Senin, 30 Januari 2012

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

Mike Lazaridis Exit Interview Provides Some Insight

Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:03 AM PST

Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie Years Ago

Its the only interview I have seen Mike Lazaridis give since he announced stepping down from the co-CEO position and the contents are pretty interesting. He spoke to The Record about his history at RIM but the most interesting thing I found was that Mike said he was planning on stepping down for years. They have been grooming Thorsten Heins for this since he joined RIM. They new Thorston "was a star" but and in the past three years he has proven himself.

Its a very interesting read that gives us some great insight into Mike and his desire to refocus on his family life. Check out the full interview at The Record. We wish you the best of luck Mike!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 30, 2012, 5:03 am. | Mike Lazaridis Exit Interview Provides Some Insight | Leave a comment |


BlackBerry DevCon Europe Mobile Conference Guide Available

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

DevCon Europe

BlackBerry DevCon Europe is about to kick off on February 7-8 in Amsterdam so its nice to see RIM has their session guide up. For this conference they have selected The Active Network to develop the app. Nothing really special that you have not seen in previous conference apps but it gives you access to conference sessions and more from both your PlayBook and your smartphone. It syncs your session calendar if you ahve one setup through RIM's My Scheduler tool on the DevCon website.

If you are attending DevCon Europe check out the Mobile Conference Guide here

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 29, 2012, 5:00 pm. | BlackBerry DevCon Europe Mobile Conference Guide Available | One comment |


BlackBerry PlayBook Prices Back to $199 (16GB) $249 (32GB) & $299 (64GB)

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 01:31 PM PST

PlayBook sale again

Turns out that the price/sale change we noticed earlier today was not a mistake. RIM has corrected the dates bringing the sale back to what it was before they brought the price to $299 across the board. They are now back to selling the 16GB PlayBook for $199, 32GB PlayBook for $249, and the 64GB PlayBook for $299. This is all in the lead in to the PlayBook OS 2.0 launch along with a new PlayBook in the works with a faster processor speed.

Check out the deal on ShopBlackBerry. No coupons necessary this time! Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 29, 2012, 4:31 pm. | BlackBerry PlayBook Prices Back to $199 (16GB) $249 (32GB) & $299 (64GB) | 8 comments |


Dingleberry v3.2 Released With Streamlined Exploiting Improvements

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 12:58 PM PST

Dingleberry

The Dingleberry team has been keeping their PlayBook rooting tool up to date. Their latest upgrade brings them to v3.2.0. It now performs quite a few more of the previous functions for you along with simply making the process simpler. Definitely worth checking out if you have been wanting to root your PlayBook or even simply downgrading the version of your OS.

You can find v3.2.0 at www.dingleberry.it or check out the change log below:

3.2.0

  • New on-boot exploit. No need to connect to USB after reboot. Allows seamless features such as theming.
  • Developer Mode is turned on at boot
  • Improved root scripts. Faster re-rooting. Hidden files. User script: start.sh (eg. for theming).
  • Improved downgrading progress bar for Full OS option. Now shows progress of each individual file.
  • Unified once-off login with the Playbook when USB is connected to Dingleberry. Less possible bugs, makes actions faster.
  • OS Version and Battery Charge information is polled (side effect of once-off login) for updated information.
  • New notice showing whether USB is connected.
  • Correctly ignores downloading ‘Custom’ firmware.
  • Allow pressing enter in ip/pass boxes for Dingle SSH
  • New welcome image

3.1.1

  • Shows OS version and battery charge on Dingleberry startup
  • Fixes for Mac and Linux Dingle SSH and Dingle tools
  • Updated to Qt 4.8.0 for Windows/Mac/Linux

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 29, 2012, 3:58 pm. | Dingleberry v3.2 Released With Streamlined Exploiting Improvements | Leave a comment |


Updated: Shop BlackBerry Confusingly Returns PlayBook Prices to $199 (16GB) – $299 (64GB)

Posted: 29 Jan 2012 07:37 AM PST

Update: It looks like this is not a price mistake. This new sale is valid until February 11th!

PlayBook discount

One of our readers, Lego Joe, let us know in the forums that Shop BlackBerry seems to have some sort of odd price mistake going on. The deal offering the all BlackBerry PlayBook Models for $299 was supposed to expire yesterday and instead RIM has their old promotion going. Their front page of Shop BlackBerry and the PlayBook page are offering the 16GB PlayBook for $199, 32GB PlayBook for $249, and the 64GB PlayBook for $299. The best part is the product pages say the deal expires… yesterday on January 28th. The front page of Shop BlackBerry says the deal lasts until the 11th of February.

PlayBook discount2

If you are in the market for a cheaper 16GB or 32GB Playbook then maybe you can take advantage of RIM's price mistake since it seems to let you checkout. Let us know!

PlayBook discount3

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 29, 2012, 10:37 am. | Updated: Shop BlackBerry Confusingly Returns PlayBook Prices to $199 (16GB) – $299 (64GB) | 5 comments |


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Sabtu, 28 Januari 2012

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

Sprint BlackBerry Curve 9350 Review

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 02:41 PM PST

IMG_5748

I have been using a Sprint BlackBerry Curve 9350 on and off for the last month or so and I have to say I really am drawn to the device. It feels like RIM finally came up with a BlackBerry Curve model that didn't have a sacrifices like a low resolution screen or no flash. They also upped the quality of the device to the point where it feels sleek. Read on to see what I mean.

IMG_5757  IMG_5749

On the BlackBerry Curve 9350 RIM decided to not force users to make too many compromises and actually offers benefits that even the Bold line does not have. The first thing you notice when you pick up a BlackBerry Curve 9350 (or Curve 9360 and Curve 9370 for that matter) is that the device is super thin and light. It also has a very "Curvy" design that fits beautifully in your hand. The volume control and mute buttons on the right side are perfectly placed and easy to press and the lock button on top has just the right amount of give. The keyboard is still a plastic-y Curve style keyboard but the build quality seems even better than the previous generation 9300 models. The only real complaint I have is that the call, menu, back, and end call buttons require more effort than I would like to push in.

IMG_5752 IMG_5753

I have to admit that I am a bit of a klutz and actually dropped this Sprint 9350 at least 4 times since I started using it and there is not even a scratch on it and no pealed off chrome like previous models. The only thing that ever happened is that the case needed to be squeezed back together once since some snap had let loose. The front of the device looks really slick and has the same sequential light on and off system as the rest of the BlackBerry 7 line. The gripes I had with the design was that they only put one convenience key on the new Curve and they flipped the MicroUSB port to face backwards from what you are used to.

IMG_5754 IMG_5755

One of the compromises RIM did make with the new Curve line is that the battery capacity is smaller than previous generations. (About 10% or so) I thought this was a problem since the new 800Mhz processor would eat through the battery faster but I have not noticed any real world differences. I still get through a whole day just fine.

The screen on the BlackBerry Curve 9350 is a real beauty. They finally raised the resolution from the previous 320×240 resolution on previous Curve devices to a much nicer 480×360. This is not as high as the 640×480 on the BlackBerry Bold 9900 but for the smaller screen size it looks bright and vivid. I have to say that is my favorite part of the 9350. It sort of reminds me of my old BlackBerry Curve 8300 but way improved. Its not the sharp steel lines of the 9900 but rather a sleek light plastic package with all the bells and whistles like NFC, Flash, nice Camera, etc.

IMG_5751 IMG_5756

The reason I delayed this review was because the first Sprint 9350 I received had some issues with random reboots that I wanted to check out before recommending the device. Sprint kindly sent me a replacement since it seems like the original phone I received was defective. I tested the new 9350 with both the stock OS and afterwards loaded a later unofficial OS from another carrier on the new device. The stock OS still had one random reboot but once I moved to the later unofficial OS the random reboots totally stopped and I am really liking the BlackBerry Curve 9350. I think that the BlackBerry Curve 9350 is the perfect classic BlackBerry experience. It gets the job done and sort of reminds me of a BlackBerry Bold 9700 that is lighter, faster, and thinner. A simple way to think of the device is as a improved BlackBerry Bold 9700 with a curve keyboard.

To wrap this all up I have to say that the amazing part about the BlackBerry Curve 9350 is that in some ways I prefer it over my BlackBerry Bold 9900 that is just sitting in a drawer for now. The lack of a touchscreen means less accidental button presses though I do miss it for web browsing. I have to say I am impressed with what RIM did with the Curve and hope Sprint will release a new OS 7.1 for the device shortly to enable even more of its features.

If you have a BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 yourself let us know what you think of it in the comments!

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 5:41 pm. | Sprint BlackBerry Curve 9350 Review | Leave a comment |


Free BibbyCam Filters Your BlackBerry Photos With 14 Filters & Social Integration

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:05 AM PST

BibbyCam12 BibbyCam1

One of our anonymous tipsters let us know about BibbyCam becoming available on App World. The app tries to compete with Instagram by offering up 14 photo filters on your BlackBerry smartphone. It also lets you connect your account to Facebook or Twitter to share the filtered pics and like/comment on others pics.  It also has BBM connectivity if you have OS 6.1+.

I have not managed to get the app to work on my BlackBerry 9350 but a friend who tried it out said it is pretty solid for a free app. You can pick up BibbyCam for free in App World and let me know what you think!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 12:05 pm. | Free BibbyCam Filters Your BlackBerry Photos With 14 Filters & Social Integration | 2 comments |


BlackBerry User Base Slightly Skewed Towards Affluent & Older Crowd in the US?

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:48 AM PST

 ComScore Index RIM

ComScore released an interesting new study that shows the breakdown in ages and household income in the US. They found that compared to the index BlackBerry users were about 12-20% more likely to be between 35 and 64 compared to the median smartphone user. They also found that they were 4% lower than the median in ages 13-17 and 11-17% lower in the 18-34 age space. Not huge variances but actually shows that it is not as skewed as some analysts make it sound.

What is also interesting is that BlackBerry users are 2-9% more likely than than the index to be making over $75,000 in household income and are 10-152% more likely to have at least partial to full employer reimbursement for their wireless bills. Interesting stuff though once again statistics can say whatever you want.

via Comscore via BGR

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Posted by the BerryReview Team for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 11:48 am. | BlackBerry User Base Slightly Skewed Towards Affluent & Older Crowd in the US? | One comment |


Join the Petition for Skype on the BlackBerry PlayBook

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:52 AM PST

skype-on-pb

We have seen signs pointing to Skype coming to the BlackBerry PlayBook since January of 2011. We also saw it again in April of 2011 in another leaked slide. I actually heard from a few sources that the reason it never launched was because Skype wanted RIM to pay them to bring their video chat platform to the PlayBook and RIM declined sort of like what Verizon did with Skype and BlackBerry. RIM has had an interesting relationship with Skype where they actually developed a Skype BlackBerry smartphone app that even Skype called "very efficient" and then scratched it because carriers did not like it.

skype playbook mockup

Now we have a large clamoring of users who really want to see Skype on the BlackBerry PlayBook. Microsoft has now acquired Skype and they do not even support their own Windows Phone platform. A group of BlackBerry users have gotten together to appeal to Skype's CEO and Vice President on February 1st to bring Skype to the BlackBerry PlayBook. You can join their appeal which started on CrackBerry forums on both Facebook and Twitter.

I wish you guys the best of luck! Hopefully we can turn the tide on this one now that RIM has a better relationship with Microsoft.

Thanks Phillip for pointing this one out!

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 10:52 am. | Join the Petition for Skype on the BlackBerry PlayBook | 6 comments |


Add Some Clipart Flair or Filters to Your Photos With FunCam (OS 7.0+)

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:42 AM PST

ee boys-in-jail

ToySoft let us know about their latest app FunCam which aims to help you create funny pictures specifically on OS 7.0+ devices. It has a library of 40+ fun clipart pictures like hair, glasses, etc that you can spice up your pictures with. It also has custom effects/filters like grayscale, emboss, negative, paint, sepia, and scatter available to you.

You can check out FunCam in App World for a relatively inexpensive $0.99

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 10:42 am. | Add Some Clipart Flair or Filters to Your Photos With FunCam (OS 7.0+) | Leave a comment |


Prem Watsa “The Warren Buffett of Canada” Doubles Stake in RIM

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST

Breaking news this morning has new RIM board member Prem Watsa increasing his stake in RIM to 5.12%.  Prem Watsa is the CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.  Mr. Watsa, Fairfax, and other companies related to them bought 6,499,500 shares of RIM on Wednesday and an additional 7,550,700 on Thursday, according to filings with U.S. securities regulators. This seemed to be initially good to investors as RIM was up as high as 1.5% in pre-market trading, but, as of 9:13 am est they have gone down to no change since yesterday.  It will be interesting how this plays throughout the day on the stock.

 

**** Update**** As of 10:07 am est the stock is up 3.38%.  RIM stock has now fully recovered from the initial drop after the CEO announcement on Monday.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by BBA Brian for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 10:00 am. | Prem Watsa “The Warren Buffett of Canada” Doubles Stake in RIM | 2 comments |


Test out your inner Audiophile with Beat The Intro

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:57 AM PST

Beat The Intro is a great new free game for your BlackBerry smartphone.  You need to guess the song as fast as you can after listening to the clip.  It also has BBM integration, challenge all your friends and compete for the highest score.  Built in is access to the 7Digital music store, in case you want to buy songs from the artists you hear in the game.  There is also promise of a global leader board coming in an upcoming update, so you can compare your scores around the world. More screenshots after the break.

b1
b2
b3
b4
b5

You can grab your free copy of Beat The Intro in AppWorld.

If you liked this article, you might find these interesting:

Posted by Fubaz for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 9:57 am. | Test out your inner Audiophile with Beat The Intro | Leave a comment |


UberSocial Gets Another Small Update to v1.308 to Fix Connection Bugs

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 04:10 AM PST

AnV let us know that UberSocial has pushed out another update to their popular Twitter client. This one also brings some small hotfixes like they did earlier this month to v1.304. The change log for this version is:

  • Loss of 3G and/or BIS connection after starting UberSocial
  • Use of the carrier data plan even though BIS is specified in the configuration

UberSocial is free, but you can pay $4.99 per year to have the ads turned off. You can pick up the update directly from UberSocial or wait for it to go up on App World.

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, January 27, 2012, 7:10 am. | UberSocial Gets Another Small Update to v1.308 to Fix Connection Bugs | 4 comments |


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