Here's another article I did over a Dcom a while back. I'll share it now, even though chat groups rule the mobile world now
Can we all say chat group? You can as long as you’re using the same app as the rest of your group, that is. Many of the other staff members I work with at other writing sites use PingChat, because we use any and all smart phones and sometimes, we feel the need to chat. Hey, we are the mobile revolution! Other apps to consider are Google+ Huddle, Facebook Messenger, GroupMe and WhatsApp.
There are plenty of multi-platform texting apps out there that allow BlackBerry users to converse with Android users and Android and BlackBerry users to converse with iPhone users.
Many of these apps also offer a group chat feature. I’m sure most of you have participated in group chats. They’ve been around forever on the internet and these apps merely make it pocket-sized and mobile.
Some apps limit the number of contacts within a chat group. Once you reach the maximum participants… that’s it, no more newbies.
I can say first hand that a group of more than 20 is very tough to keep up with if the group is a very active or rowdy bunch. Back when I used BlackBerry Messenger chat groups with other BlackBerry website staff members, it was sometimes tough keeping up with 10 members when they all converse, or er… text simultaneously. Make a few of those contacts natural born comediennes and well, you’ve got your hands full… literally. A seasoned texter has a tough time moving their thumbs fast enough.
Several members of a BBM group I belonged to were notorious for taking hilarious jabs at one another. When this happens around me, I can’t help but get involved. I can roll with the best of them. There were many times when we were all in tears from laughing hysterically at our BlackBerries. Now tell me, how does that look to commuters on a train or others in a study hall or library? Outsiders probably thought we were complete idiots, laughing hysterically at our phones. The trouble with large groups is that once a joke is out there, 10 - 15 people then respond… and the antics may never end. By the time you get your politically-correct response typed and hit the return key, the joke is probably long lost in a slew of one-liners from other chat members. You have to be a speed reader to take most of it in.
You will probably want to turn off your notifications at night or whenever your normal sleep and work hours may be. If you belong to a hyper or highly chatty group, you’ll need a little peace and quiet from time to time. Given that many chat groups include people spanning the globe, the running conversations can stay pretty active around the clock.
If you’re not part of an active chat group, I highly recommend it. Mobile chat groups should be on the rise soon thanks to multi-platform apps. Where you typically saw only BBM groups and pin posting sites online for years, they should soon give way to multi-platform mobile groups. I would imagine there will soon be a chat group for anything you can think of. I have a pretty vast imagination and I am still a bit surprised by a few of the BBM groups out there.
I have been fortunate to have been part of chat groups where I already knew some, if not most of the members. I found it easier to be at ease and joke around with members that I was already familiar with. Some chat groups can be informative, others complete fun and jest and still others are created purely as “pick-up” groups, where you can meet and potentially hook up with other chat members.
Now, let’s cover a little chat group etiquette, shall we? Where would some of you be if I didn’t coach you on texting and profile etiquette, huh?
1. Don’t send personal contact invites to individual group members, thus adding participants to your personal contact list without first getting to know the person a little better first. This really needs to be a written law in the group chat world.
I think it’s completely un-cool and in bad taste to send requests to other chat members in the group if you or the person you’re sending the request to have never even chatted... unless you’re in a group completely devoted to no-strings-attached hookups.
I’ve left chat groups in the past for this very reason.
Here’s how it usually goes down…
I get invited to a group by a friend of mine or contact. I accept the group chat notification and join the group. I sit back and watch. I like to see what kind of members are part of said group. In one group in particular, I never got the chance to say hello or introduce myself but within 2 days, I had personal contact invites from several members of the group. I don’t know these people personally; they don’t know me… unless of course they’re staff members from a site I work at. But seriously, I don’t know every staff member personally. I prefer to get to know people a bit, before I add them to my personal contacts. Just being the curious fool I am though, I accept a few of the personal contact invites. Hey, I can always delete them, right?
One person I ignored kept sending me invites anyway, but that certainly wasn’t the first time that’s happened.
One of the group members I accepted as a personal contact kicked off the convo with a simple Hi, then proceeded to ask about my thoughts while my profile picture was being taken. Next up was my name… Kalyhan... a curious spelling indeed. Well, that's because its my username...you idiot! Who names their child Kalyhan? As with any chat/text application, can’t people just have normal adult conversations? If I just accepted you as a personal contact… maybe we could talk about the group we’re a part of? If you want a dating chat group… look online. I am sure you will find a few.
Think of it this way, how much luck would you have walking into a club and the first thing you do is ask for someone’s phone number? Not much, I’d venture to say. You could be the coolest person in the world or a complete psychotic. I don’t need any more psychotics in my contact list. My guess is that you will have much better luck scoring a person’s phone number if you meet, chat a while, find some common interests… if you hit it off well, then sure, you’ll probably get that phone number. The same rule should apply to chat groups. Especially when some of those chat groups are not dating and hookup related. Seriously, asking to be a contact with a member of a techie group when neither of you have even said Hi? As if that’s not bad enough, don’t let the first things to fly from your qwerty keyboard be about my hair, photo or name. It doesn’t speak highly of you, the techie group you are a part of and will probably get you deleted from my contact list. If you’re looking for bubble-headed conversations… don’t join techie groups. Try the party groups or something.
2. Although its not a written law, it is advisable to not let “LOL”, “LMAO” and “ROFL” be your primary utterance in a chat group. Get involved in the conversation or jokes… participate!
3. Until you know your group members better, use caution when throwing stuff out there. What you perceive as humor can be highly offensive or abrasive to others. Be funny, be informative, just choose your words wisely until you know who’s sitting on that couch, ten-thousand miles away.
4. Finally, don’t use your group to post broadcast spam messages and jokes. This too is very un-cool. Again, what you think is funny, may be offensive to others. Honestly, the masses hate broadcast messages anyway… therefore for the love of smart phones, stop sending them.
If you can get around those with no manners and refuse to adopt them, then join a few chat groups if you haven’t already. You could very well meet some new long term friends that you share common interests with. The brand of your smart phone is no longer an issue with many apps today. iPhones can intermingle with BlackBerries and Androids in a like-minded, zen sort of way, without ever having to prove who has the best smart phone and you can work those thumbs to the bone if you like.
Just remember… don’t walk into a chat group and immediately start asking for numbers. That is so rude!
If by chance you have stumbled upon some cool chat groups, post a comment to this article and let us know!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
To Be An Avatar
This is a post I did over on Dcom when the avatar builder first came out...so, its a bit dated.
Ok, who’s played with the new BlackBerry Avatar Builder? I know several people who have already.
With BlackBerry Avatar Builder, you can create and customize an avatar to look just like you or anyone you want it to be… or so says BlackBerry App World anyway. I’m not so sure I agree.
The onboard features let you choose your eyes, hair and your go-to outfit. Then throw in a few accessories, such as your earrings or yoga mat. You can edit your avatar anytime to match your mood or style.
According to the App World, have fun with thousands of different looks, right at your fingertips.
I could not make the avatar look just like me and the clothing and accessory options were somewhat limited. A buddy of mine reminded me that the app just came out. Meaning, give it time. And then he asked if I wanted to beat up on BlackBerry’s OS 7 which isn’t quite ready for release yet. Very funny.
Yes, the app is new, but avatar apps have been around for a long time. Certainly we could have a few better choices at our fingertips on our smartphones. How about more eye choices? Maybe more mouths so we can really express ourselves. How about noses? I don’t recall seeing any noses under the facial features. That's a bit odd I think. Some avatar apps let people choose real red hair, not a peachy tone. Then again, they also let you choose fishnets and bustiers if that’s your thing.
I got a laugh out of the preview screenshots shown in the App World. The Avatar Builder for Guys shows the avatars in their tidy-whitey briefs, but Avatar Builder for Girls does not. I guess BlackBerry feared an email onslaught from us girls.
As far as upgrades to the app, I’d love to see some quickly. Otherwise, I will have to open my .jpg avatar image and do my own upgrades. So if you haven’t taken the perfect BBM profile picture yet, be sure to check the app out. It’s free and you can find both the guys and girls version in the App World. The app saves your image as a .jpg, so you can use it other places besides BlackBerry Messenger... and add your own fishnets and bustier if you like.
Ok, who’s played with the new BlackBerry Avatar Builder? I know several people who have already.
With BlackBerry Avatar Builder, you can create and customize an avatar to look just like you or anyone you want it to be… or so says BlackBerry App World anyway. I’m not so sure I agree.
The onboard features let you choose your eyes, hair and your go-to outfit. Then throw in a few accessories, such as your earrings or yoga mat. You can edit your avatar anytime to match your mood or style.
According to the App World, have fun with thousands of different looks, right at your fingertips.
I could not make the avatar look just like me and the clothing and accessory options were somewhat limited. A buddy of mine reminded me that the app just came out. Meaning, give it time. And then he asked if I wanted to beat up on BlackBerry’s OS 7 which isn’t quite ready for release yet. Very funny.
Yes, the app is new, but avatar apps have been around for a long time. Certainly we could have a few better choices at our fingertips on our smartphones. How about more eye choices? Maybe more mouths so we can really express ourselves. How about noses? I don’t recall seeing any noses under the facial features. That's a bit odd I think. Some avatar apps let people choose real red hair, not a peachy tone. Then again, they also let you choose fishnets and bustiers if that’s your thing.
I got a laugh out of the preview screenshots shown in the App World. The Avatar Builder for Guys shows the avatars in their tidy-whitey briefs, but Avatar Builder for Girls does not. I guess BlackBerry feared an email onslaught from us girls.
As far as upgrades to the app, I’d love to see some quickly. Otherwise, I will have to open my .jpg avatar image and do my own upgrades. So if you haven’t taken the perfect BBM profile picture yet, be sure to check the app out. It’s free and you can find both the guys and girls version in the App World. The app saves your image as a .jpg, so you can use it other places besides BlackBerry Messenger... and add your own fishnets and bustier if you like.
Flashlight 2 for 1 Review
What do you guys do when your brain kicks into overdrive say about midnight? For some reason, I decided to browse BlackBerry App World for the latest and greatest free apps. Yeah, the things my brain thinks a good idea when I’m sleep deprived and I have to get up at 3:00 AM.
While browsing, I stumble upon Flashlight: 2 for 1 Free by Motek Americas Inc. I have never been a fan of flashlight apps. I assumed they were for sissies. Typically, the display screen is more than enough of a light, should I need to find something in the middle of the night.
Being bored at midnight, I decide to give the app a shot anyway, sissy or not. The app itself offers two flashlight modes and will leave 2 application icons on your device. The Front Flashlight icon gives you the first light utilizing the front facing display and LED light. The developer says this light is good when you’re in an area where you don’t want a lot of light, basically enough without causing a distraction. The 2nd icon, called Back Flashlight, utilizes the BlackBerry camera flash as a flashlight. Unlike some other apps, this light will stay on until you turn it off. The developer states that the app is optimized for the lowest battery consumption, yet offers the brightest flashlight available for BlackBerry.
The app is offered free, it’s not a trial offer and there are no ads. Cool! Working only part time at the moment, it’s definitely in my price range. So here I am on by back deck around midnight and fire up the Front Flashlight. I get a wonderful message advising the app wants to access my personal information. I-don’t-think-so was not an option, so I opted for NO. Why would a flashlight app need personal info? Strike one against the app, free or otherwise.
The Front Flashlight was certainly not as bright as I imagined it would be, but that was before I read the developer’s intended purpose of a dimmer flashlight. In any event, it was brighter than my very dark wallpaper I normally display on my phone.
Next, I fire up the Back Flashlight and shit-ake! I was damn near blinded even though I pointed the light towards my wooden deck. No, I didn’t look directly into the light. I’m not quite that dumb. I live in a fairly rural area with few street lights. The only thing shining in my backyard last night was a very hazy moon. So the flash from my BlackBerry lit up the whole backyard even though I only pointed it at the deck boards beneath my feet.
I realize camera flashes are incredibly bright, but when some possessed individual is running around with a camera snapping pictures, the blinding light only lasts for a second. Of course the residual effect takes a little longer to wear off. I suppose my tired brain expected that brief flash of light. What I got was something that could probably direct any ship into harbor during a hurricane. It could probably be used as a personal tanning bed as well. Come to think of it, this could be my new weapon of choice on would-be-assailants should I encounter one late at night. Burning the creep’s retinas would be far more effective than using the pepper spray I currently have on my key chain.
I may just have to assign the Back Flashlight to my left side convenience key, bumping out the Voice Command, which I never use anyway. I’m sick of inadvertently hitting the key. Voice Command does not understand “Oh Shut-up!”. So far, so good with this app. Just call me a sissy I guess, now that I have a flashlight on my BlackBerry. I haven’t used it a great deal yet, so time will tell how the battery drain is the more I use it. Again, it’s free and the developer promises no ads and no time limit while using the lights. You can’t get better than that! It’s rated pretty high and you can find it in the App World. I give Flashlight: 2 for 1 Free two thumbs up!
While browsing, I stumble upon Flashlight: 2 for 1 Free by Motek Americas Inc. I have never been a fan of flashlight apps. I assumed they were for sissies. Typically, the display screen is more than enough of a light, should I need to find something in the middle of the night.
Being bored at midnight, I decide to give the app a shot anyway, sissy or not. The app itself offers two flashlight modes and will leave 2 application icons on your device. The Front Flashlight icon gives you the first light utilizing the front facing display and LED light. The developer says this light is good when you’re in an area where you don’t want a lot of light, basically enough without causing a distraction. The 2nd icon, called Back Flashlight, utilizes the BlackBerry camera flash as a flashlight. Unlike some other apps, this light will stay on until you turn it off. The developer states that the app is optimized for the lowest battery consumption, yet offers the brightest flashlight available for BlackBerry.
The app is offered free, it’s not a trial offer and there are no ads. Cool! Working only part time at the moment, it’s definitely in my price range. So here I am on by back deck around midnight and fire up the Front Flashlight. I get a wonderful message advising the app wants to access my personal information. I-don’t-think-so was not an option, so I opted for NO. Why would a flashlight app need personal info? Strike one against the app, free or otherwise.
The Front Flashlight was certainly not as bright as I imagined it would be, but that was before I read the developer’s intended purpose of a dimmer flashlight. In any event, it was brighter than my very dark wallpaper I normally display on my phone.
Next, I fire up the Back Flashlight and shit-ake! I was damn near blinded even though I pointed the light towards my wooden deck. No, I didn’t look directly into the light. I’m not quite that dumb. I live in a fairly rural area with few street lights. The only thing shining in my backyard last night was a very hazy moon. So the flash from my BlackBerry lit up the whole backyard even though I only pointed it at the deck boards beneath my feet.
I realize camera flashes are incredibly bright, but when some possessed individual is running around with a camera snapping pictures, the blinding light only lasts for a second. Of course the residual effect takes a little longer to wear off. I suppose my tired brain expected that brief flash of light. What I got was something that could probably direct any ship into harbor during a hurricane. It could probably be used as a personal tanning bed as well. Come to think of it, this could be my new weapon of choice on would-be-assailants should I encounter one late at night. Burning the creep’s retinas would be far more effective than using the pepper spray I currently have on my key chain.
I may just have to assign the Back Flashlight to my left side convenience key, bumping out the Voice Command, which I never use anyway. I’m sick of inadvertently hitting the key. Voice Command does not understand “Oh Shut-up!”. So far, so good with this app. Just call me a sissy I guess, now that I have a flashlight on my BlackBerry. I haven’t used it a great deal yet, so time will tell how the battery drain is the more I use it. Again, it’s free and the developer promises no ads and no time limit while using the lights. You can’t get better than that! It’s rated pretty high and you can find it in the App World. I give Flashlight: 2 for 1 Free two thumbs up!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Monday, May 30, 2011
Bad Gift Ideas for Smartphone Users
Yeah, I’ve said it before… you can’t go wrong buying your family and friends a gift for their smartphone. And really, you can’t... well, unless you count number six below. Where you can go wrong is buying a stupid gift under the “smartphone gift” category with the gift being a non functional POS. Am I confusing you? Well, let me spell out what not to buy. Unless, the person you’re buying for is extremely eclectic, weird or something similar. Here’s what not to buy smartphone users:
1. BlackBerry Stress Ball
I’ve been under extreme stress when on the phone with certain idiots. I am typically a very calm person, but some people or customer service rep will at times, make my blood boil. I have a very bad habit of tightening my hand around my beloved BlackBerry…. to the point where I’ve heard the housing creak. Not good. Ok, so now imagine me actually using a BlackBerry Stress Ball. I take out stress on the stress ball and sure enough, the next bad call I’m on, I will probably crack my real BlackBerry housing. If you want to buy a stress ball, I do not recommend it resemble your smartphone in any way, shape or form.
2. Smartphone Earrings
Seriously? Who would want to wear these things? Not only are they ugly… they’re just plain stupid. I have lots of earrings. But I draw the line at wearing smartphones, animals, insects, or any other weird thing. Just give me hoops, diamonds… you know, typical, ordinary earrings.
3. Smartphone Cozy
Wow. I don’t believe your smartphone could catch a chill without a cozy, even at the South Pole. Just searching for a signal, your phone generates its own warmth. Why on earth would you put a cozy on it? You’d be distracting from the beauty of it, so please, don’t use or buy someone a smartphone cozy.
4. BlackBerry for Dogs
Don’t enough dogs chew up our smartphones without having to get them a BlackBerry squeaky toy? I wonder how many people received replacement smartphones because their dog used it as a chew toy? I worked with a lady who didn’t have her new Palm Treo a week, before her dog took it off a table and marred it all up. Sure, get a dog a toy shaped like a smartphone and guess what? Your phone won’t last a week either. This is a very stupid gift idea.
5. Fake Phones
Why would anyone want to purchase a fake phone, unless you sold fake phones on ebay?
Would anyone walk around with a fake smartphone pretending to use it? Many real smartphones are pretty cheap these days, you don’t need a fake one.
6. Signal Booster
I have yet to meet anyone who swears by these things. I can only imagine they have a garbage rating if many sites give them away with the purchase of anything else.. If you must try one, then do so but I don’t recommend you give one as a gift. Doing so will show just how cheap you really are.
You will no doubt stumble across some of these as you’re online scouting the perfect smartphone accessory for you or someone you know. If you see any other gems, be sure to post a photo. I’m sure there are more brainy gift ideas out there that I missed.
While its not a smartphone related gift, I did see a beer holster while researching dumb gift ideas, but maybe we’ll save that for another forum. Although, now that I think of it, it might just come in handy so you have both hands free to text on your smartphone.
So get memory cards, awesome headphones, cases and apps. Whatever you do, just don’t buy the gift ideas pictured above for anyone you know.
1. BlackBerry Stress Ball
I’ve been under extreme stress when on the phone with certain idiots. I am typically a very calm person, but some people or customer service rep will at times, make my blood boil. I have a very bad habit of tightening my hand around my beloved BlackBerry…. to the point where I’ve heard the housing creak. Not good. Ok, so now imagine me actually using a BlackBerry Stress Ball. I take out stress on the stress ball and sure enough, the next bad call I’m on, I will probably crack my real BlackBerry housing. If you want to buy a stress ball, I do not recommend it resemble your smartphone in any way, shape or form.
2. Smartphone Earrings
Seriously? Who would want to wear these things? Not only are they ugly… they’re just plain stupid. I have lots of earrings. But I draw the line at wearing smartphones, animals, insects, or any other weird thing. Just give me hoops, diamonds… you know, typical, ordinary earrings.
3. Smartphone Cozy
Wow. I don’t believe your smartphone could catch a chill without a cozy, even at the South Pole. Just searching for a signal, your phone generates its own warmth. Why on earth would you put a cozy on it? You’d be distracting from the beauty of it, so please, don’t use or buy someone a smartphone cozy.
4. BlackBerry for Dogs
Don’t enough dogs chew up our smartphones without having to get them a BlackBerry squeaky toy? I wonder how many people received replacement smartphones because their dog used it as a chew toy? I worked with a lady who didn’t have her new Palm Treo a week, before her dog took it off a table and marred it all up. Sure, get a dog a toy shaped like a smartphone and guess what? Your phone won’t last a week either. This is a very stupid gift idea.
5. Fake Phones
Why would anyone want to purchase a fake phone, unless you sold fake phones on ebay?
Would anyone walk around with a fake smartphone pretending to use it? Many real smartphones are pretty cheap these days, you don’t need a fake one.
6. Signal Booster
I have yet to meet anyone who swears by these things. I can only imagine they have a garbage rating if many sites give them away with the purchase of anything else.. If you must try one, then do so but I don’t recommend you give one as a gift. Doing so will show just how cheap you really are.
You will no doubt stumble across some of these as you’re online scouting the perfect smartphone accessory for you or someone you know. If you see any other gems, be sure to post a photo. I’m sure there are more brainy gift ideas out there that I missed.
While its not a smartphone related gift, I did see a beer holster while researching dumb gift ideas, but maybe we’ll save that for another forum. Although, now that I think of it, it might just come in handy so you have both hands free to text on your smartphone.
So get memory cards, awesome headphones, cases and apps. Whatever you do, just don’t buy the gift ideas pictured above for anyone you know.
BBM Contacts MIA?
Quick, how many of your BBM or other chat program contacts do you actually “chat” with at least every other day? I’m not talking about the people you SMS… those contacts already have your phone number, so they don’t count. I’m also not talking about those people you send and/or receive risqué photos. How many “virtual” friends do you have out there in smartphone-land?
I’ve often wondered what happens to some individuals you chat with on a daily basis. You know, the ones you meet through BBM sites or however else you meet these people. Do they have PingChat pin posting sites out there yet? These are the contacts you discuss sports, music and who knows what else with for days. You think you’ve actually found someone with similar interests and then poof! They’re gone. What happened to them? Did they forget to pay their cell phone bill? Did their spouse find out they’ve been texting a stranger? Did they die?
While I always have a good time poking fun at some of the idiotic things BBM users as well as other smartphone users do, this BBM edition will focus on a more serious note. Death or disappearance of a contact.
Over the past year, I’ve scaled down my BBM contact list significantly. Some of these contacts only sent the occasional mass-send joke, some wanted to chat way too much and some never really stayed in touch. Those that stayed on my list, I chat with on occasion. A few, I’ve actually swapped cell phone numbers with because we chat often, we stay in touch. We have definitely become friends and friends warrant a phone number swap. Another factor in swapping numbers is, what happens if one of us dies? If you have someone you’ve become friends with over time, wouldn’t you want to know if something happened to that person instead of running around the rest of your life with a complex? You’re left thinking, I thought we were buddies. What happened? Did they delete me by accident? Can’t be that. By now, those “buddies” probably have your email address anyway, but you never get an email either. Did you tick them off?
To save yourself a lifetime of complex worrying over nothing, take a couple minutes to review your contacts in your BBM or instant messaging app. Is there anyone there you consider a close friend? Someone you know that would never really delete you, you’re beyond that stage now. If so, I suggest you exchange phone numbers. Should you die unexpectedly or become hospitalized, someone will probably go through your contact phone numbers and start making calls. Unless of course you have password protected your device. In which case, your friends will now wonder what happened to you. You could always leave a note somewhere. You know, one of those notes that reads “in the event of my death or hospitalization”. Hey, if you are hospitalized and recover, you can always reset your password. You can also blame all the porn photos or adult chats on your buddy at work, who just happened to be using your smartphone… yeah, your spouse or significant other might believe that.
How did I ever get the idea to write an article about the death of a BBM contact? I sometimes wonder what happened to a contact of mine in Bahrain. We chatted once or twice a week on a regular basis. We always talked about music, coffee (he was a Starbucks fan) and his failure to understand why chicks loved Ugg boots. One day, he just vanished. He didn’t delete me, but none of my messages were getting through. Maybe his BlackBerry died. Maybe he lost all his contacts. I have a sister that has never backed up her BlackBerry contacts, so it is possible to lose all your contacts. Anyway, I was kind of sad. He was a lot of fun on BBM when we had nothing better to do. It just got me thinking, who else in my contact list would I be sad if they too disappeared?
So if you have a buddy or two that you’ve become friends with over time, swap numbers. No one said you ever had to call each other. I don’t even call my family very much. We are a major SMS family and if I don’t chat on the phone with them, I won’t be chatting with others on the phone either. The number is there, just in case of emergency.
I’ll be back soon with more light-hearted BBM related material after I recover a littler from hand surgery, scheduled in two days. While I should be able to use my laptop with a cast, it will look ridiculous if I’m sitting in Starbucks, elbow raised up in the air with my fingers pointed straight down at the keyboard, pushing the keys one at a time using one finger. Hey, you try typing with a cast on… it’s not easy, I’ve done it before. But then again, think of the fun you’d have reading an article that I wrote while on narcotics! I had a buddy of mine tell me that he knew when I was on heavy pain killers last year because I was slurring my text. That was the first time I ever heard slurring used in relation to SMS and I thought it was hysterical.
I’ll be sure to keep checking in while I’m recouping. Just remember to check your contacts. Make sure there isn’t someone important in there… someone above and beyond your typical BBM contact… someone you feel deserves a call, should something happen to you. One of these days, I’ll save a memo on my phone which will instruct someone in the family who to contact from my contact list. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I’ve often wondered what happens to some individuals you chat with on a daily basis. You know, the ones you meet through BBM sites or however else you meet these people. Do they have PingChat pin posting sites out there yet? These are the contacts you discuss sports, music and who knows what else with for days. You think you’ve actually found someone with similar interests and then poof! They’re gone. What happened to them? Did they forget to pay their cell phone bill? Did their spouse find out they’ve been texting a stranger? Did they die?
While I always have a good time poking fun at some of the idiotic things BBM users as well as other smartphone users do, this BBM edition will focus on a more serious note. Death or disappearance of a contact.
Over the past year, I’ve scaled down my BBM contact list significantly. Some of these contacts only sent the occasional mass-send joke, some wanted to chat way too much and some never really stayed in touch. Those that stayed on my list, I chat with on occasion. A few, I’ve actually swapped cell phone numbers with because we chat often, we stay in touch. We have definitely become friends and friends warrant a phone number swap. Another factor in swapping numbers is, what happens if one of us dies? If you have someone you’ve become friends with over time, wouldn’t you want to know if something happened to that person instead of running around the rest of your life with a complex? You’re left thinking, I thought we were buddies. What happened? Did they delete me by accident? Can’t be that. By now, those “buddies” probably have your email address anyway, but you never get an email either. Did you tick them off?
To save yourself a lifetime of complex worrying over nothing, take a couple minutes to review your contacts in your BBM or instant messaging app. Is there anyone there you consider a close friend? Someone you know that would never really delete you, you’re beyond that stage now. If so, I suggest you exchange phone numbers. Should you die unexpectedly or become hospitalized, someone will probably go through your contact phone numbers and start making calls. Unless of course you have password protected your device. In which case, your friends will now wonder what happened to you. You could always leave a note somewhere. You know, one of those notes that reads “in the event of my death or hospitalization”. Hey, if you are hospitalized and recover, you can always reset your password. You can also blame all the porn photos or adult chats on your buddy at work, who just happened to be using your smartphone… yeah, your spouse or significant other might believe that.
How did I ever get the idea to write an article about the death of a BBM contact? I sometimes wonder what happened to a contact of mine in Bahrain. We chatted once or twice a week on a regular basis. We always talked about music, coffee (he was a Starbucks fan) and his failure to understand why chicks loved Ugg boots. One day, he just vanished. He didn’t delete me, but none of my messages were getting through. Maybe his BlackBerry died. Maybe he lost all his contacts. I have a sister that has never backed up her BlackBerry contacts, so it is possible to lose all your contacts. Anyway, I was kind of sad. He was a lot of fun on BBM when we had nothing better to do. It just got me thinking, who else in my contact list would I be sad if they too disappeared?
So if you have a buddy or two that you’ve become friends with over time, swap numbers. No one said you ever had to call each other. I don’t even call my family very much. We are a major SMS family and if I don’t chat on the phone with them, I won’t be chatting with others on the phone either. The number is there, just in case of emergency.
I’ll be back soon with more light-hearted BBM related material after I recover a littler from hand surgery, scheduled in two days. While I should be able to use my laptop with a cast, it will look ridiculous if I’m sitting in Starbucks, elbow raised up in the air with my fingers pointed straight down at the keyboard, pushing the keys one at a time using one finger. Hey, you try typing with a cast on… it’s not easy, I’ve done it before. But then again, think of the fun you’d have reading an article that I wrote while on narcotics! I had a buddy of mine tell me that he knew when I was on heavy pain killers last year because I was slurring my text. That was the first time I ever heard slurring used in relation to SMS and I thought it was hysterical.
I’ll be sure to keep checking in while I’m recouping. Just remember to check your contacts. Make sure there isn’t someone important in there… someone above and beyond your typical BBM contact… someone you feel deserves a call, should something happen to you. One of these days, I’ll save a memo on my phone which will instruct someone in the family who to contact from my contact list. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Does Your Smartphone Out-Smart You?
Who should own a smartphone? I ask this question because some of us wonder if everyone wielding a smartphone really knows how to operate one. Why have a smartphone if you don’t utilize the full potential of the device? Some come with a basic operator’s manual. Did you read it? I never read mine, but I can usually figure things out pretty quickly and I’ve owned smartphones before my Berry.
For a few years, I carried the all important Day Planner everywhere I went. I once left it behind in a store and thought my life was over. I frantically called every place I ever went to find it. After I got my first Palm Treo, the planner days were so over. I now carry everything in my smartphone. Sure enough, I did leave my smartphone at a bungalow when out house shopping one day, but my realtor picked it up and returned it to me.
I know people who own BlackBerries that have never backed it up and never used the memo feature. When I ask why, they simply say they either saw no need or didn’t know how. We’ve all seen forums plagued with people asking redundant questions hoping for an immediate answer to their issue. I wonder how many look their issue up online before submitting a question. Granted, it may be tough at times to find your exact issue in a forums search.
I told my buddy Newshutr that I understand the many questions from people changing out their OS for the first time… it can seem daunting even with directions. I was there once too. The word BRICK remains in the forefront of your brain until that final reboot and you see all your contacts again.
But others? Why own a smartphone if you don’t want to add apps, themes or change out the operating system? Go get yourself a nice little Nokia or something. They always have cute ringtones anyway. I think my first phone was a Nokia. I loved it and thought it was so cool. Now, I can’t function without a smartphone. It’s my shopping list, my to-do list (birthdays and Christmas too), it’s my calendar, my alarm, my navigation, my BBM and SMS contact to the world and at times, my music player. Lastly, it’s a phone. I actually make an occasional call on it from time to time, but not often really. If you hadn’t noticed, I prefer to type even though I’m told I have a great voice for radio work. BBM, email and SMS are my primary communication methods. I always tell people I know to email or SMS me… they will almost always get my voice mail if they call.
I’ve seen people on forums asking a lot of stupid questions. These are the very people I wonder about. Are they smart enough to own a smartphone? I’m sure you’ve all heard that the only stupid question is the one not asked. Nope. I don’t agree with that one bit. Trust me, I can find some pretty stupid questions out there. How about the person who asks “What’s the number beside the yellow envelope icon mean?” Really? If most humans don’t really know the answer to that, then we’re in serious trouble. If I never owned a smartphone, I think I could figure that one out.
If you don’t need appointment reminders, GPS, notes, applications or tweaking out the operating system, then don’t get a smartphone. The phone may outsmart you. Don’t get it because it’s a status symbol. Smartphones are not necessarily a status symbol anymore because manufacturers have really downsized these beasts over the past few years. Today, they're sleek and blend in with most other devices. My first Palm Treo was the 700W. I loved it. After a doctor saw it in my hand, he said “that looks like a lot more than a phone”. The phone was big and impressively scary looking. It was more than a phone. I was hooked.
If you’re not familiar with smartphones but still want one, do your homework first. Google the differences in operating systems, available applications, etc. Find one that impresses you, not your friends. Be prepared to do a lot of reading. Read lots of other forum questions to prepare yourself in the good versus bad. If you can’t figure something out with your smartphone, Google the problem. Chances are, the answer is out there somewhere. If not, then post your question. Forums are managed and frequented by knowledgeable people. They’ve been playing with smartphones for a long time. Try not to pester them with questions that are repeated by other users. If you can’t find your answer, I then encourage you to ask. These guys love helping, but I’m sure they get a little frustrated when people ask stupid questions… that common sense should answer.
If you can’t answer the “number beside the yellow envelope icon” question above, I would not suggest buying a smartphone.
Originally published on 04/16/2011 at www.driphter.com.
For a few years, I carried the all important Day Planner everywhere I went. I once left it behind in a store and thought my life was over. I frantically called every place I ever went to find it. After I got my first Palm Treo, the planner days were so over. I now carry everything in my smartphone. Sure enough, I did leave my smartphone at a bungalow when out house shopping one day, but my realtor picked it up and returned it to me.
I know people who own BlackBerries that have never backed it up and never used the memo feature. When I ask why, they simply say they either saw no need or didn’t know how. We’ve all seen forums plagued with people asking redundant questions hoping for an immediate answer to their issue. I wonder how many look their issue up online before submitting a question. Granted, it may be tough at times to find your exact issue in a forums search.
I told my buddy Newshutr that I understand the many questions from people changing out their OS for the first time… it can seem daunting even with directions. I was there once too. The word BRICK remains in the forefront of your brain until that final reboot and you see all your contacts again.
But others? Why own a smartphone if you don’t want to add apps, themes or change out the operating system? Go get yourself a nice little Nokia or something. They always have cute ringtones anyway. I think my first phone was a Nokia. I loved it and thought it was so cool. Now, I can’t function without a smartphone. It’s my shopping list, my to-do list (birthdays and Christmas too), it’s my calendar, my alarm, my navigation, my BBM and SMS contact to the world and at times, my music player. Lastly, it’s a phone. I actually make an occasional call on it from time to time, but not often really. If you hadn’t noticed, I prefer to type even though I’m told I have a great voice for radio work. BBM, email and SMS are my primary communication methods. I always tell people I know to email or SMS me… they will almost always get my voice mail if they call.
I’ve seen people on forums asking a lot of stupid questions. These are the very people I wonder about. Are they smart enough to own a smartphone? I’m sure you’ve all heard that the only stupid question is the one not asked. Nope. I don’t agree with that one bit. Trust me, I can find some pretty stupid questions out there. How about the person who asks “What’s the number beside the yellow envelope icon mean?” Really? If most humans don’t really know the answer to that, then we’re in serious trouble. If I never owned a smartphone, I think I could figure that one out.
If you don’t need appointment reminders, GPS, notes, applications or tweaking out the operating system, then don’t get a smartphone. The phone may outsmart you. Don’t get it because it’s a status symbol. Smartphones are not necessarily a status symbol anymore because manufacturers have really downsized these beasts over the past few years. Today, they're sleek and blend in with most other devices. My first Palm Treo was the 700W. I loved it. After a doctor saw it in my hand, he said “that looks like a lot more than a phone”. The phone was big and impressively scary looking. It was more than a phone. I was hooked.
If you’re not familiar with smartphones but still want one, do your homework first. Google the differences in operating systems, available applications, etc. Find one that impresses you, not your friends. Be prepared to do a lot of reading. Read lots of other forum questions to prepare yourself in the good versus bad. If you can’t figure something out with your smartphone, Google the problem. Chances are, the answer is out there somewhere. If not, then post your question. Forums are managed and frequented by knowledgeable people. They’ve been playing with smartphones for a long time. Try not to pester them with questions that are repeated by other users. If you can’t find your answer, I then encourage you to ask. These guys love helping, but I’m sure they get a little frustrated when people ask stupid questions… that common sense should answer.
If you can’t answer the “number beside the yellow envelope icon” question above, I would not suggest buying a smartphone.
Originally published on 04/16/2011 at www.driphter.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)