A few days ago I told you about the free Vodafone Update client for BlackBerry that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook statuses. Widgetlabs left a comment letting me know that they have released Vodafone Update v2.0.1 with the following features:

• Copy&Paste
• AutoText
• BIS Connections

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

Thanks to CellUnlock.net I have 100 BlackBerry unlock codes to give away!

Benefits of unlocking your BlackBerry include:

• No need to roam with your current sim when you travel. Purchase pre-paid sim cards when traveling. Many operators allow free incoming calls.
• Switch freely between service providers.
• Increase the resale value of your phone.
• 100% safe unlocking that does not interfere with the operation of your phone or warranty
• Absolutely no technical knowledge is required.

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). For more info visit CellUnlock.net.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 100 free BlackBerry unlock codes 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 11:59PM EST on Saturday, November 7th. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Vodafone has released Vodafone Update, a social network BlackBerry application that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook profiles.

Features:

• See status updates from your Twitter and Facebook contacts at a glance
• What are you doing right now? Post tweets to one or both of your social networks
• Reply to your friends’ messages directly from your BlackBerry
• Search for real-time news in Twitter
• Share what you see with others instantly! Take photos with your BlackBerry and send them to one or both of your networks with just one click
• Easy to use – just download, start and you’re done

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

If you check it out let me know what you think in the comments, especially if you’ve used other BlackBerry Twitter apps.

Thanks @TorontoWireless!

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

UPDATE Added alternate links. *

• Download via RapidShare:
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Curve 8900
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Bold 9000
• Download via MegaUpload:
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Curve 8900 (thanks ps360wiitv)
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Bold 9000
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

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. *

It’s been a while since the YouVersion Bible app for BlackBerry was mentioned here on BBRocks! but LifeChurch.tv just pushed out an update that will make it more sociable. Here’s a recap on YouVersion’s main features:

• 40 different translations in 22 languages (including Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and more)
• The One-Year Reading Plan provides daily selections to keep you on track when you’re on the go.
• Search the entire Bible for a word, phrase, or verse, and get your results in seconds.
• Jump to a verse quickly by typing the reference in the search box.
• Learn from others by checking out recent contributions. Just tap the number next to the verse.
• Compatible with BlackBerry OS v4.2.1 or higher, and on these devices: 9000, 8900, 88xx, 87xx, 8300, 8220, 81xx, 7130.

YouVersion v2.0.3 includes the following updates:

• When you leave a YouVersion Live event, the message to save notes is better. Pressing save on the dialog takes you to the screen to email your notes.
• There is a new menu item on the YouVersion Live event screen to go to the edit notes area.
• YouVersion Live Event description has been removed from the header and added to top of scrolling area.
• YouVersion Live Event times are now added to the date area of the header.
• The YouVersion Live Event widget titles should now completely reflect what the admin of the event setup.

For more info or to download the YouVersion Bible app visit youversion.com/bb.

AT&T let my buddy @ASacco know that the white BlackBerry Bold 9000 will be available to customers on October 18th through the AT&T website.

The new, blanc Bold will sell for the same price as the existing BlackBerry Bold 9000–$199.99 with a new two-year service agreement, after rebate. The BlackBerry Bold 9000 is an AT&T exclusive device in the United States, and the carrier first started selling the device in October 2008.

The only difference between the white and black Bold 9000 is the color, so if you prefer white and you like the Bold then this device is for you. Don’t forget that the Bold 9700 (aka Onyx), an upgraded version of the 9000 with more features in a smaller form factor, will possibly go on sale some time in November or early December.

Will you snag a white Bold 9000 when it goes live on the AT&T website, wait for the Bold 9700 or just get both? Let me know in the comments!

via CIO

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!

My buddy Marian (aka Temas BlackBerry) has released a new BlackBerry theme called BerryWin.

Features:

• 7 icons with big view
• 6 mini icons
• Hide window with 6 icons configurable

BerryWin will work on the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Tour and is available in the store for $5.

GIVEAWAY: The first 20 people to use the coupon code WINROCKS will get this theme for free! *