Need to send out last minute party invites? Forgot to get that birthday card in the mail? No problem when you have j4funzies. This fun application allows you to send cool animated (or non-animated) greetings to your friends and family from your BlackBerry device (OS 5 or higher). The app itself is FREE and the greetings range from FREE to $1.99. There are numerous holidays, special event greetings and everyday type sentiments.

Features

• Send greetings via SMS, email or PIN
• Holidays, Personal Occasions, Casual and Invitation greetings with more added all the time
• Both animated and non-animated greetings available

Make someone's day by sending them an animated greeting with j4funzies. I’ve used j4funzies to send birthday party invitations, a few Mother’s Day greetings as well as random little notes to my kids and husband. It's a great way to send a short note just to let someone know you're thinking of them.

For more information / download j4funzies

"The Dicota Lid Cradle protects both the back and the front of your device while keeping a professional image."

I'm a huge fan of Dicota and all their Built for BlackBerry accessories. I've shown off several of their cases and have never had any qualms about recommending them to anyone. The quality of Dicota's products are phenomenal. The Lid Cradle for the BlackBerry 9900/30 is no exception. It provides great protection for both the front and back of the device as well as covering all sides and buttons.

Read Full Review

CrackBerry's guide to the best tech gifts for the BlackBerry loving mom!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (for those who may have forgotten -- it’s this Sunday, the 13th) and I’m sure some of you are wondering what to get your wonderful BlackBerry toting, tech-loving mother or spouse.

Flowers, candy and spa trips are nice, but other CrackBerry moms like me would also love something new for our most loved addiction accessory. Here’s a list of a few great gift ideas for that one remarkable woman who will always love you no matter how many slushies you spill in her car. I decided to break the ideas into several “mom type” categories just to make finding the right gift even easier. Keep reading for our full list of tech gifts for mom!

Continue reading article

Start your Cinco de Mayo celebration off the right way with some of Slacker Radio's latin infused music stations. Whether you're cooking before the party starts off or chilling with a cool cerveza in your hand out back, these salsa beats are sure to get you in the mood to celebrate!

• Salsa: http://www.slacker.com/station/salsa
• Puro México: http://www.slacker.com/station/puro-mexico
• Puro Norte: http://www.slacker.com/station/puro-norte
• Rock Alternativo: http://www.slacker.com/station/rock-alternativo
• Reggaeton/Hip Hop: http://www.slacker.com/station/reggaeton-hip-hop

These stations and more can be found in Slacker's "Latin" station category. Listeners can tune in for FREE anywhere that Slacker is available.

More information / download Slacker Radio

"The Dicota TabCover for the BlackBerry PlayBook is the perfect protection for those who are on the go."

In Short: "Slim soft case that protects your device from the dust and scratches."

Should I Buy? "Definitely great for those who are simply wanting to slip their device in and go."

Buy now

The Dicota PlayBook TabCover is a great option for those who don't use a case on their device but still want some form of protection for it. The TabCover is a padded sleeve that protects your device from bumps, scratches and dust. Its velcro closure makes sure your PlayBook isn't going anywhere. Slide your PlayBook inside, close the flap, and toss it in your laptop bag or backpack with confidence.

Continue reading article

Every few days my youngest brings me my PlayBook and asks me to find her a new game. We spend quite a bit of time searching through App World and yesterday, I found a gem called Burn the City by Union. We've covered their Super Crossfire HD and Air Attack here on the blogs and both great games. Similar to Angry Farm and Angry Birds, the objective is to create destruction on a massive scale by flinging fireballs at entire cities. Burn the City, while not as fast paced as the other two, is a great addition to your PlayBook. Keep reading for all the details!

Continue reading article

Advance OS and LED has been covered here on the blogs by both myself and Adam. When a FREE app comes along that offers a whole slew of features that are beneficial to any BlackBerry user, we here at CrackBerry get super excited. As of today, Advance OS and LED has been updated to v 12.0.3. This latest update adds even more useful features to my already favorite BlackBerry application!

Features included in update:

• Added Contacts Manager feature to export to (excel & Gmail & MS outlook), merge duplicate contacts, backup and restore all contacts with their photos, move contacts to default list.
• Added homescreen multi-wallpaper feature, to change your background picture every time you turn the screen on.
• Redesigned add new numbers feature much easier (no more copy and paste).
• Added convenience side key action in ilaunch custom actions, for launching multiple custom actions at once.
• You can now change the spacebar homescreen shortcut key to other keys.
• App now supports all contact lists, not just the default one.
• Improved Custom App LED capturing by providing more information when customizing new apps LED.
• LED Mode will always be mutli-led.
• Added option to send app backup to email account directly after taking a backup.
• Also a few small changes, like battery and speed improvements as well, bbm popup has been optimized and small bug fixes 

This application is worth its weight in gold yet the developer has made it available for FREE and has stated that the app will stay that way regardless of update improvements. I've actually deleted several paid apps from my BlackBerry because this one does the job of all of them so much better. If you'd like to see what others are saying about Advance OS and LED, head on over to the forum discussion here.

For more information / download Advance OS and LED

Imagine these scenarios: you’ve been in a car accident and knocked unconscious, you've been carjacked with your small child still in the car, or you receive a phone call that a friend has been hurt and the police can’t reach anyone else and they need information. With EmergencyLink on your BlackBerry, you have it all covered.

EmergencyLink is an application that helps you, your family and friends access important information during a crisis. This free application keeps your personal information secure while having it readily available when needed. EmergencyLink allows you store all your important medical and personal information right on your device so it’s there when you need it most. With a 24 hour response center, EmergencyLink is always there. You can easily setup your free account online and it will sync with your BlackBerry or vice versa.

How the service works:

• Organize and store all your important information on the website or your Blackberry
• Members are issued ID cards as well as a screen saver (you do not have to enable it) for their device that informs emergency and medical personnel to call EmergencyLink in an emergency
• EmergencyLink will provide emergency personnel with all the important medical information needed and will call your emergency contacts to inform them of the situation

Other Features:

• EmergencyLink allows you to securely share their information among family and friends via their website or the BlackBerry application
• Take pictures of important documents (Driver’s License, Insurance Cards) and store them on EmergencyLink
• Two-way sync between the EmergencyLink website and your BlackBerry device
• BlackBerry users of EmergencyLink have the added option of a screensaver to inform first responders that they are an EmergencyLink member

As a mother of three, one of which is of legal driving age, I constantly worry when they are out of my site. With all our information on EmergencyLink and shared between those who matter most, I no longer have to worry as much. If my mom has my children and there is an accident, she has access to their medical information at the click of a button. This is a great application that is easy to setup and provides peace of mind that those who need the information in an emergency, have it at their disposal.

For more information / download EmergencyLink

EDIT: For those concerned about cost and the selling of their information, the website states "We will not sell or rent your information to third-parties, for any purpose. In the future we hope to present you with “offers” from insurance, financial and other companies that we believe you may benefit from. The offers will be completely optional and you will have no have no obligation to participate. These companies will pay EmergencyLink to present these offers to you and we will present them to you in the form of a monthly email from EmergencyLink. You will have the opportunity to opt out from such offer emails and it is through these emails that we are able to offer you EmergencyLink as a FREE service."

Once in a while a sale comes along that can only be described as Epic and today, that sale is here! XIMAD has just released a bunch of their games on sale for less than a dollar ($0.99). Many of these games are for various BlackBerry devices as well as a few for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Several of XIMAD’s games have been covered here on the blogs and can be seen here. Over 12 different games are available ranging from shooters to brain teasers. There is sure to be a game for everyone! Keep reading after the break to see all the games on sale.

Continue reading article

Remember trying to find that distinctive striped red and white sweater clad character in those books from your childhood? Well now you can search for him on your BlackBerry! Gameloft has released a version called Where's Wally Now that is very similar to the Where's Waldo books and games we had when we were younger. Follow Wally through the past and explore the future through entertaining search and find levels.

Features

• Quick Play Mode 
• Adventure
• Mini Games
• Bonus Items

This is a great time waster when sitting on the train or waiting in line and at only $1.99, you aren't breaking the bank. The graphics are nice but it can be a bit hard to see some of the items you're searching for on the 9930's screen size. This is much better on the larger screen devices. I found the sound a bit distracting but you do have the option to turn it off. Where's Wally Now is available in App World for most BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 or higher.

For more information / purchase Where's Wally Now

Auto Forum is exactly what it says, an app for your BlackBerry PlayBook that gives you access to a website for those who have a passion for automobiles. What makes this app (and the website) unique is that it was created by a 16 year old.

Steven was introduced to the world of automobiles at the young age of 10 and was hooked. When his dad got his first BlackBerry, Steven of course turned to CrackBerry for all the latest news, leaks and such (no lie, he told me so himself). As his interest in both mobile and automobile technology grew, Steven decided to create a website called Auto Forum, where others could go to share his passion. The site was built with the intention of having an app to accompany it but Steven admits the process was long and a bit more difficult than he anticipated, everything taking ten times longer than expected. As of February 2012, Steven's app for his Auto Forum website finally came to fruition.

Auto Forum App Features:

• Ask Questions and Get Answers
• Attach YouTube Videos into your posts
• Upload Images Into Your Post

The free app is available for the BlackBerry PlayBook in App World. If you share Steven's passion for automobiles, head on over to App World and download the Auto Forum app today. Even if you aren't a huge fan of cars, pop on over to the website just to take a look at what the future generation can do. It's great to see other teenagers like my oldest using BlackBerrys instead of following the crowd.

For more information / download Auto Forum

CAMultimate by Prettyfang is an application that is basically designed as an all-inclusive UI for your BlackBerry camera. There are several apps out there that can ramp up those pictures but none with as many options available in CAMultimate. You’ll be creating your own Ansel Adams like masterpieces in no time!

I'm not big on taking pictures with my BlackBerry device aside from the candid shots of little girl when we're out and about. Since I installed CAMultimate I've become the paparrazzi in our family. A really cool function built in the burst feature is that it takes 3 camera shots in succession. This really comes in handy with my active 4 year old who is always on the go and constantly fidgets. A cool feature I found is that I can take a normal photo and then apply any effect I want at anytime, or just choose an effect I like and my next photo will have that effect applied automatically! This app is so much fun to use that you'll find yourself taking pics just to pay around with the special effects. Hit the break for more information about the app and how to win a copy for yourself!

Continue reading article

I first fell in love with the Tofu game by HotGen Limited back in October of last year. Now with the release of Tofu 2, we get 100 new levels and some other really fun features.

My kids and I fought over my PlayBook once I introduced them to Tofu. We’ve all had some grand times slinging that little piece of curd all over the place. Since beating the game we’ve all been a little sad. Unlike most games where the developer release an update with new levels, ToFu 2 is a game itself. With the release of this sequel (which I only discovered by accident) and the great additions, my family and I are all happily flinging Tofu on a daily basis.

Continue reading article

Cross platform messaging apps have become a dime a dozen lately and very few seem to really catch on. MCI Consultants, the creators of Cnectd, are looking to change that with a pretty sweet deal.

We first mentioned Cnectd back in May of 2010 when the app was still in the beta stages and then revisited it a year later. While many users liked the app, it was overshadowed by some of the bigger competitors like LiveProfile and WhatsApp mainly due to the understated UI. This latest update brings Cnectd to v3.2. 

Features

• Cnected allows you to see when your messages have been sent, delivered and read.
• Cross-Platform service available to Android, BlackBerry and iOS users.
• Share media with your contacts or groups.
• Group chats are easy to follow the conversation with different color chat bubbles.
• Connect and sync with your Facebook contacts that are also using Cnectd.
• Compression and Security – compression and encryption technology sends your messages quickly while ensuring no personal data is compromised.
• Personal Profile – Each user has their own personal profile including a picture, status updates and a display name.

All in all this sounds just like some of the other cross-platform applications that we’ve covered but what truly makes this one different and what good is a messaging app that you have to pay for when none of your friends are using it? With Cnectd, you purchase your license code for $2.99 (good for a year) and receive 2 additional license codes for your friends or family. $3 for 3 user licenses really isn’t a bad deal. If you’re a multiple platform household like mine is, this may be exactly what you were looking for. You can also purchase bulk licensing (20 or more) at a discounted price. This option is perfect for small businesses. 

Contest: The generous people over at MCI Consultants have graciously given us 100 FREE license codes to give out to our awesome readers. Remember, each license code comes with 2 FREE codes that you can give to your friends essentially making this giveaway for 300 people! All you need to do is leave a comment below and you’re entered to win! Contest ends Sunday at midnight.

For more information and to purchase Cnectd

"I am so in love with this case that I went back and bought it in every color available"

Seidio has always been a favorite brand of mine thanks to the quality and durability of their products. The Seidio Surface case for the BlackBerry Bold 9900/30 is no exception.

A case for your BlackBerry that protects, doesn’t attract pocket lint, allows you to remove the bottom piece to dock in a charging cradle and can be used in conjunction with the Seidio Surface holster? Seriously folks, what’s not to love about this one? This case is about as perfect as I have found so far. Keep reading for more details! 

Continue reading article