Camera Timer by S4BB Limited helps you get the picture

I take a ton of pictures with my BlackBerry, of all kinds of things. Sometimes, it's nice to be in the picture, but you don't always have that extra set of hands you need to take the picture. Apps such as Camera Timer, a new application from S4BB Limited, are perfect for this situation, as you can set the timer, place your BlackBerry on a sturdy surface, and jump in the shot. Featuring an accurate delay timer (5, 10, or 30 seconds), option for flash during photo and an auditory warning / countdown to photo, this app will come in handy in all sorts of situations.

You can grab Camera Timer at either of the links below for just $.99 for all BlackBerry smartphones running OS 5 and up.

More information/screenshots and purchase Camera Timer from the CrackBerry Store

More information/screenshots and purchase Camera Timer from App World

Iterate Podcast 08: Interview with Ryan Hammrick and Jerome Carty, developers of Blaq for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Marc, Seth, and Rene iterate through the loss of Steve Jobs, type on buttons, and icons in fonts, and interrogate Ryan Hammrick and Jerome Carty of Blaq for BlackBerry and PlayBook, and answer questions about how to hand off graphics to developers. This is Iterate!

Don't suffer in silence — If your tools aren't as you'd like, let the creators know. Submit Fireworks and Photoshop feedback to Adobe.

Embedding icons in fonts, using @font-face for web, mobile web and app icons.

If you're one of the best-of-the-best-of-the-best in mobile design for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, webOS, or Windows Phone, we'd love to get you on the show, or if you've found a drop-dead gorgeous app on any platform and really want us to talk about it, contact us and let us know.

CrackBerry asks: Do you memorize your BlackBerry PIN?

One of the first things you likely learned about when you got your first BlackBerry was your PIN. Unique to each device, the PIN is an eight digit alpha-numeric sequence that is assigned to every BlackBerry. Some people view their PIN as sacred and only for those closest to them, others post it everywhere to meet people and make friends, and there are all sorts in between the two ends of the spectrum. No matter what your thoughts on it, it's a part of BlackBerry life that is pretty important.

Our question for you today is in regard to that special little number. We want to know if you have your BlackBerry PIN memorized, or if you rely on looking it up or displaying your barcode whenever you need it. Personally, I've never memorized my PIN. I changed devices frequently enough that it would be hard to keep them straight, and really it has never even occurred to me that I should memorize it. So, vote above and let us know what your style is!

Star Front: Collision for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Star Front: Collision is a real-time strategy game for the BlackBerry PlayBook by app devloper Gameloft. So what does that mean? If you've ever played Command & Conquer, Total Annihilation, or Starcraft (three of my all-time favorite games), you're already familiar with the general idea.

In this game for the BlackBerry tablet, you can play as one of three races: the human Consortium, the beastly Myriad, or the technologically advanced Wardens (which to me, reminds me of the Vorlons from Babylon 5). All three races struggle to control the rare and valuable mineral Unobtanium... er, I mean Xenodium.

Build extraction facilities for the mineral and energy resources, create garrisons to train your troops, and lead your forces to destroy the enemy. The game makes great use of the 3D rendering capabilities of the PlayBook and allows several levels of zoom, so you can see exactly what's going on. Even while your forces are building and fighting in other parts of the map, scrolling between areas is smooth and quick.

The touchscreen interface of the game is perfectly suited for the tablet. Large buttons and controls ring the screen and are easy to use even if you have large fingers like me. There is a small learning curve while you learn to control the camera and your forces, but the excellent four-part tutorial included with the game makes it a breeze.

I could go on and on about how excellent this game is, even without discussing the skirmish and online multiplayer modes. Bottom line, Star Front: Collision is a well-crafted, fun game that's sure to bring me hours of enjoyment. If you want a taste of what gameplay looks like, take a look at that video up there. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some Xenodium to mine and some Myriad to exterminate.

Purchase Star Front: Collision from BlackBerry App World 

Music for the video, "Feeling Dark (Behind The Mask)," was created by 7OOP3D and is licensed under Creative Commons 3.0.  Many thanks to 7OOP3D.  

Giveaway: SilverTide Theme From Pro Theme Designs

Por Theme Designs recently release SilverTide them with O7 icons for several BlackBerry devices. The theme is simple, clean, and operates nice on my BlackBerry.  What I like the most of this theme is that I can use different backgrounds if need to and they look good with the theme.

Features:

The screenshot used is from an OS 6 device so it may appear differently on other handsets.

You can purchase the theme at any of the links below for $1.99 or simply leave a comment for a chance to win one of 20 copies.

If you like the them you can also follow the designer on twitter @ProThemeDesigns

Supported devices:

9800 9700 9670 9600 9300 9550 8500 8330, 9100

More on BerryReview

Funny: CrackBerry addicts lament BlackBerry RIM outage

The video above comes from NMA TV, makers of many funny (and often offensive) animated videos on everything from President Obama to Apple to the NBA. The video above shows a bit about the way many BlackBerry users reacted to the recent outage that lasted nearly four days. It's a very amusing look at CrackBerry addicts, although it seems a bit over the top (or is it??). Let us know what you think in the comments!

BlackBerry App World 3.0.1.20 Now Available in BetaZone

RIM sent out an email this morning letting us all know that the new BlackBerry App World 3.0.1.20 is available to eligible BetaZone members.   BetaZone members can find it directly with this link, and if you are not a BetaZone member you can go here BlackBerry BetaZone to sign up.  Rroyy has also been kind enough to post a link here in case you already have your beta key.

More on BerryReview

Deal of the Day: Save 49% on the Incipio Feather Ultralight Hard Shell Case for BlackBerry PlayBook - Get it for just $17.95

Foursquare for BlackBerry smartphones updated to version 3.3

Foursquare for BlackBerry has received another update and now sits at version 3.3. Aside from the fancy new icon, not much new in this version -- a few tweaks from the looks of it, including a smoothed out options screen as well as the addition of notifications (clicking on the foursquare logo in the menu bar). I was hoping to see more (like the new Radar feature on iOS) but it doesn't look like it made the BlackBerry cut this time around. Foursquare is showing the update via BlackBerry App World from my device, although it doesn't seem to be reflected on the web just yet. If you install, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you find.

More information/download of foursquare for BlackBerry

BLACKBERRY SERVICE OUTAGE SALE: Save 10% on ALL BlackBerry Accessories While You Wait for Service to Return to Normal!

From the Forums: Intergalactic outages, reward for lost PlayBook, marketing tips for app developers

What a week for RIM, and not a good one. This week's outages along with the new iPhone coming out Friday are not helping the BlackBerry maker out at all. You can read all about 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. 

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!

Deal of the Day: Save 58% on the BlackBerry Stereo Headset (3.5mm) - Get it for just $4.95

ProOnGo now connects to QuickBooks through Intuit Anywhere

The ProOnGo expense management application is by far one of the most critical applications that almost any professional should have installed. This award winning application is designed to eliminate the frustration of reporting expenses. I mean, how much easier can it get than by snapping an image of a receipt and having ProOnGo Expense analyze the details – such as, amount, date and merchant name – for you? On top of this, the application also sports a Mileage Expense Tracker, Time Expense Tracker (with Contact and Call Log integration) and support for multiple currencies and exchange rates. This, of course, is just to name a few features. It also makes it easy for you to report and your company to monitor.

Recently, ProOnGo announced that they have strengthened their QuickBooks compatibility by using Inuit Anywhere; which instantly syncs expenses between the ProOnGo Web Portal and QuickBooks Pro, Online, Premier and Enterprise. Features include:

Now keep in mind that, on top of QuickBooks, ProOnGo users can also export to XML, Excel or CSV or even to a fax. ProOnGo provides a wide array of packages suitable for individuals, businesses or CPAs (Chartered Public Accountants). Individual accounts start from a Lite version for $11.88 per year to a Road Warrior version for $95.90 per year. Head over to www.ProOnGo.com for more information, you can also grab the ProOnGo application for free from BlackBerry App World.

More information/download ProOnGo for the BlackBerry smartphones

Check out the ProOnGo website

 

My BlackBerry is not working - A bit of humor to help lighten the mood

We had originally posted this video last year, but since the last few days have no doubt made BlackBerry owners a bit angry and frustrated, we figured we'd try and ease the pain a bit with a few laughs. This was originally seen on The One Ronnie show and takes a bit of a spin on our usual tech problems. It's definitely a good watch to help lighten the mood even though things are back up and running now. Enjoy!

Plantronics Improves on Perfection with Voyager Pro HD Bluetooth Headset

When I got my first Plantronics Voyager Pro I few years back I fell in love. It was a super comfy Bluetooth headset that simply worked and the battery lasted forever. Plantronics then gave it a marginal update with the Voyager Pro+ with A2DP and a voice controls. Now they have tuned the mix just a little bit more with the Voyager Pro HD.

The Voyager Pro HD adds a slick Smart Sensor technology that recognizes when you place it on your ear. It will automatically answer calls or transfer calls back and forth between your phone and headset based on this sensor. They also have their Vocalyst voice and text service on command and a few other tricks.

The Voyager Pro HD is available now on Amazon for $99 and you can read more on the Plantronics website.

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BlackBerry Service Update: Mike Lazaridis fundador y Co-CEO de RIM en vídeo

La gente de BlackBerry se están volcando a pedir disculpas y a explicar con más detalle lo que ha sucedido durante estos días. Este mediodía lo hacía Eduardo Fernández, Director General de RIM España y para el área del Mediterráneo, vía teleconferencia. La cobertura a la misma la tenéis gracias a los amigos Albert Cuesta y Pilar Bernat que vía Twitter han ido comentando al momento las explicaciones de RIM.

Ahora le toca el turno a Mike Lazaridis, el manda más de RIM a nivel mundial, fundador y presidente de RIM y Co-Ceo junto a Jim Balsillie.

La actualizaciones del servicio puntualmente van apareciendo en http://www.rim.com/newsroom/service-update.shtml y en castellano en: http://es.blackberry.com/serviceupdate/

RIM Explains how to Secure Your BlackBerry PlayBook & Wi-Fi Sharing

I still remember when RIM was handing out BlackBerry PlayBook’s at BlackBerry World many of them were setup by users to share files over Wi-Fi with no passwords. While some users may be smart enough to set a device password on their PlayBook it may not be necessary for all users. On the other hand Wi-Fi sharing passwords should be turned on for 99% of use cases. If you turn on Wi-Fi sharing on your BlackBerry PlayBook to share files over Wi-Fi and don’t setup a password then anybody on the same Wi-Fi network can access your PlayBooks media files including pictures, documents, videos, etc. Not good…

RIM was kind enough to put together a simple graphical tutorial on how to setup a BlackBerry PlayBook devices password and Wi-Fi sharing password. If you need help setting one up after reading their guide on it let us know in the comments.

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Contest winners: MediaKeyBooster, PrivacyStar, Witch at Halloween Night, accessories, and more!

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 Charging Pod for your device

BlackBerry Leather Pocket Pouch for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900

YouMail Visual Voicemail Plus updated to version 2.5.17 - 5 copies to be won!

PrivacyStar celebrates their victory with us - 5 licenses to be won!

20 copies of Witch at Halloween night up for grabs

MediaKeyBooster for BlackBerry smartphones - 25 copies to be won!

25 free copies of Timer/Stopwatch by Vorino Software to give away

Viira GTD App Gets Touch Friendly with v3.1 Update

Karta Mobile let us know that they have updated their popular BlackBerry GTD (Getting Things Done) app Viira to v3.1 this week. The new version brings what they call a “snazzy touch screen interface for the new BlackBerry 7 devices including Bold 9900/9930 and Torch owners.” The update makes it easier to use Viira with the touch of your finger.

The new v3.1 of Viira is a free upgrade for existing users. The change log includes:

• Touch Screen Interface. If you have a touch screen device like a BlackBerry Bold 9900, a BlackBerry Torch or BlackBerry Storm you will see a command panel with touchscreen buttons that contain the most frequently used actions in Viira. You can now create, edit, delete and mark tasks as completed with just a tap on the screen.
• Quick Add: Add New Tasks Quickly. Perfect for the times where you have a number of new tasks or ideas to record, the quick add field enables you to enter them one after the other in quick succession. Just type in the tasks name and press ENTER, then repeat as needed!
• Starred Projects and Contexts. Mark your important or frequently used project or contexts with a star. Starred projects and contexts always appear at the top of the list making it easier to navigate or select them.
• Compact Mode. Fit more of your Viira data on your BlackBerry’s screen. Particularly useful for owners of touch screen models like the BlackBerry 9900 or the BlackBerry Torch series, turning on compact mode lets you see more of your tasks for any project, context or day. You can turn on Compact Mode by going to Settings->General Settings->Compact Mode.

You can pick up Viira v3.1 from the Viira download page or from your BlackBerry at www.kartamobile.com/bb

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BlackBerry España regala 5 BlackBerry PlayBook y 5 BlackBerry Torch 9800 ¡Participa!

Pues no sabía yo que había estaban reglando 5 BlackBerry PlayBook y 5 BlackBerry Torch 9800 la gente de España. Como no hay nada que perder y mucho a ganar merece la pena participar ¿no? ¡¡¡Suerte a todos!!!

Unos de los vídeos de la promoción:

Para participar: http://www.aquestasesperando.es/, Por cierto la campaña va del 10 de octubre al 15 de diciembre y las bases a la misma las podéis consultar en la misma página.

Official OS 7.0.0.400 for the BlackBerry Curve 9350 from US Cellular

US Cellular has released OS 7.0.0.400 for the BlackBerry Curve 9350. This is the latest official OS for the 9350, so if you're still sitting on that stock OS you may want to give it a go. No reports in just yet on whats new or updated, so if you install be sure to swing by the forums and let us know what you find out. Even though this is an official OS, use caution when updating your device.

Download OS 7.0.0.400 for the Curve 9350

Discuss more in the forums

Official OS 7.0.0.439 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 from WIND

Heads up Bold 9900 users - WIND Canada has just released OS 7.0.0.439. This is the latest official OS for the Bold 9900, so if you are looking for an update this is your answer. There are some higher leaked versions, but many like to stick to official OS versions on their device, so if you haven't updated your OS on your 9900 yet you may want to give this one a shot. If you do update, be sure to hit the forums and post your findings. As always, use caution when installing any software on your device.

Download OS 7.0.0.439 for the Bold 9900

Discuss more in the forums

S4BB Limited launches their new Facebook page with an awesome contest - Win a BlackBerry PlayBook, Bold 9900 or Torch 9810!

S4BB Limited is a pretty big name in BlackBerry applications, with tons of great apps under their belt, and they are branching out their social networking to Facebook. To celebrate their customers and ramp up user interaction, they have just launched an awesome contest on the new Facebook page where they are giving away a BlackBerry PlayBook, a Bold 9900, and a Torch 9800! To enter, all you have to do is go to http://bit.ly/s4bb_sweepstakes and:

1) Like the S4BB Limited Facebook page.

2) Enter a name to receive the prize in case you win.

3) Share an app ideas or favorite apps.

The sweepstakes is open until October 24th and world-wide entries are accepted. They will announce the winner on October 27th and the more friends a participant invites the greater the chance to win. Go get yourself entered now, and check out all they have to offer on their new Facebook page. (Please note, CrackBerry is not affiliated with this contest, we're just helping spread the word.) After you get entered, why not head over to the CrackBerry store and check out S4BB's apps?

S4BB applications in the CrackBerry Store

Servicio BlackBerry: volvemos a la normalidad

Pues parece que durante esta noche la gente de RIM ha solventado todos los problemas con la cola de los mensajes que había pendiente de procesar.

Durante la noche me han entrado todos los email pendientes y mensajes de BBM. Así que los iconos de email y BBM ya vuelven a recontar mensajes no leídos.

He preguntado a los amigos de varios países y tenemos confirmación de Stefano de www.bbworld.info que en Italia se ha vuelto también a la normalidad, en la India gracias a Shahzoor de www.bbin.in y en Grecia también restaurado gracias al mensaje de Vassilis de www.GeekBerry.com, así que suponemos que el problema está solventado definitivamente a nivel mundial.

Esperando que el resto de vosotros tengáis ya vuestro dispositivo BlackBerry al 100%.

Make your pictures spooktacular with Halloween Photo Editor for BlackBerry

There are all sorts of photo manipulation apps out there for BlackBerry, but Halloween Photo Editor puts a fun, spooky twist on it, just in time for the holiday. With this app you can turn any photo or image into the perfect Halloween image. Choose from 4 filters (Full Moon, Pumpkin Carving, Zombie Fog, or Blood Sense) to set the tone, add one of 16 frames, and as many of the 11 matching clip art images and dress up your image. Also included are photo tools so you can adjust the brightness, contrast, size, and more. Once you have it the way you want it, save the picture to share it or set it as your wallpaper.

Halloween Photo Editor is a lot of fun, and ranks up there with the best running photo apps I've used. You can check it out for just $1.99 for most BlackBerry smartphones, and enjoy it for years to come.

More information/screenshots and to purchase Halloween Photo Editor

BlackBerry Service Update Press Conference Live Blog! [Now Ended]

Conferencia de prensa de RIM: problema solventado pero hay que esperar a que se procese cola de mensajes

Durante esta tarde/noche RIM ha comparecido vía conferencia de prensa, lo ha hecho David Yach CTO de Software de RIM, el audio lo ha publicado CrackBerry en su totalidad, os dejo el link al mismo: Conferencia de prensa de RIM BlackBerry Service Update

No dice más de lo que os hemos comentado en anteriores entradas, os resumo lo importante:

1º Problema solventado. El falló fue un conmutados o switch principal en la infraestructura de RIM y que su Backup no funcionó como hubiera sido su diseño y que en testeos funcionó.

2º Hay que esperar a que se normalice la situación, hay una gran cola de mensajes pendientes de entrega de estos 3 días y RIM está procesando la misma para que no se pierda ningún mensaje.

3º La razón del contagio a América y Sud América del problema de EMEA no ha sido otro que la cola que se genera en el NOC de la región de América por los mensajes no entregado al NOC de EMEA

4º No se ha dado plazo alguno para volver a la normalidad. Hay que procesar esa cola de mensajes y no tienen idea alguna de que tardará, aunque para RIM ahora es su máxima prioridad.

Así que es cuestión de horas de que volvamos a la normalidad del excelente servicio que nos presta RIM y sus servidores. Esperamos por eso que dichos problemas sirvan para que en un futuro el mismo no se repita y se tomen las medidas necesarias para que estemos todos tranquilos y más seguros si cabe.

Por cierto recordad que ningún sistema es 100% seguro, ni 100% fiable, el tiempo siempre da la razón a eso, pero esperamos que cuando haya uno se solvente con celeridad y el impacto sea el mínimo posible. Mañana así esperamos despertarnos con Servicio BlackBerry

Por cierto tenemos ahora las Actualizaciones sobre el Servicio BlackBerry ahora también en castellano en el siguiente link: http://es.blackberry.com/serviceupdate/

Official OS 7.0.0.439 For The BlackBerry Bold 9900 From WIND Canada

Software For BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 smartphone

BlackBerry Handheld Software v7.0.0.1948 (All Languages)

Package Version: 7.0.0.1948

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. *

Página oficial de BlackBerry Service Update

Le ha costado un par de día a RIM publicar algo en su web, si lo había hecho antes en las redes sociales Twitter y Facebook, pero ahora ya tenemos una página donde podemos consultar que está pasando con el Servicio BlackBerry, en la misma ha reconocido que existen también problemas en América aunque no de detalla si existe relación.

El link: http://www.rim.com/newsroom/service-update.shtml

o el de back-up  http://uk.blackberry.com/serviceupdate/

Esperamos por eso que dicha página no muera y RIM aprenda de ello informando puntualmente en los futuros problemas que haya en su red, aunque esperamos que no se repitan nunca jamás ¿?

BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.439 Officially Released by WIND Canada

WIND updated the OS for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 on their BlackBerry download page this week. The update is not the latest OS we have seen leaked but its pretty close at v7.0.0.439. We have no idea what is new in this build but if you are an official OS only guy you may want to check it out:

Download BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.0.0.439 @BlackBerry.com

Thanks Paul for sending this in!

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 stepguide.

More on BerryReview

BlackBerry Curve 9350 OS 7.0.0.400 Officially Released by US Cellular

Another OS update officially dropped today for the BlackBerry Curve 9350 courtesy of US Cellular. The update to v7.0.0.400 is nice because CDMA devices don’t usually get updates as fast. We have no idea what is new in this build but if you are an official OS only guy you may want to check it out:

Download BlackBerry Curve 9350 OS 7.0.0.400 @BlackBerry.com

Thanks Paul for sending this in!

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.

More on BerryReview

BlackBerry Outage Stretches into Third Day – RIM Still Working on Fix

 

The outage RIM is experiencing for the last two days is now into its third day. Last night RIM said they were working through the backlog and from what I am hearing users in Europe, Middle East, Africa, India, Brazil, Chile and Argentina are still experiencing severe issues. From what we are hearing and from carrier reports the issues are still hours away from being fully resolved.

I have been hearing multiple rumors of what exactly happened and what RIM is doing to fix it beyond their announcement of a “core switch and subsequent backup failure” but feel free to speculate or share the reasons you are hearing in the forums!

More on BerryReview

BlackBerry BIS Outage Stretching into US, Canada, & Asia

We have received multiple confirmations from different sources that the BlackBerry outage that started two days ago in the EMEA region in spreading a bit. According to one source twenty five percent of users in the US and Latin America are experiencing issues. Reuters is reporting that RIM confirmed to some clients that it is having issues in both the US and Canada. There are also reports of sporadic issues in the Asia Pacific region though I have not managed to pin them down.

The issues in the US and Canada seem to be surrounding BIS, BBM, BIS-B, and push services though for now it just seems to be causing sporadic delays. Let us know if you are experiencing anything in the comments.

More on BerryReview

RIM Posts Global BlackBerry Service Update Page – Confirms Issues in the Americas

RIM’s @BlackBerryHelp account posted a link to a “BlackBerry Service Update” page on their RIM.com website with updates on the current BlackBerry Outage. This is on top of the UK BlackBerry Service Update page. The latest update just went up an hour ago confirming intermittent issues for “Subscribers in the Americas.” They are obviously working to fix the issues ASAP as a priority one job. Here is what they have to say so far:

Wednesday 12th October – 9:45 (GMT-5)
BlackBerry subscribers in the Americas may be experiencing intermittent service delays this morning. We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and we apologize to our customers for any inconvenience. We will provide a further update as soon as more information is available.

Wednesday 12th October – 12:00 (GMT+1)
We know that many of you are still experiencing service problems. The resolution of this service issue is our Number One priority right now and we are working night and day to restore all BlackBerry services to normal levels. We will continue to keep this page updated.

Tuesday 11th October – 21:30 (GMT+1)
The messaging and browsing delays that some of you are still experiencing were caused by a core switch failure within RIM’s infrastructure. Although the system is designed to failover to a back-up switch, the failover did not function as previously tested. As a result, a large backlog of data was generated and we are now working to clear that backlog and restore normal service as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to many of you and we will continue to keep you informed.

Tuesday 11th October – 16:00 (GMT+1)
Some of you are experiencing messaging and browsing delays. We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

Monday 10th October – 20:46 (GMT+1)
Our sincere apologies to all of you affected by today’s BlackBerry service issues.

Monday 10th October – 15:00 (GMT+1)
We are currently working to resolve an issue impacting some of our BlackBerry customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. In the meantime, we apologise to you for any inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.

More on BerryReview

BlackBerry Security Incident Response Team Responds to Elcomsoft Brute Force Password Attack

I received a copy of this email that RIM has been sending out to customers about the brute force passwords attack Elcomsoft has announced for BlackBerry media cards. We told you earlier this month that practically any offline password system devoid of hardware protection is vulnerable to a brute force password guessing attack and how to mitigate it on BlackBerrys.This is what RIM has been using as an answer for customers worried about Elcomsoft’s attack vector from the BlackBerry Security Incident Response Team (BBSIRT):

The article states that the tool uses a brute-force attack to guess the smartphone password by attempting to decrypt the contents of a media card that has been removed from the smartphone. For this tool to do what Elcomsoft claims, an IT administrator or the smartphone user must have chosen to encrypt the contents of the media card with the smartphone password only. Furthermore, an attacker must have access to the media card from the smartphone, and the tool would have to successfully guess the password. To then use the password to unlock the smartphone, that attacker would also have to have access to the smartphone.

For stronger protection, users can choose to encrypt the contents of an optional media card, choose the option to encrypt using a device key or the combination of a device key and the device password. See Enforcing encryption of internal and external file systems on BlackBerry devices for more information.

To increase the difficulty of guessing passwords, RIM recommends that users always use strong passwords. A strong password has the following characteristics: includes punctuation marks, numbers, capital and lowercase letters does not include the user name, account name, or any word or phrase that would be easily guessed.

The security of mobile devices and major networked systems is tested by third party security researchers every day. RIM also continually tests the security of its own products, and volunteers its products to recognized industry experts for security testing and certification to help identify possible security vulnerabilities and protect BlackBerry customers against potential security threats.

For information on BlackBerry security, visit http://www.blackberry.com/security.

The article states that the tool uses a brute-force attack to guess the smartphone password by attempting to decrypt the contents of a media card that has been removed from the smartphone. For this tool to do what Elcomsoft claims, an IT administrator or the smartphone user must have chosen to encrypt the contents of the media card with the smartphone password only. Furthermore, an attacker must have access to the media card from the smartphone, and the tool would have to successfully guess the password. To then use the password to unlock the smartphone, that attacker would also have to have access to the smartphone.

For stronger protection, users can choose to encrypt the contents of an optional media card, choose the option to encrypt using a device key or the combination of a device key and the device password. See Enforcing encryption of internal and external file systems on BlackBerry devices for more information.

To increase the difficulty of guessing passwords, RIM recommends that users always use strong passwords. A strong password has the following characteristics: includes punctuation marks, numbers, capital and lowercase letters does not include the user name, account name, or any word or phrase that would be easily guessed.

The security of mobile devices and major networked systems is tested by third party security researchers every day. RIM also continually tests the security of its own products, and volunteers its products to recognized industry experts for security testing and certification to help identify possible security vulnerabilities and protect BlackBerry customers against potential security threats.

For information on BlackBerry security, visit http://www.blackberry.com/security.

It gets the point across without getting technical but it could have done more to explain the situation. Essentially if you password is less than 8 characters and you don’t use a device key to encrypt then computers are capable of cracking it if they are given enough time.

Here is a simple to understand breakdown. Say you had a password using 62 possible characters (from the 26 lower case, 26 upper case, 10 digits):

What a device key essentially does is create a 128 bit or 256 bit key that can possibly be combined with your password. That would take current computers ages to crack. The thing is there are some downsides to using a device key and encryption does cost you in terms of performance… So once again it is all up to how paranoid you actually are…

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Official OS 6.0.0.666 For The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 & 9105 From SK Telecom

BlackBerry® Pearl™ 9100 smartphone

BlackBerry Handheld Software v6.0.0.2922 (All Languages)

Package Version: 6.0.0.2922

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. *

IBM Study Finds Filing Your Email into Folders is Unproductive…

You have to love these kinds of studies. The latest coming out of IBM Research is a 345 user study into how productive it is to file your emails into folders. According to their filings findings it took users an average of 17 seconds to find an email via searching compared to 58 seconds to find an email by folder. Filing emails also did not make the success of finding the intended email any more successful. They claim that users are spending 20+ minutes a day filing emails in a pointless exercise.

They also delve into labels and conversation threads like you find in Gmail. According to the study users resisted tagging emails though did not delve further into it. On the other hand they found that conversation threading (a sweet feature that RIM added in BlackBerry OS 6.0) is essentially a form of custom search that makes it easier to find emails. IBM Research seems to be all for conversation threading though they want Superthreading which groups multiple conversations together under a topic or project.

Check out the full details at BoxFreeIt or a great conversation going on at SlashDot

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Incidencia de RIM la causa…pero todavía sin solución

RIM España nos ha enviado un breve texto traducido donde se comenta cuál está siendo la causa de la caída del servicio BlackBerry en EMEA, os lo adjunto:

ACTUALIZACION DE RIM. Los retrasos en la mensajería y navegación experimentados por los usuarios de BlackBerry en Europa, Oriente Medio, África, India, Brasil, Chile y Argentina fueron causadas por un fallo del interruptor principal en la infraestructura de RIM. Aunque el sistema está diseñado para la conmutación por error a un switch de back-up, la conmutación por error no funcionó como se había probado previamente. Como resultado, una gran acumulación de datos se ha generado y ahora estamos trabajando para eliminar acumulación de datos y restablecer el servicio normal tan pronto como sea posible. Nos disculpamos por cualquier inconveniente y vamos a seguir informando.

Dejando de lado la traducción de switch por interruptor, que quizás presta confusión de lo que realmente está pasando, yo ayer por la noche empecé a recibir emails y podía mandar y se recibían mensajes de BBM, aunque sin las características letras de confirmación de entregado (D) y leído (R). Algo que mostrar que quizás ya habían dado con la solución al problema y se estaba restaurando el servicio BlackBerry. Pero en minutos posteriores volvimos a las mismas: no emails, no BBM. Durante esta noche ha habido alguna ráfaga intermitente de entradas de emails, pero esta mañana al despertar hemos vuelta a ver, sufrir y padecer el estar sin Servicio BlackBerry.

Sabemos ahora lo que ha pasado oficialmente, pero por ahora no se ha informado de cuando puede estar dicho problema solventado. Esperamos que como hizo Jesús de Nazaret al tercer día resucite el servicio BlackBerry, desde aquí vamos a rezar para que esto sea así, parece que es lo único que podemos hacer, aparte de tener paciencia y más paciencia. Os vuelvo a publicar nuestro padre nuestro particular que hace ya algún tiempo publicamos:

Algo de humor en estos días tampoco viene mal

Por cierto preocupante es que dicho problema se extienda a otras regiones las cuáles inicialmente no estaban afectadas el lunes. Confirmado dicho problema en algunos países de sud américa que antes no estaban y leo en CrackBerry que comentan que en Canada / Mexico / US están empezando a reportar entregas lentas o con demora de mensajes de BBM.

Actualización 11:14: Veo por eso que Eduardo Fernandez, Director de RIM de España, ha publicado un Tweet hace escasos minutos diciendo que el problema está solventado pero hay embudo de tráfico en el NOC de UK:

Esperemos sea así y volvamos a la normalidad con el transcurso del día.

Free Cozi MobileLife Family Organizer – Custom T-Mobile Variant

Back when T-Mobile announced the BlackBerry Bold 9900 it said it was shipping with T-Mobile’s MobileLife Family Organizer powered by Cozi. I was not familiar with the service then but T-Mobile let us know that the T-Mobile version of Cozi is now available for BlackBerrys and other platforms at www.t-Mobile.com/calendar. The thing is it seems like Cozi is free for any family who wants to share a family calendar, shipping list, and to do list.

From their free BlackBerry app (Android and iPhone apps available) you can:

The service actually launched for BlackBerry users on July 7th according to the Cozi blog. Either way I am definitely going to check it out since the service has some pretty cool collaboration features for families. You can check out the BlackBerry version for yourself at cozi.com/BlackBerryApp.htm and let me know what you think!

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Virtual Contact for Twitter on your BlackBerry PlayBook

Still looking for a Twitter application on your BlackBerry PlayBook? Need to manage multiple Twitter accounts? Then Virtual Contact for Twitter may be the answer for you! Created by Babin Moisan Solutions Inc., Virtual Contact for Twitter is a FREE Twitter client available only for the BlackBerry PlayBook. I didn't realize how feature packed this app really was until I checked out the creator's videos on his YouTube channel. He takes you step by step through all of the features listed below.

There are very few Twitter applications available for the BlackBerry PlayBook and even fewer ones that I actually like. Virtual Contact is easy to use & has the features most of us desire. The fact that it's a FREE Twitter client makes it so much more appealing to some. One of the things I would change is the dark color scheme. Maybe in future builds they may utilize the vibrant red & yellow colors of the logo to brighten up the UI a bit.

For more information / download of Virtual Contact for Twitter

Deal of the Day: Save 77% on the BlackBerry Neoprene Sleeve for PlayBook - Get it for $6.95

Enter to win a free theme from ProThemeDesigns and a shot at a completely custom design!

ProThemeDesigns is brand new on the theme scene, and was created with one purpose: the creation of slick, stream lined themes for all BlackBerry users. Since its creation, ProThemeDesigns has launched its first 3 themes on App World and Mobihand - PurpleHaze, SilverTide and SilverTide w/BB7 Icons. All 3 of these themes are designed with the professional BlackBerry user in mind. No crazy colors or animations, just classy, timeless themes that you can use in the boardroom and your living room.

Have you ever installed a new theme, you like it but its just not 100% what you wanted? ProThemeDesigns is giving you a chance to win your "Dream Theme"!  Using the hands of their designer as your own, you will be able to design a completely custom theme (to the ability of the designer).  A theme the way you want it. To enter to win this custom theme, all you have to do is follow @ProThemeDesigns on Twitter, and send them a tweet letting them know you saw the contest on CrackBerry and what device you have. Even if you have upgraded to a BB7 device, you can enter, the only catch being you'll have to wait until the updated Theme Studio is released by RIM to get your theme made. ProThemeDesigns will pick a winner from their new followers to win this awesome prize.

On top of this, ProThemeDesigns has given us 25 copies of each of their current themes to pass on to you guys! To enter to win one of these, check them out at the links below, then come back here and leave a comment letting us know which theme you want. They are each compatible with BlackBerry 8330/50i, 85xx, 91xx, 9300/30, 95xx, 9650/70, 97xx, and 9800 so you'll need to have one of these devices. This contest ends Sunday at midnight PST! One entry per person please. Good luck!

More information/screenshots and to purchase PurpleHaze ($2.99)

More information/screenshots and to purchase SilverTide ($.99)

More information/screenshots and to purchase SilverTide w/ OS7 icons ($1.99)

From the Forums: Downloads from BlackBerry PlayBook OS2, Torch 9810 with lighted trackpad

One week until DevCon! Who's planning on going? While you're waiting for this week to crawl along, take a gander at 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!

Official OS 6.0.0.668 for the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and Bold 9700 from Swisscom

Sure it's only a day after the leaked version of the same OS showed up online for the Bold 9780, but official is official, right? Swisscom has released OS 6.0.0.668 for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and Bold 9780. Reports are pretty good on this one so far, so get out that USB cable and fire it up. If you do install, be sure to hit the forums or leave a comment letting us know your findings. As always, use caution when installing any software on your device.

Download OS 6.0.0.668 for the Bold 9700 and Bold 9780

RIM: “BlackBerry Outage Caused by Core Switch Failure” Now Working Through Backlog

RIM let the AP News know that the reason for the prolonged outage in the EMEA region for the last two days is because of a “Core switch failure.” You would think that they would have a redundant hot or cold core switch but according to RIM the “transition to a backup switch did not function as tested, causing a large backlog of data… RIM said it is now working to clear the backlog and restore normal service as soon as possible.”

Amen to that! Next time maybe we need a backup for the backup for the backup?

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BlackBerry App World 3.0 - Managing your applications

So, first things first, managing the applications on your BlackBerry Smartphone probably isn't the coolest thing you can do with your device. But - like filling out TPS reports or cleaning the cat's litter box - eventually you're going to have to do it. Thankfully, the BlackBerry App World application makes upgrading and even deleting applications an almost entirely automated process.

There are all manner of applications on your BlackBerry. Some are a part of the Operating System (for example, the Clock application). Others might be downloaded or purchased from a site like the CrackBerry App Store. Still others are downloaded or purchased from BlackBerry App World. It's this last set of applications that can managed with the BlackBerry App World app. Applications like Twitter (for BlackBerry), Facebook (for BlackBerry), and BlackBerry Messenger can all be installed, updated, and/or deleted using just that one app.

 

After starting BlackBerry App World, click or tap the My World icon found at the bottom of the application. Once you've logged in with your BlackBerry ID, you'll see a list of all of the application on your BlackBerry. If you tap or click where it says "Installed" at the top, you'll get a drop-down menu where you can select categories of applications. For example, you could select "Upgrades" from the menu to see all of your applications that have been updated. Speaking of Upgrading...

 

When new Upgrades are available for application installed on your Smartphone, you'll see the notification in the same area that you see new message icons and the like. Once you've clicked on the My World icon in BlackBerry App World, you'll see the applications that have updates, they have "Upgrade Available" on them in yellow text.

Clicking on one of these applications, you'll see the upgrade screen. Usually, you'll get a brief description of why the app needs to be updated. Tap or click the Upgrade button to start the process. You'll get a warning that the application already exists, click or tap "Yes" to start upgrading the application.

When complete, you may get a message telling you that your BlackBerry must be restarted to finish the upgrade. When you exit the BlackBerry App World application, you'll be prompted to do this. This way, you can upgrade multiple apps and restart your Smartphone once.

 

 

Occasionally, you will find an app or a theme that you want to remove. A springtime theme may no longer be needed in the fall, a free trial might not have worked out, or you simply want to remove the apps you no longer use.

Open App World and tap or click the My World icon; this opens your list of all the applications and themes you've downloaded from BlackBerry App World. Tap or click the application's name to see more information about it. You'll see the "Delete" button at the top. Tap/Click the button to start the process.

When complete, you may get a message telling you that your BlackBerry must be restarted to finish the deletion. When you exit the BlackBerry App World application, you'll be prompted to do this. This way, you can delete multiple apps and restart your Smartphone once.

BlackBerry App World does a great job of quickly letting you manage the applications installed on your Smartphone. Whether a theme; an purchased application; or the latest Official BlackBerry application from the folks in Waterloo, BlackBerry App World can help you keep that app up to date (or even delete it if things just didn't work out). It's by no means the only way to manage the apps on your phone, but that, my friends, is another article entirely.

Official OS 6.0.0.668 For The BlackBerry Bold 9780 From Swisscom

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. *

Updated: RIM Apologizes for “Delays in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile and Argentina”

The BlackBerry outage saga continues in the EMEA region. RIM has been their usual quiet self about the situation and an ETA for a fix. At least they have been confirming the issue both yesterday and today and apologizing for it on Twitter and a few other places. Now they have at least come out on their forums and given us a better understanding of the scope while apologizing once again:

Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays.  We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.  We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

^Bo – Community Administrator

Donald pointed out that you can keep an eye on the status on T-Mobile UK’s service status page. Now if only RIM would provide regular users an estimated ETA just like enterprise users get for T1 support…

The N4BB team managed to score the communications that RIM have been sending to carriers:

Latest update from RIM sent to carriers…

Initial notification sent to carriers…

SERVICE(S) AFFECTEDService Name: BlackBerry ServicesStart Date/Time: 11-Oct-2011 10:58:00 GMTDuration: OngoingRegion of Impact: EMEAState of Service: Severely Degraded% of Subscribers Affected (estimated): 50Service Impact: Subscribers may experience delays in sending or receiving messages, roaming in another location, or using other services such as Internet browsing or instant messaging. Subscribers may also be unable to create new accounts, integrate third-party email accounts, or use BlackBerry subscriber web sites. Devices may not receive new service books. BlackBerry-enabled devices that request a new PIN may not receive a PIN. BlackBerry Enterprise Servers may be unable to connect to the BlackBerry Infrastructure. Wireless service providers and device resellers may experience delays in using BlackBerry administration web sites, creating subscriber accounts, or provisioning services for subscribers. [00017]

Estimated Time to Resolution: Approximately 4 hours

Action(s) Taken:  BlackBerry support teams have been engaged and are working toward resolution as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience during this time.

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Devs: BlackBerry Analytics Service Comes out of Beta with v1.0

 

RIM announced their Analytics Service back in late September of 2010 and then launched a public beta at the end of February 2011. Now about 7 months later we have the final gold release of the BlackBerry Analytics Service v1.0. I don’t know if this official v1.0 version is any different than the current public beta but who knows. The Analytics Service remains free for all BlackBerry JAVA developers with up to 25,000,000 server calls per month included which should cover most users.

The service is still powered by WebTrends and offers up to 20 interactive reports for developers to see how their apps are being used. In short it gives developers an idea of what users like or don’t like about their apps or new versions. For example, I am hoping that Slacker Radio is getting a HUGE BLINKING error message every time it just hangs while loading on my BlackBerry Bold 9900.

Devs can register free for the BlackBerry Analytics Service. More info and implementation information can be found at the BlackBerry Analytics Service documentation page.

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RIM Reconfirms that PlayBook Charger Charges Smartphones Twice as Fast

 

We told you last month that RIM’s ShopBlackBerry store practically confirmed that the BlackBerry PlayBook Rapid Charger can charge BlackBerry smartphones twice as fast. Now we have even more proof from RIM on that front. They put up a new knowledge base entry titled “BlackBerry smartphone compatibility with BlackBerry PlayBook charger.” According to that article:

The charger that ships with the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is the BlackBerry Premium Charger and is fully compatible with a number of current BlackBerry smartphones. Unlike the traditional BlackBerry smartphone wall charger which converts AC to 700 mAh, the BlackBerry Premium Charger outputs at 1800 mAh which charges the BlackBerry smartphone twice as fast.

The battery does heat up slightly but is within acceptable levels.

RIM lists the following devices as compatible with the PlayBook Rapid Charger though it is practically a list of all BlackBerry devices with MicroUSB connectors:

BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9930/9900
BlackBerry® Torch™ 9860/9850
BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810
BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9780
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650
BlackBerry® Curve™ 3G 9300
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8500 series
BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630
BlackBerry® Style™ 9670
BlackBerry® Storm2™ 9550
BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530
BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G 9100 series
BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8200 series

Let us know how the PlayBook Rapid Charger works on your BlackBerry smartphone!

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Seidio Releases Spring Clip Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 & 9930

Anybody else miss the old clip on holsters RIM used to ship with all their BlackBerrys? The leather holster that comes with the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 is actually quite good but some people prefer the traditional plastic clip BlackBerry holsters. Tom let us know that Seidio has exactly those users in mind with their new BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 99309 Spring Clip Holster. It is intended for a “naked” case-less Bold and provides a spring clip that lifts to get your device in and out. The inside is covered by felt and it faces inside when you place it in the holster to protect the screen.

Features include:

You can pick up the Seidio Spring Clip Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 for $29.95 directly from Seidio.

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De nuevo sin servicio BlackBerry …

Parece que continúan habiendo problemas en los servidores de EMEA de RIM, tras la caída de medio día de ayer esta tarde empezamos mal con otros tantos problemas.

A mí particularmente no me funciona BlackBerry Messenger y empiezo a no recibir los email. Y ya sois varios los que de una manera u otra nos habéis hecho llegar que no funciona el servicio BlackBerry.

Así que tendremos que volver a armarnos de paciencia y esperar a que la gente de RIM solvente ese teórico problema técnico. Y digo teórico porque que me conste hasta la fecha nadie a respirado para dar explicaciones de los que sucedió ayer, y que parece que ha vuelto hoy a repetirse. A repetirse o están arreglando algo para que no vuelva a suceder. Quién sabe, con tanta poca comunicación podría tratarse desde que ha pasado la mujer de la limpieza y ha vuelto a desenchufar el cable barriendo con la escoba, como que el NOC de RIM en UK está ardiendo Esperemos en todo cado que los técnicos de RIM encuentren ese cable que sin querer se ha desconectado, en el mejor de los casos, o que apaguen de una vez el fuego en su NOC en el pero de los casos.

Pero vaya algo más de información a mi parecer si que nos merecemos saber.

Actualización 15:55: Acabo de recibir un SMS de mi operador (Vodafone) donde se detalla:

VF info: se reproduce la incidencia de Blackberry. RIM proveedor del servicio, continua trabajando en su resolución. Le informaremos vía SMS una vez resulto.