BlackBerry Charging Pod for Bold 9930 and Bold 9900 [Sponsored Ad]

Tank Recon 3D now available for BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and Torch 9810/9850/9860

Tank Recon 3D first popped up over a year ago for the BlackBerry Storm2 and after a long overdue update is now available for the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930, Torch 9810 and Torch 9850/9860. This first person tank shooter features real-time 3D graphics that make it one of the most fun games on the platform.

Piloting your new advanced tank, code named Alpha, you will be shooting it out with various units such as tanks, planes, AT guns and more. Fire your main cannon and watch as the enemy explodes into pieces. Use your guided missiles to bring down enemy planes or anything else that needs blowing up!

Tank Recon 3D allows you to choose between Mission and Survival mode. Jump right into the action with Survival mode and see how long you can survive. The longer you last the harder the enemy units become. When you're done, submit your high score to the Internet for bragging rights.

Play Story Mode to go on various missions that will ultimately decide whether you defeat the Evil Hepion forces or explode trying. Playing through the missions takes time and is no easy task but fortunately the game supports saving your progress at any point. If you do manage to complete the missions, try them again but this time choose Hard or even Mental!

I've been rocking Tank Recon 3D on my Bold 9930 for a few days now and I absolutely love it. The touchscreen controls are easy and super responsive and the game features loads of replay value. A new version for the BlackBerry Playbook should be on the way very soon as well. Hit the link below for more info.

More information/download of Tank Recon 3D

Review: Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900

There Barely There series from Case-Mate still stands as one of my favorite cases for all my devices, and the Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for the Bold 9930 and 9900 is no different. The case snaps right on to the device, holding firm and giving you a good sense of security. It sports a pretty sweet look that definitely adds that bit of flash to your device as well. The ports are all open so you'll have no problem accessing them with the case on, and removing it should you choose to do so isn't hard at all. The only gripe I have is the way it sticks up a bit on the bottom and can cause problems for some people when typing. Check out the video above for more.

 

Review: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and 9900 - Leave a comment to win one!

Being a first responder I encounter some of the most intense environments on a daily basis. I always expect the most elite equipment to help perform my job while keeping me as safe as possible. I expect the same for my device, as it's a vital tool in my line of work. The OtterBox Commuter Series case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 provides three layers of protection. The first layer is an outer polycarbonate shell to protect the Bold from drops.  The second layer is constructed of durable silicone adding bump and shock protection. Also an optional screen protector, add the third layer and the Bold is now encased in superior protection from anything it may encounter.

I have been carrying my Bold 9930 in this case for a little over a month and I must say it's awesome. I have dropped it countless times, tossed it in a gear bag for travel and it's even taken the trip inside some places where some phones should not be operational. Though the standard Commuter case does not come with a holster, (OtterBox, PLEASE make one!!!) we adapt and overcome. In the video you will see the device fits perfectly in a Bold 9000 holster -- the best combo! Now while keeping the sleekness of the Bold form factor, the Commuter adds no bulk at all, giving some of the best protection in cases out there. Though there are some minor drawbacks using the case, it should be sufficient for any consumer looking for ultimate protection. Be sure to watch the video above for a more in-depth look at this case.

Contest: To enter to win an OtterBox Commuter series case for your device, leave a single comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST.

More information/Purchase of the OtterBox Commuter Case for the Bold 9900/9930

BlackBerry Leather Pocket Pouch for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 Review

Depending where you live and what carrier you're on, the case that ships with your Bold 9900/9930 varies. For example, on Rogers in Canada my Bold 9900 came with the BlackBerry Leather Holster. But what I would have preferred is the BlackBerry Leather Pocket Pouch. Over the pond, pouches are inluded with the phones from alot of carriers, though the design of those is a little differen than the pocket pouch I take a look at in this review.

The leather pocket pouch protects your Bold when the device is inserted. It's a carrying pouch. Once it's out of the pouch, the phone is naked. Some of you are fine with that -- I know I typically prefer the feel of a naked phone -- while some of you will prefer an always-on case. And if that's your taste, I suggest checking out the hard shell and soft shell cases for the 9900/9930.

The BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Leather Pocket Pouch case has a list price of $34.99, but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. With such high demand for Bold 9930/9900 cases it's been hard to keep inventory in stock, but we finally got caught up on our backorders for this one and have more available now. Keep reading for a video, more photos and details surrounding this tasteful yet luxurious case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall I'm really happy with the design and quality of all the new BlackBerry brand cases for the Bold 9930 and Bold 9900, and the Pocket Pouch is no exception. It's simple, but I think it looks nice. There is a nice to texture to the case, and the stitching seems like it should hold up to a decent amount of abuse. The Bold fits well within the case. Snug, but not too snug. 

As it is an official BlackBerry case, there is a built-in sleeper magnet which triggers the phone into standby mode when placed into the pouch (helping to save battery and prevent any sort of accidental dialing). The magnet also enacts "in holster" profile settings on the phone, which is a great feature to have and take advantage of. It's a simple case, but you can tell a lot of design effort went into this case to make it both simple yet functional. If you're looking for a leather pocket pouch for your new Bold, this one should more than do the trick.

Learn More / Purchase the BlackBerry Leather Pocket Pouch for the Bold 9930 / 9900

 

Want a chance to win a Leather Pocket Pouch for your BlackBerry Bold 9900 or 9930? All you need to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your review feedback or letting us know why you want one. Contest entry closes Sunday, October 9th at midnight PT. Please leave only one comment.

BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle for Bold 9930 / 9900 and Torch 9850 / 9860

When I was using older devices I was always happy to have an extra battery at the ready thanks to my external charger. While the Bold 9780 didn't really need a spare battery given the great battery life, the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900 don't share the same luxury. There are plenty of ways to increase your battery life, but sometimes even that's not enough. Thankfully the BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle came to the rescue. This setup allows you to charge a spare battery at the same time you charge your device so you can always have a spare ready to go. 

The BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 and Torch 9850 / 9860 comes with everything you need to get rolling. Included is the external charger, microUSB splitter and spare JM-1 battery. The spplitter plugs into your current wall charger that came with your device so you can charge both your phone and the battery at the same time. You won't have to fumble for an extra outlet to charge this guy up so you'll save both time and effort. Drop the battery in the charger, plug it in and wait for the green light -- that's it! The battery charges up in about the same time as your phone (unless you use the PlayBook charger) and when it's done, just pull it off, stick it in your pocket, purse or briefcase and you'll have a fully charged spare battery ready to go. 

The BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle retails for $79.99 but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. We're also giving away one battery charger bundle (details below). Keep reading for more images and info on this bundle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To me this set is a must have if you are a power user on the go. While the battery life on the Bold 9930 / 9900 and Torch 9850 / 9860 doesn't quite stack up to previous devices, you don't have to be left in the dark. Add this charger to your daily routine and you'll always have a spare battery on the go. You can even grab an extra extra battery and stay up and running even longer. 

 

To win a BlackBerry J-Series Extra Battery Charger Bundle of your own, just leave a single comment on this post letting us know how this bundle will help you day to day. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST.

 

OtterBox Defender Series Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 Hands-On Video

When you think protection for your BlackBerry, you instantly think of OtterBox. Their cases are available for nearly all BlackBerry smartphones, and with plenty to choose from in their line of Impact, Commuter and Defender cases, there is something for everyone. The OtterBox Defender Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900 is the latest for the new BlackBerry 7 device. The defender combines three layers of protection to keep your device save and sound from everything from daily bumps to drops on the pavement. 

There are plenty of case options available for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900, but if you want to get the most protection for your device, the OtterBox defender is really a no brainer. It fully surrounds your device leaving access to all ports, and the included clip-on holster makes carrying a breeze. 

I have to say I'm a big fan of this case as I know my Bold 9900 won't get a scratch on it while I'm using it. The keyboard is left exposed, but the rest of the device is secured by multiple layers to give you peace of mind. If you work (or play) in a tough industry where you need to be sure your BlackBerry is protected, there is no better way to go than with the OtterBox Defender Series Case for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / Bold 9900.

You can purchase the OtterBox Defender Series Case for just $47.95 at ShopCrackBerry.com. Be sure to watch the video above for a more in-depth look at this case.

 

 

Replacement Battery for BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 and Torch 9860 / 9850

Hopefully thanks to our Ten Tips and Tricks to Extend Your BlackBerry's Battery Life article you're finding yourself able to get through the day on your new BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 or Torch 9850/9860 with juice to spare.

If you're not finding that to be doable, you basically have two alternatives: re-charge part way through the day, or swap in a spare replacement battery. And as you might guess from the topic of this article, here we're talking about the latter, which is necessary if you're an always on the go type person.

The BlackBerry J-M1 battery is the standard battery that ships in the new BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 and Torch 9850/9860. It's a super slim battery, allowing the new Bold to acheive the status of thinnest BlackBerry to date. That thinness comes with a cost though. Compared to the 1500mAH battery in the previous generation BlackBerry Bold 9780/9700, this battery clocks in at 1230mAH, which immediately means that all things being equal, you have 18% less power to work with.

The BlackBerry JM-1 Battery has a list price of $49.99, but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. We're even giving away a chance for you to win one for free JM-1 battery (details below). Keep reading for more photos and info on this battery.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm obviously a BlackBerry power user and need to stay up and running all day, every day. Having an extra battery with me, especially when I'm traveling and tend to use my phone even more, makes that much easier and I don't have to worry about my device dying when I need it most. For the price it's really worth it to me to be able to stay charged that much longer and not have to search for somewhere to plug my device in. 

 

Want a chance to win a replacement battery for your BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 or Torch 9850/9860? All you need to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your review feedback or letting us know how an extra battery would help you stay charged. Contest entry closes Sunday, September 11th at midnight PT. Please leave only one comment.

BlackBerry Leather Holster for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 Review

Depending where in the world you live and what carrier you're buying your new Bold from, the BlackBerry Bold 9930 / 9900 Leather Holster may come in the box along with your phone for free. That's not a bad deal, considering it has a list price of $39.99. And if you didn't get one in the box and want one, you can buy one separately.

In the year 2011 it seems people have pretty mixed feelings from a fashion standpoint about wearing your phone on your hip. I for one typically don't give a rats butt about what other people think, so if I'm looking for a carrying solution that provides the ultimate accessibility to my phone then the holster is the way to go. And as far as holsters go, this Leather Holster is well designed and well constructed.

There is a ton of attention to detail put into this holster. The LED notifier is still visible with a phone inserted, and the headset jack is also visible. The angular-styled flap flips down perfectly to magnetically latch the phone securely into the holster and the case (angle flaps are cooler than straigh cut flaps, don't you think?!). The holster includes a sleeper magnet to put your phone into standby mode automatically and trigger in-holster sound profile settings, and the stitching on this model seems better than on past BlackBerry holsters - it should stand up to some abuse. The fit of the phone is pretty snug, so if you want to use a skin on your Bold and holster it, you'll want to look into other solutions (see our tip about using a Hard Shell or Soft Shell case for the Bold 9930/9900 with a Bold 9000 holster). On the less positive side, we've been seeing many reports about faster battery drain when using this holster with the Bold 9930/9900, which is something to be aware of. 

The BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Leather Holster has a list price of $39.99, but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. We're even giving away a chance for you to win one for free (details below). Keep reading for a video, more photos and more important details surrounding this case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've always been a big fan of holsters - while I like to mix up the cases I use I always find that a holstered BlackBerry feels like returning home. Considering the BlackBerry OS was designed to work with a holster in that it has separate sound/notification profiles triggered by being put into the holster, you get the impression that this is the BlackBerry carrying experience as RIM intended it to be from the birth of BlackBerry.

A note about battery life reports with this holster: With a downsized battery and a bigger display and faster processor than previous generation Bold devices, depending on conditions and usage the Bold 9930/Bold 9900's battery can get eaten up pretty quick (see this post for tips on getting the most life out of your Bold 9930/9900's battery life). One oddity that has been reported enough times that it's worth mentioning here is that some users have noticed the battery can appear to drain quicker than normal while using this holster. It's an odd thing to hear, as these holsters, with their sleeper functionality, should help improve battery life, but it does seem to be a frequently reported issue so is something to consider. Whether it's a software bug that will be addressed in an OS update or a hardware thing or is just a non-related weird observation at this point, we're not quite sure. I do have my own theory on it. With the Bold 9930/9900 being the first BlackBerry to feature a stainless steel metal band around the phone, I have the feeling that all things equal the radios in the 9930/9900 have to work a little bit harder in order to maintain signal strength (as compared to a BlackBerry with an all-plastic casing). It could be that if you holster the phone in a leather case like this and are in a lower coverage area, that in order to maintain enough signal strength for adequate network connectivity that the radio REALLY has to crank up its power which eats through the battery. Again, it's a theory, and not reported by all users, but it's one to keep in mind. We'll report more on this as we learn more. Luckily, there are a ton of case options available for the new Bold if you want to avoid this holster.

Overall though, the BlackBerry Leather Holster for the Bold 9930/9900 itself really is a well built, good looking holster.

Learn More / Purchase the BlackBerry Leather Holster for the Bold 9930 / 9900

 

Want a chance to win a Leather Holster for your BlackBerry Bold 9930 or 9900? All you need to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your review feedback or letting us know what color you'd like and why you want one. Contest entry closes Sunday, September 11th at midnight PT. Please leave only one comment.

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

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

OtterBox Commuter Series Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900

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

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

 

 

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

I'm absolutely LOVING my BlackBerry Bold 9900 and have been testing out and putting to use every case and accessory I can get my hands-on for this beauty of a BlackBerry. I've never been one to worry too much about my BlackBerry getting scuffed, but with its stainless steel band and iconic styling this is a BlackBerry I really want to take care, as will you.

For everyday basic protection without sacrificing usability, the BlackBerry Soft Shell Case for the Bold 9930 / 9900 is a great option. Available in Black, Translucent, Green, Brown and Indigio color options, it securely fits the new Bold while providing access to all ports, buttons and the camera. This isn't your typical rubbery BlackBerry skin. Rather, the Soft Shell case is made from a high-performance, flexible, plastic-like material, which gives the back and sides of the 9900 / 9930 a protective barrier against accidental bumps and scratches. The case is pretty minimal in thickness, keeping the overall size of the phone as close to original as possible. Overall I've found it to be a really nice case. It feels nice in the hand, doesn't mess with the usability, and you definitely feel better knowing you won't be scratching up that carbon fiber battery door when you put the phone down on a table or counter. It's a really nice, tight fitting design - unless you're looking at a cut out for a port, you almost wouldn't realize there is a case on the phone.

The BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Soft Shell case has a list price of $19.99, but you can get it for less at ShopCrackBerry.com. With such high demand for Bold 9930/9900 cases it's been hard to keep inventory stock, but you can still order now for first crack at the new shipments and we're even giving away a chance for you to win one for free (details below). Keep reading for more photos and details surrounding this awesome case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall I'm really happy with the design and quality of all the new BlackBerry brand cases for the Bold 9930 and Bold 9900. Just as the hardware quality on the Bold 9900 is really top notch, the same goes with these new cases. Compared to the cheaper rubber BlackBerry-brand skins we're more used to seeing on a Bold, the new Soft Shell Case (and Hard Case too) really live up to quality expectations set out by the device itself.  The two-textured materials in the Soft Shell case really give it a touch of class as opposed to if it were one material, the design tolerances are really tight - there's nothing sloppy here - the case feels like part of the phone. That said, it's still fairly easy to remove the case if you want to put into a BlackBerry Charging Pod. Overall, I give the BlackBerry Soft Shell case TWO CrackBerry Thumbs Up!

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

 

Want a chance to win a Soft Shell Case for your BlackBerry Bold 9900? All you need to do is leave a comment to this blog post with your review feedback or letting us know what color you'd like and why you want one. Contest entry closes Sunday, September 4th at midnight PT. Please leave only one comment.

And the winner of a BlackBerry Smartphone of choice in our Twitter Contest is..

OK @crackberrykevin twitter followers.... the moment you've been waiting for is here. And the WINNER of a new BlackBerry 7 Smartphone of their choosing is......

CONGRATS Spencer! And big thanks to everybody who's followed and retweeted. I use a paid service to track the contest and pick the random winner. We had awesome up take on this one, so keep on following @crackberrykevin and @crackberry for more chances to win stuff.

And don't forget, you still have until the end of this month to leave a comment on our BlackBerry 7 Smartphone Contest. Go to that post now! Thanks again for participating in this one, and good luck!

 

Leaked OS 7.0.0.340 for the BlackBerry Bold 9930

While we just had a leak for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 just yesterday, a fresh leaked OS is again ready to go. This time it's OS 7.0.0.340 and it looks to be a good one as it is sporting some NFC love (not that it's of all that much use just yet). So if you just picked up that new Bold 9930 or you're patiently waiting for it to arrive, download this one and be up to date with the latest leak.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

Download leaked OS 7.0.0.340 for the Bold 9930

Source: N4BB

CrackBerry Contest: Win your choice of FREE BlackBerry 7 Smartphone!

The reviews are in, and it's unanimous... the new BlackBerry 7 Smartphones are the SWEETEST BlackBerry phones yet! So following up our reviews of the BlackBerry Bold 9900, BlackBerry Bold 9930, BlackBerry Torch 9860, BlackBerry Torch 9850 and BlackBerry Torch 9810 we're giving a lucky CrackBerry reader the chance to win one, free of charge.

HOW TO ENTER:  Just login to CrackBerry and leave us a comment to this post! In your comment, be sure to tell us which BlackBerry 7 Smartphone you want and why! 

Other Details: Contest is open worldwide. Entry deadline is Midnight ET on August 31st, 2011. Please leave only one comment to this post. We'll announce the winner September 1st here on the blogs.  Good Luck!

This contest is sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com - the #1 for store for BlackBerry Accessories!

Pre-order now! BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 accessories

CrackBerry Poll: Which newly-announced BlackBerry 7 Smartphone are you most interested in?

As the Crack Team gets into review mode working on this wave of new BlackBerry 7 Smartphones hitting the market, I figured the timing made sense to get some feedback from CrackBerry Nation on where our priorities should lie. Obviously we're going to tackle every new BlackBerry with CrackBerry gusto, but we want to know - of the new BlackBerry 7 Smartphones announced, which one are you most interested in? 

Are you a keyboard kind of person so you're all about the new Bold? Or do you want to go full touchscreen and are most excited for the Torch 9850/9860? Or maybe you're a huge fan of the Torch 9800's sliding form factor, so are all about the 9810? Whichever one you're most interested in, cast your vote for it on the poll above and sound off in the comments with your reasoning.

NOTE: Yes, I realize I could have added other options to this poll like the upcoming Curve 9350/60/70 or an option that says I'm most interested in BlackBerry QNX Phones (I think we're all interested in that!), but I wanted to keep things limited here to the newly announced devices, as those are the phones we have/will have in our hands to play with over the days and weeks ahead.

Sprint Playbook shows Sprint launching BlackBerry Bold 9930 August 21st

Sprint announced the BlackBerry Bold 9930 last week, but didn't reveal the date it would be available for purchase, stating simply they would be available "this fall". We've been saying for awhile now that August 21st would be the date, and now that's been confirmed through the Sprint Playbook as well as the price which is listed at $499 outright or $249 on a two year plan. Awesome!!

Thanks Phil!

The calm before the CrackBerry storm... get ready for it!

Enjoy the calm while it lasts... Things are about to get CRAZY CRACKY around here.

If you're a long time reader of CrackBerry.com you know what happens when a new BlackBerry Smartphone hits the market... we go nuts! And to think we're on the verge of a wave of new BlackBerry 7 Smartphones getting announced and hitting the market after jonesing so long I have a feeling things are going to get really cracky around here, really soon. Don't forget, there's a BlackBerry 7 fan night coming up tomorrow and knowing RIM's habits we can fully expect they'll officially announce anything new that may get shown off at the events prior to them getting underway.

With August here I'm so relieved the wait is *almost* over. Seriously, the last BlackBerry Smartphone review I posted was of the Bold 9780 and that was back in December 2010. Talk about new BlackBerry withdrawal! And while the BlackBerry Bold 9900's unveiling at BlackBerry World helped to satisfy my cravings for a few days, my thumbs have been twitching for months now in anticipation of getting a hold of some new BBs to call my own. And I can only imagine so many of you reading this feel the same way. But instead of feeling impatient and mad at RIM for taking so long, it's time to start enjoying the last few weeks on whatever BlackBerry you own now as you get ready to say farewell to it and upgrade to a BlackBerry 7 device.

We've got a TON of stuff planned for the upcoming weeks to ring in what really is the new BlackBerry Smartphone Year, so be sure to enjoy this last bit of calm before the BlackBerry storm rolls into town (no, not that Storm!). Before you know it, it's going to be raining new phones around here!

RIM Starts Selling BlackBerry Bold 9900 Cases, Accessories, & Batteries

Need any more signs that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are coming real soon? Tim sent us a tip that ShopBlackBerry is featuring BlackBerry Bold 9900 cases and accessories and Shahzoor noticed they are selling BlackBerry Bold 9900 batteries (model J-M1). There is a charging pod, spare battery charging bundle, and a few other accessories already listed including a holster. Check them out at these links:

• BlackBerry Bold 9900 Accessories @ Shop BlackBerry (Search for 9900)
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 JM-1 Battery @ Shop BlackBerry
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 JM-1 Battery Bundle @ Shop BlackBerry

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