Quick how-to-FAQ for new 8900 and Blackberry users :D

[exzibit3]

How do I take out the SIM card and the Micro SD card?

SIM card:
- Remove battery cover and batery. The SIM card's groove is actually shaped like the SIM card. If you just tried sliding the card out, it WON'T budge. You need to grab the bit of the SIM card that overhangs into the battery compartment, then PULL it upwards AND outwards.
Micro SD:
- There's a small latch that looks like a tiny flag. If you're holding the device upright, (where the battery compartment is on the top half of the device), then you need to PULL this latch downwards CAREFULLY AND slide (somewhat forcefully) the Micro SD card outwards.

Some key shortcut buttons?

- Alt+ Right Caps button + Del = device reset (akin to battery pull!)
Read your manual for other handy tips,
- e.g. ‘R’ to reply, ‘T’ to the top of page, ‘B’ for bottom, ‘space bar’ to scroll quickly.
- Hold Blackberry button to see list of applications running in the .250 OS.

Deleting multiple messages or e-mails?

- Holding Alt + Scrolling using trackball = Highlighting multiple items, then press Del.
OR
- Scroll to highlight a Date in the SMS folder, click Blackberry Button, select Delete Prior will delete all smses or e-mails prior to that date!

How do you use Bluetooth to transfer Multimedia files?

- Manage Connections > check Bluetooth > Set Up Bluetooth > Add device > Search > Pair device
AND
- Media > Blackberry Button > Receive Using Bluetooth and THEN get other party to transfer files over.

How do you use Wi-Fi?

- Manage Connections > Check Wi-FI > Set Up Wi-Fi Network > Scan For Networks > Connect
AND
- Options > Mobile Network > Data Services (ON) > Connection Preference (Wi-Fi Preferred)
AND
- Internet Browser > Bookmarks > Wi-Fi Services > Wi-Fi HotSpot Login > start browsing!

How to install latest Blackberry Operating System OS?

- Backup your device with Desktop Manager and backup your third party applications
- Download AND save latest OS. Make sure you save it, you don’t want to be re-downloading a 150MB file just cause you screwed up and you can delete this later on.
- Run the OS on your computer
- Delete the vendor.xml file C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader
- Run Loader from C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader. You can use Blackberry Desktop Manager but I find this method the most reliable and quicker method, plus the Decktop Manager doesn’t know which is the latest OS that you want to install, and you could waste 30-45 minutes of your time, only to find that the old OS was re-installed. Very frustrating.

How to install Themes?

Easiest way is to browse for the link using your Internet Browser on your device, and look for an OTA (over the air) link. By clicking it, the theme will be automatically downloaded to your Blackberry device, no fuss, no muss.
Options > Theme > select Theme

Reboot device after installing new themes if you find they lag a bit. BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY UNREAD E-MAILS OR SMSES WHEN RESETTING DEVICE USING A THIRD PARTY THEME AS IT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS. This can be rectified, but you have to look for that information yourself.

How do I set Wallpapers?

- Transfer Wallpapers to your device using Device Manager.
- Then, Media > Pictures > select picture > Blackberry Button > Set As Home Screen Image

What’s the best setting for Videos?

- Download Ultra Mobile 3GP Video Converter. There’s others on the market, this is just an example. It isn’t free though, there’s a trial version for 5 min long movies, but you have to pay for actual version.
- Output format = BB 8900 MP4 Video (.mp4)
- Video Quality = Superb
- Audio Quality = 160kbps (Best)
- Video Size = 480 X 360 (Full screen)
- Settings > Output Format > Frame Rate (29.97 fps), Aspect Ratio (Auto), Letterbox (Add letterbox to keep original aspect).

This is the best settings I’ve found and the videos are extremely sharp and crisp and images are proportioned.



That’s it fellas! Hope that this is of some help to the all new Blackerry users, being a noob myself, this was monumental to get all of this around my head and this is just the tip of the iceberg. BIS and BES settings, e-mails, applications are things you pick up as you go, and there is a wealth of information out there. Any feedback or any tips that you'd like to share, feel free to post, and I'll add it on! Mods, feel free to delete if you think this is a waste of a thread

[GaryCutri]

Thank you for the info, it is greatly appreciated.