A few months back Verizon Fios released an application that allows users to control their DVR from a mobile device. The app lets you search, view TV listings, record programs and more. While it was a step in the right direction, I was still frustrated that my cable company, Cablevision, had yet to release their own. Well a few months down the road, Cablevision finally got it together and revealed a web portal that allowed users to control their DVR, and Thursday they finally unveiled a mobile site for doing the same. While not a full featured app (as we could hope for down the road) the mobile site simply lets you see what programs have been recorded, delete them or search for new shows to record. Unfortunately there are no TV listings and you have to search for each program, but its definitely a good start. The service is for Cablevisions iO TV customers (a small few of us I know) and can be reached by logging into your account on your device via optimum.net. View the full press release after the jump.

• Check out Optimum.net on your device >>

Given the recent ad campaign of Verizon, and AT&T's subsequent lawsuit, iblipped could not have better timing. The application is totally free, an essentially creates real carrier coverage maps based on user data. IT gathers data based on signal strength and dead zones, and compiles the data to create real coverage maps. iBlipped uses volunteered data, so the more people that use it the better. It works on any GPS enabled device, both GSM or CDMA.

Calling up Blips, you start out seeing a page that is acquiring sattelites. Pressing the Blackberry Button yeilds the options menu. Allowing you to set options such as recording mode, either Distance (good for driving) or time (good for walking). When you are done collecting your data, press the blackberry button, then press upload files. Pressing the end button sends the Blips program to the background where it continues to collect data while you go about your travels. Your data will show on our maps within 24 hours (but usually overnight if you get your files in before 9pm). So if you are going across town or across country, iBlipped.com needs your help to succeed. 

I think this is a very cool app, especially for free, that over time will provide a great deal of data that could help improve networks.  

• Download iblipped free >> 
• Discuss more in the CrackBerry Forums >>

Sergey emailed me about his latest app Fancy Shake, and it made me laugh a bit. I had a vision of every Storm user shaking their device to answer and Storms flying through windows and into walls. Fancy Shake gives you the option to answer incmoing calls just by shaking your device, and you can also silence and reject calls by flipping your device over. You can choose any combination of shaking and flipping, and can even adjust the sensitivity. Fancy Shake is on sale in the CrackBerry App Store for $1.99 through November 8th. We have 200 copies to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST.

• More information and download of Fancy Shake >>

 

Have trouble sleeping? Just need to relax? Ambiance combines sound and pictures to do just this. After purchasing the app you can download over 550 environments, which include both sound and image, from its free online store. Ambiance also has a fully customizable alarm clock which lets you fall asleep as one sound fades out, and awake as another fades back in at the time of your choosing. Other features include dimming of your screen, marking sounds as favorites and even integration of your devices library. With the online store being updated every week, you are sure to find the right environments for you.

• Ambiance is available for download from BlackBerry Appworld for $4.99 >>
  

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 takes all of the great BlackBerry features from recent devices, as well as some new flair, and packs a punch that some will argue is the best BlackBerry yet. With an excellent combination of size, a great keyboard, trackpad navigation and BlackBerry OS 5.0, the 9700 is a force to be reckoned with. The device is perfect for both business users and consumers. Those who are new to BlackBerry will have no problem adjusting to the new device as the OS 5.0 improvements keep getting better and better. Here we'll take a look at the best features of the device, and check out the BlackBerry OS including standard features as well as the latest OS 5.0 upgrades.

We can't really call this a leak, then again we can't call it official, but OS 5.0.0.321 for the Bold 9700 is indeed available for download. The download link popped up in the forums, so get it while its hot. This is the OS that will be installed on the Rogers devices, but its not available on their site just yet. If you're looking to get ahead of the game while you wait for your new toy to arrive, then go grab it!

• Download OS 5.0.0.321 for the BlackBerry Bold 9700>>
• Instructions: How to Upgrade your BlackBerry's Operating System >>
• Instructions: Mess things up? Fix a Bricked BlackBerry Here >>

Lately we have seen some rather unique theme creations surfacing, and it appears as though jmerhi wanted to take part and show us what he could create. Just Class offers users some features they have not previously seen. First off this theme offers you two "wall sockets" in the default background, and these are actually clickable icons. The left side offers users important information about their device like the battery percentage and OS version, while the right side will change between the two different wallpapers this theme comes with. Aside from this feature, for the 83xx, 87xx, and 88xx series devices the theme offers the user 5 icons they can select to appear on the homescreen. For newer devices, the theme offers a bottom dock of 5 icons as well 8 or 9 other slots, depending on the model. If you are looking for a theme that is different from others with fun features and great style, the clean look of this theme is something you may be interested in. Just class is available in the CrackBerry App Store for $7.00.

Contest: To enter to win 1 of 50 free copies of Just Class, leave a comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, mulitple entries won't count. 

• More information and download of Just Class>>

Fabian sent me a quick note to let me know that one of his most loved free Storm apps, Whippoh, is now available for the Storm2. Whippoh is a fun app that simulates a cracking whip sound on your device. Just run the application, grab your Storm or Storm2 and whip it! As the video shows, with some practice you'll soon be cracking away. Be careful, Whippoh is mildly addicting :-)

• Download Whippoh free for the BlackBerry Storm or Storm2>>

Its no secret that there are virtually no eBay applications for BlackBerry. Well PB Mobile Soft has taken note and released Mobile Auction Manager for eBay. The app lets you check auctions, find items, bid and even get outbid alerts. You need to sign up with Mobile Auction Manager on the web to authorize the app with your eBay account, but after that you're good to go. Its not the best looking UI (something in 'eBay colors' would have looked better) but this could prove an invaluable tool for loads of users. I personally used to be on eBay all the time, and would have loved an app like this. Mobile Auction Manager is available in the CrackBerry App Store for $2.50 through the end of the month.

• More information and download of Mobile Auction Manager>>

The wait is over for US Cellular customers. Reports have been flying in on this one, and it is true that the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is now available for on US Cellular. The device sells for $499.95 flat out, but you can grab it for $199.95 after a mail-in rebate. This requires a 2-year contract with a calling plan of $39.99 or higher plus the BlackBerry Email & Web plan at $24.99. So if you're a US Cellular user and have been hanging on to that 8330 (or maybe even and 8830?!) you can now grab a shiny new Tour. Head over to US Cellular for all the details.

• More information on the BlackBerry Tour 9630 for US Cellular >>

 

I always crack up when I see things like this. Lila sent in this ad from Verizon offering a free BlackBerry Curve, the only issue is that the Curve is running Palm OS. We've seen this a few times in the past, there was a messed up Radio Shack ad that showed WinMo running on a BlackBerry, and this one that had the BlackBerry OS running on a Nokia E71. You really think someone would catch these before they went to print. Thanks Lila for sending this in!

CarrierUnlock.com has again offered up 75 free codes for CrackBerry readers. Their codes are good for your brand new Storm2, as well as T-Mobile, AT&T, Fido & Rogers devices - so if you don't have a Storm2 or you are on another carrier you'll have to sit this one out. As an added bonus they are also running a promo to go along with the contest. CrackBerry readers can receive codes for the above carriers for only $6.99 ($3.00 off). Just head over to CarrierUnlock.com and use the promo code CB at checkout. To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment - multiple entries won't count.

 

What a great week for contests! I love when we can spread the love and have a variety of loot to be won. Apps and themes and unlock codes and accessories - a perfect contest setup. Be sure to checkout the winners of the Win a BlackBerry Bold 9700 contest from Ringtone Expressions (we'll be contacting you all shortly with your prizes). We started the fun this week already with some free copies of bbOSalert, and more contests are on the way. Don't forget to drop your vote in our I Love My BlackBerry contest as well. If you didn't walk away with anything this week, keep trying and don't give up. Congrats to all the winners!

Contest: Win a Redfly Mobile Companion for BlackBerry! Details Below..

If you're on the go and find yourself stuck in airports, on planes or in hotel rooms you know how valuable your BlackBerry can be to get work done. Be it emailing, finishing up a presentation or various other tasks, we like to use every spare minute to get things done. Sometimes the keyboard and small screen can bring your productivity down, and lets face it, not everyone has a laptop or netbook to cart around. Wifi isn't always available, and sometimes tethering isn't an option. All these added together can make for some crappy traveling and even less productivity. Enter Redfly from Celio Corp. Redfly carries the tagline "Use Your Smartphone Like A Laptop" and you can do just that. The unit itself is smaller than a netbook which makes for extreme portability, and you just plug in your device (or jump on via Bluetooth) and you're up and running. You're BlackBerry screen is instantly transported to the Redfly's 7 or 8 inch screen and you have a full QWERTY keyboard at your disposal. Now you can use the power of your BlackBerry as a laptop. Email, BlackBerry Messenger, MemoPad, Calendar and more are all at your disposal. Lets start from the beginning and take a look at the Redfly unit and all of its functions.

This is one of the first of what is sure to be a long line of carrier released apps. The new Vodafone Update app allows you to easily update your Twitter and Facebook status all in one place. While not bursting with features, the app is great for casual users who don't want to install the Facebook app or a full blown Twitter client. Features include:

• See status updates from your Twitter and Facebook contacts at a glance
• What are you doing right now? Post tweets to one or both of your social networks
• Reply to your friends' messages directly from your BlackBerry
• Search for real-time news in Twitter
• Share what you see with others instantly! Take photos with your BlackBerry and send them to one or both of your networks with just one click
• Easy to use - just download, start and you're done

Vodafone Update is available totally free for the Bold and Curve 8900 only for now. We're not sure if it works across other carriers, so if you install it be sure to let us know!

[BlackBerry Rocks]

• Download Vodafone Update for Bold or Curve 8900->>