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.
This isn’t the first I’ve heard this either, but Kevin over at CrackBerry is reporting that RIM could be working on a native Twitter app. The app would just be like the apps RIM created for Facebook, Myspace, Windows Live, etc. Apparently RIM’s Twitter app will be just like all the others and tie into your address book to integrate contacts. We have no official details on it, but we may see it soon. What do you think? Should RIM come out with their own Twitter app when there is so many great 3rd party ones out there?
Amazing news arrived today for TweetGenius fans such as myself! The creator of TweetGenius, Boy Genius announced that they have partnered up with BeeJive, creators of one of the most popular instant messaging clients for BlackBerry. The next generation TweetGenius application will sport both Twitter and Instant Messaging and is expected to be a real knockout. For now TweetGenius is being pulled off the market while the new app is put into private beta. So if you want to sign up and get more details when the new Tweet Genius is ready click here.
Good luck TG! We can’t wait to see you when you’re finished.
FabianMH has brought a new app to the BlackBerry apps available, LaterDude. He designed it to be very simple, very friendly, and does exactly as it says…reminds you to call that friend, coworker, any one you need to contact later.nI know many of us take a call or say, “Can I call you later?” only to forget.
This app allows you to fully control who you call back from the call log or the messages app. You choose an entry, the Menu key, and from there it’s “Remind Me Later”. It will then bring a pop up asking you when you would like to be notified. It’ll make a calendar entry for you. Double check by going into the Calendar and options.
I think this app is nice for two reasons. One, it’s FREE, and two, there are so many of us who say I’ll call back later, and just forget. So it’s a great reminder for the person who’s on the go or very forgetful. Fabian makes some really great apps and if you’d like to keep up on the latest apps, follow him on Twitter. His Twitter name is @FabianMH and his website is MobileUtil. If you’re interested in the app LaterDude, I would encourage you to try it. Fabian has several apps he’s created and they’re all very creative and work great. You’ll be familiar with several of them.
You can download a free copy of LaterDude here at MobileUtil >
A new version of the Viigo Alpha available for the BlackBerry has been updated and it’s added somme new things to its repertoir. The colors are brighter, it has all the great features you came to rely on, but also Audio and Podcasts, Shopping, Deals, and Social Networks have been added as well.
In Audio and Podcasts you have the choice of: Our Faves; Viigo Recommends; Arts; Books and Literature; Business and Money; Comedy; Education; Entertainment; Food; Games and Hobbies; Government and Organizations; Health; Kids and Family; Music; News and Media; Religion and Spirituality; Sci-Fi; Science; Society and Culture; Sports; Storytelling; Technology; Television and Movies; and Travel.
In Shopping there is: BPlay; Mobile Applications: Mobihand; Mobile Software and the other features like tracking packages. In Deals: Gazaro: Latest Deals; Hottest Deals; Browse By Store (6th Ave, Amazon, Best Buy, Dell, New Egg, OfficeDepot, Overstock, and Walmart to name a few); Browse By Category. In Social Networks: Twitter; FriendFeed; Jaiku; Indenti.ca.
I’ve downloaded it and been using it, and it’s running pretty smoothly. As with any Alpha and Beta product, there may be bugs, so please be kind and help by letting Viigo know in Feedback section if you download and install and find any bugs. Feedback helps them make it better for everyone.
Has anyone downloaded the new Viigo version yet? If so, what do you think? Have you encountered anything I haven’t yet? Please share.
It’s been a while since we last look at IM+, the all in one instant messenger. IM+ has just been updated to new version 8.0 and now sports a couple of great features we thought we would share. Not only does IM+ 8.0 have support for MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, ICQ, AOL, Google Talk, Jabber and MySpace IM but now also supports Facebook chat and Twitter. Basically IM+ is now your complete all in one application for IM on BlackBerry. It may not be the cheapest on the market but it sure packs a heck of a lot of features.
You can purchase IM+ 8 for $34.95 from the BlackBerry Sync Store, as well pick up a free trial >
Features:
I wanted to present something different and informative for our readers. I know there’s the BlackBerry Lounge which not many of us frequent, but there are also communities available for you to join that are exclusive to the BlackBerry Members. While Facebook does have a Pin Exchange, it is still a part of Facebook. Many of us enjoy networking and it’s evident in the success of Facebook and MySpace, and yes, even Twitter. Some individuals are leery of social networks as they hear the dark and sinister side to them thanks to the media. Many of us do not realize what resources are out there once we do get our first BlackBerry, and it’s important to know. So I’m going to do a short series highlighting one social community at a time. This is not advertising, but bringing awareness to our BlackBerry users. I have two that I would compare to Facebook in popularity and respect for one another, and were designed to bring friends together with one thing in common…our love for our BlackBerry and being members of the BlackBerry Nation. They are not dark websites, they are a place to connect, to find new friends, and to even find resources. My first online community I am going to highlight is the BlackBerry Avenue.
BlackBerry Avenue is the result of the brainstorming of Luigi Raw and Nathan Hanna. Luigi said he got his first BlackBerry in 2007, and began looking for BlackBerry communities. He found Facebook somewhat limited at the time as it could only be used on the desktop. He then got together with Nathan Hanna to create a BlackBerry community site unlike any other. The goal was to have a site viewable either by desktop or mobile viewing. February 24, 2008 the online beta version was born. There were three hundred members by the second week. They have done updates, and even added the ability to post and share files of up to 1GB each.
The site now receives over a thousand hits a day, with 20 to 30 new registrations a day. They are currently at over 1000 members, and with a pending launch of an all new BlackBerry Ave site, they are hoping to see it grow even more. One thing that makes this site differ from most others is that there is no financial backing, it is not a company, it is solely two men with inspiration and a goal, and one is to have a site that carries the same features for both mobile and on the desktop. They are hoping to even add integration to Twitter and hopefully Facebook as well.
They are currently looking for active volunteers to write application reviews as they are hoping to launch an applications section, theme developers as they have their theme section is under development, and anyone who would like to actively participate in bringing the site ability to be all it can be and then some. They are hoping for an even bigger year. If you have been looking for an opportunity like this and are interested in helping out, you can contact them from the BlackBerry Ave website.
I know we all like having a social online life, and Luigi did inform me that there would be a launch app for them in the near future for our BlackBerry phones. Their new site will be launching officially July 1, 2009! For your curiosity, you can check out BlackBerry Avenue and see what you think. I know there are more people learning how much a BlackBerry can enrich your life and how good it feels to meet other people who can relate to you.
If you belong to this community or any other BlackBerry communities, please leave us a comment as to what you think so far.
There’s a new beta application available for the BlackBerry. It’s called buzzd. Now you might be wondering what all the buzz is about, so let me share with you. Before the application for the BlackBerry, it was only accessible online on it’s website or from a mobile browser. The program lets you know what events and concerts (50,000 events a month from Canada, the UK and US) are happening in the location you seek, and where to find food and drinks. The information comes from trusted sources and real time reviews from the buzzd community. It is the first application from the BlackBerry AppWorld to use Cell ID, which can be faster than GPS and it can be used in buildings, including clubs. This app is a direct result of the BlackBerry Partners Fund, and has the potential to be the leading location finder from BlackBerry AppWorld.
So let me tell you what makes it unique. The Cell ID is impressive, and hopefully we will see more of this type of location finder in other apps because while GPS is blocked by some providers or there may not be any GPS signal, Cell ID will work as long as there’s reception because it works with the cell sites. It receives its listings from over 20 content providers such as Citysearch, Last.fm, ZAGAT, and Flavorpill among others. It has a smooth UI and integrates with Twitter so you can broadcast to your tweeps where you are and what you’re doing. All the content Buzzd provides is free, unlike ZAGAT that has one source and runs $20.00. You send invites and get your friends to join. You can post a buzz, which a text to your friends. You can add events to your BlackBerry Calendar, and it integrates with your maps to allow you to find directions and locate the destinations (1.5 million venues available throughout Canada, the UK and US). You can also share your pics and reviews with your buzzd community.
If you would like to download Buzzd to your BlackBerry and give it a try, you can go to the BlackBerry AppWorld or to the buzzd website. If you do it from the website you can register, use your Facebook to log in, and create an account and have the application texted to your phone. Install from the link texted and you’re good to go.
If you decide to get buzzd, please leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
The app works with OS 4.2 and higher, and is compatible with the BlackBerry smartphones with those OS including the Pearl, the Curve, the Bold, and the Storm.
[via: buzzd]
ÜberTwitter released their next Beta, 2. With all the Twitter clients out there, including TwitterBerry, SocialScope, and TweetGenius, ÜberTwitter has been working hard to improve and work on their client as well. Some of the new features and fixes include several new and great things to look forward to including: two notification profiles, internal GPS support, view your friends and their information, your friends’ list of followers, when your friendss joined Twitter, shortcuts, marking tweets as faves and unmarking faves, support for wifi, and support for scrolling BlackBerry phones such as the 8700 just to name a few. For a total list of updates and fixes, you can visit the ÜberTwitter homepage.
For those who aren’t too familiar with ÜberTwitter, it’s a Twitter client that integrates with Google Talk and also works with cell sites not just Satellites for GPS allowing you to list your location. If you have it and haven’t updated, it’s time. And if you’re interested in trying a new Twitter Client give it a try.
You can download ÜberTwitter here at the ÜberTwitter download OTA>.
[via: BlackBerry Rocks]
The guys at Viigo introduced a new Alpha version of Viigo which brings tons of new features! This verison (3.1.242) finally brings Podcast support along with Social Networking (Twitter, FriendFeed, Jaiku and Identi.ca). Viigo also introduced a new premium feature called Pageonce which will require a registeration key to work. This version is Viigo even though is very early seems to support most models including Bold, Curve, Pearl and Storm. Enjoy!
Download Viigo Alpha OTA by Pointing Browser to GetViigo.com/Alpha >
