Joe Barr just posted a great little tutorial on Linux.com about how to sync your BlackBerry with Linux. The applications have been developing from the ground up for some time but this is the first step by step tutorial I have seen on how to sync your BlackBerry with Evolution.

If you are a Linux user or a potential Linux user I would highly recommend giving it a try. I know I will.

Joe also mentions that there are plans to integrate the Opensync and Barry work into the larger Kitchensync or multisync-GUI tool in the future now that the framework has been created. Things are looking up for Linux BlackBerry user.

If only RIM would show that they give and damn and throw some money into helping the development effort. What do they have to lose by their device being compatible with another platform!

This might just be coming from my ignorance regarding the capabilities (& limitations) of the BlackBerry API but I have to ask. Why are there no applications to allow you to take a screenshot from your BlackBerry? I know this is possible with BBscreenshooter (and one other application I cant think of right now) but that requires the use of a PC and JavaLoader.exe.

Just imagine how useful it would be. From the top of my head here are a couple of scenarios where it would be highly useful.

• Imagine you are on the road and you want to send somebody a screenshot of Google Maps
• Or you are having a problem with and application and/or theme and want to send the screenshot of the error to the developer
• Take for example the ability to send your helpdesk a ticket automatically of the what you are seeing on your BlackBerry so that they can walk you through an option. I have seen help desk employees using the BlackBerry simulator to send screenshots to BlackBerry users on the road showing them how to access certain options such as the global address lookup.
• Better yet imagine if a BES admin could pull up a screenshot of what you are currently seeing OTA

As you can see I have been looking for such a solution and the best I have come up with is the free and very useful BBscreenshooter. The problem is that it requires a desktop. Is this because such an application is impossible to implement without one?

I was just reading a hilarious post on BlackBerryForums.com describing on to cheat in BrickBreaker. I tried it on my 8310 Curve with no luck but users are reporting back that it does work on the Pearl. This is not a whole complex cheat system but rather just a way to skip levels.

I just can’t get past the fact that somebody would actually want to cheat at a game where the whole point is to waste time. I guess I am not that hardcore of a gamer. This just reminds me of how people used to cheat at Minesweeper in Windows. What would be cool is if somebody at RIM programmed some easter eggs into the game. Where is your sense of fun RIM?

If you feel like being a cheater  let me know how it works out!

Over the past few days two writers I admire passed away.

The first was Russell Shaw who started in the BlackBerry space writing for BBhub.com and then went on to running “The BlackBerry Beat” blog on ZDnet. His contributions and coverage will be sorely missed.

The second is a name that is a bit less known but his work is famous. Arthur C. Clark. He authored the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey. You can read more about Arthur on Wikipedia.

We don’t want to go and make BerryReview an obituary but I thought it was worthy of mention. I hope you will join with me in saluting their accomplishments and contributions.

Stefano just sent me a link to a interview of Mike Lazaridis done by Joia Shillingford of the Financial Times. I found it quite interesting to see where his likes and dislikes stand.

What caught most peoples attention was:

Latest squeeze? One of our prototypes - a 3.5G BlackBerry. It’s very fast over third-generation networks that have HSDPA

The thing is that everybody at RIM gets a chance to play with all the latest toys months before we even see them. I guess they managed to solidify the device enough for their co-CEO to use it.

Personally I found these two points more interesting:

How wrong have you been?We’ve been in mobile data since 1988. Year after year we’ve been predicting “this is the year of mobile data”.We were wrong till last year, when carriers started to talk about mobile data making a meaningful contribution. I never dreamt it would take so long.

Company to watch (not yours)? IBM. They have a product called Lotus Connections. I think it’s going to be a really powerful tool for corporations and governments. And we’re installing it at RIM.It quickly builds up a picture of how an organization works, and who has what expertise - based on their searches and what they tag as important.

If you are interested in this kind of stuff I highly recommend reading the full story at this link.

PS: Let me know if you also noticed that FT misspelled “organization” in the second to last paragraph of the interview? I guess they have the same editors as BerryReview.

I know quite a few of you have been watering at the mouth about the BlackBerry 8120 coming to AT&T. Personally I cant do without a QWERTY keyboard but I understand. We know that the 8120 is now available for Business customers at this link on AT&T’s website. Our pal Gary at ViralElectronics.com just found the OS 4.3 download available on AT&T’s BlackBerry download page. That usally happens when they are prepping the device for full release. I got my hands on the device back at CES so I guess RIM & AT&T have just been taking their time.

Every few months I get an email from RIM asking me if I want to assist them with a new market survey. The all seem to have the same questions and then throw in the screwball questions.

They go from: “How would you rate your post-sale BlackBerry experience?”

To the esoteric: “How would you rate the information emailed to you by BlackBerry?”

To the downright ridiculous: “Below are a number of recreational activities. Please indicate the frequency that you participate in each. Running, fishing, hunting, cycling, mountain biking, and swimming.”

Seriously RIM how the hell are you going to be using your BlackBerry while swimming!!!

Oh as a PS I hope people have been filling “BerryReview.com” in response to the question: “Where do you typically search for BlackBerry related information?”  If you promise to do that you can go take the survey at this link. I am not sure if we are supposed to post this but I don’t think RIM is going to care if more people take the survey.

JC Designs - Gadgetbean.com is proud to present Real World - Icon/Today/Zen for the Curves/8700s/8800s and Pearl! This theme is consist of clean sleek icons as expected from all JC Designs - Gadgetbean themes alike. It is a theme with the feel of that World Traveler / Where in the World is Carmen San Diego feel to it (also reminds you of those old movies… Indiana Jones, Casablanca, etc. where they show the world map and the flight path from city to city).

The theme is available in Icon, Today and Zen flavors (I’m really liking the Today style of this theme) for the BlackBerry Curve /8800 / 8700 series and Pearls.

The theme is available for $7 from the BerryReview store by searching for “real world” or you should be able to click on this link.