There isn't tons of software out there for the BlackBerry. It certainly isn't like the Palm, or Psion, or Newton. In addition, many are written only for the 857/957, especially games. This isn't an exhaustive list, just the ones I've downloaded. I don't need expense tracking, or attachment viewing, or stock dealings, which seem to be the focus of most of the available software.
Software is available at Handango and Tucows. In no particular order, here's what I've looked at:
HockeyPong To see the puck you'll have to crank up the contrast a bit if you have it turned down. Actually playable, and mildly addictive. Freebie!
Sketch is etch-a-sketch for the BlackBerry. It doesn't seem to have any export or save feature, so I found it amusing, but zapped it. Shareware.
upSparrow is an e-mail program. It is released under the GPL so is free to use. It lets you edit quoted text (Yay!), but doesn't backup folder settings (Boo!). This means when you do a complete re-load of data onto the BlackBerry (something not normally done), you lose all your folder definitions. This program has a lot of features, the main one being able to filter mail into folders like, ah, normal e-mail programs. The RIM-supplied e-mail program uses searches (which can be given hotkeys) to approximate folders, but one is still left with a huge inbox. I like to filter mail into multiple folders so all that's left in the default inbox is personal mail. (I'm on a lot of mailing lists). Sparrow lets me do that. Sparrow also gives message counts by folder, and the user can specify different alarms by folder. Both features are very useful.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to get Sparrow to work reliably. It worked amazingly well up to a point, and then something about the e-mail I get made it freeze - either that or it didn't like the GoAmerica beta browser I put on. I can't complain given the price. Well worth looking at. Lots of people seem to use this program, but I reluctantly erased it. It also doesn't support proprietary mail extensions like the "more" feature, and I seem to know a lot of verbose people. :-) Development is ongoing, so check the author's website for updated versions. up
RIMWalker is one of those utilities that you have to have if you are going to fool around loading a lot of applications on and off the system. The trial download version lets you look and see what stuff all those apps you put on leave behind. The registered version lets you delete records and/or files from databases on the BlackBerry. I bought it. Highly recommended for folks who just have to try all the software out there. Even if you're like me and don't load the machine up, it is educational to load the trial download version for a quick peek at the BlackBerry's internal data storage. The RIMWalker author's web site is also worth looking at. up
GoAmerica makes a Go.Web WAP/Web browswer for the BlackBerry. Version 1.7.8 came with my unit, customized by Rogers AT&T (i.e., bilingual error messages, and "Rogers AT&T home" on the menu instead of "Go.Web home" (The actual home page is different as well.) As of Feb 2001, the current version of Go.Web is 1.8.6, available for download from the GoAmerica site. The main functionality added appears to be the ability to edit titles used for bookmarks, very useful when a site uses the long titles or the same title for all pages. Recommended.
GoAmerica also has a beta of their browser available (Feb 2001). To me, the big new features are the ability to mail a web address and place bookmarks on the ribbon. up
Last update March 1, 2001. Copyright 2001 Craig Seko All rights reserved.