Daniel Garcia is a web developer/software architect by day, rebellious tech-punk twenty-something by night. He is a contributing writer to BlackBerry Rocks! who reviews applications for BlackBerry devices, as well as shares the occasional tip for fellow Rockers. He has a BlackBerry Storm 9530, soon to be 9550. If you would like to know more about him, you can follow his Twitter account: @buzzedword.

Earlier this month, Verizon pushed out Bing for Mobile to all Storm handsets, as well as preloaded the software onto all new Storm 2 units. If you haven’t already heard, Bing is the new kid on the block to the search market, going toe to toe with the big dog: Google. Why should you be using Bing, instead of Google? Can’t say. I’m here to rock the BlackBerry, not worry about petty search wars.

Read the full review after the break.

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Blackboard is something I use on a day-to-day basis as a university student so I was excited to find out that they are rolling out support for BlackBerry devices with Blackboard Mobile.

The online Blackboard Academic Suite allows university faculty and students to connect and share course schedules, assignments, links, videos, contact information, grades, rosters, university updates and more. According to Blackboard’s press release, the BlackBerry client will offer similar functions:

The BlackBerry smartphone application enables many more users to enjoy an enhanced experience while navigating course catalogs and campus maps, e-mailing professors and classmates and receiving real time updates on course schedules, campus events, news and sports with Mobile Central (formerly MobilEdu((TM))), Blackboard Mobile’s flagship suite of applications.

…

With Mobile Central, users have access to course catalogs, directories and maps, they can identify exact campus locations with GPS and they can check campus news, schedules, and real-time scores for athletic teams. In addition, open APIs for Blackboard Mobile enable institutions to extend the platform’s offerings to fully customize and personalize the school’s iPhone, BlackBerry and mobile Web interfaces.

There is no public download and according to a rep I spoke with the Blackboard Mobile client will be made available through individual service providers. I checked the T-Mobile mobile website for the client and could not find it there (or anywhere) so if anyone happens to find it please let me know in the comments. Chances are the client will be made available through individual Blackboard sites if there is no public download.

For more info about Blackboard Mobile visit blackboard.com/mobile or check out the press release after the jump.

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Viigo has released a new version that I recommend everyone upgrade to. Version 3.1.489 brings with it some new features and improvements with performance, data usage, memory consumption and battery life.

The new version also allows you to see all the feeds you subscribed to across the Viigo app in the News & Module, meaning if you subscribed to a podcast in the audio section you will also see it in the News & RSS module separated with  titled heading like “Media”. If you open this feed item in the News & RSS module it will sync across your Viigo app so it shows up as read in the other modules as well.

The new version also adds some speed when it comes to accessing new and enhanced services such as the NFL, NHL and Soccer services within the Sports module.

To get the new version head to getviigo.com from your BlackBerry Browser. If you have a version installed from the BlackBerry App World you must uninstall it and reboot before installing the new version. Let me know how this version runs for you in the comments!

New in the BlackBerry App World is AOL Radio for BlackBerry, now available for the Bold 9000.

The AOL Radio application streams your favorite AOL & CBS RADIO stations directly to your BlackBerry® Bold™. Whether it’s Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classical, Hip-Hop, Oldies, Country, World, Latino, News, or Sports, AOL Radio guarantees you’ll be able to connect directly with all your favorite music, news and information no matter where you are.

With 30 genres and over 400 professionally-programmed stations at your fingertips, you can quickly favorite stations, share stations with friends, and skip songs you don’t like.

The App World description says it supports the AT&T Bold but if you get it to work on your non-AT&T Bold let me know in the comments. For more info check it out in the BlackBerry App World. Hopefully this app will soon be available for other BlackBerry models.

It’s already been two months since the last time I mentioned the U2 Mobile Album, but it has re-surfaced with a possible launch date!

According to MobileSyrup the U2 Mobile Album will be released September 12th (opening night of U2’s 360 North American Tour), which is only three days away so we don’t have long to wait.

Here’s a recap of the known U2 Mobile Album features:

• Album (No Line On The Horizon)
• News
• 360 Tour
• Who’s Listening
• Gallery

If you haven’t signed up for a launch notification yet you can do so at the BlackBerry Loves U2 info page.

Viigo has partnered up with Treedia Labs to bring tens of thousands of Podcast.com audio podcasts to BlackBerry users!

“Treedia Labs is excited to be adding Viigo as a way for our mobile device audience to access our aggregated podcast content,” said, Duncan Perry, CEO of Treedia Labs. “Viigo provides us with a large audience and reach, making it an ideal new channel in our growing list of device and application partnerships.”

The Viigo application for BlackBerry offers News & RSS, Weather, Sports, Business & Finance, Podcasts, Local Interest, Shopping, Social Networks, Entertainment, Flights & Travel and Politics. Best of all, it’s FREE!

In my opinion, Viigo is a must have application for every BlackBerry user, no matter what you use it for.

You can download it now at getviigo.com from your BlackBerry Browser or visit Viigo.com for more info.

Full press release after the jump.

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The free WHERE application has been launched for the BlackBerry Tour 9630!

WHERE on the BlackBerry Tour functions very similarly to our versions for the BlackBerry Storm & BlackBerry Bold. WHERE on the Tour features an at-a-glance homescreen layout, for easy access to your favorite local information. WHERE comes pre-packed with some of our most popular GPS based widgets including, News, Weather, Gas Station Locator, Yelp & Eventful, plus many more. WHERE’s newest social networking venue, the WHERE Wall is also available on the BlackBerry Tour.

I just want to point out that WHERE’s Gas Prices has helped me find cheap gas on more than one occasion. This and the other features are very useful.

To download it visit WHERE.com from your BlackBerry Browser or from your desktop computer for more info.

WHERE has been updated to v1.3.0.1 for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Storm!

Not sure what WHERE is?

WHERE is a mobile app that provides you with information about the people, places and things around you. Local content available through WHERE includes everything from the weather, news, and restaurant reviews, to the cheapest gas, movie show times, and the ability to connect with other users through Buddy Beacon™ and the WHERE Wall™. WHERE also helps you reach your destination with easy to use maps and directions.

Not to mention it’s FREE! Check out the updates and enhancements in the new version:

• New Gas Features – The WHERE Gas widget got a total redesign in this update. All gas grade prices are now available on main screen. Gas station amenities are now also included on the station detail page.
• Improvements to WHERE Wall – In this latest update you will notice larger gravatar images, auto re-fresh mechanism, the ability to add links into posts, and a new Sports wall.
• Changes to the way location is handled
• Other minor bug fixes.

You can download WHERE by going to where.com from your BlackBerry Browser, or from your desktop computer to have the download link sent to you via SMS.

@saucewear let me know about an article by atu2.com where BlackBerry’s U2 application plans have been revealed!

The last time we heard about the U2 application for BlackBerry was in early April, at which time all that was known was that BlackBerry would be sponsoring the U2 360 Tour.

BlackBerry has just created a dedicated U2 page where you can watch a teaser video and sign up to be notified when the U2 Mobile Album application for BlackBerry is available.

So far the U2 Mobile Album will have five sections:

• Album (No Line On The Horizon)
• News
• 360 Tour
• Who’s Listening
• Gallery

The U2 Mobile Album application will allow you to listen to the album, watch U2 music videos, view/share photos and read news from U2.com. In addition, you will also be able to see other concert attendees via a stadium map right on your BlackBerry!

Go check out the BlackBerry Loves U2 page and let me know what you think!

via @U2

Viigo has been updated from version 3.1.324 to version 3.1.330.

The video above goes over the new features available in Viigo since version 3.1.324 (which I mentioned last week). Version 3.1.330 is an important upgrade that is focused on fixing a number of performance issues.

Note: It is recommended that you completely delete and reboot your current Viigo version if you originally downloaded it from the BlackBerry App World. More on how to do this here.

You can download it now from GetViigo.com from either your BlackBerry Browser, or from your desktop to have a download link sent to your BlackBerry.

I’ve included an overview of all the features after the jump.

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