4 small but mighty BlackBerry power tips
RIM offers $100 worth of apps for free to make up for…
Here are four good reasons to let Research in Motion's BlackBerry Traffic take control of your commute and guide your way. Your inner compass needs a breather anyway, right? Bonus: We tucked a fresh batch of BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 shortcuts into the bottom of this article, so stick around for the quick ride, won't you?1. It gets you there on time. ...well, as long as you do what it says and the traffic gods are happy. The app gets its traffic data mysteriously from sources RIM remains hush-hush about. Who really cares, though? It's accurate and tips you off to potential delays before you hit the road and while you're on it.
Sure, the app calculates (and constantly updates) your estimated time of arrival (ETA), but it's still up to you to arrive on time. Don't worry if you veer off the path it plots out for you. Based on your current location, BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 also instantly recalculates your directions — that is, unless you're too far off the grid. In such case, an old-fashioned paper map will have to do... on the off chance you happen to have one handy.
2. It works with your bluetooth device or your car speakers. Who doesn't love choices? Take your pick: Would you prefer to listen to your voice directions in your bluetooth earpiece or headset, through your car speakers, or via your motorcycle helmet? The choice is yours.
3. It tells people you're running late (so you don't have to). Showing up fashionably late for a business meeting? Tsk, tsk. Make it (somewhat) right and give your coworkers — and, yes, your boss — a quick heads-up directly from the app. All you have to do is swallow your pride and calmly select Share from the bottom of the app's main screen. Then choose which type of digital oopsie ETA notification you'll sheepishly send — email, SMS text, or BlackBerry PIN message. Too bad BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 doesn't automatically generate and deliver excuses and apologies, too.
RIM's customer support website does a great job of walking you through how to send one of these convenient "Oops, it looks like I'm going to be late!" messages. It's really easy, but you might want send yourself a test ETA message. You never know when you'll need it.
4. It makes pinpointing your destination easy. Just keyword search for your starting point and ending point, or your street address, and you're off and away. Ask (by keying in your final destination address to your BlackBerry device) and ye shall receive easy, turn-by-turn voice directions. It's that simple. You can also customize how detailed you'd like the app's voice assistant to be when guiding you along.
What you need to run BlackBerry Traffic 3.0:
- A BlackBerry smartphone with GPS and a full keyboard or touchscreen
- A wireless service plan that includes internet access
- BlackBerry Device Software version 4.6 or later installed on your smartphone
- 3MB of available application memory
Last, you have to install RIM's BlackBerry Maps application. Bummer, it seems BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 has codependency issues. It won't work without it. If you have an older BlackBerry device that isn't GPS-enabled, sorry, traveler, you're out of luck. If your BlackBerry does rock GPS, don't forget to activate it before you install BlackBerry Traffic 3.0. Hang in there. Turning your phone's GPS feature on is easy and shouldn't take more than a moment or two.
Where to download BlackBerry Traffic 3.0
Ironically, BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 is not all that easy to find, and it's not in BlackBerry App World. For now, the app is only available from the official BlackBerry Beta Zone. If you're not already a BlackBerry Beta Zone member, you have to become one before you can download BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 (or any other RIM app still in beta). Hey, at least it's free and fast to register. Plus, once you're in, you can report bugs and find out what fellow Beta Zone members think of the app (and lots of other apps).
Where to get help with the app
Should you have any trouble running BlackBerry Traffic 3.0, pull over, launch your phone's internet browser, and make a pit stop at RIM's support webpage. Its prefab answers don't deliver the most detailed roadside user assistance, but they should steer you in the right direction. (Sorry, we couldn't resist driving another lame traffic analogy home.)
Shortcut, anyone?
The nifty shortcuts below work like magic on any of BlackBerry Traffic 3.0's View screens. There's only one hitch: Your BlackBerry has to have a full keyboard and a trackball or trackpad for any of them to work.
- To go to the Options screen, press O.
- To go to the Search screen, press H.
- To go to the Places screen, press P.
- To switch between routes, press E.
- To refresh traffic information, press R.
- To go to the Share screen, press S.
- To go to the next view, press the Space key.
- To view trip information, press I.
- To view the trip distance and estimated time of arrival, press M.
- To view traffic details, press T.
- To view a list of roads on your trip, press L.
- To move to the top of the road list, press B.
- To move to the bottom of the road list, press E.
And there you have it — a crash course on BlackBerry Traffic 3.0, shortcuts and all. It's a trusty, easy-to-use, and hands-free voice directions alternative to pricey (and often bulky) standalone GPS units. And it's just as effective and accurate as the $19.99 e-Mobile GPS Companion, though nowhere near as fully featured yet. The best part? It's free.
So what are you waiting for? Download it already and hit the open road! You have nothing to lose, not even your way... battery power willing. Safe travels!
[Image credits: Hannaford, Edans, theogeo]
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