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.

Tafasa has just released a cool new application that allows you to create your very own web launcher icons called LaunchPad.

Sometimes having bookmarks in your BlackBerry Browser isn’t as good as having an icon in your homescreen to quickly launch the website of your choice. That’s where LaunchPad comes in.

Features:

• Pick your own title
• Choose an image stored on your device, use the default icon, or try to fetch the icon from the website if it provides one
• Simple to use
• Ability to have up to 25 web launcher icons on your homescreen at the same time

LaunchPad will work on the Blackberry Curve 8900, Bold 9000, Storm series and Tour 9630. You can find it in the store for only $0.99 until August 15th, after that it goes up to $1.99 (which still isn’t that bad).

Don’t forget to make yourself a launcher for BlackBerry Rocks!, or get the ready made launcher at blackberryrocks.com/launcher.

Tafasa has created a free “Lite” version of their premium PatternLock application for the BlackBerry Storm.

The Lite version only has the following basic features:

• Autolock on startup and when device is inactive
• Pick your own pattern over a grid of 9 dots (you may reuse dots in your pattern)
• Simple design that seamlessly fits in with the BlackBerry Storm interface
• A fun and easy way to secure your device

The premium version has the above features plus the following:

• Pick your own wallpaper image for portrait and for landscape
• Assign to the hardware lock key
• Password protect your options
• Individual application lock
• Location based locking (do not lock when in certain locations by using GPS)
• Full featured call screen lock with many display styles and ability to exclude numbers from engaging the lock
• Ability to disable autolocking when certain applications are running
• Tons of options to customize the way PatternLock looks
• Fix orientation of the lock screen in portrait mode
• Backup/Restore options
• Emergency call button on the lock screen with a custom phone number
• Lock out device after a certain number of failed tries
• Keep track of how many times your device has been locked out
• Show owner information on the lock screen
• Sounds/Vibration
• SMS,MMS and Email notifications on the lock screen
• Many more…

You can find both the free PatternLock Lite and the premium version available for $2.99 in the store, or right on your BlackBerry from the Mobile App Store.

A few weeks ago I posted about Tafasa having a $0.99 sale on their BlackBerry apps. It looks like that sale has been extended until May 31!

Two popular apps by Tafasa are PatternLock and Doodle for the BlackBerry Storm. PatternLock allows you to lock your Storm in a fun new way and Doodle let’s you finger paint!

All of Tafasa’s apps are for the BlackBerry Storm only. Go check them out!

Just found out that Tafasa is having a $0.99 sale on all their applications and games for the BlackBerry Storm through May 12!

Check them out:

• PatternLock
• Connect Four
• CodeBreaker
• Bubble Burst
• Memory
• Doodle
• Parking Lot

They also have two free Storm games that look pretty cool called Flight Path and Lights Out.

Let me know how you like these games if you decide to get them!

A new app by Tafasa became available over the weekend for the BlackBerry Storm called PatternLock.

From the description:

PatternLock offers a new and fun way for you to lock your BlackBerry Storm. The lock screen shows 9 dots in a 3×3 grid. Before using PatternLock, you define what your lock pattern will be. The next time you see the lock screen, you trace your finger in the pattern you defined before and your device will unlock. Any other pattern and in any other order will not unlock the device. The application allows you to either use the default wallpaper or to pick a different background image stored on your device. You can even set it to autolock the device whenever you turn it on. You can also set it to autolock when the device is inactive for a time period of your choosing.

Please note that this will not replace the BlackBerry lock functionality when pressing the lock button. It is recommended you assign this application to a convenience key for easy access, or you can rely on the autolocking system. An icon is also available so that you can easily lock from the homescreen.

If you intend to use the autolock feature, you should disable the built in BlackBerry automatic password lock as it will still lock your device (even if automatic PatternLock is enabled). If you require maximum security for your device, you should use the built in BlackBerry password lock.

Features:

• Autolock on startup and when device is inactive
• Choose your own unlock pattern
• Choose your own background image
• Simple design that seamlessly fits in with the BlackBerry Storm interface
• A fun and easy way to secure your device

Minimum Requirements:

• BlackBerry Storm (9500 or 9530)

Price: $0.99 until April 20, 2009 (normally $2.99)

Seems like a pretty solid security app. There doesn’t seem to be a free trial available for PatternLock, but for what it does I’m sure plenty of you wouldn’t mind spending the $0.99 for it.

Don’t forget, the special $0.99 price ends April 20, 2009. After that it will be $2.99!

• Purchase/Info: PatternLock
• More apps by: Tafasa
• How To: Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data

Let me know how this works for you!

Tafasa announced that they are having a one day sale on four of their applications for today only, March 31 2009.

You can get the following applications for $0.99 during this sale:

• Connect Four
• CodeBreaker
• Bubble Burst
• Memory

You can visit the links from either your BlackBerry or a PC to purchase and download them, or to get some more information about the applications.

• More apps from: Tafasa

Now this is pretty cool! Tafasa has created an application for the BlackBerry Storm 9500/9530 called Doodle.

From the description:

Finger-painting has never been so much fun! Choose from one of the many colors and stroke sizes and start scribbling away. Have a picture you really want to draw on? You can do that in Doodle! You can also take a picture from inside the application and begin drawing on it. Choose from one of the four image effects to have even more fun with your drawings. Once you are done, click the save button to store your masterpiece. Don’t like what you drew? Just shake the device to start over with a fresh canvas.

Features:

• 16 different colors to choose from
• 4 different stroke sizes
• 4 awesome effects (Invert Colors, Infrared, Grayscale, Sepia)
• Take a picture from within Doodle to draw on
• Open an image to draw on
• Save your drawing
• Undo drawings and image effects
• Shake the device to clear what you have drawn

Price: $2.99

…

As far as I can tell there doesn’t seem to be a free trial. I don’t have a Storm, so if someone with one could let me know if there is a free trial I’d appreciate it.

• Purchase/Download/Info: Doodle