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Web surfing with a BlackBerry has improved dramatically with the newer models. With higher screen resolution and bigger real estate, your BlackBerry should give you one good mobile Web-browsing experience. And if you have the latest model that has a 3G connection, your Web browsing should be much faster. Remember that by using Page view on your BlackBerry, where the Web page displays like it does in your PC Web browser, you can maintain the browsing habits you have on your PC, but in a smaller package.
The Web site recommendations here are based on reviews in the public domain and sites that help when you're on the go.
Weather
You can keep up with weather changes at these sites:
* AccuWeather.com: AccuWeather.com provides the local weather forecast.
* Weather.com: Weather.com is smart enough to know that you're using a mobile device and displays a nice, trim version of its page with a few links to non-weather@@ndrelated information.
If these two sites aren't enough, check out the "Search Engines, Directories, and Portals" section, later in this chapter. Major portals have weather information as well as traffic alerts and airport delays.
News
Most major news companies have mobile versions of their sites. This section gives you a sampling of what's out there. We list the same Web address you'd expect when browsing from your desktop. These sites detect that you're using a smart phone and redirect you to the mobile-friendly version of their sites:
* ABC News: Get ABC News on your BlackBerry.
* BBC News: Read the BBC News right from your BlackBerry, even if you're not in the United Kingdom.
* CNN : This is CNN's mobile-friendly Web site.
* Reuters: This is a mobile-friendly version of the Reuters site.
* The New York Times : This automatically points you to The New York Times mobile-friendly Web site, a site that's clean and easy to navigate, without a lot of advertisements.
* USA Today : USA Today, one of the most popular newspapers, is now available for free from your BlackBerry.
* Wired News : Wired News is the mobile version of this tech-news Web site.
Search Engines, Directories, and Portals
In this section we list Web portals, which are sites that contain various information or links to other sites:
* Google : The king of search engines works like a charm on your BlackBerry.
* MSN : You can access MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger, and an online calendar. MSN has all the features that you can find in a Web portal, such as Web search, weather lookup, sports information, and news. Plus you get MSN's finance-related pages, which give you up-to-the-minute stock quotes.
* RIM mobile home page : This is the default home page setting for most BlackBerry browsers. The service provider can customize it, though, so your BlackBerry browser may point to your service provider's home page. RIM's home page is definitely a place to start browsing the Web.
You should definitely bookmark this site.
* Yahoo! Mobile: Yahoo! is a smart portal because it knows you're using a mobile device and formats the page accordingly @@md meaning a smaller page with no advertisements. The portal site allows BlackBerry users to employ regular Yahoo! functions, such as Yahoo! Mail, Messenger, Finance, and Games, as well as driving directions and weather.
This is another site you should bookmark.
Business
You can keep up with the latest news in the finance world from your BlackBerry. Visit the following sites for finance-related articles and news:
* BusinessWeek Online: This is a place to get great finance information.
* Fidelity : Fidelity is an online investment brokerage firm.
* Yahoo! Finance: This is a great site for checking the performance of your stocks.
Travel
Every site in the following list of BlackBerry-accessible travel sites features flight status and gate numbers. Some allow you to log in (if you're part of the airline's frequent-flier program) to access frequent-flier benefits:
* Air Canada:
* American Airlines:
* British Airways:
* Cathay Pacific:
* Continental Airlines:
* Delta:
* JetBlue
* Northwest Airlines:
* United Air Lines:
* Any airline:
Also check out these travel sites:
* TripKick: Don't be so excited about getting a good deal on a hotel only to end up in a crummy room. TripKick tells you who has the best rooms and who doesn't.
* WikiTravel: This is one of the most up-to-date and complete travel guides on the Web.
Sports
Tired of missing updates on your favorite sport while on the go? You don't have to. Visit the sports-related sites that follow and you'll get the scoop on what's happening with your favorite team:
* CBS Sports Mobile: If you're active on CBS Fantasy Team, you'll be happy to know that you can log on and view your stats from this Web site. Popular U.S. sports are covered here.
* ESPN: Everyone knows ESPN. This is the mobile version of its Web site.
Advice and Self-Help
Looking for ways to save time and get your questions answered? Check out these sites:
* HowCast: With a dose of humor, this site is a world of how-to videos.
* Omiru: This site offers practical fashion advice for the common person.
* Yahoo! Answers: Here, you can get all sorts of creative, amusing, and helpful responses to your questions @@md advice that's free.
* Zeer: No need to stand in the supermarket comparing nutritional labels; do it here.
Social and Virtual Networking
For those of you who are (or aren't yet) addicted to social networking sites, we list a few of the most popular ones here. If your favorite site isn't listed, don't fret; just search for it with a search engine:
* Friendster: This site is popular in Southeast Asian countries and is open to people 16 and older.
* LinkedIn: LinkedIn caters to professional and business relationships. You'll find people publishing their bios on their profile.
* Multiply: This site claims to focus on real-world relationships and is open to anyone 13 and older. It's a popular site for teenagers.
* Orkut: Orkut is a social networking site run by Google. It's open to anyone 18 and older, and it requires Google login credentials. This site is popular in Latin America and in India.
* Windows Live Space: This is a social networking site run by Microsoft. It's open to everyone and requires a Hotmail or Windows Live login.
MySpace and Facebook both have an application you can download from RIM's Web site. Point your browser to mobile.blackberry.com and navigate to IM & Social Networking.
Shopping and Shipping Information
Shopaholics can keep it up online even when they're not in front of the PC. Check out these sites:
* Amazon: With Amazon Anywhere, you can shop and check your account information right from your BlackBerry.
* eBay: You can bid on goods from the convenience of your BlackBerry.
* FedEx tracking: This mobile version of the FedEx Web site allows you to track packages from your BlackBerry.
* Gas Buddy: You can find the nearest gas station that sells the cheapest gas.
* ILikeTotallyLoveIt.com: This is shopping with a twist. Shoppers post things they like, from wasabi gumballs to DeLorean cars, and solicit opinions on posted sale items from other members.
* UPS tracking: Like FedEx, UPS has a mobile version of its Web site that allows you to track packages from your BlackBerry.
Other Browsing Categories
When I ran the macros to figure out the page count, we're about three lines over. The wcities entry didn't fit. That doesn't mean it has to be deleted. You could delete any three lines on this page and we'd be all set. If you delete something on the preceding page, that would work too. Get much further away and I can't say for sure because of the headings, which sometimes push text to the next line.
You can visit the following sites from your BlackBerry to get more information on various topics:
* BlackBerry Cool: A competitor to CrackBerry (see the upcoming bullet), BlackBerry Cool is one of the pioneers in providing great reviews of BlackBerry applications.
* BlackBerryGoodies: Go here from your BlackBerry or your PC to get information on customizing your BlackBerry, read BlackBerry application reviews, and find answers to your BlackBerry-related questions @@md from the authors of BlackBerry-related For Dummies books!
* CrackBerry: Go here to discover the latest BlackBerry news, communicate with other BlackBerry users, find BlackBerry accessories, and read application reviews and BlackBerry-related articles. Without a doubt, this site is one of the most active BlackBerry communities.
* MiniSphere: You find useful links designed for mobile devices here.
* MizPee: When you gotta go, you gotta go. This site locates the nearest clean public bathroom.
* Starbucks Locator: This site helps you locate the nearest Starbucks so that you can meet your buddies or get a dose of caffeine.
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