Blackberry Goodness

I never tire of finding new crap to load on my BB, and it's even more fun when the crap is free. I recently got on Twitter, which may or may not be a bad thing, but I'm all about the newest techno trends, so for now I'm just going to go with it. Anyway, it's absolutely necessary to have a good phone application when dealing with real-time updates, so I checked around online for the most appropriate app. I've been using Twitterberry, and it is working great for me so far. I'm sure there are more involved applications, but since I'm just starting out I only need the basics. Another great little thing I found (from a fellow Twitterer) was the Blackberry App World. This is also a free download which has direct links to several great app downloads. It's the gift that keeps on giving. I heart you, BB.

Blackberry Bound

Oh, I have fully and completely joined the ranks of the Blackberry-carrying nation. Where has this fun little toy been all my life? Screw the iPhone - I am hooked, and I haven't even downloaded any games yet!! Between getting my email, text messages, Facebook updates, and phone calls that crazy little contraption is buzzing with excitement ALL THE TIME. No wonder people have to take breaks from them - it seriously demands your attention 24/7. I'll probably end up leaving it on quiet mode at night, but right now I'm feeling way too important. I also LOVE that it comes with a leather pouch (albeit one without a clip) and stereo headset. I also love that the Verizon salesman tried very hard to get me to buy the "package" without letting me know this. Luckily, I declined, since I'm sure I can find way more cool stuff (and cheaper!) on sites like these:

BBerry
Blackberry Source
Fommy

I have - because I'm a serious bargain-hunter - already scoured the net for free downloads, because with the browsing upgrade you HAVE to add on to your bill if you get one of these, you tend to lean toward the frugal. Besides, the best things in life are free, right? Although it comes with a map application, no one can touch Google, so that was one of the first things I loaded. Get it for yourself here:

Google Maps for Blackberry

The next fun little app had to be an entertainment one, so TV Guide offers their freebie so you can enter your location and cable service, and get a complete channel listing all the time. It also allows you a favorites list, and will group the channels into categories.

TV Guide for Blackberry

My other favorite is Mara Tick, just because I am a consummate list-maker. This eliminates my need for little notepads everywhere. It holds a grocery vocabulary, and you can make your list, date it, set up reminders, and check it off. It also has little icons so you can use it for packing lists, party planning, and a lot of other things. Naturally, it also synchs with your computer's clipboard.

Mara Tick for Blackberry

I'm sure I'll be loading the MySpace app when it becomes available, and although Brickbreaker is a cool throwback to Pong, I can't help but think I may be getting some Sims Castaway or Star Wars games for my gadget later on... In the meantime, here are some other sites with freeware:

Squidoo
Blackberry Freeware
Blackberry Freaks

Potter Mania 2007, Vol. 2

By some miracle, I managed to finish reading The Deathly Hallows before anyone could spoil it for me, and I was enthralled by this last volume more so than any of the others. Perhaps it was the hype, or the fact that all the puzzles would finally come together in this one, but I have to give it up to Rowling for putting out a very exciting last chapter to our favorite boy wizard. To anyone who hasn't read it yet, go do so before someone gives away the ending. You won't be disappointed! I hope the movie does it justice.

I'm in Trouble Now...

After months of agonizing over it, I finally broke down and bought an RX-8. It is little, red, SO cute, and rides like a dream. Someone finally bought my old car, and after I test-drove this one, the decision was made for me. Now I just have to keep from getting any speeding tickets so I can afford the note! Loving the speed...

Potter Mania 2007, Vol. 1

Yes, I was in the theater at midnight last night with all the other crazies to see the new Harry Potter movie, and yes, my book 7 is pre-ordered. This movie was good, to be sure, but as any fan of the book would be, I was irritated by the changes brought about through the translation onto screen. The Luna Lovegood and Delores Umbridge parts were well-cast, and both actresses did very well. All three of the main characters have come such a long way in their acting, and it shows on screen. Radcliffe most especially is coming into his own and will surely have a strong career after the last two movies are finished. The beginning of the movie worked well for showing his range, as did his struggle at the end (which was not in the book, but seemed to work fairly well for the movie). One annoying aspect for me was that Ron seemed to be mumbling through most of his lines. It may have been the loud theater, but most of what I could hear was quite funny, and I wish it would have been clearer. Oh well, that's why I always buy the movie and watch it at home as loud as I want. Now I get to fight sleep all day at work until I can crash blissfully as soon as I get home today.

Oh what a geek I am...

You know you've gone too far down the abyss of geekdom when your new cell phone is taking up most of your leisure time. I had the good fortune to lose my cell phone on NYE, and decided to replace it with one that had all the bells and whistles, and boy, does it whistle. I settled on the LG VX-8100 and now I have mobile web, a 1.3 megapixel camera, video, and an MP3 player. Now if I could get it to cook and clean, I'll be set.

LOTR Exhibit

Went to the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science this weekend - very cool stuff. The exhibit is full of actual drawings by the artists who worked on the films, as well as authentic costumes, props, miniatures, and much more. There are several videos by the cast and crew to elaborate at each station along the way, and a few interactive stations that show you how the movie magic was done. A few of the coolest points: one of the actual One Rings used in the movie, the costumes of the main actors (including Galadriel's white dress and Sauron's armor from the first movie), and the life-size model of the dead Boromir in the Elven boat.

Potter Crazy

Call me obsessive, but I started reading my new Harry Potter book Saturday evening, and didn't stop until I finished it yesterday around 5pm. Well, I did stop to eat... but now I'm SO bummed that it'll be another two years before the final book is released. And of course I can't talk to anyone about the book because no one else has read it yet - it's driving me nuts!