We told you earlier that RIM announced the frankenberry BlackBerry Bold 9788 for China. Now Adam @CrackBerry spotted a promo video RIM has put up for the device. Nothing really new here but still I am interested to see how this device sells compared to the new Bold and Curve BlackBerry 7 devices.
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Here are the winners from last week's round of contests. If you won you will be receiving an email either from us or directly from the retailer/developer in the next few days. If for some reason you don't receive an email within 7-14 days (be sure to check your spam/junk folder just in case, and verify your registered address associated with your CrackBerry account) you can email us at sitesupport(at)crackberry.com and we'll be sure to get you taken care of. Please be patient as some emails may take longer than others to arrive. Congrats to all the winners!
Win a BlackBerry 7 phone accessory of your choice!
BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle
OtterBox Defender Series Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900
Enter to win a free copy of TEXT Pink or TEXT Blue by Simple Design!
BlackBerry App Roundup - 25 copies of Weather Plus by MMMOOO to give away!
Cute Pink and Leopard by ale7714 Designs - 50 free copies available!
Last month, I reviewed the BatteryPlus application which gives users a more detailed look at their battery life. When I say battery life, I mean not just only the current power, but its recharge/discharge history and temperature. This application will even tell you the estimated standby time and talk time; something that we may take a gamble on with a low battery. It will report on practically anything; just short of its hopes and dreams. You can also set BatteryPlus to activate or deactivate WiFi, LED and an audible alert when the power hits a specific threshold. BatteryPlus makes it easy to boost and monitor your battery life, until you can make your way to a charger. Recently, BatteryPlus was updated to version 2.2 with the following new features and improvements:
Promotion:To go along with this update to BatteryPlus, enter in the promocode CRACKBERRY201109 to get BatteryPlus for 50% off the regular price (making it $4.99). Offer expires September 25th at midnight PST. Please note: This code will only work in the mobile app store or mobile app store client from your device.
More information/download BatteryPlus from the CrackBerry App Store
iHeartRadio, created by Clear Channel Radio, launched their site in April of 2008. If you aren’t familiar with iheartradio, is an interactive media social networking site that gives access to over 750 stations in the US. By using iHeartRadio, you can either tap into live radio stations or create a custom station with the genre that best suits you, or your favourite artist/songs. A couple of years ago iHeartRadio entered into the streaming radio fray (already involving heavy hitters like Slacker) with their own BlackBerry application. Across several platforms, iHeartRadio has been downloaded over 34 million times. Recently in BlackBerry App World, Clear Channel launched their iHeartRadio for Ford SYNC AppLink BlackBerry application. By making use of SYNC, this allows users to tap into voice commands in order to search for content. Other SYNC options include:
OS 5.0 or higher is supported but the application is only available in the US. I can see Canadian Artists on the site but no apps for Canadians. Too bad, seeing how some of the best musicians come from Canada (zing!). You can grab the iHeartRadio for Ford SYNC AppLink for free from BlackBerry App World
More information/download iHeartRadio for Ford SYNC AppLink for BlackBerry smartphones
Another fairly quiet start to the week around the CrackBerry blogs, but something tells me you're going to want to stick close by the rest of the week.
You can check out all the latest news, rumors, and reviews 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!
So from day one, BlackBerry PlayBook users wanted a Twitter application for their PlayBook, instead of a quick launch icon to the Twitter mobile site. To be honest, up until recently, I couldn’t stand using the mobile site, as it wasn’t as functional (or attractive) as it is now. This left me with continuing to use a Twitter application on my BlackBerry smartphone. Some developers recognized the need and answered the call; one of which was GENOA Net Works.
Your Twitter account access is quick and seamless through their application called BlackBird. The application gives you almost as much access to your account as you have by accessing Twitter from your computer. Rather than viewing multiple items on the main screen (timeline, trends, followers/ following), everything is listed as tab; waiting to be opened. I was surprised to see BlackBird being able to offer so much, yet providing a minimal layout to it all. Was it enough to stop relying on my smartphone to access Twitter? Curious how BlackBird brings Twitter to the PlayBook nest? Keep reading.
As I mentioned before, BlackBird was developed by GENOA Net Works; an Austrian company first established back in 1996. GENOA is also responsible for over one hundred applications, including; ‘Find my Phone’, ‘add2contacts’ and multiple checklists (fishing, travel, etc). The current version of BlackBird is 1.3.2 and has a file size of 1.2 MB.
Cost: $1.99
Rating in BlackBerry App World: 3/5
Before getting started, you have to authorize BlackBird to use your Twitter account. With BlackBird, you can manage multiple accounts; though it’s unclear how many (I only have one). The UI is pretty simplistic and easy to navigate; all options appear on the left side of the timeline/content, rather than all around the timeline. Below the list of options, your current Twitter account will be displayed. It’s all about personal preference – some may feel like BlackBird is too simplistic, while others find that the app is not so overwhelming. My only gripe is I have to view my profile in order to look at my followers or who I follow. I still have access to other functions one would normally use on Twitter, such as viewing which lists I'm on, retweeting and sending/recieving direct message.
When you select “New Tweet”, the entry field shows “What’s up”, which you have to be careful with. I accidently pressed the Tweet button, which resulted in me asking every one what was up. BlackBird included an option to shorten an URL, so you had more characters to dazzle everyone with your wit. All I ask for, in future builds, is a spell check option to make sure I'm spelling everying korektlee.
As far as my timeline goes, I can only view 25 tweets at a time, with no option to look at older tweets - you do have a manual refresh button to bring in new ones. Scrolling up and down through the tweets was quite smooth, with no lagging. I can also set the automatic refresh rate to 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes (this doesn’t seem to save if I close the application). You can also check out what is trending but you're unable to change them to view more trends.
Now while I could appreciate how simple BlackBird is to use, and the basic view it provides. One of the perks missing - being able to view a full sized version of a profile pic.
If you want a simple way to access Twitter, then BlackBird is singing your song. Neatly organized, and effortless to master, this application should be considered. There are a few tweaks to look at - an easier way to see followers and how my tweets and profile pic, very sporadically show up when looking at another Twitter profile. If possible I would like to see some sort of notification if I receive a mention or DM as well. You can pick up BlackBird for $1.99 from BlackBerry App World.
More information/download BlackBird from BlackBerry App World
It can be argued that, when it comes to landing a job, the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” doesn’t seem to be as relevant anymore. There are fewer jobs available and the demands are high for potential candidates. Companies want to get the most out of each employee and they are expanding the search to incorporate other tools. They also want results and positions filled quickly. The classifieds in the local paper pale in comparison to the online tools both employers and employees can make use of. In your recent quest for a new job, how often have you searched through Craigslist postings and numerous job boards? How many times have you reached out to companies and recruiters on social networking sites, like Twitter, in order to get your online foot in the virtual door?
Several years ago, I responded to a posting that was, at the most, an hour old. The same day I received a phone call for an interview. Within a couple of days from the initial point of contact, I was hired. That’s the kind of results both employers and candidates want and need. The trick is to have the most optimal arsenal in your portfolio, to not only make you attractive, but also accessible.
You hear these days, that you have to establish your Brand. How do you project yourself? How is your online presence? When you “Google” your name, what comes up? For me, the first result is my blog here on CrackBerry. The second is my LinkedIn account. Hopefully for you, it’s not an embarrassing photo from college, or an article from the news reporting on your arrest. Employers don’t call up Mommy or Daddy to find out who you are, they go online. They key is to be on top of yourself, your brand and your information. If you want to do that while on the move, check out some applications that may help you.
Twitter
Twitter is an amazing way to establish that first point of contact. Through it, you can search through hashtags and company names to find the right people to contact. The openness of Twitter provides a method of communication that bypasses the potential walls employers set up through phone lines. If you can pitch yourself within 140 characters, you stand a good chance of opening up a dialog with the right person. Through the Twitter for BlackBerry app, you can perform searches, lists and edit your profile to make it more attractive (like a cover letter), add links to an online resume and find other Twitter users that can help you land a job.
More information on Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the best ways to put your resume, and accomplishments online. It’s a powerful networking tool, if used correctly. You can search and identify people who work for a company that you are interested in. With valuable contacts, you can inquire who the best points of contact are and also use them as a reference. Of course you have to make sure your LinkedIn account reflects who you are and what you are looking for. Make sure it’s complete, as an uncompleted account may show what your work habits are like. Hmm, I should make sure mine is done. The LinkedIn BlackBerry app helps you manage your status, search information about companies, and receive messages/updates from connections.
More information on LinkedIn for BlackBerry smartphones
Facebook
More and more companies are using Facebook to connect with customers, as well as potential employees. You can create a powerful portfolio on Facebook- an online collection of accomplishments, photos of your successes and status updates on what you are up to professionally. While your resume may help with your first impression, a properly managed Facebook account makes a lasting impression. The Facebook application puts you in contact with friends/colleagues easily through wall posts, email or private messages. Upload images as they are captured, find useful groups and like company accounts.
More information on FaceBook for BlackBerry Smartphones
More information on FaceBook for the BlackBerry PlayBook
Pocket Resume
You’ve toiled over your resume to make sure it summarizes you perfectly. You carefully print copies off and make sure to store them neatly, so there are no wrinkles, folds or creases. You take them with you to drop off to employers or email them off to online postings. You don’t carry them with you at all times, so what happens when you make contact with someone that really needs to see it? Creating, storing and emailing a resume from your BlackBerry can all be done through Pocket Resume. It neatly organizes your information into categories, just as you normally would from your computer. Make it pop with the right layout, font and colour. Your resume and CV can be exported to PDF and emailed right from your BlackBerry.
More information on Pocket Resume for BlackBerry smartphones
Confident Job Interview
Sometimes, no matter how much you know you are prefect for the position, you are still somewhat nervous of the interview. Will you stumble on an answer? Can you control your bleeding? Can you stop staring at the booger fluttering at the edge of the hiring manager’s right nostril? Inside the Confident Job Interview, you can look into audio hypnosis sessions that help you relax, work through fears and gain confidence before that important interview. You can also access accompanying videos and interviews to make you understand the process.
More information on Confident Job Interview for BlackBerry smartphones
SearchCraig - Craigslist
Craigslist is a free and easy way to post jobs and search for jobs. First of all, it already categorizes the jobs postings and allows you to easily see the dates posted, location and (in most cases) the company in question. To help you sort through postings on Craigslist, you can try SearchCraig. From it, you can also reply to postings, perform advanced searches and perhaps create posts of your own.
More information on SearchCraig for BlackBerry smartphones
Interview Practice
They do say Practice Makes Perfect, so you put on your best outfit and look at yourself in the mirror. You rehearse your mannerisms, your tone and that persuasive smile. Do you know how to handle the questions? Do you know how to act in certain situations? Interview Practice does and it’s willing to share some advice with you. Within it are dozens of standard Q & A that you will expect to see and handy Do’s and Don’ts to follow. Get those answers down correctly, as you may not get a second chance.
More information on Interview Practice for BlackBerry smartphones
Beyond that, you can also point your browser to sites like Working.com, Workopolis.com and Monster.ca to search for jobs, gain valuable tips and promote yourself. Before you head off to that interview, make sure you put in a tie - if you're not sure, check out How to Tie a Tie. Has your BlackBerry helped land you a job? What apps do you use to get your name out there? Let us know and happy job hunting!
The BlackBerry PlayBook is a great tablet for browsing the web. I find myself using it as my "couch computer" more often than not for quickly checking out web sites as opposed to firing up my latop. I like it because I can get the full browser experience in a small package, and usually have no trouble loading up full sites. I know however that some users much prefer to view mobile versions of their favorite sites instead of a full site. This could be for various reasons like load times, navigation or what have you. So I'm curious to know just how many of you choose a mobile version of a web site over the full version when using your PlayBook. Think of sites like Facebook, Twitter, ESPN and the like (obviously if a mobile version isn't available you'll use the full site). Let us know in the poll above what your preference is (Mobile if you visit mobile sites more often than full, or Full if you stick to full sites) then drop a comment below letting us know why you do what you do.
RIM improved their location services that they offer devs this month with the addition of Wi-Fi geolocation. Originally devs had to use GPS to find your location and then RIM added the ability to get your location from cell phone towers (Cell Site Geolocation) a year ago. Now devs can also get your location based on the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. RIM collected this information anonymously from BlackBerry users to enable the feature worldwide.
Wi-Fi geolocation nicely compliments the GPS and cell tower location services and should help devs get a quick location on OS 6.0+ devices. Check out more details about the service and API’s on RIM’s devblog. Some apps may already be setup to use this service as Ebscer points out on Twitter if they are using the Optimal Geolocation mode.
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The latest OS 7.0.0.400 which was officially released by Orange France for the Curve 9360 has come loaded with a bunch of small incremental app updates. rr_yy extracted quite a few of them for either OS 7 or both OS6 & OS7 and made them into OTA installs. They seem pretty stable but PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!
You can download them at www.rroyy.com/ota/
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Software For BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.1783 (All Languages)
Package Version: 5.0.0.1783
Consisting of:
Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.
Download:
How To:
Please report any feedback/findings in the comments or in the forums.
REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *
Since RIM announced their acquisition of QNX we have been seeing some of its uses and strengths beyond mobile phones and tablets. This is especially so in cars that are starting to use it to power the infotainment system. Paul over at the QNX blog pointed out that the latest OnStar FMV aftermarket rearview mirror is powered by the QNX OS. This mirror essentially brings quite a few of OnStar’s slick features like automatic crash response, turn-by-turn navigation, hands-free calling, stolen vehicle recovery, and one-touch emergency calling to non-GM cars. Cool right?
Check out this video below of the OnStar FMV in action or the press release:
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@Mark_Cathey let us know that Evernote has released a small update to their BlackBerry app bringing it to v3.2.328. In their forums Evernote explains that this update is to fix several issues including a note loading issue and the ability to send by email. Not a huge update but worth upgrading if you are having issues.
You can pick up the updated Evernote in App World or on their forums. There also seems to be an alpha hosting site that has some newer versions here but I have not been willing to risk trying it since it is not clearly run by Evernote.
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I am not sure what to make of T-Mobiles upcoming “Yes, Every Smartphone Is on Sale, Sale” this Saturday September 24th. They are offering the BlackBerry Bold 9900 for $99.99 after a $150 mail in rebate card if you use their featured Value plan, with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited (2GB) data for $49.99 per line for two lines ($99.98/month). The trick is that they are instead charging you an additional $15/month for 20 months after the initial purchase for a total of $300. I am not sure if the Value plan is worth this $400 total cost over 20 months but let us know if you will be picking one up.
Check out the details on T-Mobile’s Website or the press release
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As we all read last week, Rogers initiated the first heavily discounted program with respect to the Playbook. The deal was basically %50 off all the models and was available to all Rogers Wireless employees. The kicker was that if you bought them before September 22, you were also eligible for the $100 MasterCard from RIM. Thus making a 16 GB Playbook a dirt cheap $149.99!!
Several friends of mine work at Rogers and yes I have been hounding them to get me in on the party, but, it seems this this program has resulted in way more sales than Rogers expected and Playbooks are going to be hard to come by at Rogers.
Apparently the stock is flying out fast, Rogers is almost out of the 16 GB model alone. I have been told there is no official limit to purchases, but, each Rogers employee is only eligible to claim 3 rebates from RIM. In addition as of today, if you try to buy over 5 units, your order will get transferred to the fraud department to have the order investigated, which will result in the order not being completed ,because by the time the fraud department clears your order, the stock will likely be out and you get no Playbooks. This is the unofficial way Rogers is trying to control the orders so everyone gets a decent shot.
Some staff are even calling friends or acquaintances in other Provinces to see if they are using their 3 orders.
Given the 1000′s of employees in Rogers Wireless, and at least 3 Playbooks sold per employee, one could extrapolate huge movement of Playbook stock in the last 5 days and coming weeks.
I personally think this is the best play for RIM and they need to start doing this all over the place. I have said before, while it would great if the Playbook made money for RIM, it doesn’t need to in order for it to be a success. The Playbook could very well serve one purpose, be a loss leader, and be successful. RIM needs to flood the market with devices. Based on my own experience and those of others in the forums, once people have the Playbook in their hands, they generally love it. It is getting them into peoples hands that clearly is the trouble for RIM and this is a surefire way to get Playbooks in peoples hands.
It will be interesting to see what else RIM has in store before Christmas!
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The BlackBerry Curve 9360 seems to be picking up traction as it hits more carriers across the globe, and today we have a shiny new OS to keep things running smoothly. OS 7.0.0.400 is now available for the Curve 9360 from Orange Spain. Reports are good on this one so far, so if you have a Curve 9360 then get to downloading and fire this one up. If you do install, be sure to hit the forums and let us know your findings. As always, use caution when installing any OS on your device.
Download OS 7.0.0.400 for the Curve 9360
Discuss more in the forums
The BlackBerry Curve 9360 has yet to show its face stateside but that has not stopped rollouts elsewhere. The latest we have seen is from Orange France who just put out an official OS 7.0.0.400 for the BlackBerry Curve 9360. We have no idea what is new in this version but supposedly it includes some new native app updates like BlackBerry Maps.
Download OS 7.0.0.400 from BlackBerry.com
Thanks JD for sending this one in via ZonaBlackBerry via BBNews.pl
Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above. Don’t forget to delete the vendor.xml file located in c:program files>common files>research in motion>apploader to install it on a different carriers device. If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide.
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BlueAnt, a company know for its bluetooth headsets, has taken a stab at full on over-the-ear stereo headphones with the BlueAnt Embrace. Surprisingly, for a company with “Blue” in its name, the headphones are wired-only–a sacrifice I don’t mind making in the name of better audio quality. So how did BlueAnt do on its maiden voyage? follow the link and find out !
The Sound
Noise Isolation: My favorite feature about the Embrace headphones is the squishy soft leather padding on each earphone that blocks out external sound as it is pressed against the ear. The padding is big enough to cover most of the ear and is squishy enough to mold into the crevices of the ear, creating a perfect muffling mechanism for any external sound. But most impressive is that the Embrace doesn’t put a large amount of pressure on the ear in order to block external sound. Usually, when testing other over-the-ear headphones, the upper ear cartilage and skull area behind the ear would hurt after a few hours of listening due to the focused pressure exerted by the earphones. However, the padding on the Embrace headphones exerts the perfect amount of pressure, staying comfortable even after hours of testing. In terms of noise isolation and comfort, the Embrace is what other over-the-ear headphones should strive to be like.
Sound Quality: A review of headphones–an audio peripheral–should always focus on the audio. BlueAnt PR materials promise that the Embrace delivers what it calls “True-To-Life” sound–”sound that is not artificially manipulated.” But, to be honest, I have no idea what the PR team is talking about. What part of the reproduction of digital music isn’t an artificial manipulation of sound? We are turning a lengthy string of 0s and 1s into music.
Putting BlueAnt PR aside, I did test the Embrace headphones while listening to a wide array of music genres. The drivers perform well for the casual listener by converging a full spectrum of audio into a limited but warm range of mid-tones. However, the more demanding listener will notice that high tones and vocals are deepened, while the deepest bass tones are blunted.
The difference is most noticeable when listening to songs with clear and high vocals and deep bass. For instance, listening to “Rolling in the deep” using the Embrace, Adele’s voice doesn’t hit the highest notes nor do the bass-drums thump during the chorus.
Build Quality: The Embrace is a mix of black leather padding and brushed metal. The upper portion of the Embrace and the inner portions of the headphones are padding and covered with black leather, while the arms that extend to the headphones are a brushed metal. Although the same color, the contrasting textures give the Embrace the subtle but refined feel of a high end device. In addition, the single audio port and lack of any physical buttons give the Embrace a minimalist feel and look. On looks, the Embrace will not dissapoint.
Final Word: The Embrace headphones are uber-comfortable and have a high-end design. For some, that may be enough to justify their purchase. However, at $199.99 on Amazon, I imagine that many would agree that a pair of headphones should deliver better than average sound quality, a claim I can not verify after conducting this review. This is definitely a promising start into the field by BlueAnt, but it may pay to wait for Gen2.
Disclaimer: BerryReview received a demo unit for this review.
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I really wish I could understand Korean… RIM posted up this video of a BlackBerry Typing Contest in South Korea and I have to say I am impressed. I am a pretty fast BlackBerry typer especially on my Bold 9930 but these guys are speed daemons. Let us know if you can understand what they are saying or what they are typing!
PS: I am loving that bling-ed out quasi-gold BlackBerry.
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I am not a big Jennifer Lopez follower but she seems to be a big BlackBerry fan. Michelle @CrackBerry noticed that she features the brand new BlackBerry Bold 9900 in her latest music video “Papi.” It is right at the start of the video and even has the cool lighting of the keys shown off. Check out the video below:
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Happy Monday Torch 9810 users! O2 has released an official OS in the form of 7.0.0.353. No reports in just yet on whats new and good, so if you do install be sure to let us know here in the comments or in the forums what you find out. My 9810 has been having some battery life issue's so I'm curious to see if this fixes them up at all. As always, use caution when installing any OS.
Download OS 7.0.0.353 for the BlackBerry Torch 9810
Discuss more in the forums
I'm no good at budgeting, I never really have been. I know how to do it, but I never seem to follow through after getting it all set up. There is a new multi-platform expense tracker that is aims to make managing your finances fun and effortless. It's called Toshl Finance, and it's an easy to use, well designed, fast, safe and reliable personal finance tracker.
Toshl is a beautifully designed application, compatible with most BlackBerry smartphones running OS 5.0 and greater. You can download Toshl free in App World, and the basic version of the app is free to use, but you can also go pro for more advanced features for $19.95 a year. From now until October 5th, the first 10 people to upgrade to Toshl Pro can use the code CrackBerry and get 50% off! You can find more information in App World at the link below, or at the Toshl website. More screenshots of the app and the online options after the break.
More information/screenshots and to download Toshl
Let's face it, folks: we're busy people. We're movers and shakers, parents and deal-makers. Our smartphones have become our lifelines. They make it easier to stay productive, stay in touch, and stay organized.
In those rare "in-between" moments where we find ourselves with a few extra minutes to spare, some of us like to take a break and have some fun. Enter mobile gaming.
For me, the ideal for great gaming on the go is a game that's quick to launch, play, and put away. Games that can be played one-handed, have fast load times, and don't require an extensive commitment of time. Games like this fit easily into the chinks in our busy schedules. It doesn't have to be flashy or fancy; it just has to be engaging and fun to play.
One such game is Xploding Boxes, brought to you by Ebscer, maker of the hugely-popular Pixelated. I've played this quintessential strategy puzzler since its release, and it fits the bill perfectly.
XB looks deceptively simple to play. Click or touch a red box, and it explodes into 4 "bullets" traveling up, down, left, and right. When a bullet hits another red box, it also explodes into 4 bullets, setting off a chain reaction and (ideally) clearing the screen of boxes.
Each level will allow a certain number of clicks. If you clear the screen within the allowed number of clicks, you win and move on to the next level. If not, you fail and must replay the level.
As you progress through the game, new elements are added to make the game more complex. Purple boxes require 2 "hits" to explode. The first hit turns them red, the second makes them explode. Blue boxes require 3 hits, and so on.
I'll let it go at that, lest I rob you of your forthcoming horrified reactions as you unlock more challenging elements in future levels.
You can quit XB anytime and pick up right where you left off. The only caveat to this is actually forcing yourself to stop playing, because you won't want to. You'll find yourself muttering, over and over, the mantra "Just one more level, just one more level..."
Every game has its drawbacks, but XB only has few that I can see. The selection square on the main menu (apparently present only on non-touch devices) is VERY light and difficult to see. On my 9700, I had to squint a lot to see it.
Another downside is that game progress is lost if the game is uninstalled, or if you reload your OS. Hopefully the developer will address this in future updates. At least playing through all the levels again isn't pure drudgery as you struggle to remember how you beat a particularly tough level in the past. Update From the developer: You can back up and re-load your in game progress by back up and restore option in BlackBerry Desktop Manager
The graphics in this game are very plain. I'm listing this as a con only because people will inevitably compare XB to other "prettier" games, both on BB and other platforms. Personally, I think the simple graphics keep the app small, light, and more accessible to a wide range of devices. Making it pretty won't enhance the gameplay that much, but to some people, looks matter.
At just 236K, it's light enough for older devices where app storage real-estate is precious. The game does not stay resident in memory when you're not playing. It's also graphically modest, so it won't push your processor too hard.
From the XB site:
"Xploding Boxes requires a minimum OS of 5.0 and supports the 8520, 8530, 8900, 9300, 9330, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630, 9650, 9700, 9780, and 9800. Gaining access to all levels requires that you have version 2.1 or higher of BlackBerry AppWorld installed in order to make use of the in-application payment API." Recent updates also extend support to all OS7 devices. Screenshots were taken on my Bold 9900 running OS 7.0.0.353.
At release, XB offered 50 levels, and regular *free* upgrade releases have expanded the game to a whopping 215. The first 25 levels are free, and the rest will run you just $2.99, a completely reasonable price for a challenging game with excellent replay value. I'm sure most of us have have paid more for games we're no longer playing. I know I have. I've played through the game a few times start to finish, because with so many levels, it's tough to remember solutions to them all.
Pros
Cons
If you're a strategy/puzzle game fan, and you're looking for a game to fill those short gaps in your hectic day, add Xploding Boxes to your quiver. Explosions=good. You will aso want to try Pixelated, if you haven't already.
More information/download of Xploding Boxes
This review composed entirely on my BlackBerry 9900 using Documents To Go.
Sometimes you want your BlackBerry to be all blinged out with all the bells and whistles, but sometimes you crave the comfort that only a zen theme can bring. MMMOOO recognizes this need, and has created Purple Pink for those exact days. Using re-colored BlackBerry 6 icons in purple and soft pink and matching script fonts, you will feel right at home from the moment you download this theme.
Purple Pink is available for all BlackBerry smartphones running up to BB6, and you can grab it for just $.99 in the CrackBerry store. (Please remember that themes are not available at this time for the new BlackBerry 7 devices due to Theme Studio not being updated yet.)
Update: We just received confirmation from two other beta testers and BerryReview readers that the UberSocial private beta definitely does have BBM Social integration
The popular UberSocial BlackBerry app looks like it is getting BBM integration soon. Raed pointed out to us a post by BerryArab showing off an upcoming beta version of UberSocial with BBM integration. It seems like it lets you update your BBM status or personal message when you use UberSocial. Kind of cool and definitely a feature I think UberSocial users will appreciate.
What do you think?
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RIM just released v1.5 of their Payment Service SDK which is an update to the original that launched in January. This SDK allows devs to perform in app purchases through App World. This new v1.5 allows for auto renewing subscriptions for apps and in application digital goods. In other words think of subscribing to the New York Times through their app. RIM claims the API is similar though it adds the ability to check for the status of a subscription and the ability to cancel subscriptions.
BlackBerry Payment Service manages the subscription renewals automatically and sends out renewal reminders and receipts to users. The only catch is that users need the latest App World 3.0 to work. Subscriptions are offered with 7-day or 30-day renewal periods. There is also the ability to discount the initial trial subscription. This is what BBM Music is using for subscriptions. Devs can read more in the documentation here and download the SDK or more on the DevBlog.
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The BlackBerry Curve 9360 was rumored to launch on T-Mobile on September 14th but that obviously has not happened. Now we have a picture of a T-Mobile flyer scored by TmoNews from a T-Mobile store for the BlackBerry Curve 9360. That should be a pretty good sign that these devices should be coming very soon. Anybody want to hazard a guess? Sadly there is still no word on UMA calling…
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The PlayBook has a great browser, with page load time and rendering that is just as good if not better then most desktop browsers. However there are still a few features that I wish that it had. Here are some of those features that I hope get implemented ASAP.
Currently on the PlayBook there is no way to rearrange the bookmarks on the browser. Without being able to organize them, I find myself not using bookmarks on the PlayBook as much as I otherwise would. The PlayBook does include an edit mode for the bookmarks but the only option is to delete them.
Given how great the PlayBook’s browser is, and how large the screen is, it is very annoying to be redirected to a mobile version of website. The reason this happens is that some websites get lazy and see the term “blackberry” in the user agent, and assume that you are using a phone. Being able to override the browser’s default user agent to instead identify itself as a desktop browser such as Chrome would allow this problem to go away.
On the PlayBook opening a new tab takes you away from your current page, to the new tab. Most of the time what I really want is to stay on the current page, and go to read the new tab at a later time. The image to the right shows the option for this setting in Firefox, and I would like to see a similar thing in the PlayBook’s browser.
No one really likes to see ads, and with a browser that supports flash the situation on the PlayBook is worse. Furthermore you know that Google is never going to add this feature to the default Android browser, so RIM will gain a competitive edge there.
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Software For BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v7.0.0.1672 (All Languages)
Package Version: 7.0.0.1672
Consisting of:
Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.
Download:
How To:
Please report any feedback/findings in the comments or in the forums.
REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *
The USPS might be on the verge of insolvency but that has not stopped them from pumping out a slick new BlackBerry app. The app really covers the main bases with the ability to track packages and do things like look up zip codes and directions to USPS locations or collection boxes. All in all a very useful free app from the USPS.
You can download USPS Mobile for free in App World
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TEXT Blue and TEXT Pink are a couple of smooth looking themes by Simple Design for your BlackBerry. Featuring a mini-dock of 4 icons on the bottom as well as a top dock of text icons and a weather slot that are all able to be hidden, this theme is super wallpaper friendly. The battery and signal meters are numeric based, so you can check your status with a quick glance. Easy-to-read fonts and soft colors throughout make this a great theme for your BlackBerry 8330/50i, 85xx, 89xx, 9300/30, 9630/50, and 9700/80. You can pick up either version for $2.99 in the CrackBerry store. You're not going to want to miss all the awesome details in TEXT Blue and TEXT Pink!
More information/screenshots and to purchase TEXT Blue
More information/screenshots and to purchase TEXT Pink
Contest: Simple Design has given us 10 copies of each color of TEXT to pass on to you guys. To enter, check the list of compatible devices above, and if you have one that's listed, drop a comment below letting us know which color you want. The contest ends tonight at midnight PST, so hurry and get entered!