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!

Earlier this morning RIM rolled out BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) version 2.8 to all North American carriers. This update includes some features and enhancements that many of us have been waiting for:

• Two-way wireless synchronization [every four hours] with Google Mail Contacts and the Address Book on the BlackBerry smart phone:
  • Synchronize Google Mail contacts quickly and easily to the BlackBerry smart phone
  • Add or edit Contacts and the Contacts are automatically updated, whether they are updated on the computer or BlackBerry smart phone
  • Note: Two-way wireless Contact synchronization with Google Mail Contacts requires BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and configuration through email settings on the BlackBerry smart phone.  Additional requirements and constraints may be found within the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8 Documentation Kit. This feature is not supported on BlackBerry smart phones with BlackBerry® Connect™ software.
• Enhancements to email setup and settings:
  • Automatic Login now supports most billing identifiers, which allows new subscribers with wireless service providers that use PIN, IMEI, or ESN as a billing identifier to create BlackBerry Internet Service accounts from the BlackBerry smart phone, without having to create a login user name and password
  • Note: This feature will be available approximately one week after the BlackBerry Internet Service upgrade.
• Windows Live Hotmail revalidation:
  • With BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8, new Windows Live Hotmail mail integrations will be defaulted to a protocol that is designed so as not to require 90 day reauthorization.
  • Note: Existing BlackBerry smart phone users accessing Windows Live Hotmail using Microsoft MSP will still be required to revalidate their Windows Live Hotmail account every 90 days.

The roll out seems to have gone smoothly for the most part. Did you experience an outage in your area or had to re-add/validate your email accounts after the update? How about the features, are you satisfied with them or would you like to see some more enhancements in the future? Let me know in the comments!

via BGR

Mobile by Citysearch has been updated to include access to over 15M business listings and trusted Citysearch editorial recommendations which list more than 75,000 US neighborhoods, along with the following key features:

• Instantly submit user reviews from a BlackBerry smartphone
• Search and sort in the following ways:
  • Auto-identify your location through GPS-driven search
  • Search by keyword or category and narrow results within a city or neighborhood
  • Browse nearby destinations to eat, drink, shop, and relax
  • Sort results by key listing attributes including distance, cost and Citysearch rating
• Browse Citysearch editorial picks to help your weekdays and weekends
• View editorial, user reviews and advice from business owners and bookmark your favorite listings
• Calendar Integration: Send immediate Outlook calendar invites to multiple friends and coordinate party planning, meals, or impromptu get-togethers from your BlackBerry Contacts list
• Twitter: Post to your followers by tweeting reviews, tips, and more to friends, directly from any listing page
• Share: Use Text, Email, or BlackBerry PIN-to-PIN messaging to share business listings from anywhere
• Tip Calculator and Split the Bill: Avoid awkward calculations by determining your ideal tip and easily splitting the bill among friends when dining

For those that don’t know, Citysearch is a leading online lifestyle guide with up to date info on businesses, from restaurants and spas, to hotels and retail.

For more info and to download this app visit mobile.iac.com/Citysearch, or check out the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

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.

CONTINUE READING »

Ronen got tipped off about the upcoming BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) 2.8 and its new features, right now rumored to be rolling out this September 10th with the two main upgrades and an auto-login feature coming soon after.

An exciting tidbit about this BIS upgrade is that BlackBerry OS 5.0 will be required in order to use the main feature, which means the release of OS 5.0 is definitely around the corner (hopefully).

What’s new in 2.8:

• Two-way wireless synchronization with Google Mail Contacts* and the Address Book on the BlackBerry smart phone:
  • Synchronize Google Mail contacts quickly and easily to the BlackBerry smart phone
  • Add or edit Contacts and the Contacts are automatically updated, whether they are updated on the computer or BlackBerry smart phone
  • The documentation says this is scheduled to sync every 4 hours and will not work on BlackBerry Connect devices. It also will obviously not work on BES contacts or even Google Mail Contact Groups whatever those are.
• Enhancements to email setup and settings:
  • Automatic Login now supports most billing identifiers, which allows new subscribers with wireless service providers that use PIN, IMEI, or ESN as a billing identifier to create BlackBerry Internet Service accounts from the BlackBerry smart phone, without having to create a login user name and password
  • Note: This feature will be available approximately one week after the BlackBerry Internet Service upgrade.
• Windows Live Hotmail revalidation:
  • With BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8, new Windows Live Hotmail mail integrations will be defaulted to a protocol that is designed so as not to require 90 day reauthorization.
  • Note: Existing BlackBerry smart phone users accessing Windows Live Hotmail using Microsoft MSP will still be required to revalidate their Windows Live Hotmail account every 90 days.

*Note: Two-way wireless Contact synchronization with Google Mail Contacts requires BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and configuration through email settings on the BlackBerry smart phone.  Additional requirements and constraints may be found within the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8 Documentation Kit. This feature is not supported on BlackBerry smart phones with BlackBerry® Connect™ software.

Feel free to share your thoughts and any additional info in the comments!

Today’s Deal of the Day (part of the new DoD promotion) is 50% off the incredibly useful and popular QuickLaunch application for Blackberry!

Features in v2.0:

• Backup / Restore to .txt fil
• Built-in Screen Capture function
• Launch Media Explorer
• Integrated Google, Wikipedia and Dictionary dot com search
• Create Custom Submenus
• More apps and functions to Add
• Display Current Temperature
• Add Items Alphabetically
• Easier Setup with Installed Applications List
• Volume Button Scrolling
• 3 Font sizes – Small, medium and large
• System Menu Integration
• Improved Performance
• Option to display Time in 12 or 24 hour format
• Option to change Titlebar Color
• Option to display Date in titlebar
• Supports Shazam app
• Supports BBTran app
• Activation code displayed in QL Options
• QL App Switcher added – displays currently running apps in the QL Menu and allows you to switch to them like bb’s app switcher
• “Now Playing…” added

New in v2.11 (coming soon for other devices, currently only for the Tour):

• Stay Lit – This will allow you to keep the backlight on which is good for reading or when using maps etc. This feature is located in the ‘Add Applications’ section. (similar in function to BBLight and other apps like that)

Normally QuickLaunch is priced at $4.99, but for today only you can get it for $2.49. Considering the amount of features and convenience this application offers, $2.49 is a bargain!

Head on over to the BBRocks! Store to check it out or get it right from your BlackBerry in the BBRocks! Mobile App Store.

* UPDATE It looks like MobiHand made a mistake and put the wrong app into the DoD module today. Doh! Sorry everyone but QuickLaunch will be available for 50% off real soon. *

Yet another great and helpful article by @ASacco!

Experiencing problems with that new BlackBerry Tour? Is your tried-and-true Curve 8300 acting up on ya? Have no fear; you don’t necessarily have a “lemon” on your hands.

BlackBerry devices, and smartphones in general, can be a “finicky” bunch of gadgets. But thankfully, there are some quick fixes for common problems, many of which I’ve covered on CIO.com before in my BlackBerry Bible.

However, BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) was kind enough to post its own set of 10 BlackBerry smartphone troubleshooting tips and tricks earlier this month. While there’s nothing groundbreaking–like I said, I’ve covered most of the material before–any and all CrackBerry addicts will benefit from a quick refresher of the basics

What follows is RIM’s recent list of BlackBerry troubleshooting tips, along with comments of my own, where necessary or relevant.

Overview of the steps:

1. Check Wireless Signal Strength
2. Pull Your Battery or “Hard Reset”
3. Check Wireless Network Settings
4. Register Your BlackBerry the Wireless Network
5. Check your BlackBerry’s Connection to a Computer
6. Confirm BlackBerry Can Receive E-Mail
7. Confirm BlackBerry Can Send E-Mail, PIN Messages (BlackBerry Messenger)
8. Resend BlackBerry Service Books
9. Launch the BlackBerry “Help” App
10. Visit BlackBerry Technical Solutions Center

READ MORE @ CIO

QuickLaunch v2.11 has been released for the BlackBerry Tour 9630! If you’ve been holding out on buying any applications for your new Tour, this is definitely one application you need to get.

Features in v2.0:

• Backup / Restore to .txt fil
• Built-in Screen Capture function
• Launch Media Explorer
• Integrated Google, Wikipedia and Dictionary dot com search
• Create Custom Submenus
• More apps and functions to Add
• Display Current Temperature
• Add Items Alphabetically
• Easier Setup with Installed Applications List
• Volume Button Scrolling
• 3 Font sizes – Small, medium and large
• System Menu Integration
• Improved Performance
• Option to display Time in 12 or 24 hour format
• Option to change Titlebar Color
• Option to display Date in titlebar
• Supports Shazam app
• Supports BBTran app
• Activation code displayed in QL Options
• QL App Switcher added – displays currently running apps in the QL Menu and allows you to switch to them like bb’s app switcher
• “Now Playing…” added

New in v2.11 (coming this week for other devices):

• Stay Lit – This will allow you to keep the backlight on which is good for reading or when using maps etc. This feature is located in the ‘Add Applications’ section. (similar in function to BBLight and other apps like that)

Users who purchased QuickLaunch after April 1st will be eligible for a free upgrade, those who purchased it before that date can upgrade for $1.99. If you already have QuickLaunch on a different BlackBerry but want to transfer it to your Tour you will have send an email to customersupport@mobihand.com and let them know.

QuickLaunch is available for $4.99 in the store and in the on-device Mobile App Store.

ScreamingToaster let me know that they have released v1.0 of their Wicked WordPress App for BlackBerry.

Compared to the official WordPress app, Wicked is ahead with its features and stability. Of course, the official WordPress app is still in beta testing so we could see a lot of improvement on their end as well. The good thing about there being two WordPress apps is that they’ll both be working to be better than the other, improving the experience for the end-users (everyone else) along the way.

The main drawback about Wicked is that it costs an annual fee of $30, but this includes support, upgrades and a free 14-day trial. ScreamingToaster is also working on supporting other blog servers, like Tumblr, Blogger.

Features:

• Separate profiles for each added WordPress blog
• Add pictures of any format into your posts
• Arrange and re size pictures individually
• Profile and blog data automatically update with the Cloud
• Automatic Wicked updates
• Tell a friend
• Send a PIN or email message right from the app

The Wicked WordPress app is available for BlackBerry devices running OS 4.6 and higher. Head on over to the product page for more info and downloads.

If you use WordPress don’t forget to leave some feedback comments about both the official WordPress app and the Wicked WordPress app.