Early last week I started a contest where readers could win 1 of 100 free BlackBerry unlock codes from CellUnlock.net. Since then many of you have left comments but it looks like the limit wasn’t hit, so everyone who left a comment before 11:59PM EST on November 7th wins a free unlock code for their BlackBerry!

BlackBerry models this contest applies to: Pearl (8100/8110/8120), Pearl Flip (8220), Curve (8300/8310/8320/8520/8900), 8800, 8810, 8820, Bold (9000/9700), Storm (9500/9530/9550), Tour (9630).

Winners can expect and email from me or CellUnlock.net soon to get their info and process their code.

As many of you have noticed, BBRocks! experienced some down time today for reasons unknown at this time. The outage is still being investigated and I am doing what I can to make sure these outages are minimal to non-existent.

The site should be up and running again and to make sure that it is I am posting this as a way to check. If everything goes well it should sync across the BBRocks! Twitter and Facebook accounts, and all who are subscribed to the RSS feed should also receive this update.

I would appreciate it if everyone let me know that the site is back up and running for them and where they are in the world, and whether or not you even experienced an outage with BBRocks! Thanks for your patience!

Earlier this morning I posted about T-Mobile Germany updating their site to include contract and pricing info for the BlackBerry Bold 9700. T-Mobile USA has yet to announce official pricing but here is the rumored pricing according to a PhoneArena tipster:

• $199.99 with a new 2 year agreement
• $449.99 with no contract, or an installment plan of 20 $22.50 monthly payments on the “Even More Plus Plan”

Still no official launch date but since T-Mobile stores already have dummy units and they just had a launch party last week, we should be seeing an official announcement or site update to include the Bold 9700 real soon. For now you can check out T-Mobile’s promo page at t-mobile9700.com.

Oh happy day! As if the announcement of Flash development for the BlackBerry platform wasn’t enough, RIM has gone and announced upcoming support for OpenGL ES for the development of 3D games and graphics, Java GUI builder to help with development of user interfaces for apps and the BlackBerry Theme Studio for creating themes!

With OpenGL ES support, Java developers will have the ability to build 3D games and graphics for BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS 5.0 and higher. The OpenGL ES support is available through an update of the BlackBerry® Java® Software Development Kit (BlackBerry Java SDK).

…

An upcoming GUI builder integrated into the BlackBerry Java Plug-in for Eclipse will make it faster and easier for Java developers to build user interfaces for BlackBerry applications. Developers will be able to rapidly create and localize complex user interfaces with a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) view and drag and drop capabilities. The Java GUI builder will also allow developers to easily preview their user interface design on different BlackBerry smartphones.

…

RIM is also announcing the availability of BlackBerry Theme Studio – a free suite of theme design, illustration and animation tools that make it easier to create custom interfaces (themes) for BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS 4.2.2 and higher, including the new BlackBerry® Storm2™ and BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphones.

Great way to start the BlackBerry news week! For more info and links check out the press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Back in early October I told you about RIM joining the Open Screen Project to enhance the BlackBerry platform with rumored Adobe Flash support by next summer. Today RIM and Adobe announced that they have expanded their collaboration and that developers will soon be able to easily create rich content and apps using Adobe’s authoring tools to include Flash and more.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the mobile application and content development workflow between BlackBerry application and web content developers and creative professionals that use Adobe tools. It will also reduce the re-creation of graphic assets and iterations that designers and developers have to go through to generate rich application user interfaces, animations, images and video content when supporting multiple platforms.

Today’s news builds upon the recent announcement that the two companies are working together as part of the Open Screen Project to bring the Adobe Flash® Player browser runtime to BlackBerry smartphones. The two companies will also be collaborating to adapt other key components of the Flash Platform including Adobe AIR®.

Very exciting news but that’s not all RIM is working on! Continue reading for more info in the press release and stay tuned for some more news from the BlackBerry Developer Conference.

CONTINUE READING »

Lots of news coming out of the BlackBerry Developer Conference today!

RIM has announced the BlackBerry Academic Program which provides colleges and universities content to help learn about developing for the BlackBerry platform. Course content is currently available for mobile application development, administration of BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry support.

• Mobile Application Development Courses – Students can learn about the tools and techniques for developing applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Courses cover topics such as BlackBerry smartphone features and functionality, user interface design, multimedia application development, mobile web application development and Java® application development.
• Administration Courses – Mobile communication and collaboration tools continue to play a large role in boosting the productivity of enterprise workforces, and the need for trained professionals to administer and support mobile solutions has grown with it. There are over 200,000 BlackBerry® Enterprise Server installations globally and trained professionals are needed to maintain and support these deployments.
• Support Courses – Students are trained to work in technical call centers or IT support environments in support of the BlackBerry solution. The Support courses also include information that can help prepare students for the corresponding BlackBerry Certification exam.

Over 500 students have already taken courses in the program and universities in Canada and the US are beginning to offer courses and course content from the program in their curriculum. For more info visit blackberry.com/academic or check out the press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Thanks to @themes4bb I’ve got some great news for developers working with the BlackBerry platform!

At the 2009 BlackBerry Developer Converence in San Francisco (currently in session), RIM has announced a new services platform for developers that will enable them to streamline business processes and build highly responsive, location-away, revenue-generating apps. Among the new services will be a BlackBerry Advertising Service, Payment Service and new Location Services.

BlackBerry Payment Service to Enable In-Application Transactions and Streamlined Payment Processes

A new BlackBerry® Payment Service from RIM will present BlackBerry developers with new opportunities to monetize applications by selling digital content such as premium content, monthly or annual subscriptions, and additional levels or upgrades for games and other entertainment applications from within their applications. The BlackBerry Payment Service will also incorporate merchant services, including customer billing.

…

BlackBerry Push Service for Delivering Content and Alerts to Applications to Become Generally Available

BlackBerry® Push Service, which was first made exclusively available to BlackBerry® Alliance Program members earlier this year, will be made generally available to registered developers in the first half of 2010. BlackBerry Push Service allows developers and content providers to deliver time-sensitive alerts and up to 8 KB of data to applications.

…

New Location Services to Advance Location-Aware BlackBerry Applications

Adding to the GPS capabilities already supported on the BlackBerry Application Platform today, RIM will introduce three new location-based services for developers to build highly responsive, location-aware applications for BlackBerry smartphones. The three new location-based services include cell site geolocation, reverse geocoding and travel time.

I’m glad RIM is opening up more opportunities for better integration and development of the BlackBerry platform. This is only one of the announcements made at the Developer Conference so far, I’m sure we’ll be hearing some more great news soon!

For more info visit blackberry.com/developers or check out the press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Software para la BlackBerry® Pearl (TM) 8120 smartphone [es]
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.297 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.5.0.297
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.5.0.176
• Software Platform: 2.7.0.105
• 8120
  • File name: 8120M_PBr4.5.0_rel297_PL2.7.0.105_A4.5.0.176_Telefonica.exe
  • File size: 97.96MB
• 8310
  • File name: 8310M_PBr4.5.0_rel297_PL2.7.0.105_A4.5.0.176_Telefonica.exe
  • File size: 90.92MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 4.5.0.176 for the Pearl 8120 or Curve 8310 from Telefonica
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

Thanks @Raptor464!

Originally only available for the Storm, @FabianMH has made his Whippoh BlackBerry app compatible with the new Storm2.

As seen in the video above, Whippoh is a free app that allows you to simulate a whip by performing a whipping movement with your Storm. The sound will only simulate if you make a correct whipping motion with your Storm…practice makes perfect!

Download Whippoh for free in the store and be sure to check out the rest of Fabian Heuwieser’s apps.

Back in mid-October T-Mobile Germany listed the BlackBerry Bold 9700 as being available in November but no pricing info was available at the time. T-Mobile Germany has updated their site (translated) with pricing and contract info for the Bold 9700.

Pricing for the Bold 9700 with T-Mobile Germany starts at 159,95€ ($240.18) on a new “Relax 120″ plan, up to 499,95€ ($750.23) with no contract. Since T-Mobile USA already has dummy units in stores hopefully they will follow with a site update of their own.

For more info visit the T-Mobile Germany Bold 9700 page.