RIM has released the fourth beta of Facebook for BlackBerry. This beta version includes a few more UI features as well as generally improves the app’s ability to talk to other applications on the device. Other beta features include:
Enhanced Notifications – users will now be notified of polled items, such as ‘Likes’ and Event Wall posts.
Cross-Channel Messaging – Deep integration of Facebook with core BlackBerry applications allows users to share Facebook Content across BlackBerry Messaging Applications. An example includes sending News Feed items to other messaging applications, like email, SMS, BBM, Twitter and more.
Enhanced Integration with BlackBerry Native Apps – Building on enhanced integration with BlackBerry Native Apps, Facebook v2.0 now includes additional messaging options from the ‘More’ button within a Profile and from the Friends list.
In-App Error Reporting – Users can install the BlackBerry Feedback Tool through the Menu in the Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones app. The BlackBerry Feedback Tool can be used to send feedback on BlackBerry features, functions, and applications at any time and is currently available in English only.
Touch Toolbar – BlackBerry users with a touch screen device will now have Compose, Reply, and Delete icons located along the bottom of the device screen in the Facebook Inbox for quick and easy access to these popular features.
Path is an incredibly successful iPhone app that has recently announced it’s coming to BlackBerry and looking for beta testers. The app lets you take pictures and share them with a close network of friends. Whereas Twitter posts pictures to the public for many to see, Path lets you broadcast to a smaller, more intimate group. We haven’t seen the BlackBerry version yet, but the iPhone version features:
Capture life’s moments in photos or short videos.
Make your moments more beautiful and personal with Lenses.
Share with a small group of 50 close friends & family via iPhone, Email, Web, or Facebook.
Tag your moments with people, places, and things to add context.
Know who has seen each of your moments.
Let your friends know how each moment makes you feel with Emotion.
Have intimate conversations around each moment with Chat.
Watch your friend’s reactions to your Path roll in with Activity
Publish the occasional moment on your Facebook Wall for all of your Facebook friends to see.
The developers behind PocketDay let us know that the app has been updated to version 7.1 (exclusively for OS 5 and OS 6). The latest version adds Facebook integration, and they have discontinued the personal edition of PocketDay and now offer the Professional version at a new cost of $9.95. For those who haven’t heard of the app, PocketDay is a Today Screen on steroids. The app gives you immediate access to important streams of content such as calendar events, RSS, weather and more. In the latest version, features include: Continue reading ‘PocketDay Updated to Version 7.1 with Social Integration and More’
The PlayBook is a great tablet. Don’t listen to the haters. It’s a rock solid piece of hardware and the software has huge potential. The problems with it stem from the fact that it’s a brand new OS and still needs a few updates. Recently, BlackBerry users were sent a pretty big update to the PlayBook and it improves many of the features you use on the device such as Facebook, App World, charging the device and video chat connectivity. These updates are welcome and we’re looking forward to more. Hopefully the summer vacation season won’t slow down QNX and we’ll see another big update soon.
PIN sharing is still going really strong. We can see a great example of it on our facebook page where every day users comment their PIN. It seems to be most popular in Asia and South America, where users may not have the same worries about privacy as in North America. SearchBBM is a new site that connects BBM through Facebook and potentially other social networks (we assume Twitter is on its way). So if you’re in the mood to find a new BBM friend, we suggest you check it out.
A new website developed by a group of engineering students and former Facebook and Microsoft employees called ChooseForChange.com is looking for people to choose their favorite smartphone and donate to help fight global poverty. The goal is to raise money for the World Partnership Walk, whose funds go directly to international development projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.
It’s a fun idea and if you’re interested in donating to the cause, perhaps it makes more sense just to donate directly to the Aga Khan Foundation and get straight to where the funds will end up eventually. Or, if you’d like to support your favorite smartphone brand, you can always head over to ChooseForChange.com.
UPDATE: Spoke to the PR team and they said “The reason we wanted to build awareness about World Partnership Walk was because it is an event that is held across Canada annually. We wanted the external community to become a part of this and have the opportunity to take part. The World Partnership Walk is only affiliated with the Aga Khan Foundation so 100% of the proceeds will go directly there anyways.”
