The folks over at Hedone Design let us know that their first application for the BlackBerry PlayBook under the name i-Mentlist, called VCMS (Vehicle Counters and Monitoring System) has been updated to v2.0. This new version not only adds some interesting new features but also brings support for BlackBerry 7 devices as well.

For those unfamiliar with VCMS, this is a GPS based application that displays all the information you'll ever need on the road, water, or in the sky all with its elegant design and eye-catching dials. While it already features a compass, speed meter, two trip counters, location and time, just to name a few, it now includes the following updates:

• Lap timer
• Social networks (including BBM on BB7 devices)
• Statistics (you can export it and import them to Google maps, or similar and check your routes)
• Maximum speed
• Average speed
• Speed alarms (yes, not alarm but alarms)

VCMS is compatible with BlackBerry 9220, 9350/60/70/80/90, 9790, 9810/50/60, 9900/30/81 and the BlackBerry PlayBook running OS 1.0 and higher. You can find it at the link below for $2.99 in BlackBerry App World.

More information/screenshots and to purchase VCMS
Discuss VCMS for BlackBerry 7 devices in the forums
Discuss VCMS updated to 2.0 in the forums

It was less than a month ago that we saw a new pack added to Scrapbook for the BlackBerry PlayBook, but here we are with a new one available! This one is called 3D, and comes with four new backgrounds and nine new stickers that you can use to create fun new scrapbook pages. You can download Scrapbook for free in BlackBerry App World, but if you're just looking for the new theme pack, it's available from within the app itself. Just open it up and you should see an asterisk on the packs tab on the right hand side.

After you've checked out the new additions, don't forget to share your creations with CrackBerry nation for a chance at a prize! (We are announcing winners tomorrow from the past few weeks, so watch the blogs if you've already entered!)

More information/download Scrapbook for the BlackBerry PlayBook

In February, Bla1ze let everyone one know about Taptu, which allows users to “DJ their news” in a sense. This news reader application not only gives you access to a plethora of news sources, but does so brilliantly by giving you the means to tweak and add your favourite content via personalized streams. I’ve only recently started using Taptu on my BlackBerry PlayBook, but it rapidly became my go to source for the news I want; it was dead simple to use and incredibly quick in adapting to my interests. As quickly as my interests can change, so can my view – I can mix it and share it with friends on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook from within Taptu quite easily. A short while ago, Taptu had updated their PlayBook application to include some amazing features to make accessing, and managing, your favourite feeds even easier. 

• User accounts that let you set up your streams on any device and have them automatically populate on another iOS, PlayBook or Android Device. No need to register with Taptu, your user account just requires you login to your Google, Facebook, Twitter or Linked in account.
• Articles you bookmark also populate across devices.
• Articles read on one device are marked as read in real-time on all other accounts.
• Updated UI that shows articles as stacks of cards when there are related sources- giving multiple points of view on a topic.
• Improved search streams, giving more control to take any search term and turn it into a stream of news.
• App now available in Spanish, French and German.
• Partnership with Readability makes sure that the text is easier than ever to read.

If you’re using multiple platforms, you’ll definitely appreciate the efficiency of real-time synchronization across the board. No reason to waste time with articles you’ve already read is there? You can grab Taptu for free from BlackBerry App World. Press release for the update can be found after the jump.

More information/download of Taptu for the BlackBerry PlayBook

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Whenever I have an early start I have to set an alarm to wake me up, as I’m sure quite a lot of you do. I am also one for snoozing in the morning once I hear the alarm go off. Usually, I’ll snooze for about half an hour before I know I really should wiggle my toes, shake my legs and get up before I end up being late. Normally I’ll just use my BlackBerry alarm to do this but now I use Get set, Get up! for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Join me after the break to see how I rise and shine in the morning to this app.

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The much anticipated Zinio app for the BlackBerry PlayBook finally launched last week making tons of PlayBook owners super happy. There was some concern as we were told previously that there would be a $25 credit for users that downloaded the PlayBook app but it wasn't immediately available after installation. However, Zinio was quick to respond to this issue, answering questions and providing information to those asking about the credit both on our blogs and on Twitter. It seems that most people have received the $25 credit by now, but if you have not you can register at the link below. The offer ends March 31, 2012 so don't miss out! If you've already registered but haven't gotten the email from Zinio, be sure you check your spam folder as many people are finding the information waiting for them there.

Zinio is a free app for not only the PlayBook but most other platforms as well. It gives you access to thousands of top magazines from around the world that you can purchase either per issue or with a full subscription. Magazines sync instantly on all your devices, so you're never without entertainment at home or on the go. You can download Zinio now for your PlayBook at the link below.

Register for the BlackBerry PlayBook owner $25 credit
Download Zinio for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Youth workers in Surrey county will soon be getting a BlackBerry PlayBook and Torch application to provide them with mobile access to the records of the young people they work with. The app is scheduled to be released in June, and is part of a drive to ensure that 16 - 19 year olds in the area are enrolled in education, training, or employment by 2015.

Paul Brocklehurst, head of information technology and management at Surrey county council, said they decided to make the application compatible with the BlackBerry PlayBook and Torch smartphone because it seemed to be the most secure technology to transfer sensitive information and was fully GCSx compliant. "We looked at other technology as well, like iPads and so on, but this seemed like the best option for us due to the security aspect and it being encrypted," he said.

The ability to use a mobile app to update person details of the young people in the program is expected to save between £75,000 and £100,000 annually over the projected 40 youth workers that are part of the roll-out. This isn't the first time Surrey council has utilized mobile technology for cost saving efforts. Back in 2010 they initiated a program using a BlackBerry application to monitor waste being left at recycling centers.

Discuss in the forums

Source: The Guardian

"Rocks on my device. Cute book my kid will completely enjoy." - snomin App World review

Harold and the Purple Crayon was originally a children’s book from 1955 by Crockett Johnson. It was Harold’s first adventure in a series of 9 books. The idea behind Harold and the Purple Crayon is Harold, 4 year old, has a…wait for it……..purple crayon. Didn’t see that coming, did you? He uses it, and his imagination, to create a fantastic new world. My memory isn’t the greatest, but I’m pretty sure I read this book when I was a wee lad, or it was at least read to me.

My son loves it when I read a story for him every night; he also loves my BlackBerry PlayBook. Marmalade brought the two together with Harold and the Purple Crayon interactive story. The application was recently the AppCircus Winner at BlackBerry DevCon Europe. The story comes to life with crisp animation, playful music and friendly narration. If they keep this up, I may be out of a reading gig.

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Last week Zinio teased BlackBerry PlayBook owners a bit on Twitter, letting us know that the app is "coming real soon" to our tablet. Tonight they replied to a tweet from @Madooooooon about the release date, saying:

@Madooooooon Mid March. Still waiting for the exact date

So magazine lovers, it shouldn't be too much longer for this much anticipated release. We saw a sneak peak of the app at CES earlier this year, which got a lot of us excited for the app. You can watch that interview above. If you'd like to be informed when the app is released, you can sign up at www.zinio.com/playbook and they'll email you when it's available. When the app is launched and you download it to your PlayBook, you will also receive a $25 credit towards Zinio content as a special thank you from both Zinio and BlackBerry. Sounds good to me! Now just to wait until mid-March.

Thanks for letting us know @Madooooooon!

Watchful CrackBerry member @NorthsideB noticed tonight that Scrapbook for the BlackBerry PlayBook has another new pack available for download. I've been waiting for this one, because it's the Valentine's Day pack! I think handmade Valentine's Day cards are the best, and what better way to make them than on your PlayBook? Combine your own pictures with wallpapers, accents, and stickers, save it, and post to Facebook from within the app. You can send your saved image to Twitter or email it as well. The new Valentine's pack is small but goes really well with the Shabby Chic pack that was released a couple of weeks ago. The packs can be found within the Scrapbook app, and are individual downloads, so you don't have to install them all if you don't want to.

Scrapbook is a free app for the PlayBook that was designed by The Astonishing Tribe (TAT). I think it's a fun app to use, and it's so simple even the kids can enjoy making pages to share. There are a few things I would like to see added to the Scrapbook app, like the ability to edit pages once you save them, and I would like to be able to resize stickers. Maybe a future update will bring us these additional options.

More information/download Scrapbook for the BlackBerry

Football fanatics! You know what’s on next weekend- Super Bowl XLVI (that’s 46 for you non-roman numeral reading folk)! By now, you should have made your plans already. Hopefully you’ve made friends with the guy at work with the 65 inch TV at home. Or maybe you’re the one with a big TV who is suddenly popular. It’s a day jam-packed with tailgate parties, unhealthy food eating, crazy commercials and an entertaining half time show. Okay, there’s a hopefully amazing football game in there, as well. Before you plaster on the face paint, set up your BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook for game day. Regardless if you’re rooting for the New England Patriots or New York Giants, we’ve got you covered. After the jump you can get into the game with quick access to apps, themes and wallpapers.

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Just last week we saw the Scrapbook app for the BlackBerry PlayBook get two new theme packs, 8-bit and Shabby Chic. Another has just been added, called Pop Art. As you would expect, this one is full of comic book style stickers, embellishments, and backgrounds to add that extra POW to your pages.

To find the new theme pack, open up Scrapbook and the Packs tab, where you will find the download waiting. Of course, if you're not interested in the new category, you're not required to download them. And if you don't have ScrapBook on your BlackBerry PlayBook, you can find it in App World or at the link below. Thanks for the heads up BBin.in!

More information/download Scrapbook for BlackBerry PlayBook

If you've been around for awhile, you know that one of my favorite BlackBerry PlayBook apps is Scrapbook. Research In Motion pushed out two new theme packs recently, Shabby Chic and 8-bit. As before, the theme packs include tons of stickers and backgrounds that you can mix and match with your own pictures and images as well as the other existing theme packs.

• Shabby Chic - Colorful floral and retro backgrounds, button embellishments, and handmade-styled butterflies and cutouts
• 8-bit - Purposefully pixelated backgrounds in various colors and patterns, glasses, mustaches, and classic video game components

To find the new theme packs, open up Scrapbook and the Packs tab, where you will find the downloads waiting. Of course, if you're not interested in these new categories, you're not required to download them. And if you don't have ScrapBook on your BlackBerry PlayBook, you can find it in App World or at the link below. Thanks for the heads up BB.in!

More information/download Scrapbook for BlackBerry PlayBook

Time and time again, I’ve heard arguments about how smartphones make for dumb people. In other words, our continuous reliance on our smartphones have made us mentally lazy. We no longer need to remember addresses and phone numbers. Keeping tabs on appointments is as simple as a reminder and there’s no longer a need to worry about forgetting birthdays and anniversaries. Your mobile browser is your source of information, useful or otherwise, so your brain can be emptied of interesting facts.

On the other hand, not having to keep track of so much has been said to free our minds for more important things. We are free to create, innovate and dream. No matter which path your cranium may take, you should make sure you give it a workout once in a while. Since your BlackBerry smartphone, and the BlackBerry PlayBook, have taken so much away from your mind, it’s only fair that they give something back, as well. Let’s take a look at the Top 10 Brain Teaser Apps and Games for both the BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry smartphones.

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I admit I'm not a morning person. Normally, it requires more than one alarm going off to get me out of bed on a daily basis. That being said, I'm usually scouring the forums and App World for a decent alarm app for either of my devices. That's when I happened to come across Todays Alarm Clock by Turner TeKnologies. It's a an app chock of full of features that I was pleasantly surprised to see was absolutely free. Click on the jump for more information and screenshots.

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Sometimes it seems like developers just don't listen to consumers, but every once in a while one steps up and reminds us that not only are they listening, but that they actually care about what's being said. Just yesterday Adam told us about ProInsights, an app developed for the BlackBerry PlayBook by XLabz Technologies to transform your LinkedIn account into something you will actually want to use. Combining beautiful visuals and lots of neat innovation, ProInsights had all the elements of a winner. All the elements except however, the price. The developers set the price at $9.99, and were met with a lot of feedback regarding that pricepoint. I think most people are turned off of an app, no matter how beautifully built, that starts out that high without at least a free trial so potential buyers can get a feel for it.

XLabz took all the feedback and decided to put ProInsights on sale this weekend for half off, bringing the cost down to $4.99. The price will return to normal on Monday, so if you're interested in this one but were put off by the price, grab it now while it's on sale.

More information/download of ProInsights for BlackBerry PlayBook