100. How to force BlackBerry PlayBook OS update

 Here is how you force can OS update on your BlackBerry PlayBook:

• Open Blackberry Desktop Software on your PC
• Do full backup on your tablet
• Go to Device > Update
• You will get a message “No Update Available”
• Press ok, leave your PlayBook connected via USB
• Press the Power Off app then select Restart
• Once the PlayBook boots up, you will be prompted to do the update

Just a note, after doing the OS update via Desktop Software you can restore your data. Make sure you follow the entire setup process, before doing the restore.

Thanks to Scott @ BBSync

99. Download BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet User Guide Version: 1.0

Here is your document guide for using BlackBerry PlayBook. You can download this document by using the link below and click on the 3rd button at the bottom of the scroler document you find on the page the link takes you to.

DOWNLOAD

To online view BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet User Guide v1.0

98. What are these notification icons?

97. Backup and restore data using BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6

As a BlackBerry addict the most important thing to remember is to backup your personal data. You never know when you might upgrade the operating system, switch to a new device, or need to restore a nuked BlackBerry. I'm going to walk you through the process using RIM's Desktop software. It allows you to back up and restore your device data including address book, calendar, messages (SMS, MMS, and E-mail), browser bookmarks, personal preferences/settings, theme settings, etc. Keep reading for all the details on how easy it is to backup and restore your device using BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6.

Back up device data

First, you will need download and install the latest version which you can find here. When finished, bring up the program by clicking on the desktop icon. Next, connect your BlackBerry to your computer using the USB sync cable. You will receive a popup on your phone asking if you want to enable mass media storage. If you do not wish to backup the data on your SD Card then select No to continue.

When the Desktop Software recognizes your device you can access the backup options via two ways. You can click on Device in the upper left hand corner and scroll through the drop down menu to Back up or you can simply click on the button in the center of the screen labeled Back up now.

A dialogue box will appear with the Back up Options. You have the choice of one of three backup types as seen below.

Under File Options, you can save your settings for future backups, encrypt the file, change the filename, and choose the destination folder (if different than the default)*. To begin, click on Back up and a progress bar will track the process. When complete, you can disconnect your device.
Insert image "Backup progress & Backup complete"

* For Win XP/Vista/7 users, the files are located in your documents directory in a folder labeled BlackBerry.
Furthermore, if you click on Device Options on the main screen, you can automatically back up your device on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly basis (when connected) and eliminate the need for the manual process entirely.

So now that we've gone over how to back up the device, how do we restore it?

Restore device data

Plug your BlackBerry into your computer and click on the arrow next to Device in the upper left hand corner and select Restore. You will be asked to choose your backup file and the data to restore. The great thing here is we no longer need to browse our PC to locate the Loader / Backup files as in earlier versions of DM. One simple click is all it takes. BES users please note that corporate synced data (i.e. Address Book) may not restore unless wireless reconciliation is disabled. However, those can be recovered by IT redoing your Enterprise Activation.

If want to do a full restore select All device data and settings or if you prefer a custom restore choose Select device data and settings. If you select custom, place a checkmark next to each data type you wish to restore (i.e. Address Book, Calendar). To proceed, click on Restore.

A warning box will appear that your data will be replaced. To continue click on Yes.

When complete, click on Close and disconnect your phone.

There you have it, backing up and restoring your BlackBerry. That wasn't so hard was it? Now all you need to do is remember to backup your computer!

96. How to set up a personal email account on your BlackBerry

BlackBerry is a name almost synonymous with email. Research in Motion figured out mobile email long ago and have been perfecting it ever since. These days, it’s easier than ever to set up your email and manage multiple accounts. Personally, I have nine email accounts running on my BlackBerry; it can support up to 11 (10 email accounts plus your blackberry.net account).

Read on to learn more about setting up email on your BlackBerry. 

Start

If you’ve already set up your first email account on your BlackBerry, you can feel free to skip ahead to the next section. If you use your BlackBerry for work, you may have been given an enterprise activation password. Be sure to follow the steps provided by your network administrator.  If your network administrator has permitted it, use the steps in the next section to add email address.

If you were not given a password or if you purchased your BlackBerry from a carrier (AT&T, Verizon, Rogers, etc.), you should have no problem in setting up your first email account. To begin, you’ll need to open your email settings. How to do that depends on your operating system (OS).

OSFive users will find the Email Settings in the Setup folder. Click the Setup Wizard and then choose Email Settings, or just click the Email Setting icon. If you have never run the Setup Wizard, you may need to do so before the Email Settings icon will appear.

OS6 users will find the email settings within the Setup application.

You will next be presented with a message asking if you’d like to set up an Internet Mail Account or an Enterprise Account. Unless you were given an Enterprise Account Activation password by your system administrator, choose Internet Mail Account.

New BlackBerry owners can also set up a BlackBerry.net email account through their wireless provider. At the bottom of the list of providers, you’ll see an option to create a new address. You'll be prompted to choose an address, password, and secret question.

Set up a Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or Internet Email Account 

If you already have an email account (such as a Gmail, Yahoo, etc. account), it's easy to setup that account on your BlackBerry. Follow the steps above to open your Email Settings. Some users may have to log in to their email settings, and OS6 Users will need to choose Add Email Account from the menu (BlackBerry key -> Add Email Account).

Once you’ve arrived at the Add Accounts screen, you'll have a number of email account type to choose from.  Major providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Windows Live Mail (Hotmail) are all available for quick and easy setup of your email account.  All you'll need is your email address and password.  Your BlackBerry does the rest of the work for you. Generally, you'll get an message within moments letting you know your email account is good to go.

If you use a service other than the ones listed, choose Other to begin setting up your account. In most cases, your BlackBerry will again only need your email address and password. Rarely, you will be required to provide information such as your pop3 and smtp server addresses.

That's it; your email account is set up.  You'll find a new icon on your home screen for the new account. You can send and view messages from your account there. Personally, I either hide or move the icon to a folder; it's just easier to send and view emails in the messages app.

Enjoy push email on your BlackBerry.

95. How to update your BlackBerry Device Software from a website

Note: updating your device software may take up to two hours

1. From your computer, visit the BlackBerry device software updates site: www.blackberry.com/update

2. Click Check for Updates

3. Connect your BlackBerry device to your computer

4. On the updates summary screen, select the checkbox beside the update you want to install

5. Click Next

6. Perform any of the following actions:

To add or remove optional application s, click Options. Select or clear the checkbox beside one or more application s

To back up your device data, or delete all device data, click Settings. Select the checkbox beside one or more data types and click OK

7. Click Next

8. Complete the information on the screen to sign up for or decline email notifications for new software

10. Click Next

11. Click Finish

94. How To Setup the BlackBerry Bridge to connect the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to a BlackBerry Smartphone

While you don't need to own a BlackBerry Smartphone to go out and buy a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, if you do own both BlackBerry phone and tablet you can take advantage of the BlackBerry Bridge, which connects your tablet to your phone, allowing your tablet to act like a big touchscreen for your phone providing direct access to your phone's email, calendars, BBM files and other data. In order use the BlackBerry Bridge, you first have to install the BlackBerry Bridge application onto your phone, and from there pair your phone to your tablet. 

This tutorial goes through the process, so keep on reading to learn more about using the BlackBerry Bridge!

Using BlackBerry Bridge

1. About BlackBerry Bridge

If you are running BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 or later on your BlackBerry smartphone, you can connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your smartphone to access email, calendars, BlackBerry Messenger files, and other data directly from your tablet.

Your tablet connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth technology. To connect, you need the BlackBerry Bridge application installed on your smartphone. You can download it from the BlackBerry App World storefront.

2. Download BlackBerry Bridge

You can download the BlackBerry Bridge application using a barcode, or by searching BlackBerry App World. 

Using a barcode

To download the BlackBerry Bridge application using a barcode, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerryBridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next.
5. Tap Show Barcode.

Complete the following steps on your BlackBerry Smartphone:

1. On your smartphone home screen, click App World.
2. Press the Menu key.
3. Click Scan a Barcode.
4. To scan the barcode, point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet.
5. On your smartphone, click the BlackBerry Bridge application. 6. Click Download. 7. Enter your BlackBerry® ID login information. 8. If necessary, enter your smartphone password.

Searching BlackBerry App World

To download the BlackBerry Bridge application by searching BlackBerry App World, complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. On the home screen, click App World.
2. On the Featured Items screen, press the Menu key.
3. Click Search.
4. Type BlackBerry Bridge.
5. Click the BlackBerry Bridge application.
6. Click Download.
7. Enter your BlackBerry ID login information.
8. If necessary, enter your smartphone password.

3. Connect your tablet and smartphone using BlackBerry Bridge

You can connect your tablet and smartphone using a barcode and the BlackBerry Bridge application, or by manually pairing using the BlackBerry Bridge application. Please note, to connect your tablet and smartphone, the BlackBerry Bridge application must be installed on your smartphone. 

Using a Barcode

To connect your tablet and smartphone with a barcode using the BlackBerry Bridge application, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerry Bridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next > Continue.

Complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. In the BlackBerry Bridge application on your smartphone, click Add Device > Next.
2. To scan the barcode, point your smartphone camera at the barcode that appears on your tablet.

Manually Pairing

To connect your tablet and smartphone by manually pairing using the BlackBerry Bridge application, complete the following steps:

Complete the following steps on your tablet:

1. On your tablet home screen, on the status bar, tap settings > BlackBerry Bridge.
2. Tap Setup.
3. If necessary, enter a name for your tablet.
4. Tap Next > Continue > Manual Pairing. 

Complete the following steps on your smartphone:

1. In the BlackBerry Bridge application on your smartphone, click Add Device.
2. Click Manual Setup.
3. Select the tablet from the list.
4. Confirm that the pairing number is the same for the tablet and smartphone, and click Yes.
5. Click Yes.

4. BlackBerry Bridge Connections

When your tablet and smartphone are connected, the following applications appear on your tablet home screen: 

Saved Wi-Fi networks and bookmarks from the Browser application on your smartphone are available on your tablet. When your tablet and smartphone are not connected, the applications appear as unavailable on your tablet home screen.

Note: BlackBerry Bridge connections are only available on your tablet when your tablet and smartphone are connected. When your tablet and smartphone are disconnected, the connections are removed from your tablet, but remain on your smartphone.

IT Policy: For administered BlackBerry Smartphone users, a new IT policy exists called Enable BlackBerry Bridge which specifies whether a smartphone can run the BlackBerry Bridge application. If this rule is set to True, a smartphone user can run the BlackBerry Bridge application and use it to connect the tablet to the smartphone.
If this rule is set to False, a smartphone user cannot run the BlackBerry Bridge application and cannot use it to connect the tablet to the smartphone.