Posted by Mauricio on Oct 16, 2009 at 11:04 PM | Comments
Earlier today @AtilaUno let me know that there was a rumor of a new Facebook version for BlackBerry getting released. It looks like this rumor turned out to be true because RIM has officially announced the new version!
New features in version 1.7:
News Feed Support (Migration to the new News Feed API)
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM | Comments
Google has announced via their official Google Voice Blog that they have started to allow current users to invite up to three friends to use the (mostly) free service.
Starting today, we’re beginning to give out invitations to Google Voice users. If you currently use Google Voice, over the next few weeks, you’ll see an “Invite a friend” link appear on the left-hand side of your inbox.
We’ll be rolling out these invitations gradually, so don’t worry if you don’t see your invitations immediately. We’re initially giving out three invites to each account, but we’re planning to provide more invitations in the future.
I’ve been using Google Voice for a while now and I am very pleased with it. One of the pros of owning a BlackBerry and being a user is the Google Voice for BlackBerry application, which makes it easier to call, SMS, view history (and more) while you’re on the run.
If you don’t have a Google Voice account yet you can sign up for one at google.com/voiceinvite, wait for a friend to invite you, or wait for me to give some away through the @BlackBerryRocks Twitter account .
The Dictionary.com app provides users with more than 500,000 words, definitions and synonyms, audio pronunciations, spelling suggestions and their popular Word of the Day for both English and Spanish!
Features:
Dictionary.com – Access the most comprehensive, up-to-date dictionary available online with more than 325,000 word definitions and spelling suggestions
Thesaurus.com – Search the award-winning online version of Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus with more than 275,000 synonyms
Phonetic & Audio Pronunciations – Hear pronunciations of words witha simple press of the audio button
Dictionary.com Word of the Day in English and Spanish – Learn a new word every day with definitions and real examples from published writings through this popular Dictionary.com feature that is enjoyed by millions each day
Recent History - View an editable list of recently searched words
Social Networking Function - Email or SMS text any word and its definition to yourself or others right from the app
Email Integration - Exclusive to this app on BlackBerry smartphones, users can instantly access a synonym or definition while reading or drafting an email
The Dictionary.com app is currently available for most models of the Pearl, Curve, 8800 Series, Bold and Tour with support for more devices coming soon. To download this app visit m.dictionary.com or click here for a direct OTA download from your BlackBerry Browser. Those with devices that aren’t supported yet can still use the mobile site while they wait for a compatible version.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 9, 2009 at 2:20 PM | Comments
Viigo has released a new version that I recommend everyone upgrade to. Version 3.1.489 brings with it some new features and improvements with performance, data usage, memory consumption and battery life.
The new version also allows you to see all the feeds you subscribed to across the Viigo app in the News & Module, meaning if you subscribed to a podcast in the audio section you will also see it in the News & RSS module separated with titled heading like “Media”. If you open this feed item in the News & RSS module it will sync across your Viigo app so it shows up as read in the other modules as well.
The new version also adds some speed when it comes to accessing new and enhanced services such as the NFL, NHL and Soccer services within the Sports module.
To get the new version head to getviigo.com from your BlackBerry Browser. If you have a version installed from the BlackBerry App World you must uninstall it and reboot before installing the new version. Let me know how this version runs for you in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 9, 2009 at 8:34 AM | Comments
TGIF and another Friday deal of the day!
Today’s deal of the day is for AddOnis, a feature-packed (and I mean packed) all-in-one BlackBerry utility. This app extends your system’s functionality by adding some great options like vibrate during incoming call, permit or block certain numbers from calling you, upon hang up it will prompt you to add the number to your Address Book, SMS signature, enter contact info into a message and a lot more!
AddOnis will work with all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 and higher and is available in the store for $5.97 (40% off) until midnight CST tonight, after that it goes back up to $9.95. You can also easily find this deal in the BBRocks! on-device Mobile App Store. I’ve included the full feature list after the jump.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 7, 2009 at 8:08 PM | Comments
UPDATE To download BBM 5.0 directly to your BlackBerry without BB App World visit blackberry.com/messenger from your BlackBerry Browser! *
RIM has finally released BlackBerry Messenger 5.0.0.33 in the BlackBerry App World!!!
Enhanced SMS
Allows for a conversational chat-like user experience with a single contact list for the most personal mobile-to-mobile communications
Note: BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and later is required for the SMS functionality.
Avatars
Users can choose a picture from the BlackBerry smartphone gallery and save it as their personal avatar, which will be seen by their contacts. They can also view other avatars in the contact list and zoom in on the avatars of contacts participating in a conversation by selecting “View participants.”
Large Media File Transfer
Users can send/receive large file transfers up to 6 megabytes for pictures, files and audio.
Note: BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 is required to receive large media files.
Enhanced Group Functionality
Allows for the ability to update, share & communicate with a subset community
Bar-code Identity
A user can add a contact to the BlackBerry Messenger contact list by displaying a 2-dimensional bar code that invitees can capture with their device cameras.
Reliable Contact Backup and Restore
Contacts are backed-up on a server and do not require the need for BlackBerry® Desktop Manager.
Your BlackBerry must be running at least OS 4.5 before installing BBM 5.0! You can find all the latest OS versions here. For more info and to download the new BlackBerry Messenger check it out in the BlackBerry App World. Let me know how you like the new version in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 7, 2009 at 4:54 PM | Comments
It’s been a while since the WordPress Beta app for BlackBerry has been updated but a new version is now available. Version 0.9.0.157 includes the following changes:
Ability to open the URL of the author into the BB browser
A reply to comment feature, so you can moderate and respond all from the mobile device.
On the Post and Page screens they’ve also updated the UI and added:
The ability to open the comment list for a specific post
Support for the post excerpt field
Support for custom fields
Support for Italian and French is also included along with SD card support to help out with memory usage.
To get the latest version go to blackberry.wordpress.org/install from your BlackBerry Browser or visit the main site for more info. If you already have this application installed it should automatically prompt you to upgrade to the latest version. Feel free to share your thoughts about the new version in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM | Comments
Bolt Browser has been in beta for quite some time and the last time it was updated was back in June. Today Bitstream let me know that they are officially dropping the Bolt Browser beta tag with the release of version 1.5!
Here’s a reminder of what BOLT is all about:
BOLT is a fast mobile browser that offers an uncompromised browsing experience on even entry-level mobile phones. It is compatible with virtually any handset with Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) 2.0 support. In non-geekspeak, this means “it works on lots of phones, even basic ones.”
Rather than offering a simplified, mini version of the Internet, BOLT provides users with an efficient, feature-rich way to enjoy full PC-style Web pages and rich media applications on all levels of mobile devices.
New in BOLT v1.5:
Server upgrades (make v1.5 15% faster than Beta3)
Cache support that enables directly browsing back to a previously visited page
Download manager that downloads files directly within BOLT on JSR 75 capable devices
Dedicated search bar, enabling search on popular search engines directly from BOLT
Enhanced column width control that auto-aligns the text to columns for ease of reading
Enhanced video support that includes inline media playing capability even on low-end devices.
Support for streaming videos of any length
Volume UP/DOWN controls in the inline media player
Ability to rearrange the subscribed feeds using the ‘grab’ feature
Access to History links from the URL window with inline editing OFF
One click access on Home Page that ensures the cursor jumps to the desired widget
For more info or to download Bolt Browser directly to your BlackBerry visit boltbrowser.com. If you already have Bolt Browser you will be prompted to update the next time you run it. Let me know how this new version works for you in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 6, 2009 at 10:38 PM | Comments
7digital has launched a mobile application that allows BlackBerry users to wirelessly browse, search, discover and purchase tracks from their catalogue of over seven million MP3 tracks.
“We’re excited to be bringing high-quality MP3 over-the-air downloads to the BlackBerry platform. This application demonstrates exactly why we developed our API, to allow third-party developers to integrate digital music download functionality into their product offerings,” said Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital. “The ability to buy tracks and albums on the move, or on impulse, is what the consumer wants.”
Features:
High quality, DRM-free MP3 music store
Latest charts, new music and weekly features
Flexible downloads via wireless carrier or WiFi with auto-replace
Integrated advanced media player
Headset, speaker and Bluetooth audio streaming support
The 7digital app is available for the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and 8900, Bold, Storm and Tour. You can download it by visiting 7digital.com/bb from your BlackBerry Browser or check it out in the BlackBerry App World. More info in the press release after the jump.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 5, 2009 at 2:50 PM | Comments
Best Buy Mobile let me know about a new service they are launching on October 12th called mIQ. This service allows you to access, share and manage mobile data through a secure and personal Web portal, all done over the air!
Key Features
Data backup & management: Upgrading to a new phone used to be a hassle. With mIQ, all content that lives on the mobile device — contacts, text messages, calendar events, calls, photos, videos, and voicemail messages — is automatically uploaded and safely backed-up on a personal Web-based mIQ account making it easy to sync, search, interact with, share it or transfer it from one phone to another. Since the mobile phone is constantly connected to the Web, mIQ automatically syncs any changes from the Web to the mobile device and vice-versa, instantly.
Contacts: mIQ helps users easily manage and track the communication with all their contacts. Contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and other sources can be imported into the mIQ account and synchronized with the mobile phone. Users can then add, edit, or delete contacts from the personal mIQ account – the changes will be instantly pushed to the mobile phone and backed up on the web. Additionally, mIQ enables users to easily view text messages and calls associated with each contact.
Enhanced text messaging: The mIQ Web platform provides an instant message-like experience by organizing SMS text messages into a conversational format. mIQ automatically uploads text messages to an inbox in the personal mIQ account where they can be read, forwarded, or responded to from any computer. Unlike other Web messaging solutions that deliver texts from random phone numbers, mIQ sends the text messages through the user’s mobile phone, ensuring that the recipient will always know who the message is from.
Calendar: Instant access to appointments and events is important whether sitting in front of a computer or on the go. mIQ automatically uploads appointments and events from the phone calendar to the Web. Users can then add, edit, or delete calendar entries from either the mobile phone or the mIQ account and changes are automatically synched between the two platforms.
Photos and videos: mIQ enables users to do more with the memories captured with their smartphones. mIQ automatically uploads photos and videos from the mobile phone to the personal mIQ account – as soon as they are taken – making it easy to organize them by adding titles and descriptions, share them through email and text messages and post them to social networking sites.
Social media connectivity: Social networking on mobile devices has taken connectivity to a whole new level. Updating friends on the latest happenings no longer requires a trip to the computer. mIQ features instant connectivity to popular social sites like Facebook, Flickr, FriendFeed and Twitter, helping users share their mobile experiences – status, photos and videos – directly from their smartphone, wherever they may be.
Pretty awesome and best of all…it’s FREE!
Right now you can sign up for an invite and take a tour of this service at miqlive.com. For more info check out the press release after the jump. Once the service launches don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments!
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