Monday, February 27, 2012

Negative Vibes

How does one handle negativity? Lately I'm exposed to a lot of people who are somewhat so negative. As unbiased as I can be, I think I'm a pretty optimistic person. Am always trying to see the good in one person or situation.

For example, there was a time that I was a passenger and the person driving exclaimed that a man was jaywalking--so she was cursing excessively since she had to slow down. I kinda explained that the man had more than a sack of rice on his back, and it would be so much burden to climb up the overpass.

When everyone just complains, I tend to just shut people out--and daydream--while they yak about it. It's just so annoying.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

BlackBerry Can Receive But Can't Send Emails

As mentioned on the previous post, I had problems with my email setup on my BlackBerry. As a newbie and having bought the phone from Greenhills (with the manual not even in English), I had to Google my way for answers, and spend hours on the phone trying to get someone to help me from the Globe Telco side. When in fact, the person who helped me, did a call-out because I had my concern escalated by our company's account manager. (Side story: Our account manager is always on his toes when the EAs call him, as the boss is friends with his ultimate boss, the president of Globe Telecom.)

Without that "connection," I'm probably still waiting for a miracle and spending hours getting all the radiation from my phone while talking to numerous tech support people from Globe. So, after browsing through CrackBerry, I realized that maybe I just need to post the solution for the sake of posting, since not everyone has indirect ties to the president of a telco. Y'know, just in case someone gets the same problem and Googles for answers.

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THE SPECS

  • Model: BlackBerry Bold 9700
  • Bought from: Greenhills, seems like a Virgin Media phone
  • Came with: Charger, memory card and a manual in another language
  • Mobile Network: Globe (Corporate Line)
  • Monthly Plan: Some old plan about PHP 500/mo
  • My BlackBerry Knowledge: Noob

BACKDROP
With the help of the same account manager, I subscribed to BB Messaging (299), which gives me unlimited BBM, emails and instant messages. Apparently, you can't just sign up for some promos that need activation if you are on a restricted corporate line. After a few hours, I got my BBM working. I couldn't find the email setup and was fearing for the worst that my phone might not be able to setup POP mail (since it's a VM phone), so I went to globe.blackberry.com. Created an account, input my IMEI, PIN and set up my Gmail. Then did the same for my work email (over Microsoft Outlook Web Access). Note: If you don't know what details to put in, ask your IT department.

THE PROBLEM
I started receiving emails but I cannot send any. It would say, "You are currently on a service plan that does not support this application..." something like that, which of course, is not true since I am subscribed to BB Messaging which, as mentioned, includes unlimited push email. And the fact that I am receiving emails would indicate otherwise.

THE "SOLUTION"
Called the hotline for xx number of times, and all they do is resend me the service books, do a battery pull, and wait for 24-48 hours. How progressive!

THE REAL SOLUTION
I have poor memory but this is as complete as I can remember. (Takes about 30 minutes of your time.)
  1. On your computer, go to globe.blackberry.com. (If your network is NOT Globe, check what's the counterpart for your network.) Login, and go to your email accounts. Delete all email accounts that have been configured by clicking the trash logo behind each account.
  2. Re-create your email accounts. You need more details if using Microsoft Outlook. Wait until you receive a confirmation message: "Congratulations you have successfully set up..."
  3. Battery pull: Pull out the battery while the device is on. Pull out the SIM too. Then restore both SIM and battery.
  4. Once it's back to life, try sending an email. Mine was able to send ONE email, then reverted to the same error.
  5. Make sure your data has been backed up--I don't know how to do this, but since my phone was just days old, I didn't mind; then do a security wipeout of your phone. (Sorry but all will be lost, except for those on your memory card.) On my 9700, it's Options > Security > Security Wipe.
  6. After several minutes, it's back to life like a brand new phone. Have the tech support (in my case she was on the line all along) send you the service books. Make sure your mobile network is already switched on, and you're not in any kind of offline/airplane mode. Wait until you receive the activation email (as on #2).
  7. Battery pull. (as on #3)
  8. Try sending an email. In my case, this worked. Couldn't have been happier.

My iPhone 4 vs. the BlackBerry from Greenhills

A week into BlackBerry, I finally got my email working. Thanks to our company's Globe account manager who forwarded my concern to the real tech specialists (not the ones you call who only know basic troubleshooting that never work). Spent more than half an hour on the phone with a girl named Joy, who patiently waited with all the reboots and wipeouts my BlackBerry had to endure.

If I am anything, I am a control freak... Or maybe just very particular? I have now spent a total of three hours trying to figure out a 'problem' on my BlackBerry. When I reply, the signature "Sent from my BlackBerry..." appears on the bottom of the entire thread, instead of the bottom of my reply. Three hours into it, I learned that that happens when replying to RTF or pure text format emails. Replying to HTML emails puts my signature right where it's at. Not to be such a big deal for most people, but it's bothering me. I know. I'm. Weird. There seems to be no fix for this. Amazed that RIM has not fixed this yet?

I, in turn, start appreciating my iPhone 4 more. And now allow me to list the pros and cons as of today.

iPhone 4 - from and powered by Globe
Good: Browsing like you're on a PC; Emails can receive subfolders; Pretty interface; Lots of apps!
Dislike: Battery is a wimp, would have loved iMessage but I'd rather save the battery for receiving SMS.

BlackBerry 9700 - from Greenhills, looks like it's originally from Virgin Mobile
Good: BBM! Battery can last two days even with BBM and push emails; Can choose fonts :) and size; Facebook loads faster due to mobile-site-like interface.
Dislike: So many restrictions for BB services; Set up is not user-friendly; Boot up takes minutes; Cannot download sub-folders (and emails that go to them), just the inbox; I can only create one alarm, say 06:30a.m., nothing else.

I'm keeping both for now, but the battery wins. What good is a phone without a reliable battery anyway?

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Not a VDay Person

So it's Valentine's Day again. I'm not a fan and do not wish to go out for dinner tonight. But for those who are, good for you and good luck. It always makes me wonder what surprises guys actually do for their ladies annually for this day. Guess I've never met someone who'd really go out of their way, or I overpower them with my "I'm not a Valentine's person" mantra.

How are you spending your 14th?

--Edit: 15 Feb 2012--

I'm not a VDay person but I am amazed by this. This made my Valentine's Day. (And a Happy Birthday card from my boyfriend. Haha!)


Sorry for the grainy photo; that's the best I can do while on red. These heart-shaped red stoplights in The Fort are adorable! I happened to see them on the way home (on 30th Street) passing by 7th Avenue, and again on 9th Avenue. They're still there this morning.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Lola Techie Mode

I just figured that I'm a techie person than the average people. The love for gadgets make me think I have "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" or something like it. I have long set up my corporate email on my iPhone and now I did the same for my co-worker, on her iPad. These stuff I really enjoy, making the most out of gadgets and figuring things out on my own (well, almost on my own as I get help from the trusted Google.)

I just got myself a BlackBerry; actually I got both myself and the boyfriend. Since we bought it from Greenhills, we were left to tinker with it on our own, no manuals no nothing. Eventually I got BBM working, social networks too. Yesterday I started receiving emails but I'm upset that I can't send an email from it. Hmmm. Would be refreshing to see "Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld" than my usual "Sent from my iPhone" sig.

Anyway, I'm sure Globe will figure things out soon and will help me do more than just pulling the battery out after service book resending--which I have done more than five times already. Anybody on BBM there? It would be very inexpensive if everyone is on BBM, I think. Twas mainly our purpose of buying them in the first place.

Now, after all the BBM and iPhone talk... My question is, how do we reverse lookup landline numbers here in the Philippines? :) I have the phone number which keeps calling me on my mobile, and want to know what company that is. I tried calling, but it's always busy. It's 739-2222.