RIMarkable » BlackBerry Tips and Tricks

How to Customize Blackberry Ringtones & Ringbacks

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:17:35 +0000

Here is a guest Tips-n-Tricks post by Caitlin Douglass on How to Customize BlackBerry Ringtones and Ringbacks…

If you receive a lot phone calls, you know how important it is to organize contacts and identify callers. One way to do that is by using custom ringtones to separate family and social contacts from business and customers. The BlackBerry can be overwhelming when you first get one, so here’s a step-by-step guide to downloading and customizing your BlackBerry ringtones and ringbacks.

The first thing to consider about ringtones is file format. The most common ringtone format that will work on all BlackBerry phones is MP3. The sound quality of real MP3 ringtones is superior to alternate formats and the file size is generally smaller than most. MIDI polyphonic ringtones are another choice of format supported by all BlackBerry products.

How to Download Ringtones by Direct Email

First off, you’ll want to visit a Web site that has BlackBerry ringtones for download. Crackberry.com and TUIconverter.com are good free sources to start with. If you can’t find your ringtone for free, try a paid ringtone site like ThumbPlay or FlyCell, which group ringtones by genres like country, pop and techno and get as specific as East Coast/West Coast ringtones! If you’re worried about your provider, use a site like SendMe Mobile to search for specific carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint ringtones. Any site that offers ringtones in MP3 or MIDI formats should work though.
Once you’ve found the ringtone you want, select the file and email it to an address you’ve assigned to your BlackBerry.
Using your BlackBerry, open the email and click the hyperlink (URL) to open a browser page.
Once the browser page is loaded, a popup will appear. Right click to save the ringtone. For phones with a memory card, it is better to save the ringtone to the media card than to memory. Be sure to check the box that indicates “save as ringtone.”
Do not close the browser page until the download is complete and the confirmation page pops up.

Tips:

If you can’t find the perfect ringtone for free or on a paid ringtone site, you can make BlackBerry ringtones with a free ringtone creator like Myxer.com or Mobile17.com. You can also trade ringtones with your friends by using the email method above or you can send them to one another via Bluetooth.

How to Download Ringtones to Your Computer

You can also choose to download any MP3 file to your computer for use as a ringtone. From there, you can transfer the ringtone to your BlackBerry through a USB cable using your BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

From a PC with Windows to a BlackBerry memory card:

Follow instructions to install the memory card.
Go to Options > Media Card
Make sure the Media Card Support setting is “On.”
Make sure the setting for “Auto Enable Mass Storage Mode When Connected” is “Yes.”

Once that is done, whenever the Blackberry is connected to your computer, a box will pop up giving you the option to “Open a Folder to View Files” and will display all the files on the memory card. After opening the ringtones folder, you will be able to drag and drop ringtones from the desktop directly to the phone.

You may also use the Roxio Media Manager software included with your BlackBerry. Here’s how:

Connect your phone to your PC.
Open Desktop Manager, then Media Manager.
In the Media Manager, select “Folders” to view the file list.
Locate the ringtone file you want to transfer and select it.
In the lower left of the screen, listed under My Devices, open the “ringtones” folder.
Click ”Copy Down”.
The Copy Files box opens. Click the “Convert for Optimal Playback” button, then press OK and it’s done.

Assigning Custom Ringtones To Phone Numbers

After new ringtones have been installed, you can assign different ringtones to numbers in your address book. That way when the phone rings, you know exactly who it is, or to what group they belong, without having to check. If you have a lot of contacts, it may be easier to organize them into groups such as “family” and “clients” and give the entire group the same tone than to try and assign each one a unique ringtone.

To assign a ringtone to a number, first, open your address book and locate the phone number that you want to assign a custom ring. Press menu, and then edit. Select “Add Custom Ringtone” and choose the ringtone you want from the list. After custom ringtones are assigned to the numbers in the address book, you will be able to identify callers without looking at the screen, a definite advantage when you’re trying to drive, in a meeting, or trying to avoid someone. Ringtones can also be assigned to other phone sounds, like email alerts and alarms.

Ringback Tones

Ringback tones are a different personalization service, replacing the standard ringing sound for your callers to hear while they wait for you to answer. You may set up to 25 different ringbacks, and can even use the Time Of Day function to play different ringtones at different times. Ringbacks go by different names depending on your carrier. They’re known as ringback tones for Verizon and Altell, Answer Tones for AT&T, Call Tones for Sprint, and CallerTunes for T-Mobile and Vodafone. You’ll have to visit each carrier’s individual ringback tone store to get the tones and make sure you’ve signed up for this service with your carrier first.

Customizing your BlackBerry with ringtones and ringbacks can be a fun and creative way to express your personality, while improving your productivity at the same time.

Byline: Caitlin Douglass is a freelance telecom writer that specializes in mobile music applications and cell phones.

How to Customize Blackberry Ringtones & Ringbacks is a post from: RIMarkable

BlackBerry Storm Usability Tip: Disable Compatibility Mode

Robb Dunewood — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:47:16 +0000

So, you’ve gotten yourself a brand new BlackBerry Storm. You’ve updated to the latest leaked OS and have figured out how to type on the touch screen that you actually have to click an not just touch. You like your BlackBerry Storm and plan on sticking with it. The one thing bugging you about your BlackBerry Storm, however, is why the virtual keyboard on some BlackBerry applications is permanent.

Often times when you are running an older BlackBerry application on your BlackBerry Storm you may notice a blue border around the main application window and the SureType virtual keyboard won’t go away no matter what you do. This is because your application is running with compatability mode enabled. The blue boarder and the keyboard significantly decrease the size of the application window and it makes navigating and selecting fields or buttons very difficult.

Fortunately, you can disable compatibility mode by going to options >> advanced options >> highlight the application that you want to disable compatibility mode on >> hit the menu button (the one with logo) >> select disable compatibility mode. Once you disable compatibility mode, restart your application. the blue border and the persistent virtual SureType keyboard should be gone. You may be able to use the application in landscape mode as well.

Why RIM choose not to have compatibilty mode disabled as the default is beyond me. I have yet to see an application react adversely when compatibility mode is turned off. Developers can, using the latest development tools, chose to have this feature turned off automatically when their applications install, but, that does nothing for all the apps that have already been developed.

BlackBerry Storm Usability Tip: Disable Compatibility Mode is a post from: RIMarkable

BlackBerry Question Of The Day

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:59:30 +0000

It seems lately like we have been getting more and more BlackBerry questions in the ole RIMarkable inbox so we thought that we would start posting some of them to the front page to let the BlackBerry faithful have a stab at them.

Today’s question: Is there any way to set Opera Mini as your default browser on your BlackBerry?

If you have an idea please post it in the comments.

BlackBerry Question Of The Day is a post from: RIMarkable

What Type Of BlackBerry Enterprise Server Management Tools Do You Use?

Robb Dunewood — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:12:17 +0000

Here is a question that goes out to all of the BlackBerry Administrators managing the back end BlackBerry Enterprise Servers.

What type of BES management tools do you use to make sure that your corporate BlackBerry users email addictions can be feed without interruption?

Email in just about every organization is considered a mission critical application and for those companies that have standardized on the BlackBerry to feed their users appetite for the ability to receive email at any and all times, BES deployments are just as mission critical.

If you are a BlackBerry Administrator responsible for managing your companies BlackBerry Enterprise Server implementation, let us know via the comments what management tools, tips, and tricks you use to keep your BES servers up and running.

BlackBerry Adminstrator, BES, BlackBerry Enterprise Server

What Type Of BlackBerry Enterprise Server Management Tools Do You Use? is a post from: RIMarkable

Is Your BlackBerry Vunerable to a Denial Of Service Attack?

Robb Dunewood — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:16:58 +0000

The French Security Incident Response Team issued a security advisory late yesterday described as a “low risk vulnerability” that primarily affects BlackBerry Pearl devices running OS 4.2 and earlier.

A vulnerability has been identified in various BlackBerry devices, which could be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service. This issue is due to an error in the BlackBerry browser that fails to properly handle overly long URLs, which could be exploited by attackers to cause a vulnerable device to become slow or to stop responding by tricking a user into following a specially crafted link.

You can fix this vulnerability simply by upgrading to BlackBerry Device Software version 4.2 Service Pack 1 (4.2.1) which can be found here.

Is Your BlackBerry Vunerable to a Denial Of Service Attack? is a post from: RIMarkable

3 Possible Relationship Saving BlackBerry Tips

Robb Dunewood — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:39:03 +0000

I was just reading an interesting article over on the SouthBendTribune.com website entitled “Saving marriage from the BlackBerry” and it offers 3 tips for keeping your BlackBerry addiction from spilling over into your personal life. I must admit that, at least at some level, I practice all three of these tips.

The first tip is no BlackBerry in the bedroom. My motivation for keeping my BlackBerry out of the bedroom is a bit different than the one suggested in the article, however. The constant blinking light and the random vibration from incoming email drives me nuts. Additionally, keeping my BlackBerry in my bedroom would counteract the benefits of tip number two.

More tips after the jump…

The second tip is out of sight out of mind. I leave my BlackBerry on the mantel above my fireplace. I’ve got a power adapter for both my BlackBerry and Bluetooth headset there and the spot is remote enough that I can’t see the notification light or hear the vibration of incoming emails, however, is convenient enough that I don’t have to scramble to get there quickly if the phone rings.

The last tip is to set designated hours for BlackBerry use. I simply don’t check my BlackBerry after 9:00 P.M. if I am at home. This brings up a BlackBerry feature request. Wouldn’t it be cool of you could automatically set your BlackBerry to change profiles based on a schedule? I notice that I check my BlackBerry much less frequently if I forget to change the profile back from phone only. I would love it if I could automatically set it to go phone only on back on a schedule.

3 Possible Relationship Saving BlackBerry Tips is a post from: RIMarkable

Do You Want To Change The Color Of Your BlackBerry Pearl or 8800 TrackBall?

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:04:31 +0000

BlackBerry Forums member SanFrancisco has posted a detailed walk-through on how to change the color your BlackBerry Pearl or BlackBerry 8800 trackball complete with pretty high quality photos showing you exactly what to do.

This mod isn’t exactly like tricking your BlackBerry 8700 out in 18K gold, however, is pretty cool all the same.

If we get permission we will update this post with a picture of the finished product, however, if you really want to see it, you can check it out here.

UPDATE: We got permission…

Do You Want To Change The Color Of Your BlackBerry Pearl or 8800 TrackBall? is a post from: RIMarkable

BlackBerry 8800 Tips From Stinsonddog

Robb Dunewood — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:24:04 +0000

BlackBerry Tipster Extraordinare and BlackBerry Forums super moderator Stinsonddog is back at it with his world class BlackBerry Tips. His latest tips sheet is for the BlackBerry 8800. Stinsonddog says his pre-launch 8800 tips are 99% accurate and will be confirmed as soon as he gets his hands on a device.

If you are really interested in what the BlackBerry 8800 can do go check out Stinsonddog’s site. He is known to have the best BlackBerry tips out there and I guarantee that you will find something out about the BlackBerry 8800 that you didn’t already know.

Download the BlackBerry 8800 Tips .pdf.

BlackBerry 8800 Tips

BlackBerry 8800 Tips From Stinsonddog is a post from: RIMarkable

Stinsonddog’s BlackBerry GPS Review Now Includes TeleNav

Robb Dunewood — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:56:23 +0000

BlackBerry Forums moderator Stinsonddog is known for his BlackBerry Tips page. We posted about it all the way back in January. Since that time Stinsonddog has created a BlackBerry GPS review page and recently has added TeleNav to the list of products.

Take a look…

BlackBerry Tips & Tricks, Stinsonddog, BlackBerry GPS, TeleNav

Stinsonddog’s BlackBerry GPS Review Now Includes TeleNav is a post from: RIMarkable

Top 12 BlackBerry Tips From Smart Device Central

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 13:22:54 +0000

Jamie Lendino from Smart Device Central has posted an article titled “Top 12 BlackBerry Tips” aimed at helping BlackBerry 8700 series device users be more productive and save time. As Jamie puts it, these BlackBerry 8700 shortcuts are an attempt to save you from the “futile exercise in thumb wheel fiddling” while trying to navigate your BlackBerry.

These tips were written specifically for the BlackBerry 8700 series, however, some of them translate to other model devices. If want to learn how to navigate your BlackBerry a bit more efficiently, especially if you are a BlackBerry 8700 series device owner, take a look after the jump…

• Navigate quickly around calendar views by pressing D for Day, W for Week, M for Month, and A for Agenda. For this to work, you’ll need to set Enable Quick Entry field to No under Calendar Options.

• Deleting older messages is easy; simply click a date field and choose Delete Prior.

• Find any contact in your address book by typing out the contact’s name or initials, separated by a space.

• When browsing the Web, make quick work of visiting favorite sites by pressing K to open your bookmarks. To add a new bookmark at any time, press A.

• Press and hold any letter in order to capitalize it. Often it’s faster to do this than to set a mode or press another key first. To turn on CAP-Lock, press Alt + Right Shift (CAP).

• To move down a page while reading a message, press the Spacebar. This works on other screens, too. Moving back up a page is just as easy; press Shift plus the Spacebar at any time.

I’ve only posted half the list here. If you want to see the rest, head on over to Smart Device Central

Top 12 BlackBerry Tips From Smart Device Central is a post from: RIMarkable