Facebook App

Unless you've been hiding in a cave somewhere the past year or so, I'm guessing that you have not only heard of Facebook.com, but you've probably also got a profile on there that you use quite a bit (well, I know that I do). Anyways, one of the problems with online social networks like Facebook is that in order to keep up with everything that's going on, you almost need to be anti-social so that you can stay in front of your computer all day. But, this is all changing now that Facebook has begun to launch apps on all of the major mobile platforms, including our much-loved BlackBerries. These new mobile apps allow Facebook users to still interact and keep up with the site without being tied down to their computer, which is really great.
Here are some thoughts and tips on the Facebook BlackBerry app that you should check out before installing and running it:

• You can download the latest and greatest Facebook BlackBerry app for free by going here and entering your email address (they'll send you a link to download it from your BlackBerry). Also, you can simply go to www.blackberry.com/facebook on your BlackBerry to download it directly.
• You can update your status, see your latest notifications and accept/decline friend requests through the Facebook BlackBerry app. However, one of the coolest and most used feature for me is the ability to directly upload and tag people in pictures from your BlackBerry. It's super easy and fully integrated into your BlackBerry menu once installed.
• One thing to be aware of is that the BlackBerry Facebook app takes a lot of memory to use and has been known to make my BlacBberry act a little funky sometimes. It has even gotten to the point to where I needed to take out my battery and restart the whole whole thing. But, this still isn't close to reason enough to not use it.
  
• There's never a dull moment once you install the Facebook BlackBerry app since it gives you the ability to scroll through everyone's status updates.

Twitter Apps

• TwitterBerry - This was the first Twitter BlackBerry app that I installed and I've been using it ever since. It's got a great user interface and is really easy to use, but the one thing that I wish it had was retweeting capability and more search functionality. I haven't updated my version for a while, so for all I know they might have added some of this functionality in.  

• Tiny Twitter - I eventually installed Tiny Twitter after hearing some friends talk about how awesome it was. I have used it ever since and even though I don't like it's overall user interface as much as TwitterBerrys, Tiny Twitter has some killer bells and whistles (like search, retweet, trending, etc.) that makes it definitely worth having on your BlackBerry.

Google Mobile App

Google Mobile App - The Google Mobile App allows you to integrate all of the following Google apps into one single location. By putting all of these apps in one place it makes them all much easier to use and will save you a lot of time whenever you need them for something.

Google Maps - You know that you love Google Maps on your computer, but having it on your GPS-enabled BlackBerry is even better because you can take it everywhere with you. By giving Google Maps to look up your current location you can find everything around you with just a few quick searches. It's quick, easy and free and it works great, so why wouldn't you add it to your BlackBerry?


Google Search - Before I installed this Google Search App I was always having to browse to Google on my BlackBerry Browser every time that I needed to search for something. But, with the Google Search App I can search for everything that I need quickly and easily and I can even search by voice if I don't feel like typing it in.


Google Sync - This might be one of the most helpful of the Google Apps that I've installed because it single-handedly manages all of my contacts and calendar appointments for me without me ever having to think about it. If you use Google Calendar, then this app will sync up anything that you add on your Google Calendar to your BlackBerry and anything that you add on your Blackberry to your Google Calendar. It also syncs up every contact that you put in either on your BlackBerry or into your Gmail account, so if you ever lose your phone your information will always be backed up.

Google Talk - If you chat with Google Chat/Talk as much as I do, then the Google Talk BlackBerry app is a must-have. Being able to IM with your friends, co-workers and family while on-the-go has become something that's very important for me, so this app has had a permanent place on my first row of shortcuts ever since I installed it.