SmrtGuard has updated their BlackBerry application to version 2.01 with a bunch of new features, most notably a new “Where I’ve Been” feature. Here’s whats new in v2.01:

• Added New ‘Where I’ve Been’ Feature on BlackBerry
• Personal Guardian Updated! Now using Left Convenience Key with configurable trigger time.
• SIM Guardian now can configure Email and SMS Alert Receipients
• New and Improved Your Data Count Screen
• SmrtGuard Web Dashboard improved sorting and export to CSV

In addition to this update, SmrtGuard and Indonesian service provider Indosat have partnered up and released i-Guard, a white-label version of SmrtGuard.

For those that aren’t familiar with it, SmrtGuard is a premium app/service that allows you to secure your BlackBerry and data with OTA backup/restore, remote tracking, remote data wiping and more. If you’re looking for a way to protect your BlackBerry and data  from loss or theft this is definitely an option you should look into.

SmrtGuard will work on BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2 or higher and is available in the store as three subscription services:  monthly, yearly and semi-annual. Check it out and let me know how secure you feel in the comments!

The guys over at RIMGeeks have been hard at work improving their useful BlackBerry Swiss Army Knife (BBSAK) desktop application. Since their last release of v1.6 there has been a minor update with some fixes and a new version update to v1.7.0.

• New in v1.7.0
  • Auto Update Feature Now Included (upon load bbsak will check to verify you have the most current version install)
  • Compact view button now available in all expanded windows
  • Restore Apps completion popup now pops up at correct time
  • Some small speed tweaks also included with this version
• v1.6.3 Fixes
  • Some users experienced read system errors completely fixed with v1.6.3
  • Form can now be maximized (hope it helps with resolution issues)

BBSAK is a must have app for advanced BlackBerry users who want to get the most control over their device, or for the intermediate user who simply wipe their device or backup/restore their 3rd party applications.

For more info and to download BBSAK v1.7.0 visit the RIMGeeks project page.

RIMGeeks has released a new version of their handy BlackBerry Swiss Army Knife (BBSAK) Windows desktop application.

New in BBSAK v1.6:

• Brand New Tabbed Layout for better organization
• Animated app expansion
• Multiple COD install now available through the “Install COD(s)” button
• Multiple COD removal now available through the “Remove COD(s)” button (Read system required to remove cods)
• Install JAD files (ALL CODs referenced in JAD file must be in the SAME FOLDER as JAD)
• JAD Maker now included! (Box is drag and drop for windows xp and vista users only)
• New BB Screenshot Preview! – Preview your screenshot before you save it!
• RESTORE APPS BUTTON IS BACK!!! (NOTE** will install all files under “BBSAK BACKUP” in the applications section of your blackberry removing this app will remove ALL apps in the backup!!!!! THE ALX IS STILL CREATED!!! feel free to install that via loader.exe or blackberry desktop manager)

This desktop app has helped me out a few times where I bricked my BlackBerry (not on purpose of course). Luckily I had made a backup of my 3rd party apps with BBSAK so it was easy to install all of them at once instead of one-by-one. Backing up 3rd party apps is not all BBSAK can do and RIMGeeks is continuously working to improve it with new features and fixes.

For more info and to download BBSAK v1.6 visit the RIMGeeks project page.

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.

Some helpful Knowledge Base Articles:

• Bar code feature of BlackBerry Messenger 5.0
• How to integrate SMS conversations with BlackBerry Messenger 5.0
• How to navigate groups within BlackBerry Messenger 5.0
• Email confirmation message of BlackBerry Messenger 5.0

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!

This one definitely caught me by surprise. According to a tip sent to CrackBerry Kevin the new BlackBerry Messenger will be released globally on October 7th, less than two days away!

BlackBerry® Messenger 5.0

Launch Date: Global – October 7, 2009

BlackBerry® Messenger is an instant messaging application that allows BlackBerry Smartphone users to send and receive instant messages with other BlackBerry Smartphone users.

BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 is the latest release.

Features:

• 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.

Many of us have been using the leaked version of BBM 5.0 but it’s not perfect and is most likely an early release compared to what is internally available today. According to the leaked tip the “Enhanced SMS” feature of BBM 5.0 is only available to BlackBerry users who are running OS 5.0 or later. I wonder if this means an OS 5.0 launch is also around the corner? That would definitely be a nice surprise!

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!

CONTINUE READING »

Andrey over at Inside BlackBerry posted up a great in-depth walkthrough of BlackBerry Desktop Software (BBDS) for Mac. According to the walkthrough, “Desktop Software” is what it will be known as and not “Desktop Manager”.

Here is what Andrey’s walkthrough covers:

• The Welcome Sheet
• Summary Screen and Device Options
• Synchronizing
• Updating Device Software
• Installing and Removing Applications
• Backup and Restore

According to Andrey the release of BBDS for Mac is “just around the corner”.

There are plenty of screenshots for visual aide so head on over to Inside BlackBerry and check out the detailed walkthrough. Don’t forget to sign up at blackberry.com/mac for more info and to be notified about its release, or just keep an eye on BBRocks! since I’ll be posting about it as soon as it’s available .

Last week the official BlackBerry Twitter account “accidentally” sent out a tweet saying that the BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac was available for download. Since then there hasn’t been much chatter about BBDM for Mac, but BGR has gotten a tip that it will be releasing on September 25th.

A recap of the key features:

• Sync your iTunes® playlists, calendars, contacts, notes and tasks
• Add/Remove applications
• Update your device when new software becomes available
• Backup and restore your device data with such features like automatically scheduled backups and optional encryption (security is #1 as always…)
• Manage multiple devices

If you absolutely can’t wait for it to be officially released, I hear the leaked version of BBDM for Mac works pretty well.

SmrtGuard for BlackBerry has been updated to version 1.98 with the following changes:

• More Robust Remote Wiping that wipes out Password Word Keeper, Facebook, Phone Application
• Backup and Restore secured by Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption
• Easy and secured activation verification process with secure key exchange mechanism via HTTPS. For details on how to activate (new purchase ) and reactivate (after switch device), please see here.
• New “Smrt Backup” that only backs up if there have been changes in your personal data. It is a more efficient way to backup!
• Added support for User1, User2, User4, User4, Birthday, Anniversary fields in Contact backup and restore.
• Fixed a SMS restore and backup bug where outgoing SMS message greater than 160 characters were not being backed up properly and impacted the restore of SMS.

SmrtGuard allows you to backup and restore personal data OTA, track the location of your BlackBerry, and execute a remote wipe if it’s stolen or lost. This app is available for all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2 and higher in three premium versions:

• SmrtGuard for BlackBerry – $3.99 Monthly Service
• SmrtGuard for BlackBerry – $22.99 Semi Annual Service
• SmrtGuard for BlackBerry – $44.99 Yearly Service

If you try these apps out don’t forget to leave some feedback in the comments!

BGR was able to get their hands on a copy of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac software and put together a great preview walkthrough with commentary!

Inside BlackBerry posted their own preview of the BBDM for Mac software, mentioning some of the key features that will be part of the initial release. BG’s walkthrough goes over the BBDM for Mac installation, initial setup, syncing, backups and more.

Head on over the the BGR BBDM for Mac walkthrough post and let me know what you think in the comments!