Blackberry Curve 8520 Tips Tricks & Apps Thread

oronte said:
I believe all manufacturers are moving to micro usb so RIM are doing the same.
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Well its a nuisance - I have at least 8 pearl/curve mini usb chargers and a solitary 8520 one. :(
 
I just got mine 2 days ago. Browsing is a nightmare. Im not getting EDGE coverage which is weird cause my iPhone picks up EDGE in the exact same place.

I only get GPRS which is painstakingly slow. Do I need to turn EDGE on or something. Also, when I scan for networks its not picking anything up even though I know there are networks in the area.

1 more question, if i am at the top of a page and its really long, how do I get to the bottom quickly without having to scroll down for 28 hours.

Thanks,
 
I've had the same issue - was given the phone last week by Altech Autopage before the SIM was activated. I waited for days for this to happen. Now, over a week later, the Blackberry internet service is still not available. Vodacom doesn't seem to be able to assist because my SP is Autopage. It seems that if you choose this route, you're at the back of the queue when it comes to activation!?
 
RandomGRK said:
I just got mine 2 days ago. Browsing is a nightmare. Im not getting EDGE coverage which is weird cause my iPhone picks up EDGE in the exact same place.

I only get GPRS which is painstakingly slow. Do I need to turn EDGE on or something. Also, when I scan for networks its not picking anything up even though I know there are networks in the area.

1 more question, if i am at the top of a page and its really long, how do I get to the bottom quickly without having to scroll down for 28 hours.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

If you are using the native Blackberry browser, just press the _T_ key go to the top of the page and of course, press _B_ to go to the bottom, regarding the painstaking slow, try disabling use of Javascript, it will help to load pages quicker.

However, if you look at the Blackberry speed test thread, you will find quite a few burst bubbles, as the VC Blackberry Internet Service is not reliable/stable at all, sometime extremely poor transfer rate.

While VodacomData and ocleroux do their utmost to help, the service is far from being equal to the adverts being flighted.

But these are GPRS devices and VC's EDGE coverage not as comprehensive as for example MTN, so performance suffers.

I only use my BB for email only, I just cannot bear the frustration of watching a white screen with a slowly creeping, pausing blue progress bar at the bottom.

Watching paint dry is more interesting.

There are times when the service seems to perk up and be more snappier, but that sadly is few and far between

Will VC BIS ever become a decent usable service on the BB 8520?

Dream on .... :eek:
 
I am quite shocked. I compared a few services (browser, Viigo, attachment download speed) with a friend (I put my Bold in edge only mode and I'm on MTN, she's on Vodacom). Viigo, the broswer, downloads all took at least twice as long (often three or four times as much) to load on her 8520 than on my Bold (and remember the 8520 has better memory too). Vodacom are really messing with you guys.
 
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oronte said:
downloads all took at least twice as long (often three or four times as much) to load on her 8520 than on my Bold (and remember the 8520 has better memory too). Vodacom are really messing with you guys.
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I have compared speeds with 3 friends on Vodacom to my MTN BIS and the envious look I get every time when they watch my browser in action makes me disgusted that a huge company like Vodacom can continue providing such pathetic service. Come on Vodacom, wake up!
 
*sigh....

I guess I could also offer unlimited browsing, especially if browsing is hardly possible.

Thanks for the tip though for scrolling quickly.

Anyone able to download App world? Is this possible in SA. It says something about me not meeting the requirements when I try.
 
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Got it, keen to see how it goes once all the stuff is up and running :D Got a friend on MTN with the same phone so will see how the speeds compare :D
 
Woot. Got it going :) Quite sexy little thing. Got messenger up and running as well... does anyone know how to get this whole push thing going? The only option I have under email setup is for BES
 
Antithesis - have the same problem - thought it would go away when BIS was activated but the menu for setup still also only gives me BES.
Also cannot detect wireless.... Anyone?
 
Wireless works perfectly for me at least :)

And now that the phone seems to have cottoned on to the fact that BIS is active, I can set up email. For me it's under Setup --> Email settings
 
has anyone got MXit working successfully on this phone? i can log in but no-one gets my messages and i don't get other peoples either, if i do they are delayed by like 30mins?
 
AntiThesis said:
Wireless works perfectly for me at least :)

And now that the phone seems to have cottoned on to the fact that BIS is active, I can set up email. For me it's under Setup --> Email settings
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How long after BIS was activated did the menu reflect the option?
Under Setup -> Email options mine still just offers BES...
 
uh guys???? need help trying to set up email account on blackberry with a telkom email address...its not working so successfully...its not pushing emails to the phone but i can send emails
 
okay its fine i sorted it out...i didn't realize there was a sub 5min delay for the email to arrive on the blackberry.
 
GayTechie said:
okay its fine i sorted it out...i didn't realize there was a sub 5min delay for the email to arrive on the blackberry.
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There isn't.
Its almost instantaneous.

I had the Storm on Voadcom, it was dead slow.
Purchased the 8520 on MTN Lightening fast!!:)
 
SYNERGY said:
There isn't.
Its almost instantaneous.

I had the Storm on Voadcom, it was dead slow.
Purchased the 8520 on MTN Lightening fast!!:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for yet another MTN BIS endorsement. I feel vindicated.

If you are on VC please post your speed test results to the VC Speed tests thread, indicating EDGE or GPRS connection.

The really pathetic Vodacom Blackberry Internet Service performance needs to be addressed.

Does RIM not have a vetting system as to whether a SP is _fit_ to provide their service?

Did Vodacom not test the Blackberry 8520 on their network to see if the performance would be considered acceptable?

Whether they did or not, it is clear that is not fit for paying consumers as the Speed tests indicate sub 20kbps results consistently.

Point your Blackberry Internet browser to Blackberry Speed Test App and download, then just run the Speed Test.
 
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The problem is Vodacom does not have EDGE where they have 3G and the only blackberry that has 3G is the bold.So if you in a 3g area and using a 8520 or 8900 curve you will have slow speeds
 
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