Recent BlackBerry News
Rogers BIS migration from 1.8 to 2.0
Starting March 24th clients on Rogers Wireless using the older version of BIS 1.8 will be asked when they log in if they would like to upgrade to the new 2.0. The new BIS 2.0 doesn’t allow users to access their inbox and manage emails like the older version can. Clients need to keep in mind while it’s always better to have the later version, once they upgrade they can’t go back to the old one. For more details head over to HowardForums.
T-Mobile’s BlackBerry Pearl 8120 not till 4/19
Looks like T-Mobile’s next Wi-Fi packing BlackBerry, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 won’t be making an apperance until at April 19th. I guess AT&T has the upper hand at the moment with there Pearl 8120 now available.
[Source]
FindMe shows your Facebook friends where your at!
FindMe is a new application which launched today for Facebook. This application allows you to use your BlackBerry as a tracking device and let your friends know where your at by updating your location on Facebook via your phone’s cell tower ping not GPS.
“Social networking sites such as Facebook are removing geographic barriers to keeping friends connected, and FindMe adds a great new dimension by sharing locations among friends when and how they want to be seen,” said Steve Bennett, Electric Pocket’s Chief Executive Officer. “With our innovative approach to tagging cell tower locations rather than using GPS, it opens up this capability to anyone with a BlackBerry or Windows Mobile Smartphone and a free Facebook account.”
Head over to ElectricPocket.com/findme for details and to install the application.
RIM announces JDE Plugin for Eclipse
BlackBerry creator, Reserach In Motion (RIM) has announced a BlackBerry JDE Plugin for Eclipse. This plugin will allow developers to get close with RIM’s closed platform OS. Here’s a clip from the press release (press read more for the full release):
“RIM values the Eclipse development community and recognizes the need for integrated tools that support the development of BlackBerry applications from within the Eclipse environment,” said David Yach, CTO for Software, Research In Motion. “The introduction of the BlackBerry JDE Plug-in for Eclipse builds on RIM’s robust offering of development tools to further enhance and simplify mobile application development for the BlackBerry platform.”
For details or to download the plugin visit the BlackBerry developer page.
OS 4.5 coming to O2, April 9th??
A tipster over at CrackBerry has reviled that European carrier O2 might just be introducing OS version 4.5 on April 9th. If you visit the O2 BlackBerry download page you’ll notice most devices are listed to have a upcoming software upgrade either this April or May. So it looks like O2 might just have it soon. Next up North America? Let’s hope.
BlackBerry Pearl 8120 launches on AT&T
Looks like the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 has launched for business clients today. The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is the Wi-Fi equipped Pearl 2 sporting a 2.0 megapixel camera, upgraded keyboard and external microSD memory card slot. Rumor has it AT&T will also be launching the GPS enabled version 8110 soon to replace the aging Pearl 8100. Anyways business clients can pick up the Pearl 8120 starting today for $199 after contract discounts. No word on when regular consumers can get it as of yet.
[Crave]
Update: AT&T has now sent out a press release to introduce the new Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry Pearl. Click read more to see it.
BlackBerry Curve on Telus website… NOT
Look at this! Someone managed to get a screenshot of the BlackBerry Curve 8330 coming to Telus. Not. Someone simply had a little free time with photoshop. Seriously though besides this picture someone actually posted a “screenshot” of the Curve on the Telus site. We have a feeling that it’s fake. Just to clear things up the BlackBerry Curve 8330 will be launching sometime next month and will have a different colour scheme than any other Curve on the market at the moment. Stay tuned for more details. For the time being head over to HowardForums and check the discussion if you want a laugh.
Thanks to the hofo member who made this little picture above… it made me laugh.
Music store coming to BlackBerry from Puretracks
Puretracks has announced the upcoming launch of Puretracks Mobile Edition for the BlackBerry smartphones. This new application will work all the BlackBerry Pearl, Curve and 8800 series devices. All songs purchased from Puretracks will be DRM-free and will be CD high quality. The Puretracks Mobile Edition for BlackBerry will launch on April 1st during CTIA in Los Vegas. In the upcoming future they will be releasing a Wi-Fi capable version of the 8320 and 8120.
“The Puretracks Mobile Edition music store for BlackBerry, built in conjunction with handset development partner Magnet Mobile Media, will work with all BlackBerry® Pearl™, BlackBerry® Curve™ and BlackBerr 8800 series smartphones. It is a next-evolution digital music service developed exclusively for wireless handsets using compressed DRM-free AAC/AAC+ file formats. This high-quality digital format is only half the size of MP3 files, significantly reducing the download time and storage capacity required while maintaining CD quality sound. The DRM-free service will make it easy for users to download and play songs on their BlackBerry smartphones.”
[Source]
Review: BlackBerry Tracker for GPS enabled BlackBerry’s
Here’s a very neat software called BlackBerry Tracker. It allows you to track your friends, co-workers or employees who use a BlackBerry. Basically you install the application on the BlackBerry and sign in. Then go on to the website and it pin points the location on a map (powered by Google Maps). Continue reading to see our quick review of this service.
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CeBit shines details on OS 4.5, 9000 series and more!
A member over at PinStack is attending the world’s largest computer fair CeBit in Hannover, Germany. He is on location at the RIM booth and had some interesting details to talk about. Apparently all devices seen there were running the new OS version 4.5 and it is running fairly smooth (with the exception of the 8700). The new OS 4.5 will be released to carriers by the end of this month then made public for everyone by the end of April or so.
The PinStack member also was able to check out the upcoming BlackBerry 9000. He says its exactly what was shown a few months ago (see here). It’s going to be packing a new OS 4.6 and will feature Wi-Fi, EDGE and HSDPA, a brighter screen with semi-translucent icons and a huge battery.
The best thing he did say was basically keep your eyes open at WES in May for a few new surprises including some things hardware related and two or three big more surprises through out 2008. Oh how excited we are now!!
