Aug
26
How To Update Facebook Using Twitter
August 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Twitter is a microblogging service, a service that lets you post a short burst of text (up to 140 characters in length) like a bird chirping, a tweet (hence the name). It is also regarded as the “SMS of the Internet”. I actually tried updating my Facebook using its Twitter app last year (2009) but for some reason it didn’t work.
I decided to try again recently when I have the idea of updating Twitter on my BB (Blackberry) and having it sync with my FB (Facebook) status. Reason for this is that since having the BB and enjoying the ease of messaging between BB users via the BBM (BB Messenger), I found that I am distancing myself with non-BB users. So I’ve decided to revisit the Twitter to FB sync to bridge this divide.
So for anyone who wishes to do the same, or just for the fun of having a twitter account (it is free!) and have it sync with your FB, you may follow the steps below :
1. How to create a Twitter account.
2. Configuring Facebook to sync with Twitter.
3. Installing Twitter in your Blackberry (For BB users only)
4. Test your Twitter to FB sync.
1. How to create a Twitter account.
a) Go to http://twitter.com/ and click on “Sign Up”.
b) Continue with the registration process and click on “Create my account”.
c) Remember your username and password, you will need this later.
2. Configuring Facebook to sync with Twitter.
a) Login to your FB account.
b) At the search bar, search for “Twitter” and click on “Twitter (Application)”
c) At the “Would you like to connect your Twitter and Facebook accounts?, enter your Twitter username and Twitter password from Step 1 and click Allow.
d) After connecting your Twitter and Facebook accounts, you may choose to transfer/sync your FB profile photo over to your Twitter account. Then check the “App permissions” to allow Twitter to post updates to “Facebook Profile”.
3. Installing Twitter in your Blackberry
** If you do not own a Blackberry, please proceed to step 4 **
a) You need to have Blackberry App World installed. See instructions here.
b) Start the Blackberry App World, and Search for “twitter”. Install Twitter which is developed by Research In Motion Limited.
c) Start Twitter and sign in with your Twitter account.
4. Test your Twitter to FB sync.
a) If you are a BB user, try to post your first tweet via the Twitter app and see if it shows up on your FB status.
b) If you are not a BB user, you can still test by posting your first tweet via the twitter.com website. You can do this from any non-BB smartphones!
c) If it shows up, you’ve just successfully configured the Twitter to FB sync. If it doesn’t, try removing the Twitter app and reinstall it the next day. I know this sounds weird, but it actually worked for me!
Start Tweeting!
Well, it’s all you from this point onwards! By synching your Twitter to FB, you can reach two different social networking sites from a single post. Don’t have a Twitter account? Register now (it is free anyway) and start tweeting! Don’t forget to add me (arkchane)!
Mar
21
First 10 Things You Should Learn About Your BlackBerry
March 21, 2010 | 2 Comments
It is almost 2 years since I purchased my HTC Diamond . I still think that my Diamond is very functional, but due to the nature of my work, the always on 3G internet connectivity and the “push mail” feature that the BlackBerry offer, had me finally switched both my phone and telco to BlackBerry 9700 (Bold 2) and DiGi respectively. Thanks to DiGi’s for offering the best value for money package and also the “pay as you use” model for both voice and SMS on top of their already lowest RM58/month BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS).
The very first thing that I notice after using the phone is the sheer speed that the BlackBerry 9700 has to offer. It gave me the feeling of almost hardware speed, wait time is almost non-existent when compared to the Windows Mobile platform of the HTC Diamond, but perhaps that is the advancement in hardware after 2 years. Of course the animation is quite dull when compared to the much hyped iPhone, but I will trade speed over superfluous design any day.
Let us move on to the 10 things that you should learn about the BlackBerry :
1. Apps
As with any device nowadays, smartphone without apps (applications) is like a car with no fuel. It is only through apps that the BlackBerry can unleash its true potential. Below is the list of my apps and the instructions on how to install them.
Google Mobile App
(From your browser go to http://m.google.com -> Download Google Mobile App)
This is the app version of the web search engine, I prefer to do my searches using the app as I find it quicker. Maybe it is just me.
BBNotePad (click here to download)
(http://www.blackberryfreeware.com/2008/08/free-blackberry-text-editor-software.html)
Notepad has always been my favourite application, light weight and simple. It is fortunate for me to be able to find a free version of it for my BlackBerry.
*Note* – Refer below for the instructions to install using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager
BlackBerry App World
Your browser should load up http://mobile.blackberry.com by default . From here click on “BlackBerry App World – Download today!” and follow the instructions.
Facebook
After installing the BlackBerry App World, I installed Facebook for BlackBerry using its search feature.
Windows Live Messenger (Installed By Default)
I use Windows Live Messenger a lot, it is convenient to have it installed by default. To launch it go to, Menu -> Instant Messaging -> Windows Live Messenger
NEW! iSkoot For Skype (click here to download)
(http://handheld.softpedia.com/get/System-Utilities/Communications/iSkoot-for-Skype-BlackBerry-57183.shtml)
After almost 1 month of using the BlackBerry I found that the only instant messenger that I’m missing is Skype. Thanks to Ken, a friend of mine for letting me know that there’s actually a Skype client for the BlackBerry. This version is compatible with BlackBerry 9700 running OS 5.
*Note* – Refer below for the instructions to install using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager
To Install Using The BlackBerry Desktop Manager (BB DM) :
- Download the file and extract it to a folder.
- From the BlackBerry Desktop Manager, go to Application Loader -> Add/Remove Applications -> Start.
- Click on Browse and browse to the folder where the file was extracted to and seach for the *.alx file and click Open.
- From the BB Desktop Manager, click Next and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
2. YouTube
Digi Need To Enable APN (digistrm) For YouTube Streaming
(http://www.digi.com.my/blackberry/faq.do)
This section is particular to DiGi’s BIS subscriber, for some reason (most probably for bandwidth control), DiGi need us to configure the APN to digistrm before us being to view YouTube video streaming. To do this, follow the steps below :
Menu -> Options -> Advanced Options -> TCP/IP
(TICKED) APN Settings Enabled
APN: digistrm
(TICKED) APN Authentication Enabled
Username for APN:
Password for APN
*Both Username and Password for APN Authentication are left blank*
Error Playing. An error has occurred attempting to play media.
For the first 2 weeks since getting the phone, I have not been able to watch any YouTube videos. It keeps prompting “Error Playing. An error has occurred attempting to play media”. The search for any information in google and my personal attempt to troubleshoot the problem led me to no solution. At the end of the 2 weeks I had nobody to turn to, so I gave DiGi’s support an attempt. I’m determined to solve this issue no matter what, even if it means terminating Digi. But to my surprise Digi support did manage to solve it. Kudos to DiGi!
To save the heartache of many future BlackBerry users I would like to share the solution with you. Please configure your BlackBerry browser with the below settings :
Browser settings
Menu -> Browser -> Menu -> Options :
[1] Browser Configuration
Browser: Internet Browser
(TICKED) Support JavaScript
(TICKED) Allow JavaScript popups
(TICKED) Terminate slow running scripts
(TICKED) Show Images
(TICKED) Use Background Images
(TICKED) Support Embedded Media
Browser Identification: BlackBerry
Start Page: Home Page
Default Search Provider: Google
Home Page Address: http://mobile.blackberry.com/
[2] General Properties
Default Browser: Internet Browser
(Type of Fonts here doesn’t really affect the settings)
(NOT TICKED) Full Screen View
(TICKED) Enable JavaScript Location support
Prompt Before:
(NOT TICKED) Closing Browser on Escape
(Ticked) Closing Modified Pages
(NOT TICKED) Switching to WAP for streaming media
(NOT TICKED) Running WML Scripts
**NOTE**
If the YouTube streaming still does not work after the reconfiguration above, please try restarting it (ATL + RIGHT SHIFT + DEL).
3. Configure Email
Configuring email on your BlackBerry is a breeze through Menu -> Setup -> Email Settings , however, if you are anything like me, you will not want to use the signature feature from the BlackBerry (BB) BIS. The BB BIS attaches your signature at the end of mail, not at the end of the message which is something like the below.
—————————————————————————
—–Original Message—–
From: selfmod@def.com
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 3:01 AM
To: selfmod@abc.com
Subject: Re: Test signature
Test signature.
——Original Message——
From: selfmod@abc.com
To: selfmod@def.com
ReplyTo: selfmod@abc.com
Subject: Test signature
Sent: Mar 6, 2010 02:55
Test
Best Regards,
abc.com
Sent via BlackBerry®
Best Regards,
def.com
Sent via BlackBerry®
—————————————————————————
I personally prefer it to be at the end of my message. To do this you must first clear up the Signature field on your BB BIS email settings. Then configure your signature using the AutoText feature, go to Menu -> Options -> AutoText. Then, Menu -> New.
Replace:
mysig (or any other short text)
With:
Best Regards,
abc.com
Sent via BlackBerry®
Using: SmartCase
Language: All Locales
So the next time after you finished writing your email, go to the next line and type “mysig” follow with a space and your signature will appear automatically.
Another feature that I would recommend is the Auto BCC feature (Delivery Options -> Auto BCC) which act as an email sent confirmation and also for your own reference.
4. Sync With Outlook
Honestly, the migration from my Diamond to the BlackBerry was seamless. My Calendar & Contacts sync beautifully within minutes after installing the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
5. Backup
The BB Desktop Manager also features a very complete backup tool (Backup & Restore -> Backup). I can easily restore all my data and settings even after a full reset on the device. I would recommend you to perform a periodic backup, at least once a day since the backup process will complete within minutes.
6. BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)
The BBM is one of the most stable, easy to use and full featured Instant Messenger that I’ve ever used. I’m quite certain that you will come to the same conclusion yourself. Having both Live Messenger and BBM online all the time will also cut down your usage on voice and SMS.
7. Encrypting Media Card
Since most of your personal data is stored in your BlackBerry, I would highly recommend you to at least enable the encryption on the media card using “Security Password” mode of encryption. Please view the link below for more details :
8. Personalization
I’m not a fan of changing background wallpaper and using the hottest rock song as ring tones. However, the many tones that are available in the BB to differentiate different types of applications (call, different types of email accounts, different types of instant messaging, etc) makes it very intuitive.
I had a hard time trying to sleep at first when I’m awaken by the email alerts in the wee hours of the morning only to find out that I just received a spam email!! I’m very appreciative of the effort by RIM (Research In Motion) to include the “Phone Calls Only” profile.
9. Configure Convenience Key
The convenience keys at both sides of the phone can be used to quickly open often used programs, by default Camera (right) and Voice Dialing (left). To configure it to use other apps, go to Menu -> Options -> Screen/Keyboard -> Left/Right Side Convenience Key.
10. Tips
a) Turning on mass storage mode while connected to the computer without mass storage mode.
While connected to the BB Desktop Manager in sync mode. In your BB, go to Mode -> Options -> Memory, go to the bottom of screen, Menu -> Enable USB Mass Storage.
b) Turning off flash while using camera
While the Camera app is on, press on “space” to toggle Flash, Off/On/Auto.
c) Short cut keys
- double space for a “.” and an upper case for the next letter
- while using the browser, keying in “space” will result in “.”
Special thanks :
harrysolve from KawanBB.Com