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PlayBook Gmail Multiple Calendars

Back in February, I showed you how to add multiple Gmail calendars to your BlackBerry PlayBook. I've gotten a few requests since then on how to remove them so I thought I'd share the solution.

The process itself actually only takes a minute or two and is quite easy. If you do not still have the User Agent Switcher Add-On installed on your computer, you'll need to reinstall it to make this work. You'll follow some of the same instructions as in the previous post. The trick comes in once you've unchecked all the calendars you no longer want. Keep reading to see how to remove those unwanted calendars once and for all.

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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.

Using Dropbox, Box.net, Google Drive and SkyDrive on the BlackBerry 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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[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

It has been just over a week since the release of PlayBook OS 2.0. An important part of the update was the improved BlackBerry Bridge and the introduction of BlackBerry Remote.

What is cool is the swipe gestures you do on your PlayBook can also be done on your touchscreen BlackBerry phone. So swiping from the top will bring down the options of the particular app you have open and swiping from the bottom will show you your running apps. Even the diagonal swipe gestures from the top corners work on a touchscreen BlackBerry phone. With non-touchscreen devices there are keyboard combinations and other options that need to be used in order to replicate the swipe gestures. As well as that you can actually just use the trackpad to replicate the swipe gestures. For example, if you moved the cursor all the way to the top of the screen the cursor icon changes to a setting icon along with a down-pointing arrow and if you click your trackpad this will bring down the options menu. The same can be done with all four sides of the screen, even the top corners. 

The biggest thing of course is the ability to use the BlackBerry keyboard to type things out making it even more convenient to type out those emails on your BlackBerry PlayBook. The keyboard on your BlackBerry phone can be used to type into any text field so it will very useful BBM chats too (if you have that selected through BlackBerry Bridge). One thing I have noticed is that when typing into password fields is that on your BlackBerry device the text will show but on your PlayBook these will be asterixed out as usual.

Check out the video to see a quick look at BlackBerry Remote on your PlayBook. Visit the PlayBook forums to discuss BlackBerry Remote

Unified inbox

The Unified Inbox may very well be the "killer feature" of Playbook 2.0. Having one place in which to read and send all your messages is the future of mobile communication.

Prior to the OS 2.0 upgrade, the only way to email or message was to "Bridge" your BlackBerry to the Playbook. Even when bridged, you only had access to your various email accounts that were on your BlackBerry.

The Playbook surpasses virtually every other platform with the inclusion of a unified messaging inbox. What that means is that in one place - the Messages app - goes not only your email, but also Facebook messages, LinkedIn messages and Twitter Direct Messages.

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Desktop Software error - this is normal and expected 

There are a number of reasons to give your BlackBerry PlayBook a "factory" reset. Chief among them: preparing your BlackBerry for rooting, downgrading your OS, and fixing a bricked/nuked tablet. It's fairly obvious when your BlackBerry tablet has bricked. Is your BlackBerry Playbook continuously rebooting? Does the LED double-flash when turned off? Like flash flash pause? Can't use your BlackBerry tablet? Yep, it sounds like you've got yourself a bricked PlayBook. It's easy to fix.

Before beginning, I should note that this process will completely wipe all of the data from your PlayBook. If you're planning on downgrading the OS or rooting your PlayBook, you should first create a backup of your tablet's contents. Personally, I skip this step because none of the data on my device is irreplaceable. If your situation is otherwise, make sure you make a backup copy. Of course, if your PlayBook is bricked, I hope you already made backups, because there's no way to recover that data at this point. Sorry.

To reset your PlayBook, you'll need the latest version of BlackBerry Desktop Software, a micro USB cable, a computer, and - of course - your PlayBook. Start Desktop Software on your computer and turn off your PlayBook. Yes, turn it off. Use the USB cable to connect your PlayBook to the computer and wait. After a moment, you should get an error message saying Desktop Software cannot connect to your PlayBook.

Click the "Update" button that's in the middle of the other two buttons, follow the on-screen instructions, and wait. Desktop Software will take care of downloading the OS and installing it to your PlayBook. The process could take up to an hour; make sure you keep your PlayBook connected until told it is safe to disconnect. Once finished, you'll be required to choose languages, set the time, sign in with your BlackBerry ID, and make final updates to the operating system - just like you did when you first received your tablet. After you're done, you'll once again have a working BlackBerry PlayBook.

[ youtube link for mobile viewing ]

It's that standard microHDMI port that sets the BlackBerry PlayBook apart. Through that string of plastic and metal stream billions of bits per second, bringing a crystal clear; high-definition image to any monitor or projector that supports HDMI. The PlayBook has a standard port that connects to a standard microHDMI (Type D) cable that connects to a standard HDMI port on your display. It's easy to connect; it's easy to use.

Since the day it was announced, it was clear the BlackBerry PlayBook would be a powerful presentation tool. Connecting easily through the HDMI port, slideshows; images; music; and video are all shown on the big screen in high definition clarity. Both the videos app and SlideShow To Go offer presentation modes that allow the action to continue on screen while the presenter does something entirely different.

With all this power at my fingertips, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Just how easy is it to use the PlayBook as a presentation tool? Check out the video up top, then follow me after the break. I'll show you how I made that presentation and where I ran into trouble.

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[ youtube link for mobile viewing ]

BlackBerry Video Chat is here! That holy grail once denied to we BlackBerry users is finally within our grasp, at least for PlayBook users. With an update to the PlayBook OS delivered in the wee hours of the morning, those owners gained the ability to see and talk to people hundreds of miles away. All from a device that weighs less than a pound.

Connecting to another PlayBook user is meant to be easy; all you'll need is their BlackBerry ID. Once you've opened the Video Chat application, touch New Contact (located in the upper left). If you want to add a person as a contact, enter the BBID and a nickname if desired. You can also choose a picture from your PlayBook or bridged BlackBerry to serve as that person's avatar. Click done (in the upper left) to save that person as a contact.

To start a call, simply touch that person's name in your contact list. The call will start automatically. The person being called will get a notification and the option to answer, answer without video, or decline the call. If you're unavailable for a video call, set Video Chat to Do Not Disturb. Touch the white circle in the upper left to activate; it will turn red when Do Not Disturb is on.

It would be wonderful if all of this worked perfectly on day one; unfortunately, there have been some glitches.

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PlayBook Homescreen Shortcut

One of the new features in the latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS update is the ability to add a browser shortcut to the home screen. This gives you the ability to create your own bookmarks right on the PlayBook home screen as opposed to the browser itself, giving you one click access to whatever site you choose. To do this, simply navigate to the site for which you want to set the bookmark. Then press and release the "add bookmark" icon (white star with the + sign). Choose Add to Home Screen, enter a name for the shortcut and you're done. That's all there is to it! Now you can make your own shortcuts for any of your favorite sites including Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and of course CrackBerry :-)

BlackBerry PlayBook Help

 

BlackBerry PlayBook Help

Looking for help with your BlackBerry PlayBook? Don't know where to start? We're here to help. We've compiled all the help articles and videos right here in one spot so you'll always have them ready to go. From setting up your device to installing a new OS to changing the wallpaper - it's all right here. You can always check out our individual BlackBerry PlayBook 101 articles, but as we add more content we'll keep this post updated, so be sure to bookmark it so it's never more than a click away.

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BlackBerry PlayBook Change Wallpaper

When customizing your BlackBerry PlayBook, one of the first things you'll want to do is change the wallpaper. While some might be able to do this without a hitch, others will have trouble figuring out just where to go to get it done. This quick tutorial will help you quickly change your wallpaper using any saved photo or sample wallpaper on the device.

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Force Upgrade to Latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS

So this is pretty awesome for all you hardcore CrackBerry readers + PlayBook owners out there who want your PlayBook to have the absolute latest software on it, even if it's an internal build that will never get pushed out to PlayBook owners via the WiFi update. This means if you Check for Updates on your PlayBook, none will be available (it says your OS is current), but if you follow the steps in this blog post you'll be able to upgrade to a newer version. Props go to Scott at BBSync for figuring this one out.

To upgrade your BlackBerry PlayBook to the latest internal version of the BlackBerry Tablet OS, do the following:

Step 1: Connect your PlayBook to your PC via MicroUSB cable and open Desktop Manager
Step 2: Backup your PlayBook! This install process is a CLEAN WIPE. You'll lose all data.
Step 3: Within Desktop Manager, hit Device > Update on the menu.
Step 4: No Update will be found. Just hit ok and go back to Desktop Manager homescreen.
Step 5. From there, while still plugged in, Restart your PlayBook using the power button app.
Step 6. A new popup window will appear giving you some options. Hit Update.
Step 7: Let that baby update and you'll be on the latest software. Warning: it takes a while!

It's kind of funny to see that this is RIM's way of fixing a bricked PlayBook (see the debrick in the filename above?!). It's also pretty awesome that this process loads up what we think are the latest internal builds of the PlayBook. The day the PlayBook was released, it launched with version .1690 software. Later that day we saw some PlayBooks get updated to .1696 via this method. If you follow this process above right now, you'll get updated to .1705. Yet via the WiFi update method .1690 is still current. As always with this sort of thing, do so at your own risk, but a few of us have tried it now with great success. It's hard to say how long RIM will allow this to continue to happen for, so get in while the getting is good!

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BlackBerry PlayBook Tips and Tricks

 

BlackBerry PlayBook 101: Tips & Tricks To Help You Use Your BlackBerry PlayBook Better!

BlackBerry PlayBook Tips and Tricks

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a pretty simple tablet to figure out. Running the BlackBerry Tablet OS that has been fully optimized and designed from the ground up for touchscreen input, just by opening your eyes and swiping, gesturing and tapping around you'll get a pretty good grasp of the device in no time. That said, as we've played with our PlayBooks we've discovered lots of little things that might not be readily discoverable, so we're going to shares these tips and tricks with you to make sure you're taking advantage of them. Keep reading to get the most from your BlackBerry PlayBook!

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PlayBook Video 101: How to Perform a Security Wipe (Return PlayBook to Factory Settings) on the PlayBook's BlackBerry Tablet OS

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

We've already covered a ton of BlackBerry PlayBook 101 topics here on CrackBerry, so on the eve of the PlayBook's official launch I'm doing up one more... this time, we're looking at wiping the operating system on the BlackBerry PlayBook. Doing a Security Wipe restores the PlayBook to its factory out of the box settings, removing all data, apps and media from the PlayBook itself.  

Wiping the OS on the PlayBook's BlackBerry Tablet OS is extremely simple - just go to Settings > Security > Security Wipe, type in blackberry, and tap the Wipe Data button. Unlike BlackBerry Smartphones, where this process of wiping the device can take for what feels like forever, the PlayBook whipped through the OS wipe in literally just a couple of minutes. Super fast. Super impressive. 

Check out the video above to see the wipe process in action. And don't mind my CrackBerry craziness in this one... I'm just excited. As I type this I'm 12 hours away from walking into the store to buy my own PlayBook. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

Video PlayBook 101: How to setup and use Wi-Fi File Sharing on the BlackBerry PlayBook

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

One of the cool features of the BlackBerry PlayBook is the ability to use Wi-Fi File Sharing. Wi-Fi File Sharing on the BlackBerry PlayBook is a setting that allows you to easily transfer files between your Mac/PC and your PlayBook over your wifi network. You get the usual drag and drop features of being connected via USB, but you are able to cut the cord so you can move files much easier. 

Being that there isn't much help documentation on the process or setup just yet, I did have a bit of trouble getting going. When you connect the PlayBook to your computer for the first time with a USB cable, it should install the necessary drivers for both standard connected file sharing and Wi-Fi File Sharing (the PlayBook doesn't just show up as a USB-styled flash drive). From there you should be able to access the PlayBook as a network drive without using a USB cable, as long as it's on the same network as your computer. I didn't have much luck with the setup, so I took a different route and added the PlayBook manually. In the video above I explain how to get the PlayBook connected as a shared drive with just a few easy steps.

From there you will be connected to the PlayBook and it will show as a shared drive on the network. Now you can drag and drop files to/from the PlayBook without ever having to connect directly to the device. When Wi-Fi File Sharing is enabled, the PlayBook will be "listening" even when the display is off. So that means when your PlayBook is in standby in your backpack or briefcase or desk drawer, you can still use Wi-Fi File Sharing without having to do anything on the PlayBook itself. This is by far one of my favorite features of the PlayBook now. Being able to get files on it without having to worry about a USB cable or even where the device is (as long as it's still on the same wifi network) is a huge bonus. While I haven't tried it on a Windows PC, it works essentially the same (anyone who has tried it please leave a comment and let us know how it worked!).

Media App Preview: A Video Look at the Camera, Video Recorder and Pictures and Videos Apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook!

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

With it's 7" display and HD aspect ratio, the BlackBerry PlayBook is definitely a media-friendly tablet and since getting my PlayBook and reviewing it, I've been finding the camera/video recorder, pictures and video apps are getting used a lot.

One of the reasons I'm using the PlayBook's cameras so much are because the device is portable and I've been taking it everywhere I go. 1080p video recording as yet to come to an available-for-purchase BlackBerry Smartphone, so I've really been loving that. I've no synced over all of my photos onto the PlayBook too, which again thanks to the PlayBook's portability and screen size makes for a lot of fun (my gf's family finally got to see photos from all of the trips I've been on over the past couple of years). I also find myself opening the Pictures app and turning on a slide show whenever I put the PlayBook onto the Rapid Charging Stand. And the Videos app is getting a workout too - I watched a couple of flicks on it already (while hooked up to my tv via HDMI).

Check out the video above to get a quick overview of the camera/video recorders and Pictures and Videos apps. Now we just need RIM to get the Video Chat working on the PlayBook so we have a reason to use the front facing camera, and need an easy way to buy and download videos right on the device. But the apps are really nice to use and intuitive, so we're off to a good start!