Often times you may find yourself wanting to edit some images on your BlackBerry PlayBook. While there is a small seleciton of apps available, as forums member edyb pointed out, there are also plenty of free online editors that work great on the PlayBook. In my experience the best is pixlr.com, but there are others that appeal to different users as well. Keep reading for the full list, then play around a bit with each to see which you like best (let us know in the comments). Be sure to hit up the forums and let us know which one is your favorite.

Discuss more in the forums

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Sometimes you may go a bit overboard when it comes to customizing the icon arrangement, wallpaper or themes on your BlackBerry. You may reach that point when you say "I really wish I could just start over". Well if you aren't ready to totally restore your device to it's factory settings, you can easily reset some options. Your BlackBerry has a built-in Reset to Default Settings option that lets you get some things back to stock so you can start fresh.

To access this option, simply press the Menu key from the home screen, then choose Options. Scroll down to the bottom and choose Reset Settings. From here you have the option to restore your wallpaper, downloads folder, icon arrangement and home screen panels. Check the box next to the item(s) you want to reset and then choose Apply. That's it! Head back to the home screen and you can start customizing things all over again :-)

For more discussion on this and other tips, head into the CrackBerry forums.

Using a standard SIM card in your GSM (and some CDMA) BlackBerry is pretty easy to grasp at this point. Most come pre-installed if you buy your device from a carrier store, and even if it isn't, getting it in your phone is pretty straight forward. If you're like me however, you might have a micro SIM you want to use in your BlackBerry (I often use both an iPhone 4 / Bold 9900 and swap SIMs between them) it can be a bit more tricky.

Going forward to BlackBerry 10, the micro SIM will most likely be the card of choice for phones as we've seen in the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha already. If you want to use a micro SIM in your current BlackBerry however, you'll need to either pick one up from your carrier or cut down your current SIM (which I don't recommend). You'll then need to purchase a micro SIM adapter. Read on and we'll take a look at how to use a micro SIM card in your BlackBerry smartphone.

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For quite a while now RIM has had a recent contacts option (Messages > Options > Messages Displays and Actions > Show Recent Contacts When Composing Email) available for email. When enabled, this option lets you choose recent contacts when sending emails, much like Gmail and other email clients. It's a pretty sweet feature if you don't like to have a crazy contact list but email certain people often. Sometimes it's a hassle if you have contacts pop up which you no longer want to see or just want to keep things a bit cleaner.

Fortunately there is a built-in option to do a bit of housekeeping. Simply head to your Messages app, then press the Menu key and choose Options > Recent Contact Management. From here you can add people to contacts, remove items from your recent contacts list or clear the list out entirely. If you use the recent contacts option, this can be a good way to further tweak things to your liking. *While it's been available since OS 6, this feature may not be available in all OS versions.*

Cloud storage is all the rage. On the surface, it seems like PlayBook owners have been left out in the cold. When we look closely, however, we can see that it is easy and powerful to manage all our cloud storage needs right from the PlayBook.

We know that we need more native apps for our beloved PlayBooks. We also know (even more so after BlackBerry World 2012) the BlackBerrys are for people who need to get stuff done. In today's world - no matter what business you are in - getting stuff done means having access to cloud storage.

For some platforms, there is an app for everything - including cloud storage. Our sister site (iMore) ran a great article on all the available apps for cloud storage on iOS, and it is worth a read.  For us PlayBook owners, we need to get a bit more creative. The good news, however, is that we can access all major cloud storage services on our PlayBook as easily and as effectively as any other platform...we just need to work a bit harder at it!

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CrackBerry's guide to using the Parental Control feature on your BlackBerry smartphone.

As more and more teens start using smartphones, it's only natural that more and more parents start to worry. With great entry-level devices like the BlackBerry Curve 9360, it's easier than ever for more users to get into the BlackBerry game. To help ease the pain of setting your child free with a smartphone, the latest round of BlackBerry OS leaks (7.1.0.402) includes a slew of parental control features. When enabled, the device can be limited for incoming calls, location services, text messages, browser use and various other options. These help ensure you know just what your kids are using their phone for and helps give you peace of mind. Keep reading and we'll take a look at just how easy it is to enable the parental control features on your BlackBerry.

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Have an error message on your BlackBerry? We can tell you what frequently encountered messages mean and how to fix them!

Every device has it's problems, and BlackBerry is no different. At some point in the life of your BlackBerry, you'll get an error message of some sort which can usually be diagnosed quickly thanks to BlackBerry error codes. Luckily most BlackBerry errors are specific to what you are doing at that moment, making it easier to find out what you need to do (if anything) to fix it. BlackBerry error codes range from a simple memory issue to busy servers to the dreaded 552 error. If you experience an error of any sort, you can refer to the chart below based on the BlackBerry error message and see what needs to be done to resolve the issue. Keep reading for a full list of common BlackBerry error codes, messages and resolutions.

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Customizing your BlackBerry device is something that many of us like to do, whether it be changing wallpapers, themes, or just changing the font of the device. Personally I am a huge fan of the stock BlackBerry 7 look paired with the right wallpaper, but one thing I enjoy is changing up the fonts every once and a while. While crusing through the forums the other day I noticed a thread asking why RIM doesn't use the BlackBerry font in the device.

Immediately I was intrigued, then after reading through the thread there were some download links for the fonts, and a quick how to for quickly and easily getting these fonts onto your very own device. Of course I had to give it a go, and I must say I am happy I spent the 60 seconds doing so. If those default fonts just aren't cutting it for you, or you want a little extra BlackBerry love in your device, hit the links below for all the information you will need on getting it done.

How to install custom fonts (with or without a computer)
Default BlackBerry Fonts
Custom BlackBerry Font

Hello again dear readers. It's time once again to open up the mailbag and clear up any BlackBerry woes you may have. This week's question comes from one of our Twitter followers, Scott, who asked:

How do I save an attached photo (not bridged, but native Gmail) on PlayBook? Doesn't offer save/cut/copy…Holding a finger is NOT coming up with choices when it’s attached. I can open but not save.

Thanks

Dear Scott,

When I first downloaded the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and started using the native messaging application I noticed the same thing as you. To answer your question, there is a way to save images that are attached and it's a simple solution that will have you downloading them in no time. Now I'm going to show you how to save images that are displayed in emails and those that are attached to make sure all your bases are covered for supported file types (BMP, JPG, GIF, and PNG). Keep reading for step-by-step instructions!

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A brand new feature that was introduced in BlackBerry OS 7.1 is Battery Saving Mode. This simple option lets you set a battery threshold which will then automatically adjust settings to conserve battery. So instead of keeping a close eye on your device when your battery hits a low point (say 20%), with this feature enabled, the device will automatically adjust things like screen brightnes and time out in order to not waste battery power. Battery Saving Mode isn't a miracle worker, but it will keep your BlackBerry hanging on a bit longer until you can find your way to a charger. A very cool feature that I'm sure you won't mind having.

If you're running OS 7.1, Battery Saving Mode should be enabled by default, but you can head to Options > Device > Battery Saving Mode to enable/disable this feature and change the battery level. Keep in mind this is just one way to save battery on your device. You can always manually change some settings to conserve battery power. Things like turning off Wifi and lowering screen brightness can go a long way. For more on this, check out ten tips and tricks to maximize your BlackBerry battery life. If all else fails, just carry a spare battery or charger and you'll never have to worry about a dead device!

Hello again readers! Dear Berry here to once again open up the mailbag and clear up any BlackBerry woes you may have. This week's question comes from an email I received a few weeks back from George who asks:

We pulled out my girlfriend's old Bold 9000 that has been in storage for a while. It worked when it went in. Now we plugged it in. Took a few min and then the screen showed white with a battery with the charging bolt through it (same as her Pearl flip we powered up to) After a while the red light came on for a min or two then nothing (the Pearl started up after that) So not sure what the issue is. Tryed putting the charger back in and out a couple times and nothing.(just the same thing, red light comes on for almost a min then nothing) Left it charging over night and nothing. My next step is to plug it in to my computer. Any ideas?

Ok so I finally tried to connect the Bold to my pc. But it just sits there with a red light on solid. It wont even connect to desktop manager. It just prompts me to retry or update. So i tried to update but when it got to jvm error ir wont continue. Now i also have tried to follow the steps posted on crackberry for reloading the OS on a nuked BB but after you select the connection to BB pin and where you are suppose to select the OS to load (using aplication loader) it wont let me continue, it just says desktop software does not have software for that device. So im not sure what i should do or try next. Any help would be appreciated.

Keep reading for my response!

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Hello again readers! Dear Berry here to once again to open up the mailbag and clear up any BlackBerry woes you may have. This week's question comes from Patrick who asks:

I have the playbook and noticed that there is no option to save the images that you open in an email. There are no screen options or drop down menu options at all. Am I missing something because I am pretty sure you can save an image that you get in an email on your phone?

Thanks

In subsequent emails he goes on to say that he is attempting to save attached images while his device is bridged. Keep reading for my response!

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CrackBerry's help guide to resolving a 552 error on your BlackBerry. Fix with a simple battery pull or reloading your OS.

The dredded BlackBerry Error 552 -- It's something that every long-time BlackBerry user fears and has seen over the course of their BlackBerry lifespan. The 552 error is caused by an issue with your BlackBerry software (typically an application) and can most times be resolved by performing a hard reset on the device, or worst case, reloading the device software.

In some cases, the only solution for a 552 error on your BlackBerry is to reload your device software. Unfortunately you'll need access to a PC to get your BlackBerry back up and running in this situation, but it only takes a few minutes and you're device will be as good as new. If you're somewhere with no computer access however, you should be able to reset the device and use it until you can reload or update your device software. A 552 error on your BlackBerry may seem bad the first time you see it, but fear not because it's easily resolved.

In most cases, after receving a 552 error on your BlackBerry, performing a hard reset (remove the battery, keep it out for a few seconds and then replace it) will solve the issue. Your device should boot as normal, however If the issue persists, you'll need to reload or update your device software.

To reload or update your device software after a BlackBerry 552 error, follow our full tutorial here. If you cannot get your BlackBerry smartphone to start up or you receive a different error, you'll need to follow this guide on how to restore a "nuked" BlackBerry.

Need more help? Head into the CrackBerry Help and Discussion forums for more!

As I found out earlier this morning, installing another carrier's OS on your BlackBerry isn't as easy as downloading and deleting the vendor.xml file -- now you have to delete both vendor files. It seems that in one of the updates to BlackBerry Desktop Manager, the vendor.xml file is not only located in one folder, but two. In the past you simply had to delete the lone vendor file and you were well on your way to a clean install with either BlackBerry Desktop Manager or App Loader. Now however, you'll need to dive in a bit more before your PC will see the OS - keep reading and we'll tell you how to seek and destroy (ok, find and delete) those pesky vendor.xml files.

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Back when the BlackBerry PlayBook was first available for sale, power options weren't readily available. You could tap the Turn Off icon from the home screen or you could hold down that much-maligned power button. That was pretty much it.

In later OS updates, Research In Motion introduced a popup window to give you more options however. Tapping the battery icon at the top of the home screen would give you the status of the tablet's battery as well as options for turning off, restarting, and placing the PlayBook into standby. These newer options worked quite well with one exception: if you had set a password on the device, standby would almost immediately lock it, requiring you to enter your password before the tablet would awaken.

The new PlayBook OS 2.0 software addresses that problem with a new fourth button on the battery popup window: Lock. If you haven't set a password on your PlayBook, you won't see the new control; but once you set a password, the Lock button will be there. So that begs the question: what's the difference between Lock and Standby?

Simply put, tapping the Lock button will immediately place your PlayBook on Standby and require you to enter your password before you can use your tablet again. Tapping the Standby button will allow you to awaken your tablet with a single swipe across the screen, no password needed. I should note that if you leave your BlackBerry tablet in Standby mode for long enough - from 10 to 30 minutes depending on your settings - it will lock itself and require that password.

So what is your choice? Do you use a password to lock your PlayBook? Or do you just opt for the simple standby mode? Sound off in the comments!