Reading Light for your BlackBerry device

With the holidays fast approaching, I'm sure a lot of us will be in the car at some point for a long stretch of time. I love to read in the car while my husband listens to his talk radio. I use my BlackBerry PlayBook to read e-books here and there but I really prefer holding the actual book in my hand. This causes some issues when in the car after dark. Enter Reading Light by Mindivia. This simple app uses actual images of natural light sources on your BlackBerry device to cast a subtle yet effective glow on whatever it is you may be reading. 

Features include:

To acheive optimal lighting on your BlackBerry device:

This app works remarkably well and is much better then using one of those flashlight apps currently available. It's important to remember to TURN OFF your device's "Automatically Dim Backlight" feature to maximize the app's brightness. Reading Light is available for $0.99 in BlackBerry App World on most devices (all carriers) running OS 4.2.1 or higher. All countries supported except: Bahrain, Joedan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea & the United Arab Emirates.

More information / purchase Reading Light

 

Quick Review: BHive Tasks 4.0

My day job mandates that I be productive and organize my bosses to the best of my ability. While I may be able to keep track of their to-dos and schedule, when it comes to my own, however, I'm literally a mess. This stems all the way back to college when I was known as the post-it note queen by my roommate. I just couldn't bring myself to use an organizer which gathered dust in the corner. I'd put them everywhere: on the TV, on the wall, and even on my laptop. Same goes at work too, stickies everywhere including on the case of my beloved BlackBerry. I realized I needed to wean myself off my paper addiction and to go cold turkey I decided to check out BHive Tasks by High Velocity IT Inc. 

BHive Tasks is a productivity application available for BlackBerry smartphones that enhances and works in conjunction with the native Task app (it will not work if you deleted the app for more memory). It allows you to create and customize tasks a number of ways and is available for most devices running OS 4.2 and higher. Let's just take a look at a few of the many features included.

Interface 

When you first look at BHive it sports a clean, simple and user-friendly interface. It is divided into four tabs: Due, Category, Priority, and Status. This allows you to easily locate and filter through your tasks without having to scroll through each and every one. In addition, you can configure the startup screen to open on any one of these tabs.

Synchronization 

 

If you add a task or create a new category in BHive it pops up in BlackBerry tasks and vice versa. All of the required fields are duplicated in this application so you still have your categories, recurrence options, reminders, etc. This means if you're like my boss and syncs his Tasks with Outlook they'll port over as well. It also means tasks are viewable on your PlayBook.

Mass updates and tasks creation

 

BHive goes one step further by allowing you to modify and create multiple tasks at a time. For instance you can input reminders for all of your bills or a bunch of items at once. You will need to go through each one if there are different due dates though. In addition, you can select all of your tasks at once and modify their category or folder without painstakingly opening each one.

Shortcuts

 

One of the things I really love about this program are the shortcuts. Without a doubt it is one of the best features of this application and what drew me to it in the first place. Not only are shortcut keys embedded into the program but even when entering a new task. Using their own form of shorthand you can enter in the due date, reminders, priority and folder name automatically when you hit enter.

 

Pros

Cons

Rating

Average rating 4.5/5 stars in Blackberry App World 

Conclusions

BHive Tasks is a top notch productivity tool that seamlessly integrates with your native tasks applications to not only deliver much needed functionality but reduces the number of steps when entering or filtering through tasks as well. It helps me stay on top of things without resorting to my post-it note madness. Before, I used to introduce my to-do methods as organized chaos. With this app I'm leaning towards a little more organized and a lot less chaos. Now I have no excuse for my laziness. It's just the thing for those of us who need better organizational skills.

You can pick up BHive Tasks 4.0 at BlackBerry App World for $8.99 and a free trial is available. For a limited time it's currently on sale for $4.99. 

More information / purchase BHive Tasks 4.0

Word Farm now available in BlackBerry App World

 

Looking for a new game to quickly become addicted to? Tired of playing poker or breaking bricks, well then it is time to check out Word Farm for BlackBerry. Word Farm has been out for a bit on Android, and has been released for BlackBerry today, and it is quite an addictive word game.

The concept of the game is to use the letters on the screen to spell as many words in the allotted time as possible. Of course, the longer the word the more points, and there are various achievements to unlock and various secret words which will give you bonus' in addition to extra points. You may be thinking how addicting can a word game really be, well give it a shot for yourself and find out just how addicted you can become. The game is available through BlackBerry App World for $2.99, so click the link below and get to downloading, and hit the break for a preview video!

More information / purchase of Word Farm 

To share or not to share; that is the question that Search 4 BBM answers

My mind may be changing when it comes to how I treat my BlackBerry PIN and who I add to my BlackBerry Messenger. Funny thing is, it wasn’t too long ago that I was going on about how I keep my friends close, and my PIN even closer. I honestly didn’t want my PIN to be out there for anyone to add me. I did that once when I was still new to the CrackBerry community and though I did find some really amazing people to talk to, there were always a few individuals who I felt like they would leave me in a bathtub full of ice and have my kidneys removed, if they had the chance. So when I was looking up information on PIN sharing options, I came across Search 4 BBM which, at first glance, was another PIN sharing site; or so I thought. 

I had the chance to meet with the Search 4 BBM team at the 2011 BlackBerry Developers Conference last month. The first time it was for inclusion in the DevCon booth tour and the second was a meet and greet with the entire group. After gaining more information on what was to the idea behind Search 4 BBM and the options that were available, I had a much better understanding for what they do. It wasn’t necessarily a messaging free for all; there could be a profound purpose for picking PINs from the plethora of people. Looking for those with similar interests? Need to find someone in a specific profession? Search 4 BBM offers a secure way to help make contact without everyone having access to your PIN, unless you like that sort of thing. They’re definitely worth taking a good look at, which we are about to do riiiiiiiiiiight….now!

 

Search 4 BBM was established roughly 7 months ago, with a soft launch occurring 4 months ago. Since that time, they’ve already accumulated over half a million members who actively take part in reaching out to others. Search for BBM is based in Israel and is lead by CEO Nimrod Cohen. Search 4 BBM does put a new twist on adding contacts to BlackBerry Messenger. We all know that most people chat with one another (in person, phone or email, social networking site, etc) and then add them to BlackBerry Messenger. In this case, you can search their database (which just so happens to be the largest one around) for people just waiting for you to use their PIN. Users can log in using their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google or Search 4 BBM accounts.

Now there are quite a few ways to search for contacts using Search 4 BBM. You may prefer looking for contacts that may be in one of your social networks. Depending on how many contacts you have, you may not be able to ask each and every single one of them if they are using a BlackBerry smartphone (though they should be). Searching through your social networks will help point out those who are fellow BlackBerry smartphone users. Say you met someone at a party; you got their name, but forgot to get their number or email. You saw them carrying a BlackBerry, so you decide to attempt to search for them through Search 4 BBM by name. You can also set your search criteria by category; if you need to find someone close by of a certain profession, like a plumber to help you with a currently flooding kitchen sink. Perhaps you need a lift and want to find the closest taxi driver. With categories like biotechnology, public relation or even clergy, you can find them all here. Searches can also be set by location and there are two ways to do this from the website- you can focus the search on a specific Country, State/Province and City. If you’re visiting a City you haven’t been to before, you can ask the locals where the best place is to have dinner, catch a show or sightsee. The other method is to search on the map included, both on their website and their BlackBerry application. I preferred using the website, as I found the map on the application to be slow and the controls a bit awkward (no touch screen navigation- slow response time). Regardless, you can see fellow users and their reported location. Other filters allow you to search by gender and age, as well.

Again, Search 4 BBM isn’t a messaging free for all; you can set your security level so your BlackBerry smartphone PIN can be seen by everybody, only social friends or only individuals that your personally approve. While your Profile is completely public, you can choose how much or how little detail you want to share about yourself. Users can show share their location, pictures, status/situation and other contact details.

Understanding the BlackBerry application is still in beta, there are some much needed additions that I would like to see. Profile management on a BlackBerry smartphone is a definite must; including the option to upload images. I’m hoping this functionality comes soon. The mapping option is a great idea and could help making contact with fellow users within close proximity of each other, but the map needs to be incredibly smooth. Search 4 BBM goes well above and beyond what BlackBerry Messenger can when it comes to adding new contacts. It’s, by far, an amazing filtering tool that is much more secure than slapping your PIN up in a forum. Especially since you can report accounts for abuse, potentially resulting in that account being closed. As its user base grows, so will its ability to connect everyone with a BlackBerry smartphone. Consider Search 4 BBM a more secure way to see who is worthy of being added to your BlackBerry Messenger Contact list, as well as a door to a more detailed look at profiles. If you want to check out Search 4 BBM, you can sign up for a free account and download the free application from BlackBerry App World.

More information/download the Search 4 BBM app for BlackBerry smartphones

Check out Search 4 BBM

 

Time Zone - dual time zones right on your home screen

Keeping track of dual time zones when traveling is a pain. It never fails that I'll call a friend or family in the wee hours of the morning or late at night because I can't keep which time zone they're in straight. Now with TimeZone by PingDev Ltd, you can have a second clock, set for a different time zone, on your home screen. This app would also be great for travelers who want to keep track of the time zone back home while traveling abroad.

Features include:

Time Zone is available for $2.99 in BlackBerry App World for most devices running OS 6 or higher.

For more information / purchase Time Zone

VQ Mileage Tracker 50% for November - Grab it for just $4.99

VQ Mileage Tracker has been discounted and is 50% off for all of November. The popular mileage tracking app is now just $4.99 and is available for most devices. VQ Mileage Tracker does just what it's name says - it automatically tracks your mileage, capturing time, start location, mileage and more. All of the data is stored for easy reference, so you'll never be left guessing when you're on the open road. Check out more in VQ Mileage Tracker in the CrackBerry App Store.

More information/download of VQ Mileage Tracker

iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370 [Sponsored Ad]

CBS Interactive releases a slew of GameTracker Mobile apps for college football fans

If you're at all a college football fan, CBS Interactive has the app for you (most likely). They have released a full onslaught of GameTracker Mobile apps for a bunch of colleges across the country. The apps allow you to check stats, scores, schedules and more for your college right from your BlackBerry. The GameTracker Mobile apps are available for Tennessee, Florida State, Michigan, Aubrun, UCF, Memphis, Kansas and many more. Show off your school spirit while staying in the know. Check out the full list from the link below to see if there one available for your school.

Check out all the GameTracker Mobile apps

Spice up your BBM chats with Jingu Smileys

 

If you are anything like me you probably add way too many smiley faces to your conversations as it is, but sometimes they are just so appropriate for the conversation. Luckily BBM gives us quite a few emoticons to choose from, but not always the one you are looking for, so meet Jingu Smileys, a free BlackBerry application that brings some more emoticons to your device.

The application works rather simply, while in a BBM convo press your menu key and you can access Jingu Smileys, then simply copy the smiley you want, and paste it into the conversation, no headaches required. You can access your frequently used emoticons easily without having to scroll through the tons that are available, or if you are looking for something new you can take a moment to check them all out to ensure you grab the most fitting one. With the ever so lovely price tag of $0.00, or free, what is holding you back from checking it out today?

More information / download of Jingu Smileys

PingMe delivers a similar BBM-like experience

Cross-platform messaging applications are popping out all over lately but few deliver like our beloved BBM. The latest competitor in the arena is called PingMe. Shockingly, it is very similar to BlackBerry's native application. With PingMe, you can message all those traitors friends who are on other platforms while enjoying the following features:

The UI is clean and simple with customization options available for both the background and message box colors (I've always wanted these features in BBM). I have family on all platforms and have been searching for an instant messaging application just like this for all of us to use. Now I can use PingMe to see when my husband's ignoring my texts on his iPhone just like I do when I BBM him on his BlackBerry.

For more information / download of PingMe

Tis the season for Christmas Countdown

My favorite season of the year is finally upon us. Christmas is just a few looooong weeks away, and soon many of you will be getting full swing into the Christmas Spirit. During these few hectic weeks, we tend to get so overloaded that we always forget just how much longer we have until December 25th. For that, Christmas Countdown comes to save the day. This handy app lets you instantly know just how many days are left until Christmas simply by checking your BlackBerry. Features include:

Christmas Countdown is available for just $0.99 in BlackBerry App World. Grab it from the link below.

More information/download of Christmas Countdown

NYC Subway Trip Planner gets updated, makes finding your way around beneath NYC a breeze

 

Whether visiting NYC for the first time or a full time resident, trying to navigate the subway system is no easy task. Luckily for those who need to travel around and make connections between various trains the folks at RailBandit have made the experience substancially more enjoyable with their latest update to NYC Subway Trip Planner.

Their latest update now makes use of the official subway map, and helps users determine their fastest route between any two given locations. After you select the start and end location the application will show you what trains you need to catch, departure and arrival times, along with your wait time between transfers. What more could you really ask for while traveling, besides for the application to do the walking for you, and find an open seat for you to sit in? If you travel to NYC frequently, or are planning an upcoming trip, be sure to hop into AppWorld and grab yourself a copy today. The application allows for a free five day trial and then after the trial if you wish to purchase it you can own your own full copy for only $4.99.

More information / download of NYC Subway Trip Planner 

Keep up with your favorite news in style with Beam Reader for the BlackBerry PlayBook

 

Are you a fan of keeping up with various news streams from all over the web and find yourself bored looking at only text headlines while scrolling through them all? Well, meet Beam Reader, a visual RSS reader for the BlackBerry PlayBook which not only shows the feeds in a nice grid pattern, but also adds images to the headline. Gone are the days of flicking through all the headline text and here are the days of checking out the article image as well as the title, and if you want to read the article simply tap the image and it will load.

Beam Reader comes set up with five feeds to get you started, but you can remove them if you wish, or keep them and add yours in addition to them. If you are looking to expand your site collection beyond what you already know you can simply search by category or keyword and find some new material for yourself. If yuo are looking to keep up with your favorite websites in style you will certainly want to hop into AppWorld today and grab Beam Reader for $2.99 today!

More informatoin / download of Beam Reader 

Quick Review: Pattern Lock Pro for BlackBerry

Yes it's pattern lock .. but no, not that pattern lock. Pattern Lock Pro is a locking app of the same name (add the pro of course) that simply lets you use a pattern of your choosing to unlock your device. The settings screen is simple, letting you choose your pattern, lock timeout and apps to override. I'm a big fan of pattern locking on touchscreen devices, as it gives a quick one-handed simplicity to things. Pattern Lock Pro comes in handy for just that, however I do wish it was a bit more responsive. It seems to hang a bit as you map out your pattern, but hopefully something that can be fixed down the line. Check out the video above for my review, then head to BlackBerry App World for more.

More information/download of Pattern Lock Pro

App Deal of the Day: 50% Off Tether for BlackBerry - Get it today for just $24.99!

Need a new do? Try VirtualHair for BlackBerry smartphones!

Some people are just born with an amazing head of hair. There are those have a great natural colour and others that will never know the horror of a receding hairline. I talk of the ones that have picture perfect hair; the ones who must have an army of stylists consistently making sure every single strand is in the right place. I’m sure you know someone whose locks look like a helmet and must be placed on their head like Darth Vader’s helmet. Others are not so lucky and have yet to find the perfect style.

Toysoft Development Inc came up with an entertaining (and funny) way to see which style is best for you through their app called VirtualHair for BlackBerry smartphones. All you need is a headshot of yourself (preferably from head on) in order to do some hair shopping. Browse through over 30 different hairstyles for both women and men. VirtualHair also lets you change the size and colour of the hair until you find a suitable match. When you are finished, you add a frame (optional), then save it, email it or update your BBM avatar.

Features

If anything else, it’s great for a laugh. Though I think my new best friend in the image above might like my new style, what do you think? You can pick up VirtualHair for $0.99 from BlackBerry App World.

More information/download VirtualHair for Blackberry smartphones

TOMPlayer updates with new UI and features

Emacberry has been hard at work updating his TOMPlayer media application. Not only does this update include a new, more functional UI (more pleasing to the eye as well), it also comes jam packed with even more features then the previous version. For those of you who missed our first post regarding TOMPlayer, the app is essentially a media player for your BlackBerry that goes a little above and beyond the native media app with functions like returning to the exact spot you eexited the program. For the full list of additions keep reading after the break.

New version inculdes:

Beside the pre-selection via the Options you can toggle between the different AudioPath with the [Q]-Key (forward) or the [A]-Key (backward). For Storm and Storm2 users some additional menu items are available in order to provide this additional switching functionality.

Browse the FileSystem of your BlackBerry and select a folder in which the Audio files for which you like to create a playlist are located. Once you have reached this directory you can open the BlackBerry Menu and select between

Please note that selecting this option might take some time in order to retrieve all audio files from all sub- directories.

In the Options you can specified in which folder the create Playlist will be saved - you can select between:

Best of all, Emacberry has kept the application completely FREE!

For more information / download TOMPlayer

Brainwave Tuner gets inside your head and plays with your brain - and on sale for 50% off too!

Music soothes the savage beast. The saying holds more truth than you may realize. Think of how many times you‘ve thrown on some music to help you vent, put you to sleep or even help you keep your focus. You may even have created playlists on your BlackBerry smartphone for numerous occasions. One BlackBerry smartphone application takes the idea of beneficial tones one step further; Brainwave Tuner. Regardless if you are attempting to mediate, catch some shut eye or even cram for a test, you can browse through 20 preset sound patterns to assist you. It’s amazing how simple tones with binaural beats can help you get your mind where you need it to be- all it needs is the right stimuli. When I get writer’s block, I turn to instrumental music to help me along the process. Brainwave Tuner was recently updated to version 2.6 and includes the following features:

Promotion: Brainwave Tuner is available from the CrackBerry App Store for $3.99. You can use the coupon code CRACKBERRY201110 in order to receive a 50% discount. The promotion is valid until this Sunday 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 Brainwave Tuner from the CrackBerry App Store

Fixmo Tools adds yet even more functionality - 10 copies up for grabs!

Oh Fixmo Tools, do I ever get tired of talking about you? No, I don’t. It’s part of a small number of applications that has traversed the journey from smartphone to smartphone with me. I review a lot of applications (and by a lot I mean a WHOLE WHACK), and Fixmo Tools is one of the reviewed few that I hold onto. Why do I hold onto it? Inside is a suite of applications (an arsenal you could say), that extends upon the functionality of whatever model of BlackBerry smartphone I may be using. It has saved me time and again by reversing accidental message deletion, alerting me of potentially inappropriate outgoing emails and providing me handy screen capturing capabilities. These of course are but a few of the options Fixmo Tools comes with. If I had run into the team at BlackBerry DevCon 2011, I would have hugged them (and then probably would have shared in an awkward, silent moment afterward).

When I first received my BlackBerry Bold 9900, I discovered that, sadly, Fixmo Tools was not yet OS 7 compatible. I said “until we meet again” to a dear friend (well I didn’t actually say it, that would have been crazy). So recently, Fixmo Tools was updated to version 2.5 and with it came a couple of new features. Now compatible with OS 7, I couldn’t wait to see what else was new.

 

Fixmo Tools is now available for BlackBerry smartphones running OS 7 (yessss!). They compare Fixmo Tools to owning a utility belt; well they’re going to need suspenders to keep that belt up because it now comes loaded with 18 applications. You heard right, 18 frikkin apps! So on top of the support for BlackBerry OS 7 devices, and performance optimizations, Fixmo Tools does come with a couple of cool additions:

Conserve Wi-Fi

It can be argued that properly managing Wi-Fi connectivity helps to conserve battery life. In the list of Fixmo Tools applications, you will see the Conserve Wi-Fi icon. Using this app, your Wi-Fi will be turned on and off at a specific location, based upon information from cell towers. For example- I’m at work and connect to WiFi. I click on the icon and the next screen will display the available networks and the associated Cell ID. A simple button will allow the application to automatically activate or deactivate WiFi connectivity the next time I’m there. No more manually activating WiFi!

Application Deletion

If you ask me, having 18 apps in 1 is kind of a crazy deal. Some people may not think the same way. The folks at Fixmo said that they actually received feedback that there were too many applications to choose from. I guess I can see where there may be a problem; not everyone may use the Speed Test, or Remote Print applications. What Fixmo Inc did, was include an option in the menu that allows you to delete the apps you don’t need. All you need to do is open the menu and select Delete Apps. A pop-up will list the currently installed applications, along with a check box beside each entry. Click on each entry that you want to delete and they disappear. See? Fixmo can add more functionality, even when enabling you to remove functionality. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

If you would like to pick up Fixmo Tools, it's currently on sale for $7.99 (from $14.99) at the CrackBerry App Store.

Contest: We have 10 copies of Fixmo Tools to giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST.

More information/download Fixmo Tools for BlackBerry smartphones

Easily compare prices and save money with ShopSmart for BlackBerry

ShopSmart is a great new way to save yourself some money while you're out at the store. With the free app, just scan a barcode on any product and ShopSmart will let you know the online price for that item at major retailers instantly. You can compare prices on many of your purchases so you'll know if you're getting a good deal or need to take your business elsewhere. 

ShopSmart can save you money and time and really add up in the long run. Grab it free from BlackBerry App World.

Please note, automatic barcode scanning is only available on OS 6.0+ with 9100, 93xx, 9650, 9670, 97xx, 98xx. All other models require entering barcodes or keywords into the search box.

More information/download of ShopSmart