casthompson

Five years ago today, I was modding Nextel phones for a living.  Knocking out i95’s in 15 minutes and lining them up with l.e.d.s – until…  I got burnt out!!

Today, I just did my first blackberry mod and I remembered why I decided to get out of the game.  I just don’t have time.   Even though the berry turned out sweet, I can’t see myself turning this into a business model.  Instead, I’ll point you to the video so you can learn how to break the warranty on your device yourself.  Check out Blackberry Housings and get your precision screwdriver set ready.

Click here to see more Nextel throwbacks from five years ago!!

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I was starting to get disturbed by the fact that I couldn’t get notified of @replies to myself unless I had direct message/sms notification on for the person I was following.   People have been replying but sometimes while on the go, I wouldn’t know until I logged back into twhirl or jumped back on to check statuses.

While digging around on twitter I found a tracking command.  Via sms you can track a work on the fly simply by typing track and then the word.   This can be great for following whatever it is you follow in your industry.  If you are a widget maker and you are away from your computer, you can type in track widgets and get notified on the spot or until the next person (even if you are not following them) talks about widgets.

To untrack, just type in – untrack word.

Now on to my original problem.  If you want to get notified of all of your @name replies, just track @yourname and you will know when people are replying to you or at least twittering about you behind your back

If you’re not following me yet, it’s @casthompson

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I never thought that I would say this, but I’m feeling Twitter.  In the past two years I’ve signed up for at least a dozen social networking sites.  I test them out, I study, I network and then I leave them alone.  The truth of the matter is, if it doesn’t make me any money or makes my life easier, then it’s a waste of time.

As simple as it is, Twitter makes my life easier and makes me money (indirectly).   With so much other stuff to manage, I hardly blog on my own personal site anymore but everyone still want’s to know what I’m up to.   Twitter is very public but in an intimate way.

Here are five Twitter Tools that help me throughout the day.

Twitterberry – is a mobile app designed for the blackberry.   It’s free and very easy to use.  It’s also a great way to save on sms charges if you don’t subscribe to a texting plan.   You will need data services active on your blackberry but then again, why would you have a blackberry with no data services?  The program handles replies and direct messaging flawlessly as well.  Many of my Iphone pals are using ThinCloud

Twhirl – is a desktop AIR client for your PC.   When I am online this is the only client I’ll use.   Very intuitive and responsive.   Twhirl will also handle multiple Twitter accounts at once.  Great for site owners who pull multiple followers to different accounts. Honestly Twhirling is easier than using Twitter’s own homepage.

Twitterfeed – feeds your blog to twitter.   Simply put – blog something and it’s gets pushed automatically to your twitter account.  It’s a great way to feed traffic back to your blog but can come off spammy if you publish a blog not in tune with your current twitter following.   I currently feed this site as well as my couscous site.  <—- shameless plug

TwitPic – keeps your audience awake with an occasional picture.   Twitpic uses pictures taken with your mobile phone and sends it along as a Tweet.  Tweets are only 140 characters but a picture can be worth a thousand…   well, you know the rest.   Their homepage also has an interesting mash-up of google maps, similar to Twittervision.

Summize – is a Twitter Conversation Search engine.  I use Summize for research only.  It’s a great way to getter Twitter user’s opinions on products, places, movies, media, websites and just about anything.   Every now and again, i’ll toss out a question to my followers but having the opportunity to search the world of Tweets can be powerful.

Twitter is simple and it works.  If you’re not on it yet, sign up.   If you’re already on, what are some of your favorite Twitter Tools?   Tell me on twitter…   www.twitter.com/casthompson

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Here is my list of favorite blackberry tools that I have come across over the years.  The links in this article are mostly meant to be downloaded directly from your browser’s screen.  Knock yourself out!

Blackberry Ringtones
www.blackberrymp3s.com

Facebook
www.blackberry.com/facebook

Myspace
http://m.myspace.com

Youtube
http://m.youtube.com

Google Search, Google Reader, Google Docs, Gmail, Google Maps
http://m.google.com

Blackberry Wallpapers
www.blackberrywallpapers.com

Bank of America
http://mobilebanking.bankofamerica.com/bb/

Cnn
http://m.cnn.com Download

Opera – Alternate Browser for Blackberry
www.operamini.com/download

The NY Times
http://mobile.nytimes.com/bbinstall

CNBC
http://mobileapps.cnbc.com/mobileLoad.do

TV Guide
http://tvguide.handmark.com

Blackberry Movies – Download Full Length DVDs for your Blackberry
www.blackberrymovies.com

Weekly Blackberry Tips
www.blackberrytips.com

Blackberry File Manager
http://www.rovemobile.com/support/downloads/mfm/

Blackberry Tip Calculator
http://www.gpeters.com/tipgo/

Twitter
www.twitterberry.com

RSS Reader
http://viigo.com/download/method.html

Local Search Tool
m.mypoynt.com

Visual Voicemail
http://www.fvmplus.com

ESPN Launcher
http://espn.mobi/bblauncher

ETrade Stocks (free but Etrade membership required)
etrade.com/mobile

Flickr for Blackberry
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/social/flickr.jsp#tab_tab_download

Free Countdown Timer
http://northcubed.com/installers/com_northcubed_countdowntimer_app.jad

Blackberry Wallet
http://mobile.blackberry.com/homepage?book=applications〈=en

Beyond411 (one of my favorite search tools)
http://thebogles.com/blog/projects/berry411/

Yahoo Apps (including messenger)
http://mobile.yahoo.com/go

AIM, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Skype and Yahoo Messenger in One App
http://www.webmessenger.com

Yahoo Messenger
http://www.blackberry.com/YahooDownload

AIM and Windows Live Messenger
http://www.blackberry.com/instantmessaging

Videos (BB Pearl Only)
http://videostreamsmobile.com/downloadmgr/index.htm

Vlingo – Type without Typing (Super Awesome)
www.vlingo.com/getvlingo

To email this list to your device, just click the Share This button at the end of this article and shoot yourself an email.

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• QWERTY keyboard


• 480×360 LCD


• Quad-band GSM/EDGE


• GPS


• Wi-Fi


• 3.2 megapixel camera


• 4.6 OS platform


• BES 5.0 support


• ArgonV processor

Does it look like A Curve replacement to you?

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BG just dropped a pic of the Blackberry Thunder coming to Verizon Wireless.   I’m looking forward to this model and I’m very curious to see how it will be received by the public.  

It’s going to be the first touchscreen blackberry and more importantly, It will be released to Verizon Wireless exclusively.   Verizon Wireless is usually the last provider to get any device, so I would watch this closely.

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The Flip Mino, a pint-sized but more powerful companion to the so-easy-your-grandma-will-be-a- YouTube-star Ultra, is now official. We already saw the $180 mini-cam in a fuzzy picture, but now we know that although it carries 2GB of on-board flash for 60 minutes of VGA-quality recording like the Ultra, it’s 40% smaller—a scant 4” x 2” x 0.6”. The Mino distances itself further by adding a Li-ion battery and a flat back-panel with touch-sensitive buttons (rather than the Ultra’s AAs and push buttons). Check back shortly for a full hands-on; meanwhile, there’s a spec-laden fact sheet and a gallery’s worth of more shots after the jump.

Flip Video Mino Camcorder Details:

• Amazingly thin, pocket-sized camcorder
• 40% smaller than Ultra Series. Dimensions : 4” x 2” x 0.6”. Weight: 3.3 oz.
• 2GB of on-board flash memory records up to 60 minutes of video
• Sealed, internal rechargeable lithium ion battery that recharges through built-in USB arm
• Flat back-panel with touch-sensitive buttons
• No Glare display screen (1.5”)
• TV quality video
• Instant playback, pause, fast forward/rewind, and delete features
• Available in black and white models
• Connects to TV for instant viewing
• Built-in high-speed software enables instant video sharing from any PC or Mac:
  o Save and organize videos on computer
  o Email videos and video greeting cards
  o Publish videos instantly on video sharing sites like YouTube, MySpace, and AOL
  o Capture still photos from video clips
  o Create custom movies with your own music
  o Make your own DVDs and have them shipped anywhere in the world

Nationwide at www.flipminos.com Available at additional retailers Fall 2008.

Suggested Retail Pricing:

60 minute model: $179.99

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We could be looking at the Voyager’s replacement for those that want less bulk.  Phone Arena just snagged a pic of the latest LG device for Verizon Wireless.

• 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and Schneider Kreuznach lens


• 2.1 Stereo bluetooth


• microSDHC support


• microUSB port


• EVDO support

It could be here as early as April.   Stay tuned.

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Jeremy Kipnis’ home theatre is worth $6 million….

The picture elements alone are composed of a Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector with an impressive 4,096-by-2,160 resolution and the Stewart Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen stands a t a mammoth 18×10-foot which is nearly equivalent to an actual theater screen. The players and sources are even more exciting with a Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player complimented by a state-of-the-art Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player with SATA Drive (72 HDTV Hours Total) and Mark Levinson N° 51 DVD/CD Media Player upping the ante for most other HT systems. The Jeremy Kipnis also features a Pioneer HLD-X0 Hi-Vision HDTV MUSE Laserdisc Player as well as JVC HMDH-5U D-VHS Recorder.

Watching the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan couldn’t get better

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Verizon Wireless preps to change the game with a bunch of unlimited rate plans options starting tomorrow.

• $99 – Nationwide Unlimited (voice)


• $119 – Nationwide Select Unlimited (voice, SMS, MMS)


• $139 – Nationwide Premium (voice, SMS, MMS, VZNav, VCAST, email)


• $149 – Nationwide Email and Messaging (voice, SMS, MMS, and data)


• $169 – Nationwide Global Email and Messaging (voice, SMS, MMS, and international data)


• $199 – Family plan with two lines, $99 per additional line.

Now the most reliable network has great pricing options.  Charge up your bluetooth earpiece and cut your landline off…  finally.

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I came across a great find for any blackberry user on BES.   Empower BES Mailbox is my new BFF.

The biggest default issue with BES is that all incoming emails get tossed into one main folder (with the non-bes email).   Empower separates and even provides folder options exclusively for BES.   It has helped me so much in the past 48 hours that I’m hooked.

While bumping around their site, I also downloaded their HTML email viewer.   Again I’m hooked.

Instead of seeing HTML code within your email, the viewer translates it into some comes wthing pretty!   Can you survive without this feature?   You sure can but what you get as a bonus might actually make you keep the trial.   Calendar and Task Integration.

You can open up any email and with one click, transform it into a calendar event.   Great for getting things done

Check out Empower and download a free trial!!

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EA is giving away three free games for your blackberry.  Nothing beats free so go grab them up here.

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Have you ever wished that you had the phone number for that great Chinese restaurant up the street or wish that you could find a pharmacy while on vacation? Here is a tip for all of you who love to text message and love to save money. Eliminate 411 charges by texting google. Store 46645 (GOOGL) in your phone’s contact list. Then send GOOGL a message like, Pizza 10701. Within minutes I have the number to my favorite pizza place in Yonkers. Texting Google works well with the weather and searches as well as pizza. Try it out… gotta run, I’m getting hungry.

Technorati Tags: google, sms

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Do you have a gmail account? Do you own a blackberry? If you answered yes to both of these answers then you probably have had the annoying instance of your sent items pop into your blackberry inbox. It can get pretty frustrating if you send out tons of emails. You can prevent this by happening by setting up a Stop Send Box Gmail Filter in your weblient.

Works like a piece of cake.

Technorati Tags: gmail, blackberry

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Some interesting iphone ads have started popping up over at Apple’s site. I for one will not switch over but this has to be the most anticipated phone release in history.

Check out the ads here.

Technorati Tags: iphone

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Just when I started wondering how I should treat myself because of all of my hard work, I caught this on Giz.

This fanboy has XBox360 hardlined into three Samsung Screens, a leather racing chair and a 5.1 surround sound speaker setup that would make anybody drool.

I’ve always been more true to PSX but this might be a turning point for me.

Technorati Tags: forza, x360

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Finally the new blackberry 8830 is in the palm of my hands. I’ve been playing with it for the past 4 days and I’m very impressed. I won’t go into what you already know about the blackberry (email, contact and schedule management, web browser) but into the other side of what people have been waiting for.

The first thing that you should notice is the world edition tag on the face of the unit. The World Edition is available on Verizon Wireless which is evdo in the US but will switch over with ease to all the international travelers out there. This would have come in handy when I went here or even here last year. Being on a non-gsm carrier was starting to become a little inconvenient. The 8830 has room for a gsm sim card which I’m sure will lead to someone out there trying to unlock these bad boys sooner or later.

The second improvement made is the smart phone capability. Coming from the 8703 this is a nice step up. Not to be outdone by Treo and HTC fanboys now I can show off videos in style. I have been downloading movies to a 2 gig microsd card via the blackberry movies website and mp3s via the blackberry mp3s site. Very simple indeed. If you’re anything like me, you probably won’t read the manual before playing with it but be very cautious regarding the micro sd slot. If you’re not careful you could damage the slot out of ignorant frustration.

The 8830 is a clearcut winner and I’m sure that the new consumer image of RIM is sitting pretty with shareholders. They have come a long way.

Technorati Tags: blackberry 8830

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Most of my personal email is handled by gmail which does a great job of holding down my trash folder.  I have a few other domains with their own email accounts that have been getting blasted lately.  What’s more annoying than getting spam on the laptop is having it routed to your blackberry.

I have to thank the guys at Blackberry Spam for helping me with my portable inbox issues.

Technorati Tags: blackberry spam

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It looks as though I will be upgrading my 8703 pretty soon.  The blackberry 8830 is on the way with a slim 8800 series design and international capabilities.  Verizon has the stronger network so I will most likely roll with them but the black Sprint design does look nicer.

Other than the international use, I am also looking forward to more smartphone potential.  Even though my blackberry is all about business, watching an occasional blackberry movie wouldn’t be bad.

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If you haven’t heard of Joost by now, you might live under a rock.  It’s the new TV on your computer application that has been developed by the creators of Kazaa and Skype.  Although watching TV on your computer is not a new thing, the marketing and partnerships behind this project are starting off pretty strong.  Everyone and their mama are trying to get invites for beta testing.  A great source is The Joost Forums.  The quality of the Joost Player is better than YouTube and the content is studio driven not user driven.  I don’t know…   this could be a hit.

Technorati Tags: joost

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