RIM’s BlackBerry 10 and the Next Generation of Mobile Computing (September,2012)

You probably have been hearing a lot about BlackBerry 10 lately.   It’s the “make-it-or-break-it” chance that Research in Motion(RIM), the makers of the BlackBerry smartphone, has at reclaiming its mobile greatness.  The idea is to create a brand new QNX-based operating system to replace the Java-based one of current BlackBerry smartphones.  This should allow for better memory management, better multi-tasking, more app compatibility, better interconnectivity with other devices, and lots of other good stuff.  Beyond improving the operating system, however, RIM is now looking to create a paradigm shift in the mobile world.But how did RIM get in this situation?  Looking back at the introduction of the iPhone, Apple generalized the definition of the smartphone, empowering the average consumers with tools they never dreamed of using on a very mobile device.  Behind in mobile gaming, third-party applications, and consumer eye candy, RIM struggled for relevance in the high-end consumer market it once dominated.  This new concept of the smartphone seemed almost at odds with the function and design of the BlackBerry.  During this struggle, RIM found itself looking in a mirror and was unsure of what it saw in its reflection.  Was this a corporate company?  Does the world really value the “BlackBerry philosophy” of productivity, communication, and security anymore?  RIM dug deep, and came out with a new, and bold(no pun intended) vision of what the smartphone should be.At the core of RIM’s beliefs, people should be connected.  And it became clear that not only people had to be connected better, but apps as well.  For example, say I wanted to time how long it would take me to run a lap, then convert the units to seconds, append it to an excel spreadsheet, and then share that file in a DropBox account.  It is possible with most platforms.  However, you are probably imagining it would require opening a bunch of applications and transferring the information from one application to another somehow.  Starting to get a headache?  Well, what if you could do it all within the SAME app without changing the experience at all?  This is one of the main ideas behind BlackBerry 10, which RIM is betting on as the next generation of mobile computing.While iOS and Android do connect apps to some extent, the connection is very forced and the experience changes between apps.  For example, despite both being images, CD album covers and Facebook profile pictures are never linked without some convoluted method.  The text from an email, tweet, BBM, Word document, text in a web page, or even a camera photo can’t be passed from app to app without copy and paste.   In most cases, the calendar, contact list, messages app, mapping app, tasks, and memo pad don’t share any information even though they overlap in functionality quite often.BlackBerry 10 is going to be different.  The calendar app should know exactly who you’re going to see, what notifications they’ve sent you, when the meeting will be, where on the map your meeting is, how to get there, any notes or related documents you need, what you need to accomplish in the meeting, and any possible information you could ever need about that event.  You won’t even have to leave the calendar application.  Even applications by third-party developers can connect their apps to others using the very same framework, expanding their functionality automatically.Even with more power under the hood, much more impressive games and applications, a touchscreen-optimized user interface, BlackBerry 10 is not the typical mobile touchscreen OS you’ve come to know.  It’s matching the entertainment and gaming chops of the android and iOS-based smartphones, but taking connectedness to a whole new level with messaging innovation and an OS designed optimized for productivity.With some soul searching, RIM has emerged with a clear goal in mind.  Their new focus on connectedness in BlackBerry 10 runs parallel to their historic roots in making efficient communication tools.  The task is a difficult one, but so is the situation they are in.  After all, drastic times call for drastic measures.  RIM is doing what few OEMs dare.  RIM knows they cannot compete directly with Google and Apple and are instead carving out a new niche in the smartphone industry.  By reimagining the smartphone and staying true to themselves, BlackBerry 10 could be one small step for RIM, and perhaps one giant leap for mobile-kind.

How to Bookmark a Website on your BlackBerry Browser (September,2012)

For some of us, the BlackBerry Browser is one of the tools we use the most. I’m constantly looking up stuff on the internet with my BlackBerry and sometimes typing the address to a website too many times gets annoying. Bookmarks a great, fast way to access your favorite websites with just a tap, so this guide will show you how to add bookmarks to your BlackBerry Browser.There are two simple ways to do this. First one is:1. Open your BlackBerry Browser and type any address you’d like to bookmark.2. Tap the browser icon next to the address bar and select “Add to Bookmarks”.3. A small window pops up asking for the Title and Address you’d like to bookmark. You can leave it as it is or modify it.4. Bookmarks can be saved in different folders, which you can choose by tapping the “BlackBerry Bookmarks” button.5. Once you’re done, tap “Add”. That’s it, the website has been added to bookmarks. The second way is by entering the address manually. Here’s how:1. In your BlackBerry Browser’s, press the Menu button and press Bookmarks.2. Once there, press the Menu button again and select “New Bookmark”.3. Here you can enter the title, address and folder of the bookmark you want to save.4. Once you’re done, tap “Add” and the bookmark will be saved.This is very useful for those who regularly access their favorite websites through their BlackBerry. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment below! Also, which “How to” would you like to see next?

BlackBerry 10 Homescreen and Demo Video Leaked (September,2012)

A video showing how to insert the Battery and SIM card into the BlackBerry 10 L-series phone has surfaced.  With some classic background music to calm even the most excited BlackBerry fanboys, the video does reveal some interesting information about the all-touch BlackBerry 10 smartphone as well.  The battery is clearly labelled as a LS1 1800 mAh battery, which strongly suggests that it is the size of the production battery for the device.Other information about the battery:Maximum Voltage: 4.35VRated Voltage: 3.8V  Capacity : 1800 mAh (6.7Wh)The help movie is launched from a functioning BlackBerry 10 operating system, as can be visible from the multitasking tiles in the video.A leaked homescreen screenshot shows some additional icons such as StoryMaker, FocalPoint, Browser and Maps, which have not been seen from earlier BlackBerry 10 demos .  The “StoryMaker” app could possibly be the result of RIM’s aquisition of JayCut, a video-editing company.   The FocalPoint icon appears to be productivity and document-related app, but this is pure speculation judging from the image itself.Source: BlackBerry Italia 

BlackBerry 10 Dev Alphas Showing ‘Program Has Ended’ (September,2012)

There seems to be an odd bug affecting nearly all BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha devices. Upon rebooting the device, you’re met with a screen stating “Thank you for participating! The BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device program has ended. For details on what to do next, please visit developer.BlackBerry.com.”Of course, this has to be a fluke, right? There’s no way RIM could have cut the development this short of BlackBerry 10′s official release. This seems to be the case. Word is spreading that if you reboot a few more times your Dev Alpha seems to return to normal. However, we haven’t confirmed this on our end.We’re still waiting on a response from RIM. Perhaps the Dev Alpha devices were all set to expire today as BlackBerry 10 devices were originally supposed to release in September as previously reported. Nevertheless, we’ll update you on any further information we might receive on the issue. Are you experiencing this?Thanks Taylor!

Official: BlackBerry Torch 9810 OS 7.1.0.658 from Orange Dominicana (September,2012)

BlackBerry Torch 9810 users are getting an OS upgrade today. Orange Dominicana has officially released OS 7.1.0.658 for the Torch 9810. There’s no word on what is new in this release, so please let us know what you might find.Download Torch 9810 OS 7.1.0.658 from Orange DominicanaThanks Roy!Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

OrganizeMe! Updated to Version 2.0 with Major Changes (August,2012)

OrganizeMe! is a Springpad client for the BlackBerry PlayBook and today version 2.0 of the app has been released and includes a bunch of cool new features. Here’s the changelog for this release:- added: ability to create and modify items in offline mode (when you don’t use the PlayBook OS 2.0.1.668)!- added: now uses delta sync instead of full sync every time!
- added: no more automatic syncs after creating an object locally
- added: completely new sync dialog
- added: move checklist items up and down! (tap and hold a checklist item)
- added: experimental scrollbar to item list (activate in preferences)
- changed: new look of the dialogs
- optimized: handling and performance of multi line text boxes
- optimized: search performance
- bugfix: add ingredients from recipe to selected shopping list works again
- bugfix: edit ingredients while moving them to a shopping list works again
- bugfix: renaming list-items is now possible again (tap and hold a list item to edit it)
- and some other bugfixesYou can get OrganizeMe! from the BlackBerry App World for only $2.99. Get your copy here.

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation for BlackBerry PlayBook Now Available (August,2012)

Gameloft has brought the latest iteration in the Modern Combat series to the BlackBerry PlayBook. Here’s what Modern Combat 3: Fallen nation includes:An intense 13-mission campaign with impressive cinematics and memorable moments.High-tech modern weaponry with modifications and attachments.Next-gen high-quality visuals that will compete with the RAGE and UNREAL engines.You can get Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation today for low price of $2.99 in BlackBerry App World here.

RIM Details BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) 10 (August,2012)

Earlier there was a rumor spreading rampant that legacy BlackBerry devices could not be supported on the same platform as BlackBerry 10. That platform being the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10. Jeff Holleran, the Senior Director for Enterprise Product Management at RIM, has written up a nice blog post giving further insight into BES 10:What is BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10?BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 represents a consolidation of our enterprise mobility management (EMM) product portfolio, which includes our mobile device management (MDM), security, infrastructure, and app management products. It will prepare your organization for the future of mobile diversity, as well as integrate with your existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) deployment. From a single unified web-based console, BES 10 will manage the following devices:BlackBerry 7 OS and prior smartphonesBlackBerry 10 devicesBlackBerry PlayBook tabletsiOS and Androidâ„¢ smartphones and tabletsBES 10 will be the ultimate management solution for all BlackBerry platform devices, as well as iOS and Android devices. BES 10 will launch with the first BlackBerry 10 devices in Q1 of calendar year 2013.RIM remains committed to our enterprise customers by providing advanced, innovative, and flexible options for a straight-forward migration to BlackBerry 10 smartphones, as well as cross-platform management of your mobile device deployment.What will the components and requirements be for BES 10?BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will be a complete solution that includes several components to manage multiple smartphones and tablets. Management occurs through a single, unified web-based administration console that will provide one place to manage all of the devices listed above.In addition to the unified management console, the components of BES 10 will initially include current products already in market:BlackBerry® Device Service (BDS) â€" supporting BlackBerry PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry 10 smartphones when they launch in Q1 2013 through the use of Microsoft ActiveSync for email and PIM synchronizationUniversal Device Service (UDS) â€" providing Enterprise Mobility Management functions for iOS and Android devicesIntegration with existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) 5.0.3 and aboveDuring 2013 we will consolidate the multiple names that we have in our portfolio today into one single product name. The terms “BlackBerry Mobile Fusion”, “BlackBerry Device Service” and “Universal Device Service” will be phased out in favor of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.What about servers? Will multiple physical deployments be required?With the initial launch of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, BES 5+ will require its own server, while BlackBerry Device Service and Universal Device Service can reside on separate servers or be combined on the same physical or virtual server. Should you opt to work with virtual servers, we fully support this type of deployment. Today, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion operates in a similar fashion, with BES 5+ requiring one server, and both BDS and UDS able to be deployed on a single server or on separate servers.The future of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10The roadmap for BES 10 includes an upgrade currently scheduled for BlackBerry World in May 2013. This upgrade will consolidate BDS and UDS into a single component, and will allow for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and existing BlackBerry Enterprise Servers (BES 5.0.3+) to run on the same physical server; both seamlessly managed using a single fully featured management console. Additionally, with BES 10 there will no longer be a requirement to have the server connected to the same Local Area Network as the mail server. These developments will centralize mobility management into a single point and provide flexibility, convenience, and added functionality.We are excited to share more about BES 10 through this autumn. Stay tuned for further details on pricing, the path forward from a current BES 5 deployment, and details on IT policies and management configurations. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will launch with the first BlackBerry 10 devices in early 2013.Jeff explains further some BES 10 FAQs, which can be read directly on the post at Inside BlackBerry Business Blog here.

Du BlackBerry Users Could Face Service Interruption (August,2012)

Du, the Dubai telecom company, announced on Friday that its BlackBerry services could face interruptions on September 2 as a result of regular service maintenance.“In the interest of our customers, we would like to proactively make our customers aware that, as part of a RIM’s regular service maintenance schedule, our BlackBerry services will be impacted for a maximum of one hour on September 2, between 4am-9am. During this time, customers may experience difficulty in using all BlackBerry services including sending and receiving messages; viewing email attachments; activating an email service and the request to ‘see more’ in an email,” the company said in a statement.So if you’re service is down, don’t panic too much. Hopefully it will only be for the aforementioned 1hr. What will you do for that hour…look for WiFi hotspot?via GulfNews

BlackBerry Bold 9790 on End of life at Bell Canada (August,2012)

Bell Canada will be pushing the BlackBerry Bold 9790 to the “End of Life” bin. The Bold 9790 first launched in December of 2011, which gives it about a 9 month shelf life. There’s apparently still stock left.However, if a customer is looking for the 9790, employees are directed to push them towards the Bold 9900. Are you sad to see the 9790 go bye bye on Bell?via MobileSyrup

Nicky Hilton Still Loves Her BlackBerry (August,2012)

The sister to Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, still loves her BlackBerry. Nicky tweeted out to her nearly 1 million followers that “I don’t care what anyone says. I still love my Blackberry.” You can’t get any better free press then that.Hopefully other celebs who value their BlackBerry smartphones will tweet out their love too. If you’re not following @NickyHilton maybe you should and let her know how much you love BlackBerry too!Thanks @NoFracture!

I’d Rock this BlackBerry with Trapezoidal Keyboard (August,2012)

A few years back Research In Motion was awarded a patent for a trapezoidal keyboard design. The concept was designed around the sole use of your thumbs to type. RIM’s official patent for the angular keyboard gives the following abstract:Wireless handheld mobile communication device including a housing with a display above a keyboard exposed for user actuation. A length of the device is greater than the width. Each key of a right-hand keyfield has a longitudinal axis oriented at a left-to-right inclined angle while each key of a left-hand keyfield has a longitudinal axis oriented at a right-to-left inclined angle from the vertical centerline. A left boundary of the keyboard is located adjacent the left lateral side edge of the device and the right boundary of the keyboard is located adjacent the right lateral side edge of the device so that the keyboard spans a substantial entirety of the width of the device. When the device is cradled in a right hand of the user, the longitudinal axis of each key of said plurality of keys located on the right is oriented to be parallel with a widthwise axis of the user’s right thumb. When said device is cradled in a left hand of the user, the longitudinal axis of the keys located on the left-hand side of said vertical centerline is oriented to be substantially with a length wise axis of the user’s left thumb. At least one key in the right-hand keyfield and one key in the left-hand keyfield is isosceles trapezoidal shaped.The first image shows a concept of this trapezoidal keyboard in the Bold 99xx form factor, visualized courtesy of BBin. Many hands-on reports on the new BlackBerry 10 physical QWERTY device say it will resemble the current Bold 99xx. However, what if RIM were to ever utilize a trapezoidal keyboard design? I personally believe it could be a winning design. If there was a BlackBerry 10 smartphone with this angular keyboard, I’d rock it. Would you?

Why You Should Attend BlackBerry Jam Americas Conference (August,2012)

What used to be known as BlackBerry DevCon is now called BlackBerry Jam. The Americas conference is less than one month away with registration in full swing and more session and catalog content being added every day. Those who attend will experience first-hand the latest application development tools for the BlackBerry 10 platform.Attendees will be among the first to get hands-on time with updated BlackBerry 10 SDKs (Software Development Kits) for BlackBerry WebWorks/HTML5, Native, Cascades, Adobe AIR and the BlackBerry 10 Runtime for Android Apps through labs, tutorials and expert-led sessions.Opportunities for developers at BlackBerry Jam Americas include:Learn how to take advantage of the BlackBerry 10 platform’s  key differentiators â€"  integration at deep levels of the OS, sharing through social APIs, and integration with other third party applications for smooth and seamless transitions between appsCollaborate with experts on code and find a path to port or convert without learning new languages, a key benefit of the BlackBerry 10 platform’s open ecosystem and its ability to support multiple tools and environmentsA unique opportunity to explore new BlackBerry 10 tools and application capabilities. The BlackBerry 10 platform leads in open source standards and offers features that can be built into apps that drive user engagement and loyalty, enthusiasm and the ability to share apps and app experiencesDive into the new APIs and features through Sessions, Tutorials, Hands-on labs, and meet and greet opportunities with RIM BlackBerry platform expertsThe show takes place from September 25 through 27 at the San Jose Convention Center. We’re currently giving away 10 free passes and one 3 night stay, sponsored by RIM. Enter that giveaway here. For more information on BlackBerry Jam Americas visit blackberryjamconference.com.

Future Scheduler App – Schedule Text Messages, Emails, Status Update or Phone call (August,2012)

Future Scheduler for BlackBerry smartphones is a cool new app which lets you automate various tasks and activities like sending an email, text messages, connect a call and even social media updates. Future Scheduler lets you schedule any of these tasks so that you will never forget them again. These are some of the features:Syncs with device calendar.Snooze function for reminders.Import contacts from Facebook.Multiple recipients for text and email.Log of scheduled activities.Use templates for text and email.Recurring events – once, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly.Intuitive and user friendly interface with touch screen in mind.Integrates with phone book to let you add recipients conveniently.The application is currently available in the BlackBerry App World for only $1.99.Download Future Scheduler from App World>>

Quick Look: Nobex Radio App for BlackBerry 10 (Video) (August,2012)

Nobex Radio will be fully supporting BlackBerry 10 upon its release. The Nobex Radio app will be available, and can already be downloaded from BlackBerry App World via a Dev Alpha.You can see from the video that the Nobex Radio has been completely re-skinned with the BlackBerry 10 UI. Check out the video below and let us know what you think of the Nobex Radio app for BlackBerry 10!
On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile YouTube video

How To Connect BBM Contacts to BlackBerry Address Book (August,2012)

Over the years we have seen more improvements with BlackBerry Messenger, and the changes are very noticeable. One improvement is the ability to connect your BBM contacts with your Address Book. When these two are combined you are able to perform additional tasks such as:Make calls during a chatSend a email message to a contact from the BBM menu.These are just a few of the options that are available. We are going to show you how to connect your BBM Contacts with your Address Book. Complete the steps below to take advantage of this feature.Open BBM from the homescreen and highlight a contactThen, press the Menu key stroll down until you see ‘Link with BlackBerry Contact’ and select this option.TIP:*If the contact is in the Contacts app already, click Select Contact*If the contact is not in the Contacts app, click New Contact and enter the user’s contact informationThere you have it, I hope you take advantage of this feature just as I have. I will come in great use and saves you a lot of time rather than going through all the steps to handle simple tasks when it comes to your contacts.BY THE WAY:If you have already done this and want to remove a contact follow the steps below:Open BBM from the homescreen and highlight the contact that you want to removeThen, press the Menu key and select ‘Remove Link with BlackBerry Contact’

Gold Battery: Should Your BlackBerry Use One? (August,2012)

Niko recently brought it to my attention that he had bought a gold battery off eBay. The Chinese manufacturer of this gold battery boasts a shocking 2430 mAh capacity. This is significantly higher over the standard 1230 mAh battery RIM provided.Should you use a gold battery? I’ve seen mixed feedback throughout the interwebs. Some users have said they see just a couple extra hours of use, but nothing dramatic. While others say they’ve been very impressed. Especially with the price point for this 3.7 volt gold battery.According to the eBay listing, you can get a JM-1 battery for only $4.99. This lithium ion gold battery is also said to have an integrated chip to prevent overcharging and lengthen battery life. To answer the question, at mere 5 bucks you really don’t have much to lose for what all you could gain.

Atlanta Airport Plans to Replace BlackBerry Stores with Apple Resellers (August,2012)

According to concessionaire at Atlanta airport, BlackBerry is about to get the boot and open its doors to Apple. The sale of Blackberry smart phones has fallen so dramatically that the airport concessionaire plans to replace its two Blackberry shops with Apple resellers. Only one other airport in the country has an Apple reseller, according to legislation pending before the Atlanta City Council.The joint-venture company wants to close its BlackBerry shops in Concourses A and B, and replace them with Apple resellers, according to supporting documents attached to the legislation that’s before the council.Here’s some telling language from the package before the council:“Over the past two years, the BlackBerry Store concept has seen a steady decline in sales. The decline in sales is due to a dramatic shift in the smartphone industry.“BlackBerry’s market share over the last three years has gone from a high of 41 percent in 2009 to a current market share of 8.8 percent. Conversely, the Apple and Android operating systems have experienced an enormous growth in market share, going from 33 percent in 2009 to 82 percent in 2011. This recent success of iPhone, iPad, Apple and Android products has been unprecedented.“After extensive market research and review of the smartphone and mobile electronics industries by Areas ARM, it has been determined that Apple authorized reseller locations are the most advantageous for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.“An Apple reseller location is one of the most sought after retail locations for major malls and street locations in the coutnry due to their ability to boast one of the highest per square foot volume numbers of any retailer in the world.”However, nothing is set in stone just yet. The Atlanta City Council could vote on the matter as early as Sept. 4. If and when the legislation is approved, it would be sent to Mayor Kasim Reed for his signature.via SaportaReport

Password Protect BlackBerry Apps with 24 Free Lock Apps (August,2012)

S4BB Limited has released a brand new app series for BlackBerry Smartphones: Lock Apps. Thanks to Lock Apps you can now lock virtually any application on your BlackBerry Smartphones. Never worry again what your kids, partner, colleague or friends are doing with your phone: Lock Apps put you in control. Lock any app for just $0.99 with Application Lock Pro, or use our free individual Lock Apps to secure your device.All Lock Apps are compatible with OS 5.0 and up and are available on BlackBerry App World.Free Lock for:BlackBerry App World: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126112BBM: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126109BlackBerry Travel: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126492Browser: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126115Calendar: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126503Contacts: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126501Docs2go: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126496Facebook: http://appworld. blackberry.com/webstore/ content/126507/Google Maps: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126505Google Talk: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126519Instaphoto: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126522Maps: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126491Media: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126111Memos: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126500Messages: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126126Opera: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126520Photos: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126494Player for Youtube: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126521Police Scanner: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126524Screen Muncher: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126517Shazam: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126523Text Messages: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126490Tasks: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126499Twitter: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126510Whatsapp: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126107Windows Live Messenger: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126511Yahoo Messenger: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126512Zello: http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126514Application Lock Pro for just $0.99:http://appworld.blackberry. com/webstore/content/126102 

BlackBerry ID to be Your One Login for All BlackBerry Services (August,2012)

Research In Motion is constantly looking to improve the means of connecting you to their services. One such improvement they’ll be introducing soon is the ability to use your BlackBerry ID (BBID) as the login for multiple BlackBerry services.The first service getting the BBID treatment is the BlackBerry Beta Zone. Next, will be the BlackBerry JamZone. Here’s how RIM describes the transition from a blog post:The first phase of this project will require transitioning your current JamZone login to a BlackBerry ID login. More specific information on that is below. Don’t panic â€" existing accounts tied to your JamZone account login, such as bug tracker and Lithium as well as badges, will automatically be upgraded as well. Ultimately, our goal is one login.Again, this won’t be launching for a few weeks, and there will be another blog post and notifications when it goes live. If you already have a BlackBerry ID, you’re ahead of the game. How do you know? If you have a BlackBerry® smartphone or a BlackBerry® PlayBookâ„¢ tablet, you already have a BlackBerry ID. It’s what you use to purchase apps or set up your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Eventually, that will become your single login for all BlackBerry properties.After the rollout, when you log in to your JamZone account, you will be asked which login you want to use: JamZone (old system) or BlackBerry ID (new system).If you choose to log in with your JamZone account, you will be asked to either create a BlackBerry ID account if you don’t already have one, or link your BlackBerry ID account if you do have one. Then you will complete a quick account validation, and after that you’re logged in with BlackBerry ID. You will continue to log in with BlackBerry ID in the future. (You will no longer be able to log in with your JamZone account credentials.)If you choose to log in with BlackBerry ID, you will complete a quick account validation, and after that you’ll be logged in with BlackBerry ID and will continue to log in that way in the future.You will be able to log in to JamZone, the Developer Support Forums, Issue Tracker, and Rewards using your BlackBerry ID. Joining webcasts will be easier as well, and you will also be able to change your account’s email address. This is only the first phase of a bigger project to improve your online experience.This transition isn’t happening today, but will begin in the next few weeks. RIM will announce the full transition once it is in place. What do you think of being able to have one login to rule them all? 

This Spyware can Make Your BlackBerry Spy on You (August,2012)

In an apparent leak, it was discovered that a UK-based company, Gamma Group, has devised a spyware tool that can turn your BlackBerry into a spying tool. The program can secretly turn on a device’s microphone, track its location and monitor e-mails, text messages and voice calls, according to the findings, being published today by the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs’ Citizen Lab. Researchers used newly discovered malicious software samples to further pull back the curtain on the elusive cyber weapon.“People are walking around with tools for surveillance in their pockets,” says John Scott-Railton, a doctoral student at the University of California Los Angeles’ Luskin School of Public Affairs who assisted with the research. “These are the tools that can be used to turn on your microphone and turn your phone into a tracking device.”What is this elusive spyware? It’s apparently apart of the FinFisher product line. FinFisher products can secretly monitor computers, intercepting Skype calls, turning on Web cameras and recording keystrokes. They are marketed by Gamma for law enforcement and government use.“I can confirm that Gamma supplies a piece of mobile intrusion software — FinSpy Mobile,” Gamma International GmbH Managing Director Martin J. Muench said in an Aug. 28 e-mail. “I certainly don’t intend to discuss how or on what platforms it works. I do not wish to inform criminals of how any of our detection systems are used against them.”Do you believe your government should be able to use your BlackBerry as a means to track your every move or conversation? What if someone really is constantly looking at you through that front-facing camera. Sounds like Minority Report science fiction, but crazily it’s science fact.via BW

BlackBerry Messenger Updated to Version 6.2.0.56 (August,2012)

A new version of BlackBerry Messenger is now available in App World. Version 6.2.0.56 has included a couple of bug fixes, support for Finnish language and better Chinese handwriting. It is currently available for download so you might be getting the update notice soon. Otherwise, visit App World to download.Download BBM 6.2.0.56>>

Ever Used BlackBerry Desktop Manager Like This? (August,2012)

If you have, we salute you. Desktop Manager has evolved quite a bit in terms of its functionality – better syncing, backup/restore, and other management features. It has also gained obvious aesthetic redesign over the years. One thing remains for sure, BlackBerry Desktop Manager has remained a staple point necessity.How do you think BlackBerry Desktop Manager will evolve with the release of BlackBerry 10? Do you think RIM will add new features or completely re-skin it? Sound off in the comments on any added features you’d like to see BlackBerry Desktop Manager have in future releases.P.S. look at how much the original BlackBerry logo has evolved as well. Check out this forums discussion and vote if you think RIM should change the branding of BlackBerry.Thanks Mahen!

BlackBerry Curve 9320 New Colors Arrive to Vodafone (August,2012)

Vodafone has just released the Curve 9320 in a couple of different new colors. For those looking to buy this BlackBerry, it can now be purchased from the Vodafone store in Classic Blue, Vivid Violet and Pink.The BlackBerry Curve 9320 is smartphone made for those who love social networking and texting. It has a BBM dedicated key, 2.44 inch display and 3.2 MP camera to share photos with your friends everywhere. It runs BlackBerry OS 7.1 and supports both WiFi and 3G connections. Check out the video below for more!

Nothing from BlackBerry 7 is in BlackBerry 10, Nothing (August,2012)

“Nothing from BlackBerry 7 is in BlackBerry 10, nothing,” said Research In Motion’s CEO, Thorsten Heins in an interview with eWEEK. Although, Heins added, “that the DNA is still there so the experience will still feel intuitive to longtime BlackBerry users.”Heins additionally reiterated what we’ve come to understand about the end of the home-screen for the go-between of apps. Heins explains the ‘flow’ in BlackBerry 10:There’s a lot of consumer and corporate research on how do people use their devices. … That led to a whole new user design for the flow of the applications. So right now if you look at [competitors'] devices, you have the tiled screen or you have the icons. What do you do [if you need information], you call an app. Work within that app, want to do something different? Back, new app. Need to do something else? Back, new app. What BlackBerry 10 will do for you is stop this paradigm of ‘in-out,’ as we call it, and through multi-tasking, real-time capabilities will allow you to flow across those applications.… You can have corporate-liable versus personal information on the device, and you can even flow across those domains easily. One swipe and you’re there.Corporate or consumer customers are no longer RIM’s primary target audience, but The BlackBerry People as they’re dubbed at RIM. These are device users who are busy, passionate and want to be successful. How this translates to BlackBerry 10, said Heins, is that RIM designed it for people “who need to stay ahead of the game.” Heins continues describing BB10′s flow:You have to make decisions, you have to direct information, you have to give out information, and you have to do this on various channelsâ€"corporate email, private email, Twitter, Facebook, whatever. You have tons of channels coming at you, and how do you get all this instruction, how do you deal with it? That paradigmâ€"you get sick and tired of always having to call up a new application. Something’s on LinkedIn, go to LinkedIn. Something’s on Twitter, go to Twitter. You will see that on BB10, it’s so easy. It’sso well-integrated. …What else? Fans of non-QWERTY devices can expect a better experience on BlackBerry 10. We’ve spent a lot of innovation on the full-touch virtual keypad. That was huge. We want the typing experience on the [touch-based BlackBerry] to get at least as close as it can to a physical QWERTY.RIM hasn’t taken the easy way out – like most mobile vendors. They’ve stayed true to themselves and haven’t sacrificed their core users by pushing them to Android. BlackBerry 10 really looks to be a whole new approach to the mobile user interface and experience. We’re itching for Q1 2013 to hurry up and get here.

White BlackBerry Bold 9900 Coming Soon to Three UK (August,2012)

Those of you looking to get the white Bold 9900 will soon be able to purchase it from Three. They have added the White BlackBerry Bold 9900 to their website in  the “Coming Soon” page. The black version has been available for a while now, in case you can’t wait for the white.The Blackberry Bold 9900 has a 2.8 inch touchscreen with the full QWERTY keyboard that we all love. It has a 1.2 Ghz processor, 768MB of RAM, 8GB of on-board memory and a 5 mega-pixel camera that can take awesome photos. You can check out their Bold 9900 deals here.

BlackBerry 10 Will Benefit From Samsung’s Loss to Apple (August,2012)

While it may be said Apple’s win over Samsung will deter innovation in the tech industry, a few companies will ultimately prevail from the ruling. One such company will be Research In Motion. Their stock already has slightly increased this week, likely due to the ruling.The verdict means any device with the look and feel of Apple products is legally vulnerable. “The problem,” Ron Laurie, managing director of Silicon Valley IP firm Inflexion Point Strategy, LLC said, “is that consumers want devices that look like an iPhone.”This will ultimately further protect the value of patents that protect iPhone and iPad design features. Laurie argues, if RIM’s patent portfolio has “the right stuff, the whole Android world would be a buyer.”Analysts are predicting the verdict will also cause slow growth of the Android operating system used by vendors including Samsung, HTC, and LG. Even though the patents at hand do not directly relate to the Android operating system, analysts predict the ruling will empower Apple to file more patent lawsuits against Android vendors.How else might this ruling be favorable to BlackBerry? IDC mobile software analyst Al Hilwa said the Samsung ruling presents an opportunity for RIM. Hilwa claims telecom carriers are hungry for a viable alternative to the leading mobile device vendors and platforms. “It [the BlackBerry] may not be their favorite phone, but the carriers desperately want a third or fourth operating system,” Hilwa said.via TheStar

Will You Use a Light or Dark Theme in BlackBerry 10? (August,2012)

BlackBerry 10 will introduce a new power consumption saving capability. Users will be able to select a light or dark ‘skin’ with some gray areas in between. According to the leaked documents we showed, RIM intends to promote a more dark theme to conserve battery life. Here’s a recap on what RIM says about the colorization of BlackBerry 10 operating system user interface:In general, the dark an image is, the less power it will use. If you think of each OLED pixel as a mini-flashlight, the more flashlights you turn on or the brighter you shine them, the shorter the battery will last. Black themes and backgrounds are preferable for OLED-displays.White theme may still be used to ensure readability when focus is on reading content for longer time (Email and Docs To Go). When using white theme, color values of white backgrounds will be programmatically adjusted towards gray, by the device itself. Single core components and smaller areas will not be possible to automatically adjust with good result, hence they need to be adjusted upfront.With this knowledge in hand, will you utilize a darker theme in all areas of BlackBerry 10? Or, will you stick with the traditional lighter look? Vote in the poll and sound off in the comments to let us know why you’d choose one over the other.Take Our Poll

How to Delete a Contact from BlackBerry Messenger (August,2012)

For whatever reason, at some point in your BlackBerry user life you’ve probably wanted to delete a contact from BBM. Whether it is they switched to another platform (boo!), duplicate contacts, people with whom you don’t chat much (or at all) or just want to get rid of that annoying 4AM broadcaster. This guide will show you how to delete contacts from your BlackBerry Messenger.1. Open BlackBerry Messenger and select the contact you’d like to delete.2. Press the Menu button and tap Delete.3. A new dialog box should appear. Check the box if you’d like to ignore any future requests from this specific PIN. Otherwhise just tap Delete to erase the contact.4. That’s it! You’ve successfully deleted a broadcaster. I mean, a contact.You should know that if you delete a contact from your BBM, they will know since you will also be delete from their list. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments below! 

Pop Corny Game Now Available on BlackBerry PlayBook (August,2012)

The popular iOS game Pop Corny has been ported to and successfully released on the BlackBerry PlayBook. The point of the game is to feed the main character, Corny, popcorn so that you can progress to the next level.Highlights of Pop Corny:Simple but deep one-touch/sling-like controlUpgrade your popcorn box by completing objectivesMultiple stages to playMore than 40 achievements to completeCollect “drachma coins” and spend them on bonus upgrades, bombs, shields, etcThe first ever endless eater!Pop Corny is available today on the PlayBook running OS 2.0 or higher for $1.99 in BlackBerry App World here.

Yardi Maintenance Mobile App Available on BlackBerry (August,2012)

Yardi announced today that an enhanced version of Yardi Maintenance Mobile is available in BlackBerry App World.Yardi Maintenance Mobile offers workers in the field the convenience of creating, updating and closing work orders in Yardi Maintenance from a mobile device, with results automatically updated in Yardi Voyager. New features available in the new version of the application include the ability to sort work orders through a variety of fields, along with search bars that enable fast, easy selection of work orders.Additional new features include work order status editing and new color bars that indicate the priority of work orders, both of which also correspond to the Yardi Maintenance settings in Yardi Voyager. Technicians can also view problem descriptions and access entry notes in a work order.Users can access mobile-enabled maintenance Web pages from any Web-enabled mobile device. More information about Yardi products and services is available at www.yardi.com.Download Yardi Maintenance Mobile from BlackBerry App World here. 

Facebook for BlackBerry 3.2.0.9 Now Available in Beta Zone (August,2012)

Research In Motion has added a new version of Facebook to BlackBerry Beta Zone. Facebook for BlackBerry version 3.2.0.9 has the following changelog:Updated help URLs for Facebook 3.2Auto-linking to Facebook friends in address book did not occurMenu items missing for 5.0 devicesScrolling Issues on the BlackBerry Curve 9360Sharing a friend’s photo creates a comment on wall instead of posting the photoLong user name is cutoff in profile header on profile screenSome friends are not displayed in friends list with large user accountWhen the user opens the photo comment notification and commends after friend, only “comment” is displayed in the outgoing notifications listCan’t Scroll in the Menu “Notifications” with Touch ScreenUnable to comment on my own photo (won’t send) (Error 2121)Title on Group Wall publisher changes: initially using full name, then switching to first nameNull shows in location field of an event in calendarA blank event screen displays after event is canceled while you trying to refresh screenInitial scroll up will not take user to the top of the Event Wall – Event Photo, Title and Type are not visibleFacebook message always stays in sending statusYou can get Facebook for BlackBerry 3.2.0.9 in BlackBerry Beta Zone here.

Optus Now Offering BlackBerry App World Carrier Billing (August,2012)

Our mates in Australia will now be able to bill their purchases in BlackBerry App World directly to their Optus account. This will surely make it much easier for these customers to purchase apps and games.“The partnerships announced today take us another step closer to the seamless connected world we’re aiming to offer Optus customers. We’re committed to providing customers with a simpler, safer and easier user experience when it comes to making payments online,” Optus VP of Digital Communities and Ecosystems Austin R Bryan said in a statement.via ZDNet

Official: BlackBerry Bold 9930 OS 7.1.0.649 from China Telecom (August,2012)

BlackBerry Bold 9930 users are getting that leaked OS 7.1.0.649 as an official build today. China Telecom has made OS 7.1.0.649 official for Bold 9930.Download Bold 9930 OS 7.1.0.649 from China TelecomThanks Roy!Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

Taab Takes the Lead in the MintChip Challenge! (August,2012)

With about two weeks left in the public voting stage of the MintChip Challenge, taab (a future BlackBerry 10 application) is in the lead!  With 1351 votes as of this morning, taab has managed to pull ahead by a small margin thanks to your votes.  It’s great not only to see such enthusiasm for apps designed for novel ideas in currency, but also to have a  BlackBerry 10 app in the lead over all other apps!These guys support BlackBerry 10 all the way.  You can check out their blog, detailing their support for the new BlackBerry 10 platform (and current BlacBerry 7 one as well!) here.Also, keep in mind that you can actually vote more than once; everyday to be exact.  That means you can still vote for taab (a vote for them is a vote for BlackBerry 10)!  As BlackBerry people who know how to get things done, it’s in our best interest to have a BlackBerry 10 developer succeed so that we can help grow the next generation in mobile computing.  Thanks again to all who voted!You can vote for them (again) here.Just in case you’re wondering though, there are two other BlackBerry apps competing in the MintChip challenge.   Apps such as QRossfire and Bill Splittr need some love from our community too.  Don’t be afraid to vote for them as well!

How to Take a Screenshot on your BlackBerry PlayBook (August,2012)

Ever want to share what’s on your PlayBook screen with friends, but they’re not there to see it?  Contrary to a popular school of thought, you don’t need an app for that.  The PlayBook can take screenshots natively from any screen with just the touch two buttons.Simply press the volume up and volume down keys simultaneously and the screenshot is taken!You should hear a “snapshot” sound effect if the sound is turned up on your PlayBook.  I took a picture of a Scroodle drawing I made.The screenshot is saved to the “Pictures” folder, viewable in the Pictures app.  You can then share it in any one of the many wonderful ways the internet allows.That’s it.  It’s that simple!

Emblm Custom BlackBerry Battery Doors are Awesome! (August,2012)

Smart Casing recently sent us a prototype of their Emblm custom battery door for BlackBerry. Emblm battery doors use a scratch resistant coating. This keeps your custom design looking crisp and fresh.Smart Casing uses real OEM battery doors for a perfect match. This ensures optimal compatibility by minimizing any potential measurement errors.By using OEM battery doors, it can bring added benefits. In the case of the Bold 99xx the Emblm battery door has NFC! This is an important aspect of Emblm battery doors – you won’t miss out on the same features of the OEM battery door.
Emblm battery doors are currently in pre-production. However, you can still order yours through Indiegogo here. Smart Casing tells us as they meet their funding goals they’ll be upgrading their manufacturing process to create and even better product.Check out more info on Emblm battery doors >>

How to Change your BlackBerry Homescreen Tile Layout (August,2012)

Besides themes, there are other ways to change up your homescreen look.  For example, ever feel like increasing the spacing between homescreen tiles?  Me neither.  Regardless, let’s do it simply because you can (even to obnoxiously large spacings)!Head into the Options.Then Accessibility.You can now easily change your homescreen grid layout to support 1-4 rows, or the standard layout you’re familiar with.This is supposed to make it easier to use, but it seems like the icons don’t get any larger.   I have yet to meet anyone who actually uses this feature, but extra customization options can’t hurt.Here are what some options look like when implemented. This works with all BlackBerrys OS 5 and newer.  Older BlackBerrys have other layout options.Take Our Poll