Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with rim

Lost Blackbery info, help!

Unnecessarily Sarcastic Bitch — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:25:25 -0800

Help, I've lost all my address book and appointment calender from my Blackberry! I have a Blackberry Curve, either an 8300 or 8500. Last week it started acting up, the roller ball wouldn't work, so I got a replacement BB sent to me via RIM. Once I got the new BB, I took my SD cards out and put them in the new BB, packaged up the defective one and sent it on its way.

However, after it was already sent off, I realized that NONE of my contacts, phone numbers or appointments were on the new BB! My pictures and music were, but nothing else! I do not synce the BB with anything, just enter the data directly on the phone.

My entire list of contacts, over 500 people and all my appointments are gone! What can I do to get them back?

Is this a rim? a lead cover? Thor's discus?

royalchinook — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:09:25 -0800

I found this gigantic item in my backyard when I moved in here. It's really the only thing in the back yard that is like this - it's not like there's a pile of junk like this lying around. It is about 3 feet wide, a foot high, and the metal is about an inch thick. I tried to move it with another guy and it took a lot of effort just to budge it, any idea what it is for? what type of metal it's made of?

For you reference, the inscription as I can tell is:
Rim Tec
02 450 022 IF2
RT 356M5 54

FYI2 - I'm located on a half acre in the Fraser Valley, BC (near Vancouver), if that helps at all.

BlackHelicopterBerry

pineapple — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:26:08 -0800

Google wants to access the phone logs on my BlackBerry. Cancel or allow? I recently switched from the BlackBerry 7100 model to the 8800. On my old phone, the Gmail mobile application was sleek, fast and simplified my life. So, today I downloaded the same app to my new phone. Logged in, saw my Gmail, sent a couple of messages, all was well.

About 10 minutes later, I got a pop-up alert that Gmail was trying to access my phone logs. The alert looked just like this one. I declined it, but have received the same alert periodically all morning. (Yes, I could just turn off the alert but that doesn't solve the problem.)

I read the Darren Albers post on the same topic, and also a similar post at the "official, unofficial BlackBerry blog" -- both of which basically say, "huh, this is freaky" but with no conclusion. Some guy named "Jason" is posting the same comment in several places:

"GMail is invoking Phone.getActiveCall(), which returns null when there is no call. It’s part of determining when there is likely to be a network connection."

...which could be legitimate... or it could also be corporate propaganda meant to quell the uprising (which looks like it might be working), or even just some weasel talking out his ass. Jason goes on to mention API, operating systems, and other stuff I don't really understand in the context of my phone.

Google doesn't seem to have anything to say on the subject (although someone did inquire at their groups site. No reply yet.). If they need to access something on my phone to make my mobile Gmail work, is that action covered by the EULA and privacy statements? Where is my guarantee that just because they need this to make Gmail work doesn't mean they get to aggregate my calling patterns in order to "provide a better user experience" or some such thing? Still, Google is already reading my email with my permission, so worrying about phone logs might be a case of locking the barn door.

If I'm going to trust strangers on the Internet, I'd rather it be y'all than "Jason." Does the explanation provided for the phone log access make sense, or is it one more way for Google to continue toward world domination? Should I continue crafting a tin foil bodysuit, complete with matching peep-toe pumps? Or can I just blithely use Gmail on my phone and forget about it?

Help me pick blackberries!

dance — Thu, 17 May 2007 06:58:56 -0800

Blackberry for non-business use (mostly): It would be really useful for me to have Blackberry or Blackberry like functionality for my University/personal/computer support work. However, doesn't one need to be subscribed to an expensive package to actually have the email 'pushed' out? i.e. there is no Pay-as-you-go possibility?

I'm in the UK and if anyone has managed this or something like it without massive expense (especially the recurring charges) I'd be interested to know more. Thanks!

Help me reach Gmail / mobile / desktop sync nerdvana

mjbraun — Tue, 01 May 2007 08:06:21 -0800

Please help me come up with a solution for automatically syncing Gmail, GCal, my desktop client and my mobile in one big data orgy. Currently I'm hosting my domain (email only) with Mailstreet and I'm relatively happy with their services and support. However, the siren song of "Gmail For Your Domain" has me entranced.

I'm in the market for a new mobile, and I'm looking at either a Blackberry 8800 or a Nokia E61i (when it comes out). Regardless, I want the full wireless sync of not only my email, but also my calendar and contacts (notes too, if possible). I can get this through Mailstreet if I sign up for the Blackberry service, but it's not cheap, and the storage space is limited (100Mb).

So I was wondering how I can set up automatic synchronization between my desktop PIM (I use Entourage, as I like having one app with all the data consolidated), my mail host, and my mobile as with the BES.

This sounds like something that Funambol would provide, but I'm not clear on the Gmail For Your Domain integration aspect.

The end goal will be I can add a contact on my mobile, and it just shows up on my desktop a few minutes later (the same with email, and calendar items). If I have to pay for Exchange, so be it, but I'd prefer to get away from it if possible.

What's a good substitute for rim tape?

cusack — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 08:02:47 -0800

What's a good substitute for rim tape? So I went to fix a flat tire this morning and realized the giant rubber band inside my wheel was snapped... not knowing what else to use, I wound some electrical tape around in there and remounted the tire... is this good enough? if not, is there anything that would be a suitable substitute for rim tape? or will I have to break down and go to the bike store?

thanks!

I am become Shiskabob, destroyer of tires

phearlez — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 08:48:46 -0800

The car rental company wants money and I don't want to pay. Does it get any simpler? Well, it gets more complicated - I've been told the country in question reimburses for pothole damage and I like the idea of them paying much more than me paying. But is it true? So my Puerto Rican vacation was a fantastic adventure filled with the kind of expensive traumatic moments you expect from a vacation, including not one but two pothole-caused rim bendings and tire rendings.

I'm okay with accepting responsibility here, except on my way to return the car I stopped to gas up and asked if they could simply repair the rim. After an initial yes, the mechanic said "Oh, no, that's an alloy rim. If I try to bang that back out it'll just crack."

Aside - why does a DODGE NEON need snazzy rims? Which the rental company claims costs $270. Give me a break.

Anyway, he went on to say that the Puerto Rico road situation is so horrid that the government will pick up the tab if you document where the incident happened. Yes, I accept that my source is perhaps not the most credible but at the same time this rental company told my friend the previous day that there'd be no charge for her identical incident.

Perhaps it's complicated by my returning the car to a franchise where hers went to the company main location. Perhaps my dent was simply worse (which it was). Maybe it was phase of the moon or I smelled funny. But I'm on the hook for major bucks and she got off scott-free.

To make a long story marginally less painfully long, I'm looking for two things here.

One, is this claim of a reimbursal program baloney? If it's not I don't see why I'm being soaked for $360 for a small non-performance tire & rim. I can find no mention in my googling.

Two, has anyone had any luck haggling with rental firms over this? I don't believe for a second they are actually paying $259 for that rim when TireRack has a variety from $89 and up for me, the non-fleet buyer.

Any and all strategy advice is welcome.

Blackberry Advice

dobbs — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 10:39:17 -0800

My gf wants to buy a Blackberry. She knows zip about them and isn't that tech savvy. She's on a Windows machine at work and plans on getting a Mac for home in the future. I know lots about Palm devices but nothing about these things. What's all the advice you got on Blackberries? Models to avoid/ get, tricks to do with them, good sites w/ reviews, best places to buy, etc. Thanks!

Help me buy a blackberry?

CunningLinguist — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 14:17:24 -0800

I urgently need to buy a Blackberry. But their website is mystifying. I just want wireless email - not necessarily a phone. But I am flummoxed about which model to get and how to pick a plan. They seem to be hiding prices like crazy. I've actually never had to pick a cell phone plan so I'm really clueless here. Can any of you that have one help me navigate this?