While my house also includes Apple products, I don’t like to relate a name of a product that begins with an “i” with anything from RIM, but there are a few exceptions to that personal rule. One of which is a new app from emacberry called iMazing. If you have a BlackBerry smartphone with a touchscreen, you can use iMazing to view and manage your incoming messages simply by using gestures. When new email (or emails) arrives, iMazing will pop up a list of all unopened messages that show the sender and subject for each one. Tap on the message once to view a preview of a particular message, including; the body and the options to reply, reply all or forward. At this point, it may seem like your standard message pop up application, but iMazing is just getting started. You can also swipe to the left or right to mark the messages as read and delete them - respectively. For anyone who wants to be able to manage incoming email quickly, iMazing is loaded with just the right moves (literally).

That being said, it should be noted that iMazing can only display new and/or unread messages; read messages have to be accessed through the native message app. You also cannot make use of the Flag for Follow-up option, which some are keen on using. Non-native apps appear to lack the ability to use this feature.

iMazing is available for free, but in order to get full use of the app, you need to make an in-app licence purchase of $1.99; this includes the ability to view an unlimited number of new messages. The free version will only display the most recent unread message. Through the options menu, you can choose what the gestures can do, when to mark email as read, or even decide where on the screen you want to see the popup. Again, the app is only available for touch screen BlackBerry smartphones. iMazing is available from BlackBerry App World.

More information/Download iMazing for BlackBerry
View the iMazing demo video

Emacberry has been hard at work updating his TOMPlayer media application. Not only does this update include a new, more functional UI (more pleasing to the eye as well), it also comes jam packed with even more features then the previous version. For those of you who missed our first post regarding TOMPlayer, the app is essentially a media player for your BlackBerry that goes a little above and beyond the native media app with functions like returning to the exact spot you eexited the program. For the full list of additions keep reading after the break.

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Even before we had OS 6, Iconify was bringing some OS 6 functionality to BlackBerry. Through Iconify, links to files, contacts, composing messages, web links and more were made readily available from your home screen. Users are able to decide what image to use and also the naming and command confirmation options. When it comes to contacts, links can easily handle multiple phone numbers or email addresses through the IconifyMail Link and IconifyDialLink features. Recently, Matthias let us know of a recent update that was made to Iconify. One of the major updates include the option to decide if a Global Menu item should be created for each IconifyLink (items readily available by simply pressing the menu button). The 50 link version of Iconify is currently on sale for $1.99 and the 15 link version is on sale for only $0.99. You can pick up either version of Iconify from the CrackBerry App Store. Check out the updates:

What's new:

• Create an Iconify ApplicationLink to any existing installed application on your BlackBerry Device.

  - Specify a custom image for the Application or use the default Application Icon.
  Please note, that most of the Core BlackBerry Applications (like Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Clock, etc.) does not come with own Application Icons - most of these "Core"-Apps gets their Icon from the current active Theme. Unfortunately there is no access (for a 3'rd party application) to these Theme icons - so you need to specify a own image.

  - Specify an custom name or use the default generated (depending on your settings the default application name.

  Creating ApplicationLinks can be done via the Iconify-Options in the Edit IconifyLinks section. There you will find a Menu Item called 'Add IconifyApplicationLink' which will open a Application-Chooser. Please note that you can filter the list and hide the System (Core) Applications. This makes it much easier to find your individual installed 3'rd Party Applications.
  Please Note, that not all listed System Apps can be actually launched - some of them require additional parameters & configurations that are only known by RIM.

• For all Iconify Links you have the option to include the link in the global BlackBerry Menu - this will make the Link available always (in any application) via the BlackBerry Menu.
• Additionally to be able to include each Link in the Menu you have to option to specify a HomeScreen Hotkey for your link - so you can launch the link directly from the HomeScreen by a single click on your BlacBerry keyboard (not available for Storm & Strom2 - sorry). Please note that this functionality have some restrictions:

  - For OS6 you have to activate the 'Application Shortcuts' (this can be done in the Home Screen Preferences - Launch by Typing)

  - For other OS (except Storm/Storm2) you have to disable the the 'Dial from Home Screen' Option in the Phone Options

  - Some of the chars are already in use by the core BlackBerry applications (like 'O' (for Options) or 'M' (for Messages)) - so the number of available HomeScreen hotkeys is limited and you can't assign a hotkey for all of your Iconify links'.

• Support for new BlackBerry Devices 9900 & 9850
• Contact Pager-Number can be used

Contest: We have 50 copies of the Iconify 50 Link version to give away! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST.

More information/download the 15 Link version of Iconify for BlackBerry Smartphones
More information/download the 50 Link version of Iconify for BlackBerry Smartphones

A GPS Application for BlackBerry Smartphones

 

2 Years (and 1 week) ago we reviewed the GPSLogger application. Matthias (emacberry.com) originally developed the application in order to record your movement. Speed, elevation, direction, path; almost everything was captured effortlessly. In fact, GPSLogger didn’t just capture current values, but track and graph the values recorded at each interval throughout your trek. It even included a compass mode, import/export GPX and KML files, night mode viewing, and the ability to keep logs of POI along the way.

Now I speak of it in past tense because GPSLogger has been succeeded by GPSLogger II. Completely rewritten, it adds a slew of impressive functionality. Through BBM6 integration, GPSLogger II allows you to share your location (or direction) with your BBM contacts automatically. Now that’s definitely a new way to stay connected through BBM. No need to ask where they are, you’ll be able to tell instantly. Keep in mind that this feature is only available to BBM6 beta testers for now. If you aren’t one of them, you can still enjoy the following new features:

• Append Logging
• BlackBerry Maps
• Additional (multiple) Views
• Emergency Alerts
• Sharing Location (email)
• Configurable Status Bar
• Additional new Keyboard shortcuts
• Elevation plausibility check
• Additional information: The climb in percen and the average speed over the last minute
• The Distance Alert [GPSLogger: Special Options]

You’ll also be happy to know that, despite all of these new features now available, GPSLogger II is free. Check out the new features in detail after the jump.

More information/download GPSLogger II for BlackBerry smartphones

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Being a little brother, I can attest to the completely false stereotype that has burdened us.
The LittleBrother by eMacBerry also bursts through that stereotype, as well. Tapping into
GPS, LittleBrother allows you to automatically send sms, as well as email, to inform others if you are either leaving from or arriving to a certain location. You can also view the previous 25
Cell Towers your BlackBerry has connected with and email the locations as a KML file. A KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is used to display geographic information via a browser like Google Earth. Because you are the popular one (and probably a Big Brother), LittleBrother is a great way of letting people know when you are getting close, or when you are on your way. Keep reading for all the latest updates.

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With BlackBerry 6 well on it's way now, we'll be seeing a lot of applications get updated with some new features and new support. One such application that I'm rather happy to see get updated so quickly is FileScout. Matthias, has released v2.0 of FileScout which adds some new features to the app and ensure BlackBerry 6 support.

New features include:

• RibbonBar for TouchScreen Devices (incl. the new 9800 Torch!)
• ZIP Browsing: When you have marked a ZIP you can select, if you would like to extract the complete archive or if you would like browse the content of the ZIP.
• New ZIP-Browsing Key ShortCuts (TouchScreen Devices will show a own ZIP-Browsing RibbonBar to offer identical functionality)
• Small Menu tweak for OS6 (to keep the OS and FileSout MenuItems separated from each other)
• When the ‘File Rename Dialog’ will be opened the filename is already selected

What’s Fixed?

• Opening directories containing a lot of files should be way faster then before
• Possible dead lock while browsing images fixed
• A lot of small tweaks and some small menu name adjustments

If you don't already have FileScout you can pick up the premium version for $6.99 which, comes with a free trial. Plus, Matthias has given us 35 free copies to give away to you all so, if ya want a copy drop a comment on this post. Good luck folks!

LittleBrother, the new beta application from eMacBerry is very small GPS utility that is being offered to users who wish to keep friends and family members aware of their location. The biggest claim for the application however, is that it uses the least amount of power and resources available in order to provide such information. In the past, GPS utilities have been known as power hungry, data intense applications. LittleBrother is looking to change that by offering a zero power consuming tracking solution.

LittleBrother Core Features:

• Automatically send eMail and/or SMS notification when the device is leaving a certain area:  If your device will be moved into an area where you normally never would going too [could be ideally combined with other applications like SmrtGuard to wipe your device remotely]
• Automatically send eMail and/or SMS notification when the device is returning into a certain area: Let your loved once know, that you are coming home soon (e.g. returning from work)
• Export the local CellTower Database (locations) to a KML-File and send it via eMail: To be used with GoogleEarth to get an overview of all the CellTowers you have recorded so far.
• Support for device 'Backup & Restore': Keep all your LittleBrother CellToer Records when you updating your OS or change your BlackBerry® device! 

Since LittleBrother is a beta application, users are encouraged to download the app and test it out. Of course, if you have any suggestions for additions you can always forward them off to Matthias for consideration. If you're looking for a simple tracking solution and a way to inform friends and family of where you are, maybe LittleBrother is just the app you need.

• Click Here To Learn More And To Download Via OTA >>

Download What's My for BlackBerry

Some of you are going to love this app and some of you are going to read this and absolutely CRINGE at its existence, but there's a back story to, so READ THIS POST FULLY before leaving a comment....

This past weekend I was out for dinner with Miss CrackBerry (aka Erika) at a nice little Italian restaurant. While chowing down on some tasty gnocchi, sort of out of nowhere, I asked her if she was excited about BlackBerry 6 (yes, even on a Saturday night when out for a romantic evening I'm thinking about BlackBerry. I know it's kinda sad). Her response?  "What's BlackBerry 6?" Yup, epic #fail on my part as even with all our WES 2010 coverage I guess somehow I forgot to tell her about it. So I filled her in on the details. And while telling her all about BB6, she expressed her key desire for the OS update.... "I hope they make it easier to find my Pin."

I immediately tweeted out on @crackberrykevin this sort of unneccessary yet necessary feature request (will explain that shortly) and when I woke up the next morning lo and behold I had What's My sitting in my inbox - which I installed on Erika's BlackBerry before she even woke up. What's My, by our pal Matthias of emacberry, is a simple app that places the What's My icon on your home screen. Clicking the icon displays your BlackBerry device's phone number, device pin and IMEI and the ability to copy them to the clipboard if you so desire. Erika was pretty happy when I showed her the app (and not so happy that I touched her BB while she was sleeping - I guess she's one of the 59% that apparently don't set a password).

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A little while back we had the pleasure of announcing the beta of Iconify from Emacberry. After all the great feedback from you all, the CrackBerry community Matthias has updated Iconify with many features that were requested and plenty of bugs have certainly been worked out. You can get a look at the full list of fixes via the emacberry website but here is a rundown:

What's Fixed:

• Scroll behavior in the 'Edit IconifyLinks' improved.
• Fix for installation failures of the Link-Launchers
• Small performance improvements when a IconifyLauncher will be initialized 
• Mail-Links support now any Contact PhoneNumber (to be used for SMS-Messages)
• Instructions can be turned ON/OFF in the 'General Iconify Options'
• Added a default Iconify-Application on the Homescreen (will open the Options)
• Scroll behavior in the 'Edit IconifyLinks' improved.
• Fix for installation failures of the Link-Launchers 

Right now you can grab Iconify in two versions. The 15 link version ($1.99) means you'll be limited to 15 customized links or you could go for the 50 link version which, of course allows 50 to be created($3.99). But, Matthias was also kind enough to hook us up with 25 free copies to give to you all. Drop a comment on this post for your chance to win and good luck!

[Enter once folks, duplicate entries will be ignored. We'll draw up the winners in a few days]

A new application has just been made available for public beta. Iconify, comes to us from the same developer of FileScout, Matthias. The basic principle of Iconify is to allow you to create quick access links to all of your favorite contacts and websites, making you and your BlackBerry more efficient then ever.

With Iconify you can make homescreen icons for one of 3 methods of communication. IconifyDial, which allows you to pick and create icons for calling your contacts. IconifyMail, which allows for quick access emailing, SMS, pin messaging. And finally, IconifyWeb which allows you to create instant weblinks to your favorite websites. All of which are user customizable with pictures, web icons.

Since this is a free, public beta user feedback is greatly appreciated. At this time all devices with OS 4.3+ are supported and you can read the full break down of Iconify and it's options via the site or in the CrackBerry forums as well you can take a look at the user manual. After having used the app for a few days now, I can definitely say its made things a whole lot easier for me, so be sure to check it out.

• Download The Free Public Beta Of Iconify Today>>