CrackBerry.com blogs

Did singer Shakira get attacked by a sea lion because of her BlackBerry?

Michelle Haag — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:17:42 GMT

While using her BlackBerry to get some close up pictures of sea lions swimming near her this afternoon, singer Shakira learned a valuable life lesson: don't get too close to sea lions while holding shiny objects. The singer was shocked when one of the animals jumped out of the water, landing only a foot away from her.

In a Facebook post titled Special Report: Attacked by a Sea Lion, Shakira explained:

Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralyzed by fear and couldn't move, I just kept eye contact with it while my brother "Super Tony" jumped over me and literally saved my life, taking me away from the beast. We both got our hands and legs scratched by the rocks while trying to protect ourselves. I believe what happened is that it confused the shiny reflection of the BlackBerry I was taking these pics with, with some sort of fish. It probably thought I was teasing it with food and then taking it away from it.

So there you go everyone. Make sure that if you're photographing animals with your BlackBerry, you take precautions such as not letting sunlight reflect in a manner they may mistake as food or a threat. I'm going to go one step further and suggest that if you're going to have your BlackBerry that close to water and sea life, you should go ahead and pick up a waterproof case from ShopCrackBerry.

Thanks to @WJDDesigns and @don_poky for sending this in!

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Did singer Shakira get attacked by a sea lion because of her BlackBerry?

Download BBM Music for your BlackBerry during February and get up to 6 months free

DJ Reyes — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:15:01 GMT

Earlier in the month we saw that Rogers customers could download BBM Music and get 6 months free service. This offer has now been opened up to more customers around the world. If you live in Canada or the US you can get up to 4 months free BBM Music service and if you live in the UK, Spain or Italy, you can get up to 6 months free.

One thing to note is that this is only available to new users and those still currently in their trial period. If you have already starting your subscription payments, unfortunately you are no longer eligible for the free service promotion.

The latest update to BBM Music is to version 1.1.0.12. With this update comes a whole lot of new features including subscription gift request and the ability to invite Facebook and Twitter friends.

Don't forget this offer is valid if you download during the month of February, so if you're looking to give BBM Music a try, now is the time.

More information / Download BBM Music

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Download BBM Music for your BlackBerry during February and get up to 6 months free

Communilator for BlackBerry - Advanced language translation application

Kerri Neill — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:11:46 GMT

Communilator Pro for Blackberry by RantNetwork incorporates the very best in language translation, voice synthesizers and optical character recognition to bring you “the only translator you will ever need”. Hear speech output of your translated text in a clear, high quality voice with language inflections and expression, not in some hard to understand computer-generated voice. Need to read a foreign journal, magazine, poster or other document? Not a problem, Communilator Pro is capable of recognizing and translating foreign text in 44 languages captured with your BlackBerry camera. Communilator Pro delivers translations in over 3,000 language-pairs; provides High-Quality speech for translations in 20 foreign languages; and offers seamless integration with SMS and email. Continue reading after the jump to see more of what this app can do!

Gordon Ramsey gives some advice to RIM's new CEO Thorsten Heins on CBC's "This Hour has 22 Minutes"

Michelle Haag — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:51:22 GMT

[Youtube link for mobile viewing]

It seems like just about everyone has weighed in on what's best for Research In Motion, and how they can turn their current situation around. Analysts have analyzed, bloggers have blogged, and everyone else has tweeted, commented, or Facebooked their feelings on the future of the BlackBerry maker. It only makes sense that celebrity chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsey would have an opinion on the matter and share it directly with new CEO Thorsten Heins. Watch the video above to see just how it all went down.

Of course this is a spoof, that's not really Gordon Ramsey or Thorsten Heins. This clip appeared recently on CBC's "This Hour has 22 Minutes". Thanks for posting it in the forums AWDragon200!

Source: CBC

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Gordon Ramsey gives some advice to RIM's new CEO Thorsten Heins on CBC's "This Hour has 22 Minutes"

Review: Powermat Wireless Charging System for the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and 9810

Ryan Blundell — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:26:16 GMT

"With such convenience, the Powermat Wireless Charging System should be a standard for all BlackBerry smartphones. "

In Short:
"Easiest way to charge your smartphone"

Should I Buy?
"If you're not a fan of wires, you NEED a Powermat"

BUY NOW

I am not a big fan of cables – I try to avoid them when I can. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard, I have a Bluetooth speaker phone in my car and I have a stereo Bluetooth headset for when I’m taking the heel-toe express. The one cable that seems to keep me tied down is my BlackBerry charger. I know, it seems petty, but it’s not so much when I’m half asleep, in the dark, fumbling with the charger and charging port. Anyone with extremely active kids knows that the less time you take to plug in your phone, the less time they have to do things they’re not supposed to do (like playing hockey IN the house).

That’s why I like a wireless charging system from the good folks at Powermat. No wires, just power and convenience. While not available for the BlackBerry Bold 9900, it is available for other BlackBerry smartphones, including the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and 9810. For simple charging in a not so simple lifestyle, Powermat is a must have.

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Review: Powermat Wireless Charging System for the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and 9810

Convert weight, height, speed and more on the go with Convertinator for BlackBerry PlayBook

Jared DiPane — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:33:54 GMT

Convertinator for BlackBerry PlayBook is a free application that recently was open sourced by the developer which allows you to input a measurement in a defined currency and then it will show on the right hand side the converted values. Convertinator gives you the option to put in various units to be measured such as area, cooking, length, temperature, time, weight and various others as well.

Once you select which measurement you need to convert you can select which base unit you want to convert from, and as you enter it the right hand side of the chart is converting in real time. On the right hand side you will see all the various values and then next to them you will see the value of the conversion. For example, if you launch the length tab, and select foot for your measurment and enter 3600 you will see that it is equal to 1.0972 kilometers, or 0.5924 nautical miles.

The developers understand that various currencies change with time, and to help ensure that you are always using the most current values they have given the ability to update from within the application. You can decide whether you want to have the currency update automatically with the option for manual checks, or only have it done manually if you wish.If you were to launch the currency tab to see how many USD the Canadian item you are about to purchase is, you would then realize that the 275 CAD price tag was equal to $274.73 USD as of today.

The developer has been kind enough to offer up his source code for the application so you can add to it, pull from it, and tweak it to your liking. Open source software is a huge help to other developers, allows applications to grow, and helps bring the developer community closer. Whether you want to convert from your known measurement or to your known measurement Convertinator is a great free option for your BlackBerry PlayBook.

More information / download of Convertinator for BlackBerry PlayBook

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Convert weight, height, speed and more on the go with Convertinator for BlackBerry PlayBook

CrackBerry Reminder: What you may have missed this week

Team CrackBerry — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:05:41 GMT

What You May Have Missed

BlackBerry App World Stats: Over 2 billion downloads; 60,000 apps available
BlackBerry DevCon Europe Keynote w/ new RIM CEO Thorsten Heins! [video]
A look at the redesigned BlackBerry App World UI coming with PlayBook OS 2.0
BlackBerry Curve 9220, 9320 once again confirmed through UAProf documents
I've just doubled my investment (tripled my shares) in Research In Motion stock
Introducing "Battery Saving Mode" - A New Feature coming to BlackBerry OS 7.1
Get paid to upgrade to a new BlackBerry? If eligible, YES!

Contest Reminders

Earloomz brings art to Bluetooth earpieces
25 copies of Haze by Blitz Creations up for grabs!
Photo Studio for BlackBerry updated
Breaksclusive: Introducing the BlackBerry Glove v2.0... the hottest fashion trend in mobile handwear just got an upgrade!
Contest: Enter to win a free copy of Animated Valentine’s Day Heart by BBMagic!
Contest: 50 copies of Slide Show Maker up for grabs

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. CrackBerry Reminder: What you may have missed this week

Saturday Night Live takes on Verizon's 4G LTE advertising

Bla1ze — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:02:08 GMT

We all know carriers are little bit more focused on buzz words for their advertising these days more so then actually conveying relevant information to the folks who happen to end up tuned into their commercials. Clearly, Saturday Night Live is aware of that fact as well and they took some time go ahead and have a little fun at Verizon's expense on one of their recent skits.

Needless to say, it's focused on their 4G LTE Android offerings and there is no mention of BlackBerry really but that doesn't mean it didn't make an appearance. That Motorola XYBOARD they show off sure does look like a BlackBerry PlayBook. Either way, a pretty hilarious clip. If you can't see the video -- sorry blame NBC and their content restrictions.

Source: NBC; Via: Android Central, The Verge

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Saturday Night Live takes on Verizon's 4G LTE advertising

Review: Easy Lock Pro for Blackberry Smartphones

Adam Zeis — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:58:51 GMT

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

I've always been looking for a bigger and better way to lock my device. I'm not always a fan of typing in a password, and I really just never got into using the lock button for some reason. I've tried many pattern and key locking apps over the years, but one I found last week I totally fell in love with. Easy Lock (available in both pro and lite versions) is a simple "slide up" lock screen for your BlackBerry. You can assign it to lock on the hardware lock button or specify a timeout of up to 15 minutes and your device will lock automatically. A full screen covers your device -- complete with time, date and notifications -- and you just slide it up to unlock your device (much like Windows Phone). It feels so fluid that it's like it was meant to be there all along. Check out my video above to see it in action, then head to BlackBerry App World to try it out for yourself.

More information/download of Easy Lock Pro
More information/download of Easy Lock Lite

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Review: Easy Lock Pro for Blackberry Smartphones

How I use my BlackBerry to eat healthier

Jared DiPane — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:03:08 GMT

It's Health & Fitness Month at Mobile Nations!

With the Mobile Nations Fitness Month under way you are likely trying to find all the ways to utilize your BlackBerry smartphone to help keep yourself on the right path. Back at CES 2012 I found myself in a conversation with Adam and Kevin about getting healthier for the new year, devoting time to health and getting more fit, and it really struck home -- it was time to get my health back in my hands. Unfortunately now-a-days it is far easier (and cheaper) to grab a burger and fries from McDonalds after a long days work than it is to go home and make yourself a well balanced meal.

I knew that the convenience was just something I was telling myself to make myself feel better, and that there was really no excuse for me not to be healthier and in much better shape than I was. It was time for a change, and a big one at that. Since my BlackBerry device is almost always with me it was obvious that I should take advantage of that fact, and use it to my advantage, so I did just that.

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. How I use my BlackBerry to eat healthier

Contest: 50 copies of Slide Show Maker up for grabs

Kerri Neill — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:53:37 GMT

Alright folks, here at CrackBerry we just love when we get the chance to give stuff away. This time we're offering up Slide Show Maker for your BlackBerry device. Ryan first showed us this app back in June of last year so I won't go into a full review. The gist of the app is to take your photos one step further then the native "Slide Show" already available on our BlackBerry devices.

Slide Show Maker Features :

Browse through all your pictures on your device. You select which to include in your sllide show.
Arrange the selected pictures any which way you'd like
Add a title slide
Add some background music (only 5 sound clips available)
Share your slide via email or on Facebook

Slide Show Maker is available for the following BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 or higher: 8520, 8530, 9000, 9300, 9330, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630, 9650, 9700, 9780, 9788 and 9800.

Contest: RP Mobile has given us 50 copies to give away to our faithful CrackBerry readers. Here's a great chance to try out an app for FREE and leave an honest review in App World (aside from all those spam ones we so often see). If you have a compatible BlackBerry and want to enter, just leave a comment below. The contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. One entry per person please.

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Contest: 50 copies of Slide Show Maker up for grabs

Welcome Back Dear Berry, CrackBerry's weekly column addressing any and all of your BlackBerry woes!

Team CrackBerry — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:22 GMT

If you've been around CrackBerry for any length of time, you may remember Dear Berry. Dear Berry took a bit of a hiatus (ok, maybe more than just a bit) but now she's back, better than ever and ready to help with all of your BlackBerry woes. If you need advice on how to better balance your life and/or your life with your BlackBerry, Dear Berry is here to save the day. Have a question about BlackBerry etiquette? Need advice on how to cope with your BlackBerry addiction? Dear Berry has you covered. And while DB prefers technical questions to be asked in our amazingly helpful CrackBerry forums, she's pretty good with troubleshooting BlackBerry issues and can handle those too. Whatever the problem, Dear Berry has the answer!

Send Your Questions To Dear Berry: If you have a question, comment or just need advice, you can send an email to dearberry@crackberry.com or on Twitter @DearBerryCB. She'll pick a question each week (maybe more if they start pouring in!) and answer it here in the blogs. So if you're in desparate need of help - worry no more because Dear Berry is back!

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Welcome Back Dear Berry, CrackBerry's weekly column addressing any and all of your BlackBerry woes!

Contest: Enter to win a free copy of Animated Valentine’s Day Heart by BBMagic!

Alicia Erlich — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:35:07 GMT

Valentine's Day is this Tuesday and if you're still on the lookout for a cute theme to celebrate the holiday then be sure to check out BBMagic's latest release, Animated Valentine's Day Heart. It's designed to help you get in the loving mood with its beautiful animations and vibrant red color scheme. Featuring a Valentine's Heart animated background, heart message indicators, red hot custom colors, and OS 7 icons, Animated Valentine's Day Heart is a smooth, clean, and adorable looking romantic theme that is perfect to commemorate this popular day. With support for BlackBerry 8520/30, 8900, 9000, 9100, 9300, 9500/20/30/50, 9630/50/70, 9700/80/88, and 9800, you can grab this theme for just $.99 in BlackBerry App World. (This theme is not compatible with OS 7 devices).

Remember you can also display your affection for this holiday by browsing through our galleries and forums.

Contest: We have 50 copies to give away courtesy of BBMagic. To enter simply leave a comment on this post. Contest ends Sunday at midnight PST. One entry per person please. Good luck!

More information / screenshots and to purchase Animated Valentine's Day Heart

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Contest: Enter to win a free copy of Animated Valentine’s Day Heart by BBMagic!

Get paid to upgrade to a new BlackBerry? If eligible, YES!

Adam Zeis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:52:19 GMT

Take advantage of the new BlackBerry Upgrade Promotion and get cash back when you purchase a new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/9360/9370!

Yes you read that right .. you can indeed get paid if you upgrade to a new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/9360/9370. RIM has had their BlackBerry Trade Up program in place for a while now, but according to some emails sent out to eligible T-Mobile customers (and a bit of our own recon), there is also a BlackBerry Upgrade Promotion that could net you some quick cash just for purchasing a new BlackBerry. RIM's Upgrade Promotion gets you cash back in the form of a shiny Visa gift card when you purchase a new Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/60/70. The promo applies to US customers only, and you'll get $100 for a Bold or $50 for a Curve. Pretty sweet deal right? Well it doesn't stop there. If you want to go all Extreme Couponing you can get pretty creative and end up with quite a bit of cash in your pocket by combining some promos.

Take this situation - This weekend T-Mobile is offering all of their 4G smartphones up for free - so if you are eligible for an upgrade or just want a new line - you can grab a BlackBerry Bold 9900 on Friday or Saturday and you'll get a $250 rebate (of the mail-in variety) off the bat from T-Mobile, knocking the purchase price of your device down to $0. Add that to the $100 you'll receive from the Upgrade Promotion and you're at $100 cash in pocket. Not enough? Well say you have a BlackBerry Bold 9780 from which you're upgrading -- you can take advantage of the Trade Up Program as well and you'll get an additional $80 back (according to the quote I received). So overall you're looking at $180 in your pocket just for grabbing a brand new BlackBerry Bold 9900 from T-Mobile and sending off your old device. So yes, you're getting paid to get a new phone and unload your old one. Even if you keep your old device you still end up on top with $100. Pretty sweet deal right??

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Get paid to upgrade to a new BlackBerry? If eligible, YES!

BlackBerry App World updated to v3.1.1.15 in the BlackBerry Beta Zone

Bla1ze — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:29:08 GMT

We were starting to wonder when the BlackBerry Beta Zone would start rolling out new betas. But wonder no more as a new BlackBerry App World beta has just been released. Getting bumped up to v3.1.1.15, it's noted to have the following changes:

Alternate billing options shown in purchase confirmation screen
Submitting Apps has new, easier-to-use confirmation screen
OS 7.1 Support
Various Bug Fixes

If you're a member of the BlackBerry Beta Zone, you can log in right now and grab the latest release from there.

BlackBerry Beta Zone Login

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry App World updated to v3.1.1.15 in the BlackBerry Beta Zone

Colored Curves: a Quick Look at the Ballet Pink and Royal Purple BlackBerry Curve 9360

Kevin Michaluk — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:25:47 GMT

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

Cruising through the BlackBerry experience during BlackBerry DevCon Europe, we came across these sweet colored Curves. The Ballet Pink and Royal Purple Curve 9360 haven't had much press, although they have been seen around a few times before. Nothing fancy going on with either of these, but we always like to see how cool devices look with a splash of color. If you're looking to pick either of these up you may have to wait just a bit until they hit more carriers (you should see them rollout soon in Europe).

Take a closer look at both in the video above and keep reading for more images. Sexy Curves and they Know it!

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Colored Curves: a Quick Look at the Ballet Pink and Royal Purple BlackBerry Curve 9360

Official OS 7.0.0.611 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 from Orange UK

Adam Zeis — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:18:06 GMT

Orange UK has officially released OS 7.0.0.611 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

Download OS 7.0.0.611
Discuss more in the forums

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Official OS 7.0.0.611 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790 from Orange UK

Deal of the Day: Save 43% on the Seidio SURFACE Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and 9900 - Get it for $16.95

ShopCrackBerry.com — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:07:09 GMT

Today Only: Get the Seidio SURFACE Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Bold 9900 and save $13.00!

Crafted from a hard yet flexible material, the Seidio SURFACE Case provides an amazingly thin layer of protection without adding the excessive bulk of other cases. This case consists of interlocking top and bottom pieces that fit your BlackBerry Bold 9930 or Bold 9900 snugly, and Seidio's signature soft touch finish provides a great feel and better grip without attracting lint.

Deal also available in Canada store

List Price: ~~$29.95~~ Today Only: $16.95

Learn More and Buy Now

February 10, 2011

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Deal of the Day: Save 43% on the Seidio SURFACE Case for BlackBerry Bold 9930 and 9900 - Get it for $16.95

Plants vs. Zombies shambling onto BlackBerry PlayBook!

Simon Sage — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:23:09 GMT

First Angry Birds and Bejeweled, and now Plants vs. Zombies is coming to the BlackBerry PlayBook? The trifecta of casual gaming is nearly complete! While we did get a quick look at it during CES, EA has announced that the home-defense/gardening strategy game is now available on RIM's tablet. Unfortunately, there still isn't a live link in BlackBerry App World.

The game includes 50 levels, throughout which you need to pick and chose from an array of defensive plants that attack hordes of ill-equipped zombies. Some have snorkeling gear to get through the pool, others have pole vaults to get over your Wall-nuts, while others still have bungee cords to bypass all of your carefully placed plants. Collect sunshine points as they randomly pop up so you can keep planting, and collect cash to upgrade your armory of vicious flora.

No word on pricing yet, but I would expect it in the $7 range. It's worth it, trust me. EA's blog post is pasted after the jump.

Source: EA

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Plants vs. Zombies shambling onto BlackBerry PlayBook!

BlackBerry Torch 9860 back button, point and click adventure, will PlayBook 2.0 require Bridge update [From the Forums]

Michelle Haag — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:01:04 GMT

BlackBerry DevCon Europe has wrapped up and everyone is headed home, but there was some good coverage of PlayBook 2.0. We're all waiting anxiously to download it, but in the meantime you can read all about the latest BlackBerry reviews, news and rumors in the blogs, and then head on over to the CrackBerry forums and see what's up with your fellow CrackBerry addicts.

BlackBerry PlayBook: The Bad Things About A Playbook That No One Will Tell You
BlackBerry Apps: Will 2.0 require update of phone bridge app?
BlackBerry PlayBook: Awesome PlayBook Moment
BlackBerry Torch 9860/9850: back button possible solution/cause. Need feedback.
PlayBook Apps & Games: point and click adventure

Found an interesting article you want to share with CrackBerry Nation? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or
lend your expertise to other members of our community. If you aren't already, take a moment to get registered in the CrackBerry forums today!

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry Torch 9860 back button, point and click adventure, will PlayBook 2.0 require Bridge update [From the Forums]

BBDoodle: February is here! BlackBerry PlayBooks count down the days and minutes until PlayBook OS 2 software update arrives...

Kevin Michaluk — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:31:44 GMT

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BBDoodle: February is here! BlackBerry PlayBooks count down the days and minutes until PlayBook OS 2 software update arrives...

That Little or That Much?! Mobile Devices Now Account for 8.5% of Internet Traffic

Chris Umiastowski — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:07:51 GMT

Earlier this week, as I was doing my usual reading of mobile industry news, I came across this article from PaidContent.org, talking about how much traffic on the Internet comes from mobile devices.

It turns out that, according to StatCounter, mobile devices are responsible for 8.5% of all website visits as of January 2012. The PaidContent article opens by basically saying that mobile Internet usage is "lagging behind".

The article bugged me enough to prompt this post. Sure, mobile traffic "only" accounts for 8.5% of total traffic. But it's up from 4.3% one year ago. Yes folks, mobile Internet use is growing at nearly double the rate of non-mobile use.

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. That Little or That Much?! Mobile Devices Now Account for 8.5% of Internet Traffic

Advance OS and LED for BlackBerry lets you customize your LED, add popups, call features and more

Adam Zeis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:51:40 GMT

Every once in a while a great free app comes along that is so choc-full of features it's just awesome. Browsing through App World I came across Advance OS and LED, and I have to say, it totally fits the bill. This free app offers customization of your BlackBerry LED, offers popup notifications, extra phone call features and much more. It's not often that you'll find this many different features packed into one app, but this time it's for real. I've been using the app for the last week or so and I really don't have any complaints. The UI isn't really the greatest (it's pretty far from it actually), but free is free. You can customize your LED color for SMS, email, phone calls, BBM, contacts and more. Add vibration alerts to your calls, turn on popup notifications for emails and SMS, backup/restore your settings within the app ... the list goes on and on. This is really an awesome app to have as it adds plenty of fun tweaks to your BlackBerry. Advance OS and LED is 100% free and as the developer notes, all future updates will be free as well. Drop by BlackBerry App World for more.

More information/download of Advance OS and LED

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Advance OS and LED for BlackBerry lets you customize your LED, add popups, call features and more

Write code directly from your BlackBerry PlayBook with Compilr

Adam Zeis — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:59:22 GMT

Hey devs!! Looking for a quick and easy way to write code on the fly? Compilr may be just what you're looking for. This free tool for the BlackBerry PlayBook lets you write code on the go right from your tablet. Essentially a "Google Docs for for developers", Compilr is web based, so all of your goods are available when and where you need them - on your tablet from home, on the train or wherever inspiration strikes. Compilr is a free download and available for the PlayBook (as well as Android and iOS devices). Check out the link below for more information.

More information/download of Compilr

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Write code directly from your BlackBerry PlayBook with Compilr

BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing 3.0 adds app sharing, UK support and help videos

Simon Sage — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:24:49 GMT

The BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing app from RIM has seen a small update to version 3.0 today. It still has all of the standard stuff, like pulling bridge numbers and access codes from meeting requests so you can join in one click when the calendar reminder pops up. New in this version is the ability to share the app through a bunch of different channels, including BBM, e-mail, and various social networks. The app also comes with help videos, so users can figure out what they're doing wrong without being too late for their conference call. You can access both of those through the dedicated icon. As always, if you lose coverage mid-call, the app provides you with a pop-up to reconnect. The app also adds a ton of options in the native calendar app for setting up conference call meetings, including moderator passcodes.

While BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing certainly isn't flashy, it's definitely useful for people who deal with conference calls regularly. Take a look at the demo video after the jump for a full tour, and be sure to check out our review for the deep dive. To get started with the update, hit up the App World link below; unfortunately, the latest version is currently only available in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., but I'm sure other regions of the world will get access soon enough.

More information/download BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing 3.0 adds app sharing, UK support and help videos