Research in Motion decided to team up together their product management team and finally have a public voice. The launched the official BlackBerry blog (blogs.blackberry.com) where they will post tips on applications, email, desktop software and more.
I got my BlackBerry 8800 almost two years ago pretty much when it was first released (you can see I even have of the first shipped out with the Cingular branding which was later replaced with AT&T). I have to say that the BlackBerry is a very durable device. I dropped it many times, but the worst that typically happen was that the battery cover would pop up, releasing the battery and causing the device to reboot, but after a few minutes it will come back to life and was as good as knew. My BlackBerry has many scratches to show for all the different falls but last week I think I dropped it from too high…
I was going up the stairs when the BlackBerry slipped and dropped all the way down. This time not only the battery cover opened, but the trackball popped out as well (as you can see in the picture). I was able to put it back together somehow, but you can still see it’s not completely even. Of course the trackball feels weird when I use it and is not as responsive as it was before. Since AT&T finally announced that the Bold will be available Nov 4th maybe this is a sign for me to go and upgrade
Google released version 2.31 of Google Maps for your BlackBerry. This version is a great update to have in your pocket! Google added the option to get walking directions (so far you had driving and public transportation) and more importantly, now you can get Street View right on your BlackBerry!
On any point in your map where Street View is available you can see the images in a small window on top of the map and “turn around” using your BlackBerry trackball. The even cooler part is that you can expand the images and get a full image of Street View on the whole screen and scroll around to get a 360 view of the point in the map.
Try it yourself by browsing from your BlackBerry to http://m.google.com/maps
You can also check this movie showing the new features:
MobiMate released an updated for WorldMate Live for the BlackBerry and their online version. I couldn’t find a lot of new functionality in this version but you will noticed immediately the differences as the user interface was completely changed and looks very nice! When you launch the program you now have kind of like a “home page” where you get the weather info of your current location and upcoming events according to your itinerary. At the bottom of the screen you will see a “carousel” of icons instead of the menus available before.
Although the new UI looks cool and very modern I found it a little slow in response. In any case this is a must application to have for the road warriors out there.
To get the new version just browse from your BlackBerry to www.wmlive.com
Here is what the redesigned web site version looks like (click to enlarge):
Some guy from New Jersey is offering on craigslist to upgrade your BlackBerry (any model) to OS 4.5.0.55 for “only” $25 
Noticed the message on top of the page warning of scams and fraud, however this post is still available after 5 days. We’ll see how long it takes them to take it of.
Here is a beautiful and unique theme for your BlackBerry 8800 running OS 4.5. You can get more great themes like this one on http://www.pimpmyberry.com.
OTA Download: http://www.pimpmyberry.com/themes/member/bb8800wut/scribble%20today/OTA/scribble_today.jad
MapQuest announced today the beta launch of MapQuest 4 Mobile. MQ4M provides an easy to use interface on your BlackBerry for all the MapQuest services you can get online for free!
To download MapQuest 4 Mobile, navigate from your BlackBerry browser to www.mq4m.com.
Google released a new free mobile application for the BlackBerry. The Google Mobile App is an all-in-one application that allows you to get all of Google’s services from one interface instead of having different ones installed on your BlackBerry.
So what do you get with the new application?
To download the application, browse to m.google.com on your BlackBerry device.
Here is a clean and sharp Vista theme. This free theme is available for BlackBerry devices 81xx, 83xx and 99xx for both 4.2 and 4.5 OS. The theme is available in 5 different styles
Blank Style:  | Bottom Style:  |
Zen Style:  | Today Style:  |
Today Plus Style:  |
OTA Download From your BlackBerry Browser:
The Wall Street Journal released a wireless application for the BlackBerry. The WSJ mobile reader is basically a FreeRange reader that gives you free access for full articles from WSJ. This is a great application to have on your BlackBerry to read news on the road, especially since it allows you to customize the content you are interested in and read it offline even when you don’t have data coverage (like on the plane…)
Download OTA from your BlackBerry browser: www.wsjmobilereader.com
This free theme uses the icons of the upcoming BlackBerry Bold and looks really nice on your current BlackBerry in case you can’t wait for the release of the Bold.
Download OTA:
BlackBerry 8300 and 8800:
BlackBerry 8100:
This free bottom dock theme by amusic will give you a Leopard experience on your BlackBerry.
Download OTA:
BlackBerry 8300:
BlackBerry 8800:
WorldMate Live 2.0.12 is available online. Just browse from your BlackBerry to http://get.wmlive.com/. There’s no official information on what’s new in this version on MobiMate’s web site yet, but so far the only difference I noticed is “Hotel Booking”.
You can now book hotels from the main screen in the BlackBerry application. The search screen allows you to quickly search for hotels in cities that show you in your itinerary or enter any other city. You can display the search results that are closest to a specific landmark, price, rating etc.
MaraTick is a great free application created by Ted Regsuren. Ted created this little application on his free time to help reduce paper waste. MaraTick allows you to quickly and easily create different shopping lists and mark the items you got without wasting post-it notes.
Features:
To download OTA, browse from your BlackBerry to: http://www.mongoltoronto.com/bb/mt/MaraTick.asp
The London School of Economics and Political Science is conducting a survey as part of a research project to study the impact of push mail on productivity and balance between personal life and work. This is a short survey (about 5 minutes) and has some good questions that will help you determine very quickly if you are addicted to your BlackBerry or not (in case you don’t know already…).
The latest version of the BlackBerry OS 4.5 is available on the BlackBerry web site (for Orange Romania). This would be the 3rd version of OS 4.5 that I installed on my BlackBerry and I have to say that it was well worth it to upgrade from 4.2.x. The upgrade process doesn’t take too long (about an hour) but you should know what you are doing so you don’t destroy your BlackBerry (see instructions below). I’ve seen many fixes through the different builds that I upgraded and even new functionality that wasn’t available in previous builds. In my opinion, the best features of this OS are the email spell checker and HTML email. Although the HTML mail on my corporate account requires a BES upgrade (which my work still didn’t do), I’m enjoying HTML mails on my personal accounts through BIS.
Software For BlackBerry® 8800 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.75 (MultiLanguage)
Package Version: 4.5.0.75
Consisting of:
Applications: 4.5.0.52
Software Platform: 2.7.0.66
File name: 8800M_PBr4.5.0_rel75_PL2.7.0.66_A4.5.0.52_Orange.exe
File size: 73.79MB
Instructions for installing on ANY 8800 (regardless of carrier)
The process takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have to backup and restore during the process. Once it's done loading the new OS it will reboot (it may do this twice during the entire process.) You will see a white screen with an hourglass for up to 20 minutes at a time while the Desktop Manager says "waiting for initialization."
If you end up with a white screen with small icons and the number 507, simply connect to Desktop Manager again and run application loader again and it should load the OS to the device.
Make sure you download the right version for your device. (you can find there this build for other BlackBerry devices also like 8700, 8820, 8320)
Upgrade on your own risk and don’t complain to me if it fails
Windows Live Messenger is finally available for download and open to all providers!
"Windows Live Messenger for BlackBerry allows you to chat in virtual real time with your MSN instant messaging (IM) contacts when and where you want to – not just when you’re in front of your computer. It has many of the same features you already use with Windows Live Messenger on your desktop, including:
To download go to the Blackberry home page (http://mobile.blackberry.com) or http://www.blackberry.com/livemessenger
MetrO is a free BlackBerry application that lets you get public transportation information to over 400 cities offline. The application itself comes empty when you initially install it and then you can download information for any city you want. Although MetrO doesn’t include maps it has very detailed information about the route you should take and the most important thing is that the information is stored on your BlackBerry, so you can search even when you have no network coverage (like when you are in the subway and need to use it…)
To download OTA: http://download.nanika.net/MetrO.jad.
You can read on their web site a detailed walk through on how to use the application.
You can run out of internal memory in your BlackBerry really quick if you install different applications and themes. The main problem if you are running out of memory is that the BlackBerry will be very slow! The guys over at BerryCoder released a free application that is called MaxMem. This application can easily help you free some memory on your BlackBerry. The application is very simple and has different buttons that will delete from your BlackBerry some of the unused BlackBerry applications that RIM doesn’t provide an interface to remove.
Before running the application make sure to backup your BlackBerry in case you remove something you shouldn’t have!!
If you are a BES user (you have a BlackBerry through your work…) DON’T REMOVE MDS!!
Install MaxMem OTA: http://www.berrycoder.com/maxmem.jad
Google updated their mobile maps application for BlackBerry to version 2.2.0. The most noticeable difference is the "public transportation directions" feature. This allows you to get transit directions in more than 50 cities when you are trying to get from point A to point B - including fares. You can watch this video to see how it works:
From your BlackBerry browser go to: http://www.google.com/gmm/
Email:
