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RIM accounced BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1 SP5

by on February 8, 2008 in Uncategorized

The just announced BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1 SP5 solution will bring us finally support for HTML and Rich Text email reading on our smartphone. I have said many times, that the BlackBerry’s are a nice smartphone, but without reading HTML emails it is just like back in stone ages. Of course, there are other solutions like EmpowerPro or alike (head over to Crackberry.com to see what else is possible with your BlackBerry).

Other then support for reading HTML emails the update promises to give; Free-busy calendar lookup, Downloading of email attachments and editing, and additional features for Instant Messaging and Lotus Connections.

A very interesting new application is called the BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager and it seams it is already available now. With it users are able to:

  • Update their BlackBerry® Device Software
  • Install third-party applications
  • Backup and restore their BlackBerry smartphone data
  • Configure their BlackBerry smartphone settings
  • Review their BlackBerry smartphone service information
  • Create enterprise activation passwords for their BlackBerry smartphones
  • Connect their BlackBerry smartphone via USB and manage more than one BlackBerry smartphone concurrently
  • Obtain their BlackBerry smartphone service statistics

BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager also provides BlackBerry® Enterprise Server administrators with the ability to:

  • Enable/disable BlackBerry smartphone user features
  • Customize the BlackBerry smartphone user web interface to include a company logo or change text font colours

All in all the update looks to be a very impressive feature full set of applications.

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An easy way to sync files on your Mac and your BlackBerry

by on December 29, 2007 in Apple

Yes, I got a BlackBerry 8310 Curve and I use a Apple MacBook Pro as my main machine. In the past this combo was not always the best since Mac users were somehow left in the woods with their needs. Actually, I always wondered if software companies did not know about the shiny Apple or simply just ignored it.

Anyhow, with the Curve I have seen that RIM has indeed an Apple application called PocketMac on the CD included which allows for synching and certain settings. Since we use a Exchange Server this was of no use to us, but it is good to know that manufacturers like RIM think about their Apple customers. But still, even with that application installed, I was not able to access my files on the Curve (and I don't mean sync).

But the other day, I plugged the cable into my Mac and the Curve and the Curve asked me to "enable Mass storage…". This I usually answered with "No", but this time I hit "Yes". To my amazement I saw that the Curve was mounted on the desktop and I could access all my files like video, ringtones, images, etc. trough the Finder.

So, here you go, Access your BlackBerry on your Mac. Simple, easy and fast.

 

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My new toy: BlackBerry 8310 Curve

by on October 11, 2007 in Uncategorized

We got some new BlackBerry 8310 Curve devices and have worked with it in the last couple of days. I am trying to summarize here our thoughts on the 8310.

First Impression

Compared to the "old" devices (the 8xxx/7xxx series) the new 8310 is just a beauty to look at. It must be the best BlackBerry device so far. It is much thinner, lighter, features a camera and the overall impression is that this device is not only a evolution but a small revolution, as well.

Feature Set
The major feature set of this device (I guess) is the camera (2MB), the trackball navigation, integrated GPS and the Media-Player. Since we use the device mainly within a company infrastructure the camera is not our main interest, but our tests with the camera have been "OK". So far, the pictures taken with the camera don't "feel" as of a good quality as with a Sony or Nokia phone.

The trackball navigation is really much better to navigate then the scrollwheel on the side, as in the 8xxx/7xxx devices. It takes some time to get used to, but once used you don't want to go back anymore.

Things I don't like about BlackBerry in general

  • Pictures taken with the build in camera can not be selected to send many images in one go. There is a way but it is not very intuitive.
  • Reading HTML emails and browsing a webpage is still a major pita with a BlackBerry,
  • The memory card is behind the battery, meaning that you will have to remove the battery to remove or add the card.
  • We are using a BES (Enterprise Server) and the BIS (Internet Service) with this device. One thing I really don't understand is why even with a BES server you can not really browse subfolders correctly and receive notification if your have messages moved to a subfolder by a server rule. Another thing is that email accounts which are retrieved by BIS are more of a notification system then a real email client. After all, if you have used a Windows Mobile Phone before the way how BlackBerry handles eMail is quite inferior.

Conclusion
Should you buy the new 8310 device? Yes, if you need to have a BlackBerry then there is nothing to say against this device. It must be the best BlackBerry out there right now. It is much lighter, looks great and works great with your existing BlackBerry setup. I personally think that nowadays you don't need a BlackBerry to read and send emails with a mobile device. With the latest Exchange Server SP2 release Microsoft implemented the Push-EMail feature within Exchange and it works well with any Windows Mobile device. Also nowadays a lot of mobile phones can work with IMAP/POP3 accounts. After all you have to decide what works best for you.

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Steve Ballmer interview on iPhone and my new toy

by on May 1, 2007 in Uncategorized

I just came across this interesting interview with Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer. He talks about the iPhone (and that it wont make a huge difference in the business market) and other stuff.

That brings me to my thought on the iPhone and Apple’s strategy on the business side (not that Apple would care in any way:-) ).

First off, I am a big Apple fan and I like their Hardware and their OS a lot. Some years ago, I felt that Apple should have brought out a MacOS X for the Intel chip, now that they have done so, I still don’t understand why they don’t come out with a MacOS X for “the rest of the Intel world”, meaning not only Apple Hardware. I understand that Apple wants to convert users to the Apple Hardware, and in the long run will succeed with it, but they could gain some momentum if they would release a MacOS X which would run everywhere right now.

There is also another factor, that I think Apple is badly missing, and it is the Business side of computing. Sure, there is a Office for the Mac and in this year there will be the Intel Version of it as well (and I can tell you it will be fast and nice (I am a MS beta tester and use Entourage 2008 right now)), but that it just not enough. Now, Apple came out with a iPhone, looks nice and sure will sell, but from an aspect of a office user, a IMAP access will just not do it. Today’s business users want to have access to their corporate email, calendars and contacts. This is something that RIM with their Blackberry and Microsoft with their Exchange Server services have realized. Constant access to any information everywhere is the key and if Apple wants to enter this market they will have to allow their users and hardware to talk directly to the mentioned services.

Nevertheless, one can use today’s business solution with a Mac already. This leads me to our setup we have here.

We got a Exchange Server 2003 installed, that handles our eMail, Calendar and Contacts for the Office. Since SP2 of the Exchange Server Microsoft features the Push-eMail functionality. Thus one can use a Active Sync enabled Phone to deliver eMails directly to mobile devices. Now we just installed a Blackberry Enterprise Server so that Blackberry users can access the Exchange Server, also. As a Mac user, we have Entourage installed which allows us direct access to the Exchange Server. This setup works great. Adding a calendar event within Entourage, syncs it within minutes with the mobile device and vice versa. Same goes with the eMail.

Regarding the Blackberry, I personally switched to a Blackberry device as well. The Windows Mobile device I used to use, drove me crazy. Windows sometimes refused to sync correctly with the Exchange Server, sometimes I could not pick up calls, in the end I had to reboot the device every day just to get it working correctly. I hope this will now be over with the use of the Blackberry device.

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