Shaun over at BlackBerry News just posted about a new, free Android inspired theme created by Brian Collins called bDroid.

Even though this theme was created with the leaked Plazmic CDK 4.7, Shaun says this theme runs great without any lag and it renders at the same rate default themes do. This theme sounds pretty cool, the slide out tray pictured above is a very nice touch and replication of the Android OS.

• Download OTA: bDroid for the BlackBerry Storm

Nice job Brian! A similar theme for the Curve 8900 would be cool .

Artem from GemBlock let me know that his iBerry Today Plus theme is now available for the BlackBerry Storm series as a free download!

Artem has been working hard pumping out new themes for all the new devices, and it definitely shows. In the Storm version of the iBerry Today Plus theme he has added a status text over the dock and increased the calendar items to four events.

• Download/Info: Free iBerry Today Plus Theme – BlackBerry Storm 95xx – GemBlock
• iBerry Today Plus for other BlackBerrys:
  • Pearl 81xx
  • Curve 83xx
  • 88xx
  • Bold 9000

Some highlights from the press release:

• T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 U.S. mobile phone service, said on Wednesday it is offering a $50 per month service plan to long-time customers in San Francisco, in the latest sign that U.S. operators may be facing a price war.
• Under the promotion the company is also offering customers a $135 credit if they switch from a rival service to T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE).
• A T-Mobile USA representative said the plan would only be available to customers who have used its service for 22 months or more and that as the company has “additional details regarding a national plan it would provide” them.
• Hodulik said the plan effectively lowers T-Mobile’s price for unlimited voice, Web surfing and text messaging to $85 a month from $100 for customers who use data services.

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Papped has updated his highly addictive and free BBTetris game to version 3.1.

Here are the changes that have been made since I last posted about it:

• v3.1
  • Added keyboard controls
• v3.0
  • (FIXED) Blocks not dropping when resuming from certain situations
  • (FIXED) Level 12+ was insanely fast
  • Added pause screen
  • Added background to high score screen
  • Added game over sound effect
  • Various rendering optimizations. Some of them had to be disabled in 83XX version since they apparently don’t work correctly
  • UI Layout changes
• v2.0
  • Believe I fixed the issue of starting/resuming a game, yet sometimes the pieces wouldn’t start dropping
  • Added persistent High Scores storage (initials/level/score)
• v1.7
  • Sound is in it’s own thread (should help performance, not that it seemed like that big of a deal before)
  • Line clear sound volume should be much improved (the music is still pretty loud so it’s not extremely noticeable)
  • Fix to prevent accidental scrolldown fastdrops
  • Added “New Game” option to Menu

• Download OTA:
  • 9000 Version (480×320)
  • 8900 Version (480×360)
  • 83XX Version (320×240)

Awesome job Papped! Be sure to send Papped a donation if you like the game.

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Are you a pianist who also owns a BlackBerry? Now you can play the piano on the go with StormPiano on your BlackBerry Storm!

StormPiano was created by dmglakewood as a free download for Storm owners.

From the description:

Current Build: 2.1.6

Known problems
The second key wont play until the first key is finished. I’m trying to find away around this but from what I gathered the CDMA version of the storm can’t play more then 1 note / clip at a time. I will keep trying though. If you have any more bugs please let me know.

Future Plans: Well down the road I would like to add more keys where a swipe of the screen would show 7 more keys etc. I would also like to add a record button. The main focus right now though is to get the keys to play faster.

New Additions:

• Added 2.0.6: When the app is started up click the screen to bring up an advanced 2 row keyboard.
• Added 2.1.4: You can now swipe the screen. Left: Shorter Tone Right: Longer Tone Up: Volume Up Down: Volume Down
• Added 2.1.6: Fixed the errors with the keys playing the wrong note.

…

• Download OTA: http://www.stormgrounds.com/downloads.php?file=S485mP116n8

If you enjoy playing the piano on your Storm be sure to send dmglakewood a donation.

BG’s ninjas were able to get some information about the Verizon BlackBerry Niagara and Apex 8230!

The BlackBerry Apex 8230 has been removed from Verizon’s road map. According to BG’s source, this could mean it is either coming out very soon or not at all.

As for the BlackBerry Niagara, it looks like a release date of May 2009. Here is a recap of the previously reported Niagara info:

• “Large screen family”
• QWERTY keyboard
• 480×360 LCD
• EV-DO Rev. A
• aGPS
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 4.7 OS platform
• BES 5.0 support (HTML email, etc)
• Qualcomm MSM7600 processor

What do you think? Would you switch to Verizon for the Niagara?

CrackBerry Forums member greyv posted about a new leaked version of the Plazmic CDK.

According to hastings (creator of AppleBerry theme for the Storm), the new version has these changes:

• Less crashes on export.
• Skinnable dialogue boxes and BB menu without export crash.
• Medium profile icon now skinnable.
• Application icon skin support.
• Increased performance with themes, however leaks memory.

Don’t forget, this is a leaked beta version which is not approved by RIM. Both theme creators and theme users should take caution when creating or using themes with the leaked Plazmic  CDK 4.7 beta.

• Download: Plazmic CDK 4.7 beta v4.1.0.16 [DepositFiles]

Have you been looking for an entirely useless but incredibly fun application for your BlackBerry Storm? Mike240se has created a Staples EASY Button application just for the Storm!

Instructions:

• Click the Easy Button
• Your Stress Is Released
• Repeat if Needed.

Simple!

• Download OTA: http://www.pcsnj.net/bb/easy1.02/EasyButton.jad

If this application makes your day be sure to send a donation to mike240se for creating it! Have fun making your life easier Storm owners .

• Download: OS 4.6.0.237 for the BlackBerry Bold 9000 [MegaUpload]

REMEMBER: Install at your own risk. Always make backups before making major changes/upgrades/downgrades to your BlackBerry.

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Google let me know that Google Maps Mobile has been updated and now supports GPS for My Location on the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530.

A note from Google:

Note: If you have an older BlackBerry on Verizon, even one with GPS like the BlackBerry 8130, this announcement unfortunately does not apply to you. The Storm is currently the only BlackBerry Verizon phone that makes GPS available to Google Maps. We hope you enjoy using My Location through network positioning or Wi-Fi, when available.

• Download OTA: google.com/gmm