UPDATE This contest has been extended till tomorrow night, November 1st at 11:59PM. *

The extremely generous folks over at Powermat have provided me with a bunch of their products which I’ve put together as bundles to be part of the BBRocks! birthday celebration!

With the Powermat system, you choose a mat and then choose the receivers to match the devices you want to charge. Every mat comes with a Universal Powercube receiver with 8 tips to allow you to charge hundreds of devices, but we also offer slim Powermat receivers that are custom designed to fit on your devices and you don’t need to remove them to use your device.

The two bundles I am giving away each include the following:

• 1 Home & Office Mat
• 1 BlackBerry Curve (8300/8310/8320/8330/8350i) Receiver
• 1 BlackBerry Curve 8900 Receiver
• 1 BlackBerry Bold 9000 Receiver

Each bundle is valued at almost $200! You can expect a review of the Powermat and BlackBerry Curve 8900 Receiver from me soon. I’ve played with my Powermat a few times already and I am very impressed.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 2 of these Powermat bundles leave a comment on this post using a valid email address. Only leave one comment, duplicates will be ignored and will not increase your chances of winning. This contest will end at 12AM EST on Sunday, November 1st. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Yesterday I mentioned that the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 might be getting OS 5.0.0.328 tomorrow. Since that post I’ve received a bunch of emails asking whether a certain BlackBerry model will get OS 5.0.

Up till now I could only base my answers on leaked information, but  thanks to a new knowledge base article posted by RIM we now know exactly which BlackBerry devices will get it!

List of the supported devices:

• BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8200 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8350i smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Storm™ 9500 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones

Your BlackBerry must have at least 64MB of available memory in order to upgrade to OS 5.0 once it’s available.

According to the knowledge base article not all wireless service providers will support BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the devices listed above, meaning you might have to get it from another service provider. This isn’t a problem for those that don’t mind using an OS not issued by their carrier.

Here’s to hoping an OS 5.0 launch for all devices is just around the corner!

via KB17984

These software versions contain a fix for the BlackBerry Browser bug I mentioned a few weeks ago. For more info about this bug click here.

Software For BlackBerry® Curve (TM) 8330, 8330m smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.295 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.5.0.295
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.5.0.175
• Software Platform: 3.4.0.55

8330

• File name: 8330AMEA_PBr4.5.0_rel295_PL3.4.0.55_A4.5.0.175_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 83.17MB

8330m

• File name: 8330mAMEA_PBr4.5.0_rel295_PL3.4.0.55_A4.5.0.175_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 83.19MB

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

• Download: OS 4.5.0.175 for the Curve 8330 or 8330m from Sprint
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments. View the changelog after the jump.

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. *

CONTINUE READING »

UPDATE Added a full-size image (packaging and all) after the jump. *

If there was any doubt, here is some more confirmation that the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be launching on Verizon very soon. @Ackee_ sent me a picture of a Verizon buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free flyer showing the “New Storm2″ next to its older siblings!

Earlier today I mentioned that Vodafone might be launching the Storm2 this week. If true, Verizon will probably launch either next week or the following week. Since Best Buy is already getting accessories for the Storm2 I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched within a few days, but let’s not push it .

Anyone else hear or see anything about the Storm2’s launch? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!

CONTINUE READING »

Morrison (aka @moestepp) let me know that he has put together a video guide with instructions on how to install hybrid or beta OS versions using BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac.

I’ve transcribed the steps (below) for those that prefer text, but the video is better since it offers visual aide. The BlackBerry used for this tutorial is a Curve 8310 on AT&T. Do this at your own risk and only if you are comfortable with using beta/leaked software.

Morrison has also provided links to beta OS files in DMG format for use with a Mac computer. This method is mainly used for a hybrid OS upgrade. If you are using a beta “you would typically include the radio file in the same folder” (according to Morrison).

• 8330 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G4VGQBM9
  
• 8900 5.0.0.238 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V0IQRULX
  
• 9000 5.0.0.238 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=S3CMOBM2
  
• 9530 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PL31VO1W
  
• 9630 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G1PURKUJ

Here are the steps for use with a hybrid:

1. Plug your BlackBerry into your MacBook with BlackBerry Desktop Manager running
2. Install the carrier recommended OS (in this case AT&T OS 4.5.0.110)
3. Reload the OS that the carrier recommended for the phone. This will download all the appropriate files that are required.
4. Have the hybrid OS handy (in this case 8330 OS 5.0.0.238)
5. Go to Hard Drive > Username > Library > Application Support > BlackBerry Desktop Manager > Device Applications > Folder with numbers and letters
6. Open the Java file containing the hybrid OS files
7. Select all the files in the hybrid OS folder
8. Drag and drop these files into the folder with numbers and letters found in step 5
9. When prompted to replace files, click on apply to all and then replace
10. Go to BlackBerry Desktop Manager (should be running in background) and click on Applications and click Check for Updates
11. It will say there are no new updates in the next screen. Click on Show Other Versions in this screen.
12. You will now find the carrier recommended OS that was installed in steps 2 and 3. Click on the radio button to the left so it is “selected” and then click on Select.
13. Click on Reload
14. You’re done!

The Desktop Manager for Mac will think it’s just reloading the current OS to the BlackBerry but since you copied over the files from the hybrid OS it will actually be loading a different OS. As always please make backups before attempting to install or upgrade anything.

If you decide to try this out let me know how it works for you in the comments!

• Download via MegaUpload: OS 5.0.0.230 for the Curve 8330
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

DISCLAIMER: Install at your own risk. This is Leaked/Beta software that is not guaranteed to be stable, and therefore will not be supported by RIM or your wireless carrier should you run into some problems. As a precaution, if you decide to upgrade, it is highly recommended that you make a backup before using this software. If you are not comfortable using Leaked/Beta software you should probably wait for the next official release. *

Free BlackBerry Curve 8300 series themes aren’t being created as much as those for newer devices, so I had to post this theme when I saw it. This theme is called Steampunk and was made by CB member curve1967. Steampunk is available in two versions:

Today + Bottom Dock

• Custom L Dock
• 7 Customizable Icons on the Homescreen
• Homescreen Icons BOUNCE on select
• Profile Button on Homescreen
• Calendar has 3 Entries
• Messages has 2 Entries

Custom L Dock

• Custom L Dock
• 10 Customizable Icons on the Homescreen
• Homescreen Icons BOUNCE on select
• Profile Button on Homescreen

You have to have at least OS 4.5 on your Curve 83XX before installing this theme. If you need to upgrade check out the BlackBerry OS page to find it for your device.

• Download Steampunk OTA:
  • Today + Bottom Dock
  • Custom L Dock
• Info/feedback pages:
  • Today + Bottom Dock
  • Custom L Dock
• How To: Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data

Here’s a great theme available for a few BlackBerry devices by CB Forums member redzapper. Redzapper’s 3G theme is based on the iPhone 3G theme by Jonathan Lundström.

The features for each version vary based on the device so be sure to visit the theme page for more info or to leave some feedback.

3G theme for the Curve 8300 series

• Download: OTA
• Info: 3G Theme Page (8300 series)

3G theme for the Curve 8900

• Download
  • OTA
  • OTA (with QuickLaunch)
• Info: 3G Theme Page (8900)

3G theme for the Bold 9000

• Download OTA:
  • No weather text
  • No weather text with QuickLaunch
  • With weather text
  • With weather text and QuickLaunch
• Info: 3G Theme Page (Bold)

3G theme for the Storm

• Download OTA:
  • 3G STORM This version uses the blue wallpaper shown on the home screen above throughout the theme.
  • 3G STORM BLACK This version uses the black grille wallpaper shown on the call screen above throughout the theme.
  • 3G STORM WHITE By popular demand! This version uses the white grille wallpaper shown above throughout the theme. Note White edition is NOT compatible with 151.
• Info: 3G Theme Page (Storm)

3G theme for the Tour

• Download: OTA
• Info: 3G Theme Page (Tour)

Make sure you choose the OS meant for your BlackBerry’s specific model number.

Software For BlackBerry® Curve (TM) 8330 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.281 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.5.0.281
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.5.0.169
• Software Platform: 3.4.0.51
• File name: 8330uAMEA_PBr4.5.0_rel281_PL3.4.0.51_A4.5.0.169_Cellular_South.exe
• File size: 83.18MB

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

• Download: OS 4.5.0.169 for the Curve 8330 and 8330m from Cellular South
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

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 @ghozali!

Joe let me know that Verizon has just released OS 4.5.0.138 for the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the Curve 8330.

The BlackBerry Curve 8330 update resolves the following  issues:

• Email received by the mail application with a registered attachment handler (such as RSA Token) no longer loses attachments.
• The RSS rendering engine no longer impacts the Repligo application when used as an embedded screen.
• Third-party headsets were sometimes not detected correctly by the device when used on AUX-capable car stereo systems. This has been corrected.
• When answering a call, the BlackBerry sometimes triggered a short, loud noise on the receiving end. This has been corrected.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 update resolves the following issue:

• Email received by the mail application with a registered attachment handler (such as RSA Token) no longer loses the attachment.

This is not the latest available OS for either BlackBerry (4.5.0.160 is), but some might only be able to upgrade if it’s from their own carrier.

To get this update head on over to the Verizon BlackBerry download page at vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry. Don’t forget to make a backup first, or if you need help upgrading your OS click here.