I'll admit it - I'm fairly addicted to social apps on my BlackBerry. I find myself constantly checking my Twitter feed, scoping out Facebook and catching updates from Google+. I'm still not sure just what the draw is, but I know that I go nuts when I check my social happenings. I know there are plenty of you that fall into the same trap as me -- always checking out the latest on various social networks -- while others can't be bothered (or don't have the time) for social foolishness. So what we want to know is just how many of you do use social networks and how many don't bother. Let us know in the poll above (pick the option that best fits you) then drop a comment below.

Courtesy of @BBTweeps we have a fresh leak of the Official Twitter for BlackBerry. We thought the client would be available by now, but it seems its had some hold ups, so hopefully this leak will keep everyone happy for another week or two :-) Features in this version include:

• Option to disable the navigation bar
• Option to disable the update box in the application home screen
• Option to set the font for your time line
• View and create lists
• When viewing user profile, click on the avatar to enlarge
• Option to edit profile
• The application now uses data cache for faster performance

The app is currently in beta so you may have some issues, but give it a go and let us know how its working out for you in the comments. Hit the link below to download.

• Download Twitter for BlackBerry Beta 1.0.0.37 >>

Since the rest of the smartphone world also got a Foursquare app update, it doesn't really come as a surprise the BlackBerry version got bumped to version 1.7. As SXSW gets set to kick off in Austin, Texas, Foursquare and its location based counterpart Gowalla have kind of been in heated battle for the attention of users in attendance. It'll be a bloody badge showdown for sure.

As for the BlackBerry version, after having downloaded version 1.7 it looks to me that it's just simply overall UI changes at this point. It should be noted though that I am not exactly an avid user of Foursquare, so if anything else major has changed under the hood I might not be noticing it. For those of you out there that use Foursquare on a daily basis, be sure to let us know in the comments if you have noticed anything major that has changed in the version 1.7 release.

• Download The Latest Foursquare For BlackBerry Release Via Your BlackBerry Browser >>

If you are a badge carrying Foursquare user this should bring a smile to your face. Foursquare for BlackBerry is now sitting at version 1.5 for users to download. The addition of the ability to add friends and tips has been put into version 1.5. Both items have been requested for a while now so nice to see that Foursquare is adding these things to the mix. Alas, the dark cloud surrounding this update is in what it didn't bring with it. That being a BlackBerry Storm dedicated version, while most users can make do with the current version, it would be nice to see a release that was meant for the touchscreen UI on Storm series devices. 

• Download The Latest Version Of Foursquare For BlackBerry Via The Foursquare Website >>

As part of our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup, Adam previously gave a run through of TweetGenius. With TweetGenius being one of the paid entrants some of you may not have been willing to check it out. No problem there now, as Boy Genius has just announced that TweetGenius is available as a free 30-day trial so you can give it full go. Loads of users complained that they would never dish out $7.99 for a Twitter client without trying it first, so here's your chance. The latest version you'll be picking up is v1.1.3 and devices OS 4.3+ are supported including the Storm.

• Try TweetGenius Free for 30 Days >>

In the midst of our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup, a late entry showed up and we just had to let it in. Twitter for BlackBerry has been buzzing for a few weeks now, and here is the first official look at the client. I've played around with it for a bit, and I have to say its a good start, but still has a way to go. It doesn't load terribly fast, and the amount of tweets you can see on each timeline is very slim. It features the usual timelines, mentions and direct message, as well as the ability to view your profile and search Twitter. There are a few options to set the refresh rate, and in true RIM fashion you can set the app to show tweets in your you inbox, as well as send a Twitter update from the Messages menu. Other features include:

• View friends timeline, mentions and direct messages
• Message list integration
• Ability to use BlackBerry Shortcuts
• Ribbon notifications
• Search Twitter
• Compose Tweets from menu 
• Post links from Browser
  

Check out the video above for a quick walkthrough of all Twitter for BlackBerry has to offer (we'll have a more in-depth review after we play around a bit more). And you can sign up for updates from RIM at blackberry.com/twitter. Also, be sure to leave a comment on our Twitter for BlackBerry Officially Announced in Invite-Only Beta; Contest: We've Got Invite Codes We're Giving Away! post to have a chance at being one of the first to check out Twitter for BlackBerry!

Hey, it's no secret. Much like the BlackBerry Tour 9650 and the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 we all know "Twitter For BlackBerry" is coming at some point in time, we just don't know when exactly. Alas, I guess we can take this latest piece of information spotted by Rajrani in our very own forums as even further confirmation. When I look at this info, I see one of two things here:

1). RIM actually is advertising their RIM-built Twitter for BlackBerry.

2). They are using the Twitter name as selling leverage in India.

BlackBerry users know they can access many Twitter clients on their devices. For that matter even the mobile Twitter site is accessible enough through the BlackBerry browser. So, I guess there is the distinct chance for a third slot there. Being that RIM knows they have a Twitter client coming, it's not fully completed yet but they are using the Twitter name as leverage in the mean time cause they know no matter what, users can still access Twitter.

• Click On In To The Forums To Discuss The Twitter For BlackBerry Client >>

The good folks over at the Inside BlackBerry Blogs, who also run the BlackBerry Twitter team, are asking users for their opinion on their official Twitter accounts. They need to choose a background for the accounts and that of course is where you all come in. Since, the BlackBerry twitter accounts would be visited by you, they simply need to know which one of the two shown above you all prefer.

The one on the left is that of the @BlackBerry account. The one on the right is that of the @BlackBerryBlog account. Personally, I like the one on the left and I'll be tweeting my vote to them later, but how about you? Tweet them to let them know, or head on over to the Inside BlackBerry blogs and comment. And don't hesitate to let them know any other suggestions you might have as well on how to better their use of Twitter. 

If you haven't already, don't forget to drop by our Twitter page at twitter.com/crackberry. Also remember you can hit up the @crackberry Twelper team with any and all BlackBerry questions by sending a Twitter mention to @crackberry.

• Head On Over To The Inside BlackBerry Blogs And Drop A Comment>>

Seesmic for BlackBerry was updated last night. Getting a version bump up to 1.2.1.9 and including a whole host of changes that people have been asking for. Most importantly, BIS-B support which will allow for a lot more users to connect to Twitter through the application. In addition to BIS-B support, picture preview, deletion and RT of tweets was also added and finally, Google maps integration to make better use of the Twitter Geo location services.

Seesmic is looking like a more complete choice with each and every update. So I guess the question is, anyone using Seesmic over say UberTwitter or SocialScope already? Or do you feel it's not quite there enough yet to make Seesmic your main Twitter app? What do you still want to see in Seesmic to make it your go to twitter client?

• Click Here To Download The Latest Version Of Seesmic For BlackBerry >>

Some of you may already have heard of or be using Posterous. For those of you who might not, I'm going to give you a quick run down of what Posterous is, and how it can help you out if you are looking for a way to run a blog or just interact with your social networks from your BlackBerry.

First off, Posterous is as they describe it. Dead simple to use. You just simply fire off one email to a specified address and you are already set to go as they will reply back with a URL that is yours to use. (yourname.posterous.com, after set up or you can use a custom domain name) You instantly have a "blog" set up for you, which you can customize as you see fit. The service allows for interaction with a ton of social networks and already existing platforms such as Twitter, Flickr, Wordpress, typepad and many more which allows you to "auto post" anything you send to Posterous to any of those places. Minimal set up required and you have a complete mobile blogging platform to work off of.

Have a pic you want to share on Twitter? Send it to Posterous using the email on your BlackBerry to the address Posterous gives you and it's instantly posted to your Posterous account and Twitter account at the same time. Posterous will accept just about anything you send at it and know what to do with it. Videos, Music and even picture galleries are all set up for you automatically just by email alone or with an app such as vPost. If running a personal blog or sharing stuff on the go is something you are looking for, you'll want to check Posterous out for sure.

• Learn more By Visiting The Posterous Website Today>>

Seesmic and Ping.fm jointly announced today that Ping.fm has been acquired by Seesmic. As we have seen recently Seesmic is getting deeply involved in everything "social networking" so the acquisition of Ping.fm just makes total sense. In case you are unfamiliar with Ping.fm, Ping.fm is a social networking and micro blogging service that enables users to post to a ton of social networks simultaneously. Seesmic, running along the same vein, started its life off as an online video hosting site driven by the community. But, video alone was not enough to make Seesmic reach the popularity Loic Le Meur, Seesmic founder, had envisioned. Seesmic began branching out and integrating social networks such as Facebook and Twitter and purchased the popular Twitter client Twhirl. That acquisition gave focus to where Seesmic was headed, and now, we have Seesmic making its name in many way onto many platforms, including BlackBerry, Android and iPhone and that is just in the mobile market. Seesmic is going after the desktop PC and Mac space as well with all their ventures.

The focus here, however, is that of the BlackBerry nature. Most recently, Twitter clients have been hitting hard on the BlackBerry platform and Seesmic, seeing this, wasted no time in jumping in on the action with the release of their Seesmic for BlackBerry client. The client has grown in a very short time with Seesmic accepting feedback from its users and implementing changes rather quickly. Overall, the acquisition of Ping.fm by Seesmic should be a great thing for BlackBerry users in the consumer space.

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We have been hearing for the longest time now that Research In Motion was/is working on native BlackBerry client (so called 'project banshee') for the hugely popular service that is Twitter. We even posted a poll a while back to see if it was something people wanted, to which the majority of respondents who use twitter said they would like to see. Today, we happened to come across what could quite possibly be the first recognized tweets from the new RIM-built twitter client itself. We're pretty sure there have been others before it, but those would have all been listed under something generic such as "API" so as not to set off any alarms, a practice that is common when wanting to hide the name of an application while getting real world testing on Twitter.

Clicking on the application name in these tweets directs you to blackberry.com/twitter, which understandably serves up a 404 error page at this time. But with this information, one has to wonder how close Research In Motion is to launch. We haven't seen any leaked pictures of the UI in action, and no leaked "beta" versions have surfaced yet. We are sure that a client is coming, but am guessing it's still a little ways away and this broadcasting of the BlackBerry twitter client was unintentional (product team was probably sipping some spiked eggnog Friday afternoon which resulted in this little oversight in their latest beta version). 

Either way, it's all good. Whether it takes RIM a month or two or six to get this out, there are already a lot of great third party twitter clients available to BlackBerry users. That said, we sure are anxious to see what RIM has in store for us! 

It seems as though the need for availability and connectivity is becoming increasingly important. This is true in both personal and professional lives. How do you keep connected to the people you know? Are you constantly on Yahoo! Messenger? How about living on Facebook or MySpace? You're probably chatting away on Google Talk or even using Skype. Whatever you decide to help you stay in touch and on top of the latest, you also want to try and keep things simple and organized. The last thing you want to do is find yourself tripping over multiple applications.

If you're looking to incorporate a multi-community mobile social messenger into your communication carousel, Nimbuzz will help you stay in touch with everyone from one place. No switching between programs, no confusion as to who is using what. It's simplified socializing by swiftly shootin' the sh-um...poop in smartphone style (how's that for alliteration?). The social butterfly in you is just dying to read more, isn't it?

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