BlackBerry Avatar Builder is back in App World with v1.0.1

A few days ago, we let you know about the free BlackBerry Avatar Builder that RIM released into BlackBerry App World. Shortly after its release, the app was pulled from App World with no explanation, leaving many people wondering why. After all, it was an official release from RIM, and it didn't have any obvious glitches or bugs, so it was a bit of a mystery to everyone. Well, not everyone... the app was brought up on the last CrackBerry Podcast, and Kevin mentioned it was likely pulled because, unlike all other apps developed and released by RIM, the Avatar Builder didn't make you agree to a lengthy EULA before using it.

Lo and behold, the Avatar Builder is back in App World today with an update to v1.0.1. I installed the update, and fired up the app, and guess what? Kevin was right, as usual. The miles long EULA popped up right away. So for those of you that tried to download the application and couldn't because it had been removed from App World, go ahead and give it a try now.

Download Avatar Builder Guys Edition
Download Avatar Builder Girls Edition

CrackBerry Podcast Episode 071: It can only get better from here... we hope!

Following up Thursday's RIM earnings call, which has resulted in a lot of BlackBerry gloom and doom talk around the interwebs, we fired things up Friday afternoon for a Live CrackBerry Podcast. In case you missed it live, here's the recording of that show for you to listen to at your leisure.

Take fair warning BlackBerry fans, this podcast is a little depressing and a bit all over the place more than usual due to the nature of recording with a live chatroom active, though it still has its moments of positivity and humor mixed in. During the show we reflect on the past few years of BlackBerry, talk about where things have been going wrong that put them in position they are now in, we talk about what's happening right now and from there we talk about what they're going to have to do to change the negative sentiment that's plaguing RIM at this moment. It's a bit of a downer, but it had to happen, we kept it honest and we're confident it's only going to get better from here. We're always rooting for BlackBerry to kick a$$, even when things are going a little less stellar than planned. Take a listen, and be sure to sound off in the comments! The next show will be uber positive once again, I promise!

Review: Carbonite for BlackBerry smartphones

 

Carbonite Inc has been around since 2005. The company provides a nearly effortless way to back up and restore data on your computer. In fact, their motto is simply “Back it up. Get it back”. The days of not backing up your personal data are over, and have been for quite some time, so why aren’t you? There are many different options to consider; Carbonite is one to definitely look at. As far as security goes, they use 128-bit Blowfish encryption to keep everything locked down tight. They can handle all user generated files, no matter if you are looking at backing up a few documents, 200 GB of music or more.

As far as BlackBerry goes, they’ve added a few updates to their Carbonite application not too long ago. Through the Carbonite app, you can browse through, download and email practically any file you have backed up from your PC to your account. Is this the type of access you are looking for? Let’s take a peek.

 

Before you get started, you have to set up an account and install Carbonite on your computer. During the setup, you will be asked to give your computer a nickname and identify it as either a server, laptop or desktop. You can then choose what you want to back up – you can specify which files (documents, spreadsheets, presentation, images, music, etc) or folders you want. You can also select Programs files, email, settings and contacts, as well. Depending on what you have selected, your initial back up could potentially take hours. I initially selected 608 files to back up (roughly 0.33 GB) and it took 10-15 minutes or so.

 

Of course what we are more interested in is what the heck does this have to do with BlackBerry? Carbonite has a free application that acts a doorway to your backed up files. In the BlackBerry app you will be asked to select which computer you want to work with, if you have more than one set up. The files are organized just was they were on your computer – in their proper folders and directories (of sorts). In my case, the music I selected to be backed up weren’t technically in my Music folder on my computer. Files are displayed in a list by default, but you can switch the view to thumbnail quite easily. To further this, images can be viewed as thumbnails or you can download to view them in full screen mode. Each file will display its size and the date it was last modified.

 

Pulling up folders and files is a little sluggish. Downloading an image with a file size of 893kb takes nearly 30 seconds. Now with Carbonite, you can hit Send in the menu in order to download then attach them to an outgoing email. I guess you can’t use the excuse that the file you need is at home can you? When accessing audio files, you have the option to save or stream them. It seems to only take a few seconds for the file to play. I found that I wasn’t able to skip forward or back, as it continued to get caught up while buffering.

  

In order to access your account on your BlackBerry, you will need to provide the associated email account and password. In the settings menu, you can enable the application to automatically log you out, after a specific period of inactive time. Carbonite also includes a saved file section, which is said to be for quick access and offline viewing. It essentially downloads the file as normal, but doesn’t necessarily store it in the typical directories, and forces you to access the application to view it. I was a little disappointed that I was not able to upload any files from my BlackBerry. Similar services, such as DropBox and SugarSync, allow users to do so. I am hoping to see these options added to Carbonite soon.

The application is free, but requires an annual subscription for the service. Carbonite gives you unlimited backup space for $59 per computer per year. They do offer a free 15 day trial to see if it works for you. To compare, SugarSync offers various packages from a free 5GB plan to a 500 GB plan for $399.99 per year. DropBox offers start from a free 2GB plan to a 100 GB plan for $19.99/month. Services vary between each company; some may offer real-time upload of changes, others cannot back up every folder.

 

Despite not being able to upload my own files from my BlackBerry, I could appreciate the accessibility to my backed up files that I did have. Essentially, it comes down to how many options you want to have, and how much storage. If you want unlimited space with a few less features, it’s hard to argue with the $59 per year value. The Carbonite app is free from BlackBerry App World.

Official Carbonite site
More information/download Carbonite from BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry Bedside Mode, do my bidding!

Shhh. It's bedtime, time to charge your BlackBerry. Over the next few hours, both you and your smartphone will get some much needed recharge time. You'll lay your head upon a pillow, falling into a deep sleep. Your BlackBerry will sit nearby, silently suckling the electric teat of its charger or nesteled comfortably in its charging pod. All is quiet and peaceful in your world.

2:38 a.m. BRRRRRIIINNNNGG! An email arrives. You wearily open one eye to see that LED blinking. Blinking. BLINKING. You try to ignore it but to no avail. You've been trained (in a fashion) to respond immediately to that indicator light. Opening the "important" message, you find it's another email begging you to come back to Xbox Live. Ugh. You try to fall back asleep, but this night's constant bombardment of "special" offers "just for you" has just begun. In desperation, you hurl your BlackBerry out of the window and finally, mercifully fall back to sleep.

Without Bedside mode on your BlackBerry, this could be your night. Thankfully, we do have Bedside mode. As soon as you start charging your BlackBerry, the clock opens and soon dims into what I call a "quiet clock." The LED turns off and (sometimes) notifications are turned off. The BlackBerry becomes the perfect nightstand companion, silently doing nothing more than display the clock.

But what if you don't want that? What if you just want to charge the smartphone? What if you want some messages to sound alerts while others don't? Maybe you like the blinking LED. Can Bedside mode be set up just the way you like? You betcha.

 

 

One of the defining characteristics of your BlackBerry is the sheer number of options available to you. There are options to customize your messages, options to customize your home screen, options to customize the way you type. Basically, you have it within your power to make your BlackBerry your BlackBerry.

Bedside mode on your BlackBerry is a good example of this. Let's take a look at some of the ways you can customize the experience. Start the clock application. There are four different ways to do this, but the easiest is to find the icon on your home screen. Once it has started, press the menu key to open the Options.

 

Your BlackBerry's battery loves to be charged. No harm will come to your smartphone if you charge it during the day and at night. Entering Bedside mode during the day could be a problem. Calls, emails, and BBM's could go unnoticed. To do this, restrict Bedside mode to starting only during certain hours of the day. If Bedside mode is only permitted to run from 11:00 p.m. to 7 a.m., it won't enter that mode when you charge it at 1:30 p.m. The clock will still display, but the phone won't be in Bedside mode.

 

This option is set to yes by default, but you can change this if you desire. This option turns off the LED during Bedside mode. Not only does this prevent the standard red LED from flashing, but it prevents other apps from using the LED as well. That way, the strobe lights from BeBuzz won't wake you during your rest.

 

 

When my BlackBerry charges, only two things get through: Phone calls and certain emails. Of my ten email accounts, only one makes any sort of noise. BBM's, Tweets, SMS (Text) messages? Not a peep is heard from them while in Bedside Mode. I created a custom sound profile to only let those types of messages through. Then, I set that as the profile to use during Bedside mode. Although I created a custom sound profile, you can also choose from the standard profiles as well. 

When your phone enters BSM, it will switch to the desired profile. When it exits, your BlackBerry returns to the profile it was using before Bedside mode.

 

As with most options on a BlackBerry, you can simply turn off Bedside mode. Inside those clock options, you can select what your BlackBerry will do while charging. Will it enter Bedside mode? Just show the clock? or Do nothing at all. The choice is yours.

 

 

All in all, this all boils down to the ability to control your BlackBerry the way you want. With the possible exception of BES-connected phones, I doubt any two BlackBerry smartphones are configured in exactly the same way.  So now the question remains, how do you make your BlackBerry into your CrackBerry?

Distimo Tells You What Words NOT to Use in Your App Name

 

A friend of mind sent me this interesting blog post by Distimo highlighting what words developers should not use in their application name. They base this on the fact that if you use these words you will not only get lost in the thousands of apps but will also lack any distinction. Personally I think that is a big deal because many users find recommended apps in App World by searching for a word or two of the name. On the other hand some apps specifically want to be confused this way.

After stripping away the noise they found that these were the top 25 words used in all app names across all of the major app stores for each device:

They also had some fun tracking how the worlds Angry and Birds have become more popular since Angry Birds first came out in December of 2009. Funny stuff… Check out the chart at the top of this article to see what I mean.

So devs just make sure not to call your app the Live Sexy Pocket City Girls Puzzle App or at least give me some credit for coming up with it.

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Notifier Sends BlackBerry Notifications to Your PC or Mac over Wi-Fi

Notifier is an interesting new app to hit App World. The concept of the app is that it sends notifications from your BlackBerry to your PC or Mac from your BlackBerry over Wi-Fi. While there have been apps that do this in the past I am kind of digging the notifications on this one and the use of Wi-Fi. Right now it seems to only do notifications for phone calls, SMS, and battery alerts but hopefully more will come soon with email and the ability to view the email.

There is a desktop and BlackBerry app that work together to make the magic work and for $0.99 it is a pretty cool app. Check out Notifier in App World at this link.

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CrackBerry Live Podcast - State of the BlackBerry Nation - Listen Live Right Now!

Status: Recording Live Now. Feel Free to Participate in the Chat Below.

Giveaway: Win 1 of Two BlackBerry PlayBook Cases From DICOTA

We recently told you about the BlackBerry cases from DICOTA and today we are featuring the BlackBerry PlayBook cases. While at BlackBerry World we fell in love with the stylish designs they were showcasing and we reached out to them to see if we could get our hands on some. Thanks to DICOTA two of you will be rocking your PlayBook on one of these cool looking cases.  These cases are not yet available to purchase but DICOTA and BerryReview are giving you a chance to be one of the lucky one’s to sport these cases.

The first case is a carrying case for your PlayBook called TabCover. The Tab cover is a slip-in sleeve.  The features include:

Link to website

 

TaBook: This is one of our favorite designs it that can be transformed into a stand while the PlayBook is kept safe inside.

Link to website

 

Giveaway: For a chance to win one of the cases simply leave a comment below before Monday June 20. Only one comment per person is allowed. Good luck.

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Choice and Control - BlackBerry Bridge and BlackBerry Balance

 

BlackBerry Balance should really be called BlackBerry You-Shall-Not-Pass or BlackBerry Wall, but I imagine Balance looks a bit better in the marketing materials. BlackBerry Balance isn't an application, it's an idea. Your Work life and Personal life can coexist on the same device, but they must always remain separate. Corporate data is sensitive data, no matter the size or operation of a company. Letting that data roam free amongst personal applications could be a disaster.

BlackBerry Balance is the wall that allows corporate data to be used on personal devices. This means a company can be secure in letting people bring their BlackBerry smartphone in "off the street" and use that phone on the secure corporate network. Running on a Blance'd smartphone or tablet, applications know when they're using work data; they won't allow it to be transferred to personal applications. Copy and Pasting work data into a tweet? Not with BlackBerry Balance you're not.

Balance demonstrates the high level of control, flexibility, and security offered to BlackBerry Enterprise Server administrators, executives, and users. BlackBerry Bridge, BlackBerry Balance, and the Enterprise Catalog of Applications in App World give network administrators choice without compromising security.

 

 

BlackBerry Bridge is a secure window allowing the BlackBerry PlayBook to view information coming from the smartphone. Many might see this application as a crutch, providing temporary access to messages, calendars, and the like. BlackBerry Bridge isn't going anywhere; it and native applications will exist side-by-side on the PlayBook. Bridge represents a choice for BES Admins.

The very first time a smartphone and PlayBook are connected the two devices work together to create the BlackBerry Bridge pairing key. If the two devices don't agree on the key or if the device goes out of Bluetooth range, Bridge'd applications are immediately locked. If the smartphone is connected to a BES, Bridge'd apps inherit all of the rules from the BES; and all of the data displayed on the PlayBook is considered work data.

Work data is stored in a separate, encrypted file system using the BlackBerry Bridge work key to encrypt and decrypt data that is cached or stored for use on the tablet.  This is not a separate area of the file system, the work file system is completely separate from the personal file system.  The BlackBerry Bridge work key is not stored in persistent memory on the PlayBook; the key is only stored on the smartphone. If the PlayBook is stolen or lost, work data remains encrypted as the key to decrypt it is not stored on the tablet.

 

Right now, this very minute, an administrator running BES 4.0 and higher has two options when it comes to BlackBerry Bridge. One: prevent Bridge from running on the smartphone, Two: permit it. Applications Bridge'd to the tablet inherit the same security rules as the BES connected phone. Cashed data on the tablet is encrypted with the BlackBerry Bridge work key.

In the near future, Research In Motion will release the PlayBook Administration Service as a free-add-on to BES 5.0; administrators will have the option to directly manage the PlayBook. BlackBerry Balance on the PlayBook, is a big part of that. Admins will be able to push data, apps, and security rules to the business side of the tablet while ignoring the personal side.  

As with BlackBerry Bridge, work data is stored in a completely separate file system and encrypted.  Work data and Personal data do not mix on a Balance'd PlayBook.  At any time, the BES administrator can destroy business data and disassociate the device from the enterprise network without affecting the personal side of the device.

 

Research In Motion has always striven to give its customers the ability to choose - both at the enterprise and consumer levels. With a wide variety of form-factors, the BlackBerry appeals to many different people and usage scenarios. With BlackBerry Bridge and BlackBerry Balance, administrators have new choices when it comes to devices on the network. Personal smartphones can be added to the network without compromising security.

Admininstrators will soon have even more choices when it comes to deploying the BlackBerry PlayBook on their corporate networks. BlackBerry Bridge represents a simple and effortless expansion of the secure corporate network on to the tablet. With no intervention required, the corporate user's tablet can take advantage of the existing security rules on the smartphone to display information without compromising security. Or, with one small change to the BES policies, the administrator can prevent Bridge from being used on BES-connected devices.

PlayBook Administration Services and BlackBerry Balance will add an additional option of control for BES connected tablets. Even provisioning an individual user's personal BlackBerry PlayBook will be permitted with BlackBerry Balance and the security features built in to that system. In the end, it is up to the network administrator to determine how devices will connect to and use the corporate network. Bridge and Balance simply allow that administrator more control than ever before.

How to Diagnose Your PlayBook Wi-Fi Connection & View Status

  

I have had quite a few users ask me similar questions in the last few weeks so I thought I would address it with a simple post. There is a nice and slightly hidden set of features in the Options->Wi-Fi menu that you can access if you click on the little Wi-Fi icon with the question mark at the bottom left of the Options->Wi-Fi menu pane.

Say for example you want to know what the current speed of your connection is to your access point then hit the drop down menu and select “Wi-Fi Information.” Then scroll down to connection data rate. For some reason mine always shows 24Mbps even though my laptop is reporting 130Mbps in the same location.

From that dropdown menu you can also access you Wi-Fi logs to see what is going on. You can also diagnose your PlayBook Wi-Fi internet connection by testing it out with a Ping or checking on the routing with a traceroute or DNS Lookup. I don’t understand why RIM didn’t make that option button a bit bigger but there is a load of information in here.

Let us know if you find any other tips like this!

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WordRival v1.4 Adds Push Alerts

WordRival is one of the better cross platform Scrabble-like games available for BlackBerry. I just got a notification from our store that the app has been updated with a much needed feature. Until now you had to have the app open to get next play notifications but now you get push alerts when it is your turn even if the game is closed.

You can pick up a free trial of the game at www.aztux.com or the full version of WordRival in the store for $4.99 ($3.99 on sale)

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Carphone Warehouse UK Has Some Fun Demoing the BlackBerry PlayBook

 

With the BlackBerry PlayBook launch this week in the UK the Carphone Warehouse had some fun demoing the device on YouTube. The video is part of their Eye Openers channel so it definitely is not a run of the mill demo. They focus on the gestures but they definitely seem to be having fun at the same time.

Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link

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Further Explanation on Why we are Waiting Sooo Long for BlackBerry 7 Smartphones to be Released

Reflecting upon Thursday evening's RIM Q1 Results and earnings call, the pieces finally fell into place so we can more accurately tell the story of why it is taking so long for RIM to bring the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and other next-generation BlackBerry Smartphones to market.

On the historic call, which featured both Co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis delivering the results commentary and tag teaming the Q&A period, the following was what Mike had to offer in regards to the lull in new BlackBerry phones:

We were already well down a development path to the next-generation BlackBerry handsets when we realized that in the US the features and performance arms race demanded that we upgrade the chipset and port BlackBerry to a higher-performance platform. This was an engineering change that affected hardware and software timelines and pushed out entry into carrier certification labs.

It's only two short sentences, but if you've followed the BlackBerry development path for a few years there's a lot you can gather from them. Specifically, Mike is saying that devices like the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 at their design inception were not originally intended to get the 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset that they are going to launch with. That makes sense considering we've been hearing about devices like Magnum and Onyx III since before that chipset even existed.

From what I've gathered, RIM was originally going to continue to use Marvell for at least one more generation of their top of the line GSM BlackBerry Smartphones, bumping up from the current 624MHz found in devices like the Bold 9780 to 800MHz likely via the Tavor MG-1 (and on the CDMA side going with something like the Qualcomm MSM 8655 800GHz). With RIM typically having a pretty big lead time on their device development cycle, the progression from 624MHz up to 800MHz fits the way they have rolled out platform upgrades over the years.

But someone at somepoint in recent months must have woken up one morning and realized that 800MHz would be laughable in their top tier devices compared to the onslaught of high-end specs being ushered in by Android phones, so relegated 800MHz to the low end (BlackBerry apollo/sedona - the new Curve) and realized they needed to do something more compelling for their flagship devices. With Marvell's offerings looking lackluster compared to Qualcomm's, for RIM that meant a big undertaking relatively late in the commercialization cycle of these new devices as they would be abandoning Marvell.

RIM has always treated the development of their GSM and CDMA devices independently, as the devices were on different chipsets. Just think back over the years as to how GSM and CDMA BlackBerry devices would launch at different times and even physically look different (think Bold 9650 and Bold 9700) and could have significantly different performance. For CDMA, RIM would just license Qualcomm's radio stack, but on the GSM side RIM wrote their own - one of the reasons why that Bold 9700/9780 has always gotten such awesome battery life as RIM maintains finite control over the part that can eat the battery away quickly. Again wanting to maintain control over their radio stacks, this late change to Qualcomm meant RIM having to re-write that code for the new chipset, and in doing so, must then go through the technical acceptance process with carriers all over again. That again explains why on the call Mike said this is some of the best code they've written to date, and that why once one devices gets approved it should move quick from there (it probably also explains why RIM is pretty confident the smaller 1230mAh battery in the 9900 will still get good battery life - they're killing it with the code). Now having only one chipset to worry about for both GSM and CDMA will definitely speed things up for RIM down the road once they get through the process one.

Beyond the radio side, RIM would also would have had to put a ton of time into adapting the BlackBerry OS for some of the other features offered by the new chipset, like the dedicated GPU which RIM is tapping into to power what they have dubbed as "liquid graphics." Yet another reason for the delays, which I'll save for another article to dive into, could be the fact RIM forgot about phones for a little bit while they worked around the clock to push out the PlayBook.

Thinking back to when I first went hands on with the new touch Bold at BlackBerry World in May, I pretty much felt that was a device that RIM could put on sale right then and there (and I probably would have bought ten). Sure, it still had a few little bugs, but it felt ready enough for me. After yesterday's earnings call, I get the sense that it's ready enough for RIM too at this point, but they just need to finish getting through this TA process yet again. 

So if you're reading this and happen to work for a carrier in the T.A. department and test this stuff out, do CrackBerry Nation a favor and approve it fast! I want my BlackBerry Bold 9900 aready!

Avoid Eating Veggies in OmnomBot for the BlackBerry PlayBook

While everybody else is going green the OmnomBot is doing all he can to avoid any vegetables. The developer of the popular Aqulux game, Milkman games, let us know about their release of OmnomBot for the BlackBerry PlayBook. The game has a fun premise of making sure the OmnomBot does not eat any vegetables and only eats the good stuff. Maybe there is some subliminal messaging going on here…

Not the most complicated game but definitely fun to pass the time. OmnomBot is available in App World for $1.99.

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How to Install Country Restricted PlayBook Apps in App World

Most people who live outside of the US and Canada have usually experienced BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook apps that are not available in their country. While there are a few drastic things you can do to change that on BlackBerry smartphones there is a relatively easy way to bypass this restriction on the BlackBerry PlayBook. It all involves using HTTP proxies to make RIM’s App World servers think you are in the country where the app is restricted to.

Keeper was kind enough to list out how exactly to pull this off in the forums and I highly recommend you check it out if you have a PlayBook and live outside the US. It involves using free or paid HTTP proxies and is pretty easy to setup. Let us know if it works for you!

PS: If you already pay for a VPN service to access content in the US (Hulu, Pandora, etc) you may want to try it out instead.

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Keep safe in the car with Speed Limit Alarm

 

Ever start driving down the highway, music blasting, windows down and next thing you know you look down and you are going 15 to 20 over the speed limit? Don't worry, you aren't the only one, sometimes it is to easy to get in the zone, and want to just go without checking the speedometer, but gone are those days. Speed Limit Alarm is a great app for any BlackBerry lover who spends a lot of time in the car, and the concept behind it is quite simple. The application contains a built in analog speedometer which users can set the speed of the designated roads (prior to begining your journey to keep it safe) and if your vehicle reaches this speed and exceeds it the device will beep alerting the driver they have exceeded the limit. For 99 cents this is a great safety application that should be installed on every BlackBerry to ensure that while on the roads you are alert and aware of your speed easily.

More information / purchase of Speed Limit Alarm from AppWorld

Should RIM Fire the Lawyers and Hire Developers?

One of the most interesting parts about yesterdays earning call and fiscal stats was that RIM announced a “Cost Optimization Program” that spells bad news for some of RIM’s 17,000+ employees. Cost Optimization according to RIM will involve streamlining operations across RIM and will include a headcount reduction. While reading what RIM meant by this I could not help but think of a certain department at RIM that I always love to hate. Read RIMs goals for the Cost Optimization Program and tell me what you think:

I have been hearing from contacts at RIM for awhile now that this sort of headcount reduction was in the cards simply to trim the non-performing departments. The thing is that every time I read that list of goals for RIM I can think of one department at RIM is notorious for running counter to all of those goals. I am sure by now you realize I mean RIM’s legal department.

While I concede that RIM’s NTP $612 million settlement was a setback it really set RIM on the wrong path. I have not heard of one project or initiative at RIM that was not held up in some way by RIM legal. When you hear RIM employees talk about the bureaucracy and red tape for a product launch or service update once again we usually have RIM legal to thank.

That makes me wonder if maybe the first department RIM should “Streamline” is their overeager legal department. Sometimes I think that department gets paid by the word to write disclaimers and user agreements in every language. I am not trying to advocate these people losing their jobs or say that all of RIM legal is expendable but that is definitely in the top three in need of streamlining. RIM seems to have three classes of lawyers. The CYA (Cover Your Ass), patent application, and litigation defense. I understand the latter two but they really need to break out of the CYA model. Its one thing to protect the company but maybe they would be better off teaching the lawyers how to develop BlackBerry apps… to accelerate new product introductions.

Feel free to discuss it more in this forum thread

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Free QR Code Scanner for the BlackBerry PlayBook

 

The PlayBook has not had a proper QR code scanner until now. Chris let me know about a new app called QR Scanner by Tobias Rothe that just hit App World which works very well. Hopefully RIM includes QR code scanning in the PlayBook APIs in the future but until then check out QR Scanner below.

Download QR Scanner in App World

Right now the app lets you see the text in the QR code and if it is a URL you can choose to open it in the browser. More features are promised to come but will probably have to wait until RIM releases more API’s.

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Giveaway Winners! MEElectronics In Ear Headphones With Microphone

Last week I posted a review and contest for 3 pairs of MEElectronics M9P in ear headphones. The response was great and I wish we had more to give away to you guys. The 3 lucky winners of these solid headphones courtesy of MEElectronics are:

Congratulations to the winners! For those who didn’t win, check out these headphones currently on sale for only $24.99!

Stay tuned for more from MEElectronics!

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BlackBerry theme roundup for June 16, 2011 - Win 1 of 30 free copies of HeartBeat by Walker Themes!

Hey everyone, welcome back to the BlackBerry Theme Roundup! If you have developed a theme you want to share or be featured in the contest, or if you just see a really good one out there somewhere, send it in! Send an email to themeroundup[at]crackberry.com for consideration. In the meantime, check out this week's picks and enter to win a free copy of HeartBeat by Walker Themes! Contest details after the break.

Colored Textures Theme series by Cindy's BlackBerry Themes
BlackBerry Curve 3G owners, this is for you! Cindy of Cindy's BlackBerry Themes has designed a series of 8 different colored themes, all incorporating textures (mesh, metal, and leather) and BB7 icons to give each screen a unique feel. You can still enjoy the layout and functionality of BB6 while giving your BlackBerry a bit of a facelift. You can pick up this theme in black, blue, brown, green, orange, purple, red or yellow for just $1.99 each.
For more information/screenshots and to purchase any of the Textures Theme Series

 

Captain Jack Sparrow by IOneStudios
Are you a fan of The Pirates of the Caribbean, and Captain Jack Sparrow? Now you can carry that love on your BlackBerry, with the Captain Jack Sparrow theme by IOneStudios. BB7 icons sit against completely custom backgrounds featuring the famous pirate. The banners are unique and perfectly matched to the theme, and I love the skull and crossbones focus icon. You can snatch up this theme for $2.99 for your BlackBerry 8330/50i, 85xx, 89xx, 9000, 91xx, 93xx, 95xx, 96xx, 97xx, and 9800.
For more information/screenshots and to purchase Captain Jack Sparrow

 

Legend by MMMOOO
MMMOOO is back again, this time transforming your BlackBerry with Legend, a fantastic new dashboard type theme in black and red. They took the BB7 icons and recolored them with red to match perfectly with the other elements of the theme. You get a dock of 5 icons next to your clock and battery/signal meters (which are completely customized) on the home screen. It doesn't end there, as you also have access to 3 folders (phone, media and utilities) each with their own sets of applications inside. You really can't go wrong with MMMOOO products, so if you're looking for a change, check out Legend. It's available for $4.99 and compatible with  your BlackBerry 82xx, 50i, 85xx, 89xx, 9000, 91xx, 93xx, 95xx, 96xx, 97xx, and 9800.
For more information/screenshots and to purchase Legend

 

Lumin by Mobster Mobile Design
Lumin is a super stylish, functional theme that everyone should have on their device!  Quick access to all your apps right from the home screen.  All devices have a hidden dock with 4-5 user-defined icons, including one static icon for your favorite app on the home screen.  Also, there is a sliding screen which includes your messages and calendar icons and a hidden today preview area with 4-5 entries.  Included are two static icons on the home screen to access your profiles and connections area. Lumin is an elegant theme in grey and orange and one you will really enjoy using on your BlackBerry. Also included is a free ringtone! Lumin is currently on sale in BlackBerry App World for just $.99 (regularly $4.99) so grab this one while it's reduced! It's compatible with BlackBerry 8900, 9000, 9100/05, 95xx, 9630/60, 9700, and 9800.
For more information/screenshots and to purchase Lumin

 

HeartBeat by Walker Themes
HeartBeat by Walker Themes keeps getting better and better.  I've shown you this theme twice now, and I don't usually like to repeat things, but this time, Walker Themes wants to give you guys free copies, so I didn't think anyone would mind! There are tons of great features in HeartBeat that make this an awesome theme, and you have 4 different variations to choose from. You can pick either blue or pink, with text or BB7 icons. All of them combine that sexy two-tone clock, hidden dock, and clean minimal look throughout. I personally love this theme, and return to it again and again. HeartBeat is available on sale for $2.99, regularly $5.99. The theme is compatible with BlackBerry 8350i, 85xx, 89xx, 9000, 91xx, 93xx, 95xx, 96xx, 97xx, and 9800.
For more information/screenshots and to purrchase HeartBeat

Contest: As I said, we have 30 copies of HeartBeat to pass on to you guys, courtesy of Walker Themes! To enter, leave a comment below. One per person please! We'll choose winners this Sunday at midnight PST! Good luck!

RIM Launches Global BlackBerry PlayBook Community Through The Beta Zone

Ashley let us know that rim has launched a Global BlackBerry PlayBook Community. This community is only to encourage users to share their PlayBook experience so if you were hopping they will release beta OS to consumers it does not look like it. Through the site users can get access to news, helpful hints, and provide feedback. It does have a download section but I believe they just added that for fun since they specifies the following:

Please note: 

• This is not a beta program and no beta software will be released in this community. 
• This community is not a replacement for your regular Playbook support channels.

The site already has a few helpful sections with information with problems with:

If you want a place to share your ideas, frustrations, or simply discus PlayBook related information head over to the BlackBery Beta Zone at this link.

More on BerryReview

RIM Earnings Call Live Blog and Chat! [ Now Over ]

Live Blog in top Window, Open Chat Below!

Mike Lazaridis Addresses Delays of new BlackBerry Smartphones on Earnings Call

As we sat in the the Research In Motion First Quarter Fiscal 2012 earnings call today, Mike Lazaridis took the time today to address the concerns surrounding delays with new BlackBerry smartphones. Some of the highlights from that call can be found below:

RIM realized through their product development that consumer demand had shifted, and as such -- required new hardware and new chip sets to be adapted to the BlackBerry platform in order to stay competitive.

With the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM put resources forward to that launch and working on the QNX OS -- given the time frames needed, if QNX was to be ported to BlackBerry Smartphones it would have left RIM with no smartphone lineup for all of 2011.

Technical carrier acceptance was an issue at the time, and things have moved slowly in that area. Once one device meets carrier requirements -- all devices running the same OS (BlackBerry 7) should see rapid acceptance and ultimately release.

Looking at the information provided on the call, RIM was deep into their development cycle but then realized the shift in the smartphone market and as such, needed to adjust their upcoming line-up. This took time, which in turn also took more time to due the need of meeting carrier demands as well. But, the devices are coming and once they start rolling out, they will all be rolled out together rather then a staggered release.

BlackBerry PlayBook - 500,000 units shipped but what could have been done better?

Having both co-CEO's at Research In Motion on the investors call today was quite a change from the norm -- typically it's just one or the other. That said, having both Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis on the call gave us all a better perspective of things happening within RIM. As it stands right now, RIM has shipped 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks but they neglected to mention the number of PlayBooks were sold, even going to so far as to say they didn't know -- shipping items and selling items is totally separate, if we glance back to Kevins predictions on the BlackBerry PlayBook sales they're starting to sound more accurate as the information comes forth.

When questioned about the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook, Jim Balsillie stated he wouldn't have changed all that much, if anything and that RIM wouldn't have done it any differently. RIM was criticized throughout the media for the launch of the PlayBook and while Jim notes it could have been a more polished launch and the intial product to be better, but there wasn't anything to gain by delaying it, everyone was working hard as they could to get it out and much of this was lost on the medias representation of the PlayBook. Jim also noted, that the BlackBerry PlayBook has the best in class hardware and with the OTA system they've now implemented the product will continue to show it's strength as it grows but these features which are highlights for the platform was lost in communication throughout the media.

Needless to say, there are few things that could have been done better with the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook but -- I, personally agree that delaying it would not have helped the matter any. What would have helped would have been better forecasting of the situation at hand plus, having all the tools needed to develop on the PlayBook up and ready but that would have come with better forecasting. Waiting for the BlackBerry Player, Android Player and Native SDK has had a negative impact here and wil continue to until those things arrive. By then though -- some of the interest will have waned off. I love my BlackBerry PlayBook but there is a tough road ahead for RIM after todays announcements. I realize they're working on things to improve the situation but evidently -- it's not fast enough to meet demands of the users.

Research In Motion Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results & Revises Full Year Guidance

RIM today had their Q1 Fiscal 2012 conference call where they announced revenue amounts and changes, device shipments and revised their full year guidance. While BlackBerry PlayBook shipments seem to have hit their mark and do well, other marks previously estimated by analysts weren’t. According to the conference call, RIM is going to work on a restructuring or “head count reduction and reallocation of resources” but they don’t intend to make cuts to crucial areas. Also, neither of the Co-CEOs will be stepping down or changing roles as previously reported by some news sites. Here are the highlights from the report:

For more info check out the full press release below and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Press Release

ANNOUNCES PLANS TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS AND ACCELERATE NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM), a world leader in the mobile communications market, today reported first quarter results for the three months ended May 28, 2011 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP).

Highlights:

Q1 Fiscal 2012 Results:
Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $4.9 billion, down 12% from $5.6 billion in the previous quarter and up 16% from $4.2 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 78% for hardware revenue, 20% for service and 2% for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 13.2 million BlackBerry handheld devices and approximately 500,000 BlackBerry Playbook tablets.

“Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter.” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM’s business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012.”

Net income for the quarter was $695 million, or $1.33 per share diluted, compared with net income of $934 million, or $1.78 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and net income of $769 million, or $1.38 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year.

The total of cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $2.9 billion as of May 28, 2011, compared to $2.7 billion at the end of the previous quarter, an increase of approximately $170 million from the prior quarter. Cash flow from operations in Q1 was approximately $1 billion. Uses of 1 Includes revenue outside of the U.S. and Canada cash included intangible asset additions of approximately $560 million, capital expenditures of approximately $220 million and business acquisitions of approximately $30 million.

Cost Optimization Program:
The company also announced that it will begin a program to streamline operations across the organization, which will include a headcount reduction. This realignment will be focused on taking out redundancies and a reallocation of resources to allow us to focus on the areas that offer the highest growth opportunities and align with RIM strategic objectives, such as accelerating new product introductions. We expect to implement this program beginning in the second quarter with the benefits impacting results primarily in Q3 and beyond. Any one-time charges associated with this initiative are not included in our Q2 and full year outlook but will be identified and disclosed when we report our second quarter results.

Share Repurchase Program:
RIM’s Board of Directors today also approved a share repurchase program to purchase for cancellation through the facilities of the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) or by way of private agreement up to 5% of RIM’s outstanding common shares. The share repurchase program may commence after July 10, 2011 and will remain in place for up to 12 months or until the purchases are completed or the program is terminated by RIM.

The price that RIM will pay for any shares purchased over NASDAQ will be the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. The share repurchase program will be effected in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which contains restrictions on the number of shares that may be purchased on a single day, subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, based on the average daily trading volumes of RIM’s shares on NASDAQ. Any purchases made by way of private agreement may be at a discount to the prevailing market price at the time of purchase, and would be subject to regulatory approval.

RIM’s Board of Directors believes that a share repurchase program at this time is in the best interests of RIM and its shareholders, and will not impact RIM’s ability to execute its growth plans. Any shares
purchased under the program will increase the proportionate interest of, and may be advantageous to, all remaining shareholders of RIM.

The actual number of shares purchased, the timing of purchases, and the price at which the shares would be bought under the share repurchase program will depend on future market conditions and upon potential alternative uses for cash resources. There is no assurance that any shares will be purchased under the share repurchase program and RIM may elect to suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

Q2 and Full Year 2012 Outlook:
Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 ending August 27, 2011 is expected to be in the range of $4.2-$4.8 billion. Gross margin percentage for the second quarter is expected to be approximately 39%. Earnings per share for the second quarter are expected to be $0.75-$1.05 diluted, excluding any one-time charges. Earnings per share for the full year fiscal 2012 are now expected to be between $5.25-$6.00 diluted, excluding any one-time charges or share repurchases.

Conference Call and Webcast:
A conference call and live webcast will be held beginning at 5 pm ET, June 16, 2011, which can be accessed by dialing 1-800-814-4859 (North America), 416-644-3414 (outside North America). The replay
of the company’s Q1 conference call can be accessed after 7 pm ET, June 16, 2011 until midnight ET, June 30, 2011. It can be accessed by dialing 416-640-1917 and entering passcode 4445546#. The conference call will also appear on the RIM website live at 5 pm ET and will be archived at http://www.rim.com/investors/events/index.shtml.>

About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry withthe introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are usedby millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter mostthroughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in NorthAmerica, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market(NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws, including: statements relating to RIM’s revenue, gross margin and earnings expectations for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 as well as its earnings expectations for fiscal 2012; its plans to streamline operations and accelerate new product introductions; its plans and expectations relating to its cost optimization program; its current expectations for earnings growth in the later part of fiscal 2012; new product introductions and timing; anticipated growth opportunities relating to new products and technology; and RIM’s intentions with respect to the share repurchase program and RIM’s expectation that its strong balance sheet and expected cash flow generation will enable it to effect the share repurchase program without adversely affecting its growth plans. The terms and phrases “plans”, “continuing”, “expect” “outlook”, “believe”, “will”, “intend”, and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances including but not limited to general economic conditions, product pricing levels and competitive intensity, supply constraints, new product introductions, RIM’s expectations regarding its business, strategy and prospects, RIM’s beliefs regarding the value of its shares and the investment community’s perception thereof, RIM’s expectations regarding its continued commitment to the share repurchase program, market conditions, RIM’s confidence in the cash flow generation of its business over the next several quarters and regulatory requirements. Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks relating to RIM’s intellectual property rights; RIM’s ability to enhance current products and develop new products and services; risks related to delays in new product launches; RIM’s ability to implement and realize the anticipated benefits of its cost optimization program; risks related to intense competition; RIM’s reliance on carrier partners, third-party manufacturers, third-party network developers and suppliers, including potential risks to RIM’s supply chain for functional components caused by the recent earthquake in Japan; risks relating to network disruptions and other business interruptions; RIM’s reliance on key personnel; risks related to third party manufacturers and RIM’s ability to manage its production processes; risks related to RIM’s international operations; security risks and risks related to encryption technology; potential defects in RIM’s products; RIM’s ability to manage inventory and other asset risk; RIM’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand; RIM’s ability to successfully compete in the tablet market; RIM’s ability to manage growth; difficulties in forecasting RIM’s quarterly financial results, particularly over longer periods given the rapid technological changes, evolving industry standards, intense competition and short product life cycles that characterize the wireless communications industry; fluctuations in the market price for RIM’s shares; RIM’s ability to comply with regulatory requirements relating to the share
repurchase program; and future alternative uses for RIM’s cash. These risk factors and others relating to RIM are discussed in greater detail in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F and RIM’s MD&A (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). In addition, it is important to note that the share repurchase program does not require RIM to purchase a minimum number of shares, and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

New BlackBerry Product Introductions Delayed Till Very Late Part Of August, Says RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie

During RIM’s Q1 Fiscal 2012 conference call today they confirmed some not so good news about upcoming product launches. I know many of you are anxious to get your hands on a BlackBerry Bold 9900 or Bold 9930 as soon as possible especially since the original announcement was it’s “expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer”, but it looks like we’ll have to wait till the very end of summer for these and the 4G PlayBooks:

“Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter.” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM’s business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012.”

New BlackBerry product launch delays have happened before and while some challenges can take it completely out of RIM’s hands, I’m still a bit disappointed but hopeful especially since I’ve seen and played with the Bold 9900 and have had a great experience with the PlayBook tablet. For more info Check out the Q1 Fiscal 2012 press release here or to listen to the conference call replay check here after 7PM ET today.

RIM Says 4G PlayBooks Delayed Until Fall, BB7 Devices to Miss Back To School Specials

Today RIM announced their Q1 earnings where they addressed some issues and their plans for the future. I had the chance to listen in and took a few notes and below is some of what I remember from it.  Some things said were not much of a surprise to everyone is that RIM is having a tough time with their transition from their old software system to the QNX system to power what they are now calling QNX Super Phones.  Both Co-CEO’s were present during the earnings call which is a bit out of normal for them and they both also answer questions during the Q&A session.

Some of the key points from the call include:

RIM’s guidance for the future looks a bit cloudy, with expected earnings of  $4.2 – $4.8 billion in revenues, with earnings per share dropping to $0.75 – $1.05 . If you like to listen to the call yourself there will be a replay of the conference call will also be available at approximately 7 pm by dialing (+1)416-640-1917 and entering passcode 4445546#. This replay will be available until midnight ET June 30, 2011.

More on BerryReview

Mike Lazaridis Addresses New BlackBerry Delays on Earnings Call

As we sat in the the Research In Motion First Quarter Fiscal 2012 earnings call today, Mike Lazaridis took the time today to address the concerns surrounding delays with new BlackBerry smartphones. Some of the highlights from that call can be found below:

RIM realized through their product development that consumer demand had shifted, and as such -- required new hardware and new chip sets to be adapted to the BlackBerry platform in order to stay competitive.

With the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM put resources forward to that launch and working on the QNX OS -- given the time frames needed, if QNX was to be ported to BlackBerry Smartphones it would have left RIM with no smartphone lineup for all of 2011.

Technical carrier acceptance was an issue at the time, and things have moved slowly in that area. Once one device meets carrier requirements -- all devices running the same OS (BlackBerry 7) should see rapid acceptance and ultimately release.

Looking at the information provided on the call, RIM was deep into their development cycle but then realized the shift in the smartphone market and as such, needed to adjust their upcoming line-up. This took time, which in turn also took more time to due the need of meeting carrier demands as well. But, the devices are coming and once they start rolling out, they will all be rolled out together rather then a staggered release.

RIM Reports Q1 Fiscal 2012 Results – Ships 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks

The market is going a bit crazy for RIM with this odd guidance but there is some good news. RIM has shipped approximately 500,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks in the first quarter. That is not how many are sold but how many were shipped to channels. RIM has also announced that they are “streamlining” their organization by “lowering headcount.” That doesn’t sound good. Lets see what comes out of the conference call. They also mention that there are delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August. Now that would suck.

Here is the details:

Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter.” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM’s business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012.

Check out the press release below:

Research In Motion Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results and Revises Full Year Guidance

Announces Plans to Streamline Operations and Accelerate New Product Introductions
Board of Directors Approves Share Repurchase Program

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 16, 2011) – Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM), a world leader in the mobile communications market, today reported first quarter results for the three months ended May 28, 2011 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP).
Highlights:

Q1 Fiscal 2012 Results:

Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $4.9 billion, down 12% from $5.6 billion in the previous quarter and up 16% from $4.2 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 78% for hardware revenue, 20% for service and 2% for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 13.2 million BlackBerry handheld devices and approximately 500,000 BlackBerry Playbook tablets.

“Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter.” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM’s business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012.”

Net income for the quarter was $695 million, or $1.33 per share diluted, compared with net income of $934 million, or $1.78 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and net income of $769 million, or $1.38 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year.

The total of cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $2.9 billion as of May 28, 2011, compared to $2.7 billion at the end of the previous quarter, an increase of approximately $170 million from the prior quarter. Cash flow from operations in Q1 was approximately $1 billion. Uses of cash included intangible asset additions of approximately $560 million, capital expenditures of approximately $220 million and business acquisitions of approximately $30 million.

(1) Includes revenue outside of the U.S. and Canada

Cost Optimization Program:

The company also announced that it will begin a program to streamline operations across the organization, which will include a headcount reduction. This realignment will be focused on taking out redundancies and a reallocation of resources to allow us to focus on the areas that offer the highest growth opportunities and align with RIM strategic objectives, such as accelerating new product introductions. We expect to implement this program beginning in the second quarter with the benefits impacting results primarily in Q3 and beyond. Any one-time charges associated with this initiative are not included in our Q2 and full year outlook but will be identified and disclosed when we report our second quarter results.

Share Repurchase Program:

RIM’s Board of Directors today also approved a share repurchase program to purchase for cancellation through the facilities of the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) or by way of private agreement up to 5% of RIM’s outstanding common shares. The share repurchase program may commence after July 10, 2011 and will remain in place for up to 12 months or until the purchases are completed or the program is terminated by RIM.

The price that RIM will pay for any shares purchased over NASDAQ will be the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. The share repurchase program will be effected in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which contains restrictions on the number of shares that may be purchased on a single day, subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, based on the average daily trading volumes of RIM’s shares on NASDAQ. Any purchases made by way of private agreement may be at a discount to the prevailing market price at the time of purchase, and would be subject to regulatory approval.

RIM’s Board of Directors believes that a share repurchase program at this time is in the best interests of RIM and its shareholders, and will not impact RIM’s ability to execute its growth plans. Any shares purchased under the program will increase the proportionate interest of, and may be advantageous to, all remaining shareholders of RIM.

The actual number of shares purchased, the timing of purchases, and the price at which the shares would be bought under the share repurchase program will depend on future market conditions and upon potential alternative uses for cash resources. There is no assurance that any shares will be purchased under the share repurchase program and RIM may elect to suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

Q2 and Full Year 2012 Outlook:

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 ending August 27, 2011 is expected to be in the range of $4.2-$4.8 billion. Gross margin percentage for the second quarter is expected to be approximately 39%. Earnings per share for the second quarter are expected to be $0.75-$1.05 diluted, excluding any one-time charges. Earnings per share for the full year fiscal 2012 are now expected to be between $5.25-$6.00 diluted, excluding any one-time charges or share repurchases.

More on BerryReview

RIM Earnings Call Live Blog and Chat!

Live Blog in top Window, Open Chat Below!

Press Release: Research In Motion Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results and Revises Full Year Guidance

Here are the numbers! Be sure to turn into our Earnings Call Live Blog and Chat for analysis!

Press Release

Announces Plans to Streamline Operations and Accelerate New Product Introductions

Board of Directors Approves Share Repurchase Program

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 16, 2011) - Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM), a world leader in the mobile communications market, today reported first quarter results for the three months ended May 28, 2011 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP).

Highlights:

Q1 Fiscal 2012 Results:

Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $4.9 billion, down 12% from $5.6 billion in the previous quarter and up 16% from $4.2 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 78% for hardware revenue, 20% for service and 2% for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 13.2 million BlackBerry handheld devices and approximately 500,000 BlackBerry Playbook tablets.

"Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter." said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "RIM's business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012."

Net income for the quarter was $695 million, or $1.33 per share diluted, compared with net income of $934 million, or $1.78 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and net income of $769 million, or $1.38 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year.

The total of cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments was $2.9 billion as of May 28, 2011, compared to $2.7 billion at the end of the previous quarter, an increase of approximately $170 million from the prior quarter. Cash flow from operations in Q1 was approximately $1 billion. Uses of cash included intangible asset additions of approximately $560 million, capital expenditures of approximately $220 million and business acquisitions of approximately $30 million.

1 Includes revenue outside of the U.S. and Canada

Cost Optimization Program:

The company also announced that it will begin a program to streamline operations across the organization, which will include a headcount reduction. This realignment will be focused on taking out redundancies and a reallocation of resources to allow us to focus on the areas that offer the highest growth opportunities and align with RIM strategic objectives, such as accelerating new product introductions. We expect to implement this program beginning in the second quarter with the benefits impacting results primarily in Q3 and beyond. Any one-time charges associated with this initiative are not included in our Q2 and full year outlook but will be identified and disclosed when we report our second quarter results.

Share Repurchase Program:

RIM's Board of Directors today also approved a share repurchase program to purchase for cancellation through the facilities of the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) or by way of private agreement up to 5% of RIM's outstanding common shares. The share repurchase program may commence after July 10, 2011 and will remain in place for up to 12 months or until the purchases are completed or the program is terminated by RIM.

The price that RIM will pay for any shares purchased over NASDAQ will be the prevailing market price at the time of purchase. The share repurchase program will be effected in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which contains restrictions on the number of shares that may be purchased on a single day, subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, based on the average daily trading volumes of RIM's shares on NASDAQ. Any purchases made by way of private agreement may be at a discount to the prevailing market price at the time of purchase, and would be subject to regulatory approval.

RIM's Board of Directors believes that a share repurchase program at this time is in the best interests of RIM and its shareholders, and will not impact RIM's ability to execute its growth plans. Any shares purchased under the program will increase the proportionate interest of, and may be advantageous to, all remaining shareholders of RIM.

The actual number of shares purchased, the timing of purchases, and the price at which the shares would be bought under the share repurchase program will depend on future market conditions and upon potential alternative uses for cash resources. There is no assurance that any shares will be purchased under the share repurchase program and RIM may elect to suspend or discontinue the program at any time.

Q2 and Full Year 2012 Outlook:

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 ending August 27, 2011 is expected to be in the range of $4.2-$4.8 billion. Gross margin percentage for the second quarter is expected to be approximately 39%. Earnings per share for the second quarter are expected to be $0.75-$1.05 diluted, excluding any one-time charges. Earnings per share for the full year fiscal 2012 are now expected to be between $5.25-$6.00 diluted, excluding any one-time charges or share repurchases.

Conference Call and Webcast:

A conference call and live webcast will be held beginning at 5 pm ET, June 16, 2011, which can be accessed by dialing 1-800-814-4859 (North America), 416-644-3414 (outside North America). The replay of the company's Q1 conference call can be accessed after 7 pm ET, June 16, 2011 until midnight ET, June 30, 2011. It can be accessed by dialing 416-640-1917 and entering passcode 4445546#. The conference call will also appear on the RIM website live at 5 pm ET and will be archived at http://www.rim.com/investors/events/index.shtml.

The CrackBerry Guide to Great Gifts for Grads

 

It's that time of year again folks. Time for students to bid adieu to those long nights cramming, writing and studying and transition into the real world. Whether they are graduating to the next level or joining the work force, we've put together a list of some BlackBerry goodies to help them on their way. From devices to accessories to apps - we have it all in one place so you can find just what you need for that special grad in your life.!

 

 

First things first be sure to pick up a shiny new BlackBerry device. Nothing says congratulations than a brand new toy to play with. Better yet, with all the new devices scheduled to hit the market this year why not give them an IOU for a brand new Bold 9900. It's definitely something the Crack Team is looking forward to. Although I'm with Joseph and want the Torch 2.

 

After graduating the first thing I did was slack off on the couch. GTD apps are just the thing to help them focus and put things in order. Just10Minutes lets them keep track of meetings, interviews, and assignments. It also creates personalized categories, sets due dates, and integrates with the native BlackBerry task application. Just10Minutes offers a free trial and is $3.99 at the CrackBerry App Store for all devices.

More information / purchase Just10Minutes  
Our review of Just10Minutes 

 

Take it from me student loans are due pretty quickly after graduation. SmartBudget for the BlackBerry PlayBook is just the app to help track expenses and create a budget so that you'll never miss a monthly payment. It's available at BlackBerry App World for $2.99.

More information / purchase SmartBudget by Quang Nguyen  

 

My company recently started using social networking sites to recruit new hires. Open up a job seeker premium account and download the free LinkedIn App today to start browsing through opportunities. I also recommend purchasing Xobni Pro (the Super Address Book) for $1.99 as it integrates with LinkedIn and is a great way to keep track of their new business contacts. 

More information / purchase Xobni from the CrackBerry App Store
More information / purchase Xobni from BlackBerry App World
Download LinkedIn for BlackBerry

 

Running around Manhattan looking for job wasn't easy. What helped me get by was listening to my music. Now that Slacker has launched their new premium radio with on-demand services pick them up a subscription so they can listen to all their music on the go. Take it with you on your PlayBook or on your BlackBerry device. 

More information / download of Slacker 
Purchase a Slacker Radio Subscription 

 

To keep their brain in shape, pick up MobileQs Trivia Game. It comes with an assortment of categories, difficulty levels, hints, and a leader board which is sure to keep their mind in top form. MobileQ is available at the CrackBerry Store for $1.99. It's compatible with all devices running OS 4.5 and higher and is currently 50% off.

More information / purchase MobileQ's Trivia Game  
More information / purchase expansion packs 

 

There's a reason why it's the Swiss Army Knife of BlackBerry Apps and voted Best OS Enhancement App 2010 by CrackBerry. It's because it takes your device to the next level. Why be limited to just one convenience key when you can create your own shortcuts. With an easy to use interface and a built-in screen shot app it is a must have for your device. QuickLaunch is currently $4.99 at the CrackBerry App Store.

More information / purchase QuickLaunch  
Our review of QuickLaunch 

 

 

Owning a Bluetooth headset is probably the most indispensable tool in a graduate's arsenal. What better way to pound the pavement, answer calls, and listen to music? The Plantronics Voyager Pro+ is comfortable, has superior audio quality, and can stream music for those downtimes in-between appointments and classes.

More information / purchase Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Bluetooth headset 
All Bluetooth headsets 

 

While you're out searching for a job you need your device to last throughout the day. After all, your graduate is checking their email, social networking sites, listening to music, and doing phone interviews. They can't always do this on one charge. Pick them up a spare or extended battery to help them last.

More information / purchase BlackBerry Batteries  
More information / purchase BlackBerry SuperBundles  
More infromation / purchase BlackBerry Battery Life Bundle 

 

Whether they're in an office, on the beach, or in a classroom there's a chance that serious harm may befall their device. Keep it safe from falls and scratches with an OtterBox case that is sure to offer maximum protection no matter where they are.

More information / purchase OtterBox Cases 

 

BlackBerry SD cards are a great way to transfer important information back and forth. Not only that but it's pretty handy for storing digital music, pictures, term papers, and most importantly resumes. I always keep mine there just in case an opportunity presents itself. A 16GB card holds over 2,500 songs and lets you cache your Slacker stations with your new account. 

More information / purchase SanDisk 16GB microSDHC card 
All available memory cards  
Our review of the 16GB microSDHC card 

 

Finally, why not go all out for your graduate on their special day and pick up the BlackBerry PlayBook. It's the ultimate accessory especially when bridged to your BlackBerry device. With its unbelievable specs this is the best productivity, entertainment, and communication tool on the market. Plus don't forget portability with its 7" screen. Play games, listen to music, write papers, read books, apply to jobs, and video chat with friends all at the same time. What more can you ask for? It will definitely put a smile on their face. 

PlayBook Hub Page 
BlackBerry PlayBook Review 

Any (or all) of these items will make your grad enjoy their achievement that much more. Now these are only some suggestions to help you along the way. Feel free to stop by and browse through the CrackBerry App Store and ShopCrackBerry for anything else they need. Special thanks to our very own Yousif Abdullah for his help. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2011!