Many people have sent me messages and tweets about not being able to see their contacts’ avatar in the new BlackBerry Messenger 5.0. I would usually recommend the standard battery pull, having that contact re-load their photo, re-download BBM 5.0 or re-add the contact. In some cases these methods would work but in others they would not, and at the time I would usually recommend re-adding via PIN.

RIM has published a knowledge base article with a workaround to this issue since there is no resolution (right now).

This is a previously reported issue that has been escalated internally to our development team. No resolution time frame is currently available.

Here’s the workaround provided by RIM:

1. On the Home screen or in the Instant Messaging folder, click the BlackBerry Messenger icon.
2. Highlight the affected user.
3. On the contact list screen, press the Menu key.
4. Select Delete Contact.
5. To add the contact again, invite them by using scan a barcode or by email.

Once you re-invite the contact they will need to re-accept. Once the contact accepts you should both be able to see each others’ avatars. Keep in mind that both parties must be running BBM 5.0. You can download it OTA from blackberry.com/messenger.

If you’ve had issues where you can’t see your contacts’ avatars be sure to try this workaround and let me know how it works for you in the comments!

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!

RIM has announced that the new BlackBerry Widget Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available for download. This SDK would allow developers to build web-based apps that take advantage of BlackBerry’s advanced features and functionality.

A BlackBerry Widget uses the BlackBerry® Browser engine torender an application’s user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.Developers are able to use existing web content to create BlackBerry Widgetsand extend the capabilities of their web applications using BlackBerry WidgetAPIs.

Using the new BlackBerry Widget APIs, developers can, forexample, create seamless interaction between a widget and the BlackBerry emailand calendar applications, create widgets with the ability to view or editfiles and documents stored on the smartphone, access location-based services orthe media player, and more. Developers can also take advantage of RIM’s uniquepush technology, enabling dynamic widgets that can run in the background andprovide proactive alerts to users in a timely manner.

“BlackBerry Widgets open up a world of opportunities fordevelopers to build and bring to market web applications for BlackBerrysmartphones that offer advanced, integrated functionality and an always-on userexperience,” said Alan Brenner, senior vice president, BlackBerry platforms atRIM. “We are very excited by the prospects of this new widget developmentplatform which combines the ease of development of standard web languages withthe rich functionality of Java development.”

One thing about this announcement that stuck out to me is that in order for the BlackBerry Widgets to work the device must be running OS 5.0. Yesterday I mentioned that BBM 5.0 is rumored to be launching tomorrow, this too has features that require a BlackBerry to be running OS 5.0 in order for them to work. Does anyone else see where this is going?

For more info and to download the BlackBerry Widgets SDK visit blackberry.com/developers/widget or check out the press release after the jump.

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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!

UPDATE Verizon and RIM have pulled OS 4.7.1.53 after releasing it for only a few hours. Apparently this OS was bad and really messed up some Tours. If you attempted to upgrade to this OS let me know if you were successful in the comments. *

BlackBerry OS 4.7.1.53 for the Tour 9630 was just leaked a few days ago but it looks like Verizon has decided to make it official and is pushing it out through BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

Here is a changelog put together by BGR:

• Improved MMS notifications
• Improved Visual Voice Mail app
• Improved sound quality for Bluetooth headsets and voice calls
• Fixed geo-tagging error in the camera application
• Fixed an error with DRM music skipping
• Improved video player
• Added BlackBerry Messenger update notifications — check for new BBM updates automatically or manually.
• Fixed an issue with device restarting after activating morning alarm
• Fixed an issue with memory cleaning and sluggishness
• The first character is no longer duplicated when dialing from the
  home screen.
• Your smartphone may not have detected headset removal, causing it to remain connected to a disabled headset.
• When prompted to add an email account in the Setup Wizard, your smartphone may have jumped to “Bluetooth® Setup,” leaving you unable to navigate back to email setup.
• If you tried to save changes to a contact that only contained a company name, you may have received the error message “Contact updated externally. Changes will be lost and the view closed.”

This update is only available through BlackBerry Desktop Manager and not through Verizon’s BlackBerry Downloads site (at least right now). To get this update load BlackBerry Desktop Manager and plug in your Tour 9630. Everything should be automatic from there.

Even though this is an official update you should always backup beforehand in case something goes wrong. Let me know how you like the update in the comments!

UPDATE Someone just pointed out that BeBeMe is both free and premium.

According to the image above yearly is free but they seem to be offering premium plans for longer periods of time. Is anyone else getting something similar when they check? If you find a free one then good, if not I don’t recommend paying for it. *

BeBeMe has launched their new social networking site for BlackBerry users allowing you to conveniently create a single “PIN alias” that would stick with you for life (should you choose), versus  the BlackBerry PIN being unique to each device.

What is BeBeMe?

BeBeMe is a social network and a new global identification system for BlackBerry users. It’s a global address book where the BlackBerry users can be reached easily by converting PIN and Emails to an easy to remember Number or Name and makes it easy to add friends to their BlackBerry Messenger and contact list.

BeBeMe simplifies sharing a handset’s Personal Identification Number (PIN), enabling everyone to communicate more conveniently with friends, with communities, anywhere in the world.

BeBeMe offers many value added services, including storing all contacts online, interacting via personal profile pages on www.bebeme.com, and maintaining the same BeBeMe account regardless of whether a handset is broken, lost or upgraded.

With the way everyone communicates continuing to evolve, BeBeMe helps everyone to connect.

It’s free. It’s instant. It’s fun. And it has no boundaries.

The idea of one BeBeMe for all your BlackBerry devices (new and old) is something I’m sure many of you would appreciate. The downside is that BeBeMe is only available for devices running OS 4.6 and higher with support for the Storm on OS 5.0 coming soon.

For more info and to download the app head on over to BeBeMe.com or check out the full press release after the jump.

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* UPDATE Found out that re-installing BBM 5.0 syncs avatars a lot faster than just waiting. Not all, but most of them did. If you’re not able to see avatars you may want to try re-installing BBM 5.0 if the steps below don’t work. Don’t forget to make a backup! *

Just thought I’d share with everyone that it seems as if RIM has decided to allow avatar usage within BlackBerry Messenger 5.0!

If you missed it, last Friday BBM 5.0 was leaked for many BlackBerry devices and is still available for download both through desktop installation with ZIP files and OTA installation right through your BlackBerry Browser.

I also did a roundup of new features with screenshots of the new BBM 5.0. At the time, though, BBM 5.0 did not allow syncing of your contacts’ avatars directly from them. You had to add them as a contact to your address book with a caller ID picture in order for their avatar to work. That’s not the case anymore as RIM is now allowing avatar usage for everyone! (I think)

So far many have been able to change their avatar photo, but some many not know how to. Using the photos above as a visual aid, follow these instructions if you need help changing/updating yours:

1. Open BlackBerry Messenger (5.0).
2. Open the menu, scroll to “Edit My Info” and click.
3. Once you’re in “Edit My Info” scroll up to the box displaying the silhouette of a person to the left of “Display Name” (see where the green arrow is pointing above) and click it.
4. In the next window you will be taken to the photos located in your BlackBerry device memory or media card. Once you find the photo you want to use select and click it.
5. Next you will have to correctly size the image for it to be displayed as your avatar. You are given the option to crop your image, or you can simply open the menu and zoom out enough to be able to use the entire image instead of cropping it. Once you have done what you want to do, open the menu and select “Crop and Save”.
6. Your avatar will now load and sync to your BBM contacts (if they have 5.0).

If you already have an avatar selected for yourself you may need to re-load it using the steps above. It may take a minute or two depending on your network connection, so no need to worry if your BBM contacts aren’t seeing your image right away. Some of my own contacts were able to update their avatar and I am now able to see them in my BBM contact list.

Hope this was useful. Let me know how it works out for you in the comments!

* UPDATE Added some features and screenshots. *

Here are some features and a few screenshots of the leaked BlackBerry Messenger 5.0.

• Avatars for contacts and yourself as well as syncing them to your address book
• Crop and save images for sending or using as your avatar
• Set conversation subjects
• Your own BBM barcode
• Location and timezone options
• Backup/restore contacts to your media card or device
• Save message history on your media card or device (none, 25, 50 or 100 updates)
• Different chat styles
  • standard
  • chat bubbles
  • stripes
• New and more smileys
• New options to add a contact (via PIN, barcode sharing/scanning)
• Better “send file” options

I was able to install it on my Curve 8900 running the official OS 4.6.1.250 and haven’t had any problems yet. If you decide to try BBM 5.0 make sure you MAKE A BACKUP. A few people have been saying they lost contacts and they didn’t make a backup, so it’s important that you do so. If you want to try BBM 5.0 click here.

Overall I am very pleased with it and can’t wait to see what other new and cool things BlackBerry OS 5.0 will have.

If you notice any additional features or options feel free to share them in the comments. Check out the rest of the screenshots after the jump.

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If you thought tabbed browsing and a new BlackBerry Messenger were the only new features in BlackBerry OS 5.0, guess again!

Joey found out about some awesome new updates that will be included in OS 5.0:

• Time Zone Auto Update
  Yep… frequent travelers have been begging for it for years. The Date/Time function in OS 5.0 will allow for your time zone to be updated automatically as you travel, or you can turn off the feature, or be prompted for the change in time zones. Everyone get ready for their calendar appointments to go whacky.
• Security Wipe Options
  The new OS 5.0 Security Wipe will allow optional wiping of the Media Card or User Installed Applications, along with the former base wipe of emails, contacts, preferences, etc.
• Mobile Backup
  In the Options list of OS 5.0, there’s a new option for “Mobile Backup”, when activated, appears to backup and sync to a mobile site.
• Enhanced Advanced Applications List
  RIM has upped the GUI for the Advanced Applications list, to include the app’s icon in the list as well as some limited application options settings. You’ll also find some nice additions to the Options list, such as now having the Phone Options listed there, as well as in the Call Log options as in the past.

Finally, a native option to backup wirelessly! I wonder what other new features are going to be included in OS 5.0…

Head on over to BlackBerry News to check out a few more screenshots.

YouTuber Salomondrin has a bunch of videos of the BlackBerry Onyx, one of them even showing BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 running on an Onyx!

The videos I grabbed are of the Onyx but he does have some of the Tour and the Gemini, in case you wanted to check those out as well. The videos I have included in this post are a hands-on, two unboxings, one showing what taking a picture with the Onyx is like, and last but not least, one showing BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 running on an Onyx.

Check out the rest of the videos after the jump.

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