If you text and you text a lot, read on. This app is for you. Textender by BerryCodes is for the individual who gets irritated that when you are typing a text, you are stopped at 140/160 characters and have to send a separate message. Have heart for there is a cure.

Unfortunately, GSM carriers don’t have this issue, it only applies to CDMA carriers. CDMA carriers have a limit on the text messages to 140 or 160 characters. But some of us write some long texts beyond k or cya. Some of us want to send some real messages. So how do you get beyond the frustration of having to shorten a text when you reach the limit and having to send another. Textender is available for $2.99, but is on sale until Nov 30th for $1.49 in the BlackBerry Sync Store or for the full price in the BlackBerry App World.

The description is as follows: Textender will allow a CDMA BlackBerry user to compose and send messages which are beyond the standard 140/160 character limit currently imposed by their carrier. Simply open Textender, type your entire message (no more talking in code to shorten the message) and send! It’s that easy.
CDMA carriers include Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, U.S. Cellular, Bell, Telus, Cricket, and MetroPCS.

The following are the features:

Send messages beyond 140/160 characters

Send to up to 6 recipients at any given time

When selecting a recipient Textender defaults to the mobile number for the contact

Can be accessed while composing a text/sms

Stand alone app which can be assigned to a convenience key

Displays a message count so the user is aware how many messages they are sending

Sent messages will be saved as one whole message in native message app on the BlackBerry

**Please Note: Your carrier will still charge you for the total number of messages sent, not for one message each time Textender is used**

I  installed Textender on my BlackBerry Tour 9630. It installed quickly and was ready to run. The icon is a blue square with a few silver tool icons and the word TEXT across it. When you open the icon the very top says recipient, and the top says 1/6. What this means is that you can continue typing and the six is how long it can run, in how many messages it would be if you texted separately. If you click the Options button you have: Send Text; Add Recipient; Settings; and Copy. Settings is nice as it allows you to extend. Add Recipient allows you to choose recipients out of your Contacts book. The only issue I found with this app is that it does not save your messages. Keep this in mind and make use of the copy. If you exit out before finishing the message, it will be gone. It sends easily and it will show as sent not in your text folder, but in your messages folder. I was surprised with how fast and easily it sent. On the recipient’s phone it comes in as three texts.

Pros: You are able to send longer messages, all in one time seamlessly. You don’t have to worry about the message being broken apart, until it’s sending. The app keeps track of how long and how many messages your message is. It integrates great with your Contact Book and Messages.

Cons: Does not keep your message if you close or back out.

You can grab your copy of Textender v1.0 by BerryCodes for $1.49 from the BlackBerry Sync Store until Nov 30th >

You can also grab your copy of Textender from the BlackBerry App World for $2.99 >

Compatible with OS: 4.5, 4.6, 4.7

Compatible with BlackBerry Devices:  81xx Pearl series, 82xx Pearl Flip series, 83xx Curve series, 8520 (Curve), 87xx series, 88xx World series, 9000 (Bold), 95xx Storm Series 96xx Tour

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Loopt announced a major update for its free application for BlackBerry at the BlackBerry Developer Conference. Loopt connects users to the most relevant places and people nearby using background location updating. This new version better enhances a user’s ability to experience more around them by who’s around, what’s going on and where.

From the release:

Loopt now offers dynamically-generated, relevant local content about places and events from some of the best sources on the Web to help users meet up with nearby friends, explore new places to grab food, and find local events happening now.  Feature highlights include:

·    Discover the best places and events, including those rated highly by your friends on Pulse

·    See where your friends are on maps – view their latest updates listed in real-time and comment on them

·    Check-in to instantly share your updates with friends – easily update Facebook and Twitter with your photos and places in one Loopt check-in

·    Browse and rate local places and events – peruse detailed information from Zagat, Citysearch, and the Loopt community

·    Save money through special offers from nearby retailers with local coupons

Loopt is proud to partner with Zagat, the world’s leading provider of consumer-survey based information.  Zagat’s quality, trusted information is based on the collective experiences of thousands of avid consumers.

So I decided to find out just what Loopt is and what I can do with it. I downloaded it from their website and it installed quickly. It installs a cute little blue circle icon with two white circles intertwined, like a blue face with white oogly googly eyes. Logging in, you are able to create your account using your cell phone number. After it’s all set up. On the left side there are six buttons going down. Your main screen displays first in the center. You have a link to link to Twitter and Facebook. The next allows you to change your email, the next to do location sharing. This is nice as you can share, or hide from some or all of your friends. Next is Location refresh, and last My Alerts. Those you can set to be alerted to on by sms, email, or both.

Using the side buttons you have the option to check in with Loopt, Facebook, and Twitter. The next is Discover and this is where you can find hot events nearby and Hot places nearby which is restaurants. If you go to search you can find Bars, Coffee, Food, Gas and Events: all the ways we gather and socialize. Next is Friends. Here you can add friends, find friends, view on the map and see you and your friends. Lately is next, showing what you and your friends have updated today. Settings is the first screen you saw by default to change your settings and how you connect.

I have to admit, this is nice. I was alerted by text to the new friend request. It was easy to accept and message. You can see your friends on the map, and if you leave it running in the background, the location will update for you. I found it easy to use, great way to keep in touch, perfect to enhance social networking on your BlackBerry.

Loopt is available for the Curve 8900, Bold 9000, and the BlackBerry Tour 9630. You have to try this, it’s free, great for keeping track of the location of your friends, and what’s going on in your location. And what’s even nicer, the app is available to other platforms as well, so it’s possible to keep in touch with your friends even if they have a Droid. So don’t wait to be thrown for a loop, get Loopt and stay in the loop.

Grab your free copy of Loopt from here >

Loopt is also available on BlackBerry App  World here >

For more information, read more on Loopt here >

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

There’s a shortcut app available for BlackBerry that allows you to have a place to reach all your apps with a single letter or click. It’s an app that adds to versatility and to convenience. The app is Super QWERTY by MMMOO and it’s available for $3.99 in the BlackBerry Sync Store.

MMMOOO has several different programs and themes. Super QWERTY leaves the access of your apps and creates the shortcuts at your fingertips. It works for 4.2 and up, and has two versions, wifi and non-wifi.

The description is as follows: Super QWERTY enable you to quick access your applications like Messages, SMS, Tasks, Browser, BBM, Calendar, Google Maps, Gmail, IM+, Opera, MyPhone, Ever Light II etc just with one key. One must have tool on Blackberry.

It includes the following features:

• - The fastest way to access your applications at present.
• - Quick start with the key “q” in main screen.
• - You can start Super QWERTY in the system menu, launch from anywhere.
• - Up to 80 shortcuts, you can set as much as your favorite applications.
• - Friendly design, attention to the used shortcuts, never mess up.
• - You can enter the applications in Super QWERTY simply by clicking your trackball/trackpad/enter.
• - Easily to compose a SMS/PIN/Email text to your contacts.
• - Your settings will be saved even your reinstall Super QWERTY.
• - Lifetime free upgrade.
• - Support Bold2 9700

I tested this application on my BlackBerry Tour 9630, and as with all MMMOOO products, you purchase using the pin and you download to your pc, unzip your files, and bring to your BlackBerry through the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

I installed the app and there in my downloads sits the fiery icon Super QWERTY. The first thing you need to do is register the pin through the app. After registering, you’re able to start using the app. This is how you start using the application. You’ll see the list available of all your apps. You can set a letter, both upper and lower case. You use these commands as short cuts. To take advantage of these settings you have to go to your call options and change the screen dialing to “no”. I found it easier for me to just set the Q to open Super QWERTY since some of my opening apps by default would change such as t opens tasks and would not allow Tweet Genius to open up, which is what I had set to t. So I just opened Super QWERTY and then clicked on each one.

It makes reaching your apps extremely convenient as you don’t have to go into the folder and find your app, you can reach them all through the Super Qwerty app. So what makes this an app you would like to have? For the sake of having a one place to find them all, for the convenience of being able to have short cuts utilizing your keyboard. Other apps I have start with the key, only a few preset ones would not function as I had set them to do. But they all work through the Super QWERTY. For the price it isn’t bad. We’ve learned to take advantage of our short cut side keys, so why not use our keyboard for easier short cuts?

I like the extreme easy accessibility, the way it comes up, the help page, it all works nice, and especially for the price. If you’re looking for a short cut, this one’s great. It’s simple and very basic, it’s not a huge battery and memory user, and it’s not filled with pics and colors, just very basic.

Pros are that it’s all in one spot and I listed, not a killer on your battery or memory. If you have several apps you use, this is so easy and nice to use, so you don’t have to search and find anymore.

The con was that it didn’t work from all keys even after following the instructions, and it’s because some of those apps are rooted to certain keys.

You can grab your copy of Super QWERTY v1.0 for BlackBerry by MMMOOO for $3.99 from the BlackBerry Sync Store here >

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

RobLock by Xim Technologies, LLC, has released it’s next version, and it’s only available to Verizon US handsets. I’ve done a review on RobLock before, as it’s a security app that is reasonably priced and keeps your BlackBerry safe. It is theft recovery software complete with data backup solution.

Now here’s what the absolute 2.0 features:

GPS and cell based device tracking, using Google Maps; the ability to communicate with your lost or stolen phone by SMS, email, or web interface; be alerted by sms or email if the SIM card is changed; the ability to recover your contacts from a lost phone; remote wipe the ENTIRE device AND media card; remote lock and alarm; remote call back; remote popup text messages; does not require BIS/BES for complete wipe.

Now here’s where 3.0 is different. It has a unique backup system. It has remote backup and restore; view and export backup online; schedule automatic backups; restore to a new device; and secure data handling on top of the RobLock Theft and Recovery System. For recovery, we’re talking calendar, tasks, memo, up to fifty emails, and your contacts.

As I have the absolute v2.0 of RobLock, they notified me about their newest version, so I had to try this out. I have to admit, it’s impressive. While v2.0 is only $9.95, the newer v3.0 for Verizon has three tiers of pricing. $2.95 per month, $15.95 bi-annually, or $27.95 per year. Not bad when you think about the backup system and the security it provides.

I downloaded this version on my Tour 9630, and it went very smooth. I was able to download it with no issues whatsoever. Upon installation, it’s red button icon. You have to set an acct online and on the phone. After setting up the account, the icon will open with your password to reveal the Roblock Theft Recovery System and the Roblockup Data Backup Solution. You have backup and restore. In the Theft Recovery System, you can even have an email contact to email for your phone.

Now should you lose your phone or if it gets lost, you are given different options. You can lock the phone with or without a siren, wipe it, even have the phone silently call you in hopes that you may be able to figure out who has your phone, or where it is by it’s surroundings. Even better, how bout tracking it GPS?  You can change the device, you have the power on your phone. And you have options to back up information. It’s a great solution for on hand backup, for protecting your mobile information, and knowing it’s safe.

Using the Control Panel, I couldn’t wait to put it to the test. After registering and activating the account, you open it up and you have the Overview. This is general information such as the email, the phone, Connection, Profile, Subscription, and change device.

Next is your Commands. First is Where. You can see the coordinates of your phone, first by tower information and then by GPS information. Next is Lock Phone and you have the choices of with or without alarm. Now even if it’s on vibrate or mute, you can be sure the alarm will still sound and it will be loud! The police siren is a nice finishing touch. Next is Unlock. This allows the previous command to be taken off. Next is Remote Wipe, and thankfully you have to confirm before you do, so just checking out the control panel won’t erase your phone. Next is call back and this is where you have your phone call another phone. It’s silent so if it’s stolen, the thief has no idea. Display Text, this one is really fun. You can display what you want the person to read and the text will appear in the front of the phone. Of course all these commands show you as they are being directed to the handset, and also if they are successful. I successfully tested each one, except to wipe my handset. It was really impressive how fast it works. Tracking my BlackBerry was fun, and it was neat to see tower information.

Last is Backup. You can view backup you have already created. There is BackUp Now so you can decide what you are going to back up: Memo, Calendar, Contacts, Call Log, Tasks, and Mail. There is Restore Backup so you can decide what will be returned. Last is the Scheduler so you can decide when to back up on a regular basis.

Overall, RobLock is very easy to use and extremely convenient. v3.0 is currently available to Verizon handsets, but hopefully will be open to other handsets as well. It’s easy to use on your phone and on the PC, and has the options. I tested. I can see this as an asset to anyone who is interested in security on the phone. Again, strictly for security.

If you currently have a Verizon Wireless BlackBerry, you are able to subscribe to the service, and if not, v2.0 absolute is available still.

You can download RobLock v3.0 for monthly, bi-annually, or annually here >

You can download RobLock v2.0 absolute for $9.95 here >

For more information, feel free to read more on RobLock by Vapssky here >

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I always get asked the question, “Is there an app to ring and vibrate at once?” There is, though MMMOOO has come out with one that has a twist. Berry Vibrate is available in the BlackBerry Sync Store and is one of the little inexpensive apps you may find you’ll want to keep.

Berry Vibrate goes for $1.99. In the store, the description is as follows:

Berry Vibrate enables your phone active sound and vibrate at the same time instead of one by one when there’s a call. Won’t miss any important calls.

With all the questions about what is out there, I decided to try Berry Vibrate. I tested it on my BlackBerry Tour. As with all of MMMOOO’s products, you purchase it, and are given the download for the pc version. You unzip your files (extract, zip whichever you prefer), and then plug your phone in and use the App Loader from the BlackBerry Desktop Manager and search for your Berry Vibrate alx file and load it.

After loading the app, I found the little BlackBerry icon with the “vibrating waves” around it in my Download file. After clicking on it, the app gives you two options: Activate the Berry Vibrate and Activate the LED Flash. Also listed is a list of Tips. It explains that when it is activated it auto launches but does not affect the system.

I had no issues with the app. For a mere $1.99, I found it to be a great app for those who would like to have that vibrating alert. Even when I had my phone on silent profile, my phone would vibrate with a call, and the LED flashes in disco colors to let me know there’s a call. The app is simple, easy to use, and it’s priced really good.

I myself don’t use vibrate alerts except when I’m at an event where I can’t hear my phone. At work it’s so busy that even if I’m alerted to a call, I cannot answer the call and have to return a call as soon as I get a free second. But many consumers still like that option that normal handsets used to have, and it’s extremely handy for those who need to get those calls as they come in. Doctors, Real Estate Agents, Construction Managers, there’s several professions that the phone call is extremely important.

The app didn’t take any battery life, ran easily, and I liked the convenience of it. No complicated menus, no keys to run it, it’s just as it says, Berry Vibrate. It may be a small app, but it’s perfect if you want your call and vibrate too. You can count on Berry Vibrate to shake things up a bit without being an energy hog.

You can grab your copy of Berry Vibrate for $1.99 in the BlackBerry Sync Store here >

Compatible with OS: 4.2, 4.5, 4.6, 5.0

Compatible with BlackBerry Devices: 81xx Pearl Series, 82xx Flip Pearl Series, 83xx Curve series, 85xx Curve series, 87xx series, 88xx World series, 89xx Curve series, 9000 (Bold), 9550/9520 (Storm2), 9630 (Tour), 9700 (Bold)

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

I’m trying out a few applications for the BlackBerry that promise to help with being a responsible driver. One is drivesafe.ly and the other is zoomsafer. I know statistics say there’s quite a few drivers who text, I can make an educated guess it’s more. We all know someone who does it.

We all love our BlackBerry, and sometimes we are so caught up we cannot help ourselves, and it’s hard to draw the line where it is excessive, especially when we are so used to multitasking. Well, today I saw a movie titled “Seven Pounds”, and of course the main character you find out at the end received a message on his BlackBerry and his looking at his phone instead of the road caused his accident which killed seven people. It really affected me, not to mention caused my daughter to look at me with a raised eyebrow since my BlackBerry and I are inseparable. So I went to search for applications that will help me to more responsible. Not that I text while I drive, but I’m usually fortunate to have my daughter as a passenger who is quick to grab my phone when it dings and can answer for me. But this would help make life easier and assure her that I am responsible even when she isn’t in the passenger seat, not to mention show her I want to be a role model and show her I want her to do the same.

The two apps are drivesafe.ly and zoomsafer. Both apps are free or have a free version. Drivesafe.ly is actually available in the BlackBerry Sync Store as well. The description of drivesafe.ly is as follows:

DriveSafe.ly automatically reads incoming text messages and emails out loud so you can concentrate on the road. Eliminate the temptation to reach for your phone by letting DriveSafe.ly read to you and optionally auto-respond for you.
Stay connected by listening to your messages without texting while driving or reading emails in your car. DriveSafe.ly is the answer to texting while driving TWD .

For even more functionality download DriveSafe.ly Pro – also available on BlackBerry® App World. DriveSafe.ly Pro adds the ability to use additional voices, listen to text messages and emails without sponsor messages and much more!

This app is compatible with BlackBerry devices that have OS 4.5 and up.

There is a paid, a one time fee and monthly fee version available.

The free one includes:

Reads up to 25 words per message

Female voice only

Optional text and email auto-responder

Easily upgradable to DriveSafe.ly Pro

The one time fee of $13.95 includes:

Low one-time charge for lifetime of phone

Reads up to 500 words per message

Choice of female or male voice

Auto-select voice by contact gender

Optional text and email auto-responder

The monthly is the same as above, but charges a monthly fee of $3.95.

With ZoomSafer, it’s available by signing up on line, and the text is sent to the phone. You are able to choose 3 designated contacts who may call you while you drive and who can receive notification when you drive and stop. The scary thing is that it’s a proven fact statistics show that 80% of crashes involve driver distraction. It’s a concerning issues, so much that President Obama has banned texting for all Federal employees. We’re making changes, but it’s not enough. We as adults, are the examples to our children and our teens. We need to start paying more attention, and software such as these can make a difference.

ZoomSafer’s description is as follows:

ZoomSafer is patented software for mobile phones that prevents distracted driving by helping motorists make better decisions.  The service automatically activates when you’re driving and applies a policy that determines what you can/can’t do with your phone.  Plus, ZoomSafer leverages psychological and social factors to encourage you to make good choices — and it can even remind you that there may be criminal and financial consequences for making bad choices.

By helping people make better choices when driving – ZoomSafer can successfully:

modify behavior

reduce risk of crash

reduce risk of liability

save lives/money

Right now ZoomSafer is in stage one of the beta and it includes:

Auto speed detection – ZoomSafer detects when you start to drive and automatically activates.’

Safety Announcements – A recorded message plays when ZoomSafer activates reminding you to drive safely.  We’ve pre-recorded several announcements for the Beta, but in phase 2 of the beta you’ll be able to record your own custom announcements as well as choose from several Celebrity Safety Announcements.

Auto-Toots – These are messages sent on your behalf to friends, families, and social networks to tell them when you’ve started and stopped driving.  These updates are OPTIONAL and can be sent via SMS or E-mail to up to three contacts.  You can also update Facebook or Twitter with these notifications.

Keyboard Locking – Your keypad will be locked when ZoomSafer is active (driving mode) except for: (1) the “Close” soft key exits the application when you have stopped driving or if you are a passenger. (2) Calling 911 (on the Storm, this will be a soft key and all other Blackberry models, you can press 9-1-1) and (3) the Voice Dialer left hand convenience key – For this initial Beta, we are allowing you to use the native voice dialing application on Blackberrys to make outbound calls. In the future this feature will only be available as part of the ZoomMate premium service.

Three Priority Contacts – You can enter up to three Priority Contacts who will be able to call and interrupt you while you are driving. If a priority contact calls you while you are driving we will announce the call via a generic ZoomRinger. In phase 2 of the beta you will be able to create custom ZoomRingers for each of your priority contacts.

Inbound phone call management – While you are driving, we will suppress ringer/notification of all inbound callers who are not listed as Priority Contacts.

Inbound email/text message management – While you are driving, we will suppress messaging-related inbound alerts.

Auto-Responses – While you are driving, if people try and contact you via phone, email or text – they will receive an auto-response notifying them that you are focused on the road and driving with ZoomSafer.

I’m going to be alternating these apps and using them, to see what I think about them. I encourage you to try them with me, and make a difference. I’ll be sharing my review by next Sunday on both the ZoomSafer and the drivesafe.ly. If you try them with me, I would really like you to share your comments on this post with me, share your findings and experience with them. Change begins with us, and even if we are not guilty of reading our texts or emails while we drive, we can begin showing the younger generation we care by taking advantage of software that is designed to help us and them. I know I’d feel better if I like the software and have my family using it as well. It’s assurance and relief. I’d really appreciate some comments and let me know if you’re joining me in this assignment this week.

The last time I reviewed Color ID, it was a few updates behind. And so much has happened since. I really like the Color ID, and it has become an integrated app of my BlackBerry. Not only has it updated, but there’s also a free version available as well, and we have a surprise.

Color ID is a fave app of mine, it’s a very important and integrated app on my BlackBerry. I use it for family, important friends and coworkers. Ever since the first day I tried it, I found it so useful in knowing who’s contacting me, being able to “triage” my emails, texts, and calls. Color ID is available in the BlackBerry Sync App Store for $5.99. This is a one time download price.

The description of the Color ID is as follows:

Know instantly who or where an email, sms or incoming call is from just from the colors of the flashing light on your Berry! Note: Your BlackBerry may require a battery pull after download.

Version 1.1.3 prevents the interruption of voice calls by disabling Color ID during a call. Upgrades from previous versions are free and encouraged.

Features are:

Assign custom LED colors to specific contacts for incoming text messages, email and phone calls!

Assign any one or two colors to the BlackBerry LED indicator

Select from 9 colors and combination of them: Orange, Pink, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, Red, White or none

Multiple phone numbers and email address ability for one color combination

Syncs with BlackBerry address book for easy additions!

Easy-to-use interface with preview functionality

Share with a friend feature

Setup wizard for first-time users

I installed the Color ID on my BlackBerry Tour 9630, and it installed effortlessly. I did the battery pull after installing and when it rebooted, I found the icon as the CID. Clicking on it brings up a very colorful introductory screen. After that it prompts you to add a contact. But here’s the even better and easier part of it. If you install Color ID, you can go to your contacts, choose one, click the options button, and you have a choice of: “Add to Color ID”. This makes it so much easier if you have email and phone numbers already in the contact info.

If the information is not in the contacts, then you can add manually through the app. Go to the Color ID icon, click the options button and choose “Add New”. You have the following options: Name; Email; Phone Numbers; Color 1; and Color 2. It’s so easy to choose your colors, you can add more than one email and phone number as well. Each color has an assortment to choose from: red; pink; orange; yellow; green; cyan; blue; purple; white; and off. The blinking colors can be of any combination you’d like.

You can add all your important contacts in here, and also those you’d like to avoid as well. So over all, the app is really an essential add to your contacts since you can change the ringtone, but not the led light for each one. This gives you not one, but two to add. I would like to see support with the messenger as well, or BlackBerry pins. That would really be a great addition to it, but as it stands, it’s very useful.

Customer service is great too, any issues are promptly answered and addressed. Over all, there’s nothing to find wrong or any fault. Now for the news about the free version. You can find the free version of the app on BlackBerry AppWorld. The free version of Color ID only allows customization of two contacts. This is a great way to decide what you think of the app, or if you only have a few important contacts you want to be alerted of. To add more contacts you must choose upgrade. You can read more about the free version of Color ID by Motek Americas, Inc here.

If you’re interested in the full version of Color ID, then look no further.

You can download the Color ID v1.1.3 by Motek Mobile for $5.99 from the BlackBerry Sync Store here >

Now here’s the surprise. We were granted a special code for those who are lucky enough to download fast enough. The first thirty downloads will be free!  Here’s the directions, click here and use the coupon code BBSYNC. The first 30 are free. Don’t forget to comment and leave a thank you to Motek Mobile.

If you don’t make it to the first thirty, you can always download a free version from the BlackBerry App World, or purchase the full version from the BlackBerry Sync Store.

Compatible with OS:  4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 Non-Touch, 4.7 Touch Screen

Compatible with BlackBerry Devices: 81xx Pearl Series, 82xx Peal Flip Series, 83xx Curve series, 85xx Curve series, 88xx World series, 89xx Curve series, 9000 (Bold), 95xx Storm series, 9630 (Tour)

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

NinjaThemes has some bright and colorful themes, this one is outstanding as well. It has a look reminiscent of Tron or some space movie. And while Linear is available in the BlackBerry Sync Store in purple, I had the privilege of trying it out in Gold.

I always look forward to NinjaThemes new additions, they are colorful and don’t use a lot of memory. And there are NinjaThemes faves, such as Tweme, that many BlackBerry owners have come to love and adore. Linear is just as creative, and is available in the BlackBerry Sync Store for $1.99 in purple. The description of Linear is as follows:

Darkened purple accents on a plane of vertices, with hi-def icons for your Berry

Features include:

Hi-def icons

“Weather” application Icon Slot – put whatever weather/fav app you like there (NOTE: WEATHER APP NOT INCLUDED! DO NOT ASK!)

Simple design – minimal fonts

Wallpaper friendly

Homescreen icons are user-defined

OTA DOWNLOAD ONLY!

A battery pull is strongly recommended after installation of themes.

I installed Linear on my BlackBerry Tour 9630. After installation, I did the battery pull. The theme installed easily and as you can see by the pictures it has linear designs that almost remind me of a space landscape with a vortex and stars along the horizon. It has a designated weather spot for your weather icon. I use berryweather, but the weather app is not included, so you must have your own, of whichever you prefer.

On the top of the screen you see the alarm icon, the time in the top left, and date and day in the middle. The weather icon sits in the top right. Below the time sits the profile icon. In the bottom you have six separate icons you may customize. On the far left bottom sits the battery meter, the GPS icon to the right, and the network and bars in the far bottom right. When you click the options button you have the icons that sit in front of the landscape as though they are on a clear poster board or on a veil before the landscape. Indicators show clearly and work great.

Click on messages and the one you highlight is gold. Clicking the options button brings up a black menu and highlights in gold the one you highlight on. I did give pictures so that you can view the icons and what they appear like. I love the way the icons have been given some personality as well.

If you like themes, you won’t want to miss out on this one. The one currently in the store is purple, but as you can see, more colors are on the way. This theme to me says 3D, it says vision, and it says infinity. It’s a perfect compliment to your BlackBerry.

You can grab your copy of Linear for $1.99 from the BlackBerry Sync Store here >

Compatible with OS: 4.6 and 4.7 Non-Touch

Compatible with BlackBerry Devices: 8900 Curve, 9000 Bold, 9630 Tour

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I’m always impressed with OtterBox cases, and how they protect my BlackBerry. For the past week or so I’ve been testing out OtterBox’s new Commuter Series for the BlackBerry Tour. The Commuter Series is the mid-range case from OtterBox, which combines the best of both worlds with its tough silicon skin, and hard shell. The Commuter Series basically just combines two already great products, the Impact Series and Defender Series, which we’ve reviews lots.

So as I said for the past week or so I’ve been testing out the Commuter Series for the first time. I have to say I love having a hard shell, but also the silicon skin in a small and compact design. When reviewing previous OtterBox cases such as the Defender Series my biggest compliant was the size (you really couldn’t use it day to day). Well the new Commuter series really doesn’t add all the bulk. I’m happy to say I can use this every day with no issues.

Like the Defender Series all ports including the headphones and charger port are covered by a rubber plug, which is built right into the skin. This ensures that no dirt or dust gets inside. One thing you might ask is how does it protect the display? Well OtterBox has you covered there as well. Included in both the Commuter Series and Impact Series is a “clear protective film” or screen protector.

How well does it protect? It’s really hard to describe the amount of protection you get from OtterBox cases. As I said above the Commuter Series basically combines their two popular cases into one more compact design. You get the silicon skin for the first layer, which absorbs any bumps, as well protects the top, bottom, sides, and back. The hard shell which goes over top of the silicon skin protects your device from more of the drops, nicks and dings.

Pricing: Personally I think the Commuter Series is priced just right at $34.95. It falls right in between their Impact Series (which retails for $20) and their Defender Series (which retails at $50).

Overall: I’m happy with the Commuter Series for the BlackBerry Tour. I will most likely be making this my everyday case, and replacing my RIM “tough skin”. I recommend this case to anyone who thought OtterBox cases we’re too big and bulky. I wouldn’t say this case makes your Tour indestructible by any means, and if you’re in a rugged environment I would suggest something like the Defender Series to play safe. The Commuter Series will be for more of the day to day user, looking for protection and compact size.

Tips: The Commuter Series is a great case! Unfortunately it does lack the tough holster (like the Defender Series). If you will be using the Commuter as your day to day case it does fit inside the stock Tour case, which may be included in your box.

Editor’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Where to Buy: You can pick up the Commuter Series or Any other OtterBox cases from the BlackBerry Sync Store.

Pros:

• Smaller more compact size
• Great price
• Includes screen protector
• Mid-Range in the OtterBox family

Cons:

• Lacks the option for tough holster
• Rubber plug for Charger port doesn’t like to stay in

There’s a new software out that is going to make shopping more useful. Especially when it comes to Black Friday and Christmas shopping. And this software is free. The app is edocrab by Steelthorn Software. Edocrab is actually the word barcode spelled backwards, and barcode is what this app works off of besides your BlackBerry.

Steelthorn Software has a few different apps, and you’re probably familiar with them already. They have apps like the extremely useful QuickPull, BerryAnnoying, StormLock, and AutoStandBy to name a few. Some are paid, some are free. Well Edocrab is free. I had to try this app out, free or not, to see what all it could do. I love their moto for this app, “Leave the jungle, hit the beach”, it’s a great concept.

I downloaded and installed it on my BlackBerry Tour 9630. The app downloaded and installed quickly. When you go to find it, the icon sits as a barcode with a little yellow/orange crab in the bottom right. When you click on it, the top ribbon has the crab, the words edocrab by Steelthorn, and then the choices below are Scan, Search, Lists, and History.

Scanning may take a few times. It’s best in very well lit area and trying to avoid any side lines, just the bar code. If the barcode doesn’t show clearly to the app, it will show you how your barcode pic compares to an example barcode pic. If at first you don’t succeed, you’ll try again till you get it right. After a successful barcode pic, the app will search online and the next screen you’ll see is the product, the cheapest price it found for online, and when you click on the top product, it will show you pics, you can click on video if there’s any, and music if any. The next line is the prices and you can click on it to see which online sites are offering the cheapest prices for that product. Next is reviews. Click on reviews to see what other consumers have to say about the product. And then there’s add to a list.

There’s also Search, where you can search a product, Lists which is what you create of what you want, and History where you can pull up previous searches.

For free, you can’t beat it. I like the products Steelthorn has. Pros are that it is fast to search once you scan. It’s accurate in pricing. The app is free, you can’t beat that. I can see this app being very handy for birthdays (provided you give yourself ample time to be prepared to order online), weddings, anniversaries, holidays, you get the picture. Here’s another pro….the product I scanned was for the same price from Walmart as the scan said it was on Walmart’s online site. So before ordering you might want to just stop by the store and see if it’s available there at that price.

Cons are that is that it sometimes takes a few or more barcode scans before it will accept it. The only stores that it lists are those online (which most of us shop now anyways). And the app is currently available only on the Steelthorn site and the BlackBerry App World. Hopefully it will be available in the BlackBerry Sync Store as well.

Keep in mind that the app is Beta, which means there may still be some bugs or issues, so kindly report any if you experience such issues so that Steelthorn and the developers can make this app even better.

The most current version will be downloadable from the Steelthorn edocrab site itself.

You can grab edocrab for free from the edocrab Steelthorn site here >

You can also grab edocrab for free from the BlackBerry App World here >

Compatible with all BlackBerry devices 4.5 or higher. If your BlackBerry does not have a camera, you can manually enter the upc in manually and it will work the same.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars