When I first heard about RIM’s release of Websignals I was excited. The idea was that you could push a icon to users homepage to let them know to check out a website. After waiting a few months after launch to see if anybody did anything cool with it I was disappointed so I decided to do something about it instead of just complaining. Together the dedicated BerryReview team with some great help from RIM has delved into Websignals and created our very own BerryReview Websignal.
You can sign up for the BerryReview Websignal Beta at:
www.berryreview.com/berryreview-websignal/
This new Websignal notifies you with a icon when there is a new article to check out on BerryReview. You can preview the title and then easily click on the homescreen icon to launch the article in your browser. While setting up the Websignal I was saddened to learn a few limitations of the system. For example, the Websignal can take up to 5-8 minutes to update on your BlackBerry. You also need to send a link to your device using our signup form and then click on the link from your BlackBerry and accept the RIM legal agreement to register for the Websignal.
The BerryReview Websignal is currently in beta but our private beta testers had no issues with the push updates. We plan on releasing the source code for the WordPress plugin we wrote to implement Websignals in WordPress but right now the code is quite raw. I am slowly creating a simple backend management page for WordPress that I hope to get done before unleashing it on the public. If you know your way around PHP and WordPress just send us an email using the Contact Us form and we will send over the code. Keep in mind you will need to register for a Websignal from RIM which may take a few weeks to get approved and setup. I am trying to work with RIM to simplify the signup process.
Please let us know about any issues or comments you have by using the Contact Us link at the top of the page! Keep in mind the Websignal will only show up after a new article has published on BerryReview. Also you may find the Websignal originally hides in your downloads folder in some themes.
c0rinne ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 374
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 1:34 PM EST
Signing up right now.
Nikolaus Walch ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 601
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 2:06 PM EST
Me too. Can’t wait to see how well this works!
Nikolaus Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 4:13 PM EST
Signed up over 2 hours ago and not received the notification of new articles on my 8900 (5.0.0.314)
Nikolaus Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 4:15 PM EST
Oh wow it was in my downloads folder. I checked previously and it wasn’t there, but now it is
twbettis ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 6
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 2:07 PM EST
Verification link is not working.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) Senior admin - Posts: 5297
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 6:43 PM EST
What error are you getting? Can you email me the link?
Razkull ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 81
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 2:44 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9530
Waiting for a new article
automan69 ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 489
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 3:01 PM EST
This is awesome! Just subscibing Now.
FOSSroxTHX Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 3:31 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8330
Well, it is working and kinda neat.it’s a shame it is nothing more than a eb hotlink with the most recent headline as the “mouseover” title. Some notification options or a history synopsis woyld be cool. I can see why no one really gives a flying flip about Websignals; there just isn’t much to be excited about.
Andrew Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 4:33 PM EST
mmmm I sent my BIS email and received a message on my Bold but when i click on the link my browers shows a timeout error. Is it because I’m running on my company’s BES? Other sites work not the link in the email, any thoughts?
andrew Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 4:54 PM EST
Very Cool Ronen
Diaz ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 85
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 5:08 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9000
Sounds interesting..just can’t wait to see how well this works..
lauren25 ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 36
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 5:30 PM EST
Link was sent to my BB but when I click on it, it states that it’s unable to connect to my internet. Even though I have full signal and tried on wifi as well.
I’m on BIS on my Bold with AT&Ts official OS.
Luis Merlos ( View Profile) Moderator - Posts: 1231
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM EST
that’s cool theres a BB symbol in between the 3G and the Signal bar, I guess that is the native theme on the 9700?
Bla1ze Not Registered
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 2:24 AM EST
That is standard on all 3G BB since the Bold, 3G means it found 3G. 3G + BB symbol means 3G and connected to all RIM services. ie: Voice, data indicating the ability to use both at the same time basically.
Nikolaus Not Registered
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 2:33 AM EST
Stop rubbing in your 9700ness!
Fabian Heuwieser Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 7:40 PM EST
cant wait to download it now!!
eduardo Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 8:34 PM EST
Me thinks WebSignals should be a nice-looking RSS client App – think CBS News client on the iPhone. Each channel is then an RSS subscription and RIM’s/BIS infrastructure pushes the notification to the client when there is new info on the channel. Which then pulls the data on demand.
Each WebSignal would have some branding/skinning so they look different, but I think that this approach would cover most uses.
Going through the browser seems particularly ill-suited to the strengths of the (current) BBOSes.
Justin Not Registered
Posted: November 6, 2009 at 9:29 PM EST
Looks great Ronen, I was hoping somebody would take advantage of this technology.
brayndeded ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 55
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 1:15 AM EST
Backed!! very cool idea. this way we get the jump on others when there is a contest or updated news and such! more places need to do this. get on em Ronen!
James Not Registered
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM EST
I agree this is very cool Ronen, Still waiting for you to post something so I can test it out…
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) Senior admin - Posts: 5297
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 6:45 PM EST
Did you guys get the articles that were published later in the day? I am curious to see how well it works. Our original test had a much smaller group. I guess we will see monday!
automan69 ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 489
Posted: November 8, 2009 at 11:32 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9630
Guess will have to wait till monday to see if it works.
impak875 ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 77
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 7:19 PM EST
I signed up on my Bold & my Curve… haven’t recieved a notification yet… still waiting…
Michael Not Registered
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 8:48 PM EST
Outstanding! Subscribed!
lauren25 ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 36
Posted: November 7, 2009 at 9:57 PM EST
Update: I tried the link a day later and it worked fine
. Thanks berryreview for your excellent customer service.
LawTownPoPo ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 43
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 4:57 AM EST from my BlackBerry 8330
* (color)=New Post
* (B & W)=New Post that you’ve read
?
PDM Not Registered
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 5:23 AM EST
My icon appeared a little while ago after you posted the article re BDC!
impak875 ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 77
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 8:32 AM EST
Just got my notifications to my Bold & Curve… Love it!! Thanks BR for pushing the envelope and developing this before anyone else!!!
Bryan Not Registered
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 9:21 AM EST
I signed up for it, decent widget. It took about 2 hours to get it onto my Tour but that was alright.
The only thing that I noticed is that this doesn’t show up on the “Applications” in the Options section. How can you get rid of it if you wanted to now?
automan69 ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 489
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 10:30 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9630
This is good first step Ronen,but I really didn’t need an extra icon for updates. I hope you can work with RIM and having the update pushed to the berryreview launcher instead. That would be sweety!
sgt-d ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 85
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 11:19 AM EST
i’ve tried several times with two email accounts on two devices and it hasn’t worked yet. grr!
Renee Not Registered
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM EST
Is there a notification setting for this?
pink2 ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 23
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 4:20 PM EST
I am getting the updated icon, but it would be really helpful if it also put a notification icon in the banner like when you get new email, etc. I don’t have room on my home screen to keep the BR icon there so I only see there is something new when I go into the download folder. And maybe a way to say how many new since last opened.
LawTownPoPo ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 43
Posted: November 9, 2009 at 10:58 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8330
Love it, I don’t have to check over and over to look for a new posting.
Just can’t get over the lack of continuity with all we know about BlackBerry and new notifications. Why keep the * when there’s not a new posting?
jmarkybb ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 26
Posted: November 10, 2009 at 10:02 AM EST
I have subcribed to this, it saves you going on to your browser or checking your RSS feeds in another app that you would have to access anyway?
One gripe, I have read the latest article, so the icon is blacked out, but there is still a “Alert” on the icon, how do I get to go away/ out of focus?
Were can we find more of these websignals?
Renee Not Registered
Posted: December 11, 2009 at 1:04 PM EST
Pls help – I downloaded this on my last bb, backed it up and restored it on my new bb and now the icon is blacked out, it does not update and I can’t figure out how to remove it and download another one.
It’s not listed in my Applications, does not give me an option to delete, and I don’t think it’s listed in service books.
Pls help!