My buddy Al Sacco (aka @ASacco) scored the first official image of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 (aka the Onyx),  which has been confirmed as launching before the end of 2009!

Apparently this image was sent to him by T-Mobile USA PR before he agreed to any embargo, so he decided to share it with all us BlackBerry addicts. Here’s a tidbit from the message sent to Al by T-Mobile:

“The BlackBerry ‘Onyx’ sports a premium experience and design with a high-gloss black finish and leather grain detail on the back. Boasting features such as high-speed 3G Web browsing, Wi-Fi calling, visual voicemail and support for corporate and personal e-mail options, the ‘Onyx’ will satisfy all your on-the-go needs. Also the phone comes preloaded with mobile applications from BlackBerry App World, including Amazon MP3 store for quick and easy music downloads and TeleNav GPS Navigator for turn-by-turn directions.”

In addition, T-Mobile plans on releasing a white Curve 8520 next month. Not sure how many are excited about a white 8520, but I know plenty of people who are excited about the Onyx (including myself). Anyone else hear anything about any upcoming BlackBerry devices?

Kudos Al!

via CIO

* 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!

Well this one kind of caught me by surprise. TwitterBerry has been updated to version 0.9.1 with some new features and fixes.

TwitterBerry 0.9.1 [July 14, 2009]

New features in 0.9.1:

• Added support for Zannel.com uploads. Select “Zannel” from the “Media Provider” choice on the Configure screen.
• Embedded Camera is now available for OS 4.2+ for smartphones with a camera. Try the “Take Photo” menu item from the main “What Are You Doing?” screen
• Added a “Help” menu for online help

Bug Fixes in Beta 7:

• Improved performance and memory use for uploading media

I’m not sure if it can go up against newer Twitter applications like SocialScope and UberTwitter, but I’m glad they’re attempting a comeback. It looks like they’ve also updated their supported BlackBerry list to include pretty much every device, including the Tour 9630!

Download it now OTA by clicking here or visit the TwitterBerry product page for more info. Let me know what you think about this update!

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.

CONTINUE READING »

* UPDATE Matthias has updated BBFileScout to version 1.1.0.1

Since I received user feedback that there is additionally the need for a user defined resolution setting in the new “Image Resize” function, I just have integrated this feature into BBFileScout. In the new ‘Image Option’ section you have an additional entry in the ‘target resolution’ called ‘user defined’.

If you downloaded version 1.1 please redownload BBFileScout below. *

Matthias let me know that he has updated his BBFileScout BlackBerry application from version 1.0 to version 1.1.

New functions include the ability to resize images to a user selected resolution ranging from 1200px, 1024px, 800px, 640px and the device’s resolution. There is also an option to show favorites at startup and URLs in the BBFileScout “About” screen will now bring you to the site.

BBFileScout is offered “free” as Donationware, which means the version available for download is fully functional with no limitations but the developer is asking for donations to help upkeep the development of the application. BBFileScout is available for all BlackBerrys on OS 4.3 and higher.

• Download OTA: BBFileScout
• Info: BBFileScout Homepage (ZIP available for desktop installation)
  
• How To:
  • Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data
  • Install Applications and Themes via Desktop Manager

View the detailed changelog after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

Felix from ZonaBlackBerry let me know about a new application developed by them called ZonaSnap.

ZonaSnap is a free application that comes in both English and Spanish which allows you to capture the screen of your BlackBerry, and then gives you a range of options such as save, send as email and send to Photobucket.

Features:

• Zonasnap added as an menu item.
• Send snap of your screen without saving straight from the screen as email, to Photobucketor or simply save to SD card under your pictures folder.
• Can be added as a convenience key.
• Really small in file size about 88kb.
• When used from the menu it gives you a preview of your screen shot.
• OS 4.3+ required.
• Files saved as jpg format.
• After the capture issent to Photobucket, you will receive a notification in a window reporting that the image code has been received and it has been inserted into Memopad.
• LED notification and a short vibration to let you know the snap has been taken.
• Very easy to use.
• Notes:
  • Must enable all permissions requested by the application.
  • Storm users should disable the compatibility mode.

You can grab a copy of either the English version or the Spanish version of ZonaSnap free in the store, or get it right from the on-device BlackBerry Rocks! App Store.

It looks like the release of the BlackBerry Gemini 8520 is getting closer!

IntoMobile got a picture of some T-Mobile branded Geminis. The Gemini 8520 is the first BlackBerry with an Optical TrackPad, but is somewhat lacking in terms of new features. It is, however, a very sleek and well designed BlackBerry from what I’ve seen so far.

Last week I posted a leaked T-Mobile roadmap showing the Gemini 8520 as launching August 5th. This picture doesn’t confirm that rumor, but it does mean that a launch could be nearing.

In case you missed it, the full features and specifications for the Gemini 8520 were posted back in early May. You can check them out if you’d like to learn more about the Gemini.

A few days ago I posted about the CropIt Beta, an application that allows crop and customize an image right on your BlackBerry. Kyle Fowler (aka ALL KAPPS Software) let me know that he has released CropIt for the BlackBerry Pearl, Curve, Bold and Storm all on OS 4.3 and higher.

Features:

• Crop any picture on your phone
• Customized save location on your Device or Memory Card
• Save to JPEG or PNG
• Quick crop with keyboard shortcuts
• Undo your crop and try again
• Preview crop area before cropping

Make sure you choose the right version when purchasing this application.

CropIt is available for $1.99 in the store and in the Mobile App Store. Don’t forget, if you download the Mobile App Store you can use the coupon code APPSTORE within it to save 20% off all apps until tomorrow!

* UPDATE Kyle let me know that a Pearl, Curve 8300 series and Storm version will be available for Beta testing soon so be sure to check back for updates. *

Kyle Fowler is developing an image cropping application for BlackBerry called CropIt and is in need of beta testers. CropIt basically mimics the functionality of a PC based cropping tool, currently being tested for the Curve 8900 and Bold 9000.

As RIM tries to make the Blackberry more and more of a competitor to the iPhone an on device image cropping application is essential for users of sites like Facebook and Flickr. CropIt gives you an easy way to edit these pictures before uploading them to your social networking sites with out having to move them to your computer first. CropIt is currently in beta and should be available soon.

Since CropIt is in beta you may encounter some issues and bugs, so install at your own risk. Beta testers are great helpers when it comes to developing an application.

If you decide to download CropIt please make sure you send feedback to Kyle at fowlke6@wfu.edu or leave some comments here.

Kyle also let me know that CropIt will eventually be a premium application so download it now if you’d like a preview of what it will be like when it’s released.

• Download OTA:
  • Cropit for the Curve 8900
  • CropIt for the Bold 9000
• Info: Kyle Fowler BlackBerry Projects Page
• How To: Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data

RIM just let me know that Facebook 1.6 for BlackBerry will be available tonight at 9PM EST!

I’m sure many of you were disappointed when Facebook 1.6 didn’t launch last week, but I think waiting one week longer will be worth it .

Here’s a highlight of new features:

• Status updates and highlights on the home page – you can now view your friends’ most recent status updates right on the home page. Highlights like photo uploads and wall posts are just a click away and you can comment on a photo, poke a friend, etc. right from the home page.
• Wall access from within Facebook for BlackBerry – with one click on your friend’s profile picture from the home page, you can access their wall without having to go to the mobile site.
• Photo viewing in a simple, easy-to-use slideshow format – check out your friends’ latest photo albums with improved photo viewing, and view albums in a simple and easy-to-use slideshow format. Just scroll back and forth through the thumbnails along the bottom to display the larger picture in the center of the screen.
• Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 will also support three new languages:
  • Thai
  • Indonesian
  • European Portuguese

Once it’s available you can grab the new version at blackberry.com/facebook from either your BlackBerry Browser or  from your desktop. If you want a more extensive preview of what Facebook 1.6 will have check out the full list of features and upgrades I posted last week.