Posted on October 19, 2009, at 4:04 pm .
Beginning October 15th, and lasting 10 days, the Perimeter Institute is hosting Quantum to Cosmos: Ideas for the Future (Q2C).
The Perimeter Institute was founded in the summer of 1999 by Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of RIM. The Institute is a center for innovation in Canada and is helping to spread access to fascinating and important research. PI is a world renowned organization devoted to theoretical physics and it remains a source of pride for Canada and scientists everywhere.
Q2C’s extensive program features more than 50 events – including panel discussions, keynote presentations, special screenings, exhibits including the full-scale model of the next Mars Rover (named Curiosity), and recorded sessions with Honorary Festival President Professor Stephen Hawking.
To follow this amazing festival, visit q2cfestival.com and TVO.org.
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 2:40 pm .
Details have surfaced about the Bluetooth BlackBerry Watch accessory that was rumored a few months ago. The device will not be manufactured by RIM, but rather a third party accessory company.
The watch is a Bluetooth-connected device that serves as an alert system for your BlackBerry communications. If you’re in the car, on a bike, or traveling with your device not in-hand, the watch will keep you updated with alerts.
To learn more about who is manufacturing the device, called the inPulse Smartwatch, see this pic of an early development stage found online.
The pic, which is likely the beginnings of the inPulse Smartwatch, tells us that the concept for the device came from Eric Migicovsky, an engineering student at Waterloo who won some startup capital. It’s not clear if Eric’s company is making the hardware, but it definitely seems as though they are powering the software.
[Via]
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 1:39 pm .
Vlingo recently completed a study that reveals teens use text messaging as their primary method of communications and 60% admitted to reading incoming messaging while driving.
The survey comes as the nation observes National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 18th-24th. According to the study, 94 percent of teens use their mobile phones to send text messages. Fifty-four percent send more than 500 text messages per month and 79 percent send more text messages than make phone calls. Teens use text messaging primarily to communicate with friends (72 percent).
While email is central to communication on a BlackBerry, the device is also used heavily for SMS. Many teens buy BlackBerry devices, not for the email capabilities, but for the QWERTY keyboard and the brand.
It is for this reason that BlackBerryCool.com would like to remind you not to drive while using your BlackBerry. Even though using voice-based user interfaces may show an improvement in your ability to focus on the road, the absolute safest thing you can do is just wait until you arrive at your destination.
Visit Vlingo and register to read the full survey.
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 12:37 pm .
MessageSchedule allows you to send SMS or email messages at whatever time you would like. There is a clean user interface where you can keep track of your message schedule, and templates make sending the same message much easier.
The application has recently been updated as well. Some updates in version 2.0 of MessageSchedule include:
- Email service to be used for sending out message can be selected now. So the right email service is used for sending a message.
- Schedule messages to be sent out regularly on daily, weekly and monthly basis.
MessageSchedule is available for $9.99.
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 12:26 pm .
S4BB have just released RotationLock for the BlackBerry Storm and Storm 2. The app is a practical piece of software that Storm owners can benefit from. The app simply gives you the ability to lock your device in either portrait or landscape; whichever you prefer.
Features include:
- RotationLock adds a menu item to all application on your device which will either allow you to “Unlock Screen” and “Lock Screen”.
- RotationLock is designed specifically for the Storm™. It works on all Blackberry® native apps and many more.
- Compose emails in landscape mode or browse memos in portrait mode or any way you wish!
RotationLock is available for $4.99.
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 12:12 pm .
WunderRadio is a streaming radio application that, originally for iPhone, will be available on BlackBerry App World tomorrow.
WunderRadio contains over 50,000 global live Internet radio streams provided by RadioTime. There are a variety of ways to experience this content, such as searching the over 400 genres. This application is great for listening to local content as well. With the RadioTime Guide, users can automatically detect what is airing on their local stations. You can also connect with an on-air DJ, while streaming your favorite station. Another local and interesting feature, is the ability to listen to police and emergency radio bands on WunderRadio.
WunderRadio does a great job of bringing together the best of radio, and the best of mobile technologies to deliver content. When it launches tomorrow, the app will cost $9.99, while offering users a 10 day free trial as well.
Posted on October 19, 2009, at 12:01 pm .
BoxTone have launched BoxTone 5.0 and there are some interesting updates to the product. The top 5 features you will see include:
1. Real-Time BlackBerry Productivity Tracking and Reporting
2. Controlling Employee Device Invasion
3. BoxTone Expert Connected for Remote Device Tracking
4. Roaming and Data Overage Tracking and Reporting
5. Expanded User Self-Service
Click through to read more about the latest features in BoxTone 5.0
Posted on October 18, 2009, at 5:22 pm .
Now that the new BlackBerry Messenger is out, it’s worth taking the time to put some BlackBerry OS 5 downloads in one spot. Many of the leaked versions of OS 5 have been missing the new BBM, but now that it’s released, you may want to get OS 5 for your device and have the whole package.
Keep in mind these are leaked OS links and the official version is much safer for your BlackBerry. We’re putting these links here so you can preview what will soon be officially released for your device. The official release of OS 5 features:
- More responsive experience and includes usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons and more use of animation.
- Typing accuracy and selection have been significantly refined.
- BlackBerry Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets
Customers running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 will gain the ability to:
- Set follow-up Flags on the handset like they can in Microsoft® Office Outlook®
- Manage Microsoft Exchange email folders (Add, Rename, Move, Delete) on the handset
- Access remote files shares (Windows Shares); Save, View, Edit, and Email documents from remote file shares
- Forward appointments and view calendar attachments on the handset
- Benefit from wireless sync improvements for Contacts, including sync for multiple contact folders, personal Distribution Lists and contacts in Public/Shared folders
Click through for download links for some of the latest devices
Posted on October 18, 2009, at 12:42 am .
Police in Bedfordshire, UK, have recently completed a project to outfit 1,100 frontline officers with BlackBerry smartphones.
By rolling out the BlackBerry solution, officers are able to increase visibility in the community and improve operational efficiency. With a BlackBerry, a frontline officer can now access operation critical applications and systems. While on patrol, the BlackBerry empowered officer as remote access to the Police National Computer (PNC), the forces crime management system, intelligence database, warrants, Police National Legal Database and its custom-built briefings application.
It is estimated that a BlackBerry saves each officer half an hour to an hour each day. This means big savings during an economic time when the UK has admitted it will have to make tremendous cuts in public spending, which will inevitably affect the police budget.
The Bedfordshire police Inspector Jim Hitch says: “I liken this to the change from Police boxes to Police radio. That was a huge step and quite expensive and had its doubters who asked why we needed radios. What we’re moving to now with these devices is a similar sort of scenario. There are people doubting and asking why we need them but I think that will become clearer and we will depend on these devices more and more and wonder how we ever did without them.”
[Via]
Posted on October 18, 2009, at 12:03 am .
The official Facebook app has been updated to version 1.7.0.18 and it’s available for download in App World.
The Facebook application is unique in that it was developed by RIM in order to take advantage of APIs that aren’t available to third party developers. This gives the app much needed integration with your BlackBerry.
The latest version of Facebook has the following improvements:
- News Feed Support – The ability to set the News Feed as the landing page.
- News Feed Filters – The ability to toggle between ‘News Feed, Status Updates, Photos and Links.
- Caching Improvements – The application uses the device memory more efficiently.
- Feed Pre-fetching – The user will not be required to wait while their Facebook Feeds are updated.
- View Profile Menu Option – Clients may easily view their own profile by selecting ‘View my Profile’ from the menu.
While the update brings some improvements in the way of efficiency, it is still seriously lacking when it comes to the user interface. Many users have complained that the icons are designed such that you need the icon caption text to tell you what you’re looking at. The app also has a less than stellar review in App World, with only about 2 and a half stars.
