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Article by Jana Stewart
There may not be as many applications or "apps" available for smartphone users on the Blackberry platform as there are for Apple's iOS or Google Android devices, but when it comes to the quality of apps, as opposed to just sheer quantity, Blackberry has a lot to talk about. In fact, the five applications listed below are so useful and well-executed that it is hard to imagine any young professional Blackberry user not being better off with at least three or four of them installed on their device.
I'm a traditional Blackberry user who has long been tempted to jump to an Android or WebOS-based phone. As email and text messaging become better and better on other devices, I'll probably be more and more tempted, but I won't jump until I can find alternatives of the same quality to five applications I use on a near-daily basis on my Blackberry.
Here are my essential five Blackbery apps:
Xobni's "Super Address Book" for BlackBerry. Organizing and maintaining your database of contacts can be difficult and time-consuming -- especially on a mobile phone. Xobni's "Super Address Book" does much of the work for you by automagically combing through all of the email accounts synced with your Blackberry, finding new contacts, and then searching social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn to find additional information for those contacts. With the "pro" version of the application, users can add contact entries created in the "Super Address Book" to their stock Blackberry contact database, so that they can be used in other applications. Regardless of whether you use the premium version or the free version, the contact information collected By "Super Address Book" is available within the compose e-mail screen for quick and easy access. For a limited time, "Super Address Book" is available for .99. ToDoMatrix by RexWireless. ToDoMatrix is probably the best task management or list management software on any mobile platform. The app allows users to keep track of an unlimited number of projects, subprojects and deadlines using a very flexible and intuitive organizational structure. Unlike most to do list software for mobile phone platforms, ToDoMatrix includes features to help users keep track of delegation amongst team members and do simple but effective project management. The application accommodates both David Allen's GTD Or Getting Things Done framework and Stephen Covey's Franklin Covey method of organizing to-do lists. Best of all, the software includes automatic backup to a server run by Rex wireless so that even if your cell phone is stolen or damaged and you haven't backed up the phone recently, there's still a very good chance that your to-do list will be available for a quick recovery onto a new phone. The only drawback is price. ToDoMatrix comes into configurations both of which are more expensive than your average application. ToDoMatrix Essential sells from .95 and ToDoMatrix Professional sells for .95 from Blackberry App World. Vlingo - Virtual Assistant. The Vlingo Virtual Assistant provides quick, precise voice recognition with a proprietary "Intent Engine" so that you can quickly and easily dictate text messages, search the web, launch applications, and even update your Facebook or twitter status using your voice. The application comes in two flavors: Vlingo - Virtual Assistant, which is free, and Vlingo Virtual Assistant Plus, which adds text-to-speech features, dictation into any text box within the BlackBerry operating system, and most importantly e-mail dictation and transcription. On BlackBerry App World, Vlingo Virtual Assistant Plus, is available for .99. Poynt by Poynt Wireless. Poynt is an attractive and intuitive application, which allows users to locate businesses, people, restaurants, movies, and gas prices (US only). Poynt can use either a Blackberry smartphone's built-in GPS or triangulation from a cell site location to quickly deliver the information in a useful geo-targeted format. There are two features of Poynt, which make it one of the most useful applications of its type on any mobile phone platform. The first is the high degree of integration with Blackberry's operating system; after a user finds a location or contact information, it is simple to add that information to the standard contact information database for use by other applications including Blackberry's native applications. The other feature that sets Poynt apart is its ability to provide a great deal of information in graphical form that does not interfere or overwhelm. For instance, the background of the application's main screen changes based on the weather in the geological location proximate to your smart phone. If it is raining outside, you know it at a glance, but the presentation does not interfere with the specific information you are seeking, such as show times. Poynt is available free from Blackberry App World. Memtool by Tinyfish. Memtool is a "spaced repetition" memory software. The application uses an algorithm to learn how fast users of an application learn facts presented on virtual flashcards. For anyone whose life would be made easier by the ability to retain large amounts of information for use without looking it up again, this application is a dream come true. Students, professionals, and others may want to learn about "Supermemo" the theory or original system on which memtool is based by searching for information on Google. The biggest obstacle to effective spaced repition training in the past has been convenience and portability. Since, many or most Blackberry users constantly carry their smart phones with them throughout the day, Memtool is an ideal solution. Memtool is available on Blackberry App World for .95. A free trial is also available.
All of the above apps can be found and purchased at Blackberry App World. There are over 10,000 existing Java-based Blackberry applications. The list above are the five I consider essential for young professionals, but Blackberry users who enjoy games and social media through apps like SocialScope or UberTwitter will certainly have their own Blackberry essentials list. For that reason, even as the Blackberry community gears up for the introduction of the entirely new QNX-based Blackberry Tablet OS for future tablets and "Super Smart Phones," Blackberry is wise to have announced that Java-based Blackberry OS applicatons will run even after the jump to the new OS via a Java-based "app player." We love Blackberry's email capabilities, reliability, and ease-of-use, but there's no transitioning away from these apps; they are absolutely essential.
Jana has been writing articles for nearly four years. She writes on matters of general consumer interest from cell phones to women's shoes. Come visit her latest website, Cheap Shoes for Women for tips on shopping for affordable shoes online including the quest for affordable, attractive shoes in size 12.