BlackBerry Hard Shell Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 Review

Following up my BlackBerry Soft Shell Case Review, I switched it up to the BlackBerry Hard Shell Case for the Bold 9930 / 9900. It's available in two color options - black or white. In this review I take a look at the black version, but I'll be sure to do up another photoshoot for the white one when I get my hands on it as it's looking pretty hawt! 

Like the Soft Shell case, the Hard Shell case was designed with tight tolerances and fits the phone perfectly, making you almost forget that there's even a case on the phone. If not for the cut outs for the headset jack, microUSB port and camera, you might not even know there was a case on it. The Bold 9900/9930 is so thin to begin with, even with a case it doesn't feel big. On a few occassions now I've handed my 9900 over to friends to check out. After letting them play with it a for a few minutes with case on, they were actually shocked when I then grabbed the phone back, took the case off, and handed them the phone back naked. That says a lot.

Overall both the Hard Shell and Soft Shell cases deliver very similar experiences. The Hard Shell case features a hard plastic back, featuring a bit of a dotted grid pattern that looks nice, and it also gets the chromed BlackBerry logo like the actual phone has. It's definitely tougher than the Soft Shell case when protecting against bumps and drops. The soft touch rubber around the perimeter of the case is grippy and makes the buttons easy to use. Getting the phone in and out of the case isn't difficult, which is a good thing as if you also own a BlackBerry Charging Pod you'll have to remove the phone from the case. And if you're looking to use the incased Bold with a holster, while it will not fit the 9900 holster it will fit into the original leather holster from the Bold 9000 (see this post for more details).

The BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Hard Shell case has a list price of $29.99, but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. With such high demand for Bold 9930/9900 cases it's been hard to keep inventory in stock, but you can still order now for first crack at the new shipments and we're even giving away a chance for you to win one for free (details below). Keep reading for a video, more photos and details surrounding this awesome case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall I'm really happy with the design and quality of all the new BlackBerry brand cases for the Bold 9930 and Bold 9900, and the Hard Shell case is no exception. It looks good, it feels good, it protects the device. With my Bold 9900 in the Hard Shell case, I don't panic about scratches when putting the phone down on the table. And with the case on, the phone is still thin and comfortable for slding into my front jeans pocket. Overall, I give the BlackBerry Hard Shell case TWO CrackBerry Thumbs Up! As for which I prefer more between the Hard Shell and Soft Shell cases... honestly, I'm not sure. You can't go wrong with either.

Learn More / Purchase the BlackBerry Hard Shell Case for the Bold 9930 / 9900

 

Want a chance to win a Hard Shell Case for your BlackBerry Bold 9900? All you need to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your review feedback or letting us know what color you'd like and why you want one. Contest entry closes Sunday, September 11th at midnight PT. Please leave only one comment.

Managing your Enterprise inbox is simplest on BlackBerry

I'm an "Inbox Zero" guy - my goal is to empty my email inbox as quickly as possible. Once a message has been dealt with I file it in an appropriate folder immediately. Once it's filed I move on to the next one. This is also how I deal with my follow-up - if it's in the inbox it is not done yet.

Depending on how many folders and sub-folders you have it can be quite time consuming to file messages in Outlook, I'm forever dragging and scrolling messages from the Inbox to my labyrinth of sub-folders. I've moved to filing exclusively on my BlackBerry smartphone because it is just easier and for those of you who use Outlook can appreciate, the BlackBerry is actually smarter than Outlook.

 

While reading a message click the MENU button scroll to and select "File", note a quicker way to do this is to use the build-in shortcut "i" so while reading a message and are ready to file it press "i".

You will than be presented with your tree of folders.

To quickly drill down to the desired folder begin typing in the name of the folder, in this case I'm looking to file it in folder "Personal".

Now where this really gets exciting (as exciting as filing email messages gets) is that the BlackBerry learns as you file. It begins to remember where specific types of email get filed, so if I file messages from Kevin and Adam in my "CrackBerry.com" folder. Therefore the next time I press "i" to file it will drill down to the CrackBerry.com folder automatically anticipating that I will want that folder. There is no app for that on other platforms. :)

I find that with the short cut "i" and the filing memory the BlackBerry develops I'm able to manage a Zero Inbox much more efficiently than I can using the Outlook window. Now when all my filing is done and my inbox is empty I feel as though all the planets are in alignment perfectly when I see the magical message on my BlackBerry *No Messages*

Ahhh, nerd nirvana

Deal of the Day: BlackBerry Pearl 3G Accessory BLOWOUT! Save up to 85% on Cases!

ElcomSoft Password Breaker gives you access to BlackBerry Wallet and Password Keeper

One of the great things about BlackBerry devices is the ability to password protect the device itself, as well as certain applications or areas on the device from prying eyes. Browse BlackBerry App World or even the CrackBerry app store and you’ll find a whole host of third party apps that allow you to password protect files, folders, photos, BBM, website passwords etc but the BlackBerry itself has one built in already - Password Keeper. You can also download a BlackBerry app that lets you save billing information, credit card details etc to save you time in filling out forms. Of course this is also password protected with a master password. You also would not want anybody accessing that kind of information, bringing me to the point of this post. ElcomSoft, a sotware company, has developed the first commercially available product that allows you to access passwords that are stored in Password Keeper as well as the information stored in BlackBerry Wallet.

Previous versions of ElcomSoft’s Password Breaker only decrypted passwords for backups of a BlackBerry device so that you could restore those backups when you had forgotten the password used to encrypt the backup. But even when recovering those backups the password data kept within Password Keeper and details within BlackBerry Wallet would still be protected by the master passwords governing those applications. With this latest update, the Password Breaker can access details within those two previously undecryptable apps.

At first I thought this can’t be right but then again, there are some cases where you may forget your master password and may need to reset or recover the password. The Password Breaker will be able to help you recover those passwords and even decrypt keychains of third party apps. Now this is all good and well for personal use and recovering your own forgotten password details on your BlackBerry device but this software is commercially available, what happens when others use it for the wrong reasons? The software does require you to have the backup file you want to recover the passwords from so that makes it a little harder for just anybody to use.

It’s still quite a scary thought knowing that there is software like this out there. Software that can be bought for use in the home or even by corporations and authorities. Would this stop you from using these applications? Would you look at using third party applications to store your password from now on? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Read ElcomSoft’s Full Press Release

Review: SystemDash for BlackBerry smartphones

We’ve heard time again how important it is to keep an eye on your memory and battery level. As hard as we try, there are times where we slip and forget to check. I’ve forgotten to close a few apps before flopping onto the couch to watch a movie or two. The next thing you know, my BlackBerry is almost completely drained. Nothing alerted me. I swear, if only my BlackBerry cried for help, I would have paused the movie to take care of the situation.

If you don’t have your BlackBerry in hand, SystemDash will keep you in the know. Battery level alerts are integrated into your BlackBerry profiles, while the app monitors items such as your available memory and battery temperature. Looking to save your battery juice instead of squeezing every last ounce of it out? Take a look.

 

SystemDash was developed by Mobato Ltd and is their first BlackBerry application. It’s compatible with BlackBerry smartphones running OS 4.6 or higher, though there is no OS 7 support at this time. The most current version is 2.3.0 which has a file size of 185.7 KB.

Rating in CrackBerry AppStore – 4/5

Rating in BlackBerry App World - 4.5/5

Cost $1.99

SystemDash is a hub of information about your BlackBerry smartphone; more specifically, its memory and battery life. It’s true that there are a number of applications that report on the same stuff, but I did like the UI of the application. It’s simplistic in nature, colourfully informative and customizable. In the initial view, without any tweaks, the following categories can be seen; Applications, Battery, Memory, Storage and My Device. Let’s take a peak at each

Applications – On the main menu, this category will quickly tell you how many applications are running; divided into visible and background. Clicking on this category will take you to a list view of what’s running, in alphabetical order and with icons. The icons will indicate if the app will auto-run on start-up, is a background process, is a system process or will restart on exit. Clicking on each application will give you information such as its version number, description and file size. There’s no option to close an application using SystemDash.

Battery – The main page displays a battery representing…well, battery life of course! The battery icon will display the general charge level, where a more accurate numerical value is shown next to the category title. You can also see the battery temperature and voltage. Click to go further into the Battery view and you can also see Camera, Radio and Wireless availability. If the battery level is too low, some of these may be unavailable. On the home screen, SystemDash provides a small battery icon with the percentage level next to it.

Memory and Storage – The next two categories cover your flash memory and on-device storage memory. Look at the background colours in each- the lighter shade represents the free memory. Clicking on each category will take you to a screen where you’re given a breakdown of items and how much memory they are taking. In the case of Memory, it’s broken down into: Application, Data, Objects, Ram, Transient and Other. Storage is split into: Documents, Music, Pictures, Ringtones and Videos.

My Device – This category shows you your PIN, number, model, platform and software.

Everything I just listed doesn’t necessarily have to appear in the order that you see; SystemDash allows you to shuffle the categories around. Too bad you weren’t able to hide categories – I didn’t really need to see my device info.

Tools and Alerts - Either from within SystemDash, or your Profile menu, you can set up alerts for when your battery level dips below predefined levels or when your memory has been boosted. If you went through the application to set these up, you can also choose to see a popup or not.

From your BlackBerry menu, you can access SystemDash tools for a quick memory pick me up or clean, view the event log (instead of pressing ALT+LGLG to access it) and clean the log.

SystemDash does a great job of monitoring your memory and battery life. I would have liked to see more options, such as which actions to take when levels hit a certain point. I loved how the application gave multiple views to satisfy those who prefer a quick glance and those to crave detail. Other commands offer an alternative access point for the event log, device info and charging status. If you want to check out SystemDash for yourself, it’s currently available for $1.99 from the CrackBerry App Store.

Download SystemDash for BlackBerry Smartphones

OtterBox Commuter Series Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900

If you know OtterBox at all then you already know what to expect from the OtterBox Commuter Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900. This case is just what you'd want from OtterBox and it doesn't disappoint. The OtterBox Commuter offers full coverage all around your device, leaving easy access to your charging and headphone ports. I really do like this case for my Bold 9900 as it gives you that extra sense of security that if you happen to drop the device or toss it down it will still stay safe. All in all if you're an OtterBox fan and using a Bold 9930 or Bold 9900 then this case is for you. Hit the store to pre-order yours and check out the video above for more.

Contest: To enter to win an OtterBox Commuter case for your Bold 9930 or Bold 9900, just leave a single comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST.

 

 

From the Forums: RIM at IFA, another custom car mount, why choose 9900 over QNX?

There are a ton of tips and tricks in the blogs this week, as well as Bla1ze's review of the brand spankin' new BlackBerry Curve 9360. You can check out the latest BlackBerry reviews, news and rumors in the blogs, and then head on over to the CrackBerry forums and see what's up with your fellow CrackBerry addicts. Below is a sample of some interesting threads you won't want to miss.

Found an interesting article you want to share with CrackBerry Nation? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or

lend your expertise to other members of our community. If you aren't already, take a moment to get registered in the CrackBerry forums today!

Mobile Nations Podcast 006: Size Matters

Phil, Derek, Dan, Rene and myself discuss why carriers keep getting in the way of our gadgets, how big a phone can get before it's a tablet, what does a $99 TouchPad fire sale mean, will Windows 8 really be no compromises, the value of music lockers, and what does an Apple without Steve Jobs as CEO mean for the industry? This is Mobile Nations!

 

Got something to say? Agree or disagree with something we said? Have something you want us to discuss on a future show? Don't just sit there yelling at the screen, dammit, let us know!

 

 

Our music is pROgraM vs. Us3R by by morgantj. Introduction by Joseph Holder.

Thanks to the Smartphone Experts network of store for sponsoring this podcast, and to our fantastic live chat members for keeping us honest and making us smart!

ShortCutMe is Today’s BerryReview Store Deal of the Day

Today’s Deal of the Day is a great one!  I have been using ShortCutMe for a while now, and it is one of my must have apps for BlackBerry.  It is on sale for $1.99 from $6.99.  At this price it should be a no brainer.  Fonware has done a great job adding new features to this app, and it is always being update.  If you are looking to add more functionality to your BlackBerry, then check it out here at the BerryReview Store.

Here are some of the features the app has:

-150 fully customizable shortcuts for major BlackBerry applications and tasks.
-Assign 3 applications to each convenience key.
-Assign 3 applications to Space key (Only for devices with full QWERTY keypads).
-Create your own shortcuts to do various tasks i.e. toggle Bluetooth or launch apps
-Use Direct Launch feature to launch apps without even creating a shortcut for it.
-Cascade your shortcuts so that they run one after the other (Leaving Home shortcut, where ShortcutMe turns off WiFi, Turns on Bluetooth, Turns on cellular radio and launches your favorite music so that you can hear it in the car stereo system. All of that by for example just double clicking the Space or side key.
-Built-in fast 5 days weather forecast for several cities.
-Built-in fast stock market overview
-Built-in screen capture feature
-AND many more. Please visit ‘shortcutme dot com’ for a complete list of features.

More on BerryReview

RIM Boils Down their BlackBerry Smartphone Core Values for Us

 

A friend of mine pointed out something interesting about the slide deck RIM put up during their BlackBerry 7 device launch in the UK and Canada. RIM kindly posted the slide deck on SlideShare and it really boils down RIM’s smartphone core values, strategy, and even ethos into two slides. The first highlights how “BlackBerry Just Works” and I think if you take those 5 examples RIM puts out of how it “Just Works” you clearly see how the BlackBerry 7 portfolio improves on it.

Secondly they point out the three pillars of BlackBerry which are the Community, Experience, and Choice. The community is what they built on BBM. They further expand this with the experience which is the social and communication powerhouse on the BlackBerry. Third of all is the choice offering multiple form factors acknowledging that one size does not fit all.

I could go on and on about this but I just thought it was very interesting to see Patrick Spence (RIMs Managing Director of Global Sales & Regional Marketing) and Rob Orr (RIM VP of EMEA Product Management) point out these details. I have mentioned it to a few friends at RIM and they agree that the message is one RIM is clarifying and their current efforts will lead to a huge surge of focus on these three pillars and the “BlackBerry Just Works” theme. Let us know what you think.

More on BerryReview

T-Mobile 9900 Sold Out in 24 Hours Online

T-Mobile reportely sold all their online inventory of the Bold 9900 wihtin 24 hours. This really came to as a surprice to me because the price of $299.00 is the highest price I seen for a smartphone launch in quite a while.   

This is really good news for both RIM, and T-Mobile as this is the first OS 7 device to launch through T-Mobile.  Let us know if you picked up one the devices. Also if you are looking to get a cheaper price you might want to check out Wal Mart, letstalk, and wirefly. Their pricing is much cheaper for this device.

 

More on BerryReview

The Callet Two In-One BlackBerry Cases With Pockets

When it comes to protecting your BlackBerry smartphone you have quite a few options of cases to choose from, but what about one that lets you carry your ID, Credit cards,  business cards. Andrew let us know that one of their new clients recently launched the Callet a phone case and a wallet all in one.  This unique case comes in four different colors including Pink, Blue, black and white.  This cases are available for both BlackBerry, and the iPhone.

The cases features include:

•    Made from durable and flexible, high quality Gel-Polymer
•    Easily accessible and ultra-convenient slit pockets to hold your cash and cards
•    Bulk-free design for superior pocket-ability
•    iPhone models include: iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4
•    BlackBerry models include: Curve 8300/8500/8900/9300 series and Bold/Tour: 9600/9700 series

The cases can be purchased over at the following link for $19.95 each.

More on BerryReview

Jabra SPORT Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Coming This Month

I am always on the hunt for better Bluetooth stereo headphones for my BlackBerry. The current top headphones I have found are the Plantronics Backbeat with no competitors coming close though it is nowhere near perfect. Jabra is trying to throw their hat into the ring again with the Jabra SPORT Bluetooth sport headphones that look very similar to the Backbeats though sadly they are accented with yellow and have yellow cords. Otherwise I really like the design.

Key features of the SPORT include:

It also ships with a free download of Endomondo Sports Tracker to track your fitness activities. The Jabra SPORT will be available at Apple, Sprint and T-Mobile stores and will also be available on Amazon.com in September.

More on BerryReview

RIM launches BlackBerry Torch 9860 in Spain

 

As the rollout of the new BlackBerry 7 devices continues, RIM announced they are launching the Blackberry Torch 9860 in Spain. If you've been waiting to get your hands on this new all-touch device then you can rest assured knowing that you can grab it starting next week in Movistar stores from 79 euros. How many of you have been holding out for this device? Don't forget to head on over to the forums or read our help guides when you pick it up. 

Source: RIM Newsroom

Movistar and RIM launch the BlackBerry Torch 9860 Smartphone in Spain 

Madrid, ES and Waterloo, ON - Movistar and Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the new BlackBerry® Torch^TM 9860 smartphone, which features the new BlackBerry® 7 operating system in a stylish new all-touch handset design. With a spectacular 3.7" display, the largest ever on a BlackBerry® smartphone, the new all-touch BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone is optimized for displaying web pages, photos and videos, as well as delivering powerful gaming experiences. It also delivers the highly refined, real-time communications and collaboration experience loved by millions of BlackBerry smartphone users around the world. The new BlackBerry Torch 9860 will be available in Movistar stores next week from 79 euros.

BlackBerry 7

The new BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone runs BlackBerry 7, a new operating system (OS) for BlackBerry smartphones. It provides users with a fast, fluid and intuitive experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box.

The new BlackBerry Browser combines the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine together with the powerful hardware enhancements found in the new BlackBerry Torch 9860 to deliver browsing results that are up to 40% faster than BlackBerry® 6 based smartphones and up to twice as fast as models running BlackBerry® 5*. Additional enhancements to the browser have also optimized HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.

The new BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone also features Liquid Graphics^TM technology, which combines a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a blazingly fast CPU and stunning high resolution display to deliver a highly responsive touch interface with incredibly fast and smooth graphics.

Key features of the new BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone include: 

* Requires BlackBerry 7 OS. Testing was performed by RIM in July 2011 and measured average page load speeds using pre-release BlackBerry 7 software. 

For more information about the new BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone visit: www.blackberry.es/torch9860

About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 290.5 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo. 

Sprint Also Increasing Upgrade Fees to $36

In lieu of yesterdays news about Sprint raising their ETF(Early Termination Fee) to $350, the group over at SprintFeed also got info on Sprint raising their upgrade fees from $18 to $36.  No one is quite sure why Sprint is doing this, and many people feel it is part of an Iphone recovery plan.  With this double whammy, I am sure there are more than a few upset Sprint customers.  These changes come in to effect the same day as the early ETF hike, September 9th, 2011.

Source: SprintFeed

More on BerryReview

BlackBerry Bold 9900 is Hong Kong bound, due September 9th

The countdown is on for Hong Kong! Yesterday, RIM announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 will be launched on September 9th in Hong Kong with authorized carriers and channels.

“We are very excited to be bringing the highly-anticipated BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry 7 OS to Hong Kong.” said Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific for Research In Motion Urpo Karjalainen, “Featuring the industry’s best keyboard together with a brilliant touch display, this powerful new smartphone also offers enhanced performance, faster browsing and exceptional work tools for the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity.”

I agree with Urpo, the keyboard on the 9900 is absolutely amazing; emailing has never been so comfortable. This gives you plenty of time to go head on over to shopcrackberry.com to check out accessories before you get the 9900 in your hands! Press release after the jump.

Hong Kong - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced plans to launch the new BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 smartphone through authorized carrier partners and retail channels on September 9 in Hong Kong.

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone is a truly outstanding smartphone that features both amazing performance and a stunning design. Built on a new, performance-driven platform powered by the BlackBerry® 7 operating system, it is also the thinnest BlackBerry® smartphone yet at only 10.5mm, and the first to offer the perfect union of an amazingly effective keyboard and brilliant touch display.

Urpo Karjalainen, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific for Research In Motion said: “We are very excited to be bringing the highly-anticipated BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry 7 OS to Hong Kong. Featuring the industry’s best keyboard together with a brilliant touch display, this powerful new smartphone also offers enhanced performance, faster browsing and exceptional work tools for the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity.”

Next generation BlackBerry browser

The BlackBerry 7 operating system introduces a next generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience that is among the best in the industry. Combining the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine together with powerful hardware enhancements, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone delivers browsing results that are up to 40% faster than BlackBerry® 6 based smartphones and up to 100% faster than BlackBerry® 5 based smartphones*. Additional enhancements to the next generation BlackBerry browser have also optimized zooming and panning for smoother web navigation and streamlined HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences.

Liquid Graphics

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 features Liquid Graphics™ technology, combining a dedicated high-performance graphics processor with a blazingly fast CPU and stunning high resolution display to deliver a highly responsive touch interface with incredibly fast and smooth graphics. In addition, the smartphone features a brilliant display, with an eye-popping 287 dpi, that delivers crisp, stunning visuals.

Increased productivity

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 includes a number of pre-loaded applications for increased productivity and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is now included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. In addition, BlackBerry® Balance (announced May 2, 2011) is also included, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls.

Improved social experiences

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 comes with the newest release of BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) which now extends the real time BBM experience to a range of other apps. These ‘BBM connected’ apps can integrate the popular functionality of the BBM service and offer users the ability to interact with their friends from within the app itself. The updated Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media, podcasts, and favorites all in one consolidated view. The new Facebook® for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.

NFC enabled

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that is enabling many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to pair with NFC-enabled accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

For more information, please visit www.blackberry.com/touchbold.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, 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.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify 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. 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 those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). 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. Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry Enterprise Server updated to v 4.0

Always welcome news for me and the Enterprise BlackBerry faithful, late last week Google updated the Google Apps Connector for BES. It's great to see that this is a product Google plans to keep up-to-date and shows that BlackBerry and BES is critical to the business user.

In addition to supporting BES 5.0 service pack 3, version 4.0 of the Google Apps connector brings some of my favorite business features. Theses new features are Free/Busy look-up and support for read receipt.

The new support for read receipt is exactly what is sounds like. It allows for the tag to be added to an email messages that offers the sender to receive an acknowledgement that you did in fact receive the message.

The free/busy look-up is invaluable in a business environment. If you are looking to schedule a meeting or a conference call with several colleagues you can drive yourself crazy just sending out a meeting invite and having everyone propose new times because they have conflicts in their calendars. Free/Busy support allows you to view the availability of the attendees you're inviting, not their actual calendar details but just the times that they are free or busy.

Here's a screenshot of a calendar item I'm making for a CrackBerry meeting, after I add the attendees to the appointment I have the option to view the attendees availability.

Again these are welcome features for BES users in the Google Apps environment. Thanks Google keep 'em coming!

Deal of the Day: Save 60% on the BlackBerry Premium Charger (Charge Phones Twice as Fast!) - only $15.95!

Play Connect4 with your BBM contacts - 50 copies to be won!

It's always nice to see developers taking advantage of BBM 6 when creating new apps and games. Bach Khoa University let us know they just released a new BBM integrated version of Connect4, which if you don't already know, is the same as the classic game we all enjoyed growing up. All the familiar elements of the original are present in this version with the added bonus of being able to compete against your BBM friends. Why play against a computer to get those four colored chips in a row when you can drive actual people crazy in real time? Click on the jump for more information and your chance to win a free copy.

As one of the newest social apps to use BBM integration, I'm enjoying Connect4. The graphics are decent and work on both my Torch 9800 and my higher resolution Torch 9810. There is a five second delay between moves but I think that says more about my carrier's connection than the app itself as it varied with signal strength. The only thing that needs getting used to is tapping on the numbers below the board instead of the actual columns to drop the chip.

What I find interesting, although anything involving BBM piques my curiosity, is the built-in chat window. Instead of going back into BBM, there's a chat box below the playing field. Pressing the right shift key toggles the window back and forth between game play. Players can chat amongst themselves or with their other BBM friends. You don't get to see the nice little "R" and "D," but it's pretty cool. Just beware of typos. Hitting backspace closes the window and doesn't allow you to go back to correct.

Connect4 runs fine on my devices when there is a strong connection. While there is room for improvement (the quirks I previously mentioned) it's certainly a game to check out to pass the time with friends and family on your BBM list. 

Features

Connect4 is currently supported by devices running OS 6 and OS 7 or older models running BBM 6. A free trial is available but is limited to ten games. It's currently on sale for $0.99 so you can't beat that price. 

More information / purchase Connect4 from the CrackBerry App Store

Discuss in the forums

Contest: We have 50 copies up for grabs. Just leave a single comment to this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. Good luck! 

CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer updated to version 3.0 - 50 copies up for grabs!

The popular CrackBerry Wallpaper changer has just been updated to version 3.0. The update brings along some behind the scenes fixes as well as an updated user interface. With the CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer, you never have to worry about finding that perfect background for your device since the app constantly pulls from our huge wallpaper galleries automatically. Choose your category, set the change interval and you're done. You can even mix in images from your SD card so your favorites still pop up. Want to share a wallpaper? You can send it to Twitter, BBM, email and more. Version 3.0 is compatible with new BlackBerry 7 devices as well. Both a free and Pro version are available.

Contest: We have 50 copies of the CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer up for grabs. Just leave a single comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. 

More information/download of CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer Pro

More information/download of CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer free

And the Winner in our Win Your Choice of BlackBerry 7 Smartphone Contest is...

September 1st is here which means it's time to announce the winner of August's Win Your Choice of BlackBery 7 Smartphone Contest. I'll keep this short and sweet.... the lucky CrackBerry winner is... drumroll please....

Congrats bicsung! We'll be following up soon via email to get you your prize. Big thanks to everybody who participated. And you know how it is here on CrackBerry... we're never far away from another contest so stay tuned. Another chance to win free BlackBerry stuff is coming right up! 

BlackBerry App World Rolls Out to 14 New Countries

Its nice to see that BlackBerry App World is getting closer to worldwide availability. JD let us know that RIM sent out a tweet confirming 14 new countries that now have App World access. Sadly RIM has failed to update their own App World availability page so we cannot know the total countries but it is definitely more than 112+. According to RIM’s @BlackBerryDev tweet App World is now available in:

Albania, Armenia, Benin, Algeria, Belize, Burkina, Ghana, Bosnia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Serbia, Tunisia, Zambia

If you live in one of those countries you can pick up App World from www.blackberry.com/appworld

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All BlackBerry PlayBooks Now on Sale at BestBuy – $450 & $550

BestBuy now has the BlackBerry PlayBook on sale.  The 16gb($50 off) is $449.99 and the 32gb($50 off) and 64 gb($150 off) priced at $549.99.  Its funny that they would put the 32gb and 64gb model on sale for the same price, but it might be to clear out 64gb inventory.  The savings are on from now until September 5th.  Is this enough incentive to for you to act if you have been holding off?

Check out the BlackBerry PlayBook discounts over at Best Buy

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BattleBallz Dev Explains How to Deploy a Marmalade SDK Game to the PlayBook

We just told you about the Marmalade SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook but we have some other good info for game developers. The developer of BattleBallz Chaos, DrMop, has posted a great guide on how to setup and deploy a game developed using the cross platform Marmalade SDK onto the BlackBerry PlayBook and available in App World. This is all based on the Marmalade SDK 5.1.3 with beta PlayBook support which is quite slick.

Check out the tutorial here on DrMop’s blog.

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New 16GB BlackBerry PlayBooks Selling for $389 On eBay

This deal keeps on coming and going on eBay so I thought we should mention it. TabletaHolic let us know that sami809 has the BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB Model in new condition for $389.99 on eBay. Normally we wouldn’t mention eBay deals but the seller sami809 has a nice and high feedback rating with 99.1% positive feedback. TabletaHolic let us know that this deal comes and goes and usually lasts until the inventory is sold out.

$389.99 is a great deal if you want to cheaply jump on the BlackBerry PlayBook bandwagon especially with a huge OS update coming by end of next month. Let us know if you pick one up!

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T-Mobile To Offer Signal Boosters to Customers Who Complain About Signal

I have always said that it is really the carrier who should be pushing signal boosters or Femtocells. They should be offering them for free to any customer who will take one. Instead we have carriers charging $150+ or a monthly fee for you to have the honor of using your broadband connection to fix their service issues. T-Mobile seems to be starting to get this concept and according to a leaked document scored by TmoNews we might be seeing a solution soon.

Here is how the document describes the program:

“The signal booster is a new solution for customers that express concerns with their in home coverage. The Signal Booster is a new device that boosts T-Mobile’s 4G/3G signal throughout a home when installed.”

That’s all nice and dandy but this new device that T-Mobile is giving customers comes with some fine print:

I for one would rather T-Mobile just keep on putting UMA Wi-Fi calling into all their BlackBerrys. That is universal and works with any router even if you are travelling internationally!

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Another Free Flashlight App – FlashController by HandRapid

FlashController is the newest addition to the wide array of flashlight applications for the BlackBerry.  Most of use already have our favorite flashlight app, but if you are looking for a new one, or just want to try our a great free alternate check it out!

Features:

Get it here for free

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Devs: Polar Mobile Open Sources PlayBook WebWorks ChildBrowser Extension

I love seeing BlackBerry developers giving back to the developer community. I think this is all part of RIM’s new move towards opensource especially with WebWorks and it seems like the trend is catching on. Polar Mobile’s Michael Russo has released a BlackBerry PlayBook WebWorks extension for ChildBrowser windows. This lets developers embed external web pages within a WebWorks app. For some reason RIM does not provide this functionality natively and alternatives like iFrames run into issues.

Check out the details in Michael Russo’s post about the ChildBrowser extension or find the extension on GitHub. Kudos to Polar Mobile for sharing!

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Deal of the Day: BlackBerry Storm 9530/9500 Accessory BLOWOUT! Save up to 90% on Charging Pod and Cases!

Wikitude Augmented Reality browser and BlackBerry Messenger - cool or creepy?

The other night, a curious thing happened: I got a BlackBerry Messenger contact request. That in itself is nothing really out of the ordinary; my BlackBerry Messenger bar code is floating out there on the internets.  I almost alwasys ignore the contacts I don't recognize. No, this request came via the Wikitude Augmented Reality browser on this BlackBerry Torch 9850 that I just reviewed. A gentleman named Dustin saw my BBM name in his Wikitude browser and used the application to make the BBM contact request. Figuring that there are very few Joseph Holder's out there with BlackBerry OS7 devices, Justin correctly guessed that I write for CrackBerry.com. We had a brief conversation, and I got to feel like a (rather) minor celebrity for a bit.

The whole exchange got me to thinking. Is finding new BBM contacts using the Wikitude browser cool or a little creepy? When we discussed the feature on one of our podcasts, I remember thinking that I was leaning toward the creepy side. After this one encounter with the service, my mind is made up. Finding new people through the Wikitude Augmented Reality Browser is not cool; it is very cool.

 

We've already seen a couple of videos demonstrating how to find a person's BBM contact using the Wikitude AR browser - and indeed find a person. After starting the AR browser, selecting the BlackBerry Messenger world view will show you visible BBM contacts within a certain distance. Turning around in a circle, you can actually see where those BBM users are in relation to you. Tapping one of the tags starts the standard BBM invite request. In many ways, adding contacts through the Wikitude browser is just one of the many, many ways to add a BBM contact.

How people will actually use this feature remains to be seen. Research In Motion has focused its demonstrations in the business setting. Think of a business meeting on the golf course. I know it's cliché, but a lot of business still gets done on the back nine. Let's say you want to add your new client, Bill, to your BBM contacts. Just find him in the Wikitude browser and add as a contact. No fumbling around with cameras and barcodes needed. Sure there are many ways to add a BBM contact; using the Wikitude browser is just cooler.

Now imagine that you've lost track of Bill. After finishing the 18th green with a 3-putt bogie, Bill just ...disappeared. Remembering that you just found him in the AR browser, you start Wikitude and soon meet up with your client in the clubhouse. After that round, Bill needed a bit more than a soda to quench his thirst.

Me, I think the Wikitude Augmented Reality browser will be used for flirting. Think about it. Gazing through the Wikitude browser, you spot an attractive person sitting across the bar/club/pot luck dinner. Even better, there's a BBM contact tag right next to them on the screen. You tentatively send out a BBM contact request and start up a conversation.

This isn't out of what is already ordinary for BlackBerry Messenger. In Saudi Arabia, it's not uncommon for single men to stencil their BlackBerry Messenger bar code to the back of their vehicle. Why? To meet girls, of course. Interested parties can scan the code and start a conversation.

 

 

First and foremost, you are in complete control over who sees you in the Wikitude browser. When it comes to being found in the AR browser, you can choose to be invisible; visible only to your existing contacts; or visible to the world. At any time, I can change how others' Wikitude browsers see my BBM contact information. By default, the Wikitude browser is disconnected from BlackBerry messenger. To make yourself visible to the Public (BBM name, avatar, and status message), you'll have to connect Wikitude to BBM and set your status to Public. Both options are found at the top of the Wikitude app's settings (inside the Wikitude app, press the menu key and select Settings).

Okay, you say to yourself, I can use the Wikitude Augmented Reality browser to find and be found by other BBM users. I even have control over who can see me. But what if one of my new contacts is a jerk, contacting me at all hours of the night? BlackBerry Messenger has had that one covered for a while. It's very simple to delete a BBM contact (highlight the contact, press the menu key, and select "Delete Contact"), and if the person tried to add you as a contact again, it's a simple matter to block all future requests as well.

In this way, BBM is superior to text messaging. Giving out a number so a person can SMS message you means they can always contact you for as long as you have that phone number. In my experience, it is a huge headache trying to get the phone company to block specific numbers. With BBM, you're just a few simple clicks away from blocking someone from messaging you forever.

 

 

Perhaps the reason we are wary of finding new BBM contacts using the Wikitude Augmented Reality Browser is because it is a brand new thing. There are no rules for its use, no guidelines to follow. Manners and politeness are extremely important in both the business and social worlds. But even the great Amy Dickinson might pause for more than a moment when asked for advice on this subject.

Therefore, it is up to us to define what is appropriate and what is not. For example, if you change your Wikitude settings to allow your BBM location data to be Public, I feel that means that you are willing to get - actually expecting to get - BBM contact requests from strangers. I've met some interesting - albeit random - people in forums and chats around the internets. Is this all that different? At the very least, you'll always have a conversation starter: how much you love your new OS7 BlackBerry Smartphone.

On the other hand, I feel the generic "[BBM Name] would like to add you as a contact" message sent when adding a new contact is woefully insufficient for this purpose. Unless you're sitting face-to-face with your potential contact, you should introduce yourself in the contact request message. How that introduction is made is up to you, but ones that begin, "I've been watching you for the last two hours..." will most certainly find their contact request Declined and Blocked.

 

 

So where does that leave us? The Wikitude AR browser gives us the chance to add and be added by contacts that we might not never encounter without the service. It gives us yet another BlackBerry Choice for adding new BBM contacts. It lets us find Bill - our golfing client - at the 19th hole.

Is making your BBM self available to be found by others really all that scary? You always have the option to make yourself invisible. You always have the option to decline or ignore a contact. You always have the option to delete and possibly block a contact.

Ultimately, the decision to use the BBM features of the Wikitude Augmented Reality Browser is up to you. Certainly, there are bound to be some awkward moments as we as a BlackBerry community begin to decide just what is impolite, rude, or irritating. On the flipside, those who choose to use the BBM features will be the ones who will define its etiquette. Quite literally, finding contacts using the Wikitude AR browser will be what we make of it.

Openwave Decides to Sue RIM & Apple Over Five Ridiculous Patents

 

Patent trolling continues to gain steam with a new lawsuit from Openwave against RIM & Apple. At first you would think Openwave was a technology company but it seems like they are banking on their patents since everything else is not working for them. AllThingsD managed to boil down the five patents Openwave is suing RIM and Apple over and you really have to read them to see what I mean:

• Patent #6,289,212 “generally allows a user to use e-mail applications on a mobile device when the network is unavailable – such as when a user is on an airplane.”
• Patent #6,233,608 “relates to cloud computing.” The company said the patent for instance “enables data to be accessed or shared by different devices such as mobile handsets or computers.”
• Patent #6,405,037 “allows access to updated versions of applications on mobile devices.”
• Patent #6,430,409 “allows the mobile device to operate seamlessly, and securely, with a server over a wireless network.”
• Patent #6,625,447 “allows consumers to experience an improved user experience in navigating through various pages of information without delay.”

They supposedly reached out to RIM and Apple to get them to pay up for these patents and here is what they had to say about getting stonewalled:

Openwave CEO Ken Denman: “Before filing these complaints, we approached both of these companies numerous times in an attempt to negotiate a license of our technology with them and did not receive a substantive response. In the end, litigation is the only way we can defend our rights against these large companies that have effectively refused to license the use of the technologies we invented.”

Yes these guys invented using email offline or accessing updated applications. Better yet they also invented navigating pages without delay…

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Vodafone España y RIM lanzan el smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900

Os lo comentábamos esta mañana vía Twitter, allí va la nota de prensa con los detalles de la llegada del BlackBerry Bold 9900 de mano de Vodafone en España y viene de manera exclusiva durante unos meses.

Madrid, 31 de agosto de 2011 – Vodafone España y Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) lanzan el smartphone BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900. Este dispositivo de alto rendimiento estará disponible la próxima semana sólo para clientes de Vodafone en España.

El nuevo smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900 posee un diseño único fabricado con materiales de alta calidad que integra un teclado BlackBerry muy fácil de utilizar y una pantalla táctil de alta resolución además de tener integrado el nuevo sistema operativo BlackBerry® 7 que ofrece lo último en comunicaciones, multimedia y productividad para usuarios de todo el mundo.

El nuevo miembro de la familia de los smartphones BlackBerry® Bold™ se distingue por un bonito diseño, la efectividad de su teclado, una pantalla táctil brillante y un acabado con materiales Premium con una estructura de acero inoxidable cepillado que pone el toque final a este dispositivo.

Precios

Los nuevos clientes de empresa y autónomos podrán adquirir el smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900 al contratar la Tarifa Plana 24 Horas¹ y la Tarifa BlackBerry Profesional² con portabilidad y permanencia de 18 meses en voz³ y 18 meses en la tarifa BlackBerry desde 114€ en el caso de empresas y desde 44€ en el caso de autónomos.

A través del Programa de Puntos los clientes de empresa podrán hacerse con el smartphone por 1.600 puntos y 282€. Por su parte, los clientes autónomos pueden adquirirlo por 1.800 puntos y 266€.

El smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900 está disponible para clientes particulares de contrato desde 0€ con la tarifa @XL (99,9€/mes) o desde 79€ con la @L (59,9€/mes) con portabilidad desde contrato y 24 meses de permanencia. Los clientes particulares de contrato también podrán adquirir el dispositivo a través del Programa de Puntos por ejemplo con 2.500 puntos y 289€.

BlackBerry 7

El nuevo smartphone incluye este sistema operativo, que ofrece una experiencia más sencilla y rápida con una interfaz optimizada, búsquedas por voz, división del contenido personal y laboral y nuevas aplicaciones adicionales para mejorar su rendimiento.

El smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900, el más fino de su familia hasta la fecha, es también compatible con NFC (Near Field Communication), una nueva tecnología que abre un interesante abanico de posibilidades como, por ejemplo, conectar nuevos accesorios o leer etiquetas RFID con un solo click.

El nuevo navegador de BlackBerry combina el motor de búsqueda WebKit con un hardware perfeccionado que permite búsquedas un 40% más rápidas que con el modelo anterior. Nuevas mejoras en HTML5 proporcionan además una experiencia increíble en video y juegos.

Además, el smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900 incluye la tecnología Liquid Graphics™, que combina un procesador gráfico de alta calidad con una CPU rápida y una pantalla de alta resolución para ofrecer una interfaz sensible con unos gráficos increíblemente rápidos y fluidos.

Características principales del nuevo smartphone BlackBerry Bold 9900:

1- Tarifa Plana 24 Horas incluye 1000 min./mes a móviles de la empresa y fijos y 500 min./mes a móviles nacionales por 49€/mes

2- Tarifa BlackBerry Profesional (15€/mes)

3- Excepto autónomos con Tarifa Plana 24 Horas que incluye permanencia de 24 meses.

RIM y Vodafone España ofrecen el pago en factura de las compras realizadas en el BlackBerry App World

Y otra de las novedades que ha presentado hoy Vodafone es el pago de las compras realizadas con BlackBerry App World con la factura del propio operador. Según han contado la forma de pago a través del operador puede incrementar x7 las ventas de App World debido a la confianza del pago que da a mucha gente, en vez de tener que escoger la tarjeta de crédito o la cuenta de PayPal. Aquí os dejo la nota de prensa:

Vodafone España y RIM colaboran para que las compras de aplicaciones de BlackBerry se facturen directamente a través del operador

Madrid 31 de agosto de 2011– Research In Motion (RIM) y Vodafone España firman un acuerdo de colaboración por el cual sus clientes pueden adquirir todas las aplicaciones contenidas en el BlackBerry App World con la facilidad de que el pago se realice directamente en su factura de móvil.

Este sistema permite a los clientes de Vodafone España adquirir aplicaciones desde BlackBerry App World con la máxima rapidez, facilidad, y seguridad, reduciendo el numero de pasos para realizar la compra y sin tener que ofrecer los datos de tarjeta o bancarios.

Además el BlackBerry ID permite a los clientes identificar de una forma segura e independiente el dispositivo tanto para el uso de BlackBerry App World como para esta nueva opción de pago, ya que los usuario transfieren directamente su biblioteca personal de aplicaciones compradas o gratuitas al adquirir o cambiar a un nuevo modelo de BlackBerry. Además, BlackBerry ID es un sistema que protege las compras de los usuarios si el smartphone se pierde o es robado, lo que impide que otros usuarios compren productos BlackBerry protegidos por contraseña.

T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9900 Now Available for $299 With Contract

T-Mobile customers you can now order the BlackBerry Bold 9900 at $299 price with a new 2 year contract or contact extension. The price jumps to $599.99 with no contract. I really don’t see this device selling out through T-mobile with that price, specially when customers have other devices that offer similar specs and appeal at a much lower price. I can see only the BlackBerry fans buying it but not the customer who is shopping for the best price, and options.

Let us know if you plan on buying the 9900 or are you planning on waiting until the price drops?

You can head over to T-mobile page at this LINK.

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BlackBerry Developer Gets Hit with Lodsys In App Payment Patent Lawsuit

The patent wars have once again made their way into the BlackBerry ecosystem. Both Apple and Google along with many of their developers are being sued by Lodsys who owns a patent for “in app payment methods.” Originally when Lodsys (who makes nothing useful aka Patent Troll) starting suing they were aiming for payments that happen inside the apps. The first BlackBerry developer to be sued by Lodsys is Yissachar Radcliffe of Rotten Ogre for his Lonely Turret BlackBerry PlayBook game that sells for $0.99.

The crazy part is that Lonely Turret does not even have in app payments. It simply has a link to App World where users can purchase the game upgrade. In other words Lodsys thinks even linking to a payment method from your app is infringement. Here is what Radcliffee said to The Globe and Mail which broke the story:

“I never thought they were interpreting the patent so broadly,” Mr. Radcliffe said, adding that the free version of Lonely Turret simply contains a link to a BlackBerry app marketplace, where users can buy the premium version of the game. “It’s just a link … The two apps are entirely separate.”

Radcliffe has contacted RIM about the issue but RIM has yet to respond. I am hoping RIM sets their many lawyers on Lodsys to defend their developers ASAP like both Apple and Google have. If anything they should repurpose all of the lawyers RIM has sending DMCA notices to help protect their developers since one man shops like Rotten Ogre cannot defend themselves for using App World. Radcliffe points out that even 2 hours of a lawyers time would wipe out all his profit from the game.

Check out the full story at the Globe and Mail and if you know anybody at RIM make sure to forward this article to them. Thanks Derek for pointing it out.

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Fixmo Tools on Sale for $6.99 as the BerryReview Store Deal of the Day

Fixmo Tools is todays deal of the day in the BeryReview Store, it is onsale from $14.99 to $6.99.  If you are unfamiliar with Fixmo Tools, it is an all around utility for your BlackBerry device that has 17 different functions.   Some of the features that I like it for are battery watching, sms backup, memory monitoring and silencer. Check it out for yourself in the  BerryReview Store to see more screenshots, and a full list of its features.  Also, please note that it lists OS7 devices in the compatibility chart, but has no official OS7 support.

Fixmo Tools at the BerryReview Store here.

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Verizon BlackBerry Torch 9850 Launching September 8th?

Early rummors hinted at T-Mobile and Verizon also releasing the BlackBerry Torch. A new leaked image shows the 9850 landing on Verizon for direct fulfillment on September 8th and in stores on the 15th.

RIM will finally launch the same devices across several U.S carriers unlike the past were only one or two carriers had exclusive to the devices.

Which device are you holding out for if you haven’t bought the 9930 yet?

Source: VZBUZZ Via: CB

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Bowers & Wilkins C5 In-Ear Headphones

It’s no secret that Bowers & Wikins (“B&W”), best known for their high-end loudspeakers used in music recording studios, makes some killer consumer speakers. I have previously gushed over both the Zeppelin Mini and the MM-1 on these berry-filled pages. But the C5s are B&W’s first foray into the field of consumer in-ear headphones. So, do the C5s pump out refined bass-filled beats like their big brothers? Well, follow the link to find out!

Unlike most of my speaker reviews where I separately analyze the sound and the features, I really can’t separate the two with the C5s. Like a first date, the C5s really only deliver if the setting is right. So before getting into the quality of audio and what makes it great, let’s run through the setup and features that make the C5s comfortable to wear.

Setup: The C5s come with a variety of ear gels designed to fill up your ear canal. Completely plugging up the ear is important because it ensures ambient noise can’t sneak in and the music can’t sneak out. Thus, it pays to take some time to find the ear gels that are right for you; earphones that will feel as comfortable after an hour’s use as they did in the first five minutes.

Hanging In: Unlike simple earbuds that balance in the ear or earphones that wrap around the back, the C5s have a few new tricks to keep themselves secure and to keep their all-important position as the bouncer to your ear canal. The C5s stay balanced in the ear with (what B&W call) a secure loop. The adjustable secure loop pushes against the inner-ear cartilage in order to stay in place. To keep the C5s leaning into the ear canal, the inner casing is weighted with Tungsten. In my testing, the combination of the weights and secure loop did a fairly good job keeping the headphones secure in a day of normal movement and an airplane ride, but I found myself readjusting a few times when out on a jog. But let’s be serious–these high-end earphones are designed for casual environments, not the rough and tumble gym setting.

Trick: To get the earbuds deep enough into the ear to stay secure, grab the top of the ear and pull upwards while inserting the earbud.

Ahh, finally we can get to the main event–Sound: The C5s stand out from the competition by producing an incredibly large stage of sound using something called a micro porous filter–a type of sound diffuser. Sound diffusers are usually used with larger speakers to scatter sound waves and reduce echo, resulting in a bigger sound from a small space. B&W created a tiny sound diffuser–the micro porous filter–that is made out of hundreds of microscopic steel balls and stuck one on the back of each headphone, to give the biggest sound to the smallest space–the ear.

Like other B&W speakers, the C5s do a fantastic job reproducing a wide range of sound, but the bass is limited due to the headphone form factor. Let me try and explain: #1 because of the size of the overall package, in-ear headphones are limited to smaller drivers (smaller cones push less air, creating weaker bass vibrations); #2 no one wants to risk their hearing by creating such strong vibrations so close to the eardrum; #3. the bass is delivered directly and only to the ear, so it is impossible to create the effect of body shaking bass. Those limitations being mentioned, the C5s produce the best range of sound compared to any other in-ear headphone I have tested–including Beats. The vocals and high notes are crisp and the lows are deep and clear, without a thumping boom.

Wrapup: In-ear headphones aren’t for everyone, but for those who are in the market and who really care about audio the B&W C5s are simply the best out there right now. And at a $30 premium over the standard $150 Beats by Dr. Dre, the $180 price tag seems pretty reasonable to get in on some B&W quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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BlackBerry Messenger v6.0.1.15 Released in Beta Zone

RIM has gone ahead and updated the version of BlackBerry Messenger available in the Beta Zone this week. This update brings us to v6.0.1.15 though it comes with a big caveat. They are asking users of BBM Music to NOT upgrade to this version. My guess is that is because of incompatibilities which is not promising. This is what RIM had to say about the update:

BBM Development teams have focused on fixing file and picture transfer issues. Additionally, this latest BBM beta release includes subscription payment support for platform-enabled applications.

BBM Development teams have focused on fixing file and picture transfer issues. Additionally, this latest BBM beta release includes subscription payment support for platform-enabled applications.

You can pick up this latest beta of BlackBerry Messenger in the Beta Zone. Let us know what you find.

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LyricFind: a searchable database of lyrics for your BlackBerry PlayBook

LyricFind, the world’s leading provider of legal lyrics services, is excited to announce the release of their BlackBerry PlayBook application.

The application provides access to LyricFind’s huge database of lyrics. The database is searchable by artist, album and even the lyrics themselves.

With LyricFind you can also:

One of the major differences between the PlayBook version of this app and the other platforms is the split screen interface, with a list on the left side - search results, or

tracks in an album, for example - and the content on the right. The team at LyricFind kept the interface and navigation consistent and intuitive. This allowed them to use some of the

PlayBook conventions not present on other platforms - such as sliding

down from the top on the search screen to bring down the search "drawer".

This application is available via BlackBerry App World as of today for $2.99

More information / download LyricFind

Deal of the Day: Save 43% on the Rapid Charger for the BlackBerry PlayBook - Buy it today for only $39.95!

BlackBerry Bold 9900 now available from SFR France

RIM’s flagship device, the Bold 9900, is slowly making its way around Europe and has landed in France on SFR. The device, with its touchscreen interface combined with a full QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry 7, is available on contract from €149 ($214.62) upfront with package. You can up to unlimited calls and texts, as well as data from 250MB to 1GB, depending on the package you get.

If you’re not one for a contract, the Bold 9900 is also available sim free for €509.90. Shipping takes 48 hours.

For more information or to purchase from SFR France website

Discuss more in the forums

Soonr adds support for touchscreen BlackBerry smartphones

It’s been a while since we spoke about Soonr. Soonr provides safe and secure access to documents, media files, projects and recorded actions for you and your teammates to works on. It’s real-time access and backup whenever you need it. All of this is captured in what they call the Dashboard. Any activity, including addition and modification of files, progress within projects and more is recorded here. Rather than calling up a member of the team to see what they have done, the answers are right at your thumb-tips. Soonr offers Premium and Pro accounts that include a Versioning service, which helps you retrieve previous versions of compromised files – which is a lot better that starting back at square one. Soonr continues to use an extremely intuitive web-based application that enables it to maintain a footprint of only 4kb on your BlackBerry. The launcher is called Soonr Workplace Classic.

Features:

Earlier this month, Soonr announced that they now support touch screen BlackBerry smartphones, which makes it even easier to access your files. You still need to sign up for an account and install the desktop software. You can start off with a free 2 GB backup account for yourself, with the ability to add more storage (and users) with a variety of available packages. The Soonr Workplace Classic launcher itself is free from BlackBerry App World

More information/download Soonr Workplace Classic for BlackBerry Smartphones

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Take the Moron Challenge on your BlackBerry PlayBook

I bet you can’t count how many times you, or someone you know has said that something is stupid. More specifically, they call a game that they just can’t figure out stupid. Now think about it; why is it so stupid? You were the one who failed, so maybe you are the one to be called stupid. Nitwit. Idiot. What? You say you aren’t any of those? Then prove it- challenge it! Take the Moron Challenge, dumb dumb.

The Moron challenge for the BlackBerry PlayBook is a game that is simple in concept, but may be trickier than you would initially think. The game preys upon how easily you are misdirected, whether it’s by images or though misread instructions. The game includes checkpoints/levels of intelligence which are, more or less, compliments on your amazingly astute grey matter. If the game play isn’t enough to keep you on your toes, the timer at the bottom left corner of the screen certainly will. It’s almost as though you need to find the perfect balance between speed and, well, not being a moron. I got caught on a few challenges that, later, made me say “I’m a moron”, once I figured them out. The Moron Challenge is available in two flavours- The free version allows you to play up to the first checkpoint, solidifying the fact that you have the intelligence of a mosquito. If you think you’re smarter than that, you can buy the full version for only 99 cents. Both are available from BlackBerry App World, nimrod.

More information/download the free version of The Moron Challenge for the BlackBerry PlayBook

More information/download the full version of The Moron Challenge for the BlackBerry PlayBook

How Do You Use Your BlackBerry: Do you use the App Switcher to navigate your applications?

So many BlackBerry users and so many ways to navigate a device. Everyone finds what works best for them as far as getting around their personal device, and while some may make use of certain features, others may not even know about them. One of these that comes to mind is the App Switcher. This simple task lets you quickly switch between open apps simply by pressing and holding the Menu key on your device. I personally never really use the App Switcher but I know many users who can't get by without it. So our question today is this: Do you use the App Switcher on your BlackBerry? Cast your vote in the poll above, then leave a comment letting us know what works best for you. Thanks @kurtbert!

From the Forums: Save your memos, holster may damage screen, leaked pics of new phone?

Overall it seems that things are starting to look up for RIM, as morale is raising again and so are stock prices. You can check out the latest BlackBerry reviews, news and rumors in the blogs, and then head on over to the CrackBerry forums and see what's up with your fellow CrackBerry addicts. Below is a sample of some interesting threads you won't want to miss.

Found an interesting article you want to share with CrackBerry Nation? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or

lend your expertise to other members of our community. If you aren't already, take a moment to get registered in the CrackBerry forums today!