PocketBerry » Tips & Tricks

BlackBerry PlayBook tips for gestures, web browsing and more

Mac Jadalhack — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

RIM let us know about some tips and tricks for BlackBerry PlayBook users. Some of you who already own the tablet may know already, but with the incredible sales lately, more folks are picking it up so these might come in handy.

Gesture-Based Tips

One key differentiator for the BlackBerry PlayBook is its true multitasking capabilities, allowing you to run multiple applications at the same time. The BlackBerry PlayBook ships with a default setting that allows some applications to stay active in the background until another application goes full screen. In other words, the current application will suspend when you launch another application, but this can be changed to allow all applications to run in the background. Go to the General section in the Settings menu (swipe down from the top bezel while in the home screen or tap the gear-looking icon in the top right corner of the display) and change Default to Showcase. Your BlackBerry PlayBook apps will then continue to run even after you’ve navigated away from them!

When you’re within an app you can swipe down from the top bezel to access menu items and other options.
When you are within an application, swiping diagonally from either corner of the top bezel reveals the main status bar, showing the time/date, battery status, Wi-Fi connection, orientation lock, and other settings.
Swiping from the bottom left corner of the bezel pops up the virtual keyboard.

Web Browsing Tips

When viewing a site, pinch to zoom or double tap for a better look. To zoom out again, just repeat the process.
You can enable private browsing by swiping down from the top bezel, and selecting Options, followed by tapping Privacy & Security. Inside this menu set the Private Browsing switch to On. When your PlayBook is in private browsing mode, nothing is saved as the browser only stores your history and other information temporarily. The information is deleted when you close the browser.
If you’re in the browser and you’re trying to enter an address that doesn’t end in ".com", simply press and hold the ".com" button – this will bring up a menu with the following extensions from which you can select: ".net", ".org", ".edu", ".gov", ".ca", and ".biz".

Did You Know?

The BlackBerry PlayBook utilizes the tap and hold gesture for copy, cut and paste.
Password Protect your BlackBerry PlayBook: To set a password on your BlackBerry PlayBook, head to Settings> Security > Password. You can also set the length of time before the screen locks in stand-by mode.
The BlackBerry PlayBook features a micro-HDMI connection to connect the tablet to an HDMI-ready display. You can utilize the connection to view photos and movies on your HDTV or to turn your PlayBook into a presentation tools

And there you have it. Some pretty good tips when using your BlackBerry PlayBook. If you have some of your own, share them with us in comments!

How to manage panels in BlackBerry 7 OS

Otoniel Bruno — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:30:17 +0000

Managing your panels is definitely an awesome feature in BlackBerry 7 OS. OS 6 was great, but the downfall was that you had panels which you might not of wanted to be there. Some users prefer to be classic with just one single panel. Either way, it’s quite simple to do and here’s how.

Head over to the home screen and press the menu button. From there you’ll see an option called “Manage Panels” and that’s where you want to go. The rest is a breeze. Simple check the panels you desire and uncheck ones you don’t want. There you go!

Video: How to root and add Android Market to your BlackBerry PlayBook

The PocketBerry Team — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

Rooting the BlackBerry PlayBook and adding Android Market to it has been pretty trendy since the first Dingleberry root released. BerryReview spotted a cool video showing how it’s all done for those who need it done visually to implement it rather than read a list of instructions. The whole operation is a bit advanced, so if you decide to please do so at your own risk.

PlayBook Tip: Double tap email message to fill screen

The PocketBerry Team — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:00:00 +0000

A small feature I noticed yesterday on the BlackBerry PlayBook was that if you’re viewing an email message, you can double tap the message to have it fill the screen and eliminate the side bar where all your email messages are listed. If you double tap again, the email message shrinks back to normal showing the side bar list of email messages. Try it out!

BBM Music video tutorial- How to access music and share with friends

Otoniel Bruno — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:51:31 +0000

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

Along with the official release of BBM Music in the United States, Canada and Australia, RIM put out a pretty cool tutorial video on the new music service showing how to access music and to share it with friends. BBM Music differentiates itself from other music services with the ability to share playlists and to stream other friends’ music from your BlackBerry and even pull some of their tunes to add on your own playlists.

Download Bridge OS2 Alternative App to get working BlackBerry Bridge on PlayBook OS 2.0!

Mac Jadalhack — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

I’m surprised to see this one fly by approvals in BlackBerry App World. Here’s an alternative Bridge application for BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 users. Originally Bridge just wouldn’t work at all. Then we let you know about a not so convenient work around, but it still worked! Now we bring you a third party app the does the trick! The only features missing here are Bridge Browser and Bridge Files.

Download Bridge OS2 >>

Bridge Apps not working on PlayBook OS 2.0? Here’s a workaround..

Mac Jadalhack — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:30:00 +0000

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is under a developer beta now, but open to the public to try out. I went ahead and put it on my own personal PlayBook rather than just using the one RIM gave out at DevCon with it preloaded. The dilemma faced? Bridge apps were not working at all!

Now for the solution. Did you know you can access BlackBerry Bridge apps from your Bridge Browser? Here’s how to do it!

Connect your BlackBerry smartphone to your BlackBerry PlayBook via BlackBerry Bridge.
Open up Bridge Browser.
Type in the address bar: http://127.0.0.1:187/ and press enter.
You’ll see a list of Bridge applications including Messages, Contacts, Bridge Browser, Calendar, BBM, Memopad, Tasks, and Bridge Files.
Select any Bridge app you want to go to.

If you want to go directly to a Bridge app, you can type 127.0.0:187/appname (Replace appname with any app you want to launch- messages, bbm, calendar, etc.)

And there you have it! Bridge apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook once again! This may not be a perfect solution but it surely is a workaround for those who want to keep OS 2.0 on their PlayBooks and still enjoy BlackBerry Bridge features.

Source: OpensourceBB

BlackBerry 7 Ringtones Available For Your Non BlackBerry 7 Device

Jon Destouche — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:00:52 +0000

For those of our readers who haven’t went out a purchased an OS 7 device, but want some of the features of an OS 7 device can now have a piece. I’ve got a little tip from @xAshley1983x that @kyleizwany from gadzonemobile was able to extract the ring tones from BlackBerry OS 7, and they are ready for download.

Of course just a little disclaimer: You install at your own risk. It also looks like it over writes the stock ring tones on your current device. But if you are interested in having OS 7 ring tones on your BlackBerry device head over here!

Meet BBM users around you on Wikitude for BlackBerry

Mac Jadalhack — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:00:00 +0000

In case you didn’t know by now, Wikitude provides a service on their BlackBerry app which isn’t available for other platforms – BBM. Upon opening up Wikitude, you’ll see different categories to browse including Closest, Worlds, Wikipedia, Gowalla, Flickr, YouTube, and even BBM Chat! By clicking BBM chat, you’ll see users who are around you using augmented reality. You can view them through your camera, or click the button up top to see users in a list.

Now if you don’t want to participate in your BBM pin going out in the open, you can have it set as Invisible in options (I think that’s what it is by default).

Either way, there’s a bunch of apps and websites out there for BBM social networking. Wikitude gives it to you sort of by showing who’s around you with a BBM photo of the user and some basic info. Are you tuned into it already?

Tip: How to extend your BBM Music Beta trial when it expires

Mac Jadalhack — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

I saw this pop up for me the other day, and thought it was just a bug until now. It looks like the folks at BBOS also noticed that BBM Music Beta had a “upgrade to premium account” window pop up on them as well. Here’s how to work around it.

Dismiss the pop ups for it by hitting the back button, then close the app completely. Reload BBM Music, have your songs refresh and you’ll be good to go. To check when your expiration date is, you can go to Options and see when the date is ending.

Let us know if this works for you!

PocketBerry » Tips & Tricks

BlackBerry PlayBook tips for gestures, web browsing and more

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How to manage panels in BlackBerry 7 OS

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Bridge Apps not working on PlayBook OS 2.0? Here’s a workaround..

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Tip: How to extend your BBM Music Beta trial when it expires

I saw this pop up for me the other day, and thought it was just a bug until now. It looks like the folks at BBOS also noticed that BBM Music Beta had a “upgrade to premium account” window pop up on them as well. Here’s how to work around it.

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