Thursday, December 20, 2012

How to add Facebook search to BlackBerry® browser

So I just thought I would give you a lil tutorial on how to search for people, pages, events or groups on Facebook using your BlackBerrybrowser. Why? Well I like to believe that Facebook search is a social search engine and if you wanna look for somebody that's the one place to find them. Yes you could use the Facebook app, but I prefer this method as it gives a better search functionality and options.


What you will need
Facebook account (log in on your browser)
BlackBerry OS7.1 – I have only tested this on my Bold 9900 running OS7.1
BlackBerry Browser search engines
When you open your BlackBerry browser and start searching in the address/search bar on the right end of that bar you might notice the Google icon, this means by default what ever you type in the search bar and search will be searched on Google.



Now in this tutorial we are going to add Facebook Search. As you can see I already have 5 search engines. I actually use 3 there:

Google – almost every 20minutes
Wikipedia – not so much
Dictionary.com very often
for the rest, I haven't tried to "yahoo" or "bing" something.


Managing your search engines
Now for us to add Facebook on our search engines we will click 'Manage…' (see screen above) and you will get to this:



Next click on 'New Search Engine':

In the name field type Facebook
In the address field type https://m.facebook.com/search/?search=people&query=%s
Press the BlackBerry menu key and save.


Now if you return to your browser and type a search term and click the Google icon to view a drop down list of all your search engines, voila, Facebook is now there.
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Foursquare v5.5.8 Released for BlackBerry smartphones

Foursquare has updated their BlackBerry smartphone app this week to v5.5.8. This is a small update but supposedly includes an important fix for location information. Specifically "This release fixes location issue across all supported BlackBerry devices and OS levels" whatever that means.

You can check out the latest version http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/6921


Via;

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/GV-HqbUTpi4/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Twitter Profile changes on 12.12.12

I'm probably the only tech blogger in the universe who is not using Twitter as a way of communicating with his audience or sending out tweets about new blog posts and stuff all the time. I must have missed Twitter's announcement that new profile pages were being rolled out for all users. Today's announcement that the new profiles would be activated for all users caught my attention however.

This is not such a drastic change as Facebook's switch from regular profiles to Timeline profiles, but it is still worth to be mentioned as it may affect you as well. There are two options that you have in addition to what you were able to do before. The first and probably biggest change is the new header image that is displayed on top of your profile page on Twitter. This looks like this when configured:

If you do not upload a header image until December 12 you will see a gray header area instead where your current Twitter profile icon is displayed in.

To add the header image on Twitter click on the options button next to search and there on the settings link in the context menu. You can alternatively click on this link here to be taken there directly.

Click on change header and pick a header image for your Twitter profile page. Twitter recommends that the header has a size of at least 1252×626 pixels. You can zoom in or out of the uploaded header image and move it around a bit until it fits perfectly. Once done refresh your profile page and you should see the new header live on site.

You may also want to click on design while you are in the settings to modify the design of your profile page to reflect the change. Here you can pick one of the preset themes for the page or upload a custom background and pick the background position, color and link color manually instead.

The new profile will be available and editable on all supported devices.


It is a slim change in my opinion, nothing as major as Facebook's Timeline profile. It should not really irritate a lot of Twitter users when they first come into contact with the change. What's your opinion on the change?


http://www.ghacks.net/2012/12/11/twitter-profile-changes-on-12-12-12/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Friday, December 7, 2012

Appcelerator Titanium Pre-release for BlackBerry 10 Now Available! Webinar Next Week

RIM has once again delivered on time as they promised last week. They said that Appcelerator Titanium would be available for BlackBerry 10 in pre-release format on December 7th and here it is. In an announcement on the DevBlog they say developers can leverage Titanium's cross platform native experience to create a Built for BlackBerry app and qualify for many benefits including:

Qualifying Built for BlackBerry Applications are eligible the 10k Developer Commitment with a guaranteed one year revenue of $10,000 USD
The first 1,000 participating developers to submit an app to BlackBerry App World which is created with the Titanium for BlackBerry 10 will receive a free BlackBerry Dev Alpha for testing*
Up to 10,000 developers will get  free Appcelerator Cloud Services and Analytics (Terms and conditions apply)
Register for the offer at http://www.appcelerator.com/blackberry10. They also have a webinar going on titled "Developing on Blackberry 10 with Titanium" on Thursday December 13, 2012 at 1:00 pm EST. Register Now!




http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/l0cdo6h_nmI/


Source; berryreview
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

RIM Pitches BlackBerry 10 Deal to Businesses

With the launch of its BlackBerry 10 platform fast approaching, Research In Motion has begun a full court press to spur adoption in a stronghold it's now losing to Apple and Google: Enterprise.

The company on Thursday announced BlackBerry 10 Ready, a new program intended to woo business customers to its new platform. Enrollment gets participants online training, a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone and the opportunity to trade up their BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses.

That last offering is an important one, allowing companies transitioning to RIM's new platform to swap their existing BES licenses for new BES 10 licenses at no cost on a one-for-one basis. BES licenses aren't cheap. So RIM's offer of a free upgrade will likely appeal to some — particularly corporate holdouts that still subscribe to the "you will use a BlackBerry and that's an order" view of employee empowerment.

But these days, such firms are becoming fewer and fewer. As we've noted here before, the "bring your own device" era has given Android and iPhone serious traction in the enterprise market that RIM once dominated. And while promotions like BlackBerry 10 Ready will certainly garner interest, how much can they actually reverse a trend as seemingly powerful as the consumerization of IT?




http://allthingsd.com/20121206/rim-pitches-blackberry-10-deal-to-businesses/

Source; allthingsD
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

BlackBerry 10 Hub: Notifications, Texts, Emails and More [VIDEO]

With the BlackBerry 10 launch event coming up, you've been asking to see more and more of BlackBerry 10. To provide you with some more background on the BlackBerry Hub, I met up with Patrick Murtha, Director, Portfolio Product Strategy here at BlackBerry to show me around.

The BlackBerry Hub is the single place for you to manage your conversations. From BBM and email to phone calls and social networks, they're always just a gesture away from anywhere in BlackBerry 10. It was designed to give hyper-connected people control over their conversations. Earlier this week you voted and it looks like messaging of all sorts is what you use your BlackBerry smartphone for most often. This will make the BlackBerry Hub the perfect fit in your lifestyle.

Find out from Patrick what makes the BlackBerry Hub stand out and why BlackBerry fans will appreciate the experience in our video interview below.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGof12IKQlU&feature=youtu.be

Via; Inside BlackBerry® Blog



Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

How to unlock a BlackBerry®

How to enter mep code in Blackberry
First you will need your BlackBerry Torch 9850 / 9860's Unlock Code (MEP code)
You can get your unlock code a number of ways



1) Call your carrier and request an unlock code, (tell them you're going overseas for a better chance of getting it)

2) You can INSTANTLY get your Unlock Code from @fortneyland95



Once you have your TORCH 9850 / 9860's unlock code, you just need to enter it following these simple steps.



1) Insert an unaccepted SIM card – one that's not from the network your phone is locked to.


2) Select yes when prompted if you want to enter an unlock code

3) Enter your TORCH 9850/9860's unlock code.


You will not receive a “Code Accepted” messages or anything of the like, 
but your phone will stand at the homescreen. *


Wait a few seconds and it should connect to the network carrier that the inserted SIM card is from. 



 Easy as 1 - 2 - 3!



or you can enter your unlock code like this



1) Go to Options -> Device -> Advanced System Settings -> Sim Card

2) Press and Hold the ALT key and type the letters "mepe" (without the quotes, you will not see anything on the screen when typing)

(If the ALT key is not showing on your keyboard hold down the 123 key it will switch to the numeric keyboard with the ALT locked down)


3) Once you see the Personalization Screen type "mep [alt] 2" (without the quotes, you will not see anything on the screen when typing). 

You should be prompted for the code. If you're not prompted for the code, Press and Hold the ALT key and type MEP2

4) Enter the provided unlock code

it's recommend to do a Battery pull after unlocking your Blackberry

Now you're free to use your BlackBerry TORCH 9850 / 9860 with any GSM network worldwide!


 Blackberry unlock instructions for Most models.
(83xx Curve, 8700, 8800,8900 Curve / 9000 Bold and Most other Models)
1 - Using the menu go to Settings Menu -> SIM card press select.
2 - While holding the SHIFT key, type mepd
3 - You should now see the five locking categories listed.
4 - While holding the SHIFT KEY, type mep2.
5 - Release the shift key.
6 - You are now prompted to enter the Network MEP code
     (it will also state how many attempts left)
7 - Enter the code
8 - Enter Return/Enter
9 - The device should then be unlocked
Model : Blackberry 9530 Storm
1. Insert any SIM card and turn ON your Blackberry.
2. Turn OFF all the wireless connections.
3. Go Back One Step by Pressing the Back Key.
4. Go to Options
5. Select SIM card.
6. Press the Menu Key and select "Show Keyboard".

7. Tilt the phone in Horizontal Position so that the Keyboard is displayed in the Landscape Mode.
8. Type MEPD [you will not be able to see the typed info].
9. Then enter MEP2
10. Now your Blackberry will ask you to enter network MEP code
11. Enter the Unlock Code provided by us to you and Press the Enter Key on the Screen.
12. It will now say "Code Accepted'.
13. Congratulations! Your phone is now unlocked. Now your phone can be used with any GSM Network with SIM Card.
14. Go back to the Home Screen. Press the Menu Button and click on Manage Connections.
15. Turn all the Connections ON.The phone will now reboot and ''Activation Required'' will no longer be displayed.
Model : BlackBerry Bold 9000 & Torch
1) Make sure your SIM card is NOT inserted into the device.
2) Turn on the phone and click the "Manage Connections" icon. Choose the option "Turn off all connections." The cellular radio will be turned off.
3) Go back to the Home screen and click the "Options" icon and select "Advanced Options."
4) Scroll down and select "SIM Card" from the list.
5) Press the following keys in order: (M) (E) (P) (E)
6) A prompt will appear asking for the unlock code. Input the 16-digit code exactly.
9) Reboot your device.
10) Re-enable the cellular radio
Model : Curve, 8300, 8310, 8320, 8800, 8820
Must be done without a sim card inserted & wireless radios must be turned off.
1. Go to settings.
2. Go to options.
3. Go to advanced options.
4. Go to sim card.
4. Hold the ALT Key while typing in MEPE or MEPD or MEPPE or MEPPD ( not case sensitive ) ( you will not see text appear on screen while typing ).
5. It will say "Enter Network MEP Code, then you type in the unlock code, press in the trackball to confirm.
6. Your phone is now unlocked.

Model : Blackberry Storm (9500)
1. Insert any sim card
2. Turn off all of the wireless connections
3. Go to Options
4. Select Advanced Options
5. Select SIM Card
6. Hit menu select show keybord
7. Enter mepd (you will not be able to see the typed info)
8. Enter mep2
9. Now it will say enter network mep code
Model : BlackBerry 8700
Go to the Menu -> Options -> Advanced Options -> Sim card press select, while holding the Shift key (bottom right corner CAPS), type mepd. You should now see the five locking categories listed, while holding the alt key, type mep2. Release the alt key. You are now prompted to enter the Network MEP code. Enter the code, enter Return/Enter, the device should then be unlocked.
Model : BlackBerry 8800
***** You must have a SIM card in your phone to complete these steps ( Can be active or inactive ) *****
1 - Go to settings menu => and then Options
2 - Select Advanced options => and then Sim card
3 - Type MEPD using your Blackberry keyboard (NOTE: You will not see any text appear on the screen while typing MEPD)
4 - Hold the ALT Key while typing in MEPE on your Blackberry keyboard (NOTE: You will not see any text appear on the screen while typing MEPD)
5 - You should be presented with a prompt "Enter Network MEP Code". Type in the 16 digit unlock code received from UnlockBase.com and press in the track wheel / jog dial to confirm
6 - Your phone is now unlocked
Model : 81xx, 82xx Pearl and other sure-type handsets
1 - Go to Options Menu => Advanced Options
2 - In the SIM Card menu, hold down the shift (right of the zero, cap) press meppd
3 - You'll see the unlocking level screen there you hold the ALT key (left side below @) type mepp2
4 - Enter the unlock code.

Model : BlackBerry 8100 (Vodafone Australia)
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT ANY UNLOCK PROCESS
This procedure unlocks the handset from being network restricted from only using SIM cards from Vodafone Australia. In case of difficulties, please refer to the FAQ listed below
1. Take note of the unlocking code shown above
2. Insert a Non-Vodafone Australia working SIM card.
3. Ensure the phone is charged and then switch the phone on.
4. Optional Step: If the SIM card has a PIN, enter your PIN number. (See FAQ below)
5. The phone will then display a message. The most common is "Invalid SIM card". (Different message? See FAQ below)
6. Select "Turn Wireless Off"
7. Select "Settings" Menu , then go to Advanced Options > SIM Card
8. Type alt-MEPT by holding the ALT-key and typing the letters MEPT with multitap i.e. type hold ALT, type {M}{ER}{OP}{OP}{TY}
9. When prompted with "Enter Network MEP code (255 left)" on the screen, enter the 16-digit network unlock code provided for your phone, then press Enter. (Unlocking code is shown above)
10. Reset the phone by pulling the battery
11. Switch the phone on and the handset will be unlocked automatically. This will be confirmed if you can make and receive calls with the Non-Vodafone Australia SIM card. (You will need reception and phone credit with the different network provider)
Please Note:
If the unlocking code is entered incorrectly the next attempt to unlock the device will be delayed for 10 seconds increments. The number of unlocking attempts is limited to 255 tries only. When 255 attempts is reached the phone will be permanently blocked.
To unblock the phone, it must be taken to a RIM service centre. No outgoing calls including emergency call is possible when the phone is blocked.

Troubleshooting:

Question: My phone asks to enter a PIN number
Answer: For SIM cards with PIN ENABLED you will be required to enter a PIN. This is not the unlocking code that has just been provided. For information concerning the PIN, PIN2, PUK and PUK2 codes for a SIM card please read the manual that came with your phone or contact your carrier. This is not a handset unlocking issue.
Question: Nothing happens when I type MEPD / MEP2
Answer: Try the following: (note the characters will not appear on the screen when typing the characters)
1. Put any SIM card in the handset. Can be active/inactive. If you already have a SIM in the handset, try a different SIM from a different carrier/provider.
2. Go to Wireless Connections in the main menu and turn off all connections, then follow the unlocking procedure again.
3. Ensure in the personalisation list the NETWORK option is ACTIVE (this means the phone is locked as the network lock is active) if it does not, check the phone is not already unlocked by putting in a SIM from a different carrier.
Question: BlackBerry Storm 9500/9530 - I am having problems entering MEPD and MEP2
Answer:  Due to the fact you can't see what you're typing in the hidden menus, you should keep trying. For every attempt you must exit the menu before trying again. We recommend hovering over the correct character and then when you can see the correct character light up blue, then click the screen.
Also ensure there is a SIM card in the phone and try the procedure again. This can be any active/inactive SIM card from any network.
Question: I've successfully unlocked the handset but cannot use BlackBerry Data/Web/Email services
Answer: You will need to contact your carrier and ensure you have a working BlackBerry Internet Service / Bolt on attached to your tariff and that the BlackBerry has registered on their network. This usually is an extra cost and gives you access to the BlackBerry data services. If you already have this service, ask your network to ensure the handset is properly registered and ask them to send the 'Service Books' to the handset which will update any settings you have in the handset. Most carriers have a dedicated BlackBerry support team.
Tip: The following procedure can sometimes kicks the network into action - Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > BlackBerry Logo Button > Register Now
Question: I've received more than one code from you, which one do I use?
Answer: Enter each code until you see the 'Code Accepted' message. Only one will be the correct unlock code. You should have 10 attempts to enter the correct code.
Question: My phone only shows 3 tries left and you have sent me more than 3 codes
Answer: Please contact us using the contact form and let us know this as we may need to read your phone with a small application to verify the 1 correct code or suggest what codes from our experience depending on your model.
Question: My phone shows 0 tries left when asking for the MEP code
Answer: If you have received this message, this means that 10 attempts at entering the correct unlock code have been used. Unfortunately in this circumstance the only way to unlock the handset is via a hardware solution
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com










































Monday, November 12, 2012

Sunday, November 11, 2012

BlackBerry still best phone in an emergency

CNBC put up a great video with a walk-through of the trade offs between the 3 major platforms iOS, Android and BlackBerry when in a disaster. The consensus is that BlackBerrys are best for phone calls. Which is no news to us, seeing as BlackBerry is designed as a superior communication device. How helpful is Angry Birds in a disaster? The correspondent adds "With my BlackBerry I can get signal where my iPhone just can't." While also giving you fast access to social media which is becoming the new e-mail these days. The video highlights methods for which you can keep your Androids and iPhones charged in an emergency, and applauds BlackBerry for their superior battery life. Hit the break to watch the video for yourself. The picture below sums it up well:



http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/10/blackberry-still-best-phone-in-an-emergency/

Video source; msnbc
Via; Nerdberry

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Update for Battery Watch for BlackBerry Smartphones

S4BB Limited has released a new update for Battery Watch for BlackBerry Smartphones. The new update fixes minor bugs and improves the overall performance of the app, making Battery Watch run smoother. Battery Watch is the ideal app to track your BlackBerry device's battery performance. You'll get an overview on various details

http://bit.ly/SCk2es

Via; BBOS

jQueryMobile and Sencha Touch theme tools for BlackBerry 10

Webworks developers will be happy to know that you can now get help with your app layout and design with jQueryMobile and Sencha Touch theme tools for BlackBerry 10. jQueryMobile is a unified HTML5-based cross-platform mobile framework that supports all popular mobile platforms, including the java-based BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook. For more details and relevant links on jQueryMobile,

http://bit.ly/Rj1pwZ

Via; BBOS

Tips on using your BlackBerry®

I find that most BlackBerry users don't know that they can utilize their native phone app as more than just using it as a keypad to dial out numbers, view your call history, or add a contact. While these are the most important features, many more are available to help you make navigating and using the phone app that much more enjoyable. I gathered these tips up from the InsideBB help blog, and I'm sure you'll find them useful.

http://bit.ly/T5lNBv

Via; BBOS

Wordpress update v2.2.4

The devs for the WordPress for PlayBook app have been hard at work with the release of a new update v2.2.4 that brings some new additions and fixes. In addition, they have also released the binary package for BlackBerry 10 devices. Whats new in version 2.2.4:

http://bit.ly/T5Limg

Via; BBOS

RIM Releases the Specs for Developers Devices A&B

When RIM decided to go after developers they chose to create a hardware device that would run the new BlackBerry 10 Operating system. This would allow developers to have a feel on just how applications created would run on a BlackBerry 10 hardware device. This was an awesome idea because it gave developers a device rather than a simulator that they could use everyday and totally grasp some of the true power of the BlackBerry 10 Operating System.

Back at BlackBerry World 2012 in Florida , developers who qualified , were presented with the Dev Alph A device. This was pure excitement, not only for developers but for those BlackBerry enthusiast who just needed to see something from RIM that would give them a much-needed confidence boost that in fact BlackBerry 10 is real and not just a myth.

After the very successful BlackBerry World in Florida , RIM decided to take the tour on the road and launch a series of events across the globe , specifically targeting developers. These series of events would be called BlackBerry Jam World Tour.

As BlackBerry Jam World Tour made its successful progression around the globe, selling out at almost all Jam events, RIM would eventually run out of the Dev Alpha A devices. With only so many Dev Alpha A  devices created and the ever so high demand from developers , RIM had no choice but to put in production the Dev Alpha B device.

Below are the specs for both devices recently released by Research In Motion, Enjoy!

 RIM Releases the Specs for Developers Devices A&B is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Rimarkable/~3/xVZHeMG0Yr8/rim-releases-the-specs-for-developers-devices-ab. via;N4BB

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

BlackBerry 10 Icons to Look Like PlayBook’s at Launch?

@UrbanGlowCam wrote a nice forums post describing how the current BlackBerry 10 icons we've seen will go back to looking like the PlayBook's.

He says "someone at RIM who confirmed developers should change their current app icons." RIM is apparently dropping the size from 150 x 150 down to 114 x 114.

Here's a quick look from the official guideline:

Application icons

Designing an icon for your BlackBerry smartphone application gives you the opportunity to showcase your application to BlackBerry users. In the BlackBerry World storefront, an icon is the first introduction that users have to your application. The icon also appears on the home screen as the way for users to open your application.

Your icon is placed on a transparent tile automatically with the application name label underneath the icon.

Best practices

The following best practices help your icon fit in with the application icons on the home screen.

Create an icon that is a 114 x 114 pixel square. This approach is the best (and easiest) way for your icon to fit in with other BlackBerry application icons. Larger icons will be scaled down to 114 x 114 pixels.
Focus on a single iconic metaphor that clearly represents the application. Think of your icon as a road sign that people understand quickly.
Base your icon on a square, circle, or rectangle shape.
Use a silhouette to differentiate your icon from other icons.
Try to maintain consistency with other BlackBerry application icons in scale, volume, and perspective.
Perspective and lighting

Apply lighting that is top-down at a 90 degree angle.
Create a focal point in the center of the icon.
Keep the icon flat and avoid excessive depth.
Apply the following properties for drop shadows: distance: 2 pixels, size: 2 pixels, and angle: 90 degrees.
Boundaries

Create an icon that is 106 x 106 pixels if you want to allow room for a drop shadow or outer glow.
If you use a symbol in your icon, try to make it the same size as the symbols in otherBlackBerry application icons.
Color palette

Use a five pixel stroke where appropriate. This is especially important so that icons with a dark background are always visible on the home screen.
Limit the number of colors that you use in your icon.
Materials

Limit the number of materials that you use. BlackBerry application icons draw from the following materials: soft plastic, paper, metal, and gloss. http://n4bb.com/blackberry-10-icons-look-like-playbooks-launch/ via; N4BB

Foursquare Launches Numbered Ratings System

Foursquare on Monday unveiled a new numbers-based ratings system for locations within the mobile app. When users look for locations to visit using the "Explore" feature, places are ranked on a 10-point scale, taking into account signals like tips, loyalty and popularity. In a jab to competitor Yelp, Foursquare claims it's more informative than a one- to five-star ratings system, which relies on users and ultimately averages out to give little information. http://allthingsd.com/20121105/foursquare-launches-numbered-ratings-system/ via: allthingsD

Guitar Hero Creator Charles Huang Riffing on Android for Next Play

Charles Huang, co-founder of Green Throttle Games.

Green Throttle Games is coming out of stealth today with an idea for turning mobile devices into game consoles.

The Santa Clara, Calif. company was founded by former Guitar Hero co-creator Charles Huang, along with Matt Crowley and Karl Townsend, who both have a background in mobile.

"Mobile gaming is exploding, and new smart devices are becoming powerful alternatives to traditional consoles. We just need a simple and fun way for people to play games both on the go, and on the couch," Huang said, in a release.

Rather than buy a separate gaming device for the TV, like an Xbox or PlayStation, the company wants to enable gamers to play mobile games on the biggest screen in the house using their mobile phone or tablet. The Green Throttle Games gaming system allows a consumer to plug an Android phone or tablet into the TV using an adapter. Then, an analog game controller connects wirelessly to the phone, allowing a person to play on the TV without any standalone hardware.

It's similar to what some game companies have been trying to do with iPhones becoming the controller when connected to the TV via a cable.

Along with Green Throttle's launch, the company is starting to pitch developers on making games for its system ahead of the controller going on sale early next year. Developers can buy a kit today, including one of the company's controllers, to start developing games. So far, it has signed up several developers, including nWay, Free Range Games, Mercenary and Monstrous. The company also will be developing games on its own. To start with, Green Throttle will be compatible with Google Nexus 4, the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S II, S III and Galaxy Note and the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. http://allthingsd.com/20121106/guitar-hero-creator-charles-huang-riffing-on-android-for-next-play/ via; allthingD

S File Explorer

SFileExplorer hits BB10 App World If you're looking to get more functionality out of your Dev Alphas, Yang Hongyang has released his first BB10 app build in Cascades. Entitled SFileExplorer, the app does just that. It gives you the ability to browse file systems, files and folders along with the ever-useful copy, paste, and delete features. Hit the break to find out more about this handy little app, best of all the app is FREE. The developer says, while this is his first app-it won't be his last.

http://blackberryappgenerator.com/mip/pct.jsp?p=614003080_517594&wl=9

Dropbox alternative Cubby now in open beta

Dropbox alternative Cubby now in open beta http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/05/dropbox-alternative-cubby-now-in-open-beta/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Monday, November 5, 2012

VZW finally removing Vcast

Verizon To Finally Remove Their Spammy Vcast Apps From Devices http://t.co/V0ucsXDH

South Africa get another Apps Lab

South Africa Gets Another Apps Lab http://t.co/LMSz4J3P #nerdberry

Jimmy Kimmel Commercial Pokes Fun At The New iPad Mini

Jimmy Kimmel Commercial Pokes Fun At The New iPad Mini http://www.blackberryos.com/content/jimmy-kimmel-commercial-pokes-fun-new-ipad-mini-4462/

Browse Instagram With flipStagram For BlackBerry PlayBook

Browse Instagram With flipStagram For BlackBerry PlayBook http://www.blackberryos.com/content/browse-instagram-flipstagram-blackberry-playbook-4469/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

RIM To Open Second Apps Lab In SA

http://www.blackberryos.com/content/rim-open-second-apps-lab-sa-4470/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

SteroTube v3.0 Improves YouTube & MP3 Playlists on Your PlayBook

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/KkDyKDFsTtI/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

RIM shares up on BlackBerry 10 news

http://www.blackberryblast.com/articles/2012/11/2012111-RIM-shares-up-on.html?itemID=5533&site=rim
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Pentagon buying iOS and Android devices while keeping BlackBerrys

http://www.blackberryblast.com/articles/2012/10/20121030-Pentagon-buying-iOS-and.html?itemID=5531&site=rim
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

RIM CEO says "we are going to regain our market share with BlackBerry 10"

http://www.blackberryblast.com/articles/2012/10/20121026-RIM-CEO-says-they.html?itemID=5528&site=rim
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Official: BlackBerry Curve 9320 OS 7.1.0.746 from XL Indonesia

http://n4bb.com/official-blackberry-curve-9320-7-1-0-746-indonesia/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Official: BlackBerry Bold P9981 OS 7.1.0.746 from Indosat

http://n4bb.com/official-blackberry-bold-p9981-7-1-0-746-indosat/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

T-Mobile Restores Wireless Service in Key Areas of Manhattan

http://n4bb.com/mobile-restores-wireless-service-key-areas-manhattan/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Should RIM Push a BlackBerry 10 Beta for PlayBook?

http://n4bb.com/rim-push-blackberry-10-beta-playbook/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

XKCD Comic, What Your Cell Number Looks Like

http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/02/xkcd-comic-what-your-cell-number-looks-like/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Lego Group Releases Halloween Special, Lego Monster Fighters Race for PlayBook

http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/04/lego-group-releases-halloween-special-lego-monster-fighters-race-for-playbook/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

“World’s Toughest Mudder” Uses BlackBerry Smartphone to Prepare for Competition!

http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/04/worlds-toughest-mudder-uses-blackberry-smartphone-to-prepare-for-competition/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Take Credit Cards on Your BlackBerry Smartphone by Using Credit Card Machine By Paynet Systems, Inc

http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/05/take-credit-cards-on-your-blackberry-smartphone-by-using-credit-card-machine-by-paynet-systems-inc/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

EA Releases The Sims 3 Supernatural for BlackBerry Smartphones

http://nerdberry.net/2012/11/05/ea-releases-the-sims-3-supernatural-for-blackberry-smartphones/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Beautiful "A Day in Life" Journal App For the PlayBook

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/mdPW5l63s7g/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

RIM Revamping BlackBerry 10 Icons to Look Like PlayBook Icons?

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/-H6ZcD1doto/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

BlackBerry PlayBook 3G+ 32GB Now Available in the UK

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/xCqFls1SoxE/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

App World Getting Overhaul in January 2013 – Here is What Devs Need to Know

http://rss.berryreview.com/~r/Berryreview/~3/n-bvqlYc1sU/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

Tuesday Is Election Night, Be Careful What You Tweet

http://allthingsd.com/20121104/tuesday-is-election-night-be-careful-what-you-tweet/
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9900 www.pcrx.weebly.com

BlackBerry® shortcuts

Get things done even quicker with these shortcuts for BlackBerry

Thursday, October 25, 2012

9300 unlock bb

Instructions for unlocking Blackberry 9300 Curve 3G 1. Ensure a SIM Card is inserted 2. Go to 'Manage Connections' 3. Click on 'Turn All Connections Off' 4. Go to 'Options' 5. Click on 'Advanced Options' 6. Click on 'SIM Card' 7. Type 'MEPD' (letters will not appear on-screen but a menu will pop up.) 8. Type 'MEP2' (user will be prompted to enter MEP code) 9. Enter the MEP2 code (CONFIRM you get "Code Accepted" message) i. *If you also have a MEP4 code, type 'MEP4' (you will be prompted to enter MEP code) ii. Enter the MEP4 code (CONFIRM you get "Code Accepted" message) 10. Reboot device 11. Go to 'Manage Connections' 12. Click on 'Restore Connections' 13. Device is now unlocked

Unlock a BlackBerry

Today we are looking a procedure that most of us will do at one time or another while owning a BlackBerry which is unlocking. Keep in mind, this will only work on GSM devices, or "World Phones" like the 8830WE, Storm or Tour. If you are like me, you will sometimes want a BlackBerry from another carrier to run on your own carrier. Or maybe you want to sell it and increase resale value while opening yourself up to more potential buyers. All you need to do is get an unlock code and follow our quick session and your on your way! How to Enter Unlock Codes for Blackberry 8900, 9000, 9630, 8300, 8310, 8320, 8800, 8820: You will need to get an unlock code either from your carrier or from an unlocking company. You also must have either a active or inactive SIM card in your phone to complete the unlock process. 1. Go to Options, Advanced Options, then Sim Card 2. On your Blackberry, type MEPD (You will not see any text appear on the screen while typing MEPD) 3. Type MEP, then ALT BUTTON, and then 2 on your Blackberry keyboard (Once again, you will not see any text appear on the screen while typing) 4. You should see a prompt "Enter Network MEP Code". Type in the unlock code and press the trackball If code says accepted, your BlackBerry is now unlocked. To verify your device is unlocked, follow steps 1 & 2 and "Network" will say "disabled". If Network says "Active", then it is still locked to the standard carrier.

Monday, August 20, 2012

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Review

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Review:

"Everything is just a bit faster on the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook"

Design: The 4G LTE PlayBook is still a great looking tablet in my book. It's solid all around with no excess and keeps true to great BlackBerry design. Feel: I still love the feel and form of the 4G PlayBook. It's identical to the Wi-Fi version and the 7" size is perfect for a tablet. 8 out of 10
Performance: The 4G LTE PlayBook is noticeably faster than the Wi-Fi version. The added processing power gives it much welcomed extra kick. Quality: This is a well-built device - no question. It's solid all around and doesn't feel cheap in any areas.

 
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
 

The Video - 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Unboxing

The ritual unboxing of the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook.
YouTube Link (expand video for full view)

The Good

The upgraded processor and LTE are nice additions and add to the overall PlayBook experience. Everything just seems to work more fluidly vs. the Wi-Fi version.
The Bad

If you already have a BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi, there is very little incentive to move to the 4G LTE version. The price and hit in battery life alone will keep folks away.
Conclusion

RIM's ecosystem isn't huge and it doesn't have as many apps available as Android or iOS but there is more to buying a tablet than just games and apps. The experience as a whole has to be considered and for what the 4G LTE PlayBook offers it's an option that shouldn't be dismissed.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Technical Specifications and Features


4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
 
If you're not familiar with what the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook is packing for heat, here's the quick recap of its key features and specs:
  • 7" LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multi-touch and gesture support
  • BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (TI OMAP 4460), w/ GPU
  • 1 GB RAM
  • Memory: Available in 32GB version only.
  • 4800mAh battery
  • Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
  • Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
  • Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA (Full list here)
  • HDMI video output
  • Wi-Fi - 802.11 a/b/g/n / LTE (700, 1700 MHz), HSPA+ (2100, 1900, 1700, 800, 900 MHz)
  • Bluetooth 3.1 with support of the following Bluetooth profiles: Dial-Up Networking (DUN) Serial Port Profile (SPP) Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) Human Interface Device (HID) (keyboard only)
  • Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
  • Digital compass (magnetometer), GPS
  • Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 11.2, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
  • Ultra thin and portable:
    • Measures 5.1"x7.6"x0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
    • Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 425g)
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
 
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Hardware Impressions 


4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Hardware
At first glance, not much has changed.
When the original BlackBerry PlayBook came out, it was fairly easy to fall in love with the hardware. It's a beautiful piece of equipment and that remains true for the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook as well. When you first look at the 4G LTE PlayBook, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference from the Wi-Fi version and in this case, that's a good thing.
Everything great about the original PlayBook has made it's way here. And some stuff that wasn't so great about the original PlayBook has been addressed. Yes, the power button hoopla has been addressed. In fact, it was addressed long ago.

 

Appearance, Form Factor, Build Quality


Changes to the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
Minor changes most folks may miss.
As noted above, RIM did keep everything great about the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi and put it into the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook but they also had to and saw fit to change some stuff around. If you're upgrading from a BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi to a 4G LTE PlayBook, it's nothing to be concerned about though. Accessories and all that will still play nicely
As you can see, the label has been expanded on the bottom to better properly identify the device. Instead of just the size designation, you now have that LTE badging there. In addition to that, and what I assume is some sort of FCC requirement, the serial number and other device identifying properties have been moved around. Nothing huge.
You'll also notice when looking at the charging plugs on the bottom, they've changed those. Rather then being concave like they are on the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi, they now stick straight out. I'm not aware of any issues when using the BlackBerry Charging Pod for the BlackBerry PlayBook but I can see how the changes might help when using that. Seems it may allow for better contact with the plugs on the charging pod ensuring maximum charging.
 
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook SIM Slot
 
The other obvious and necessary change comes by way of the addition of a microSIM card slot. You'll find it on the bottom of the device and it blends in rather well, all things considered. The microSIM tray slides out with ease and the microSIM fits in there just perfectly fine. If you managed to put the SIM in your BlackBerry or have ever taken it out, it should only take you a few seconds to note the cut off corner and properly place the microSIM in there properly. If you're having issues though, no matter. Here's a video to help guide you.
 
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
 
As for build quality, the 4G LTE PlayBook seems on par with the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi. I personally never had any issues with my Wi-Fi version such as dead pixels, lowered power buttons or well, anything really. Same for the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook. Out of the box it looks great, feels solid, has no loose parts and no dead pixels. All good. That said; I'm certainly not making any promises there aren't a few lemons out there. It's a given a few will show up.
 
Tablets
The 4G LTE PlayBook is physically designed for how I want to use a tablet.
I have accumulated a lot of tablets over my time, a Motorola XOOM, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, a new iPad and most recently a Nexus 7 but none of them feel as good to hold in the hands as the BlackBerry PlayBook. There is just something about the way a BlackBerry PlayBook feels in the hands.
The Nexus 7 comes close, but the out of the box portrait set-up of it hinders that feeling. Sure, it can be changed, but why should I have to change the LCD density on my tablet to make it behave how I expect when the PlayBook just comes that way?
Overall the form factor is great, though I do personally take some issues with browsing the web. It's not only a PlayBook issue either; it's pretty much any 7-inch tablet. I constantly feel as though I'm not seeing enough on the screen and have to scroll down numerous times to see all the content I want to see.
Flipping over to portrait helps some of this but alas, that also creates some formatting issues on some sites as well. Again, not PlayBook specific and I know not everyone feels that way but it something to keep in mind when going for any tablet that is 7-Inches.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook OS 


4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook OS
The OS has grown plenty since the original PlayBook release.
Unlike the original BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi when it was released, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook comes loaded with most of the essential tools you'd expect. Calendar, Email, Contacts, Messages, Video Chat. Sadly, native BBM is still missing but BlackBerry Bridge is there to help with that.
 
BlackBerry PlayBook Integrated Features
 
While BlackBerry users never really had a problem with the things that were missing, many others did and they can't pull the same jokes with the release of the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook as they did with the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi. Yeah, RIM -- the company who pioneered email -- shipped native email on the BlackBerry PlayBook ... finally. Move along.
We were hoping the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook would launch with OS 2.1 and all the additional goodies it will bring, that didn't happen for whatever reason. Instead, it launched with OS 2.0.1.668. We'll forgive RIM in this case, because we know that OS 2.1 is well under development and will be released soon enough.
Fact is that RIM is at even higher builds now than what they delivered to developers to test out only a few days ago. Plus, all versions of the BlackBerry PlayBook will eventually be upgraded to BlackBerry 10 as well and that's a good thing to know if you're considering the longevity of your purchase.
 
HTML5 tests
One stand out difference on the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook vs. BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi is the browser performance. As noted, RIM opted to go with OS 2.0.1.668 for the OS but that's not even the best OS for browsing performance they have. The best OS they have is 2.1.0.840 and it scores rather high across the board with the HTML5 test.
As you see above, 2.0.1.668 comes in at 373 with 9 bonus points but in testing 2.1.0.840, it actually comes in at 393 with 9 bonus points. The HTML5 test isn't the be all end all though so we put the iPad, Nexus 7 and 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook against each other in the Sunspider 0.9.1 java test as well. The 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook took that one as well:
  • iPad -  1847.7ms
  • Nexus 7 - 1728.9ms
  • 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook - 1461.4ms
The lower the score, the better it is. Are the tests definitive? Not at all but they certainly show the BlackBerry PlayBook excelling in the browser area and even more so on the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook when combined with that 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor.
 
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Processor


TI OMAP 4460
To non-tech nerds, this image means nothing. Translated though, it means speed increase.
The original BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi shipped with a TI OMAP 4430 Dual-Core processor clocked at 1GHz. The BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE however took it a couple steps further and introduced a TI OMAP 4460 Dual-Core processor clocked at 1.5GHz. Rightfully, the question upon hearing that news was always "Will it be faster?".
We put it to the test in the videos below and overall, when all things are considered it certainly does help a bit. To say the difference is overwhelming wouldn't be accurate but side-by-side there is a difference. Apps install faster, the 4G LTE PlayBook reboots faster, the browser renders pages faster -- everything is just slightly a bit faster.
The problem with saying that though is that different people have different needs. Not everyone cares if an app opens up 3 seconds faster. Not everyone cares if the web pages load 3 seconds faster. Not everyone cares if they have to wait a minute longer for their device to reboot. Heck, some people may not even notice it happening unless it was directly pointed out to them. The change is notable, not significant.
 


When I did the processor tests for the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi vs. 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook, a lot of people had concerns with such things as the Wi-Fi wasn't fully charged and that I should have done a Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Fi test to see if there was going to be any difference there.
After reading the comments, I took the suggestions and tested them out. Unsurprisingly to me, there was no difference. The 4G LTE PlayBook still had the advantage in all situations it did in the video above. Exact same OS loaded, exact same charge in both, exact same webpages loaded after clearing cache's and local storage files. Exact same results.
Whatever RIM did to the 4G LTE PlayBook, it has the advantage. Whether that lies in the processor or somewhere in the OS itself. Point blank, if those extra seconds mean all the difference to you and you're thinking about buying the 4G LTE PlayBook or upgrading from the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi -- do it.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Touch Screen Display


BlackBerry PlayBook Touch Screen Display
4G LTE PlayBook on top. image intentionally dark.
In my testing of the 4G LTE PlayBook at night in bed reading, I happened to notice some slight differences between the two displays that I really can't explain. The 4G LTE PlayBook is confirmed to be using the exact same display as the original BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi, but as you can see above, the 4G LTE version on top does seem to display things a little warmer.
I'd likely have never noticed it if it wasn't for having them both available to compare but there is a difference. Problem with this situation is that you can never tell if it's a defect, on purpose or like in the case of some Apple devices, a problem that will go away over time. Until the 4G LTE PlayBook gets into more hands, it's hard to say.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Battery Life 


4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Battery Test
I knew going into this, it wasn't going to fair well.
LTE is great! That is, until it comes to battery life. I knew going into this the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook was gonna lose the battery battle. It's working on a smaller 4300mAh battery vs. the 5300mAh in the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi. I'm sure RIM did this to save space inside for the LTE radio but it's something you're really going to have to take into account.
To set it all up: Both devices are running OS 2.0.1.668, both charged to 100 percent. Both with their displays set to 50 percent. The LTE PlayBook was set to LTE. The Wi-Fi PlayBook set to Wi-Fi. With Battery Guru installed to monitor it all, open up the browser and head to Infinitelooper and loop Gangnam Style for hours on end.
Result: The 4G LTE PlayBook choked out at around 3 hours and 45 mins, while the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi kept chugging along for another 2 hours and 40 mins.
 
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
 
BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi
Keeping in mind that was over LTE and Wi-Fi I then began the exact same testing using Wi-Fi vs. Wi-Fi. The results that time around faired a little better for the 4G LTE version as both tablets reached around 6 hours and some odd minutes.
Only one other item to check after Wi-Fi and LTE. Again, same settings all in place I started the process of testing just HSPA+ against the Wi-Fi only version. This is the part that kind of baffles me, even though I wasn't use LTE but instead using HSPA+ the 4G LTE PlayBook still gave around 4 hours while the W-Fi version again, chugged along.
Conclusion: If you're sole use is going to be Wi-Fi, you really shouldn't see much difference. But if you're going to be making use of LTE/HSPA+ be prepared to charge your PlayBook quite a bit. LTE and HSPA+ are battery hungry, it's just that simple.
Some fun info, the 4G LTE PlayBook appears to use a lower volted, higher power consuming battery then that of the PlayBook Wi-Fi according to Battery Guru.
 

Connectivity, 4G LTE, GPS 


LTE is fast!
Fast like..woah!
The biggest draw for the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook is well, the 4G LTE. And it works amazingly well. Testing it out in Halifax on Rogers, which is newly crowned LTE territory for Rogers, was great. Speeds blew past my paltry cable connection and consistently hit well into 40Mbps or if you prefer the other way to look at it, 5MB/s.
Uploads were also consistent though not as great, sitting around that 1Mbps mark. That seems pretty standard across carriers. Give you fast downloads, not so fast uploads. Even my TELUS 4G LTE account was the same when I tested it on the 4G LTE PlayBook.


HSPA+
If HSPA+ is what you'll be attached to more often than not due to your carrier coverage, you don't have much to worry about there either -- the 4G LTE PlayBook handles it all like a champ. My Rogers HSPA+ coverage is great but depending on your coverage you should see speeds around 4-5Mbps down with those glorious 56KB/s upload speeds up. It's only bad when you compare it to LTE and again, your carrier coverage plays a huge factor here.
Generally speaking, I don't think the speed tests should really be used for speed comparisons but rather a determination on how whether or not RIM has the LTE radio chops like they did on GSM. Overall, given this is the first LTE device from RIM, I'd say they have the LTE Radios down pat already. By the time a BlackBerry 10 device comes out, they'll be rockin.
To round out the rest of the stuff under connectivity, most of it remains unchanged really. GPS is there, Bluetooth is there and Wi-Fi of course. GPS in my testing has approved, read on below for more details:
Bluetooth: Some interesting notes under the Bluetooth section though, RIM has the device registered as having Bluetooth 3.1 although, that doesn't seem to be a standard protocol. A lot of devices are noted to have Bluetooth 3.1 but the Bluetooth Special Interest Group hasn't set a standard for it. In any case, the profiles most folks use are there and work fine as kind in my testing.
GPS:  If you've used GPS on the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi then you already know it's not the greatest. It takes forever to spin up and when it does, unless you're outside on a sunny day without a cloud in the sky it's pretty much useless. That's been my experience with it, others may argue. The 4G LTE PlayBook though has been a very clear different story for me. Using the included Bing maps on my patio, pinpoints me right to my building. Straying outside of Bing maps I decided to download GPS test from BlackBerry App World to give it a go in comparison to my PlayBook Wi-Fi. GPS tester ended up pulling up the coordinates faster on the 4G LTE PlayBook then on the PlayBook Wi-Fi hands down.
Wi-Fi:  If you were to look in the CrackBerry PlayBook forums to find people having issues with Wi-Fi on their PlayBooks you would find several threads. In my personal experience with both the Wi-Fi version and 4G LTE version of the BlackBerry PlayBook I've never had any issues. It just works for me. I don't doubt some folks have issues with different routers and such but none here to complain about.
NFC: This is is rather interesting. Numerous leaks leading up to the release of the 4G LTE PlayBook showed it as having NFC. When the LTE version arrived, documentation from carriers even showed support for it. Alas, it is there. The hardware supports it you just can't make use of it because RIM never turned it on in the OS. Will they eventually? Probably. When will that be? BlackBerry 10 I'm guessing. Until then it's a moot point.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Cameras/Video Recording 


Image shot using the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook
Still the same camera, meaning it takes fairly decent images.
Nothing has changed on the camera and video front. In other words, the camera takes fairly decent photos and under the right conditions, really great video. As Kevin always says, with the BlackBerry PlayBook you don't have to feel like as much of a tool should you want to take it out of your coat pocket and snap a pic or capture a video. Trust me, you don't want to be one of these people.
 
This is a sample video shot with my BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi from Orlando, Florida. It was only shot in 720p although the PlayBook is capable of 1080p. You can expect the same from the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook.
 

Head to Head with the Competition 

Comparsion ChartComparsion ChartComparsion Chart
When it comes to comparing the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook to other LTE enabled tablets on the market, you have quite a task on your hands. Most LTE tablets are assigned to a carrier be it Rogers, TELUS, Bell, Verizon, AT&T and whoever else you can possibly think of and while some offer to subsidize the pricing others don't. Looking around, here's what you'll find in terms of pricing:
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE (16GB) - $650 - No contract, $300 - with contract (Bell, Rogers)
  • Apple iPad LTE 32GB - $730 - (Carriers don't subsidize iPad pricing)
  • DROID XYBOARD 10.1 32GB - $630 - No contract (Verizon)
  • DROID XYBOARD 8.2 32GB - $530 - No contract (Verizon)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 32GB - $630 - No contract (Verizon)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 7-Inch - $350 - No  contract (Verizon) / 8GB internal but its expandable to 64GB
  • HTC Jetstream - $550 - No contract - (AT&T)
No doubt you'll find more if you start looking harder considering the amount of Android tablets that are out there but they're not the latest and greatest and some I personally wouldn't even give the time of day. Heck, even some above aren't really worth what you'd be paying given how long they've been on the market and their potential upgrade paths. The only Android tablet I would consider purchasing is a Nexus 7 and it doesn't have LTE nor 32GB of storage.
The iPad is a great option but coming in a couple hundred dollars more than anything else may make it a non-starter for some folks out there and understandably so. That's not to say the 4G LTE PlayBook is cheap either. it's a car payment, rent or mortgage payment, groceries in the fridge. No matter how you look at it $550 is a lot to lay down on a tablet that will just diminish in value over time.
I leave the value proposition of the 4G LTE PlayBook in your capable hands and suggest that if you're looking to buy a tablet, buy what fits your needs or whatever you perceive to be the best value. After all, it's your money and you who is using it. You'll have to decide which ecosystem you want to invest in, how much it will cost you, which one has the stuff you need and want to use. 
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Accessories


BlackBerry Mini Keyboard
After you get your 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook up and running you'll certainly want to grab some accessories to go along with it. If you're already a BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi owner all of your previous accessories will work but, you can always grab some of that non-transferrable stuff or just pick up something special for your new tablet. At ShopCrackBerry.com we have just what you need - from cases to chargers to batteries and more. We get new items in stock every day, so if you don't see what you want now, just check back later. And with great international shipping options, you can get accessories almost anywhere in the world within a few days.
 
Shop all 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Accessories  
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Pros / Cons


Pros
  • 4G LTE / HSPA+
  • Faster Processor
  • Improved GPS
  • Upgradeable to BlackBerry 10
 
Cons
  • Less than stellar battery life
  • Additional data plan recommended
  • Can't be used as a HotSpot
  • Costly upgrade
 

The Bottom Line


I thought for a very long time on how to close out this review. Reason being, anyone who knows me knows I often switch devices. I do use an iPhone, I do use a Samsung Galaxy Note, I do use a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and I do use a BlackBerry Bold 9900. Looking at that device list, you'll notice one singular thing that is common about all of them.
They offer me the chance to use any of them as a wireless HotSpot, meaning I can turn that functionality on and can connect my BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi to them at any point for either a HSPA+ or LTE connection depending on the device.
In my case, there is no justification for me to pick up a 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook because I can do what it does already connection wise with my current devices. The incentives are reduced at that point to 'Do I want a BlackBerry PlayBook with a 1.5GHz processor?' In which case, for the cost of it -- no I don't. That said, I'm not the average consumer. I'm a tech whore and I don't fit average and not everyone has numerous tablets and numerous other phones available to them.
For folks who already have a BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi or are thinking about picking up a 4G LTE PlayBook, the choice is tougher. Yes, you'll get 4G LTE and the faster processor but you'll be paying for it. Whether you go with a contract and data plan or you go out and buy it off contract, there will be a rather significant amount of money spent.
Taking a step back and trying to envision myself as just a regular customer with some technological knowledge, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook is a great option over some of the other tablets out there. Sure, RIM's ecosystem isn't huge and it doesn't have as many apps available as Android or iOS but there is more to buying a tablet than just games and apps. The experience as a whole has to be considered and for what the 4G LTE PlayBook offers at its price point, it's an option that shouldn't be dismissed.
 

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Links 


More 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook News
4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Forums
Shop 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Accessories 
CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Review



Leaked OS: BlackBerry Curve 9360, 9370, 9380 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Curve 9360, 9370, 9380 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Bold 9790 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Bold 9790 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Torch 9810, 9850, 9860 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Torch 9810, 9850, 9860 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 OS 7.1.0.649

Leaked OS: BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 OS 7.1.0.649

Cellular Country’s BlackBerry 9300 Curve is now Unlocked

Cellular Country’s BlackBerry 9300 Curve is now Unlocked

SugarSync Ranks #99 on Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies in the Country

SugarSync Ranks #99 on Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies in the Country

Feed the Kitten Both Paid and Free Versions Now Available


Feed the Kitten Both Paid and Free Versions Now Available


Feed the Kitten is a Cut the Rope clone and is very fun for all ages. Kittens grow so fast! Kittens are always hungry! Feed your Kitten with a fish hanging on the thread. Cut threads with your finger and avoid obstacles to deliver a tasty snack to your Kittens belly.

Think out of the box to collect as many stars as possible. The more stars you collect – the better. Use collected stars to unlock other levels.
FEATURES:
  • 72 tricky levels and much more to come;
  • perfect graphics and sounds;
  • cute character;
  • realistic gameplay physics;
  • BlackBerry Messenger integration: share your achievements via BBM.
You will definitely enjoy this challenging and funny puzzle!
NOTE: if your phone’s screen is not touch-enabled
  • Use trackpad to move the “hand” pointer.
  • Move trackpad while holding any key to cut threads.
  • Click trackpad to pop flying bubbles under the “hand” pointer.
  • Click green hotties to blow snacks.
Head on over to App World an grab the FREE  or Paid verison

via: nerdberry

Leaked OS 7.1.0.649 now available for most devices

Leaked OS 7.1.0.649 now available for most devices:
BlackBerry Update
OS 7.1.0.649 has leaked for a whole slew of devces including the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930Bold 9790Curve 9360Torch 9850 and P'9981. This is an unofficial (leaked) OS, so while it's mostly safe to install, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS or How to Upgrade Your BlackBerry OS Using App Loader. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.
*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Download OS 7.1.0.649 and Discuss more in the forums
CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Leaked OS 7.1.0.649 now available for most devices



Deal of the Day: Save 50% on iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370

Deal of the Day: Save 50% on iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370:

Today Only: Buy the iSkin Vibes Case for BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370 and save $15.04!


The iSkin Vibes cases are made with a second generation soft TPU polymer and feature iSkin-exclusive MICROBAN antimicrobial product protection. They have a flexible design that makes for easy installation, yet effectively protects your Blackberry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370. Comes in carbon, pink, red, purple and blue.
List Price: $29.99    Today's Price: $14.95
Deal also available in the Canada store
Learn More and Buy Now
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CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Deal of the Day: Save 50% on iSkin Vibes for BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370