackBerry App World is clunky and has been known to cause problems for some.

I tried registering today. Apparently I’m not on the “BlackBerry VIP” list…yet *strut*smug* (invitation code required). For more information, check out the short intro video.

Popularity: 19% [?]

BlackBerry App World Is Finally Here!

This is no April Fools. BlackBerry App World is finally here! The service itself is an app available to download to your BlackBerry smartphone. While there aren’t nearly as many applications available as there are for the Apple iPhone, the collection of apps is respectable. Look at it this way. You won’t spend hours sifting through apps trying to determine which one is best.

One of the features of BlackBerry App World is app reviews. After you download your favorite app, you have the opportunity to offer up your thoughts, or read what others have said. While there are free downloads available, you must have a PayPal account in order to purchase others.

To ensure the BlackBerry App World application works on your smartphone, it must have BlackBerry Device Software version 4.2 or higher; it must have a trackball or SurePress™ touch screen; and BlackBerry App World is only available to customers in US, Canada and UK and may not be available on all networks…whatever that last part means. Gotta love the mumbo jumbo disclaimer. If you aren’t sure about what software you have on your phone, check out the BlackBerry device software page.

To download BlackBerry App World, visit blackberry.com/appworld/download from your phone’s browser.

Shazam For BlackBerry. This is one app that all BlackBerry users have been waiting for. You can now try Shazam for BlackBerry free for 60 days when you download it from BlackBerry App World. And it’s not some knock-off music identification software. I’m still unclear of the limited capabilities after the 60-day trial has expired. Regardless, you should still be able to take advantage of its primary function…and that’s identifying music.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Pandora: Streaming Music For Your BlackBerry

During my regular evening visit to Pandora, I discovered that Pandora Radio is now available for the BlackBerry.

Pandora Radio is your own FREE personalized radio now available to stream music on your BlackBerry. Just start with the name of your favorite artists, songs or classical composers and Pandora will create a “station” that plays their music and more music like it.

The Pandora Radio application is available for the following BlackBerry smartphones (and services): Bold (AT&T), Curve 8310 (AT&T), Curve 8320 (AT&T), Curve 8330 (Verizon), Pearl 8100 (AT&T), Pearl 8120 (AT&T), Pearl 8130 (Sprint & Verizon).

If you already have a Pandora account like I do, just choose the log in option. Your channels will be available through the Pandora Radio app, and you can create new channels from your BlackBerry.

Just visit pandora.com from your BlackBerry browser to download this app. Like most apps with streaming capabilities, you probably want to be sure you have an unlimited data plan.

The Others. There are already a couple of other streaming music apps available for the BlackBerry including nuTsie and Slacker. I haven’t tried either mainly because I’m used to Pandora. But both are free to download…and, of course, you should probably have an unlimited data plan.

Popularity: 23% [?]

NCAA Tournament Updates On Your BlackBerry

So you didn’t schedule that pre-NCAA Tournament vasectomy giving you a two-day recovery pass…all you need is a BlackBerry and Viigo.

Viigo is one of my five must-have BlackBerry apps. They’re having a little pool of their own:

Stop by Viigo today, and download the latest version.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Twitterpated With Social Networking

As if Facebook didn’t include enough “me” time, now I’ve done it. I joined Twitter. Actually, I joined over a year ago but just never caught the Twitter bug until now.

Based on my current list of ‘Following’ twitterers, I’m covering the daily allowance of information and entertainment. While I try not to come off as star-struck, I actively follow Tony Hawk, Lance Armstrong, the the Kutchers…and, of course, THE_REAL_SHAQ (‘actively’ meaning I try to contribute or reply to their tweets…as if they care). Shaq frequently shares pictures of his Shaqness via Twitter, and he’s been known to tweet clues of his whereabouts…sometimes rewarding finders with tickets to a game. Awesome.

Feel free to follow me if you find Derrich.com the least bit interesting…or even if you just want to pad your Twitter numbers.

BlackBerry + Twitter = TwitterBerry. For you BlackBerry addicts, you can Twitter with your phone as well. There are a number of apps available to tweet your twitters, but I’ve settled on TwitterBerry by Orangatame.

You can download this app via your phone by visiting http://orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry/.

Popularity: 11% [?]

That Just Happened — Zune Freezes Over

This is it. Say goodbye to 2008…and to all those bad habits. Wipe the slate clean. Knock out those resolutions! What? You never follow through with your New Years’ resolutions? Get some help! stickK is a website that promotes healthier and happier living by enabling its users to form Commitment Contracts. That’s right…a financial obligation to succeed. stickK was co-founded by Dean Karlan, an Economics Professor at Yale. The idea is based on two simple principles of behaviorial economics: [1] people don’t always do what they claim they want to do, and [2] incentives get people to do things. Check out the stickK FAQs for more info on how this site works.

Apparently at about 2:00am this morning, every owner of a 30GB Microsoft Zune experienced the ultimate freeze. According to Gizmodo, there were “tons of reports—tons—about failing Zune 30s“. By ‘tons’, they mean all 12 Zune owners.

Congrats to the Rice Owls for stomping the Western Michigan Broncos last night in the Texas Bowl, 38-14. The game was highlighted by two former San Antonio standouts, Chase Clement (Alamo Heights) and Jarett Dillard (Sam Houston). And, of course, the head coach is none other than David Bailiff of my Alma Mater [Southwest] Texas State University. Not only does Dillard hold the NCAA record for career touchdown receptions (60), but he and Clement hold the Division I-A record for career TDs between a QB/WR duo (51).

How about a Derrich.com Best Gadgets of 2008 list? Everyone else is doing it, so why not. Here are my Top 5:

[1] Kodak Zi6 HD Video Camera. About $50 cheaper than its counterpart, the Kodak Zi6 is a quality camera that shoots videos in 720p HD. HD! And also unlike its counterpart, it features an expandable memory slot for up to 32GB of vids. And, of course, it comes in pink .

[2] Roku Netflix Player. For $99 (and a Netflix membership), you can get movies on demand anytime. The Netflix Player allows you to sift through a selection of over 12,000 movies and TV shows — some in HD — for instant viewing on your televish.

[3] BlackBerry Bold 9000. Yeah, I’m biased. But it’s a great phone! As I previously pointed out in my Bold vs E71 comparison, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 boasts impressive battery life, a great browser, WiFi, and an ever-growing supply of useful apps.

[4] Wii Fit. This selection might be questionable; but with the introduction of a new year come those New Years’ resolutions. And if you’ve never played a Wii before, try out the boxing game for a few minutes. You’ll be winded. I guarantee it. The Wii Fit Ultimate Fitness Bundle is the perfect alternative to a gym membership. This year over 2 million Wii-related items were sold on eBay. So, I know someone out there will agree with me on this one.

[5] Toshiba REGZA 42″ LCD HDTV. Not exactly a gadget, but another impressive piece of hardware from Toshiba. For under $900, the Toshiba REGZA 42RV535U 42″ LCD HDTV can be hanging on your wall. I thought Toshiba had outdone itself with last year’s 37 inch 720p LCD, which I purchased for a skosh over $850. For a little more, you get 1080p in a 42 inch screen. The picture is amazing. While there are probably better TVs out there, you can’t argue against the ‘value’ value of this HDTV.

Well, it’s certainly been an interesting year for me…and for the rest of us as well. I’m happy to be blogging again…I’m about to be a baby daddy a second time…but there were definitely many speed bumps for me along the way. Good riddance to 2008! Bring on 2009! I hope all of you have a safe and Happy New Year!

Popularity: 17% [?]

TellMe Now Available For BlackBerry Bold

On December 23rd, another free BlackBerry application was made available to BlackBerry Bold users. TellMe is a voice recognition app that provides GPS directions, traffic information (where available), maps, businesses, movie times courtesy of Fandango, as well as weather information. By using keywords such as “coffee” or “movies” or “sports”, TellMe gets you the information you’re looking for. TellMe is a Microsoft subsidiary and therefore uses LiveSearch for a majority of its results.

Simply say what you want, and hear or see the results. Then, connect or transact to act on the information.

Sounds easy. When creating my list of five free BlackBerry apps, I mentioned TellMe along with another voice recognition app, Vlingo. Vlingo uses Yahoo! oneSearch for its results. Personally, I like the TellMe interface better. It doesn’t appear that TellMe allows dictation of texts and emails. Vlingo does.

While I continue to toy with this one, you can download TellMe at m.tellme.com. Other than the BlackBerry Bold, TellMe is currently supported by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. To see if your specific phone is supported, click here.

Popularity: 13% [?]