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- Free Offline Reader PlayBook App Downloads Websites for Later
- Free BibbyCam Photo Filtering App Updated to v2.0
- PlayBook Documents to Go 2.0 Change Log & Bluetooth Keyboard Shortcuts
- Update: RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK
- Dungeon Scroll Word Based RPG Game Comes to the PlayBook
- bbFTP FTP Client for the BlackBerry PlayBook
- Another Two PlayBook Commercials Show Off OS 2.0
- Latest PlayBook Commercial Heading in the Right Direction
- RIM Plans Campaign to Increase Presence in Southeast Asia
- RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK
| Free Offline Reader PlayBook App Downloads Websites for Later Posted: 02 Mar 2012 02:03 AM PST
There have been a few PlayBook apps that have done similar things in the past but this latest Android port works relatively well and is free. Offline Reader by Lightful Designs simply lets you punch in a website address and it will save it so you can read it when you are offline. It needs a few tweaks to round out the edges but its pretty solid for a free app. Check out Offline Reader in App World If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, March 2, 2012, 5:03 am. | Free Offline Reader PlayBook App Downloads Websites for Later | Leave a comment |
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| Free BibbyCam Photo Filtering App Updated to v2.0 Posted: 01 Mar 2012 02:51 PM PST
BibbyCam let us know that they have updated their self named app to v2.0 to celebrate their 1 month release in App World. The new version 2.0 adds some nice new features and improvements with some highlights. Mainly they have added some new filters to play with your photos. Here are the highlights:
You can still send your images over BBM along with Twitter and Facebook. Check out BibbyCam free in App World. If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 5:51 pm. | Free BibbyCam Photo Filtering App Updated to v2.0 | Leave a comment |
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| PlayBook Documents to Go 2.0 Change Log & Bluetooth Keyboard Shortcuts Posted: 01 Mar 2012 12:44 PM PST
When I asked RIM what they added in Documents to Go v2.0 that shipped with PlayBook OS 2.0 I did not get a straight answer. Thankfully Ty from RIM's HelpBlog was more persistent and managed to get a high level change log for the new version. Some of the updates I already noticed but others like the new formula wizard in Sheet to Go were fun to learn. One of the main updates was obvious where they combined the Word to Go, Sheet to Go, and Slideshow to Go icons into a single icon on your PlayBook homescreen. Other than that they have added:
Ty also pointed out that RIM has documented the keyboard shortcuts you can use with a Bluetooth keyboard below. You can find them by opening the Help app on your PlayBook and selecting Documents to Go and then Shortcuts. General
Typing Shortcuts
Navigating Shortcuts
If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 3:44 pm. | PlayBook Documents to Go 2.0 Change Log & Bluetooth Keyboard Shortcuts | 3 comments |
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| Update: RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK Posted: 01 Mar 2012 12:11 PM PST Update: Mea Culpa. Below is the final copy of Chris’s article that is now correctly updated. You wouldn't know it from reading the mainstream media but the BlackBerry platform has a number of competitive advantages that remain unmatched by the competition. One of them is the Super Apps API through which BlackBerry apps can integrate richly with the user's data and native applications on the device – anything from memos, messages, calendar and tasks to call logs, notifications and LED controls and even things like Facebook and Twitter messages getting embedded in the Messages app. Good luck doing that with Android or iOS (have you tried writing code to access something as simple as the Calendar on Android??! Anyways, I digress…). Lots of apps like my high-end productivity apps Viira and the Viira Outlook Suite leverage the Super Apps API to create a rich experience that cannot be created outside the BlackBerry platform. By integrating with the user's phone's data and native applications or data stores in a secure, trusted way an app is no longer just an app but an integral and engaging part of the user's day-to-day experience. And that's a good thing. It's a good thing for both developers who can make lots of new product ideas possible. It's also a good thing for users who enjoy new capabilities on their devices. There is only one problem though. As of BlackBerry 10 support for the Super Apps API will be cut down to a fraction of its former self, in a way that's not very usable or practical to the majority of current BlackBerry developers (outside of games and themes). According to released slides RIM plans on cutting down the Super Apps API to just HTML5 and TAT (according to this slide). So right now core BlackBerry developers who have been coding in Java have a number of equally unappealing choices. Either web-iffy their apps (hello time lags and cheap-looking web UI) or port them to C++ (yikes!) and start relying on a new, as-of-yet unreleased UI framework with an unproven track record (beyond a few amazing looking demos). And with Android's Super Apps API severely lacking in comparison to BlackBerry's, current developers are staring at a number of equally unappealing alternatives. In reality most app developers just won't bother or have the time. So come BlackBerry 10 time many existing apps just won't get ported, not in time for the launch anyways. And watch the visceral media have a field day with that. Lo and behold, the number of apps on BlackBerry is actually decreasing! Now, I have been in the BlackBerry system for a long time and know that RIM is excellent at supporting the development community. But RIM needs to step in here and provide a technical migration path because most current developers are scratching their heads looking at the migration paths presented to them. So let's be constructive here. Here are some of the things that I think RIM can do:
I don't think 3) is that hard to pull off technically. RIM has plenty of time to execute on that – and even roll out a little beta program mid-summer to give developers a taste of what's to come.But something needs to be done and waiting is not an option that is sitting well with the developer community at this point. If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by viira_dev for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 3:11 pm. | Update: RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK | 8 comments |
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| Dungeon Scroll Word Based RPG Game Comes to the PlayBook Posted: 01 Mar 2012 10:24 AM PST Robinson Technologies has ported their popular word based RPG/Puzzle game, Dungeon Scroll, to the PlayBook. The game sort of uses words as weapons which is very creative and keeps drawing you in. You need longer words to deal with stronger foes with a sort of Scrabble style gameplay. Its a great way to pass the time. Check out their cross platform trailer below to get a sense of the how the game works: Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video LinkYou can find Dungeon Scroll in App World for $1.99 If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 1:24 pm. | Dungeon Scroll Word Based RPG Game Comes to the PlayBook | Leave a comment |
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| bbFTP FTP Client for the BlackBerry PlayBook Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:58 AM PST
I have seen a few sideload options for FTP on the PlayBook but JManso just released what I think is the first native (Adobe Air?) FTP client for the PlayBook. It lets you easily connect and transfer files between your PlayBook and the FTP server of your choice. It lets you browse the device on one side and the server on the other. You can also queue up transfers and monitor the queue.
Features include:
You can find bbFTP in App World for a very reasonable $0.99 If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 11:58 am. | bbFTP FTP Client for the BlackBerry PlayBook | Leave a comment |
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| Another Two PlayBook Commercials Show Off OS 2.0 Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:51 AM PST We just mentioned one of the new PlayBook OS 2.0 videos that hit YouTube but readers let us know about two more. There is one from ClaroBlogPeru (via BBOS) that really goes all out showing the adaptability of the tablet. The second one is more remenicient of RIM's previous “lifestyle” commercials so I am not that crazy about it but it does show off the new OS 2.0 functionality. Let us know what you think!
Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link
Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video LinkIf you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 10:51 am. | Another Two PlayBook Commercials Show Off OS 2.0 | 3 comments |
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| Latest PlayBook Commercial Heading in the Right Direction Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PST One of my friends sent over this latest video RIM has posted on their YouTube page and I have to say I am impressed. This is one of the best BlackBerry commercials I have seen from RIM to date. The story essentially has this guy proposing using his PlayBook over bridge but it is very well executed. Check it out below: Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video LinkIf you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 10:27 am. | Latest PlayBook Commercial Heading in the Right Direction | 11 comments |
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| RIM Plans Campaign to Increase Presence in Southeast Asia Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:04 AM PST
We usually don't hear all that much about what RIM is doing around the world but they have a huge focus on southeast Asia recently. According to Bloomberg RIM plans on having 4,000 BlackBerry outlets in flagship stores, stores in stores, and kiosks in Indonesia in the next year. Gregory Wade, head of RIM Asia, says that RIM also plans on being aggressive in Thailand and Malaysia. The strategy has so far been working well for RIM as demand grows in these areas especially in areas with unsubsidized phones. This should help RIM ride the tide until they can get BlackBerry 10 smartphones to replace the current BlackBerry 7 lineup. Jakarta store images via Tekno Up If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 10:04 am. | RIM Plans Campaign to Increase Presence in Southeast Asia | 2 comments |
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| RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK Posted: 01 Mar 2012 05:35 AM PST Update: Sorry for the confusion. You can find the updated final copy of Chris’s article that is now correctly updated. You wouldn't know it from reading the mainstream media but the BlackBerry platform has a number of competitive advantages that remain unmatched by the competition. One of them is the Super Apps API through which BlackBerry apps can integrate richly with the user's data and native applications on the device – anything from memos, messages, calendar and tasks to call logs, notifications and LED controls and even things like Facebook and Twitter messages getting embedded in the Messages app. Good luck doing that with Android or iOS (like, have you tried writing code to access something as simple as the Calendar on Android??! Anyways, I digress…). Lots of apps like my high-end productivity apps Viira and the Viira Outlook Suite leverage the Super Apps API to create a rich experience that cannot be created outside the BlackBerry platform. By integrating with the user's phone's data and native applications in a secure, trusted way an app is no longer just an app but an integral and engaging part of the user’s day-to-day experience. And that's a good thing. It's a good thing for both developers who can make lots of new product ideas possible and for users who enjoy new capabilities on their devices. RIM Marketing calls this "BlackBerry Flow" and the idea is that the user effortlessly "flows" from one part of the device in a smooth, value-adding and effortless way. You will even see "big time" apps like foursquare, drivesafe.ly, wikitude and of course the likes of BlackBerry Travel integrate very richly with the Super Apps and BBM SDK. As recently as two years ago RIM held “Super Apps” challenges – with big prizes. Actually, come to think of it every single consulting project I have done has used the Super Apps API in one way or another. The problem is, as it stands right now the Super Apps API and the BBM SDK will be dead when BB10 arrives, and with it a critical competitive advantage of the BlackBerry platform will be needlessly gone. RIM hasn't made a formal announcement to that effect, but the "bye-bye Super Apps, BBM SDK" conclusion can be easily inferred by all developers when they connect the dots. The official way forward for apps on BB10 is Android (unless of course you are doing a game or have a web app in your hands, in which case native and WebWorks are the way to go) . However Android's does not have a Super Apps API and what it offers is a puny little subset compared to what something as ancient as BlackBerry OS 4.6 can do. So if you have a good thing going for you, why kill it? There are a number of ways that RIM can easily address the problem and provide the kind of experience BlackBerry users are used to as they transition to BlackBerry 10. The easiest way would be of course to add a last-minute java player in BB10 to buy time and simply avoid the drama come launch time. Or they could hack the Android runtime somehow. Whatever it is RIM does need to step in and provide guidance to developers here. Otherwise there will be a lot of disgruntled users come BB10, especially on the enterprise side (hey, why upgrade when my NEW phone can’t do what the OLD one did so easily?) Abandoned, moth-balled apps and developers jumping ship will be next. And you betcha the negative publicity will be quick to follow and spread like wild fire after that. If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:
Posted by viira_dev for ©BerryReview, March 1, 2012, 8:35 am. | RIM Needs to Provide Guidance on Super Apps, BBM SDK | 26 comments |
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