We all know carriers are little bit more focused on buzz words for their advertising these days more so then actually conveying relevant information to the folks who happen to end up tuned into their commercials. Clearly, Saturday Night Live is aware of that fact as well and they took some time go ahead and have a little fun at Verizon's expense on one of their recent skits.

Needless to say, it's focused on their 4G LTE Android offerings and there is no mention of BlackBerry really but that doesn't mean it didn't make an appearance. That Motorola XYBOARD they show off sure does look like a BlackBerry PlayBook. Either way, a pretty hilarious clip. If you can't see the video -- sorry blame NBC and their content restrictions.

Source: NBC; Via: Android Central, The Verge

Take advantage of the new BlackBerry Upgrade Promotion and get cash back when you purchase a new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/9360/9370!

Yes you read that right .. you can indeed get paid if you upgrade to a new BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/9360/9370. RIM has had their BlackBerry Trade Up program in place for a while now, but according to some emails sent out to eligible T-Mobile customers (and a bit of our own recon), there is also a BlackBerry Upgrade Promotion that could net you some quick cash just for purchasing a new BlackBerry. RIM's Upgrade Promotion gets you cash back in the form of a shiny Visa gift card when you purchase a new Bold 9900/9930 or Curve 9350/60/70. The promo applies to US customers only, and you'll get $100 for a Bold or $50 for a Curve. Pretty sweet deal right? Well it doesn't stop there. If you want to go all Extreme Couponing you can get pretty creative and end up with quite a bit of cash in your pocket by combining some promos.

Take this situation - This weekend T-Mobile is offering all of their 4G smartphones up for free - so if you are eligible for an upgrade or just want a new line - you can grab a BlackBerry Bold 9900 on Friday or Saturday and you'll get a $250 rebate (of the mail-in variety) off the bat from T-Mobile, knocking the purchase price of your device down to $0. Add that to the $100 you'll receive from the Upgrade Promotion and you're at $100 cash in pocket. Not enough? Well say you have a BlackBerry Bold 9780 from which you're upgrading -- you can take advantage of the Trade Up Program as well and you'll get an additional $80 back (according to the quote I received). So overall you're looking at $180 in your pocket just for grabbing a brand new BlackBerry Bold 9900 from T-Mobile and sending off your old device. So yes, you're getting paid to get a new phone and unload your old one. Even if you keep your old device you still end up on top with $100. Pretty sweet deal right??

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We were starting to wonder when the BlackBerry Beta Zone would start rolling out new betas. But wonder no more as a new BlackBerry App World beta has just been released. Getting bumped up to v3.1.1.15, it's noted to have the following changes:

• Alternate billing options shown in purchase confirmation screen
• Submitting Apps has new, easier-to-use confirmation screen 
• OS 7.1 Support
• Various Bug Fixes

If you're a member of the BlackBerry Beta Zone, you can log in right now and grab the latest release from there.

BlackBerry Beta Zone Login

Cruising through the BlackBerry experience during BlackBerry DevCon Europe, we came across these sweet colored Curves. The Ballet Pink and Royal Purple Curve 9360 haven't had much press, although they have been seen around a few times before. Nothing fancy going on with either of these, but we always like to see how cool devices look with a splash of color. If you're looking to pick either of these up you may have to wait just a bit until they hit more carriers (you should see them rollout soon in Europe).

Take a closer look at both in the video above and keep reading for more images. Sexy Curves and they Know it!

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Orange UK has officially released OS 7.0.0.611 for the BlackBerry Bold 9790. While this is an official release, remember to use caution when updating your device. If you need help along the way, you can head into our help forums or check out some of our BlackBerry 101 articles including How to Install or Upgrade to a new OS. If you do install this OS, hit up the forums thread below for findings, fixes and more discussion.

Download OS 7.0.0.611
Discuss more in the forums

Earlier this week, as I was doing my usual reading of mobile industry news, I came across this article from PaidContent.org, talking about how much traffic on the Internet comes from mobile devices.

It turns out that, according to StatCounter, mobile devices are responsible for 8.5% of all website visits as of January 2012. The PaidContent article opens by basically saying that mobile Internet usage is "lagging behind".

The article bugged me enough to prompt this post. Sure, mobile traffic "only" accounts for 8.5% of total traffic. But it's up from 4.3% one year ago. Yes folks, mobile Internet use is growing at nearly double the rate of non-mobile use.

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Seems as though a lot of people woke up this morning and grabbed their PlayBook to check for updates. If you fit into that criteria then you no doubt noticed that there appears to be an issue with BlackBerry PlayBooks not being able to connect to the update server.

Now normally, we might consider this to be a clear sign that RIM is preparing to roll out PlayBook OS 2.0 but in this case, we kind of have to waive off that consideration slightly. You see, the PlayBook update server has been off and on for the past few days now with countless folks reporting that they've not been able to connect in order to grab the most recent developer build, only now does it appear to be more widespread among users.

So what's the real deal? No one but RIM really knows. Could they be preparing for PlayBook OS 2.0 release? Maybe, but don't get your hopes up just yet. It could just be them getting things in order for when they are ready to release it.

In any event, RIM is aware of the issues at this point though they seem to be avoiding details as to why the update servers would be offline. Eventually though, you'll hit that update button and 2.0 will be waiting. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but some day soon -- it'll be there. On a lighter note, you folks sure do check for updates a lot. Maybe they just cut the servers off to play some jedi mind tricks on everyone.

Discuss in the CrackBerry Forums

No strangers to philanthropy, Mike Lazaridis and his wife Ophelia have a long record of donations to the University of Waterloo in their past and that generosity has one again been shown with Mike and Ophelia having announced their pledge of $21 million to science and mathematics faculties at the University of Waterloo:

“With their unparalleled generosity, the Lazaridis family enriches our capacity to attract exceptional individuals to join Waterloo as researchers and students,” said University of Waterloo president Feridun Hamdullahpur. “The problems of the world will keep getting more complex and interconnected, and we want to be the first port of call for people looking to solve intractable problems.”

“History has shown us that a relatively small investment in fundamental research in physics and in science today can lead to huge innovation tomorrow. Given the current challenges in the world, the need for such innovation is greater now than ever,” said Mike Lazaridis, founder and vice chair of the board of Research in Motion. “I believe that the University of Waterloo, this province and this country can play a leadership role in this regard, and we are pleased to support it.”

In total, the Lazaridis family donations have exceeded $123 million, including $102.5 million to
establish the Institute for Quantum Computing in the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre, scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

Source: University of Waterloo

A third UK network has joined in with the BlackBerry Bold 9790 love. Three UK announced via their Twitter account that the Bold 9790 is now available on their network. The smaller of the Bold series devices is available on Three's The One Plan for £35 a month on a 24-month contract, which gives you 2000 mins, 5000 texts and All-you-can-eat data. It is also available on Text plans 500 and 500 + all-you-can-eat which cost £28 and £31 respectively, per month. If you want the Bold 9790 on pay as you go, it will cost you £319.99 plus top-up of either £10 or £15.

That now leaves two UK networks left to release the BlackBerry 9790 - Orange and T-Mobile UK. They would probably be released on the networks about the same time since they are merged under Everything Everywhere. Orange still have theirs listed as coming soon with no release, T-Mobile on the other hand have it on their coming soon page listed as due January. Seeing as we're now in February, there obviously has been some delay. Hopefully, Orange and T-Mobile customers won't have to wait too long.

More information / Purchase BlackBerry Bold 9790 from Three UK 

When we took our first official tour of the native messaging on BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 a month ago at CES 2012, one of the services that was missing from the social messaging integration was Facebook. We *knew* Facebook would soon be joining Twitter and LinkedIn, but it's good to see Facebook is now there too for when the highly-anticipated PlayBook software update drops later this month. You can hit up the video above to get a quick look of the Facebook addition within the Manage Accounts option screen and integrated into the native messaging client itself.

When he gave his first keynote presentation yesterday, RIM's new CEO Thorsten Heins spoke of the BlackBerry "Flow" experience, which allows you to move fluidly from one experience into another vs. the open/close paradigm that you're seeing (aka like iOS). RIM's implementation of native messaging, calendar and contacts on PlayBooks OS 2 (and therefore BlackBerry 10 of course) is a prime example of this flow-like experience. The more I use it, the more I'm loving it.

Oh yeah.. random thought... "Flow"... sounds like it could be a good product name for a future BlackBerry 10 phone model. 

Checking out the BlackBerry Experience booth at BlackBerry DevCon Europe, we were tipped onto the fact some of the devices in the room were running newer versions of OS 7.1 than we have seen. It turns out that was in fact true, and with OS 7.1.0.258 we're seeing a new feature introduced to help users get more battery life out of their BlackBerry.

Battery Saving Mode is a new feature in device options, which allows you to trigger the device into high efficiency operation at any remaining level of battery life you choose. You can also choose to Always have Battery Saving Mode running. When Battery Saving Mode is triggered, the phone automatically adjusts device settings to optimize them for longer operation. With the devices at the booth all plugged in and charged we really couldn't see just what it does, but my *guess* is you'll see things like the brightness of the screen getting dimmed down and the time out settings get shortened. It's definitely a well-welcomed feature. You can never have too much battery life!

In the meantime while you wait for this feature to hit your BlackBerry, be sure to check out our 10 Ways to Maximize the Battery Life on your BlackBerry article.

Discuss in the CrackBerry Forums

I'm still in Amsterdam winding down BlackBerry DevCon Europe, but I just couldn't wait to get home to call my broker to place an order to double up my investment in Research In Motion. Readers of CrackBerry will remember I bought my first "symbolic" share of RIMM stock leading up to the company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders this past June at a price of $27.75. With that share now trading below $17, I've decided as a gesture of my growing faith in RIM it's time to double up on the original investment and buy TWO more shares of RIM stock (see the execution order above). :)

There was no specific piece of news or information or technical analysis that prompted me to take this action. More so, I just woke up this morning with a gut feeling and had to roll with my instincts. I'm feeling bullish on BlackBerry. Between the new CEO Thorsten Heins, my experience on the Engadget Mobile Podcast playing BlackBerry defender, the look of that first BB10 phone (which I'm sure will evolve by launch to be even awesomer), the positive vibe at BlackBerry DevCon Europe.... it just all feels like the stars are starting to align. Yes, there are plenty of challenges still and lots of work to be done, but I think RIM employees really are jacked up to Rock & Roll their way through it. I'm feeing good.

So there you have it. Full disclosure. I doubled my investment and tripled my shares in Research In Motion. :-)

if you missed our coverage of the BlackBerry DevCon Europe General Session Keynote yesterday, not to worry. RIM has posted up a replay of the entire keynote for your viewing pleasure. Some good stuff to be had within as Thorsten Heins, Alec Saunders, Chris Smith and many partners took the stage in Amsterdam to show off some goods. If you have a few hours to kill it's definitely worth checking out. So grab a cup of coffee (or beer if that's more your thing) and hit the link below. Be sure to keep following all of our coverage from BlackBerry DevCon Europe.

Check out the BlackBerry DevCon Europe General Session Replay

CrackBerry Giveaway: Leave a comment to this blog post to win your own pair of touchscreen-friendly BlackBerry Gloves!

Well that didn't take long. Less than a month ago back at CES 2012 we got our hands (literally) on the original BlackBerry Glove. No, this isn't a product RIM is actually selling, but rather was given away as free swag at the BlackBerry booth to those who asked nicely. And while the intent behind version one of the BlackBerry Glove was nice, it was a little low-tech, with the tips cut off of the index and finger and thumb, allowing for your actual hands to still touch the device. Technically it worked, but it also resulted in frozen finger tips if you actually put them to use in cold weather (plus they looked a little too fashion forward/risky for some).

Enter the BlackBerry Glove 2.0. Picked up as a freebie at a BlackBerry DevCon Europe party I attended, version 2.0 of the BlackBerry Glove has gone high tech, featuring finger tips on the index and finger and thumb that work with capacitive touchscreens. With greyed out tips, the style is sexy, and the gloves just work. It's a nice improvement.

In true CrackBerry fashion we had some fun with this one... check out the video above for the Infomercial for the BlackBerry Glove 2.0! I'm not sure we'll ever see these go on sale so I don't have a price or release date, but if you think RIM should sell some BlackBerry Gloves, express your interest in the comments! You never know what'll happen...

It's been a while now since Angry Birds was released on the BlackBerry PlayBook and now, Rovio is finally rolling out an update to the ever popular game. Angry Birds HD is now sitting at v1.6.3.1 in BlackBerry App World but sadly, we're left to wonder what exactly may have changed with this release. Rovio hasn't made any announcements or added a change log to the package so if you happen to spot anything new, let us know in the comments. In the meantime, we'll see if we can't get a change log of sorts from Rovio.

Buy Angry Birds for the BlackBerry PlayBook for $4.99