BlackBerry Desktop Software

Release Notes

6.1 b38

About this product

The BlackBerry Desktop Software works with BlackBerry devices to complete the following tasks:

  • Add, update, or remove device applications and BlackBerry® Device Software
  • Back up and restore your device data
  • Switch your device to a new BlackBerry device
  • Synchronize your organizer data
  • Synchronize your media

New features and enhancements

The new features and enhancements for the BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.1 include the following items:

Certificates

If your smartphone is associated with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you can download, import, and synchronize certificates between your computer and your smartphone.

Files

You can use the Files feature to copy files between your smartphone or tablet and your computer.

Media files

You can now synchronize and import encrypted media files.

Wi-Fi® music sync

You can use Wi-Fi music sync without launching the BlackBerry Desktop Software.

BlackBerry smartphones

You can add the following new smartphones to the BlackBerry Desktop Software:
  • BlackBerry Curve 9350
  • BlackBerry Curve 9370

Fixed issues

This section lists fixed or closed issues between the BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0.2 bundle 45 and the BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.1 bundle 38.

Installation/Connection

On occasion, you might receive the following error message when you update or install the BlackBerry Desktop Software: "BlackBerry Desktop Software has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. (DT 1062162)

If you install BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0, you can also install earlier versions of the BlackBerry Desktop Software. (DT 697124)

Backing up and restoring data

When you're viewing the progress screen during a backup, the amount of data that's being backed is incorrect. However, your data is still backed up. (DT 1230225)

In some cases, BlackBerry PlayBook tablet media files cannot be successfully backed up. (DT 1178499)

It takes at least a minute to cancel a backup when you disconnect your tablet during a backup. (DT 1006552)

Synchronizing organizer data

You might receive the following error message when you sync with Yahoo!®: "Error Encountered 0X80040FB3, Check Documentation". The sync fails to send information to your Yahoo! Organizer. (DT 1033062)

Upgrading your BlackBerry Desktop Software from version 5.0 to version 6.0 doesn't save your synchronization settings. (DT 762581)

The Help button in the following synchronization warning screen doesn't launch the help: "Synchronization is currently unavailable for: Calendar, Memo Pad, Address Book, Tasks". (DT 596963)

Switching your smartphone or tablet

If you're switching to a new tablet and you receive a prompt that there isn't enough space to complete the switch, clicking No keeps displaying the same prompt. You can't cancel out of the screen. (DT 1229385)

Media

If you're using a 64-bit Windows XP computer, you might receive the following message when you try to sync media: Your BlackBerry device is not compatible with this feature. This issue and workaround is documented in the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center: www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB26502 (DT 1227946)

Pictures

All pictures on your tablet, copied from one computer, are deleted when you add pictures from a second computer if you use the same user name. One set of pictures shouldn't be deleted. (DT 1216079)

The BlackBerry Desktop Software hangs after you cancel a synchronization with a large number of pictures and you restart the BlackBerry Desktop Software again. (DT 1175030)

Known issues

This section lists known issues for the BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.1 bundle 38.

Installation/Connection

The BlackBerry Desktop Software is minimized in the system tray even though that option hasn't been selected. (DT 1251560)

Mounted smartphones or tablets might not appear in Windows Explorer view if the drive was previously mapped to a different location. (DT 1218240)

Workaround: Reboot the computer to refresh the mounted smartphones or tablets in Windows Explorer.

The BlackBerry Desktop Software isn't maximized on your computer and you connect a smartphone that requires a password, the password prompt is hidden behind other applications on your computer. (DT 1087222)

Workaround: Minimize the other application screens and enter your password.

When setting up a new smartphone associated with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you don't receive a prompt for your administrator to add your mailbox to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server if it hasn't been added yet. (DT 1048093)

The storage information that appears on the last screen when you switch your smartphone or tablet or add a new smartphone or tablet isn't displayed if your smartphone or tablet fails to connect with the BlackBerry Desktop Software. (DT 743522)

BlackBerry PlayBook connection

The BlackBerry Desktop Software might not detect a connected tablet. (DT 1261056)

Applications

It might take longer than expected to display smartphone application information or smartphone application summaries. (DT 693806)

Backing up and restoring data

You receive an error when you back up your data and your smartphone or tablet name is longer than the hard drive file system limit or longer than the backup file name: "There was an error backing up. There could have been a problem with the device or connection during the backup. Verify that the device is turned on and connected." (DT 751826)

Synchronizing organizer data

Upgrading your BlackBerry Desktop Software from version 4.7 to version 6.0 shows a synchronization error and you can't sync your organizer data. (DT 762512)

If you disconnect your smartphone when your organizer data is being synced after clicking Sync All, you receive a synchronization complete status after receiving two errors, "Connector specific error" and "Unable to complete synchronization". (DT 735195)

When a Notes contact has been added with only a first name and no last name, you aren't notified that this contact will not be synchronized. (DT 599780)

The status of an attendee from an appointment with multiple attendees doesn't update on your smartphone when synchronizing from a Microsoft Outlook calendar. (DT 624882)

A priority for a posted task appears on your smartphone when you synchronize a posted task without a priority and the posted task isn't synchronized. (DT 648561)

A category for a posted task appears on your smartphone when you synchronize a posted task without a category and the posted task isn't synchronized. (DT 648559)

Switching your smartphone or tablet

While switching to a new device, the BlackBerry Desktop Software closes when you disconnect your previous device when you're restoring data to your new device. The data restore is stopped. (DT 1231932)

After backing up your data while switching your smartphone, if you click the back arrow to return to the Select optional data screen and change your backup options and then continue, your backup doesn't start again. (DT 757762)

Certificates

You have the option to sync a certificate that is marked non-exportable, even though this type of certificate can't be synced. (DT 1140159)

You aren't notified that the BlackBerry Enterprise Server is contacted when you're synchronizing your certificates and the Random Number Generator is turned on. (DT 1168511)

Media

Music

You can't view playlists with 255 characters created in Windows Media® Player; they don't appear in the BlackBerry Desktop Software. (DT 1156702)

Workaround: Use a shorter name for the playlists.

Videos

If you add a folder from a network drive, you don't receive the following warning message: "You have selected a removable storage device. If the drive letter changes, the BlackBerry Desktop Software will lose track of media. Are you sure you want to use this storage device?" (DT 1139377)

Localization

Installations fail with a Japanese user name and non-Japanese regional options on 64-bit machines. (SDR 322711)

Workaround: Change regional and language settings to Japanese.

Intellisync

The new Nickname and Home Fax fields are mapped by default when updating Intellisync. (SDR 354997)

Workaround: Clear the field mappings manually.

System requirements: BlackBerry Desktop Software

Hardware

  • Intel compatible 1GHz or higher processor
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • USB 1.1 or higher USB port
  • Screen resolution of 1024x768 or greater

Software

  • Microsoft Windows XP SP3 or later, Windows Vista®, Windows® 7
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 or an active Internet connection
  • iTunes 7.7.1 or later or Windows Media® Player 10 or later for music synchronization

BlackBerry smartphones

  • For media synchronization: BlackBerry Device Software 4.2 or later and a media card or built-in media storage
  • For the Wi-Fi® music sync feature: BlackBerry 6 or later
  • For other desktop features: BlackBerry Device Software 4.1 or later

Desktop email programs

For enterprise integration with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, one of the following email program requirements must be met:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007, or 2010 (corporate or workgroup installation) with an email account on a Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 SP 4 or later that can receive messages from the Internet
  • IBM Lotus Notes 5.0.6 or later with an email account on an IBM Lotus Domino Server 5.03 or later (5.0.12 or later recommended) that can receive messages from the Internet

Organizers

The following organizers are supported for use with Intellisync:

  • IBM Lotus Notes 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 8.5
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6, Windows Contacts (Windows Vista Address Book), and Windows Calendar (Windows Vista Calendar)
  • Novell GroupWise 6.5, 7
  • Yahoo!