For a lot of folks, BlackBerry Protect may just be an application on your BlackBerry smartphone that you've never bothered to enable. It has the potential to be quite useful and a BlackBerry smartphone feature that everyone should be making use of whether you see a need for it or not. Consider it a preventative measure should you ever need it, though we hope you never do.

Aside from it being an app, BlackBerry Protect offers a full online site to interact with your device should you ever lose it or otherwise not have access to it. Check out the video above for a full run through of the features and options available through the BlackBerry Protect website.

At an event like BlackBerry World we're used to seeing lots of BlackBerry users walking around with their heads down in the CrackBerry prayer position as they type and text away on their keyboards. But at tonight's BB World opening reception party, I just couldn't help but hit record on the 'ole CrackBerry camera when this guy walked past me holding his BlackBerry PlayBook out in front of him as he walked and talked and video chatted with his family back home. Now that's hardcore. Gotta love it!

Oh, and it turned out he was a CrackBerry fan. Watch the video for a chuckle!!

[YouTube link for mobile viewing]

Having options is something that just about everyone loves, options of wallpapers, ringtones, but how about having more than just the default options for unlocking and locking your device? Last week Adam took a look at Easy Lock Pro and while it is a great option for many, we wanted some more variety, right? Luckily for us another great option that is feature loaded is Unlock Pro by the folks at MMMOOO, and it is a great alternative lock option for your device. Featuring three different lock screen options, the ability to customize what is displayed, and what wallpaper is shown, allows for it to fit the needs of a wide user base.

Whether you want a lock screen that allows you to slide to unlock, or pull down to unlock or if you want the ability to quickly launch into camera and other options, Unlock Pro is a great choice for you. The developers have put a ton of time and hard work into making the application well polished, and while there are still a few minor display kinks to work out, they are ready for feedback and willing to listen to ideas. There is a free version which offers just one of the three lock screens, but the paid version which unlocks the other two and all the other features will only run you $1.99. Be sure to hit the link below and check it out for yourself!

Contest: The fine folks at MMMOOO have offered up 25 copies of the full application, featuring all three lock screen options and all the features. All you have to do is simply leave a comment on this post. Contest ends Sunday, limit one entry per person.

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Last night I hit up the Aspen Social Club in NYC to check out the happenings at #BBMUglySweater Fan Night. Plenty of BlackBerry users were on hand to check out the festivities and claim the prizes they won from RIM in the #BBMUglySweater contest on Twitter. They were many happy campers heading home with brand new devices just in time for Christmas. We took in some great food and drink, played a bit of Angry Birds on the BlackBerry PlayBook (even former New York Giant Michael Strahan gave it a shot) and had a blast. Check out the video above to see how it went and get a glimpse of some truly ugly sweaters.

From the creator of Vector Runner for the BlackBerry PlayBook comes Vector Stunt. With the same old school vector graphics, Vector Stunt lets you pilot your way down the track collecting points for pickups and stunts, all of which changes depending on what song you choose. You can pick from the preset tunes in the game or choose your own MP3s to change up the game play. It's simple to grasp (once you get the hang of it initially) as all you need to do it steer and tilt to perform your stunts. Vector Stunt has loads of replay value and is sure to keep you entangled for hours on end. Check out the video above for more then hit the link below to grab it for just $0.99 from BlackBerry App World.

More information/download of Vector Stunt

Madden is an American institution. We've played it on consoles, fear the worst with the Madden curse and look forward to it each and every year. Well now you can have some of that Madden greatness with you wherever you go with Madden 12 for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Madden 12 brings all your favorite teams to the line and does not disappoint, even in this smaller package. While it does take some getting used to, once you master the controls you should be able to knock off a full season on your way to a Superbowl victory. I'll admit that it was a rough start trying to adjust to the game control setup, but I actually find it to be extremely useful and a welcome addition (especially the drawing of hot routes) from the console versions. Overall I highly recommend Madden 12 and think any football fan should definitely give it a go. Check out my review in the video above, then head to BlackBerry App World to grab it for yourself!

More information/download of Madden 12 for the BlackBerry PlayBook

If you follow @crackberrykevin on twitter, you might have noticed that I'm in Waterloo, the hometown of BlackBerry, today! I'm still in the middle of briefings, but just had to get some content up for CrackBerry Nation asap. So to kick things off is a hands-on video walk through with the newly-announced BlackBerry Bold 9790.

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is the lower cost, young brother to the BlackBerry Bold 9900. As you'll see in the video above, the overall footprint of the phone is quite a bit smaller than that of the 9900. While the battery is the same 1230mAh battery that is found in the Bold 9900, with a slightly smaller display and 200 less MHz on the processor, the battery life on the 9790 *should* be a bit better than that of the 9900.

More first impressions are on the way, but for now you can watch the video above to get a good look at the BlackBerry Bold 9790!  

Learn More About the BlackBerry Bold 9790

Odds are if you have seen one of our many videos you have seen that we tend to change the name of the wifi network connection, and if you have been wondering how you are in luck. Luckily we are not stuck with a boring wifi network name like Linksys or Belkin, but instead we can change it to something we prefer. For a while I enjoyed having the name blank, and other times I like to change it up to a symbol or other text.

Changing the saved networks name is quite simple, and with just a few steps you can be doing the same, so check out the video above and learn how. Will you be changing the name, or keeping it stock? Let us know!

With TELUS and now Bell, rolling out the still freshly announced BlackBerry Curve 9360, we had do to make sure we covered all bases in the BlackBerry 7 line so I rushed out today to TELUS and picked one up. As always, picking up a new device requires and unboxing video of sort -- and this, is the unboxing video for the sexy new Curve. Surprisingly enough, even only after minimal use today -- I'm quite impressed with the BlackBerry Curve 9360. It's no BlackBerry Bold 9900 but it's still quite an upgrade for what we know of the Curve series of devices now. I'm working up a full review of the device for you all but in the meantime, go ahead and check out the unboxing.

Now that BBM Music is headed out to beta testers, we figured we'd do up a little video to show you all what it's about. With the BBM connected apps catalogue growing larger everyday, this is one app that truly shows off the power of such offerings. In the past, RIM has taken some heat for not really expanding their ecosystem to provide media offerings such as music and movies despite the fact BlackBerry devices capabilities to handle that content.

BBM Music is one step towards setting things right in that area. Wheter or not it'll be successful as a paid service remains to be seen but even in it's limited trial beta stages it shows some great potential for long term use depending on what RIM does with it. Caching of songs, sharing of songs, play list creation and BBM interaction make the app great but it's what RIM does with the service to help it be more appealable over time is what I'm looking forward to.

Discuss more in our BBM Music forum

Leave a comment on this post to win a Case-Mate Barely There case for your device!

Picking out the right case for your device always seems to be a struggle, there are so many options, and each of them have their very own advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a quick look at the Case-Mate Barely There Case for the BlackBerry Curve 8500 and 9300 series devices which is a slim, low profile case that fits the device very snug. If you are looking for maximum protection, this isn't the one for you, but if you want something to keep the device from being scratched and to give the device a great feel in your hands, your money is well spent on this case. Check out the video above for some more thoughts on the case, and to see the fit on the device.

Contest: To win a Case-Mate Barely There case for your device, just leave a single comment on this post. Contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. 

More information / purchase of Case-Mate Barely There for BlackBerry Curve 8500 / 9300

I'm still banging away a full BlackBerry Torch 9810 review for you all but when it comes down to it, the changes that have been implemented on the BlackBerry Torch 9810 can really be summed up in about 10 minutes (Though, I did go over a bit). As such, I went ahead and did up the above video for you all. It explains some of the most significant changes within the Torch 9810 so that if you're an already existing Torch 9800 owner, you can decide whether or not the Torch 9810 is a viable upgrade.

Personally, I think if you're a Torch 9800 owner and love everything about the form factor, there is no reason for you not to go ahead and grab the Torch 9810. It does bring some powerful changes to the device, and will certainly meet your needs. There are quite a few people out there that do love the touch screen and keyboard combo, many of which will be well served by the Torch 9810 -- even if this is the device the BlackBerry Torch 9800 should have been.

I know I don't have Kevin's flair for unboxing videos but I managed to get my hands on a BlackBerry Torch 9810 before him so I did my due diligence in standard CrackBerry fashion and unboxed the sexy upgrade to the Torch 9800 for you all.

The above version was picked up from a Bell retail location as the devices went on sale today in addition to their version of the BlackBerry Bold 9900. If you're an already existing BlackBerry Torch fan, then no doubt about it -- this is the device for you.

The updated specs for the Torch 9810 really do make you feel as though you have a whole new device in your hands, only when it comes to looks do you realize that the only thing has changed is the internals and higher resolution display. I'm working up a full review for you all so, stay tuned!

The last time we did a browser shoot out, we can say that the BlackBerry didn't fare all that well. In fact, it was pretty brutal. However, that said; it was at the time the best BlackBerry browsing experience available and was leaps and bounds ahead of what was previously known as the BlackBerry browser.

This time around, as seen in the video above the BlackBerry Bold 9900 browser kept pace with the iPhone 4 and Samsung Nexus S we pitted it against and now, BlackBerry is enjoying the richer browsing experience it should have had all along.

The folks from RIM's acquisition of Torch Mobile have worked hard on this browser release and as mentioned, the browser is 40% faster on BlackBerry 7 vs. BlackBerry 6. Even though in our testing the BlackBerry never "won" so to speak -- it did pretty damn fine.

BlackBerry Video Chat is here! That holy grail once denied to we BlackBerry users is finally within our grasp, at least for PlayBook users. With an update to the PlayBook OS delivered in the wee hours of the morning, those owners gained the ability to see and talk to people hundreds of miles away. All from a device that weighs less than a pound.

Connecting to another PlayBook user is meant to be easy; all you'll need is their BlackBerry ID. Once you've opened the Video Chat application, touch New Contact (located in the upper left). If you want to add a person as a contact, enter the BBID and a nickname if desired. You can also choose a picture from your PlayBook or bridged BlackBerry to serve as that person's avatar. Click done (in the upper left) to save that person as a contact.

To start a call, simply touch that person's name in your contact list. The call will start automatically. The person being called will get a notification and the option to answer, answer without video, or decline the call. If you're unavailable for a video call, set Video Chat to Do Not Disturb. Touch the white circle in the upper left to activate; it will turn red when Do Not Disturb is on.

It would be wonderful if all of this worked perfectly on day one; unfortunately, there have been some glitches.

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Two lucky readers will win either the Oasis or the Q2! Read on for details.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I hate wires. They're cumbersome, always getting tangled in things, and half of the time you grab the wrong wire anyway. I love the freedom of movement afforded by Bluetooth headsets, the ease of paring the headsets, and the myriad voice responses built right in. Audio instructions, automatic pairing mode and a thankfully abset "Enter Code 0000" made for a surprisingly pleasant experience, pairing the devices with my BlackBerry.

In the past, I've written about Stereo Bluetooth Headphones; today, I'm taking a look at two Bluetooth headsets: the Motorola Oasis and the BlueAnt Q2. Both impressed me with their signal range, call quality and comfort. In the end, there could be only one winner.

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Last week, we told you how to hide and unhide pictures on your BlackBerry. In the comments, both sergeh and moheysaleh asked about hiding videos as well. CrackBerry is nothing if not accommodating. You ask, we answer.

When hiding a picture, you can view the picture, select properties and check the Hidden box. Videos, on the other hand, cannot be hidden this way. You'll need to use the file explorer to first find your video, and you'll need to know exactly where it is on you BlackBerry.  The search feature in the explorer only searches the current folder, not all folders as with Universal Search.

From the Media folder or the media tab (where you can select Pictures, Videos, ringtones, etc.), open the menu and select Explore. Browse the folders on your BlackBerry or memory card to find your video. Videos taken with the BlackBerry's camera can be found in the folder Media Card\BlackBerry\videos.

Highlight your video, open the menu, and select Properties. Inside the File Explorer, the Properties window gains an extra option, the Hidden checkbox. Checking this box will immediately hide your video. To find it again inside the Explorer, open the menu and select Show All. Your hidden video will appear greyed out with grey text.

To unhide your video, simply repeat the process. In the File Explorer, highlight your video; open the menu; and select properties. Uncheck the Hidden box to make your video accessible again.

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Watch the best hands-on, help, how-to and comparison videos for the BlackBerry PlayBook!

Want to know more about the BlackBerry PlayBook? Here we've compiled all the best videos so you too can be a PlayBook guru. We have help videos that will get you up and running, comparison videos so you'll see how the PlayBook stacks up to the competition and more. Even if you've read our BlackBerry PlayBook review and checked out all our other PlayBook articles, the videos will all be here on one page for easy access, and we'll be sure to add to the list so all of our BlackBerry PlayBook videos are never more than a click away. Be sure to bookmark this page as we'll be updating it often with all of the latest PlayBook videos.

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[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

Every minute of every day, we upload over 35 hours of video to YouTube, that's over 18 million hours uploaded each year. We increasingly enjoy sharing bits of life with others and the world. Whether it's a video of Grandma's 85th birthday or that dog that runs into the wall when he wakes up, your BlackBerry smartphone makes it easy to capture, preserve, and share those moments.

We've covered the basics of using the video camera on your BlackBerry, no matter if you're using BlackBerry OS6 or OSFive. After you've filmed your masterpiece, what do you do with it? Does your video get moved to your computer? Perhaps you send your video to a friend's phone with BBM or as a "text" message. Some videos simply fade away; filmed and forgotten. Lost amongst a sea of ones and zeros.

Bring those videos back to life. Share them on YouTube. If it was good enough for you to film, it's probably good enough for YouTube. Granted, not every video is appropriate for the video sharing site; my independent film, "10 Minutes of the View Inside My Shirt Pocket," wasn't very popular. But don't let my incomplete success dissuade you from uploading your own cinematic work.

OS6 users have it easy with the ability to upload videos built right into the operating system. OSFive users don't have it quite so simple, but there are a few workarounds.

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Want to win a BlackBerry Leather Holster for the Torch 9800 from CrackBerry.com? Keep reading for contest details.

When it comes to my BlackBerry, the addiction is so strong my friends think I’m Gollum from Lord of the Rings. However, they don’t know the whole truth as to why the device never leaves my grasp. I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret. I suffer from chronic klutziness. Yes it’s true, as much as I hate to admit it. When out with friends if something is spilled, dropped, or knocked over it’s usually me they laugh and point to first. To further embarrass myself, I’ve walked into fire hydrants, slipped on ice, tripped over my own two feet (those darn pockets of air), and had a nail go through the outer display of my first flip phone when I knocked into a stockroom door. While I may not look like Michelle Pfeiffer, think of me as the pre-Catwoman Selina Kyle. When manufacturers sit down to design cases, there must be a picture of me on the wall.

If you suffer from the same affliction, then you understand what I go through day after day. I live knowing I am my BlackBerry’s own worst enemy. Just take my 9700. The one day I didn’t use the holster, it flew out of my hands onto the concrete next to a pile of mud. So you can understand my utter frustration at the Torch not including one. What was I to do? The only answer is the BlackBerry Leather Holster. There’s no way around it, the BlackBerry leather holsters are reliable and fit perfectly by my side or in my pocketbook no matter where I go or what I do. The clips are strong, sturdy and don’t become flimsy over time which is exactly why I love them. Plus, none of my devices have ever suffered a fatal injury when dropped in the OEM holster. I’m a firm believer in showing, not telling, so check out the video above and pick one up today at the ShopCrackBerry.com.

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Keep reading for details on how to win a Mobi Products Charging Cradle for your device!

There’s always been a debate on how to keep your BlackBerry powered up. Some may go to the extreme and adorn every outlet they have in their house, car or office with chargers. In order to free themselves from such a short leash, others use a portable charger in period of low battery – they work, as long as you don’t forget to charge them as well – which you can’t always do at the same time as your BlackBerry.

Then there’s the simple approach that’s less bulky and has no wires – a spare battery. Sure it’s a pain to swap them out at times – especially if you have a skin or case. You may even run the risk of dropping your BlackBerry. But you have to admit that you can’t beat a small power source that fits into any pocket. Now here’s the problem - at the end of the day, when you have drained both of their juice, how are you going to charge them? Sure, you can stay up aaaaalll night, wait for one battery to charge, then swap them out – again risking a accidental drop in the night (cause you are so sweepy weepy).

Enter the Mobi Products Cradle with spare battery slot. This cradle is similar to the BlackBerry Power Station with respect to having a recharging rump perfect for that second battery of yours. This cradle can charge your BlackBerry when plugged into an outlet or from your computer’s USB port. Another slot on the back acts as a secondary charger to charge the battery at the back.

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I'm down in Orlando at CTIA 2011, and while it's a pretty quiet show for BlackBerry (so quiet that I was helping out Phil today on AndroidCentral.com - check my posts here) I did get to spend some time with the BlackBerry PlayBook and caught a gander of some of the native apps that are polishing up nicely as we near the PlayBook's launch.

In this video I take a quick look at the native Calculator app that'll be on the PlayBook at launch. I know a calcluator app isn't something one would normally get excited about, but I was pumped to see it as it's already a totally new app compared to the one I saw at the PlayBook NYC media event just a few weeks ago (which actually lacked a button for deleting characters in case you messed up). The new calculator app totally ROCKS!

This new and improved calculator offers up four modes -- Standard, Scientific, Converter and Tip -- which makes the PlayBook's calculator ultra handy, and also makes it unnecessary to go hunting for third party apps to complete those tasks. I also like the history and clear all option on the standard calculator. VERY handy. Check out the video above to see it in action! 

One lucky member of the CrackBerry Nation will win one of these Ventev PowerCELL Backup Battery packs. Read on for details.

No matter how hard I try I really cannot make any device I own last a full and complete day any more. My BlackBerry Bold 9780 comes close but it's just not enough. I really don't like the idea of running out of juice when I need it most. For some folks carrying a spare battery is the ultimate option but given that I often have a few devices that I make use of, I was looking for something that would be compatible with them all.

I finally decided to give the Ventev PowerCELL a try as it includes several connectivity options, most of which are compatible with all the devices I own. After having used it for a while now, I'm glad to say I no longer fumble around with multiple batteries and chargers. I simply deal with one battery, for all devices and top each one up as I need to.

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A few weeks ago I wrote an open letter to Rovio asking and pleading for them to do up a version of Angry Birds for BlackBerry. They did reply with some half good, half bad news... that Angry Birds wouldn't be hitting BlackBerry Smartphones on the existing BlackBerry OS (no plans), but that Angry Birds on the PlayBook was a definite possibility. That being the case, I was obviously very excited to see the folks at Smarter Apps release Angry Farm for BlackBerry Smartphones, a game that has a LOT of similiarities to Angry Birds... 

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Accessories for the BlackBerry Style 9670 are few and far between at the moment, so when I saw ShopCrackBerry.com had the Mobi Products Crystal Clear Case available, I jumped at the chance to review it.

The case is basically two pieces of plastic that just snap on the front and back of your BlackBerry Style. It does NOT come with screen protectors. The cutouts allow easy access to the charging port, side buttons & media card. The case does cover the charging contacts on the 9670, so if you use a charging cradle, you will have to pop the back piece of the case off each time. The case is very light and is made of a lightweight plastic so after a few drops you may end up with some cracks here and there. The Mobi Products Crystal Case is available at ShopCrackBerry.com for $12.95 and is also available in solid black.

Some of the forum users have used the case and experienced some "echo" issues. I tried the case on both my Style and another unit. I didn't notice an echo but the other person said she could hear one.

Following up on our BlackBerry PlayBook Review yesterday, today we were finally able to see the paired BlackBerry Smartphone/PlayBook experience, which allows you to use your PlayBook as a big screen for your BlackBerry phone. The BlackBerry bridge is carried out via bluetooth, and the means for pairing is really simple. You'll download a BlackBerry Bridge app onto your phone from App World. On your tablet, you'll tap the options icon on the top right corner of the PlayBook (the gear) and from there will be an option to display a barcode. You'll scan the barcode of your PlayBook with your BlackBerry and that will pair the two devices. From there, you can run BlackBerry Messenger, your calendar, emails (and maybe more??) from your PlayBook. Check out the video above to see it in action! (note, we do the BBM pairing at the very end).

Research In Motion has officially lifted the consumer curtain off of the BlackBerry PlayBook. BlackBerry PlayBook tablets will be on hand at the CES RIM booth for attendees to play with this week, but we were able to get our hands on it a day early. Prior to me holding the PlayBook for the first time, we first had Ryan Bidan, Sr. Product Manager for the BlackBerry PlayBook team at RIM walk us through the device and the BlackBerry Tablet OS experience. Be sure to check out the video above for all the details and action, and from there you'll definitely want to check out our more in-depth BlackBerry PlayBook Review. 

If you're a gadget guy (or girl!), you know there is no experience more awesome than getting to play with that latest and greatest device you have been hearing about for so long for the first time. The months of rumors and build-up lead to high expectations, and there's that excited nervousness/awkwardness as you embrace the device for the first time. There are so many things you want to do that you just don't where to begin.... but you know where I'm going here... I FINALLY popped the PlayBook's cherry berry! (vulgar, I know, but I just had to go there). 

The last time I was this nervous/anxious/excited going hands on with a new BlackBerry device for the first time was with the BlackBerry Storm (that was a big departure/risk for RIM - and we know how that one unfolded). I didn't get that encounter on video, which knowing that device's history was probably for the better, but with the PlayBook we hit the record button. Check out the video above to see me touch the PlayBook for the first time and give it a bit of a walk through. The verdict? For that you can check out our more in-depth BlackBerry PlayBook review, but I can honestly say I'm even more excited for the arrival of the PlayBook after having used it than I was before. It was love at first touch!

When you think of BlackBerry cases you think OtterBox. Known for stellar protection of devices in their various lines, the OtterBox cases are some of the best there are. The OtterBox Commuter Series Case for BlackBerry Pearl 3G is no exception. Incorporating elements from both the Defender and Impact series, this two-part case is sure to keep your device safe and sound through the daily grind as well as those unexpected drops on the pavement. The OtterBox Commuter fully covers the device giving you peace of mind that you're Berry will be safe and sound. The OtterBox Commuter Series Case for BlackBerry Pearl 3G sells for $32.95 at ShopCrackBerry.com. Check out the video above for my quick review and keep reading for more images. 

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We first saw this case back at WES and it was nothing less than love at first site. One of the coolest "mixed" cases for the Pearl 3G, the BlackBerry Hardshell & Skin for Pearl 3G comes in a variety of colors and combines both a silicone skin and hardshell to give you great overall protection. The case also adds a bit of spunk to your device and allows you to change up the color to suit your mood or outfit. It features:

• 2 Layers of Protection
  
• Precision cut outs for all BlackBerry Pearl 3G features
  
• Screen exposed for full functionality
  
• Slim design 

The BlackBerry Hardshell & Skin for Pearl 3G is available in five colors depending on your taste for just $14.95 at ShopCrackBerry.com. Check out the video above and some more photos below. 

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