Your new BlackBerry Smartphone (maybe a Tour?!) is in your hand and you're ready to go. You want to check the weather, hop on Twitter, listen to streaming radio and play some games. Once you're initiated, getting apps onto your BlackBerry is an easy process, but if you're new to BlackBerry it's not quite as readily intuitive as it could be. Just how do you get all those apps installed and running? There are few good options out there for browsing, purchasing and installing applications. Two of our favorite one-stop browse/shop solutions are BlackBerry App World and the CrackBerry App Stores, and to stay on top of what's new and what's offered at the best price you'll want to have both installed on your device. Another option you'll often run into in the world of apps is downloading directly from independent developer sites. Below we'll take a quick run through these three options so you can start filing up your homescreen and folders with apps, apps, apps!
After Installing, Don't Forget The Final Step- Finding your App or Activating your Theme
Applications: In the case of an application or game, typically an icon will be installed onto your homescreen. On older devices the icon for the new application will appear on the main homescreen, or on newer devices the icon will appear in your downloads folder by default. You can also relocate the placement of this icon (see tutorial). Note that some applications may not install an icon anywhere, but rather will add more functionality to the device (a new option will appear on the main Options menu).
Themes: Unlike an application, when you install a theme it does not install any sort of icon onto the homescreen. Rather, you need to enter the Themes menu, which can be found by going to Options > Themes. Here you can select your new theme and activate it. For more info, visit this Basics of BlackBerry themes tutorial.
BlackBerry App World || CrackBerry App Store || CrackBerryAppStore.com Mobile Site ShopCrackBerry.com || Independent Sites
BlackBerry App World
BlackBerry App World launched on April 1st of 2009, and is RIM's official official app store. It features a variety of free and paid apps and requires a paypal account to purchase. RIM chose to set a minimum app price of $2.99, which has turned out to be sort of strange -- you can actually find many of the same apps in App World tha sell for $2.99 for only $1.99 or even 99 cents in the CrackBerry App stores. App World launched in North America and the UK and is rolling out to more countries in the months ahead. Currently it is an on-device only store, which means there's no computer browse-able version. App World does not include themes in their catalogue. App World also has no means for which refunds can be provided and tech support is only provided by the developer.
If you haven't already installed BlackBerry App World, you can do so by visiting http://blackberry.com/appworld from your mobile browser. Click the Download button and the application will install on your device.
Click on the BlackBerry App World icon on your device to start the application. The first screen you will see is the list of featured items. You can scroll through these applications, or choose to view Categories, Top Downloads or Search for items.
After locating the desired application, select download to install it on your device. The application will automatically install.
Find the icon on your device and start the application.
CrackBerry App Stores
CrackBerry.com's App Store offering is a little more confusing as there are essentially three app stores available for consumer use, but between them is very full featured offering a number of free and paid apps AND themes, pricing as low as 99 cents, support for paypal and credit card (credit card currently on web store only), dedicated support for order assistance in addition to technical assistance by the developer, provides refunds and is available in countries around the world.
The ShopCrackBerry.com CrackBerry App Store (http://software.crackberry.com) is the most full featured store and is optimized for browsing on your computer. You can purchase with paypal and/or credit card, buy multiple apps in one checkout, get featured pricing, and in addition to screen caps can often (when provided by developer) view videos of the apps in action. The only limitation to this store is that it currently does not accept coupon codes for apps.
The CrackBerry Mobile App Store (http://crackberryappstore.com - visit from your Berry's browser) is essentially the mobile version of the main computer-optimized store. For example, if you visit a url on the CrackBerry blogs pointing to the main store at software.crackberry.com (and your browser's identification is set to BlackBerry), you will automatically get redirected to the mobile version of this link on your device. Only credit card checkout is currently available for this mobile cart, but coupon codes will work here.
The CrackBerry App Store Client (download from http://crackberry.com/appstore on your Berry's browser) is essentially an App World of sorts - this is an actual program you install on your device that is more user-friendly than a mobile site. Like the mobile app store, it currently requires credit card checkout. The app store client has several awesome features that you can learn more about here.
CrackBerry App Store Mobile Client
Start the CrackBerry App Store client on your device. Visit http://crackberry.com/appstore from your mobile browser to download the CrackBerry App Store mobile client.
Choose Search or Browse to locate the application/theme you wish to purchase
After selecting the application, press the Menu key and choose Buy Now
If you are a returning customer, enter your information. New customers may choose to pay with a credit card.
Your order will be confirmed and processed
Select Download Now
After the application is installed, select Run to start the application
After the application stars you will be prompted to Register
Enter the Activation Code (registration screens may vary from picture)
You will see a confirmation message if activation was successful
CrackBerryAppStore.com Mobile Site
Browse to CrackBerryAppStore.com from your device browser
Choose Search or Browse to locate the application/theme you wish to purchase and select the Buy button
Select New Customer (Step 2 will ask for your billing information) or Returning Customer (select Submit Order on Step 2)
You will see your Order Confirmation page
You will receive and Order Detail email with any Activation Codes and Download Instructions. Select Go to the download page
Select Click here to download to your device
After the application is installed, select Run to start the application
After the application stars you will be prompted to Register
Enter the Activation Code (registration screens may vary from picture)
You will see a confirmation message if activation was successful
ShopCrackBerry.com (from a PC)
Navigate your web browser to http://www.shopcrackberry.com (or click on the Store tab on any CrackBerry.com page)
Click on the App Store tab or one of the subcategories
Locate the application/theme by entering text in the search box, or browsing through a category
Select the application/theme you wish to purchase and choose Add To Cart
If paying by credit card choose Secure Checkout. If you wish to pay via Paypal, click the Check Out With Paypal button.
New customers will need to enter their billing information, while returning customers need only to enter their email address and zip code.
Some software may require registration and you will be asked to enter your device PIN (found under Options > Status on your device)
When your order is complete you will see the Order Confirmation page
You will receive a confirmation email that contains instructions on how to download the application/theme directly to your device. Select the Download To Mobile option. You will be redirected to a download page.
Select Download and the application/theme will install.
You will see a confirmation box when the download is complete.
Related CrackBerry App Store Links
If you need help or assistance with the CrackBerry App Store, these links below will help you out. You can also visit crackberrysoftwaresupport.com for direct assistance.
- How to Purchase Apps and Themes from CrackBerry.com >>
- How to Upgrade Purchased Applications >>
- CrackBerry App Store FAQ & Trouble Shooting >>
Many developers offer free downloads from their respective sites, or at times will ask you to download directly from them. This is an easy process that can be completed in a few simple steps.
Navigate to the mobile site or download link on your mobile browser
Select Download and the application will download and install
When complete, you will see the icon on your homescreen or downloads folder
Conclusion
That's it. Now you're armed with the knowledge of how to get apps and themes onto your BlackBerry Smartphone. In addition to the suggestions above, be sure to check out our Apps forum (storm apps here) and Themes forum for lots of ideas.
