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

Anyone can make an application. No, really. I think anyone can make an application if given enough time and resources. But to make an app that is not only functional and useful, but also beautiful, now that takes talent. One of the best at doing just that is the team over at i-Mentalist. A few months back Hedone Design extended their development from BlackBerry themes into applications under the name i-Mentalist, bringing all of the talent and attention to detail to the new venture.

The latest release from i-Mentalist, and their first application for the BlackBerry PlayBook, is called VCMS - short for Vehicle Counters and Monitoring System. This app shows you information you may not have thought your PlayBook could bring you, and includes compass, odometer, altitude, latitude/longitude, and speedometer. Using the GPS built in to the PlayBook, you can easily see your current altitude (in feet or meters), speed (in kph, mph, or knots), and keep track of distance for dual trips (in km, ft, nmi). VCMS even shows you the current time and date.

You may think this is too much information to be crammed onto your screen, and there is no way that it could look nice, right? Wrong. The design is elegant and eye-catching whether in day or night mode, and even a little hypnotizing at times. The colors are perfectly coordinated and the dials and gauges are crafted to perfection. Whether you spend a lot of time in the car, on your bike, in a plane or on a boat, you will turn to this app again and again for information. You can have VCMS on your PlayBook for $2.99. You can check out a couple screenshots after the break and buy it at the link below.

More information/screenshots and purchase VCMS

Continue reading article

With the release of BlackBerry 7 devices folks will find a new on-board application in the mix. That application is the Compass app and in order for it to work it does indeed need to be calibrated every now and then, and the video above walks you all through that process.

Ultimately, the compass app as a standalone application doesn't really do all that much but tell you which direction your BlackBerry is facing but when you start using GPS and other location based services this is where the built-in magnetometer will shine. Even at the basic usage level right now, GPS accuracy and response times are quicker on the BlackBerry 7 line of devices vs. the BlackBerry 6 devices for example.

It's been awhile since Verizon rolled out their VZ Navigator application. It's just recieved a nice update and along with the new name of Verizon Navigator VX, it comes a free 30 day trial for new users, and a bunch of new features.

• Smart Routes with Real-Time Traffic – Updated every 60 seconds, telling you when traffic is ahead and mapping out detours to get you around it
• Voice Turn-by-Turn Directions – Even with other apps open, you will continue hearing where to turn to keep you on track
• “Real” signs and road views – Accurate highway signs guide you into the correct lanes and prevent last minute lane changes
• Location Sharing – Use Place Messaging or Facebook to share your real-time location or the place of an upcoming meeting
• Virtual city driving with 3D buildings and graphics
• Satellite view that moves with your location
• Local search with Bing
• Real-time weather, gas prices, movie times and other local information
• Ability to add addresses to "favorites" for easy bookmarks of the places you frequent

The 30 day free trial is open for new VZ Navigator subscribers only, and available on the BlackBerry Storm2 9550, Bold 9650, Curve 3G 9330, and Curve 8530.  To check it out go to http://nav.vzw.com/vznav on your device, choose the 30 day trial option, and you're good to go. Let us know what you think of it in the comments!

Source: Verizon via Android Central

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

Continue reading article

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.

Continue reading article

SNOW! You love to play in it and you hate to shovel it. In the lower mainland of BC, we don’t (typically) get as much snow as I did when I lived in Northeastern Ontario, but there are some pretty amazing locations in BC where you can enjoy many winter activities – both outdoor and indoor (by the fire...wink wink, nudge nudge). BC is known for its many, beautiful ski resorts. Ok, before you think that I’m actually working in Travel and Tourism, let me get to the point. When looking for a place to travel to, you would probably want to check out maps and any kid of information you can see about the tracks or even the resort itself.

With this in mind, an application that you should check out is GPS Ski Maps, formerly BerrySki. GPS Ski Maps provides in-depth information on hundreds of resorts from across Canada, the USA and Europe. You can also record and view your runs for future analysis; whether you want a trip, season or lifelong summary of your skiing or snowboarding history. Let’s take a look at what GPS Ski Maps has to offer.

Read Full Review

Google Maps is one of my favorite, free BlackBerry applications and I'm guessing a lot of you all out there use it as well. Google, notorious for not offering any change logs has now updated Google Maps to version 4.5.1. Current users can grab the download from Google Maps mobile link and get upgraded today. If you spot any changes within the app be sure to let us know in the comments. The only thing I noticed in a brief check was that it seemed to lock onto location faster but, that could just have been my area as well.

• Click Here To Download Google Maps To Your Device OTA>>

Turn your BlackBerry into a virtual caddy with these great apps for Golf!

Summer is here and you’ve been itching to get out and golf. Grab your clubs and kiss the family goodbye, it’s time to hit the links. CrackBerry Kevin started golfing again this year after taking a decade off and is now a born again golf junkie (I have it in writing); CrackBerry James is so fanatical about golf he runs a dedicated site to the sport (golfcrunch.com); and our own CrackBerry Obi who you all know well is a golf professional by trade when he's not dropping posts on CB. And me? Well, I used to be king of the mini-putt back in the day (or at least that’s what I told myself). Regardless of the game, I’m a firm believer that BlackBerrys and Golfing go hand in hand. We’ve all seen the company golf tournaments being played; employees making sure the boss wins. Rather than using your BlackBerry to keep in contact with those not on the green, why not use it to help you on the green as well?

What we have here is the CrackBerry guide to golfing with your BlackBerry; where you can find some of the best BlackBerry golfing applications available. Some are designed to keep score; others are designed to help drop your score. So before you tee off, make sure your BlackBerry is ready to challenge your Caddy. Fore!

Continue reading article

Waze, the well-known social GPS app currently available for the iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms, has announced they are coming to the BlackBerry beginning today. I have had the opportunity to test drive the beta for the last week, and as of this morning, the app is now available for download.

Waze is a free mobile navigation app that allows drivers to build and use live maps, real-time traffic updates and turn-by-turn navigation to improve their daily commute. Waze also incorporates social elements that give drivers the ability to actively update one other on traffic, police traps, construction, speed cams and more. Since waze is 100% user-generated and routes may not be optimal in all areas from day one, waze learns quickly, so the more people who use waze, the better, it gets. They are even running a contest for those participating in the beta, offering up an iPad for the person who munches the most "road goodies" - small icons worth bonus points - from May 4th thru 14th.

I have to tell you, even though this app is in an early beta phase, the attention to detail and work that has gone into it shine through already. It does have it's bugs, and is somewhat shaky on some functions, but the dev team at Waze has been fantastic with responding to feedback, and are looking for even more from the CrackBerry.com community. Give it a go, and very soon you'll find yourself taking a drive just for the opportunity to play with this little app, and taking detours from your normal route because you see a "cupcake" just one street over.

• Download Waze free OTA from your mobile browser (m.waze.com) >>

OnMyWay, the free and simple notification application designed to assist users keep a person or group of people informed about your ETA to an event or location was released initially only to AT&T customers. Now the company behind OnMyWay, TeleNav has expanded the device and carrier compatibility list. The top four carriers have been covered.

• Verizon - BlackBerry 8530 & 9630
• Sprint – BlackBerry 8330, 8330m, 8350i, 8530, 9630
• T-Mobile – BlackBerry 8800, 8820, 8900, 9700
• AT&T- BlackBerry 8310, 8800, 8900, Bold 9000, 9700

As mentioned, the application is free to download just keep in mind data and SMS charges will apply when using the application. However, you'll likely save on SMS messages anyways cause your wife/husband/friends will no longer be messaging you and asking "Where are you?" or whatever other variation of hurry the hell up you can think of.

• Download OnMyWay From BlackBerry App World Today>>

[This review comes from our forum moderators chrisy520 and JeffH]

Garmin is a well-known name in the mobile and handheld GPS market. Garmin Mobile is one of the original GPS apps providing voice turn-by-turn directions for BlackBerry users. While there are numerous options for on-device GPS naviagtion, Garmin is one of the biggest names in the game. 

We reviewed Garmin Mobile version 5.4.5 using Verizon Tours running OS 4.7.1.61. Although Garmin's website states the only Verizon BlackBerry supported is the Storm, Garmin Mobile works on our Verizon Tours and presumably will work on any Verizon BlackBerry with autonomous GPS. Garmin has a free 7-day trial, so you can evaluate it for yourself.

Continue reading article

OnMyWay is a new free location based application available for the BlackBerry platform by TeleNav. It is a simple notification application designed to assist users keep a person or group of people informed about your ETA to an event or location.

Let's say you are at home, and due at a meeting in an hour. You can open up OnMyWay, input your destination, and select what contacts you want to be notified about your arrival. Once you start your trip, the contacts will be periodically notifed about your ETA to the destination. No longer do you have to worry about calling ahead to let someone know you will be running late to an appointment. Your contacts will be notifed by OnMyWay with a simple text message or email.  

Did I mention that OnMyWay is a free application? It is available from BlackBerry App World and it currently works on all four major U.S. carriers, and supports the following BlackBerry devices: Curve 8310, 8530, 8900/8800, 8820/Bold 9000, 9700/Tour 9630. Also one important thing to note is that standard text messaging and data usage fees apply. Hit the link below to download. Please note: This is currently only working on AT&T devices. 

• More information and download of OnMyWay >>

TeleNav has long been one of the go-to applications for GPS services on your BlackBerry. Carriers across the world have it available for download on their BlackBerry devices, and some even have it specifically branded for their network.

Starting this Wednesday, March 24th, users on AT&T with the BlackBerry Curve 8900 or Bold 9000 can download the newest version of the TeleNav software, labeled on AT&T as AT&T Navigator 2.0.

This update comes with several great new features:

• One touch speech recognition
• Lane assist
• Red light traffic alerts
• Speed limit alerts
• Turn by turn directions when out of a cell coverage area

These new features are a welcome addition to an already great application. I have been using this update for just over a month now, and I have been very impressed. Hit the jump for my thoughts and more info

Continue reading article

We have posted on Wheres My Phone in the past and it has just been updated to version 3, adding some nice enhancements.  The application is used to send remote commands to your BlackBerry for such tasks as triggering an audible alarm, battery level check, and GPS location request.  New features in this build include remote contacts download, SMS integration, and remote disabling of the device. The other nice thing about this app is that you pay a one time fee, no monthly or annual service fees. You can pick up Where's My Phone in the CrackBerry App Store for $3.99 for all devices on OS 4.2.1 and up.

Contest: We have 100 copies of Wheres My Phone to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. Contest ends this Sunday at Midnight PST. Please only leave one comment, multiple entries wont count.

• More information and download of Wheres My Phone>>