Rabu, 01 Februari 2012

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community


Another First Image of a BB10 Phone Emerges! (London)

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:42 PM PST

CrackBerry just posted another image of what is supposed to be the BlackBerry London running BB10.  Nothing new is know, but it is nice to see a pic of the device.   If they are trying to capture the North American consumer, it might just work.  To me it looks a lot like the Droid X, or as CrackBerry says, a ‘phonified BlackBerry PlayBook’ .  No news on what the screen is, or what camera’s it is running(yes this is very important to people), but it is rumoured that they are testing  both the TI OMAP5 and Qualcomm chipsets. Supposedly the London is for the UK market with a Laguna and Lisbon model headed possibly earlier to the US for Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. These would ring at around 1.5ghz, so the spinning clock should be a thing of the past.  With this leaking, more will probably arise in the next few days.  Let us know what you think.

Source: CrackBerry

 

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Posted by Fubaz for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 7:42 pm. | Another First Image of a BB10 Phone Emerges! (London) | 11 comments |


Review: Case-Mate Barely There For PlayBook

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:55 PM PST

I have apparently become a case freak. I really want/need my devices protected. I have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and lots of opportunities for personal electronics to get knocked, dropped, dinged, scratched, scuffed, or otherwise violated. 3 of 4 phones in my house live in Otterbox Commuters. My PlayBook never leaves the house out of its OEM Convertible case.

That being said, I find that I prefer my PlayBook naked at home. The thing is just so darned comfortable as-is! Unfortunately, my paranoia has steadily grown, so I decided that a slim scuff guard of some sort was in order. Enter the Case-Mate Barely There.

The Barely There is just that. It’s a slim, semi-rigid sheath that snaps right onto the PlayBook. It’s so thin, it’s almost invisible. The box actually has the dubious tagline “Like a thong for your tablet” on the back. I’m not even kidding:

The Barely There has cut-outs for all the buttons and ports, including the dual microphones. Access to the buttons and ports is not hampered in any way due to the extreme thinness of the case, but it does add just enough bulk to prevent use of the charging dock.

It completely covers the back, top and bottom edges of the PlayBook, as well as the corners, providing adequate minimalist scuff and scratch protection. The top and bottom edges come up above the PlayBook just enough to prevent the screen from touching a flat surface if laid face-down on it, though it provides no more than a millimeter clearance. Since there’s only the barest overlap on the front edges of the device itself, bezel gestures are completely unaffected by the case.

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The Barely There case, curiously, leaves the sides of your PlayBook completely open and unprotected. This is, I suppose,  a concession to the minimalist theory behind the case’s design, but in my world, danger comes from all directions, so I was disappointed by this lack of lateral protection.

I probably could have gotten over the lack of side protection, but for one glaring flaw: this case is sharp, and not in a ZZ Top kind of way. The back edges are rounded on all four sides, but every front edge of this case is sharp to the touch, making it uncomfortable to hold and shift your grip on it. The exposed sides leave a sharp edge all along the part of the PlayBook right where your hands go. Every time I reached toward the touchscreen or shifted the position in which I was holding the PlayBook, my hands or fingers caught or scraped on this uncomfortable edge. Even the front corners felt sharp, as did the thin seams around the buttons and ports. A naked PlayBook is a joy to hold; smooth, secure, and comfortable. This case makes it less so.

The Case-Mate Barely There case takes a minimalist approach to minimalist protection. It adds almost no bulk at all and provides good basic scuff protection for the back of the PlayBook, top and bottom, but leaves the sides open. You may find that its sharp front edges cause you no discomfort., but after 2 days of constantly putting the case on, getting annoyed, and taking it off again, I decided that, for me, this flaw was a deal-breaker. A case that is meant to be “barely there” should not cause a tactile distraction every time you use it. I’m sending it back and ordering an OEM soft shell.

PROS: Ultra-thin, adds no appreciable bulk, provides basic scuff protection, blends almost flawlessly into the appearance of the PlayBook, leaves ports, buttons, and bezels unhindered.

CONS: No side protection, very little, if any, impact/drop protection, sharp edges make it uncomfortable to use.

RATING: 6/10

The Case-Mate Barely There Case is available for ~$17 @ Amazon and other retailers

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Posted by rrrebo for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 5:55 pm. | Review: Case-Mate Barely There For PlayBook | Leave a comment |


“Mature” & “Adult” Rated Apps Make their Way Into App World

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:26 PM PST

App World Mature and Adult

RIM was pretty vocal about adding ratings to App World and added support for it with their latest App World release. We mentioned back then that we found it interesting that RIM has added both an Adult and a Mature category in App World which would lead us to believe that such apps would soon be approved. Turns out the time is now.

Laura let me know that she spotted both a GetSome Positions Mature rated app and Super Models Calendar 2012 Adult rated app in App World. I am curious how far RIM will go with this since Apple has been downright draconian about it… Let us know if you spot more! We will probably be seeing the more risqué stuff next month since RIM said that they are now just going through the backlog of previously submitted Mature & Adult apps and will do the future ones in February. Here is the update RIM posted about it in case you missed it:

[UPDATE 1/18/2012]
We recently announced the introduction of a content rating and content filtering system to the BlackBerry App World™ storefront. Due to the complexity with introducing this system, we're approaching the roll out in two phases. In the initial phase, we will be rolling out Mature & Adult rated apps that were submitted to BlackBerry App World prior to the availability of the content rating and content filtering system. All other Mature & Adult applications will be approved (pending review) by early February in our second phase.

We apologize for the delay in approving your Mature & Adult rated applications. Thank you for your dedication and support in creating amazing content for our BlackBerry users.

As a reminder here are App World's ratings are here. You can also lock out this Adult and Mature content from the new version of App World:

App World Ratings

No related posts.


Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 5:26 pm. | “Mature” & “Adult” Rated Apps Make their Way Into App World | Leave a comment |


RIM Makes BlackBerry Theme Studio Hack Officially Unofficial (for Now)

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:23 PM PST

Theme Builder Coming

I assumed it would come to this since BlackBerry Theme Studio for OS 7.0 is not planned to be released for a few months now. @BlackBerryDev said they were going to post "Full details for Themes on BB7" this month and Garett has followed through with part one of instructions on how to create themes for OS 7.0 using the currently released Theme Studio 6. These instructions are essentially RIM unofficially officially endorsing the method we told you about before that theme developers have been using to create BlackBerry 7 themes using Theme Studio 6.

Will Research In Motion (RIM®) let me modify BlackBerry Theme Studio to create themes for OS 7 devices?

Absolutely! Note that the method proposed in this workaround is by no means easy. It will require considerably more effort to get even basic themes working, but it can be used as a means to create themes until an official BlackBerry Theme Studio is released that supports BlackBerry 7 OS devices. Although these steps are being provided, this method of creating themes is essentially unsupported. Theme creation and stability will entirely be the responsibility of the developer; no bugs will be logged against this method of creating themes.

If Liquid Graphics broke theme support, then how can themes be made?

For the most part, the anatomy of a theme has stayed relatively unchanged between OS releases. With the introduction of BlackBerry 7 OS, several screens now use a completely new mechanism to create the UI, known as Liquid Graphics. Because of this large change, some features and functionalities supported in previous OS themes may be unsupported. This would be a limitation of BlackBerryTheme Studio 6.0 not being aware of how themes are expected in BlackBerry 7 OS. For example, both the phone and home screens previously used SVG for layouts and actions; in BlackBerry 7 OS, the phone screens no longer use SVG at all, while the home screen only uses SVG for layout purposes. All animations on the home screen and the layout of the phone screens are handled by Liquid Graphics.

Check out the details from RIM in Garetts post

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 4:23 pm. | RIM Makes BlackBerry Theme Studio Hack Officially Unofficial (for Now) | Leave a comment |


Angry Farm Updated With 50 More Levels & Dynamite Option

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:13 PM PST

Angry Farm Promo

SmarterApps has released an update to their popular Angry Farms (Angry Birds style) BlackBerry smartphone game. The new update adds 50 more levels bringing us to a total of 250 levels in Angry Farm. On top of that SmarterApps has added an in app purchase of Farmer's Dynamite that allows you to destroy any level once an hour for a one time fee of $0.99.

The upgrade is free to current owners and you can pick up Angry Farm in App World for $4.99 if you don't already have it.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 4:13 pm. | Angry Farm Updated With 50 More Levels & Dynamite Option | Leave a comment |


RIM Asking Android Devs to Submit PlayBook Apps by February 6th

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:12 PM PST

PlayBook Android Runtime

First RIM asked PlayBook devs to test their apps for PlayBook OS 2.0 and submit new versions by Feb 7th to make it before the OS 2.0 launch. Now they have reached out to Android Devs on the DevBlog asking them to submit Android apps for PlayBook OS 2.0 by February 6th to ensure that it is available for the release of PlayBook OS 2.0. Since RIM's App World review timeline for new apps (not updates) usually sits in the 1-2 week range that fits right in the current rumored February 17th or possibly 21st launch dates. As RIM says:

In order to ensure that your packaged and signed Android app is available in the BlackBerry App World™ storefront for the release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, be sure to have your app submitted by Monday, February 6th, 2012.

If you are an Android Dev I highly recommend getting started now especially since it takes time to register an App World vendor account. You can find all the details RIM has provided along with the three tools for porting Android apps referenced in RIM's request or simply check out their Android runtime microsite.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 3:12 pm. | RIM Asking Android Devs to Submit PlayBook Apps by February 6th | 2 comments |


One Infographic Does Not Make an Advertising Campaign

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:01 AM PST

BeBold Team

When RIM's Community Manager, Carolyn H, posted their "How #TeamBlackBerry Will Be Bold in 2012" Infographic I doubt anybody expected that it would be the media's latest scapegoat at RIM. RIM's blog post was clearly made to simply wrap up the resolutions submitted by BlackBerry users before the new year at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest which RIM sponsored. Quite a few media outlets have blown what is obviously a simple fun community building infographic into a media campaign that will determine RIM's future. The thing is if you took a second to read the actual resolutions you will see they have very little to do with BlackBerry and more to do with new years resolutions… We are talking about classic running a marathon or seizing the day type of resolutions.

Either way RIM had to clarify to the spin machine the classic words of Aristotle "one swallow does not a summer make"

UPDATE: We've noticed The BeBold Team has received a lot of attention over the last couple of days, and wanted to clarify – this infographic is just intended to be a bit of fun. On New Year's Eve, we asked BlackBerry Twitter followers and their friends to submit their resolutions on how they plan to Be Bold in 2012. More than 35,000 resolutions streamed across Twitter®, Facebook®, and giant billboards in Times Square. As we looked at the resolutions and the data, majority patterns and categories emerged. We decided to organize the data and share it in a fun way, and the result is the infographic. This is not a new ad campaign.

Well glad to hear that is finally settled. Now back to the Chewbacca defense explaining why everything RIM does is a sign that it will fail…

Chewbacca defense

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Posted by Luis Merlos for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 2:01 pm. | One Infographic Does Not Make an Advertising Campaign | 7 comments |


RIM’s BlackBerry Innovation Forum 2012 Dates Set in US & Canada

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:31 AM PST

Innovation Forum

RIM has been travelling North America with their BlackBerry Innovation Forums since 2011 giving businesses a taste of what is coming next. Shahzoor from BBin.in let me know that RIM has announced the new dates for BlackBerry Innovation Forum 2012 in both the US and Canada and opened them up for registration on their website.

The dates are:

  • February 27: Atlanta
  • February 27: Minneapolis
  • February 27: San Francisco
  • February 28: New Jersey
  • February 29: Chicago
  • February 29: Dallas
  • February 28: New York
  • February 29: Richmond
  • March 1: Stamford
  • March 2: Boston
  • March 2: Philadelphia
  • March 2: Washington
  • March 6: Toronto
  • March 6: Vancouver
  • March 7: Ottawa
  • March 8: Edmonton
  • March 8: Halifax
  • March 9: Calgary
  • March 19: Montreal

I am sure RIM plans on leaning heavily on PlayBook OS 2.0 since it will be out by then. Here is a sample agenda:

8:00am
Registration, coffee and networking

9:00am
Welcome and introduction

9:15am
BlackBerry Mobile Fusion: Managing all of your Enterprise Mobility needsThe landscape of your organization’s mobile infrastructure is changing – are you ready? Companies are asked to support BlackBerry® smartphones, BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets and a variety of other devices, including personal devices.The last thing you want to add is administration complexity with multiple systems. This session will demonstrate how BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion helps simplify the management of many different mobile devices that are used in the enterprise today. We will demonstrate some of the standard administrative tasks and how they are performed with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. You will also get a visual tour of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and see some of the added features that will help make managing mobility easier.

10:00am
BlackBerry® PlayBook™ Tablet featuring PlayBook OS 2.0:
Built for businessThe BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet is built to provide a sleek and entertaining user experience with tools that empower users to get business done. This session will provide an in-depth look at how the BlackBerry PlayBook has been engineered for the enterprise, with features such as a trusted connection to your behind-the-firewall apps. The simple but powerful development platform BlackBerry® WebWorks™ SDK, and the complete suite of enterprise management & security features available with BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion do not compromise the user experience. Learn about tools and applications available that make it the perfect fit for work, home and life.

10:45am
Networking break

11:00am
Apps that add business valueBlackBerry® has all that you need to leverage mobile applications for BlackBerry® smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets. You will see some simple applications that will help to immediately make your users more productive, and we will discuss how you can leverage the BlackBerry solution for more advanced work flow to help transform your business. Whether you are a seasoned pro at developing apps or have little to no experience, these simple apps are easy to build, simple to deploy, and powerful enough to add tremendous value and productivity to your organization.

11:45am
Buffet lunch

1:00pm
Afternoon sessionsBuilding a Winning Mobile Enterprise
(Presentation may not be available in all cities)How do you mobilize your employees, partners, and customers? In this session, SAP will take you through the winning strategy of mobilizing the enterprise, show you examples of how SAP is enabling its own 50,000+ employees, and transforming its partner ecosystem and customer network that will reach 1 billion people by 2015 through its mobile platform and apps.Myth Busting – BlackBerry® 7 OS vs. the CompetitionThere is no shortage of BlackBerry® "Myths" out in the news today especially around how the BlackBerry® 7 OS stacks up against the competition. This session will help bust those myths with a side by side look at what you get with the latest BlackBerry® 7 OS devices vs. the competition. Out-of-the-box to working day-to-day, BlackBerry® is the right choice for people of action, communication and collaboration.Remaining sessions still to be announced.

3:00pm
Closing remarks and final draws

You can check out the details and register for yourself at www.blackberryinnovation.com

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 1:31 pm. | RIM’s BlackBerry Innovation Forum 2012 Dates Set in US & Canada | Leave a comment |


Verizon shared data plans still on track according to leaked training deck

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:58 AM PST

Late last year it was reported that Verizon was entertaining the idea of introducing shared data plans for their customers. Not much else was known, but after AT&T had announced similar plans, Verizon realized that they needed to adopt this growing demand.

Fast forward to 2012 and low-and-behold, a training deck has surfaced showcasing the new packages that are about to be introduced. According to an Engadget tipster the new section apparently shows an account level charge for data allowance and a $9.99 charge per line for family plans.

As for a release date, no dates have been made official, so stay tuned for updates.

(via Engadget)

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Posted by Corey Herscu for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 11:58 am. | Verizon shared data plans still on track according to leaked training deck | One comment |


QNX Software Systems and Arrow Electronics Inc. agree to new Distribution Agreement

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:11 AM PST

Good morning everyone!  While this is not directly Blackberry news, it is indirectly RIM news as RIM owns QNX.  It was announced today that QNX and Arrow Electronics entered into an agreement to focus on QNX systems in the future.  Press release reads as follows:

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Jan 31, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — QNX Software Systems Limited, a leader in software platforms for connected embedded systems, has entered into a distribution agreement with Arrow Electronics, Inc., a global provider of products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial customers. Under the agreement, the companies will focus initially on the distribution of QNX(R) operating system software, development tools, and engineering services to the medical, industrial automation, and general embedded markets in North America.

QNX Software Systems’ flagship product, the QNX(R) Neutrino(R) Realtime Operating System (RTOS), powers a vast array of embedded and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems worldwide, including medical devices, Internet routers, wind turbines, nuclear plants, traffic control applications, broadcast automation systems, and railway safety systems. People encounter QNX-controlled systems every day, when they travel, shop, watch TV, use the Internet, or even turn on a light.

“QNX is recognized globally for its highly reliable and flexible software,” said David West, vice president of supplier marketing, Arrow Electronics. “Offering best-in-class products and services, QNX Software Systems is a strategic addition to our distribution portfolio, giving our customers access to software driving innovation in a broad range of industries.”

“We’re pleased to work with Arrow Electronics, whose world-class distribution network and proven track record will help us expand our market opportunities and better align with our joint customers,” stated Andrea Blaylock, director, channel strategies, QNX Software Systems. “The new relationship allows our company to focus more closely on new opportunities for strategic business development.”

QNX Software Systems is working with Arrow in a variety of joint marketing activities, including webinars, seminars, and training sessions. These activities include Arrow’s Machine-to-Machine (M2M) seminar series, which is designed to help companies understand how to incorporate M2M technology into their business strategies.

————————————–

Here is a little blurb on Arrow from their own website

“Arrow Electronics is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions, with 2010 sales of $18.7 billion. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for over 1,200 suppliers and 115,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 340 locations in 52 countries.

A Fortune 200 company with 12,700 employees worldwide, Arrow brings technology solutions to a breadth of markets, including telecommunications, information systems, transportation, medical, industrial and consumer electronics.

Arrow provides specialized services and expertise across the product lifecycle. Arrow does this by connecting customers to the right technology at the right place at the right time and at the right price.

Arrow provides extraordinary value to customers and suppliers – the best technology companies in the world – and connects them through the company’s industry-leading services.”

——————–

Seems like a pretty sweet deal for QNX… which means its a pretty sweet deal with RIM

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Posted by BBA Brian for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 10:11 am. | QNX Software Systems and Arrow Electronics Inc. agree to new Distribution Agreement | One comment |


IM+ for BlackBerry v10.1 Released – Packed With Improvements

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:09 AM PST

im_bb_bg_

Shape let us know that they have released a new version of their IM+ for BlackBerry app. The new version comes a little over a month after their large 10.0 release and improves upon that build. Shape was also kind enough to send over a change log with the details:

Version 10.1 – Release date: January 30, 2012

  • Arabic localization
  • "Disable Beep" option
  • Optimization of app launch
  • Scrolling history bugfix
  • Configurable Inbox integration
  • UI improvements
  • Some additional bug fixes and performance improvements

You can find the premium version of IM+ on Shape's website along with the free ad supported version.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 10:09 am. | IM+ for BlackBerry v10.1 Released – Packed With Improvements | Leave a comment |


Twitter & Facebook Apps to Soon Be BBM Connected

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:55 AM PST

BBM Connected Twitter and Facebook

We first got a tip yesterday that N4BB spotted an updated version of Twitter that showed as being BBM connected. Now Bla1ze @CrackBerry spotted signs of both an updated Twitter and Facebook app showing as BBM connected. These versions have been rumored for awhile and its pretty much a no brainer for RIM to BBM connect their own apps but hopefully they get released soon!

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 9:55 am. | Twitter & Facebook Apps to Soon Be BBM Connected | Leave a comment |


Monopoly for BlackBerry PlayBook 50% Off for Limited Time ($4.99)

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:48 AM PST

Monopoly PlayBook4 Monopoly PlayBook

EA has dropped the price again for their popular Monopoly game for the BlackBerry PlayBook that launched last month. It used to sell for $9.99 after the launch sale and is now back to 50% off for $4.99. We don't know how long this sale will last but this full version of Monopoly is awesome on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Monopoly PlayBook2 Monopoly PlayBook3

You can find Monopoly for the BlackBerry PlayBook in App World. Kudos to DanielH for spotting the deal and posting it in the forums.

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 9:48 am. | Monopoly for BlackBerry PlayBook 50% Off for Limited Time ($4.99) | One comment |


Monster.com Apps for Job Seekers & Employers

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:15 AM PST

Monster Jobs Monster for Employers2

EarlySail has released two BlackBerry smartphone apps for those of you who use Monster.com regularly. They have released one targeted at those looking for jobs called Monster Jobs which lets you search for jobs on your phone and get real time alerts. They also released Monster for Employers which gives you the ability to hire the "right candidate" with Monsters "Magic Search" technology. It also allows you to post jobs and check applications.

Monster for Employers Monster Jobs2

You can find both apps in App World below:

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 9:15 am. | Monster.com Apps for Job Seekers & Employers | One comment |


RIM Breaks Down Team BlackBerry #BeBold New Years Resolutions in Infographic

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:34 AM PST

BeBold Team

RIM has jumped on the infographic bandwagon with their #BeBold campaign. We told you right before the new year that RIM was sponsoring Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest. They asked Team BlackBerry to send in their New Years resolutions through Twitter using the #BeBold hashtag or in the comments on their announcement. Now a little less than a month later they have compiled all of those resolutions into an Infographic on how Team BlackBerry plans on being bold in 2012.

Check it out below:

be-bold-infographic

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 31, 2012, 8:34 am. | RIM Breaks Down Team BlackBerry #BeBold New Years Resolutions in Infographic | 6 comments |


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