Archive for the ‘blackberry’ Category

SXSW preparations

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

A post reflecting pretty much what it says in the title -  I’m trying to get my ducks in a row for SXSWi.

Key things have been:

  • Deciding what to pack
  • Getting the logistics sorted
  • Working out what I’ll be doing when I get there
  • Doing my best to fit in with Digital Mission
  • Sorting out my gadgets

Packing

Some useful links:

Although I shouldn’t pack too much as I may not have a chance to wear it, I’m taking a fair bit anyway. Also, although the weather can get into the 70’s, it can rain, so taking a brolly & waterproof top. The weather forecast seems pretty pants for Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. :-(

Digital Mission

I’m planning to hook up with Digital Mission whilst I’m in Texas: Sam Michel of Chinwag (the DM organisers) has put a useful guide together.

There’s apparently a crowd of 100 or Brits out there, so should be a good chance to make new connections! :-D

Standard stuff I’ve got to take:

  • passport
  • visa into the States
  • Phone

Tools

I’m hoping to do some live blogging using CoverItLive, but it may turn out to be completely impractical for reasons of battery life, wireless coverage, being hung over – that sort of thing.

Blackberry

I’m also using Worldmate live, to track my itinerary on my blackberry. Vodafone have kindly helped me unlock my bb for use in the States, so I need to buy a PAYG sim card when I arrive.

Cameras

Hopefully my bag of tricks should capture a whole load:

  • Venerable FujiFilm camera
  • Sony video camera
  • Blackberry camera

Logistics

Leeanne at Codeworks has kindly been sorting out the logistics:

  • Out
    • I fly down to Heathrow tomorrow lunchtime via BA and stay at the Hilton (useful Hhonors points!)
    • Then fly at 0855 to Dallas Fort Worth on the 12th, and a connecting flight to Austin
    • I arrive around 5.40pm, and have organised a SuperShuttle ride into downtown Austin
  • There
    • Am staying at the Hilton Austin, right next to the Convention Center :-D
  • Back
    • Taking the SuperShuttle from the Hilton just after 1400 on the 18th, if anyone’s interested
    • Back via Dallas to Heathrow and Newcastle – arriving at lunchtime on the 19th, fingers crossed!

Online

I will be available online where bandwidth allows:

That’s about it for now – otherwise I won’t get packed… :-s

Posted in Business, Social Media, Social Networking, Web 2.0, blackberry, digital mission, education, experiment, ideas, innovation, interesting, media, newbie, north east england, sxsw, thinking digital | Comments

Lengthen how long your Blackberry rings for

Monday, January 5th, 2009

BlackBerry Bold 9000

Photo credit to Dushaun

I tweeted last week about a blog post I’d found which suggests how to get your Blackberry to ring a little longer than the too short default setting.

This is because I also can’t find any way to change the Blackberry Bold config. itself, which is a bit odd – it was a straightforward setting on all the Nokias I have used in the past.

However, Caroline reported that the code I’d used meant that calls were not going through to voicemail, so I thought I’d post what I’ve found out subsequently.

I spoke with a very helpful lady from UK Vodafone over the weekend, and I understand that the code is:

**61*YOUR VOICEMAIL NUMBER HERE*10*30#

You put this code into the phone applet, characters and all, and then press the green ’send’ button. You should get a message back from the network.

N.b. the voicemail number is different from your mobile number. Voicemail format is [e.g.] +447978123456 – i.e. include the +44 at the beginning, and knock off the initial zero.

Also fyi the 30 at the end is the length of time for the phone to ring before it goes to voicemail – in seconds. I believe you can increment it down in 5 second intervals (e.g. replace 30 with 20 if you want 20 seconds before ring out).

I found my own voicemail number on my Bold by going into:

Phone applet | Options | Call Forwarding | Forward Unanswered Calls

Hope this helps! If not, please leave a message below – thanks!

Posted in blackberry, mobile, technology | Comments