Hello again dear readers. It's time to once again open up the mailbag and clear up any BlackBerry woes you may have. This week's question comes from one of Mark P and he writes:

Dear Berry,

I really love using the Remote Control application to control my PlayBook. I even used it once to control my MacBook Pro but after the first time of successfully connecting, I couldn't successfully reconnect a second time.
I'm wondering if there's any definite way to control my MacBook Pro via the Remote Control application.

Thank you,

Mark P

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We all know that when it comes to computers, Research In Motion seems to favor the Windows operating system over Mac OS or Linux. This is all too apparent by the frequency that BlackBerry Desktop Manager is updated for each OS, and by the total lack of a RIM provided app for Linux. Desktop Manager updates always come out for Windows first, sometimes skipping Mac all together.

A few days ago we posted about a solution that an independent developer has created for Linux fans, so they can perform the basics that would normally be handled by BlackBerry Desktop Manager, and it was well received judging by the comments on the post. That got us wondering what operating system is most common among our readers, so go ahead and let us know by choosing your primary OS in the poll above.

CrackBerry's guide to sideloading Android apps from your Mac!

When it comes to sideloading Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook, using a Windows PC has pretty much been the way to go. Sideloading is the process of getting PlayBook apps (which carry the .BAR format) onto your tablet without the use of BlackBerry App World. Well loading up BAR files from your Mac isn't quite so hard either. Originally, you had to install the PlayBook SDK on your Mac (which was pretty annoying) to have the ability to load up BAR files on your PlayBook. Well thankfully that isn't the case anymore and sideloading apps from your Mac just takes a few steps. You'll need to download the PlayBook Tools, a BAR file or two and know how to use Terminal. It may take a few minutes the first time you have a go at it, but after that you'll be able to load up files in a under a minute. Keep reading for the full turorial on just how to get this done.

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If you're a Mac user, RIM has rolled out the latest update to BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac pushing it to v2.3. This update, is rather slim on the change log as noted below:

With BlackBerry® Desktop Software 2.3, you can synchronize your media files, back up and restore your data, and update software on BlackBerry® PlayBookTM tablets running BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.  For more information about this release, visit http://www.blackberry.com/desktop/docs/.

If you're a little hesitant about updating to this release, we really wouldn't blame you but that said -- it's there if you're looking to give it a go. You can download it from the RIM website or if you already BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac installed it should alert you of the update. Thanks, @NB550!

Download BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac

Research in Motion is rolling out updates left and right, with Facebook for BlackBerry, foursquare for BlackBerry, official instant messaging apps, and BlackBerry Travel updates all available in the last week. Today is the day for all of you Mac users out there, as BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac was just updated to v2.1.1.7 . You can grab the update by heading to the website at the link below, or you can open up Desktop Manager and check for updates to get the download prompt. Thanks for the tip Mike M!

Download Desktop Manager for Mac

Along for the ride with the latest update to the BlackBerry App World webstore was full support for Mac users. No longer will you see the dreaded "Unsupported OS" page plus, you can now also install apps directly to your BlackBerry just like Windows users have been enjoying for a while. Give it a shot, and let us know in the comments how it's working for you.

Check out the new BlackBerry App World webstore

Desktop Manager for PC (pictured) supports the PlayBook... Mac support coming this summer

One of the questions that has been popping up a lot in our BlackBerry PlayBook Forum is in regards to BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac support. As it stands now, if you have Desktop Manager for Mac installed and plug in your PlayBook, nothing happens. It doesn't recognize the device. The reason for this of course, is that DM for Mac currently doesn't support it. We reached out to RIM for an estimated timeline on when Desktop Manager for Mac will get PlayBook support, and were told:

Desktop Manager for Mac will be available this summer. 

Of course, this doesn't mean that Mac users are left high and dry. Upon connecting a PlayBook to a Mac via microUSB cable for the first time, you'll be prompted to install drivers onto your Mac. Once installed, your PlayBook will appear as a network drive and you can easily drag and drop to transfer your pictures, movies, documents and other files onto the PlayBook. You can even transfer files via WiFi. So you can survive without worries without Desktop Manager, but for those of you waiting on Desktop Manager for Mac support, you now have a better idea of when it's coming.

Something that BlackBerry developers have been wanting for a while now has finally arrived. While it's just a tech preview for now, the BlackBerry Java Plug-in for Eclipse now runs on Mac OS X and is available for download today. You can head on over to the BlackBerry Developer page to get started. There, you can download the tech preview and get a good look at things to come on for BlackBerry developers running Mac OS X.

Features include:

• On device loading and debugging over USB. No BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator required.
• Includes all the features of the BlackBerry Java Plug-in for Eclipse v1.1.2, including:
  • The ability to package a BlackBerry smartphone app project for multiple versions of BlackBerry® Device Software
  • Support for Eclipse project artifacts and folder structures
  • The ability to leverage familiar Eclipse functionality for BlackBerry smartphone app development

• Click Here To Head On Over The BlackBerry Developer Downloads Page>>

Just in case you're not too fond of RIM's BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac, The Missing Sync is still going strong with its updates to its Mac offerings. The latest editions to come from MarkSpace is the addition of support for OS 5.0 devices. For those unfamiliar, The Missing Sync allows you to sync your BlackBerry device with your Mac and even allows it to do so via Bluetooth. Calendars, contacts, media files among other things are supported via Bluetooth transfer. If you are already using The Missing Sync the upgrade is available for free and if you are among the unintiated, you can grab The Missing Sync for only $39.95 via the MarkSpace website.

• Click Here For More Information And Downloads Of The Missing Sync For Mac>>

Having been a user of RealPlayer SP's video conversion tool for a while now, I can say it's quite a handy application to have installed. The application it's self allows you to download videos direct from your browser and have them then converted to file formats which are compatible with multiple devices. BlackBerry, iPhone, iPods even PSP if you do so choose. The end result of conversions is typically always high quality depending on your source but now with Youtube and other sites moving more and more content to HD high quality content is aplenty.

The PC version of RealPlayer SP has been available since June of 2009 but finally, Real Networks has rolled out the Mac version for users to take advantage of. If you've been looking for a way dead simple way to convert those internet videos for your BlackBerry this is the best way to go. While I cannot personally try out the Mac version, I'm quite certain it will be on par with that of the PC version, if not better.  The basic version is available for free with the premium version setting you back $39.99. Personally, I see no compelling reason to pay for the premium offerings as the free version works great for conversion for BlackBerry but, that might be just me. Oh yes, for those that will ask. Real Networks is still very much alive ;)

• Check Out RealPlayer SP For Mac Today Via The RealPlayer Webiste>>

It wasn't too long ago now that version 3.0 of BlackBerry Media Sync was released. Now we got an update which brings a newer, semi-revamped UI and improved picture synchronization for PC users. Bumped up to version 3.0.0.39, you can now auto update through media sync or just grab the latest version from the BlackBerry Media Sync download site.

Having checked out the latest version, I can see RIM actually worked out some of the kinks in this version. It not only looks better now but actually works much faster than previous versions. Not too sure as to why the Mac version isn't seeing any updates... I'm not a Mac user so those of you who are is the Mac version working fine as is? Or could it use an update as well?

• Download BlackBerry Media Sync For PC And Mac Today >>

[ Note from Kevin: We know a lot of you were excited to see the Facebook note and tweet from @BlackBerry today that Desktop Manager for Mac was now available. While that didn't pan out and it's not officially available yet, we figured we'd bring you a little DM for Mac fix via a BlackBerry 101 article. Our pal Gary Mazo, VP and Partner of Made Simple Learning put this one together, which will actually be a chapter in their future BlackBerry books. But you're getting it here first for free! Thanks Gary!! ]

For years, Windows users have enjoyed the seamless Synchronoization of their contacts, calendar, notes and tasks with their PC via the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager Software. Now, for the first time, this "piece of mind" that comes with knowing your data is fully "backed up" is available to the Mac® user.

If you are a Windows user, this will seem familiar, yet very much streamlined for the Mac. If you have never used BlackBerry Desktop Manager, you will now be able to not only synchronize your data, but you will be able to backup, restore, Sync your iTunes® playlists and more.

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Macs are wonderful. A couple of the guys have them here at the office and we all marvel at their clean colours, softly rounded edges, their purring noises and sounds. We look at them with envy. We all want one.

But, while the Mac is great to look at and great for some applications in reality they have barely made a dent in the corporate market. And from our point of view they didn’t synch up well with Blackberries and the enterprise server.

Well, up until now. Macs have made significant gains in connectivity with enterprise systems over
the years, including Windows 2003 networks and Exchange Servers, but they don't work seamlessly with BlackBerry handhelds. Fortunately, PocketMac for BlackBerry 4.0 is a free app that alleviates this problem.

The guys over at Smart Device Central took a look at the new PocketMac for Blackberry application and came to some conclusions on the efficiency and the drawbacks of the new tool.

For the full story read here.