Sure, this one is a bit of a shameless plug, but it's pretty funny too so I think we can get away with it! Gary Mazo, co-author of CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use & Abuse, had some fun in xtranormal putting this one together. Check out the video above. I think that's going to be my new pick up line... Show Me Your Barcode! But seriously, if watching this video is like looking in a mirror, or if you know somebody who acts like this all the time, it's time to pick up the CrackBerry book. You can grab it from amazon or a local bookstore near you!

On a related note, last weekend CBC in Canada ran a documentary called Are We Digital Dummies? that tackled the information overload we experience these days and our resulting behaviors. Yours truly popped up in the documentary a couple times, and both the CrackBerry site and the CrackBerry book got some nice plugs! If you're in Canada and missed the documentary, you can watch it online at the link below. It's a really well done and really interesting piece. Makes you think. 

Learn more/puchase CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use & Abuse
Watch CBC Doc Zone's Are We Digital Dummies documentary

Not everyone with 32 Gigs of music has 32 gigabytes of storage on their BlackBerry. Enter Wi-Fi Music Sync. This handy feature allows you to access all of your home music without wires. It's dead simple to set up.

1. Start Desktop Manager 6 and connect your BlackBerry via USB
2. Click Wi-Fi music sync at the bottom of DM
3. Select "Turn wireless sync on"
4. Click OK when the process finishes
5. Click "Music" then "Sync"
6. Disconnect your BlackBerry and enjoy

Simple, right? Well...there are a few things you should know about setting up and enjoying this feature of BlackBerry OS6. Keep reading and we'll explore all there is to know about Wifi music sync.

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One of the most common things BlackBerry users need to do is unlock their device for use on another carrier, prepaid SIM or "just to do it". Looking around a bit we realized we had no real instructions posted anywhere for easy access on getting it done, so here we are. The quick video above shows how to unlock your device after obtaining an unlock code. I did it here on my Bold 9650 and full instructions for other QWERTY devices as well as Storm and Pearl devices are posted after the jump. If you need an unlock code you can sometimes get one straight from your carrier, or you can check out our BlackBerry Unlocking forums for more information/discussion on unlock companies and even check out current contests and promotions for unlock codes.

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I'm always amazed when I find something new buried in the native applications on my device. Over the weekend I was playing around with the clock and discovered the built-in timer for the first time (yes, seriously). I knew about the stopwatch function, but somehow never realized there was a timer there as well. I've used the alarm itself as a timer tons and tons of times, doing crazy math to get it set when I needed. So needless to say, after stumbling across the timer feature I'm relieved that my alarm woes are gone. Tag-team this with the awesome Bedside Mode and the clock is one of my most used applications. I apologize if this is a "no-brainer" to some users, but I figured if I didn't know it was there then there must be others who didn't realize it either. Hit the video below for a quick look at the alarm, timer and stopwatch functions within the clock application.

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So you just got a new BlackBerry Bold 9650 ... now what? If you're new to BlackBerry things may be a little overwhelming. While the included manual can get you started, its not always the easiest to understand. Here is a quick video that will explain the basics of the Bold 9650 and a few of the applications. Seasoned BlackBerry users will probably want to pass over this one, but if you've just picked up a BlackBerry for the first time this should help you understand the basic applications a bit better. Nothing complex in this one, just an explanation of the basic native apps, shortcut icons, moving/hiding items and a bit more. Check out the full video after the jump and when you're done read my full review.

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Last nights release of the Twitter for BlackBerry client is sure to have some people asking (still) just what Twitter is all about. Many swear by it, while others despise it, and some just don't know that much about it. The newly released client is sure to bring some new users to the Twitter game, and in hopes of helping to better understand the service, this video should give you a bit of guidance. If you are a seasoned Twitter user you honestly won't want to watch the video since it covers most everything that you already know. But if you are secretly wanting to get your Twitter on and are afraid to ask how it works, then pull up a chair for 9 minutes and watch it. It may not make you a Twitter expert, but it should give you a head start and help you get going.

Most users know that you can easily update your device software by downloading the OS to a PC and using the Application Loader. With some official OS updates, the option to use the Wireless Update will be under Options > Advanced Options > Wireless Update. When an update is available, a Wireless Update icon will also be pushed to your device homescreen alerting you of the upgrade, and you will be able to download and install the software over the air (OTA) to your device. The process is fairly simple yet can be very time consuming. The first part of the process involves downloading the software to the device. During this download you may continue to use the device. For the second part of the process, you will install the update and will not be able to use the device at all. This part of the installation can take up to 2 hours to complete. I was lucky and it only took me about an hour total from start to finish. If you're looking to upgrade via the Wireless Update feature, take a look at the video above for a look at how it all works. I did a little editing to get it under ten minutes so it may seem a little jumpy (and hopefully not too boring, but hey its a boring process) but all the key components are there to guide you so you can get the upgrade done without a hitch.

With all of the third-party apps we install on our device's, we tend to forget there are some great native apps that come installed right out of the box. The Tasks app is one that I really never used in the past, but I've started to find more value in it recently. It can be used for various things, including to-do lists, reminders or even a shopping list. Its pretty easy to get the hang of as it doesn't have too many options to get in the way. Check out the video above for a quick look at the Tasks application and just how it gets the job done.

One of the first videos I ever did up for CrackBerry.com was a BlackBerry 101 on How to Install the MicroSD Card into your BlackBerry Smartphone. To this day it is still one of the most popular articles viewed on CrackBerry.com though back in October 2007 there were only a few BlackBerry device models on the market that actually accepted a MicroSD card. We're into 2010 now so I figured it was time to do a little update covering both MicroSD card installation and SIM card installation.

Warning: I did this video one take, no excuses. It's a bit long and tedious (I like vids to be 3 or 4 mins tops but dang there are a lot of BlackBerrys on the market these days), but seriously...I did a few extra takes and they weren't any better. But at least this way you can follow the trials and triumphs as I walk through the BlackBerry lineup starting with the Bold 9700 and going down the line to earlier devices. Since this topic of video has helped sooo many people over the years, I'll be sure to follow up in the months ahead with some shorter / concise by device model clips. In the meantime, enjoy the show. :) 

As most newer devices have Wifi, more and more questions are popping up on just how to get up and running with Wifi. Its fairly simple, but for new BlackBerry users, some of it may be a bit confusing. Wifi is arguably one of the best features on new devices, so for a quick look at some on the available Wifi settings, check out the video above. We'll take a look at how to add a new connection automatically or manually, connecting to the network, and some of the features you can tweak to get your settings just right.

Way back when (nearly two years ago) we posted a BlackBerry 101 article on creating and editing sound profiles on your BlackBerry. Well as the OS has progressed, so have the profile options and we figured it was time to take another look at just how to get your profiles setup. Seasoned BlackBerry vets will most likely already know all about using profiles, but new users still constantly have questions on just how to get all their notifications and alerts up and running. Take a look at the video above to get yourself on the right track.

For older OS versions (which vary slightly), you can still check out our original article on Creating and Editing Profiles and Notifications. If you're a Tour or Storm user on OS 4.7, you will be missing some of the newer options, but can take a look at this post to see how to get the most out of your profile settings.

• Creating and Editing Profiles and Notifications (for older devices/OS versions >>
• Customize Sound Profiles on the BlackBerry Tour and Storm Running OS 4.7 >>
  
• How to Download and Install Ringtones on Your BlackBerry >> 

One of the most forgotten features in the BlackBerry OS has to be Bedside Mode. This feature was first introduced on the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and is on all devices featuring version 4.6 > software. Many users swear by it, while others don't even know it exists. There really isn't much to setting it up, but it can come in handy if you're like me and use your device as an alarm clock or don't turn it off when you go to sleep (but let's be honest, what BlackBerry addict does?). Bedside Mode is a great way to tweak your device with some quick settings that will activate when the device is charging. You can choose to disable the LED, turn off radio, dim the screen and more. The device will automatically enter Bedside Mode when a charger is attached, and if you're at your desk or in a car or anywhere you don't want to activate the feature, you can easily exit simply by pressing the back button. Check out the video above for a quick look at setting up and using Bedside Mode on your BlackBerry Smartphone.