There’s a great editorial by Al Sacco from CrackBerry entitled: “Top Eight Reasons Why Palm Pre’s Got Nothin On BlackBerry“. This is a have to read for those who are wowed or curious about the Pre, and the article is very informative, taking the argument and showing you why the Pre is not beating the BlackBerry.

Al Sacco writes for CrackBerry and also writes for CIO.com which has information on Enterprise and Business-oriented smartphone issues and concerns. He’s written about the iPhone in comparison to the BlackBerry as well. Here are the reasons he gives:

8. Pre, First Web OS, could be Flash In a Pan. He mentions that all OS wow and evolve, that BlackBerry will grow too.

7. Sprint Owns Pre (Owners) until 2010. For Sprint CDMA coverage, it’s not the same as AT&T with GSM.

6. Pre as an Enterprise Device? Not So Fast…For now it’s not even considered as a possible Enterprise Device.

5. No Expandable Memory/Memory Card Support For Pre!! 8 gigs is all this puppy ships with, no more hope.

4. The Pre’s Not Built To Last-But It Did Cut The Cheese. He’s meaning literally since it’s flimsy compared to BlackBerry.

3. There’s Only One Pre For Better Or For Worse. It should not be a one size fits all.

2. The Palms Pre’s App Catalog is Weak Like Your Little Cousin. It’s by no m means close to Apple’s or BlackBerry App.

1. The Pre’s Keyboard is For Pixies And Lilliputians.  The keyboard is very tiny and flat.

I can’t encourage you enough to read the eight reasons and see what you think. I, for one, am a die hard BlackBerry advocate. Long Live the BlackBerry. I really don’t have any curiousity about the other new “phones” because I know with each new BlackBerry, new capabilities keep stretching and increasing, and it keeps getting better. But for those of you who are curious, be sure to read this article.

If you read the article, let us know what you think. Are you a BlackBerry or Pre fan? Anything you’d like to add? We’d like to know.

[via: CrackBerry]

Whether you had a profile on the BlackBerry Avenue or you are new to the BlackBerry Nation, you have the opportunity to create a new profile and meet other BlackBerry addicts such as yourself.  The BlackBerry Avenue is similar to Facebook but is exclusive to BlackBerry owners exclusively.

The BlackBerry Avenue changed sites to bring a better experience and more networking capability to you. There is also a mobile launcher available so you can get there from your phone. You can find the BlackBerry Avenue here.

It started out as a spoof story June 3, 2009 on the Fox News website for advertising a book that will come out entitled, “Obama’s BlackBerry” by Kasper Hauser and published by Little Brown on June 8, 2009. But apparently the Iranian state-run press didn’t finish reading the article and reported that President Obama’s BlackBerry had been hacked by the terrorist group, Kasper Hauser.

The Huffington Post posted the story from Fox to the Iranian news site. The article on Fox News website is entitled: “Exclusive: Barack Obama’s Sensitive BlackBerry Messages To Be Released*”. The story goes on about a cyber terrorist Kasper Hauser had hacked the messages and releasing them in a book, and how the future of western civilization could be jeopardized unless it’s all a joke. Then after a few paragraphs it states that Kasper Hauser is actually a comedy group and if you follow the asterick to the end of the story it states “*All references to national secrets being released are not real, and supposed to be funny.” 

Forget reading between the lines, whatever happened to reading the whole story? Now whether the story wasn’t understood or not read through, they reported it June 4th as ” ‘Terrorists’ successfully hack Obama’s BlackBerry“. They end the article with stating : “It has been said that cracking such personal information would not be seen as a “breach of National Security” “. I wonder if they’ll pick up a copy and publish excerpts from the book as well.

The book seems to be funny, with a few supposed conversation pieces from the Commander in Chief to Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger – even Nuclear Command Control itself. There’s even some conversation from Bill Clinton. And it’s all a joke, almost makes you think about when the War Of The Worlds came out on the radio back in the day, and some people actually believed it to be true and live! Reading some of the quips I find it hard that they would even believe such a story, but Fox News should be credited with being that convincing! I guess some people can’t take a joke, but it’s too bad they didn’t post a message from Ahkmed the Dead Terrorist in the story. That might have even made the story even funnier.

What do you think of the story? Anything to share?

[via: Huffington Post]

“Successful Mobile Deployments Require Robust Security“, by Maribel Lopez, who was formerly with Forrester Research, states that the BlackBerry smartphones are the most secure against unauthorized access when they were compared against other device manufacturers. The report rates mobile devices in four different categories and the RIM BlackBerry devices stood out in all of them.

The report rated them on: Device; Network; Transmission; and Overall Mobile Security Rating. I’ll break it down for you what each manufacturer was rated and the comments it received.

Let’s start with Apple’s iPhone. In Device it was found the OS can be compromised, lacks device encryption, and does not have OTA updates. In that rating it scored 0%. In Network it received 75% as it uses the same active directory based authentication methods as Windows Mobile. In Transmission it received 50% for it having full VPN support but doesn’t have the added extra protection of a gateway or NOC server solution. The Overall Mobile Security Rating was 25% because even though v2.0 added several security features the platform still doesn’t have several basic yet critical features.

Now it’s Microsoft Windows Mobile’s turn. In Device it received 50% and comments were that it has a two-tier access for code execution control, removable storage but not on the device encryption, it supports OTA updates, and it requires third party Anti-Virus and Firewall support. In Network it received 75% and the comment was it uses certificate and active directory domain services for authentication. Transmission received three fourths as well with the commentary that it has full VPN support but provides MDM gateway in the DMZ. The Overall Security Rating was 75% with the comment that the Windows MDM security update covers a majority of firms basic security requirements.

And last we have the BlackBerry. For Device it received a 100%, comments were that it allows complete control on what can be executed on the device, on device and removable media encryption, and supports OTA updates. In Network it reached 100% with the comments that it encrypts the message and uses an cryptographic shared key system for authentication. In Transmission it received 100% with the comments that it routes traffic through the NOC and the BES to ensure Security and does not require a VPN. The Overall Mobile Security Rating was 100% as the comment states RIM provides solid security across the three areas of vulnerability.

We all knew it all along, even with a PDF security breach, BlackBerry is still on top. Another reason to love your BlackBerry. What do you think of the report? Share your comments, we want to know!

[via: BlackberryBlast]

The BlackBerry Sync Store has a variety of software, much of which is free. We know some of the best things in life are free, and many of us are learning to be frugal and shrewd when it comes to shopping and pricing. With that being said,  let me introduce you to the Free Frugalytics v1.0-Shopping For Smart People by Intelary Inc. 

I know there are times when we’re shopping and even spend some time going from store to store pricing an item. Well with Frugalytics, you can save that time. Look up specific items, read reviews and even which stores have the best price. You can search millions of products to compare prices, read descriptions, and reviews. Comparison shopping is now in the palm of your hand. It is an intelligent shopping resource which will save you time and money. You can rest assured knowing that you are getting the best deal for your money. The best thing besides the assistance it lends our shopping life, is that it’s created to be a lightweight and easy to use application and it doesn’t slow down your phone and its OS. Frugalytics by Intelary Inc also informed me that they are currently working on local shopping results (a subsequent tie to GPS), deal alerts, and country specific versions for international users. I can see Black Friday being more of a happy day with less stress already.

Use of the application is very easy. The icon is a green square with a white F in the middle. When scrolled over it has sun ray patterns, click on it and it loads immediate access to the Frugalytic$ mobile site where you can either search by categories there or search a name or ID in the search bar. It’s just that easy, and Frugalytics will display the results. Give it a shop, after all, what have you got to lose when you have money you can save?

There are two ways to access the app, to download it to your BlackBerry, or to use the Frugalytics mobile web interface.

Grab Your Free Copy of Frugalytics v1.0 from the BlackBerry Sync Store >

In case that link doesn’t work, here’s the OTA link to download straight from your phone: Frugalytics OTA

Minimum requirements are the BlackBerry OS v4.2.

Compatible devices are: 7130c, 7130e, 7130g, 7130v, 8100 (Pearl), 8110 (Pearl), 8120 (Pearl), 8130 (Pearl), 8220 (Pearl Flip), 8300 (Curve), 8310 (Curve), 8320 (Curve), 8330 (Curve), 8350i (Curve), 8700c, 8700f, 8700g, 8700r, 8700v, 8703e, 8705g, 8707g, 8707h, 8707v, 8800, 8820, 8830, 8900 (Curve), 9000 (Bold), Curve, Pearl, Storm

OS:  4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7

I don’t know how he does it, but we can all thank Kevin from CrackBerry because he always seems to find the best goodies. On CrackBerry, he announced the User Guide of the Tour 9630! It’s the next best thing to holding the phone, and it gives us something more to sigh about and dream. If you’re as anxious as we are to hold it in your hands, you can pacify some of your longing with the User Manual for the Tour 9630 at MegaUpload.

In keeping up with remembering that many of the best things in life are free, especially with today’s economy, here’s the latest free software from the BlackBerry Sync Store that is FREE.

I know that the Docs To Go that are loaded on the BlackBerry 4.5 OS and above do have Word and PowerPoint compatible office apps, it does have a free upgrade available for Spreadsheet To Go, and a purchase version too with PDF to Go (I’d advise the free upgrade first should you upgrade and if picture texting stop working, delete the program before calling tech support and see if it resolves the issue. If no problems arise, you’re free to do the paid version). Well there is a program that is free, in fact the only free, spreadsheet app. The app is GridMagic CE v3.3.0.201 by Simprit Pte Ltd. I know it’s a constant question by professionals about the Excel programs, well look no further than GridMagic. There is a family of GridMagic and this version CE, stands for Community Edition. It has basic features free for personal and educational use.

Features include:

I downloaded the app, and while I don’t keep any Excel documents on my BlackBerry, it does have sample Excel sample files of a loan calculator and one for contacts, and there are instructions for use of the app. You have a fifteen day period to register and purchase the GridMagic Standard or Professional, but for basic use the Community Edition works fine. But you do have the full Standard version for fifteen days. The CE version has basic viewing features and BlackBerry integration, the Standard version ($19.95) has basic viewing, basic editing, limited advanced features, downloadable workbook apps and templates, and up to 100Kb attachments, the Professional version ($49.95) has everything the Standard does but with any size attachment and fully advanced features.

Grab a Free copy of GridMagic CE from the BlackBerry Sync Store >

Compatible BlackBerry handsets: 71xx series, 72xx series, 75xx series,, 75xx series, 81xx Pearl Series, 83xx Curve series, , 87xx series, 88xx Series

Compatible OS: 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6

We all find ourselves losing things from time to time. But just like losing your wallet or purse, losing your BlackBerry is just as devastating. The thought of being without your mobile texts, emails, the messengers, and even mobile Twitter, is so distressing, leaving just a feeling of being lost and alone, total isolation from the world, we all know that feeling since our BlackBerry is our friend and our secretary. Hopefully you had your BlackBerry synced and backed up by way of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. I am also hoping you have it secured by a password. In the event that your BlackBerry is stolen and they try to open the phone, the BlackBerry will give them three tries to the password and if they don’t guess it, the BlackBerry is automatically wiped of any information. But in the event that you are tragically separated from your beloved BlackBerry, these are the steps you can take. The best medicine is prevention and preparation so I have two apps to share besides the obvious.

There are a few things you can do besides backing up your information and password protecting it. You can also install a few programs that will assist you in finding it. The first one I’m going to highlight is an application for $6.95 by the name of  Berry Locator. If you have Verizon, this one is not an option because Verizon currently blocks third party GPS access on all BlackBerry devices with the exception of the Storm and will not pull up a map. With this application you send an email to your BlackBerry with a custom phrase in the subject line and your BlackBerry will sound off like crazy even if it is in silent mode. If you’re unable to find it, the app displays the email message on the screen so you can send a message and contact information to whoever finds the phone. If you would like to try this app: Berry Locator

Supported models for this app are: 7130c, 7130e, 7130g, 7130v, 8100 (Pearl), 8110 (Pearl), 8120 (Pearl), 8130 (Pearl), 8220 (Pearl Flip), 8300 (Curve), 8310 (Curve), 8320 (Curve), 8330 (Curve), 8350i (Curve), 8700c, 8700f, 8700g, 8700r, 8700v, 8703e, 8705g, 8707g, 8707h, 8707v, 8800, 8820, 8830, 8900 (Curve), 9000 (Bold), Curve, Pearl, Storm
And compatible with OS 4.2 and above.

First there was RoboCop and now now there’s ROblock, v2.0, at the price of $9.95. ROblock is a program by Vapssky. This program can point the location of your lost or stolen device on Google Maps using the WHERE command. If you do not have GPS integration or a GPS signal available, then it will use the cellular tower location information to show the approximate location of your device. You have three ways available to communicate with your phone: sms; email; and the web interface. There is sms/email notification in the event that your phone has a sims card and it is replaced. You have the power to recover the Address book contacts. You have the ability to remotely wipe the entire content of your phone and your micro sd card, which is irreversible so make sure you have it backed up. There is a remote lock and alarm as well, in which you can lock the phone, locking the keypad and making it inoperable. This is the most intriguing part to me which I love: a high pitch alarm you can activate which will sound until the phone is unlocked. You can unlock it as you locked it and the alarm is optional. You can make your lost or stolen phone dial any number you want, so that you can listen in on it’s location and where abouts. You can send custom text messages with return information by command that will come up on the display so the finder can return the device. Here’s another advantage, this program can wipe the entire device without BIS/BES service. It uses sms, email, or GPRS for communication so you can wipe or recover the device even where service is unavailable, or the SIMs card has been replaced. If you’re interested in this app, you can download it at ROblock.

This program is compatible with OS 4.2 and higher.

The other option was introduced at WES. The application is called SmrtGuard- Your Smartphone Guardian. This program will be available upon launch of May 25, 2009. You are able to remote track your smartphone with no GPS required. It allows you to remotely wipe your sensitive data, fully wipe your phone from where you are. You can also back up your sensitive data which includes PIMs, call logs, emails, and more, allowing you to back up and restore personal data. The data can be accessed through the SmrtGuard web portal. You can also audio ping to locate your phone as well, just in case you have it on mute. Guardian features included are: Personal Guardian that allows you to send a distress SMS/Email/Call with a single button push; and the SimCard Guardian that gives you the ability to inform users of unregistered Sim cards being used in the smartphone. You can use it to remotely listen in on the smartphone’s surroundings and the ability to remotely lock the phone. You can also use it to track a loved one. This application allows you by using the dashboard to decide if the phone is lost or stolen, auto ping to find, and detonate the phone to wipe out everything. The program will have three types of pricing available: Monthly for $3.99; Bi-Annual for $22.99; and yearly for $44.99. The program will be available from their online site when it lauches. The program will be available for purchase here: SmrtGuard

Supported models for this app are: BlackBerry Storm, BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Curve (83xx Series), BlackBerry Pearl (81xx Series), BlackBerry Flip Pearl, BlackBerry 88xx Series                                      Supported OS are: BlackBerry OS 4.2.x , BlackBerry OS 4.3.0, BlackBerry OS 4.5.x, BlackBerry OS 4.6.x, BlackBerry OS 4.7.x

In the event the phone is pretty much lost and you don’t want to incur possible phone charges, you do have the option to call and suspend the line. If the line is suspended, they will not be able to use the phone to make phone calls, let alone out of country phone calls. Reporting it to the police is important if the phone has been stolen is important as well. In the US you do have the option to have insurance and make an insurance claim. For a deductible you can have your phone replaced.

Do you have a lost or stolen phone story you’d like to share? We’d like you to leave your comments and let us know.

This week on the CNET website, Ina Fried wrote her story of her ordeal as she dropped her beloved BlackBerry in the commode. She expressed the panic we all feel. And like any good sleuth even googled for information. She also inquired of her carrier as to how often it happens, and also brought up about how phones have a liquid damage indicator which if red, will void the chance of a warranty replacement.

Of course in the event your phone does find itself immersed, the best thing to do is removed the battery as quickly as you can. Dry the phone off as well and the battery. Taking the phone there are various ways as to how to dry it out. Some advise wrapping the phone in paper towels, in silica gel packs, or even uncooked rice (typically this is suggested for 48 hours, not turning the phone on at all during that time). Whatever you do, leave the phone be for a day or two.  Of course she had to test here and there and eventually her phone did dry out and it was soon typing normal once again.

What I loved most about the article was that Ina writes about her missing her emails, having to keep entertained with her iPod, and missing her phone. She also tried checking the phone throughout the drying process. That is one thing I would advise against. There is a chance the phone will short circuit which would not be good. Now if the phone is wet, this is a voided warranty. I also liked how she was so happy that her phone began to work again, and sharing her joy. This is equivelent to Dr. Frankenstein bringing life to his creation, “It’s Alive!!!!” 

When the phone incurs liquid damage, it becomes an insurance claim and I am hoping that you would have your beloved insured. An insurance claim to process doesn’t take long to receive a phone and may even be in your hands before the drying handset is totally functional. Now here’s the most important thing to remember: the disk that comes with your phone when you purchase it….that disk is very important. The reason for that disk is to install the BlackBerry Desktop Manager so you are able to back up your files and information and to sync your BlackBerry to your pc. Don’t wait till the phone is wet to think about saving your information. If your phone short circuits and meets it’s untimely demise, at this point it’s too late to ask your wireless consultant or representative if they can transfer contacts. So please, if you haven’t already, install that disk and back up your phone, sync it, do those little things on a weekly or every other day basis so you’re prepared for an event such as this. Preparing for the end is highly recommended because trust me, you’re going to feel it’s the end of the world when you are without your BlackBerry for even a few hours, let alone days. Transferring your back up information to a new phone will be as easy as plugging it in to your pc and putting the back up file back onto your BlackBerry.

Have you ever dropped your BlackBerry in water? Did you try it out and did it work again? What method did you use? Please let us know and share your comments.

[via: CNET News]

As a beta, it brought you the power of the Yellow Pages and was able to locate businesses, get fast movie information, give you directions and a map so you can find your way there, find a person in town or on the other side of the country, or even five day weather forcast, reverse lookup and more. But now the app is out of beta and on to it’s official release. What is new with the SuperPages Mobile app you ask?

Mauricio was informative about the new official app and how it has the SuperGuarantee Program which means certain services by certain advertisers from the YellowPages.com and Verizon Yellow Pages are guaranteed. That’s assurance right there. You can read and review businesses with a thumbs up or thumbs down, much like your digital radio rating. You can also add photos and find local WiFi spot, both free and pay per use.

You can now have access to over 17 million US businesses, all at your fingertips. To download the app, you can either go to the SuperPages.com Mobile  or the BlackBerry App World.  If you do download it, please let us know what you think.

A version for the Pearl and the Bold should be following soon.

[via: BlackBerry Rocks!]