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BlackBerry Tips:
How to Use Folders to Unclutter Your RIM Smartphone |
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Research In Motion's (RIM) latest slogan is "Life on BlackBerry." And rightly so; BlackBerry owners
turn to the devices to store more and more data and applications for life inside the corporate walls
and out. Here's how to use BlackBerry folders to organize and manage all that clutter.
BlackBerry smartphones come with a default set of folders for users to store software, including
RIM's own standard tools--like its Calculator and Memo Pad applications--as well as third party
apps and games. The four main app storage folders are Applications, Games, Instant Messaging
and Downloads--at least if your BlackBerry is running OS v4.6 or higher.
Colored Folders on a BlackBerry Curve 8900
Applications is where all RIM's native apps live; Games is for, well, games; a number of IM
programs, including AIM and Google Talk, can be found in Instant Messaging; and any and all new
apps you may acquire land in Downloads.
That's all fine and good for new BlackBerry owners, but thanks to the recent release of BlackBerry
App World, RIM's mobile software store, getting your hands on new software has never been easier.
And those four folders fill up and become disorganized awfully quick.
Luckily, you can create your own BlackBerry folders, which can be organized in the way that best
suits your needs, in just a few simple steps. Once you're a master of the BlackBerry folder, check
out my "BlackBerry Bible" for more valuable tips and tricks.
Adding New BlackBerry Folders
Creating a new BlackBerry folder for storing applications or other data takes just three steps.
BlackBerry Add Folder Menu Option
One: On your icon- or application-screen, click the BlackBerry Menu key, which is located directly
to the left of your trackball.
Two: Choose Add Folder from the options in the corresponding pop-up menu, and choose a name
for your new addition.
Three: Click the Icon section of the Add Folder screen, and pick the color or graphic that best fits the
folder's intended purpose.
Voila! A new BlackBerry folder should now appear on your icon screen. Should you wish to modify
the folder's name, color or graphic
Moving Folders
There's no right or wrong way to organize the folders and applications on your BlackBerry; try
experimenting a bit to see which arrangements work best for you. However, the following tips can
be used to shape your BlackBerry folder organization strategy.
Any folder on your BlackBerry can be moved and shifted around your icon screen. To do so, scroll
over the folder you wish to move, click the BlackBerry Menu key and choose Move . A white outline
appears around the folder, and any movement of your trackball moves the folder.
BlackBerry Folder Creation Screen
Depending on the BlackBerry theme you're currently using, you can position folders so that they
appear on your home screen in addition to your icon screen. If you're using a "zen" theme, move a
folder into the top row on your icon screen and it will also display on your home screen. (For more
on the different types of themes, read "BlackBerry How To: Download and Install New Themes.")
Unfortunately, you cannot currently create new folders within folders, which could really help with
BlackBerry organization. And it may be a while before this functionality hits a BlackBerry near
you--if it ever does; I've been experimenting with a very early unofficial version of RIM's upcoming
BlackBerry OS v5.0, and the feature still isn't present in the new firmware, though it could be
eventually.
One tweak within BlackBerry OS v5.0 that will help: You can easily change the folder for
downloads, so new applications can be delivered directly to the appropriate folder, instead of
landing in the Downloads folder first.
BlackBerry OS 5.0 Homescreen Preferences
Organizing BlackBerry Folders with Colors, Icons
For new folders, you can choose from a variety of colors--green, purple, red, blue and
yellow--along with a number of icons, such as stars, hearts, smiley faces and the BlackBerry logo.
Using color codes and/or icons will help you remember what types of applications are in which
folders without having to physically scroll over them to see app names.
For example, you could use the color red to signify that a folder is work-related. So a red folder with
a star titled "Applications" could house apps like WorldMate Live and TetherBerry, along with ERP,
CRM or whatever other corporate apps your IT administrator may have distributed.
And a red folder with a smiley face icon could be for your most frequently used, work-related
software.
A blue folder with a star could be used to store all your personal, or life-style, apps, like Viigo,
Facebook for BlackBerry and TweetGenius.
Again, these specific examples may not work for you, but find your own organization strategy by
testing out the above-mentioned suggestions and seeing which work best.
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BlackBerry Browser Keyboard Shortcuts
Jump to the Top or Bottom of a Web Page: To jump instantly to the very top or bottom or a Web page
within your BlackBerry browser, simply click the "T" button to move all the way up or the "B" key to
shift to the bottom.
Page Up, Page Down in BlackBerry Browser: To jump down a page length in the BlackBerry
Browser, simply hit the Space key. Do so repeatedly to quickly move down a page. On the flip side,
you can "page up" by holding a Shift key and then clicking Space. This is a great way to reduce
wear and tear on your BlackBerry's trackball--though replacement trackballs, in a rainbow of
colors, aren't exactly hard to come by or install.
Return to Your BlackBerry Home Page with One Click: The simplest and fastest way to surf to your
home page via BlackBerry Browser: click your "H" key while on another page. (Note: Modify your
BlackBerry home page by hitting Menu--directly to the left of your trackball--and choosing Options,
then Browser Configuration. On the following screen, scroll down to the Home Page Address field
and enter in the correct URL for your new home page.
Display Browser Options with a Single Click: Open up your BlackBerry Browser Options by hitting
the "S" key while on any Web page.
Zoom In, Out on a Web Page: To zoom in on a page while using the BlackBerry Browser, click "I."
to zoom back out, hit "O."
Refresh a Web Page: To refresh any page in your BlackBerry Browser, click the "R" key. To stop a
page refresh, hit your Escape key.
Display BlackBerry Bookmarks List: Quickly display your BlackBerry Bookmarks by clicking "K" at
any point while on a Web page.
BlackBerry Browser Configuration Options Menu
Add a New BlackBerry Bookmark: Create a new BlackBerry bookmark by hitting your "A" button
while on the Web page you wish to add to your list. Set the appropriate options in the following
pop-up box, hit save and you're good to go.
View BlackBerry Browsing History: To instantly view your BlackBerry browsing history, click the "Y" key while surfing the Web.
Quickly View, Send a Web Page Address: To rapidly determine the URL for a Web page you're
visiting, click the "P" key. A prompt will appear that displays the page address and asks if you'd like
to either copy the URL or send it via e-mail.
Close BlackBerry Browser via Keyboard Shortcut: To quickly exit your browser, either hit your
BlackBerry Escape key--located directly to the right of your trackball--or click the "D" key. (Note:
This shortcut did not work on my Curve 8900 running OS v5.0.0.90.)
Instantly Open "Go To" Page: The BlackBerry "Go To" page displays a URL bar for specific page
addresses, a search bar, your bookmarks list and BlackBerry history. You can access the page via
your BlackBerry Menu key, but there is also a quicker way: Just hit your "G" key on any Web page.
BlackBerry "Add a Bookmark" Shortcut
Alternate Between "Column" and "Page" Views in BlackBerry Browser: You'll see two basic views
available in the BlackBerry browser: Column View and Page View. Column View condenses the
content of Web pages into a single column that should fit the width of your device's screen--though
it doesn't always work perfectly. Page View renders Web pages more like a desktop browser might,
allowing you to scroll around left and right instead of viewing a single column page.
By default, your BlackBerry will be set to display the Page View. To switch back and forth between
the two, click your "Z" button.
Hide the BlackBerry Browser Banner: By default, the BlackBerry Browser is set to display a thin
banner across the top of Web pages, but you can get rid of it to free up more screen real estate. To
do so, click the "U" key while on any Web page. The banner shows the title of the page you're
visiting, along with device status information, such as the number of unread messages and network
signal status, so you might want it. To display the banner again after removing it, just hit "U" once
more.
Turn on JavaScript for a Single Page: To say that the BlackBerry Browser has JavaScript-issues
would be an understatement; the browser works slowly enough without it, but switch it on and your
Web surfing quickly slows to a crawl on JavaScript heavy sites. As such, it's generally a good idea
to turn off JavaScript.
To enable or disable JavaScript, hit "S" and open your Browser Options, then choose the Browser
Configuration option. On the following screen, check or uncheck the box next to Support
JavaScript.
BlackBerry Enable JavaScript Shortcut
However, there's also a valuable keyboard shortcut that lets you turn on "one-time JavaScript," or
reload a page with JavaScript enabled, no matter your usual disabled setting. Click your "J" key
while on any Web page, and your page will auto-refresh will JavaScript enabled.
Search for Text on a Web Page: As with a desktop browser, you can search for specific text on a
Web page via BlackBerry browser. Hit "V" or "F," type in the text you're looking for and click the
trackball. You'll be directed to the first appearance of the text on the page, assuming it appears
there. You can then continue to hit "V" to see where else the text shows up on the page.
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