Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Three Indispensable Blackberry Applications

Posted: 14 Feb 2010 03:29 AM PST

The Blackberry affords you a level of organization, connectedness, and security that is not possible with any other mobile device. In recent years, RIM has also worked hard to strike a balance between the power users and the average consumer.

As a result, the Blackberry applications market has grown enormously to include a wide variety of leisure and entertainment applications alongside the robust office and productivity offerings. We have used a lot of Blackberry apps over the past five years, but there are a few that stand out.

iheartradio

Internet radio is very popular on mobile devices, and iheartradio is one of the most popular apps. It’s easy to use, and it allows you to stream over 350 radio stations. If you live in an area where you don’t get a good variety of music, this is an easy way to find something more to your tastes.

If you are away from home and you miss your favorite station, you may be able to find it on iheartradio. While you are listening to a station, you can tag a song, and even look-up the lyrics. This application is available from the iheartradio site and from Blackberry App World.

iheartradio streaming radio player

BeWeather

People on the go need to know how the weather will affect their commutes. Whether you’re flying across the country, or driving a a few hours, checking the weather while you are on the go is a must.

BeWeather is a small but useful weather application for the Blackberry, which allows you to check the weather in multiple locations quickly, and see your current conditions displayed on the application’s icon on the home screen.

The heads up display on the icon can be set to refresh automatically, so you don’t have to open your browser or open the app to get a quick glimpse of the weather. There is a free version and a paid version, but the free version is robust enough for the average user. This application is available via Blackberry App World.

TweetCaster

Whether you like it or not, Twitter has become part of our digital culture. Both power users and average consumers use it to send updates, get news, market products, and keep tabs on their friends and coworkers while they’re on the go.

There are a lot of Twitter clients out there, because Twitter lends itself nicely to mobile devices, but there are few that provide you with a truly usable interface. TweetCaster separates your general Twitter stream from your Direct Messages and @replies.

TweetCaster for the Blackberry

This type of organization is familiar for Blackberry users, as a lot of themes separate your SMS messages from your Email. You can also use your device’s GPS to find Tweets from people near you. This application is available from the Handmark web site and on Blackberry App World.