Thanks to everyone who participated in the SmrtGuard BETA program. There were a ton of great comments and feedback. In response, SmrtGuard has made several improvements to their product and they have implemented several new features.
What is New:
* Fixed Call Log backup problem
* Add Vondafone (UK/Spain/Australia), Orange UK, T-mobile (Germany) to list of approved BlackBerry Native Emails
* Fixed Personal Guardian Preference freeze issue
* Change Personal Guardian timeout to 8 seconds instead of 5
* Auto prompt for activation when entering the application for the first time
* Other minor fixes
SmrtGuard is an application for your BlackBerry that aims to protect you against theft or loss. To do this, the app uses a combination of OTA sync’ing, GPS tracking and remote data detonation, to keep your device safe. Currently, the project is open for public beta so you can try it out.
To register for the public BETA, create an account here.
For those of you that have a “native” BlackBerry email address (blackberry.com or blackberry.net) AND are experiencing the following problem:
Problem using Audio Ping
Problem using Remote Tracking / Locating
Problem using Remote Self-Destruct Drill
We have identified the issue and have a fix for this with v1.01 patch update.
IF YOU DO NOT have the described problem, you can ignore this update.
Here are the steps to take to fixed the above problem
1. Get v1.01 here.
2. You will be prompt to reboot your BlackBerry, please do so.
3. Once rebooted, go into SmrtGuard Application and navigate the menu About SmrtGuard-> Reactivate
4. Enter your activation code. You can find this code on the SmrtGuard website, under Account Tab, listed as “Device Side Activation Code”
5. When successfully done so, please manually reboot your BlackBerry by pulling the battery.
Viigo’s Beta 8 is primed and raring to hit your BlackBerry. Download the new version and access exciting new features including the ability to tweet articles with a single click, find movies playing in your city, a new Shopping service, and the capability to build and track your own portfolios in Stocks and Finance.
Viigo has made several enhancements in Tango 8
• Post interesting articles to Twitter with a single click
• Find movies that are playing in your city, or see what’s playing at a theatre near you.
• Use Quick Launch buttons to email an article to a friend or to yourself, Tweet an article of interest, Post To Del.ic.ious, view a full Article or open in a browser
• Access real time flight status in your Flights and Travel itinerary
New features in Stocks & Finance:
• Create your own portfolios that include the stocks or mutual funds of your choosing
• Each portfolio lists the ticker name, the price, the change and the percentage change
• Access depth details on trades including the volume of shares traded, the current bid/ask, time of last trade, market cap and much more
A Preview of Viigo Shopping:
• Viigo has partnered with Mobihand and Magmic (the Bplay store) to bring you the ability to purchase the latest mobile software, software accessories, games, themes and more
• Details on the product are available in just one click without ever leaving Viigo
• More partners and more stores will be unveiled shortly
Throughout the many stages of the BOLT BlackBerry Browser private beta, we’ve had a hard time keeping up with the demand for invites to make sure every member of the BlackBerry Nation got a chance to kick the tires, so to speak. Thankfully, Bitstream has answered the call with a public beta of BOLT Browser version .86. To download the latest version for your BlackBerry, hit the link below. Don’t forget to check out our hands-on impressions as well.
When BlackBerry Cool became the first BlackBerry website on the Internet to provide free invites to the BOLT BlackBerry Browser private beta, we never thought so many people would have such rabid interest. After thanking you the readers for providing ’substantial feedback’ on the initial beta release, Bitstream let us know that an updated version is being pushed to users with BlackBerry-specific enhancements. You can find the full list of enhancements after the jump.
For those that haven’t tried the BOLT Browser yet, we have some great news: the ‘berrycool’ code now has unlimited referrals! So head over to the BOLT download page and tell Bitstream ‘berrycool’ sent you.
In addition, Bitstream has set up an email address for people who want to share their experiences using BOLT and possibly be quoted (with expressed permission) in BOLT’s PR efforts. The address is pr4beta@boltbrowser.com. Bitstream has also set up a support form for those with technical issues at: http://www.boltbrowser.com/support.html. So you have your task readers: download the new version of BOLT, keep providing great feedback, and help make a nifty BlackBerry Browser even better.
UPDATE: WOW, just got word from Bitstream that you guys brought down their servers! They’re upgrading them now for higher capacity, so if you received an error when trying to sign up, wait a while and try again!
When we wrangled the BlackBerry Nation 500 invites for the BOLT BlackBerry Browser private beta yesterday, we weren’t sure how interested you’d be. It turns out that you were very interested — Bitstream, makers of BOLT had quadrupled our invites to 2000, and that still wasn’t enough! So after a little bit of negotiating, we’ve gotten them to give us some more invites.
To get your copy of the BOLT beta, you must head on over to their download page and use the following referral code: ‘berrycool’. Do this even if you had already sent a request previously. Bitstream has now automated the request process, meaning you should get an email with the download link much quicker now.
While you’re waiting to get your dirty little mitts on that email, don’t forget to check out our hands-on BOLT browser impressions. Get to it!
If there is one thing that bothers me to no end about my BlackBerry Storm, it is the extreme difficulty in using it as a phone. It’s not because of call quality, which is great, or problems with dialing phone numbers via the SureTouch screen. It’s because the freaking screen doesn’t lock during a call, causing you to often accidentally hang up or mute your call. Extremely frustrating!
Thankfully, there is an application in beta right now that corrects RIM’s poor design choice. Called TalkLock, the application prevents users from accidentally pressing the screen and launching programs or functions while talking on the Storm. Disabling the lock and returning to normal phone behavior is done by swiping your finger across the screen from left to right at any time. Yes, it’s just that simple.
The SlingPlayer for BlackBerry beta we told you about a few weeks back has launched today and is now available to all. The public beta is available to BlackBerry users in the US, Canada and UK and SlingPlayer has a list of recommended BlackBerry devices, which you can see below.
To see the complete requirements and download instructions, head to the link below. After the public beta, SlingPlayer is offering a free 30 day trial and then charging $29.99 for full purchase.
Anyone familiar with SlingPlayer should be chomping very excited that it will soon be available for BlackBerry. That’s right, Sling Media announced late last night that SlingPlayer Mobile for BlackBerry will enter public beta beginning December 30th. The public beta will be available to BlackBerry users in the US, Canada and UK initially. Here’s a list of supported BlackBerrys for the public beta:
The fine folks over at S4BB just let me know that they have a new production in their popular line of productivity applications for BlackBerry (S4BB also makes both NextAction! and TaskMaster for BlackBerry). Dubbed ActionPad, the application is now in open beta for members of the BlackBerry Nation to try out.
ActionPad Beta 1 feature list:
- Quick: 2 click memo creation.
- Category quick switch: known from TaskMaster(TM) and NextAction!.
- Supports multiple categories.
- Export memo to / send memo via EMail.
- Compatible with desktop memo applications. more…
- 3 Font sizes: small, medium, large.
- 100% compatible with internal Blackberry® Memo(TM) Application.
- Functions: add / edit / delete memo, add / delete category.
The ActionPad beta test is totally free of charge and open to everyone. Just head to the link below to download the application, and don’t forget to leave lots of helpful feedback!
If there is one thing that bothers me to no end about my BlackBerry Storm, it is the extreme difficulty in using it as a phone. It’s not because of call quality, which is great, or problems with dialing phone numbers via the SureTouch screen. It’s because the freaking screen doesn’t lock during a call, causing you to often accidentally hang up or mute your call. Extremely frustrating!
