I am not sure how we missed this but RIM has a Foo Fighters contest and sweepstakes going on with a grand prize of trip for two to see the Foo Fighters or a private performance by them in your garage. The sweepstakes for the trip to see the Foo Fighters in concert ends today and its really simple to enter compared to the Best Buy version. You need to fill out the form at http://www.foofightersgaragetour.com/ and the contest is open to US and Canadian residents except for Quebec.

The contest on the other hand is a bit more complicated but also ends today. You need to submit a photo of YOUR garage and in 25 words or less tell RIM why the Foo Fighters should play in your garage. You enter that contest at this link.

View the original article here

It looks like RIM is extending their free BlackBerry PlayBook for developers offer yet again. I think this is a great move by RIM though I have not seen the change reflected on the RIM website yet. Long time reader Marc received an email today stating:

The BlackBerry developer community has already begun developing and submitting applications for the BlackBerry® PlayBook™. Registered developers who submit a qualifying BlackBerry® PlayBook™ app that is accepted into BlackBerry App World™ prior to the initial product launch in North America (April 19th) will receive a free BlackBerry® PlayBook™. Learn how to qualify for the free BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet offer.

I am not sure if RIM changed their qualifications for the offer anymore but I expect we will hear from them soon. I think this is a brilliant move on RIM’s part because it will net them many more than the 100 or so Android 3.0 HoneyComb tablet apps available now.

Keep an eye out on BerryReview for updates!

View the original article here

Google followed up their incremental update to Google Maps with an update to the Google Mobile App. The new version is 3.9.7 which brings us a few ticks closer to v4. Still it has been over 3 months since the last update to v3.9.6. My guess is it is just a couple bug fixes but there is no change log to confirm. Let us know if you spot anything in the comments!

You can pick up the update at m.google.com/search from your BlackBerry

Thanks Tom and Nikolaus for the tip!

View the original article here

If you needed any more proof that RIM originally planned on launching the PlayBook in March this should clinch it. Doug (Hayes Developer) noticed that RIM has filed an extension with the FCC asking them to keep the PlayBook’s details confidential until April 19th (the launch date). The previous date was set for March 31st.

They want the FCC to do this to:

…ensure sensitive business information remains confidential until the actual marketing of the device.”

Now this makes me truly wonder what is in these approval documents that RIM has not told us already??? Any guesses? I am hoping for a built in sonic screwdriver.

RIM is asking them to withhold the:

External photosTest setup photosUser’s manualInternal photos

View the original article here

I know that RIM is licensing their BlackBerry Travel app using WorldMate’s tech but even so RIM rarely releases updates this close to each other. That is unless there is some critical bug that needed squashing. Nikolaus let us know that RIM has updated BlackBerry Travel to v1.0.350.99 which is only slightly newer than the v1.0.341.99 released on the 23rd. In typical RIM fashion there is no changelog to help us decide if the 3MB download is worth it, but we sort of found an update in BetaZone change log that seems kind of helpful:

Added Bold 9000 support.
Fixed issue of disappearing itineraries.
Resolved device freezing (white screen) on launch of application.
Fixed settings reset after battery pull:
Caused TripCatch to turn off.
Caused users to lose their home city until next sync.
Updated the splat mechanism to fix various bugs.
Added Hotel promotions in hotels results screen.
General push framework fixes.
Fixed airport selection on new flight.
New UI control in weather card.
UI fixes for LinkedIn screen.
Various small UI changes and fixes ? All screens.
Improved swipe behavior for home screen cards.
Added ?All cities? option:
Will show multiple weather displays (one per each city).
Will show all LinkedIn connections per trip.
Yelp links will go to Yelp search screen (instead of results), with the selected category pre-populated as well as the first city.
Added sort menu items in Yelp screen.
Added empty images to LinkedIn field like in LinkedIn card.
Added state to airport name in auto complete field.
Currency screen: Corrected concurrency issues and added ‘Update Rates’ option in menu.
Implemented key press: ‘T’ & ‘B’ scrolls to Top and Bottom accordingly.
Added timer for ensuring GPS deactivation.
Fixed XML encoding in BlackBerry Maps.
Fixed calendar sync.

Check out the latest version of BlackBerry Travel in App World at this link.

PS: I am sure we will make Mike Lazaridis cry by the possibly wasted 3MB upgrade data usage.

View the original article here

I was out at the mall yesterday, and happened to run in to an old classmate from college at the Bell store, and saw him looking at a 9780 and an Atrix.  I immediately had to go and talk to him and ask what his needs and wants were for the phone, and whipped out my 9700.  I obviously told him about all the pro’s and how I have had my 9700 since release and it’s been flawless, and the 9780 was an upgraded version of my great phone.  How OS6 has made the BlackBerry a more competitive smartphone, and the push technology makes them excellent communication devices.  Now the Atrix is a good phone as well, but showing him hands on how my 9700 worked helped him seeing the phone first hand.

I didn’t stick around to see what his decision was, but later on Facebook I got a pm with his PIN, and with this I am asking, has your BlackBerry knowledge and addiction influenced people around you to get a BlackBerry, theme, apps or accessories?  I know that I now have siblings, friends, and extended family addicted… do you?

Also, with the launch of the PlayBook, have you swayed people to hold off on a tablet purchase? Have you examined the strengths and weaknesses of the PlayBook versus the Ipad (1 and 2) as well as the many Android tablets becoming available. Have you adapted to the mentality that the PlayBook is for everyone, even though RIM is pushing it as the first business oriented tablet, seeing how many of us adopted BlackBerry’s for personal devices while they are mainly business oriented.

 Loading ...

View the original article here

For all of you sporting unreleased BlackBerry Torch 2 9850’s or BlackBerry Bold Touch 9930s we have an OS leak for you! If you don’t have one of those devices simply jump in your Tardis (that’ makes 3 @DrewCPU) and pick one up from the “future you.” All of those leaked apps were extracted by this new OS 6.1.0.44 that has been leaked by the Driphter team courtesy of ALKi3. You can see how early of a release it is based on the numbering but still it might be fun to download if you want to tinker and create a “frankenOS” hybrid.

You can pick up the OS at the links below:

Thanks to everyone who sent this in! (image credit AussieGall)

View the original article here