Luny has unique battery and signal meters that will light up your screen with a green glow.  The icons and artwork are one of a kind and add a unique personality to your BlackBerry.  Luny comes with 5 user customizable icons, an 8 item hidden today feature and two top level icon locations ideal for your weather apps.  It is compatible with the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Tour 9630 and even the all new Storm 2.

Purchase the Luny BlackBerry Theme ($4.99)

Just in case you needed further proof that this was real and not some website error a Telus branded Storm 2 recently appeared in the wild.  Thanks to the pictures we know that it will be a 9550 not a 9520 model and will come with OS 5.0.0.320.  Some are speculating a November 24th release date which seems like an accurate prediction considering this recent news.

[via BBSync]

Whenever users would activate a third party theme and switch their phone to landscape view the theme would break.  It would cause blurry lines because the theme would not stretch to fit the whole screen and even caused some of the icons not to work.  Thankfully there is temporary fix for this that should repair your broken themes but needs to be done each time you reboot..  We have yet to hear about this issue on the BlackBerry Storm 2 so don’t forget about the upcoming Verizon promotion that will allow Storm users to upgrade early to the Storm 2.

OS 5.0 Landscape Mode Theme Fix:

1.) From the homescreen click the BlackBerry menu button twice then click    OPTIONS>>>CHANGE WALLPAPER (at this point you must change your current wallpaper to something different)

2.) Now go back into OPTIONS>>>LAYOUT (change the layout from 2 rows to Today)

3.) Go back into OPTIONS>>>LAYOUT (change layout from Today back to 2 rows)

[via BBSupport Forums]

Sony DR-BT50

The availability of stereo Bluetooth headsets has been steadily increasing this year, helping to bring prices down. In particular at the top end last month’s arrival of Nokia’s noise-canceling flagship set, the BH-905, has led to significant drops in other premium closed-back designs. Motorola’s high end S805s have been selling for a steal recently on some sites  but today I’m going to focus on

Sony’s DR-BT50, which for some represented the pinnacle of stereo Bluetooth headsets until Nokia recently crashed Sony’s party.  I’ll make comparisons to the S805 along the way.

Sony debuted the BT50 at a whopping $229 but it’s now available for a around $129 or so at several e-tailers. The cans are based upon Sony’s celebrated Altus MDR-D777LP, so they carry a promise of good sound delivery. They also bring practicality, being foldable.

Physically the BT50s are extremely light, feeling like about half the weight of my Motorola S805s. The BT50’s earpads are also thinner and the buttons are smaller; more on this later. Like the S805s the Sonys sport a full set of music playback controls as well as a mic and call management.

Pairing was straightforward with my BlackBerry Bold 9000 and subsequent re-connections have gone perfectly, as has also been the case with my Motorola S805 and S9HD headsets. The days of fiddly Bluetooth connections are hopefully now well behind us!

The BT50s feel great to wear and the slim earpads enclose the ears comfortably. The pads are so soft that it’s easier to wear sunglasses with the Sony’s compared to the S805s, which is important if you live in a sunny part of the world. Having said that, this not so much a failing of the S805s but rather a comment on how soft the BT50’s earpads really are.

Playback controls

I mentioned earlier that the controls on the BT50 are small and when I first saw them I wondered how I would find them when the cans were on my head. The power and call pickup buttons are fine but the playback and volume controls are, frankly, tiny. Worse still the playback control is a flick-touch rocker switch controlling play/pause/stop and track navigation. The S805 seems like a Tonka truck in comparison, with its large finger-friendly controls.

In use the BT50’s buttons were actually easier to locate than I had feared, although the playback rocker is too easy to nudge causing a track skip when you’re trying to depress it to pause. The call pickup button is a decent size, as is the power button, so these present no issues.

Once the music is playing the BT50s simply shine compared to other headsets, trumping the S805s for both bass and mid-range although sometimes the top end detail seems to suffer at the expense of the solid bottom end frequencies. It’s not that reproduction is too overly bass heavy, but the current consumer trends favor bass and consequently the BT50s will find plenty of fans in this regard.

When a call comes in pressing the call accept button pauses music playback and answers the call. I could hear callers very clearly and they could hear me well both indoors and outside. Call quality was definitely superior to my S805s.

In order to use the stereo music and playback functions you’ll need a BlackBerry supporting the A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles, which means most (but not all) of the current range. Check your specs on RIM’s website. A2DP provides music playback support and AVRCP provides remote control of playback functions.

BT50 folded

The BT50s felt both light and snug even for lengthy listening sessions and that included time wearing sunglasses. When I was finished listening I found that the folded BT50s fit perfectly into my jacket pocket.

On the downside the BT50s are picky about placement and like to have a decent line of sight to the originating device. They are far less tolerant to obstacles than the S805s and this results in occasional cut-outs unless your BlackBerry is in a shirt or jacket pocket fairly high up on your body. This issue is not unique to the BT50s, my Motorola S9-HD suffers from a similar weakness.

The BT50s must have a decent size buffer however because it takes a while for the cut-out to occur. As a result I found I could walk around normally with almost no cut-outs with my Bold in my top pocket. Part of this issue could also be attributed to the Bold, which I’ve found to have a below-average strength Bluetooth transmitter compared to other phones I’ve used.

The other niggle is that Sony fitted the BT50 with a proprietary charging port rather than a mini-USB connection.  This means needing to remember to take the charger when you travel, rather than simply a USB cable to charge from a laptop.  Accessories these days should be rechargeable via USB.

Overall I can give the Sony DR-BT50 a solid recommendation at its current street price. Most listeners are likely to be very happy with their sound quality and they felt both practical and comfortable for extended use on my ears, although as ever your mileage may vary depending on your head and ear shape so try before you buy if you can!

BerryReporter Rating:

Link to Sony product page

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 was released just days ago and already we have a second OS leak.  It will be interesting to see just how well the Bold 9700 does.  So far it has only been released by Rogers and Bell but many in the community already have one.  The 9700 also received some pretty good reviews as many seem to be impressed with the device.

As for this OS version it is rumored to be the official OS of some carriers that have yet to release the device.  In the meantime give it go and let us know what you think.  As usual jump on them as fast as you can because the links won’t last long.

Warning:  This is not an official OS please use caution when downloading leaked files.

Download Leaked OS 5.0.0.344 for the BlackBerry Bold 9700

Alternate Link

Yesterday the BlackBerry Curve 8530 announcements were a pleasant surprise.  It looked like this week was going to be all about the new Bold 9700 and then the 8530 crashed the party.  Verizon stunned us all when they also announced the release date for the Curve 8530, I think you already know what happened with the Storm 2.  Nevertheless the 85xx series brings a new kind of BlackBerry and we now have an e-book that gives us everything we want to know about it.

BlackBerry Curve 8500 Made Simple covers three new Curve devices, the 8500, 8520 and the 8530.  This detailed e-book isn’t just for beginners as it will teach you many unknown tips and tricks and even how to master your BlackBerry email.  It is packed with over 1,000 screenshots so you can see everything that you are learning.  Want to use the BlackBerry Curve 8500 as a replacement for your iPod?  This e-book will show you how.  BlackBerry Curve Made Simple is priced at $14.95 and is compatible with a PC or a Mac.

Download BlackBerry Curve 8500 Made Simple (e-book)

You can get the gold customized Tour by purchasing the full unlocked phone or if you already own a Tour you can buy just the custom plated parts.  Computer- Choppers is behind this BlackBerry gem as their specialty is turning your favorite gadgets into gold.  Be sure to check out their 24k gold BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve 8900 models.

The phone is set to be released on November 20th and will be $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Inside the phone is GPS and Wi-Fi and on the outside is the new trackpad.  The Verizon Curve 8530 should pick up right where the Curve 8330 left off.  It is more of a media friendly device and although it’s pretty basic it should be a big seller for Verizon.

As for Sprint they released a press release not too long after Verizon announced the new Curve 8530.  As of now there is no price or release date available yet but we do know that they will offer it at an affordable price.  As is the case with Verizon it will be touted as a media friendly device and will come preloaded with Sprint TV, Pandora, Sprint Music Store and BlackBerry Media Sync.  You can check out both press releases below and be sure to stand tuned for more BlackBerry Curve 8530 coverage.

Verizon Press Release

Verizon Wireless Introduces the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone

New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys

BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY and WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Nov. 5, 2009) – Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 8530 Smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of Smartphone. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.

Available colors: Black and Smoky Violet

Key features:

• Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
• 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
• Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth(R) (version 2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
• 3G-enabled (EV-DO)
• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
• GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures and Verizon Wireless’ VZ Navigator(SM) service
• 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording(i)
• Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry(R) Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the Smartphone(ii)
• Access to BlackBerry App World(TM), featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry(R) Smartphone. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
• Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace)
• Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and videos
• Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts such as Yahoo!(R), Windows Live(TM) Hotmail(R), AOL(R) and Gmail, and BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
• Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD(TM)/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and availability:

• The BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

For information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Sprint Press Release

BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone Coming to Sprint Featuring America’s Most Dependable 3G Network and Affordable Price Plans

Next generation of popular BlackBerry smartphone adds Wi-Fi, external multimedia buttons and BlackBerry App World; visit sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 5, 2009– Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today it will add the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone to the wireless industry’s best lineup of devices. Beginning today, customers can visit http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for this next generation of the popular BlackBerry wireless device on America’s most dependable 3G network1 with the affordability of Sprint’s Everything Data plans featuring Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone makes it even easier to enjoy music on-the-go with dedicated keys to skip to the next song on a playlist, pause or play. It comes preloaded with several multimedia applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, Sprint Music Store, Sprint TV and Pandora. It also boasts dedicated applications for a smoothly integrated social networking experience with Facebook, MySpace and Flickr. BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available in three color options – Black, Royal Purple and Red.

“BlackBerry Curve 8330 has been a tremendous success for Sprint. BlackBerry Curve 8530 continues that legacy with the addition of several important features that make it a winner for both entertainment and productivity,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint Senior Vice President of Product Development. “This is one device that can really do it all with the email, calendar and contact synchronization BlackBerry is known for as well as the latest multimedia and social media features. We are anxious to bring it to our customers who also appreciate the strength of our network, the affordability of our rate plans and our Ready Now customer service experience.”

Sprint’s BlackBerry Curve 8530 will offer BlackBerry App World for instant access to thousands of applications. Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers, since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

Sprint’s affordable Everything Data plans now include Any Mobile, Anytime, a feature that removes restrictive calling-circles and provides unlimited calling on the Sprint network to and from any U.S. wireless phone regardless of carrier, at no additional charge with Everything Data plans starting at $69.99 per month (all price plans exclude surcharges and taxes).

Sprint’s Simply EverythingSM offers nationwide unlimited calling, unlimited text and unlimited data, including email, social networking, Web browsing, Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, streaming music, NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, for only $99.99 per month (plus taxes and surcharges). That is a $1,200 savings over two years versus a comparable AT&T iPhone® plan2. Both Everything Data and Simply Everything plans are available to existing customers without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 269 million people, 18,652 cities and 1,838 airports. The Sprint Networks (inclusive of data roaming) have twice the coverage of AT&T’s current 3G network and 14 times the coverage of T-Mobile’s current 3G network, both based on square miles3.

According to Sprint performance data, Sprint Mobile Broadband connections are successfully connected and maintained better than 99 out of 100 times. According to a recent independent network test conducted by PC World, Sprint tested as the most reliable network overall among US carriers in a 13-city performance test4.

Sprint is the first national carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology. Separate from its 3G investment, Sprint has announced plans to extend its 4G leadership by launching the next-generation service in numerous markets in 2009, including the recently launched markets of Atlanta, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Portland, Ore.

Sprint is also the only wireless carrier to offer Ready Now service with trained retail associates to work one-on-one with customers to personalize their BlackBerry Curve 8530, set up features and demonstrate how it works before the customer leaves the store. Customers have the choice of sitting down with a Sprint retail associate at the time of purchase or they can schedule an appointment for a later time at www.sprint.com/storelocator.