I am interested in creating applications for blackberrys.  Here are some links to site that my be useful to get the ball rolling.

Information on the CHAPI DEMO that can be used to associate a file extension with a program.

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp#jdkJavaFX

http://java.sun.com/javame/downloads/sdk30.jsp

http://developers.sun.com/mobility/wtk/demos/wtk-chapi.html

http://bb.emacf1.com/bbfilescout.html

http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim/board/message?message.uid=207134

Creating a blackberry laucher

http://crackberry.com/how-create-blackberry-launcher

http://www.brighthub.com/mobile/blackberry-platform/articles/34913.aspx

http://www.blackberryinsight.com/2008/07/08/howto-setup-an-apache-webserver-to-deliver-blackberry-ota-applications/

For the IPhone, do this.

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/28/iphone-coding-url-launcher/

So you just got your first blackberry and you are lovin it.  Now what…  Well the first two things you want to do is load a few applications onto the phone.  Fortunately, it is pretty easy to do.  Just search for them using the Blackberry’s built in browse.  For the most part, all you have to do is go to the main website of the software and the website usually knows you have a blackberry and will prompt you to download the software. 

So what is the first application your going to download.  Why it is an application to replace the horrible browser that comes with the blackberry.  The best one for the Black berry right now is Opera Mini or Opera Mobile.  So just browse to the www.opera.com site and select the download link, the blackberry will do the rest.

Next on the agenda, is to replace the built in GPS software that blackberry or your wireless provider give you and often charges you a month fee for,TelNav.  Instance, load in google maps mobile addition at www.google.com/gmm/ .  It is free, up to date and awesome. 

If you are a yahoo, you may want to load in yahoo mobile,  http://mobile.yahoo.com/blackberry.  In addition to giving you access to your yahoo mail, it also gives you access to your flickr account.

Like music, download Slacker at http://www.slacker.com/mobile/blackberry/.  It allows you to stream music to your phone making it an internet radio.  It too is free and best of all, you can cache stations on your phone so you can listen to stations even when you do not have internet access, like on a plane or in the jungle.

Like to read, then download Mobipocket reader www.mobireader.com, it allows you to read eBooks on your blackberry.  The PC software that comes with it even converts pdfs to the .mobi file type so anything goes.

Lastly, if you are a fantasy football nut, you may want to give yourself better access to your fantasy teams.  Both FOX News and ESPN have mobile applications that give you quicker access to your information.

One of the great things about having a blackberry is the ability to stay connected.  Usually that means getting e-mails, using GPS, and surfing the internet from your phone to get information.  However, there are also times you really need to be able to use your computer to access information.  For these times, it is useful to tether your blackberry curve to your PC and allow it to be a modem to connect your pc to the internet. 

I am an ATT/cingular customer with a blackberry curver.  I was able to successfully do this by installing the latest blackberry software on my computer.  The installation includes the necessary modem driver.

1. Start Blackberry Desktop Manager and it should be running in the background.  This is required to use the Blackberry as an external modem
2. Connect the blackberry to the computer using an USB cable
3. Change the modem setting associated with the Blackberry “modem” by going to the control panel and clicking on the Phones and Modems icon.   Then click the Modem tab, selected the standard modem and click properties and then Advanced.  For my AT&T phone/service, I had to add the following +cgdcont=1,”IP”,”wap.cingular” in the extra settings area.
4. Now that the modem setting are set, you must create an new connection using that modem.  To do that, go to the Start -> Connect To -> Show all connection -> create a new connection.  Choose the “Manually connect to a wireless network” option.  Select “connect using a dial-up modem.  Check only the Standard Modem (if prompted).  Give the connection a name such as “My BlackBerry Connection”.  For the Phone number, I had to put in *99# since my wireless carrier was AT&T.  The username and password are left blank for AT&T.
5. Also…
   • Clear all check boxes (”Use…when anyone…” and “Make this the default…”)
   • Click FinishMake sure under TCP/IP Properties (Advanced) “Use IP Header Compression” checkbox is unchecked. To verify this, do these steps:
   • Start Menu->Network Connections->”My BlackBerry Connection”
   • Click Properties Button
   • Click Networking Tab
   • Select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”
   • Click Properties Button
   • Click Advanced… Button
   • Un-check “Use IP header compression” checkbox
   • Click OK until all windows are closed.Uncheck all the following check boxes, if you see any of these checked:
   • Turn off “Enable Hardware Flow Control”
   • Turn off “Enable Modem Error Control”
   • Turn off “Enable Modem Compression
6. Finally, click on the “BB Modem” icon via Start Menu->Network Connections. start using Internet from your Blackberry.