For some reason the calendar on my BlackBerry kept defaulting to the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) group calendars whenever I created an event or Google Sync synchronized my calendar with my Google account. Obviously, this was very annoying because I didn’t want my private calendar entries to be shared with others.
Note: I strongly suggest that you back up all the data on your phone before doing this. Remember, you’re doing this at your own risk (don’t say I didn’t warn you)!
Method 1
To fix this, I had to delete the BBM application, and reinstall it.
Originally, I wasn’t able to delete the BBM application, because it was a “core” application, so I installed the latest version from BlackBerry App World hoping it would overwrite it as an “add-on” application.
After installation, I rebooted the BlackBerry, and deleted the application from the “Applications” menu under “Options” (the wrench). Again, I rebooted the phone.
I found that my calendar was still defaulting to BBM Groups – despite BBM being uninstalled. If you don’t have this problem, then awesome, reinstall BBM at this point. If you do, then go to “Options” –> “Advanced Options” –> “Default Services” and choose your account, and press the back button, saving your preferences. At this point I found that my calendar now defaults back to the proper account – not to BBM groups. I then reinstalled BBM, and everything was fine, and my group memberships automatically came back.
If it really matters, this was done on a BlackBerry Bold 9000 running OS 5.
Method 2
Now, I haven’t actually tried this method, so I can’t verify that this works – but this is what RIM’s support group on Twitter (@BlackberryHelp) suggested I do.
“To fix this issue you will need to create a backup and perform a security wipe and do not restore BBM groups: http://bit.ly/di72gD ^CB”
I’ve been working in a proper IT environment, away from a lab for a couple of months now (which is also why I haven’t been posting much). I’ve learnt a lot about myself, and a lot about the way things are run in the real world (as opposed to in the classroom/lab) with real users, in a production environment. It’s a completely different feeling when you know that everything you do can potentially affect a lot of people doing a lot of important things in your corporation.
This is definitely what I want to be doing in the future. Obviously, there are days where everything breaks, but that’s with any job. Currently, I’ve been doing a lot of projects involving security changes, as well as revamping some of our processes to make use of what we have more efficiently.
On my most recent project, which I started a couple of days ago, I’ve been using Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for hardware and software inventory. This product’s been around for quite a while – formerly being called SMS. We use it for distributing software, and generating reports on who has what, among other things. I’m trying to customize SCCM to hold our inventory information with a variety of things. It seems like an easy enough concept, but I’ve learnt that applying it is more complicated than trying to design a method.
I urge you to check out a more technical blog that my friends started, which I’ll be contributing to. This is more meant to be a place where we keep our notes for ourselves, either through our experiences or referencing other stuff we’ve found online; but hopefully this helps you. http://nerdy-notes.blogspot.com.
On a more personal note, classes are going to be starting up in another couple of weeks. I’m not sure what this fourth/final year is going to hold for me, but I’m definitely looking forward to my CCIE classes/labs and my Capstone Project. Computer Forensics sounds interesting as well!
For everyone starting classes, whether you’re in Elementary school, High school, Apprenticeship, or College/University; I’d like to wish you the best of luck for the upcoming year.
My dad and I just returned from a trip to Mumbai, India, visiting family, and reconnecting with old friends (well..my dad’s old high-school friends, who were pretty awesome). Even though I’ve been here many times before, this trip was not like any other trip I’ve had here. Even though I’m living with my family, and being around my family all day, I feel more like a tourist than a person on a family trip.
I got to see a lot of Mumbai this time, most of which I haven’t seen before. In the past, I usually just visited a few places that we usually visit, and that’s it. I always thought of Mumbai as a second home, but at the same time, didn’t like it because a lot, if not all of the very little places I’d seen were noisy, congested, polluted, and dirty. Also, I was sheltered to a lot of things; and always told to be careful of everything and everyone.
This time, however, I learnt a lot and got to see Mumbai and the people that live here in a different light (given, a lot of Mumbai is still noisy, congested, and polluted. It seems a lot cleaner than when I was last here though). For example: even though people on the road seem to be in a rush to go everywhere, and people can’t seem to stay in the lanes while driving; everyone is still very helpful to one another to provide directions, etc. and there are no hard feelings for not giving someone way, etc.
Another moment that I though was quite touching(?) inspirational(?) I’m not sure of the word, but either way it showed true selflessness:
My Dad and his friend, who they call "Lamboo"
We went to see the colony where my dad was brought up, where we saw an old friend of his who used to work at a laundromat opposite to my dad’s old building. Turns out he owns it now. When they saw each other, he recognized my dad immediately, got up greeted him and hugged him. Not once did he ask “what did you bring me?” or anything of that sort; instead he said “materials don’t matter, they’re just going to break or get lost anyways. What’s important is that we’re healthy, and that we’re together. Come on, let me give you some daal and roti, you must be hungry by now”. For some reason, it doesn’t sound as spectacular in English as it did in Hindi. But trust me, when he said it, he said it in a way that would have opened anyones eyes to true friendship. To him, it wasn’t about what my dad could offer him, but what he could offer my dad.
Anyways, other than that sort of stuff, I spent the two weeks mostly exploring Mumbai, and visiting family. I got to see the Gateway of India, Lions Gate (where my Grandfather used to work), Victoria Terminus, the naval dockyard colony (where my dad was brought up), and a whole bunch of other places that I’m too lazy to list right now…
In any case, the trip was awesome, I had a lot of fun, and I got to see a lot of things that I haven’t seen before in Mumbai. My only regret is having stayed only two weeks. I wish I could have stayed longer, to see more, and to enjoy the life there. Mumbai has changed drastically from when I was a kid, and I can’t wait for the next time I go there to see what else has improved.
I just uploaded some pictures to my flickr (they’re really bad quality…most were taken from a moving car..), have a look. I’m not done uploading all the pictures yet.
P.S. I just want to say thanks to my family who put up with us for two weeks. And a special thanks to my cousin Laxmi’s husband Hari and their son, Varun for driving us around Mumbai, and spending a lot of their time showing me around.
A couple of friends of mine were asking about this, so I figured I’d post it on here.
Those of you that know me know that I primarily use Google Chrome as my primary web browser, and have been using it for quite a while now. To me, Chrome’s convenience and speed outweigh the resource usage.
I find that Chrome makes me more productive than most other browsers do, as a huge part of my day is spent on the laptop, and usually browsing the web for research, etc.
A lot of people prefer Firefox for the use of it’s plugins (Firefox has a TON of plugins), but Chrome’s extension gallery is growing day by day, and a lot of useful plugins have been ported from Firefox to Chrome.
Here’s some Chrome’s plugins that make my day a little more productive:
AdThwart - Uses the AdBlock+ engine from Firefox to block annoying popups, and ads. (AdBlock works just as well on Chrome, but not AdBlock+)
AutoPager Chrome – Automatically loads the next page on a website with multiple pages (i.e. Google) just by scrolling to near the bottom of the page
Feedly – I was looking for a good RSS reader forever, and I was finally satisfied when I came across this. It uses Google Reader’s API to pull your RSS feeds from Google, and displays it in a really nice, organized, presentable view
Firebug Lite – A port of Firebug, from Firefox. Not as clean as the original Firebug, but still useful. I use it for checking over my code when I design websites, etc. Usually I leave it disabled until I need it.
IE Tab – Allows you to run Internet Explorer’s engine within Chrome to be compatible with websites who require Internet Explorer (like sites that use ActiveX). I keep this one disabled as well until I need it
One Number – checks Google Reader, Gmail, Google Voice, and Google Wave for your inbox updates
Xmarks Bookmarks Sync – Yes. I’m aware that Chrome is able to sync bookmarks natively, but I like Xmarks for the reason that I can have those same bookmarks on Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc. Chrome’s built-in bookmarks synchronization is really good, but as far as I know, it’s limited only to sync bookmarks within Chrome.
My friend Justin let me know about the “Dorito’s Viralocity” competition to name the new Dorito’s Flavour. Justin’s friend decided that it would be awesome if he could win the competition, and donate all the money to charity.
