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BlackBerry App World 2.0 Officially Released

Munish — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:05:16 +0000

BlackBerry App World is officially out of Beta and now available to the public with several new features over older versions. It has been available in Beta Zone for a few weeks now, users who have been using the beta version should get the update right away. If you haven’t used the beta version and still getting the previous App world update, hang tight, you should get the notification for App World 2.0 version any time soon. Along with the update, RIM has allowed developers to offer apps for $0.99 and $1.99, so we should see an increase in choices in the App World soon.

Following are some of the new features introduced in App World 2.0.

BlackBerry ID: You can now create a BlackBerry ID and log into the BlackBerry App World storefront using a BlackBerry ID.
Payment methods: Depending on your organization, region, and wireless service provider, you can now pay for items in the BlackBerry App World storefront using a credit card, or by adding it to the monthly bill from your wireless service provider.
Top 25 items: You can now view lists of the top 25 newest items, free applications, paid applications, themes, and recently updated items.
Scan a barcode: You can now quickly find an item by scanning a barcode for that item.

What I liked about App World 2.0 is – overall it’s more user friendly. With top 25 items in each category, it’s easier to find the app you’re looking for. The barcode scanner is very convenient. At last it’s good to see additional payment options.

> > Download the BlackBerry App World 2.0

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BlackBerry Traffic Now Available in App World

Munish — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:50:38 +0000

The BlackBerry Traffic was released in the Beta Zone few months ago and now it is available in the App World as free download. It is available for users in US and Canada at this point of time.

It is pretty basic traffic app and it does what it says. It gives you the estimated time of arrival for the destination you’ve entered in the app. If there are road blocks, heavy traffic or road closure, the BlackBerry Traffic will let you know. It doesn’t give you the new route in these situations which may come in the future version. The good feature about this app is the option to send the ETA by email or SMS.

The BlackBerry Traffic requires data plan, BlackBerry Maps to be installed on the device and GPS equipped BlackBerry.

Need less to say, do not use this app while you’re driving.

> > Download BlackBerry Traffic from the App world

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Tips for saving BlackBerry battery power

Munish — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:47:15 +0000

Dealing with low battery situation on a BlackBerry when you do not have access to a car/wall charger is sometimes very frustrating and may of us might have gone through that at some point of time for sure. With older BlackBerry devices, this was the common complaint from many users however RIM has done it’s magic starting with BlackBerry Bold 9700 which provides fantastic battery power.

Recently I stumbled across the following list posted on BlackBerry.com which helps you save BlackBerry battery power. Instead of going to the extreme of carrying an extra battery and taking the pain to keep it charged, follow these tips and it should give you more battery power.

Charging

Charge BlackBerry smartphone as much as possible
Use wall chargers as the preferred charging method

Media

Reduce volume
Use headphones
Load media using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager (Avoids resizing)
Turn off equalizer settings (Media – Options)

Browsing

Visit mobile sites where applicable
Turn Repeat Animations to a lower setting (Browser – Options – General Properties)
Close browser when finished using (close with ESC key, not red End key)

Screen/Keyboard

Reduce Backlight Timeout (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
Reduce Backlight Brightness (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
Holster smartphone (turns off LCD automatically)
Set Audible Roll to mute (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
Key Tone Off (Options – Screen/Keyboard)
Use a sleeve when storing the smartphone in a pocket

Network Connections

Turn off unused connections when not in use, i.e. GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Use Auto On/Off
Use single mode only (1XEV, 2G only, 3G only)

Shortcuts

Use shortcuts instead of activating Java menus (Browser – Options – Browser Configuration)

Camera

Turn off flash (Camera – Options)
Set picture size to Small (Camera – Options)
Set Color Effect to Normal (Camera – Options)
Set Picture Quality to Normal (Camera – Options)

Applications

When exiting, be sure to close the app, not leave it running in the background (close with ESC key, not red End key)
Log out of third-party applications when they are not needed (Instant Messaging, etc.)

Indicators

Set Audible notification to Off (Profiles)
Turn off coverage LED (Profiles)

GPS

Use the zoom out function to get the largest viewable area that you can still use usefully

I strongly advise turning off unused connections when not in use, i.e. GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, using single mode only (1XEV, 2G only, 3G only), closing browser and other apps with ESC key instead of red END key and using BlackBerry shortcuts when ever possible. You’ll definitely notice the difference.

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BlackBerry App World 2.0 launched in BlackBerry Beta Zone

Munish — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:14:24 +0000

BlackBerry App World 2.0 is now available in Beta Zone as invitation based release. Beta Zone participants have been sent out the invites to download App World 2.0 and if you haven’t signed up for Beta zone, be sure to check out the BlackBerry Beta zone and check your eligibility for App World 2.0.

We looked at the initial details of App World 2.0 little long time ago and with all exciting features it has to offer, I am sure it will improve the overall user experience. The two new features I liked the most about App World 2.0 are barcode scanning and easier application discovery.

Check out the following press release for more info.

RIM Announces BlackBerry App World Updates

New BlackBerry App World Features to be Available for Beta Testing in the United States and Canada This Week

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – July 29, 2010) – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced updates to BlackBerry App World(TM), the official application store for BlackBerry(R) smartphones. BlackBerry App World provides BlackBerry smartphone customers with an intuitive, integrated service for discovering, downloading, recommending and managing mobile applications for personal or business use. BlackBerry App World now supports new payment options, includes enhanced discovery and search features, and introduces a new user identification system called BlackBerry(R) ID.

New Payment Options

BlackBerry App World will support new payment options in addition to PayPal. Customers will be able to purchase applications using major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, in various countries around the world. RIM is also working on integrated billing with various carriers to enable BlackBerry App World purchases to be applied directly to the customer’s monthly bill from those carriers.(i)

Easier Application Discovery

BlackBerry App World adds new tabbed sections for various lists of applications. Users can horizontally swipe or scroll to quickly view the Top 25 Free Apps, Top 25 Paid Apps and Top 25 Themes, as well as lists of Newest Apps and Recently Updated Apps.

QR barcode scanning is also supported, allowing users to scan a QR code associated with an application from anywhere – the web, print ads, brochures, etc. BlackBerry App World will quickly find the related application and automatically open the application’s information and download page.

BlackBerry ID

BlackBerry ID provides customers with a device-independent user identification (ID) used with BlackBerry App World. It enables new payment options, including credit cards and integrated carrier billing(i), and allows customers to seamlessly transfer their personal library of free and purchased apps when they switch to a new BlackBerry smartphone.

"BlackBerry App World continues to grow with a rich catalog of personal and business oriented applications that further enhance the BlackBerry smartphone experience," said Alan Brenner, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Platform at Research In Motion. "The new features in BlackBerry App World make it even easier for customers to find, purchase and maintain applications for their BlackBerry smartphone."

Nearly 30 million BlackBerry smartphone users have downloaded BlackBerry App World and an average of over one million applications are being downloaded each day. Available in more than 65 countries, BlackBerry App World allows users to discover, download, recommend and manage the applications that help them get the most out of life while on the go.

The newest version of BlackBerry App World is available for beta preview to customers in the United States and Canada from BlackBerry(R) Beta Zone (www.blackberry.com/beta).

(i)Availability of integrated billing with specific carriers to be announced at later dates. Requires a carrier post-paid service plan.

> > Login to BlackBerry Beta Zone to see if you’re eligible

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BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 Coming to Bell Mobility August 12th

Munish — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:27:25 +0000

BlackBerry Curve 9300 (codename Kepler), now called as BlackBerry Curve 3G by Bell, would be coming to Bell Mobility in Canada on August 12th. The BlackBerry Curve 9300 is slightly better version of 8500 series devices and as per the leaked sources on the Internet, 9300 will have 3G and HSPA, built in GPS, WiFi with UMA, 624 Mhz processor and 256 MB RAM. It will have 320×240 screen with 2MP camera without flash. Since is doesn’t have 512 MB RAM, it may not carry upcoming BlackBerry 6 OS but chances are it will have hybrid OS with partial features of OS 6.

As per the above latest image, Bell Mobility in Canada will be the first to offer this device and T-Mobile in US and Rogers in Canada will be offering this device too.

So as per the leaked 9300 specs, it hasn’t changed too much from its 8500 series devices, will you switch if you currently have an 85xx device?

[Via - CrackBerry, Image - BBGEEKS]

foursquare for BlackBerry Updated to v. 1.9

Munish — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:14:51 +0000

For those who don’t know about foursquare; it is a friend-finder, a social city-guide, and a game that rewards you for doing interesting things like "check in" to a place when you’re there, tell friends where you are, and track the history of where you’ve been–and who you’ve been there with. Foursquare challenges you to explore your city in new and fun ways by earning points, winning mayorships, and unlocking badges and specials for trying new places and revisiting old favorites.

The new version adds some better integration and improvements as you can see below:

Sort Check-ins – Quickly sort your nearby check-ins by time (most recent check-in) or by distance (closest check-in).
Photo Upload – Now change/upload a profile photo via your BlackBerry!
See Specials Nearby – Now you can see what venues feature specials when searching for what’s nearby.
BlackBerry Maps Integration – From a venue details page, click on the Google map tile and automatically get launched into BlackBerry maps.
Improved Battery Life - foursquare is always focused on battery performance and has made a few improvement. Expect even more improvements in the future.
Improved Location Support – Additional improvements have been made to location, allowing for better location support when checking in.
Small Tweaks & Fixes – foursquare is always listening to user feedback and making small fixes & tweaks along the way.

The app is available for free and is compatible with all BlackBerry models.

> > Download foursquare for BlackBerry Beta
> > Download foursquare via App World
> > Visit foursquare for BlackBerry Home Page

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RIM Announces BlackBerry Protect – Wirelessly Backup, Restore Remote Wipe And Locate Your Lost Blackberry

Munish — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:49:35 +0000

RIM has officially announced the BlackBerry Protect (formerly known as BlackBerry Shield) which will be available as a limited, private beta through the BlackBerry Beta Zone later in this week. There are already few free and premium apps available from the 3rd party developers which does the same remote device management. Check out following key features of BlackBerry Protect.

Remote Device Management:

Protect important information on a lost BlackBerry smartphone by remotely wiping or locking the device from your desktop
Remotely add contact information to the home screen of a locked BlackBerry smartphone so it can be returned if found
See your BlackBerry smartphone’s location and pinpoint the current whereabouts of a lost or stolen device with cell tower and GPS device tracking
Find a nearby misplaced BlackBerry smartphone by remotely activating a loud ringer

Over the Air (OTA) Backup and Restore:

Back up data from your BlackBerry smartphone (including Contacts and Calendar; Memos and Tasks; Browser Bookmarks and Text Messages) over Wi-Fi
Restore your data to a new BlackBerry smartphone, or simply switch from one BlackBerry smartphone to another

BlackBerry Protect will be available through BlackBerry Beta Zone later this week via invite codes. If you’re a member of Beta Zone and don’t receive a download code, don’t worry, you will be able to try it out when it reaches open public beta later this year. If you aren’t a member of BlackBerry Beta Zone yet, it’s not too late – sign up for a BlackBerry Beta Zone account now and try out other apps available in open beta!

> > Head over to Inside BlackBerry to see more screen shots and info

WordPress for BlackBerry Updated to Version 1.3

Munish — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:26:59 +0000

WordPress for BlackBerry app has been updated to version 1.3 which includes new formatting toolbar and easier comments management option. This is one of the must have free app for bloggers who are using WordPress.org CMS on their self hosted blogs.

Version 1.3 adds the following features:

Option to load more comments, not just the latest 100
Ability to load comments by status (all/spam/pending)
You can now edit the comment details (Author Name/E-mail/URL)
Option to manually set the video-size when using VideoPress service
A much requested formatting toolbar that allows you to bold text for example
A new word count feature is shown on the post/page write screen
You can now submit bug reports and feedback from within the app
Multiple improvement to how Stats are handled
Improvements on the photo resizing options and a new jpeg encoder is now being used

The app also supports number of additional languages. Read the complete list here.

You should get an update prompt if you already have the application installed on your BlackBerry.

> > Download the WordPress for BlackBerry App via in App World

> > Download the WordPress for BlackBerry App

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Pinball Deluxe Game for BlackBerry

Munish — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

The Pinball Deluxe game for BlackBerry is one the close alternative to the BrickBreaker game. If you are looking for an addictive game and a Pinball fan, you need to grab this BlackBerry game. The Pinball Deluxe is the best seller game at the Mobihand App store with the best rating from the users.

The developer has nicely put together all aspects of a game including the graphics, music, smooth operation, no delays or hang-ups while playing, intuitive layout and very close simulation to the classic pinball game. Apart from above it doesn’t drain down the battery which is the huge plus for an addictive game.

The other notable feature of this game is it’s remarkably designed vibration effects which gives good overall feeling of the game play.

Check out the below features mentioned by the developer.

Plunger, Flippers, Bumpers, Targets, Roll-over, Slingshots, Ramps, Mini-Games, Captures, Nudge/Tilt, etc…
Realistic Physics
Smooth animation at over 25 fps
Unlock the Haunted Mansion and play with 2 balls!
Access the Arcade section and play “Truck Attack”
Play the “Mirror House”, a mini Pinball with reverse controls
Customs sounds and vibration
Available in 5 languages (English, French, Italian, German & Spanish)

The Pinball Deluxe game has only two mini-games “Truck Attack” and “Mirror House”, which is kindaa few and becomes repetitive after playing it for long. Developer should introduce more levels to make it more challenging for pro users and die hard Pinball fans. Well, overall it’s one of the best Pinball game simulation on the BlackBerry device.

The game is compatible with all BlackBerry devices and available for $4.99.

> > More information/ download Pinball Deluxe Game for BlackBerry

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eBay App for BlackBerry Out of Beta

Munish — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:18:53 +0000

It’s very important to stay online on eBay whether you’re selling or buying. Most of the time, I’ve got good deals for items at the last minute of it’s sale. Now with the official release of eBay App for BlackBerry, you can stay online on eBay while you’re away from your computer.

The app provides all basic feature one needs while on the go including My eBay section that allows you to manage everything on your account. The “refresh” button on the top right hand corner of the app is very handy and useful to give you the current status. The other notable feature includes it’s integration with BlackBerry Calendar so you don’t miss anything.

Features:

Daily Deals – View limited time bargains on popular items, where items are often over 50% off the original price and include free shipping
My eBay – Access personal eBay activity including Watched items, Bids, Sales, Saved Searches and Favorite Sellers
Member Messages – Receive and reply to messages and emails sent through My eBay
Payments – PayPal account users can purchase items within the application
Re-List Items – Re-list items for sale when current listing ends with no sale
Sort Search Results by Distance – Sort search results by distance from location

Including North America, the eBay app for BlackBerry is available in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Spain and the UK.

The eBay application is available as a free download for all Blackberry devices in above countries.

> > More information/download of eBay for BlackBerry

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