BlackBerry® Curve™

[traildog]

My Blackberry Curve 8530 has stopped saving pictures even though the display appears to indicate the pics are being saved. There is also plenty of memory left. I have no idea why this is happening.

On another point, browsing through the various community forums, it appears that, for the most part, blackberry phones are 1) either too complicated for most of us to operate; or, 2) that the phones don't really work all that well. No wonder the company charges for service.

Why do we let give money to Blackberry and our carriers when it appears the main way that they make money is by screing us?

[CoryH]

A Blackberry (as well as any smart phone) is no more complicated to use than a household computer. And just like those household computers there will always be some who have a great deal of difficulty using it well, while others the opposite. Furthermore, technology isn't perfect. There will always be bugs and weird problems because of the human factor to the production. We are all prone to mistakes.

Anyways, in order to try to assist you I'm sure everybody would need to know some other bits of information. What version is your OS (Options>About)? Exactly how much available memory do you have?

[traildog]

If you buy a device and it does not work properly, then the customer should have real and free access to the company in order to fix it--especially under warranty. Apparently, we are expected to not have these expectations.

I have 64.6 MB of free memory space. I'm not sure which line refers to the operating system in options-about.

[sdgardne]

Hello,

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traildog wrote:

If you buy a device and it does not work properly, then the customer should have real and free access to the company in order to fix it--especially under warranty. Apparently, we are expected to not have these expectations.

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You do...but not direct from RIM. By contract, all formal support is provided by the carriers and authorized resellers, including warranty support. RIM provides zero free front line support. The carriers have received enhanced training on BB's and also have the ability to escalate, at no cost to you, your case into RIM. That is the way it works.

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traildog wrote:

I have 64.6 MB of free memory space. I'm not sure which line refers to the operating system in options-about.

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There are three types of potential memory on a BB: 1) Application Memory, 2) Device Memory, and 3) Media/SD Card Memory

Application Memory -- This is the most crucial; it is the protected (not user accessible), dedicated, and fixed (in size) space that is available as the destination for the installation of applications (plus some application storage, overhead and such). You cannot touch AppMemory. You cannot improve the maximum AppMemory that your BB has. It is what it is. Applications can only install here...there is no option.

Device Memory -- This is space on your BB that you can touch to store files, pictures, media, etc. Typically, it is not terribly large, but it is available to you.

SD/Media Card Memory -- This is what it says...your SD card, for you to store files, media, pictures, etc. It can be as large as your BB OS can support...see this KB:

• http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB05461

On some devices/OS levels, you can only see "File Free" (Options > Status), which I think is equivalent to AppMemory. On other devices, you can see all three memory usage levels (Options > Memory). Here are some guidelines to use:

• http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB15345
• http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB14320
• http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB14213

Lastly, it is always important to properly close applications when you are done with them. Using the Back or the Red key will not do this -- those leave it to the app to decide what to do...and some will leave themselves resident in memory, consuming resources on your BB, slowing the overall performance. Rather, to close an app, press and select "Close" or "Exit"...that will force the application to be closed, freeing up for your new use the resources it was consuming. Some apps will always remain running (typically -- BBMessenger, Browser, Homescreen, Phone, and Messages)...but, you should still close them properly - especially the Browser...if it is left on an active web page, it will not only consume extra resources but battery power as well.

Further, anytime random strange behavior or sluggishness creeps in, the first thing to do is a battery pop reboot. With power ON, remove the back cover and pull out the battery. Wait about a minute then replace the battery and cover. Power up and wait patiently through the long reboot -- ~5 minutes. See if things have returned to good operation. Like all computing devices, BB's suffer from memory leaks and such...with a hard reboot being the best cure. Some have taken to doing this on a regular basis as a preventive measure...some as frequently as once per day. Others have obtained the QuickPull app to automate a simulated Batt-Pull.

Best and Good luck!