RIM has released BlackBerry Bridge 2.0 in preparation for the launch of PlayBook OS 2.0. The Bridge 2.0 brings many new additions, including the Remote Control app. BlackBerry Bridge 2.0 and Remote Control have a few hidden features.
With the new Bridge 2.0 you can use your BlackBerry as an HID (Human Interface Device). This lets you pair any Bluetooth device, which support an HID profile.
Additionally, the Remote Control app lets you use some extra keys, these include:
- Ctrl Key
- Alt Key
- Shift Key
- Windows Key
- CapsLock
- ScrollLock
- NumLock
- PrintScreen
- Tab
- Arrow keys
- Function Keys – F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6, etc.
You can also use the Remote Control feature for changing slides during a presentation
Check out the quick look video of how BlackBerry Remote Control works on a BlackBerry and the PlayBook.
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Written by: Lucas Atkins
Tags: Bridge 2.0, PlayBook OS 2.0, Remote Control
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LOL in the video, I forgot the word ‘cursor’, oy vey!
windows key….? for what, exactly?
Windows Shortcuts of course!
Win by itself to bring up windows menu and type in a search
Win D Minimizes open windows and Shows desktop
Win-E Opens Explorer
Win R opens run dialog
Win U gives you Accesibility settings
Win Tab gives you window switching
There are more of course but those are the ones I use more often than not.
Not useless by any means
Thanks, I get using windows key in a windows environment, but when would you use a windows key on a playbook?
Or was lucas refering to using the remote to control a windows machine (which it can do… It’s just that he didnt make any references to using the remote to anything other than a playbook….)
I’m in love with it.
RIM needs to patent this tech before Apple or Android try to copy and steal it!
Three things I have noticed with Remote app (which btw is FREAKING awesome)..
1. I can’t scroll past the first pane on the home screen.. it would be nice if I could two finger scroll (like in web pages).
2. When in presenter mode, I can click the right button and it scrolls forward through picts… but when I click the left arrow, it doesn’t do anything.
3. Other than clicking the “x” with the cursor to close the app, there doesn’t appear to be a swipe gesture to close an app.
4. Displaying a pict from my BB to my PlayBook isn’t working.. I get an error message in the window that comes up.
Regardless of the minor issues I’m experiencing, RIM totally rocked this. I’m jacked up to see what other goodies OS 2.0 brings.
oops..I meant four. I had only 3 until I encountered the picture issue.
Wait for PB to get updates to OS2.0. Some things will work only then.
So to let you know you can swipe open apps off the screen. The way to do this to press and hold (don’t hold it till the drag lock pops up) for a sec and then just swipe it away. You can also do this when scrolling to see more apps on the home screen, or in the music, movies, and pictures apps. Comes in very handy. I actually discover this by per mistake but now use as if I knew it all along. This also works for moving between screens.
As far as the pics showing up when you want to open one on the pb that’s on your phone, I think that’s a OS 2 thing, but it works and its fast. Hope this helps.
got it working on my MAC…way to go RIM
would love to know how you were successful getting BBY Bridge to work with your MAC as I’m having issues and can’t find any tips, thanks!! Sara
So.. unfortunately my blackberry 9100 after updating to bridge 2.0 I get a blank screen when trying to remote control and my keyboard inputs aren’t registering, maybe I’m doing it wrong?
QNX OS 2.0.0.7971!!! Downloading!!!
Why would you need a remote control for something you can just pick up and use? I could see if your playbook was 5 feet tall and weighed 100 lbs or bolted to the wall, but this? Seems pointless.
I like to connect my playbook to my HDTV across the room and this is a huge addition for me.
a to the mazing