7Digital have officially announced the launch of their BlackBerry app with access to over 7 million MP3s. The app allows users to download music over GPRS/EDGE/3G or WiFi, and build a library of DRM-free MP3s on their BlackBerry.
The app, developed in partnership with DevelopIQ, will also let users access purchased tracks on 7digital.com via the built-in digital locker. You will be able to listen to the tracks from an integrated media player, as well as stream them to your car or home via Bluetooth.
The 7digital app is available for the Bold, Curve 8900, Tour, 8520 and Storm.
Didiom announced today the expansion of its mobile media service public beta to include the BlackBerry Pearl today (the beta also supports the BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry 88xx series). Didiom allows BlackBerry users to access their home computer’s iTunes library remotely and buy over 1.5 million high-quality MP3 songs while on the go. Didiom is unique in that it utilizes a bartering system, allowing users to name their own price for MP3 songs and download them to their BlackBerry or PC. In addition, throughout the beta period Didiom is implementing a cash bonus program to reward prepaid users who purchase MP3 songs.
I downloaded Didiom, which requires you to use both a client on your computer (PC only for now) and my BlackBerry Curve 8330 running OS 4.5. While I was able to listen to the songs available from their library, I couldn’t get my DRM-free iTunes music to stream (Didiom has a DRM-free licensing deal with EPM). While this may not be a big deal for most users, about 99% of my music is DRM-free, meaning the service doesn’t really work for me. Anyone else have more luck?
It seems as though RIM has finally heard the cries of many Mac BlackBerry (MacBerry?) users. Earlier this week they released a ‘Preview’ build of BlackBerry Media Sync for Mac, and I had to give it a test run. In general, it works as advertised and syncing playlists is surprisingly fast. Unfortunately, you can’t just drag over iTunes albums as is, but have to make a playlist out of each.
Here’s some things to keep in mind:
This is a ‘preview’ build. RIM seems afraid of Mac development and has gone out of their way to tell users that their not legally responsible if Mac Media Sync roxXors yurz blakberreez. You have been warned. Mac Media Sync will not work with Pocket Mac or Missing Sync. Which would be fine if RIM had also released a Mac Desktop Manager, but one step at a time, I guess.
Syncing a BlackBerry with a Mac can be a pain. In the past, I’ve had issues with the device not being recognized by the Mac and installing software can sometimes be difficult. BGR got the first look at BlackBerry Media Sync for Mac. It’s a slick looking applications that is a great Mac port of the PC version. Now you’ll be able to sync your music, photos, videos, and even iTunes playlists to BlackBerry devices.
Mac users rejoice! Entourage 2008, designed to emulate much of Microsoft Office, can now support syncing for BlackBerrys released as of May through PocketMac. Devices running OS 4.5 reportedly work like a charm for getting contacts, tasks, and calendar items off your Mac and onto your BlackBerry via Entourage. iTunes support is also in there, although it’s kind of funny that PC users got the iTunes Media Sync first. This is pretty awesome for Mac users everywhere, considering the complete lack of love they tend to get from RIM. Hopefully this will keep enough of them from going with the iPhone instead… Hey, you can always make your BlackBerry look like an iPhone with themes like iBerry in Today, Icon and Zen styles. Head on over to the PocketMac site to download version 4.1.25.
Supposedly the BlackBerry/iTunes syncing utility that was making the rounds last month is ready for primetime, and could be popping up for public download from www.blackberry.com/mediasync at some point today. iTunes support certainly makes BlackBerrys more viable as your number one media player – combined with increasing size of memory cards and high quality stereo Bluetooth headsets, it’s hard to go wrong. If you didn’t have time to nab MediaSync when it was available briefly, today could be your big chance, so keep your eyes peeled.
The talented sleuths over at BerryReview were able to sniff out the nascent BlackBerry MediaSync application expected to appear with BlackBerry OS 4.6. BlackBerry MediaSync allows users to sync iTunes files to your BlackBerry; Nanu reported syncing 260 songs with album art in about 10 minutes, which is not bad at all.
Of course, RIM has already yanked the file, but we’ve heard that it can still be found on the Internets. Grab it before its gone, as well.
The shots of 4.5’s BlackBerry Desktop Manager have already been sighted, but 4.6 due to launch with the BlackBerry Bold hasn’t been seen until now. The big feature is the iTunes media syncing promised to come with the BlackBerry 9000, but aside from that, everything looks more or less like the unreleased 4.5 DM.
nuTsie recently announced a partnership with lyrics database LyricFind, letting you search through the lyrics of all the music in your iTunes library from your BlackBerry while you’re listening to streaming tunes. Best of all, it’s free – you just have to export your iTunes metadata and upload it to their servers. BlackBerry support is still in open beta, if you want to give nuTsie a shot and have a data plan that can stomach it. Thanks Josep!
The Globe and Mail just posted about a pretty great product RIM’s working on: the BlackBerry Home Server. The idea is that it would be kind of a mini-BES for your home, which would let RIM’s network operating center to talk with your PC at home, allowing for access to music, photos and files from anywhere with your BlackBerry. The author makes an open comparison to iTunes, and Scotia Capital’s Gus Papageorgiou wasn’t shy about bashing the old model versus the new one RIM is setting up.
“Why do you need this application-specific, expensive piece of hardware that you batch process into your PC every once in a while when you happen to be home, when instead you can just do everything you want to over the air and not have to worry about being at home to sync it with your PC or your laptop?” Mr. Papageorgiou asked.
This is a trend following Microsoft’s Windows Home Server in terms of bringing business functions to home customers, and shows a lot of promise for penetrating the multimedia-crazy consumer market. A few days ago we were talking about advanced features on BlackBerrys, such as music-playing, and how many owners actually use them. If RIM can offer the software which supports those features, we can count on usage (and the value of owning a BlackBerry) going up.
Mac users rejoice! 
The shots of 4.5’s BlackBerry Desktop Manager have 
nuTsie 
The Globe and Mail just 
