Hello,

I've sat on it long enough and now it's time to let craicBerry loose!

Subject to advice from RIM the name may change but for now it's craicBerry.  You might remember that Julian Woodward suggested it; thank you Julian   I can't imagine for a minute that this app would cause the guys at RIM a moments concern (I've worked fairly hard on it) but you never know.

Little disclaimer:
I can't be sure what device you have, how much free memory you have, whether you are tied to a BES on are stand alone etc etc.  So please be assured that I've tested craicBerry and written as well as I know how but you must use it at your own risk!

Download instructions:
If you point your blackberry browser to this url you should be able to install over the air:

http://www.openCOD.org/openCOD/Ls2007Party.nsf/craicBerry.html  

If I add features etc you can upgrade using the same url.  The download for this version (1.2.5) is about 42 Kb I think.  At the moment the test data which you can download is around 2k or 3k.  craicBerry will confirm that size after the update anyway.  After the weekend I'll start adding real data so try updating from time to time

Before you read on:
Don't let the length of this post put you off installing and playing with craicBerry.  You might be interested in what follows you might not.  Don't feel that you have to read on at this point to get started, you don't.

What it does:
There are a few entries in the blog explaining the basic principles.  The basic idea: craicBerry tells you about events that are taking place during the Lotusphere week and gives you handy information about venues.  You can also subscribe to services that will try and put you in touch with like minded people and also create instant events which are circulated via email to other subscribers.

Usage and documentation:
I'm hoping it's fairly intuitive to use.  If you would like to see some documentation then please put a comment against this thread and I'll create some.  I think the biggest thing that needs explaining is the button behaviour.  Buttons will respond to the enter key and to a trackwheel/trackball (you lucky Pearl people!) click.  This means that if you have a button in focus a menu will not be created.  Simply move the focus and try again to get a menu. 

Troubleshooting Tip #1: Internet Access
If you are using a stand alone BlackBerry and have problems updating check out this entry at BlackBerryForums.com.

Troubleshooting Tip #2: Accidently denying access to the Internet
Just in case you accidently deny craicBerry access to the internet (like I just did) follows these steps:

1.   Choose Options\Security\Application Permissions from the application icons
2.   Choose craicBerry 2007 + click trackwheel
3.   From the menu options choose "Edit permissions"
4.   Expand Connections and select Carrier Internet, click trackwheel
5.   From the menu click "Reset Firewall Prompts"
6.   Exit all the way out

Next time you update you'll get prompted to allow internet access again.  Happy days!

Subscriptions:
Be aware that if you use the subscribe options today you will not recieve any daily messages about the groups you have subscribed to.  This is intentional.  The administrator is still working on the Directory Assistance piece.  It's likely to kick in during or after the weekend..

Privacy:
It's only fair to tell you that when you subscribe or send messages from the application you are also sending your BlackBerry devices' PIN number.  The reason for this is, in the unlikely event that we have someone abusing the system I want to have a way of preventing future abuse by that device.  All data, which means email addresses and Memo's will be deleted as soon as possible after Lotusphere.  I have no desire to keep the email addresses that you provide.  craicBerry is about exploring Domino and BlackBerry integration and providing you with a service that you'll hopefully find valuable.  It's not about getting information about you.  When you update you are not sending your device PIN, you are quite anonymous.  The groups are stored in a Domino Directory secured with normal Notes security.

This is a new application:
OK so this is the first year/conference I've tried this idea.  There are no doubt ways it could be improved.  I have thought of a few things (I'm an improver/tinkerer!). Maybe a daily news page or coupons for food and drink would be nice.  I want to keep it as light as possible since I'm not sure about the capabilities of the device you have.  Maybe next year we can really go to town   Let me know here or @ jasonhook AT openCOD.org if you have any comments, experiences that you'd like to share.  Same goes for any bugs you find.  I've worked quite hard to take care of problems I think might happen...

The Domino application:
If you go here: craicBerry on the web you can view the test data that's in there and perhaps add some test data of your own.  There is a view in the database that produces the XML for the BlackBerry & it only shows events that are taking place today or later.  So if you do create TEST data make the event date your today.  That way it'll expire the next day keeping things nice and clean.

The Domino db is not entirely my own work (that wouldn't make sense).  So thanks to Henry Newberry, Scott Good and Julian Robichaux for stuff they shared at Lotusphere or via the web.  Just to protect their good names: they haven't taken part in the development

The source code:
I'm going to make the NSF and the BlackBerry project available to download soon. That might mean later today, it might mean in the next couple of days.  Keep checking the blog for more information.  There's a good reason for wanting to share it with you, more about that later.

Fun stuff:
Hopefully you'll like using craicBerry anyway, but I've hidden a thinly veiled easter egg in the app.  It's not a picture of me (I don't think you'd thank me for doubling the size of the app just to get my ugly mug in it !).  I'm thinking of organising a little give away around the easter egg I let you know if I can do it.

If you read as far as this good on you!  I hope you enjoy craicBerry as much as I have enjoyed writing it  .

Bye for now!