Tafasa let me know that their LaunchPad BlackBerry application has been updated to version 1.5.0.0 with the following changes:

• Ability to create phone call launchers: Create an icon on your home  screen that will start dialing a specified number
• Ability to create email composition launchers: Create an icon on your  home screen that will start composing an email to a specified address
• Choose email, numbers and icon images straight from your Address Book  when creating Phone and Email launchers
• Support for favicons when fetching website images. Previously, LaunchPad  only supported the larger format image which isn’t as widespread, but now  LaunchPad will be able to grab the smaller favicon as well. However, favicons are usually quite small and the BlackBerry requires the icon to be  a certain size, so the enlarged icon may appear distorted.
• Have up to 40 launchers on your screen at any given time (up from 25 in  previous releases). When creating the 41st launcher, you will be asked to  delete one first. You can create an unlimited amount of launchers over the  lifetime of the application.
• Installation now happens through the browser. Don’t worry, you don’t  need to download anything extra after the first install, but by installing in the browser, LaunchPad avoids many potential issues, be more stable, and compatible with more device/os combinations. This will hopefully resolve  any issues people have had with previous releases of LaunchPad.
• No more need for “Refresh Launchers” menu item. Launcher titles  should never revert back to anything other than the title you have set for them.
• General stability and performance improvements

Those who already purchased LaunchPad can update theirs for free!

LaunchPad is available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold, Storm and Tour. Until August 31st you can get LaunchPad for only $0.99, regularly $1.99.

Steelthorn Software has released IntelliLaunch for BlackBerry, an intelligent shortcut/launcher application that requires no setup to work!

All you have to do is install IntelliLaunch and it will use its intelligent framework to learn what you use the most and adapts to find what you are looking for. You can also can search your internal memory and memory card for fast access to your photos, important documents, and contacts, or to easily make a call, SMS, e-mail, or PIN someone.

Features:

• No Setup Required! Install and enjoy the benefits instantly.
• Easily find applications by name instead of searching through folders for an icon.
• “Magic Words” let you use interactive shortcuts to accomplish longer tasks in fractional time!
• Smart-search framework “learns” to adapt the application to your usage patterns
• Run applications from any screen. No need to ALT-Tab constantly to the Home Screen.
• Unique application flow lets you take full advantage of both your keyboard and trackball.
• Contact results let you instant call/sms/email/pin your contacts
• Ability to search files! (System and external memory cards)
• Because we here at Steelthorn™ Software love our customers – Free technical support and upgrades!
• And much more…
• Free 4 day trial!

IntelliLaunch will work with any BlackBerry on OS 4.5 and higher and is currently available in the store for $3.95 until July 15th, after that it will go up to $4.95.

Kai Armstrong (aka @phikai) yesterday announced via Twitter that his new free BlackBerry launchers website EDLIndustries.com is up and running!

Kai has put together a HUGE database of BlackBerry launchers for almost any site you could think of. If it’s not listed you can request to have it made!

About Blackberry Launchers…
Blackberry Launchers is your home for all your blackberry launcher needs. I started creating launchers shortly after the launch of the Blackberry Storm 9530 and haven’t stopped since. The site is currently home to the largest collection of website launchers for blackberries on the internet.

About me…
Blackberry launcher is owned and operated as a one man crew by myself, phikai. I’m just your average geek who loves all things tech.

Although Kai’s BlackBerry launchers are provided free he is accepting donations to help with the development of more free launchers.

Head on over to EDLIndustries.com and download some BlackBerry launchers of your favorite sites!

A few people have mentioned to me that the BlackBerry Rocks! launcher application was not working for them.

Since it was formatted before the newer BlackBerry OS versions became available, it was not compatible with them.

The BlackBerry Rocks! Launcher Application has been updated to version 1.1 and should now work on all BlackBerry devices OS 4.2.0 and higher.

For more info and to download visit the Launcher page. Both OTA and ZIP downloads are available for installation right from your BlackBerry or through the Desktop Manager.

If you run into any problems please let me know in the comments so I can try and fix it as soon as possible.