BlackBerry Bold 9780 OS 6.0.0.668 Found Online

For those of you carrying around a BlackBerry Bold 9780 we have some OS update news for you. The N4BB team snagged OS 6.0.0.668 for the device though we have not heard of any big OS issues that need fixing. Either way let us know what you find!

Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above and is not an official release.If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide.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. Don’t forget our usual warnings: do not download and install these updates if you don’t know what you’re doing. Incorrect procedure or just bad luck could render your BlackBerry inoperative or unstable.

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BlackBerry BIS Outage in EMEA Region?

 

We have been hearing reports this morning from users in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region that they are having BIS issues. We are not sure if this has to do with the recent BIS 4.1 update but it looks like that. Lucas over @N4BB spotted a confirmation by UAE carrier Du confirming that RIM has a service degradation in the area. Service does not seem to be totally out but degraded for ~50% of customers which is a huge deal.

You can watch Du’s updates on Twitter here. Here is what they have had to say so far:

• We’re fully aware of the ongoing degradation with BlackBerry services. We’re working with RIM to rectify the outage soonest.
• We received updates from RIM confirming BB services in Europe, ME & Africa are affected starting 09:19 GMT today & degradation is ongoing.
• The level of impact is gradually improving, and as we speak, approximately 50% subscribers are effected in those regions.
• Subscribers may experience delays in sending or receiving messages, roaming, or using other services such as Internet browsing or IM.

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Fonware Releases NFCLauncher App With ShortcutMe Macro Integration

 

The developers of the popular ShortcutMe app, Fonware, let us know about their latest app called NFCLauncher. The app lets you launch apps and shortcuts just by tapping your NFC capable BlackBerry against the tag. For example, you can tap the NFC tag by your house to turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in your car. You can also make it turn off your cellphone radio and similar actions. Check out a video of it below:

Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link

The coolest part is that they added integration with their ShortcutMe app that lets you create a macro like emailing or sending an SMS based on a tag. Practically anything you can think of. These are some of the really cool uses NFC can be used for beyond payments.

If you have an NFC capable BlackBerry like the Bold 9900, 9930 or Curve 9350, 9360, 9370, 9790 you can pick up NFCLauncher for $2.99 in App World. You will also need to pick up some NFC cards. Thankfully ReadWriteWeb put together a list of NFC card shops a bit ago:

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Groupon HD App Released for the BlackBerry PlayBook

The apps are starting to roll in for the PlayBook just before RIM drops their OS 2.0 update. The latest is an official Groupon HD app from the Groupon folks. It gives you access to the latest deals from 200+ cities in the US and Canada.

From the app you can find:

• Find unbeatable deals near you and view them on a map
• Purchase deals directly from your phone
• Find your new favorite places instantly with Groupon Now. Right where you are. Right now.
• Keep track of all your purchased Groupons by location and expiration date
• Redeem deals from your pone, save time and trees and never print another Groupon!

You can pick up Groupon HD for the PlayBook in App World free. Thanks Papped for the tip!

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RIM Announces BlackBerry Tag NFC Features Coming Soon

We know that RIM has things planned for the NFC technology built into the latest BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and Curve 9350/9360/9370 and now it has a name. RIM announced that they are calling it BlackBerry Tag and its coming soon to BlackBerrys. They claim it will let BBM friends add each other by simply tapping phones.  It will also let you share contact information, documents, URLs, photos, and multimedia easily.

Here is what Jim Balsillie had to say about it:

"BlackBerry Tag is an exciting and innovative feature that makes sharing contact information and multimedia content effortless and seamless," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Tag opens a new dimension to the BlackBerry platform that is powerful, simple and intuitive and we think it will be welcomed by both users and developers."

Check out the press release below:

RIM Unveils BlackBerry Tag-Coming Soon to BlackBerry Smartphones

- BlackBerry Tag enables effortless ‘tap to share’ exchanges of multimedia content and contact info between friends
- Friends can also add each other as BBM contacts with a simple ‘tap’

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES–(Marketwire – Oct. 10, 2011) – GITEX – During his keynote presentation at the GITEX conference in Dubai, Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) Co-CEO Jim Balsillie today unveiled a new way for BlackBerry(R) smartphone users to connect with one another and share multimedia content.
BlackBerry(R) Tag, which will be incorporated in the next BlackBerry(R) 7 OS update(i), will allow users to share contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content by simply tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also enable friends to instantly add one another as contacts on BBM(TM) (BlackBerry(R) Messenger).
"BlackBerry Tag is an exciting and innovative feature that makes sharing contact information and multimedia content effortless and seamless," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Tag opens a new dimension to the BlackBerry platform that is powerful, simple and intuitive and we think it will be welcomed by both users and developers."
BlackBerry Tag takes advantage of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology included in the recently launched BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM) 9900/9930 and BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 9350/9360/9370 smartphones, and these are the first BlackBerry smartphones that will support BlackBerry Tag.
RIM also announced plans to expose BlackBerry Tag through APIs on the BlackBerry platform, allowing software developers to take advantage of "tap to share" functionality from within their own applications.
(i) Subject to network operator certifications. Check with your local operator for availability.

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White BlackBerry Bold 9900 Caught on Camera…

I don’t know what it is about white BlackBerrys but they really look slick. Not as slick as a blood red 9900 but still you see what I mean. Adham over at Berry-WD scored a picture of what looks like a BlackBerry Bold 9900 decked out in white. We have heard that a white variant was coming so it was just a matter of time. Especially since RIM has made white versions for most of the Bold line except the CDMA variants if I am not mistaken.

Check out the picture and let us know if you would pick up a 9900 in white. I am actually curious if RIM would sell more white or black models if they were made available on the same day…

via Berry-WD via CrackBerry

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TeleNav GPS Plus now available on most Verizon BlackBerry smartphones

Our friends over at TeleNav have just announced that TeleNav GPS Plus is now available on select Verizon BlackBerry smartphones at a great low price of $9.99/year for a limited time. That's 50% off the regular price!

This is a full-service version of TeleNav that offers the following great features:

This is available now for the following devices in BlackBerry App World: