If you haven’t had a chance to open up App World on your BlackBerry smartphone and download those free BlackBerry 7 apps, then I suggest you do so soon. RIM has just sent out a reminder via their social networking sites that the promotion for the free applications will end on May 31st. The promo started in the U.S. back in March and then was later expanded to include Canada. In the promotion, RIM had included some of the top selling apps that showcase some of the BlackBerry 7 features, apps like BeBuzz, Screen Muncher, BeWeather, and more totaling about $77 in free stuff which is okay in my books.

Free Premium apps courtesy of BlackBerry

• BeWeather
• Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO
• Pinball Deluxe (however unavailable for my device/os)
• Rubik's Cube
• Mahjong Solitaire
• Cribbage
• Color ID
• Screen Muncher
• iSpeech Dictation Pro
• iSpeech Caller ID Reader Pro
• iSpeech FB Chat Pro
• Aces 3D Pool
• Aces Traffic Pack
• PBA Bowling 2
• Fixmo Tools
• Next Dual Pack
• Popup

If you’re able to cash in on the promotion I suggest you do so as it ends on May 31st. I’ve personally downloaded them all, I may not need them now, but I may want them later. The question I really would like to ask is, which apps have the CrackBerry Nation downloaded?

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Last week I told you about Fresco, the latest theme release by popular theme developer Pootermobile. Little did I realize he had a surprise up his sleeve. By that I mean Pootermobile has released his first OS7 compatible theme for select devices. With the help of two fellow theme developers, BBThemes and drkapprenticeDESIGNS, Pootermobile has seemlessly transitioned the best of the original Fresco to OS7 and the result is brilliant. All of the unique features that made Fresco what it is are there including the smooth looking transparent banner with dedicated weather slot (#19) and the intricately designed icon set.

Now that he's built his first OS7 theme I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next. Fresco is wallpaper friendly (though I prefer the default background), stylish, uses the default OS7 layout, and is compatible with BlackBerry 9350/60, 9790, and 9900/30 running OS7. This vibrant and refreshing theme can be yours for $1.99 in BlackBerry App World.

More information / screenshots and to purchase Fresco OS7 by Pootermobile

It appears as though the time has finally come for all the patient Porsche Designed P'9981 owners. CrackBerry forums member Abbas was able to get his P'9981 updated at a recent event in Dubai, and took to the internet to show us what the update will bring. Just yesterday Kevin introduced clubp9981.com for all the P'9981 owners (yes, all 3 of you) and odds are that they are probably talking about the update in there. If you're not a P'9981 owner, don't worry because you can all get a peak at the update as well. The update is said to be hitting this week which we hope is true so Kevin can have it before BlackBerry World (or lord help us all). Check out the video above and be sure to hop in the forums for more.

Check our more in the CrackBerry Forums

BlackBerry 7 devices have been around for a few months, and if you haven't upgraded yet because of pricing or any other reason, you may want to reconsider. Verizon has announced that they will begin charging $30 additional for customers to use their upgrades starting on April 22. In just under two weeks that new BlackBerry 7 device that you have your eyes on will cost you $30 more, that isn't what you want, right? Whether you order online, or prefer the local store, you will likely want to grab yourself a new device before the changes take place. 

This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.

Verizon does point out that if you use their trade in service you can offset this additional cost, but that is of course if you have a device that they deem worth $30. 

Source: Verizon; via: Android Central

We know that RIM has always prided themselves in having a very secure platform for their enterprise customers, and have worked hard to maintain that through the years. Recently the folks at Trend Micro set out to test the current mobile OS platforms, and see how they compare for enterprise solutions. As expected, RIM's BlackBerry 7 took the cake for several different reasons. In the current Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environment that many companies have began allowing, each of them is a risk to the business in some way shape or form, but BlackBerry devices still remain the most secure. 

What is interesting in these results is that, whilst some mobile platforms have evolved very noticeably along enterprise lines, there is still a strong ‘consumer marketing' legacy in some quarters and this is negating some of the progress made on the enterprise front. Indeed, some of the attributes we have examined in the report are still firmly ‘enterprise-unready'.”

We have seen the US Government continue their support of BlackBerry, and other large companies are doing the same, and the benefits are obvious. People want their information to be secure, and BlackBerry devices offer that and plenty more.

Source: SCMagazine

If seeing those BlackBerry users in the US enjoying their free premium apps compliments of BlackBerry got your gears a grinding then you may just be in luck. Research In Motion has extended the premium app offer for BlackBerry 7 users to those living a little north of the border in Canada. The applications are most of the current best selling titles like Need for Speed, Beweather, Screenmuncher and a whole bunch more.Check out the full list below.

Free Premium apps courtesy of BlackBerry

• BeWeather
• Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO
• Pinball Deluxe (however unavailable for my device/os)
• Rubik's Cube
• Mahjong Solitaire
• Cribbage
• Color ID
• Screen Muncher
• iSpeech Dictation Pro
• iSpeech Caller ID Reader Pro
• iSpeech FB Chat Pro
• Aces 3D Pool
• Aces Traffic Pack
• PBA Bowling 2
• Fixmo Tools
• Next Dual Pack
• Popup

I’m sure in the list of these 17 free and premium apps you will be able to find yourself something that is both useful and entertaining. The big thing you’ll want to remember is that this offer is only available for a limited time, so get them while you can.

Discuss more in the forums

While many countries already enjoy the many BlackBerry 7 smartphones out there, those devices are still making their way around the world. The country on RIM's BB7 train ride is Cambodia. Four BlackBerry 7 smartphones are available now from BlackBerry authorised retailers - BlackBerry Bold 9900, BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 9360 and BlackBerry Curve 9380. If you're looking to get your hands on one check out your local BlackBerry retailer now.

Press Release

Research In Motion Launches BlackBerry 7 Smartphones in Cambodia 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched four new BlackBerry® smartphones powered by the BlackBerry® 7 Operating System (OS) for customers in Cambodia. The new BlackBerry® Bold^TM 9900, BlackBerry® Bold^TM 9790, BlackBerry® Curve^TM 9360 and BlackBerry® Curve^TM 9380 will be available beginning tomorrow from BlackBerry authorized partners.

"We're pleased to bring these four new BlackBerry 7 smartphones to customers in Cambodia," said Nicholas Horton, Managing Director, Indochina at Research In Motion. "The BlackBerry solution offers an industry leading mobile communications experience that customers love and we think they will be thrilled by the faster performance, enhanced browsing, richer multimedia and localized support delivered by the powerful new BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve smartphones."

 

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RIM has always prided itself on having a very secure platform, and security features have always been very important to them. BlackBerry 7, RIM's latest smartphone OS has just received security certification from TÜV Rheinland i-sec GmbH. The study found that BlackBerry 7 provides effective protection of data stored on the device, as well as proper security settings.

The BlackBerry 7 OS passed the checkpoint tests for "range of security functionality", "security functionality effectiveness against non-destructive physical access", "security functionality effectiveness against access via user interfaces", and "security functionality effectiveness against access via software installed on the device (apps)".  

Security is always important, and BlackBerry 7 offers just as secure an experience as any of the previous BlackBerry versions. Full press release after the break.

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It's no secret that RIM has always been tops when it comes to security. BlackBerry smartphones have been used in government areas for years, mostly due to the ability to secure the devices and network. Today RIM announced that that BlackBerry OS 7 and 7.1 has earned FIPS 140-2 Certification by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Communications Security Establishment Canada. This means government agencies and consumers alike should be worry free when it comes to security on BlackBerry products. Keep reading for the full press release.

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A couple of interesting additions popped up in BlackBerry App World this week: categories for Ringtones and BlackBerry 7 themes. While there has always been a theme section, and there have been several themes for BB7 devices found in App World, until now they were not recognized in their own category. Now when you open App World on your BB7 device, you can see the Theme section and presumably find all sorts of free and paid themes for your BlackBerry. Does this mean that we are one step closer to Theme Builder being updated for Blackberry 7 devices? As soon as we know, you'll know.

In the new Ringtone section of BlackBerry App World, you can find hundreds of ringtones in all sorts of genres, brought to App World by a company named Spintones. The majority of the ringtones are $2.99, with a few packs priced a bit higher. At this time, the ringtones are only available in Canada and the United States, but word has it that more countries will have access in the near future. The compatible device list seems to be pretty short, though the minimum OS is listed at 5.0, and there doesn't seem to be a way to preview the ringtone before purchasing. There are also specific rules stating that each ringtone can only be installed on one BlackBerry device, so if you switch devices you have to repurchase the ringtones. Also, you can only re-install the ringtones you purchase up to 2 times within 72 hours of the initial installation on the original device.

While the new ringtone gallery isn't going to interest everyone, I'm sure there is a market for it, and it does seem they have a pretty varied selection of ringtones available. No word on whether you will be able to upload your own ringtones at any time in the future, though I'm guessing it's not going to be an option as there would likely be a lot of legal/copyright issues to deal with at that point. Don't forget, if you're looking for free ringtones, CrackBerry has a huge free ringtone gallery that's just a click away. (If you've never downloaded ringtones from our gallery before, make sure you scroll down the page at the link below and read the instructions.)

Download free ringtones in the CrackBerry Ringtone Gallery

Still looking for a theme for your Bold 9900/30? Check out Avio, the first BB7 theme from HedoneDesign. Whether you are an avid traveler or prefer the comforts of home, this theme will transport you to where you want to be. The home page is styled after a vintage brown star passport, with wispy clouds in the background. Your dock is made up of 12 scrolling icons, appearing one-by-one as you scroll from left to right. The icons themselves are unique, ranging from vintage to modern, appearing semi-transparent on the app screen until scrolled over. Custom fonts and battery/signal meters round out the theme for a polished look.

Since this theme was created without the use of Theme Builder, there are a few glitches to note. First, the app screen wallpaper is stock and doesn't change. Second, there are no icon names on the app screen. Hedone has also posted a fix for some icon issues that may occur upon installation, so make sure you read that over before installing.

Avio is available for the 9900/30 running OS 7.0.0.5xx and higher. It won't work properly on lower versions of OS 7.0. You can grab it on sale now for $4.99 in the CrackBerry store. To celebrate this release, Hedone Design is giving you a chance to download this theme for FREE! The first 30 people to purchase Avio for their 9900/30 from the CrackBerry store can use coupon code MHITG which will reduce the cost to zero. (Make sure you are purchasing from your BlackBerry and that you apply the coupon and see the discount before checking out.) You can also grab this theme for other devices, though the coupon and sale do not apply. Keep an eye out for versions of Avio for other BB7 devices to release soon!

More information/screenshots and download Avio for your 9900/30
More information/screenshots and purchase Avio for $6.99 for other devices

Since the release of BlackBerry 7 devices, there have been cries of dismay because of the lack of themes for these devices. This is of course due to Theme Builder not being made available by Research In Motion. At least one theme developer has figured out a way around this limitation, and the first BB7 theme was released last week - Deck the Halls by Magmic. Not one to rest on their laurels, Magmic went ahead and released 5 more themes that are BB7 compatible, with a little something for everyone.

You can now pick up iBerry Edge Zen or iBerry Pink Zen for $1.99 or Cosmos, Tinker Bell, or iBerry 2.0 Zen for $2.99 for select BlackBerry 7 devices including the Bold 9900/30 and Curve 9630/50/70 at the links below. (Please note, the themes are also compatible with other devices, so if you're interested be sure to click through and see if your BlackBerry is listed.)

More information/purchase Deck the Halls
More information/purchase iBerry Edge Zen
More information/purchase iBerry Pink Zen
More information/purchase Cosmos
More information/purchase Tinker Bell
More information/purchase iBerry 2.0 Zen

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 gets a little more love today in the form of leaked OS 7.0.0.585. As per normal, no word on the changes yet, so if you give this one a go let us know if you spot anything new. As always, use caution and back up your device before attempting to install.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

Download leaked OS 7.0.0.585 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900
Discuss more in the forums

Source: N4BB

CrackBerry's Do It Yourself Guide to Creating Themes for BlackBerry 7 Smartphones!

Until last week we didn't even have so much of a glimpse as to what would become of themes on BlackBerry 7 devices. With the release of Deck The Halls however, we finally saw that it is indeed possible to create themes for these BlackBerry 7 phones. Some vigilant forums members have found a way (albeit a fairly hard way) to create themes for BlackBerry 7 devices. Dave of BB Themes has sent along this guide so you can get cracking if you're looking to create some themes on your own. Keep reading for the full walkthrough or hit the forums for more discussion.

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The FIRST theme available for the BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900!!

As we know it, RIM hasn't made BlackBerry Theme Studio available for BlackBerry 7 devices but that hasn't stopped the folks from Magmic from creating what is most certainly the first commercially available BlackBerry 7 theme for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930. Falling right into the holiday season, it was only fitting to introduce Deck the Halls as the first BlackBerry 7 theme available. Aside from how the theme was made without a compatible BlackBerry Theme Studio, Deck the Halls holds a few other secrets as well:

As the days in December pass, this theme will gradually add decorations all over, transforming a normal room into a cozy den suited for the holiday season on OS 6 devices and higher. Keep a keen eye out to find all the changes! This theme comes with an icon package complete with a festive wreath to highlight your favourite apps.

While no one was willing to give up the secret of how it all works, aside from saying it all came together with a little holiday magic, Magmic did let me know that as a special offer they have going on -- you can pick Deck the Halls now for only $1.99 until Boxing day after which time it will return to the regular price of $2.99. Oh, and they have more BlackBerry 7 themes coming in the next couple of weeks as well. You can jump on past the break for some more screenshots of Deck the Halls.

*Note* - Deck the Halls also supports various BlackBerry 6 powered devices as well, check the link for a full compatability list

Click here to learn more and purchase Deck the Halls

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