Call For Help: CB's Manual for New BB Users

[Kevin Michaluk]

Hey All,

I received an email yesterday from Adam Zeis (azeis in the forums and Adam Zeis in the blogs), volunteering to spearhead a little CrackBerry.com project he came up with.

The project? Putting together a comprehensive/concise/all-in-one CrackBerry.com Manual to help get new BlackBerry Users up to speed quick.

As you know, there's a TON of info at CrackBerry.com - in the forums and in the blogs. But because it's spread out, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate - especially for New BlackBerry users, who are likely new to CrackBerry.com and may even be new to using forum-based websites as well. With the answers often buried among page three of a thread, and with New Users looking for a lot of info in one shot, I'm sure many would welcome an easy to follow "CB Manual". Having a good basis of must-have BB Knowledge in one spot makes sense to me!

We're not sure what this final "CB Manual" will look like just yet - maybe it'll come back to being a long forum or blog post or maybe a .pdf manual available to registered members for download, but the first step to figure out is what should be in there and collect all the data.

And this is where the big Call For Help comes in. The more ideas, questions/topics to be addressed, tips, how tos and content you send Adam's way, the easier it will be for him to go compile the data and put this masterpiece together. You can email stuff to Adam... adamzeis at gmail.com. Maybe keep the subject "CB Manual: say your own stuff here" just so he can keep track of it all in his Inbox.

I think this is an awesome idea - Built FOR the CrackBerry Community BY the CrackBerry Community. Get involved! The more help the better it will be!

So whaddya all think of that?

[Adam Zeis]

Amen. How many times have you tried to look for a solution to a question and wished there was one end-all be-all place you could go? Lets take everything we can and compile it into one big "ultimate user manual".

I'd love for anyone that has posted how-to's or walkthroughs to forward me links. Brainstorm ideas as to what you think should be included. If you want to write a portion on a topic or have something that will fit in. Everything from setting up email to media cards to profiles to ringtones to GPS to symbols to battery pulls to BIS and BES to Gmail and more. The more help the better.

Hit me up whenever wherever and lets make this happen.

[Zak8022]

This sounds like an AWESOME idea! I'm still new to the crackberry world, but I'd be willing to help wherever I can.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[daddybear]

I really like the pdf idea...

there is so much info that "we" the crackberry community toss around like: pulling the battery to improve memory,

the ins and outs of profiles,

loading (AND UNLOADING) programs,

OTA,

easy ringtone, theme, and app management,

updating OS software,

and so much more...

that would be really helpful to new bb users. we all know how ineffective the carriers can be (not all but..c'mon...) and even RIM has a few gaps in the available knowledgebase...

sure those of us with time cruise through the forums (both here and others) and can usually find an answer to almost any BB related question...but there is sometimes a lot of wading to be done...

I think this would be really helpful for a lot of people...

I only wish there had been one when I bought mine...

-db

I'd really like to help if you need it.

[Adam Zeis]

Off to a good start so far. I've compiled a decent amount of info in just a few days. Quick searches led me to forum posts, FAQs and Crackberry 101 lessons. The following is a list of what I have come up with so far. If you see something that is missing that should be included, post a reply or forward me a link or a writeup to adamzeis at gmail.com so I can work it in. Again, any and all help is appreciated. Also, if you have posted writeups or FAQs of some sort on other forums or sites, please forward them along to me if you would allow me to included them - thanks much.

What I have so far:

Basic Phone Controls
BES and BIS
Delete Entire Calendar
Editing Profiles
Erase All Data On Your Device
Getting Started With Videos On Your BlackBerry
How To Install A Media Card
How to Install and Manage Third Party Applications on your BlackBerry
How to Use BlackBerry Messenger
Keyboard Shortcuts
LED Guide
Read Receipts
Remove An IT Policy
Remove Sent From My Blackberry
Removing Applications
Separate Emails and SMS
Setting Up A New Blackberry
Setting Up Bluetooth Sync
Setting Up Email
Stop Receiving Network Messages
The Basics of BIS Email
The Nuked Berry Problem
Unlock All Vendor Themes
What is BlackBerry Messenger
You can Wallpaper A BlackBerry

[JazzeeJEF]

Wonderful Idea!!! Cant wait to see it bcuz I know there are tons of things I still dont know.

[geehee]

I am ready to purchase a new 8130, and would love this.

[Adam Zeis]

Just wanted to bump and say the manual is coming along nicely. As listed above, I have a ton of stuff thus far, but could definitely use some help on figuring out what else needs to be included as well as some write ups for those things I have gotten to yet. Hit me up anytime at adamzeis at gmail.com if you can help out - it would be greatly appreciated!

[Member_No.1]

Didn't see this on your list and it has help me. I can't take credit for it though.
Software issue re: sync
Also how about Desk Top Manager how to? I see more and more posts about
"Application not found". You know the issue... OS not loaded onto PC.
Also the two links below.

[Adam Zeis]

Super thanks. Good stuff. Keep it coming.

[Adlen]

Find the most asked questions and bundle 'em all up.

[pashan]

Two topics I'd like to see inluded are:

Steps to free up memory
Steps to extend battery time

Azeis, I would be more than happy to help you compile and write up any of this. I am fairly new to the forums but have been a BB geek for almost two years!!

Let me know if I can do anything to help!
pashan at gmail dot com!!

Paige

[d.guev]

i've been diggin' around for about a week now, yeah i'm an cb newbie, and it would be great if i could find this info quicker. anyhow, i don't know how i could help but once the manual comes together i hope i can find it. until then, i'll keep diggin' -d

[Adam Zeis]

Originally Posted by d.guev

i've been diggin' around for about a week now, yeah i'm an cb newbie, and it would be great if i could find this info quicker. anyhow, i don't know how i could help but once the manual comes together i hope i can find it. until then, i'll keep diggin' -d

You could throw out some questions you have as a new user and that would be helpful. A lot of us have been "using" for a while so don't remember where we were stuck when we started out.

[Hazysky]

Maybe you could include an article on buying/selling a used Blackberry ( PIN release etc)

I am fairly new to CB and am eagerly awaiting this manual as I have so much still to learn.

Keep up the good work