Data Drilling is a really cool-looking PlayBook app that helps you learn more from your data by visualizing it. The app takes spreadsheet data and presents it in a variety of graphical formats to help you study it better. This app is great for app developers because you can export the App World spreadsheet to the app, and break down your app’s downloads based on a variety of factors in order for you to better learn about your users. Another benefit of Data Drilling is that it comes in a free, Lite and Pro version.
RIM held an App Master challenge in South Africa where developers competed for an all-expenses paid trip to San Francisco for the BlackBerry Developer Conference as well as a carousel feature for their app. The winner of the challenge was Joe Diedericks‘ “Salon Queen” app for the PlayBook. The app is a sales, scheduling and customer relationship management app for hair salons. It makes it simple for hair stylists to showcase their work and hairstyle ideas to their clients as well as the hairstyles the salon has done for them before. The app also enables salons to track their clients as well as schedule hair appointments for clients on the spot. Salon Queen is a great example of how a tablet app can be used for small business and it’s solutions like Salon Queen that will help jumpstart the industry. We’ll be able to show off more of Salon Queen when the app is live in App World.
Etisalat, which owns a controlling stake in Tanzania’s Zantel, has partnered with app development shop EMS, to develop a new app store for BlackBerry apps. The new store will provide a wide range of apps including games, instant messaging, social networking, news, weather and PIM apps. The Zantel chief commercial officer, Mr Norman Moyo said in the statement that his company decided to come up with the initiative after realising that Africa and Tanzania in particular is in dire need of BlackBerry applications. The problem with the new store is that the carrier should be partnering with RIM on the initiative, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. We know Etisalat has been spying on its users before, and even though it’s a Zantel initiative, the carrier’s reputation is very tarnished and one should be weary of anything they’re involved in.
If you’re interested in a Nigerian BlackBerry app development company, we recommend you check out 2shekels.com. The Nigerian IT firm has some interesting BlackBerry apps such as TagIt that lets you tag your friends in photos right on your BlackBerry. They also have a ScreenCap app that doesn’t add any watermarks unlike ScreenMuncher and supports sending the photos directly to UberSocial.
BlackBerry is still doing really well in the UK with a 22.3% market share compared to iPhone’s 18.3%. Android is doing outstanding with a 45.2% market share. Also of interest, it seems 85 percent of new BlackBerry sales came from customers that had previously used conventional phone handsets, with the majority of upgraders being women. It seems that low price points and the unmatched QWERTY keyboard make BlackBerry an obvious choice for new smartphone users. Once RIM releases its high-end, dual-core QNX device, the company will have a nice smartphone portfolio that covers the gamut of users.
Ahead of the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault revealed details of its latest concept car, FRENDZY, and how the BlackBerry PlayBook fits into its design. The FRENDZY was created as a commercial business vehicle that can also serve as a comfortable passenger car. The PlayBook completes this design as it connects directly into the centre console, and gives the driver easy access to the tablet. By the way the lazer beams surround the car and enter PlayBook, the company seems to be suggesting that you’ll be able to control elements of the car with the PlayBook and they’re somehow connected. Perhaps Renault is working with QNX and all of this will be integrated.
Cozi is a calendar and organization system designed for families. The app lets you manage your family calendar, shopping lists, and to do lists while you’re on the go. This app is great if you and your wife/spouse don’t both have BlackBerrys, but if you do, you should obviously be doing all of this in a BlackBerry Messenger Group. That’s how Power Couples roll. Features of Cozi include:
Manage the family schedule from wherever you are. Add an appointment and upload it to your Cozi account so the whole family can see it.
Get your shopping lists while you’re at the grocery store—no more coming home with everything but the one thing you needed.
Add a to do list item right when you think of it, and access from your phone or home computer.
