posted: 7/1/09 filed under: BlackBerry
Last week, I picked up the Blackberry Storm (9530) because my contract was up and I wanted to be more connected with clients and friends when I wasn’t sitting at a laptop or computer.
Once I got the Storm, I started looking around for mobile versions and applications of services and features I regularly use. I have downloaded over 30 applications, but have since become removed all but a select few. Here are 11 free apps to help you expand the capabilities of the BlackBerry Storm.
BlackBerry’s App World
- App World is BlackBerry’s answer to the iPhone’s App Store. It’s not as populated as the Apple rival, but it does have a good variety of applications, both free and paid, for direct download.
- I’m really impressed with this application. The Facebook app developers did a nice job packing most of the features of the Facebook into a mobile version. You can change your status, upload photos, manage friends, view your Wall, and send private messages.
Flickr
- The Flickr App for the BlackBerry is extremely easy. Simply, click on the "Upload Photo" button and it asks for a photo from your media library and upload it to Flickr.
Gmail
- As expected this Google App works quite well. It has much of the same functionality as web version, although you do not have the ability include attachments. FYI, the existing BlackBerry message center supports multi-touch so you can delete more than one email message at once.
Google Talk
- The Google Talk application is strikingly similar to the desktop version. Most of the functionality exists on the application and allows you to keep in contact with your G-buddies when you are away from the computer.
Google Maps
- The default mapping application for the BlackBerry OS is mediocre, at best. This application takes the GPS functionality of the BlackBerry and incorporates it into Google’s mapping engine. Satellite view is very nice when looking around in your immediate area.
Google Sync
- This simple utility syncs your Google calendar events and Gmail contacts with your Blackberry’s calendar and contact list.
Pandora
- My first app download. Pandora is a free streaming Internet radio service which an ongoing project to categorize hundreds of details of each song. You give Pandora a song or artist you are interested in, and keep presenting you with music that is categorically similar to that selection. If you like a song you can give it a thumbs up, if it is not your flavor, then click thumbs down and it will skip to the next song.
Snap2Twitter
- This is a simple app that posts your photos to Twitter. When you take a photo, Snap2Twitter asks you if you would like post to Twitter in addition to saving the image. This application can be downloaded directly from BlackBerry’s App World
TwitterBerry
- This is a simple, yet powerful Twitter client that is the preferred choice of BlackBerry users. TwitterBerry sends tweets and follows without going through SMS.
Viigo
- Viigo is a robust RSS feed reader which suggests content as well as saves your preferences. Access a wide variety of news, sports, finance, weather, flight schedules, entertainment, and restaurant reviews.
Weather Bug
- A real nice weather app that gives you forecasts, current conditions, precipitation overlays, national forecasts, and even time lapse video public weather cams. This application can be downloaded directly from BlackBerry’s App World
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