Bell Leaked document

Well, last word from Bell, “Timing [for release of OS 6.0] is still to be confirmed. Please advise your clients if any inquiries arise.” … only hope is for Bell to change its decision.

Social Networking Apps

Chat with BlackBerry friends: Using the BlackBerry Messenger IM client, you can quickly and easily communicate with other BlackBerry device owners. Using your unique BlackBerry PIN (or bar code), you can add all of your BlackBerry friends and then chat with them or share your files, images, videos, and location. Free

UberTwitter for BlackBerry

UberTwitter brings images, video, and other enhancements to Twitter.Tweet better: Offering location awareness and embedded images and video, the UberTwitter client has all of the regular features of Twitter but adds advanced features such as URL/tweet shrinking and group list support. Free

Bubble up: CrunchSMS is a chat-style bubble-SMS application with loads of customization options. Among other things, you can add pictures to your favorite contacts, customize the colors, and add smileys and a signature. Free
News, Financial, and Reference Apps

Viigo for BlackBerry

Viigo displays news stories and information in a number of categories.Get informed fast: The versatile Viigo delivers news and information to your BlackBerry. Modules include sports, business and finance, entertainment, and local and national weather. Free

Monitor spending: You can constantly keep track of your checking, savings, and credit card transactions and balances on your handset with the help of Mobile Checkbook. This tool also lets you record transactions as they happen, reconcile balances, and schedule recurring transactions on the go. $10

Know the weather: Through BerryWeather you can obtain instant access to current weather conditions, advisories and alerts, and detailed seven-day and 24-hour forecasts for over 72,000 locations worldwide. $10
Audio and Video Tools
Organize podcasts: Automatically download podcasts for when you have time to listen, using PodTrapper Podcast Manager. The app, which includes its own podcast browser, permits you to create playlists, keep track of the last played episode, and save your place within an episode. $10

Tune in: The no-cost version of Nobex Radio Companion allows you to listen to radio stations within the United States. With the premium subscription version of the app, you can listen to over 5800 radio stations in 80 different countries, with no ad interruptions. Free basic version, $4 premium version

Watch mobile TV: A new video service from Fox, Bitbop streams premium TV content to your BlackBerry device. You can also download shows for viewing when a wireless connection isn’t available. $10 per month
Utilities
Get there quickly: QuickLaunch en­­ables you to set up an unlimited number of shortcuts that bring you to any Website, function, file, or app on your phone with just one click. $5

Tether for BlackBerry

Tether makes your BlackBerry’s Net connection available to your laptop.Connect via BlackBerry: The Tether app allows your PC or Mac laptop to connect to the Internet via your BlackBerry’s 3G service. $50

Get longer-lasting alerts: Extend your default BlackBerry alert system via BerryBuzz. You can customize the LED color alerts and vibration, keeping the LED flashing beyond the default 15 minutes and setting the phone to repeat alerts until acknowledged. $6 per month

Version 2.0 of BlackBerry App World is now available to download in the UK, along with 64 other countries, and has a list of new features for both customers and developers.

The main introduction is the ability to charge $0.99 for an app, opening up cheaper options for developers and encouraging the customers to buy. This will also include the option to pay the low price for a level of a game, giving more of a try before you buy policy for applications that can be very expensive.

The other major change is users will now be able to pay by credit card, along with the traditional BlackBerry payment model of PayPal.

Unfortunately the UK is still lagging behind the US when it comes to downloading apps and paying for them with a monthly bill, but on the official Inside BlackBerry blog, the company wrote: “We have really great carrier partners all across the globe and we’re working with them to offer expanded carrier billing options as soon as possible. Keep checking back to Inside BlackBerry for updates.”

BlackBerry still lags behind its major rival Apple with the number of apps on offer – 2,500 in the UK – but the new features seem to be aimed at encouraging developers to come on board.

Speculation about the BlackPad first emerged at the end of July, when a Bloomberg report said Blackberry maker RIM was planning to launch a tablet with a 9.7in touch screen as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity that would cost around £315.

Now, a new report on the news wire has revealed details of the operating system at the heart of the tablet – the existence of which has yet to be confirmed by RIM.

Bloomberg said that in an effort to distance the BlackPad from other tablets, most obviously the Apple iPad, RIM has opted to use QNX Software Systems’ operating system rather than its own forthcoming Blackberry OS6.

“The yet-to-be-announced tablet will run on software developed by QNX Software Systems, which RIM bought from Harman International Industries Inc. for $200m in April,” said the report.

As well as BMW cars, the software is being used in the US Army’s new Crusher all-terrain autonomous vehicle.

The BlackPad is tipped for a November release.

The possible decision not to run the Blackberry OS6 is a little surprising. When our labs tested it on the Blackberry Torch handset, it was judged to be feature-rich, very usable and well suited to a touchscreen interface.

However, its similarity in terms of look and feel to the iOS 4 and Android operating systems may explain why BlackBerry might want to look elsewhere.

BlackBerry maker RIM is making an all-out effort to make an outstanding comeback in the industry. It is not that RIM and BlackBerry are in the dumps. But of late the RIM was jolted when many of its die-hard users had moved to its rival Apple with the launch of iPad. However, now things look to be changing for good for RIM.

Reports have surfaced that BlackBerry App World has been unrolled by RIM. Company insiders say BlackBerry App World carries on adding features. The new version comes with cheaper apps. Besides, it has new ways to find apps.

Experts say it is powered in such a way that it will take advantage of the new gestures in BlackBerry 6. Above all it has a new payment system that makes buying apps even easier.

It is understood that this will only make RIM’S BlackBerry more popular in the market. Those who are knowledgeable in this sector claim that App World now has over 2,500 BlackBerry apps in the UK. However, in the US it has more apps. Here games are not being counted.

The new BlackBerry App World gives an opportunity to developers to choose new lower price points for apps ($0.99 now and $1.99 apps soon).



BlackBerry Media Sync v6.0

Hi friends! I have exciting news today – BlackBerry® Media Sync for PC will now be included in BlackBerry® Desktop Software v6.0 (make sure to check out Andrey’s BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 post). This integration provides a consistent and unified experience between BlackBerry Media Sync and all the other great BlackBerry Desktop Software functionality. BlackBerry Desktop Software is now more lightweight, but packs a bigger punch!

Those of you familiar with BlackBerry Media Sync know that you can benefit from syncing your iTunes® or Windows® Media Player music stored on your computer with your BlackBerry® smartphone. On top of the new music sync options in BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0, users can also sync by selecting individual artists or genres in addition to playlists. There are a bunch of great new options for syncing different types of media. Let’s check them out!

Wi-Fi® music sync – anytime access to your entire desktop music library

BlackBerry Media Sync v6.0

BlackBerry Media Sync v6.0

This option is available on BlackBerry smartphones running the new BlackBerry® 6, and it’s totally cool. Have you ever sat in an airport lounge and wondered “now why didn’t I sync that song? I’ve got to remember to do this the next time I’m in front of my computer”…But the next time you are in front of your computer, you forget to do this again. If this has happened to you, you’ll appreciate the addition of Wi-Fi® music sync.

With Wi-Fi music sync, you get anytime access to your entire desktop music library even when offline (no Internet connection required). Not only can you view what music is on your BlackBerry smartphone, but you can now also see all your music not yet synced to your device that’s available on your computer (“Home Music”)! This means that you can select items for sync as well as create and edit playlists that will sync back with your computer next time you connect. Simply add music to the “Wi-Fi Music Sync” queue, and items in the queue will automatically get downloaded to your BlackBerry smartphone on the next Home Wi-Fi (or USB) connection to Media Sync.

I’ve been really having fun with this feature. For example, while sitting on the train last week, I decided to create a party playlist. I added a mix of music – some from my device as well as some from my home computer. The minute I got back home and walked through the door within my home Wi-Fi connection, my Party Mix automatically synced from my computer to my BlackBerry smartphone. I promptly hit play and enjoyed my new mix.

How is this possible? It’s simple – periodically, the metadata (album name, artist name & genre info) for your entire Home music library gets synced with the BlackBerry smartphone. These songs and playlists from your computer are then integrated in the Music application on your device. The songs not present on your BlackBerry smartphone can easily be identified as they appear dimmed (or ghosted) compared to the rest of your music. Within the Music application on your smartphone, your Wi-Fi Music Sync list displays the status of your songs and playlists, such as pending or downloaded, as well as the status of your connection with the BlackBerry Desktop Software.

It is easy to enable the Wi-Fi music sync feature. Simply click on Wi-Fi music sync from the Tools menu or Enable Wi-Fi music sync from Device Options -> Media. It is important to note though that this feature works only on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer running BlackBerry Desktop Software.

2-Way Video Sync

BlackBerry Media Sync v6.0

Similar to the addition of 2-way photo sync with the previous release, you can now sync your videos back and forth between your computer and your BlackBerry smartphone. Here’s how it works:

• Computer to BlackBerry smartphone – Transfer videos saved on your computer to your BlackBerry smartphone. Videos are optimized for playback on your device, allowing for storage of more videos on your BlackBerry smartphone without sacrificing quality and better viewing experience based on screen and file size.
• BlackBerry smartphone to computer – Transfer videos taken with and saved on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer. This is a great way to back up your device videos for safe keeping and/or editing.

BlackBerry Media Sync v6.0

Users can also continue to enjoy 2-Way Photos Sync. Here’s how that works:

• Computer to BlackBerry smartphone – You can transfer photo albums that you have edited, organized, and saved on your computer to your BlackBerry smartphone. You can store a lot of pictures on your BlackBerry smartphone, as Smart Memory Management is designed to optimize your photos by reducing them to up to ~2% of the original size.
• BlackBerry smartphone to computer – Import photos taken with and saved onto your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer. This is also a great way to backup your photos for safekeeping or editing with your favorite photo management software.

I still love this feature, as I take a lot of photos with my BlackBerry smartphone and it’s great to know that I can sync these back with my computer quickly and easily. I also love taking photos that I have edited on my computer and syncing them to my BlackBerry smartphone to use as my device wallpaper.

BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 is available starting today, so existing BlackBerry Desktop Software users should start auto-update notifications later today. The rest of you can visit www.blackberry.com/desktopsoftware. Don’t forget to also check out www.blackberry.com/mediasync as well for specific BlackBerry Media Sync information.

BlackBerry Podcasts

Like many people, I really enjoy listening to podcasts during my downtime, and I’ve often used my BlackBerry® smartphone to listen or view them. So I’m pleased to be able to tell everyone that BlackBerry® Podcasts is now available!

BlackBerry Podcasts gives users access to video and audio content, plus it makes the downloading process incredibly simple. One of my favorite things about this app is that it is completely mobile. I can search the catalog and grab the podcasts I want with just one click – no PC required.

Access a growing catalog of free audio and video feeds

The catalog has some great feeds and is growing every day. Get podcast favorites like The Onion or feeds from your favorite networks and shows.

It’s easy to find what you’re looking for

Go to ‘Explore Podcasts’ and scroll through the feature carousel to view top downloads, search via categories like news, arts, business, TV & film and more. You can even conduct a key word search if there’s something specific you want to find. What’s great about this feature is that as you browse the BlackBerry Podcasts catalog, your device will highlight which ones you already subscribe to. Once subscribed, podcasts are delivered automatically along with a notification to your BlackBerry smartphone so you can access them effortlessly.

Other reasons to love this new app

Apart from access to entertainment and the mobilized experience that allows me to enjoy nearly “anywhere, anytime” access (like the time I was stuck waiting over an hour and a half for an oil change – thank you, podcasts, for keeping me entertained!), there are a lot of reasons to love this service:

• Download episodes to be enjoyed offline or during downtime: Your favorite episodes are downloaded to your media card, you do not need to be within coverage to view your feeds
• Leverages push technology: You can benefit from push notification, and of course, it’s more battery-friendly
• Access BlackBerry “how to” videos: You can learn how to use your device directly from your device, covering a variety of common questions like how to use BlackBerry® Media Sync, how to manage Bluetooth® or how to mobile browse
• Opt to get the BlackBerry Connection®newsletter as a video podcast: Catch up on what’s new and popular with BlackBerry smartphones!

Control your download preferences

BlackBerry Podcasts was conceived with users in mind. In designing this service, it was important to consider that not all users have unlimited data packages and that the size of media cards vary. Therefore, the following download preferences are included in the ‘Options’ pull down menu:

• Choose delivery over WiFi or OTA or both – Manage your data charges by selecting download preference. Opt to download via WiFi only (the default), or WiFi and mobile network.
• Choose the number of episodes to retain – Manage your storage by choosing whether you only want to keep non-played episodes, the last 1-5 or 10 episodes, or choose to keep them all.
• Choose what and when to download – Choose to download either the most recent or all available episodes, or choose only to download episodes when you are charging your device.

BlackBerry Podcasts is available in US and Canada on BlackBerry App World™ and comes preloaded on all devices running BlackBerry 6. It is supported on the BlackBerry® Bold™ and BlackBerry® Storm™ series of smartphone devices; a microSD card is required for use with the BlackBerry® Pearl™, BlackBerry® Curve™ and BlackBerry® Tour™ series of smartphone devices. There’s more information available at www.blackberry.com/podcasts.

Give it a try and let us know what your favorite podcasts are!



Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

Earlier this week we released BlackBerry® Desktop Software v6.0 for PC! Several new features have been added with this release, such as BlackBerry® Media Sync and support for Microsoft® Outlook® 2010
With this new version now available for download, I’m here to walk you through the installation and initial configuration.

The first thing we’ll want to do when installing any software is to ensure that the computer we plan on using meets the minimum requirements of BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0. To identify these requirements, we will need to reference the BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 release notes. After reviewing the release notes and confirming your system meets the minimum requirements, proceed to download BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 for PC users by visiting http://www.blackberry.com/desktopsoftware.

Here’s an overview of the steps you will need to take:

1. Double click on the downloaded file to start the installation.

2. The installation wizard will now appear. Click Next to start the installation of BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0.

3. You will then see a prompt to specify the installation folder. Let’s use the default, which is C:\Program Files\Research in Motion\BlackBerry Desktop – then click Next.

4. The next screen that appears is a prompt asking us if we want to add an icon to the Windows® desktop for BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0. Let’s keep the default option again, which is to create this icon, and select Next to start the installation process. At this point, the installation will start as illustrated below.

Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

5. Once the installation process has completed, a screen will appear asking us if we want to start BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 after we close the installation wizard. Let’s keep the default again, and click Finish to complete the installation and launch BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0. At this point, you may receive a prompt to restart your computer; if prompted, select Yes.

6. BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 is now installed and ready for use! If you had to restart during step 5, launch BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 by clicking the icon that was placed on your Windows desktop during installation.

Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

At this point, all that’s left is do is connect your BlackBerry® smartphone to your PC. So grab your trusty USB cable and let’s get started!

Since this is a new installation of BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 – and thus the first time a BlackBerry smartphone is connected with this new installation – the “Add a New BlackBerry Device” wizard will appear automatically as illustrated in the screenshot below.

Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

To use the wizard, simply click on Get started with this device to configure your BlackBerry smartphone and the following screen will appear. (If you just bought a new device and you want to copy all the data and settings from your old one, you’ll have the option to do so here. If you do not have access to a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, select Don’t add the account at this dialog.)

Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

The last screen in the Add a New BlackBerry Device wizard will prompt you to configure the various settings offered by BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0. Specify your desired options and click Finish to complete the “Add a New BlackBerry Device” wizard.

Installing BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0

Congratulations! We have successfully installed BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0 and configured our BlackBerry smartphone for use with it!

You can review the BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0 User Guide to learn more about the included features and capabilities. This document will help you learn more about configuring organizer and media synchronization options.

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback regarding your installation experience with BlackBerry Desktop Software v6.0 by leaving a comment on this post! Also, be sure to follow @BlackBerryHelp on Twitter for all your pressing inquiries.

(Source: blogs.blackberry.com)