I posted some information a year ago (can it be that long) that listed the Blackberry applications I had installed on my device. A year on, and with my Bold, I thought I’d update that list.

All Google Blackberry applications

You can get all the current Blackberry applications from one single point. This download will help you configure a Google installer which will keep all the applications up-to-date going forward. You can select which applications you wish to install and those you don?t. You can download it here:

(From your Blackberry Browser)?http://www.google.com/m/products

The applications I have installed on my Blackberry are Google Maps, Google Search and Mail by Google. Google Maps and Search have really changed over the past 12 months. Google Maps now has Latitude, an application to collaboratively share your location with others via GPS. Google Search now has voice search.

Note: If you have a hosted email account with Google, (as I do), you need to download the Mail application separately here:

(From your Blackberry Browser)?http://m.google.com/a

Viigo

Viigo is an application to centralise and sync your RSS feeds. It?s probably the application I use the most on the Blackberry. I recommend it highly – and you can download it here:

(From your Blackberry Browser)http://www.getviigo.com

You need a free account to access this service. You can setup one through your Blackberry or on their website at?http://www.viigo.com

Facebook

If you like to follow your friends and family, Facebook is available for your Blackberry. The application truly integrates with your Blackberry and shows messages received in your status bar along with normal email messages

(Browser install via USB)http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/features/soci?

(From your Blackberry Browser – select the Facebook download)

http://mobile.blackberry.com

I recently downloaded the new Facebook application v1.5. It’s much improved with better functionality, allows you to comment on people’s statuses and also links with your contacts and syncs details and profile pictures.

Twitter (TwitterBerry)

If you want to update your Twitter status on-the-move without using your SMS function, you should consider TwitterBerry. TwitterBerry also offers you the function to list out Friends and Public timelines

(From your Blackberry Browser)http://www.orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry/

Yahoo Go!

Yahoo Go! gives you access to your Yahoo account, email, Flickr, RSS, Sport, Finance, Weather and Maps and is certainly a polished product. The download is not small but can be downloaded over the air at:

(From your Blackberry Browser)http://go.get.yahoo.com

Chat applications

If you want to message online, I use Live Communicator, Google Talk and Yahoo! Messenger. They can be directly downloaded to your device via the Blackberry mobile site. (See below)

Pandora

This has only just been released and they’ve already brought out an upgrade. Pandora is a free streaming media service. You can rate the songs as they play and the music served in future will learn your preferences. A nice polished application. Only some mobile operators allow this application as it’s data intensive. If you’re with AT&T in the US, you’ll be fine.

http://pandora.com/blackberry

Qik

Qik is a services that lets you live stream video to your account for others to view. Fun can be had.

http://qik.com

Slingbox

If you have a Slingbox at home and want to watch live TV – this is excellent:http://slingmedia.com/go/blackberry

Other Blackberry applications

Blackberry have various promotions and recommendations available to download via your phone by pointing your Blackberry browser to:http://mobile.blackberry.com

After many weeks of struggling with poor service with Comcast cable that went unrectified, I switched to DirecTV. My main reasons for changing: personal recommendation, better user interface, more HD and cost savings over the first year. I’ve been using the service for around two weeks and I’m really enjoying it. Here are some of my findings if you’re thinking of switching:?

Installation
An easy purchase and provisioning online. A great and painless install. Very professional and courteous installer. Just one piece of criticism. He didn’t take away an old dish that was attached to the property when he promised he would. Old useless analogue satellite dish anyone? Shall I craigslist it??

User interface
The user interface has a very good design and menu options are intuitive and work as you’d expect them when you press a button. More space on the screen is devoted to the channel guide so you can see around six channels in one go in the guide. The display is nice with the barker screen (the preview window) and if you have a HD screen the resolution makes using the box easy. Recording programmes and series settings are easy, one press of the recording button for a programme, twice for a series link. The search function is powerful and you can type in programme names using your remote, like you would a mobile phone using the letters below each number. Downside is that sometimes some menus can be a little slow to load, the On Demand section especially. However, so was Comcast, so I’m OK with that.

The box
I have a the latest DirecTV HD DVR box. It’s got a meaty processor and 500GB of storage for all that HD I’m going to record. It connects to my router so I can download programmes that are OnDemand and also link it through my home network as a media server. More on that later. The remote is infrared and wireless so you don’t need a line-of-sight.

Remote recording
I love this – probably the best bit. You can schedule recordings or OnDemand recordings via your PC, Mac or mobile. I use the mobile application on my Blackberry all the time. You sign in, do a programme search and hit record – it’s that easy. It probably takes around a minute to get actually sent to your box. Last time I used it – I was out for lunch and watching a football game. Couldn’t watch the end – got my Blackberry out, bing, bang, boom, ESPNHD2 – got home later, there it was. Love it.?

Media Server
The box allows you to connect to it over your home network to another PC. Using some downloadable software, you can view an interface just like you’re using the DVR in the room. Very cool. Sometimes, if I’m at a great distance from my router and I try and watch a HD show it fails. You can also stream content from your PC through the DirecTV box.

OnDemand
I would say this is not true OnDemand, you’re basically making a selection from a list and then it downloads the program over your DSL. Programmes can take a long time to download (and I have a 20Mbps connection) – HD ones take an age – let it run overnight. However, you don’t have to wait until the download completes before you watch. The user interface is a little clunky and it’s difficult to find what you want.

Programming
A great selection – and many channels in true HD. And I know get to watch the Daily Show at 8pm as I get the Comedy Show east coast feed.

All in all, I’m glad I switched.??

You can download the userguide and find out more (PDF), by clicking here.