On a quick break from all the contest and new devices, user tuxtech posted this in the forums earlier today. It looks like he took a decent amount of time to design a CrackBerry BMW M5 in the Xbox 360 Game Forza 3. Very cool to say the least. If definitely shows off CrackBerry in style with a sweet design on an even sweeter ride! Check out the video for all the angles. Hit the jump for another cool design from John M. that was designed for Nascar 09 as well. I guess we have a lot of gaming CrackBerry users huh? Unfortunately BMW hasn't quite put the "CrackBMW" into production yet, but if they do, you can be sure Kevin will be all over it :-)

While watching House M.D. last night as part of my lazy Monday night, I was excited to see our good friend the BlackBerry Tour 9630 had a guest spot for most of the show. Right from the start, Lisa Edelstien's character showed she is a true CrackBerry Abuser as her precious Tour rarely left her sight (or her hand for that matter) for most of the show). As her alarm clock rang at 5am (which she should totally scrap for an charging pod and bedside mode combo) she immediately checked her device as any true BlackBerry addict would. Throughout the episode, the stock BlackBerry ringtones made users everywhere check their own devices, not realizing the alerts were actually coming through their TV speakers. I'll admit I looked down once or twice as "Notifier_Contentment" sounded out, thinking it was my Bold 9700. While the Tour was unbranded, it was still good to see a BlackBerry getting great screen time. You can check out the show's intro at Hulu. If you happened to catch the episode, drop a comment and let us know what you thought of "House B.B" :-)

* Update - to those in the comments asking for it, I posted the link to the straight .pdf version. *

Have a New Year's Resolution to get your BlackBerry use under control? Get an Amazon Kindle for Christmas? If so, then just type the word "crackberry" into your Kindle and you can pick-up CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use and Abuse. This is not a BlackBerry how-to book, but rather a book full of real-life stories of BlackBerry use gone too far as well as lots of tips and tricks to get your smartphone use under control (even though it was written for BB, the strategies are good for anybody who can't put down their mobile device).

The paper back copy of this book came out in November 2008, and the Kindle version actually was released in May of 2009, but of course it was only since I personally picked up a Kindle this Christmas for myself (contributing to these sales stats I guess) that I even realized it was available in Kindle-format! The Kindle version actually sells for $6 less than the paperback.

All in all, if you're one of those hardcore BlackBerry users you should appreciate it - it's kinda funny, slightly disturbing and actually has some really helpful and useful information. Definitely take the BlackBerry Addiction quiz. And one of these days we'll have to follow up with an updated version - so if you have good stories to share jot them down and be ready to send them in for when we do a call for stories.

I guess now all we need is that Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry app to get released! :)

• CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use and Abuse (Amazon Kindle) >>
• CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use and Abuse (ShopCrackBerry - paperback) >> 
• CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use and Abuse (Amazon - paperback) >>
• CrackBerry: True Tales of BlackBerry Use and Abuse (.pdf version for .pdf readers) >>
  

Ok, so maybe it's not really a celebrity BlackBerry sighting in the traditional sense, but it is a sure sign that BlackBerry Smartphones have gone mainstream, now even reaching that little 'ole famous town called Springfield. Last night on the Simpsons, Homer was spotted using a BlackBerry 7230 (or is that a 7290?!) after having been given a new position at work. I guess enterprises in cartoon land are still issuing "Old Blue" out to their users. Personally if I was Homer, I'd have asked for an upgrade to a brand spank'n new BlackBerry Bold 9700. More power, 3G and the 9700's battery life is still awesome.

I wonder what the smartphone of choice for those annoying neighbors over in Shelbyville is?

While most of us are still waiting to get our hands on a BlackBerry Bold 9700. In Cologne, Germany Tara Reid was among the celebs who have been able to get devices early. While looking around the internet the buzz seems to be questioning as to why Tara Reid of all people was chosen to take part in the BlackBerry Bold 9700 launch. But really, come on folks Tara Reid is a little cuter then Will.I.Am. I'm just sayin'

[ Lainey Gossip ]

Yes you read the title correctly. It looks like well known reporter Lois Lane certainly does use a BlackBerry Storm. Reading through Action Comics #880, one CrackBerry member came across this image of Lois Lane's phone, and it sure does look like a Storm. While any details like "BlackBerry" or "Verizon" don't appear, any CrackBerry user knows exactly what device it is. That familiar Deeet Deeet ringtone is a dead giveaway as well. Heck, maybe its a Storm 2? Superman surely must get her some great gifts - maybe he has some pull at RIM. Thanks to Alberto for sending this in!

Now I'm sure David Letterman knows all about Twitter, but he played dumb on the show a couple nights back when he had Kevin Spacey on a guest. Kevin busted out his BlackBerry Bold and educated David in the ways of Twitter. It's funny clip, be sure to watch. And if you're wondering what Twitter client Keyser Söze himself is using, by his description from sending a tweet it sounds like TwitterBerry.

Ongoing Twitter Contest: We just gave out another free app this morning in our Ongoing Twitter Contest. All you need to do for your chance to win is follow @crackberrykevin on twitter. It doesn't get much easier than that - I want to give a lucky follower a new BlackBerry Tour (or other device of choice) soon, so be sure to follow and spread the word.

Related Twitter Links: Twitter Roundup 1 | Twitter Roundup 2 | New - TweetCaster

As I sit in my office working on a review for the Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630, I just took notice of the mess of BlackBerry smartphones around me and couldn't help but think they'd like to pose for a quick photo for CrackBerry Nation. Think you can name all the devices pictured above? If so, you definitely pass the "BlackBerry Enthusiast" test -- though there are a couple of tricks to naming them all right.

Being the Fearless Leader of CrackBerry Nation has its perks, like the ability to justify owning way too many BlackBerrys and getting away with the excuse of "I'm working!" when using them at totally inappropriate times. But there is a drawback too... sometimes I get too focused on the little techy/geeky stuff and forget about the BlackBerry basics and what it's first like to get hooked. Having already taken a solid look at a pre-release BlackBerry 9630 (review part I | review part II), for the "official device" reviews I wanted to go back to basics a bit more and really make sure we address the Tour from all relevant perspectives, ie. those looking to buy their first BlackBerry; those looking to update from a Curve 8330/8830; those contemplating a jump over from the Storm, etc..

So to that end, if you have any specific questions or concerns or items of interest you want us to tackle in our BlackBerry Tour Reviews, be sure to drop them in comments to this post and we'll be sure to cover them in the reviews. Have a good weekend everybody!! 

D'oh! Once a BlackBerry Addict, ALWAYS a BlackBerry Addict. It seems Google's CEO Eric Schmidt was recently caught on camera at the Allen & Co Media Summit in Sun Valley using, you guessed it, a BlackBerry!

Now I can't say that I blame him for using a BlackBerry... and I guess he could get away with the excuse of beta testing the new Google Connector for BES or trialing an upcoming version of Google Maps for BlackBerry but when you're trying to make a new platform like Android gain traction in the market place it doesn't really make sense for the CEO of the company to be using the competition. I'd argue this is more of a I can't get through the day without my BlackBerry thing. At least he put a Google sticker on the device. Or hey, let's think big... maybe RIM is building Google some hardware that runs the Android platform?! 

That all said, I say big props to Eric Schmidt... though I'm not sure the folks at AndroidCentral will ever forgive you. :)

[ Source ]

While Kristen Stewart's character in Twilight has a Nokia 7360, the actress herself was spotted with a baby pink BlackBerry Curve 8330 on a recent outing with Joan Jett.

Kristen frequents the Apple Store so it's bit of a surprise that she's not an intense iPhone user (thankfully).  Then again, her new look seems to be the biggest surprise of all. I think it's awesome - Rock the grunge and BlackBerry Kristen!

How do you judge the popularity of a smartphone brand? Some would say unit sales or media mentions are appropriate metrics to follow, but I'd argue it's the number of birthday cakes made in honor of said brand that is the true determining factor. And on the birthday cake front, BlackBerry is doing just fine.

Following up on our BlackBerry birthday cake round-ups Part I and Part II, this past weekend CrackBerry member righthero was treated to an awesome BlackBerry Storm cake made for him by his equally awesome wife! You can find another picture after the jump and several more in the forums. Looks tasty too! Happy Birthday righthero!

Oh my! Longtime BlackBerry user Paris Hilton has sold out on her love for BlackBerry. For which device you may be asking? 5 devices actually. While in Dubai to promote the Middle Eastern version of her show "My New BFF", which was sponsored by Sony Ericsson who gave the Hilton heiress not one, but 5 brand new devices to use to which Paris was quoted speaking about the phones given to her:

“One is even like a watch with a phone on it and it’s so cool,” she said. “So I’m switching my BlackBerry to Sony Ericcson today. Sorry BlackBerry, I’m now a Sony Ericcson user and very excited.”

So there ya have it folks, all you need to buy Paris' love is to give her 5 new Sony Ericsson phones and sponsor the filming of her show. Now all joking aside, anyone wanna take a guess as to how long it will be before the next image of her is posted using a BlackBerry? Once you go Crack, you can't go back to a dumbphone... it just doesn't work like that.

[ BloomBerg / Celeb. BB ]

Oh Lindsay... you always find a way to make it back into our CrackBerry Sightings blog, and each time you show up wearing less and less. You went from this attention getting outfit to a bikini at the beach and now you've taken it up a notch and lost the top. Awesome. Though I'm afraid the next BlackBerry sighting image we have of you won't be postable without a disclaimer :-)

Seriously, I just came across this post at from the mtv newsroom. It turns out Lohan herself posted this photo on her personal twitter a couple nights ago. She was bored... the picture is from an old Fornarina fashion shoot. Nice photo, and it leaves no doubt as to her smartphone of choice. As for her BlackBerry twitter client... she's still tweeting it old school on TwitterBerry.

[ Source ]

* Update from Kevin: This is fun. Scroll down (after the story break) and we have recreated the towel shot with a Curve 8900 and Tour 9630 side by side. It's definitely a Curve 8900 in the photo above (the angle at which the bottom of the phone slopes in is a bit longer/sharper and the keyboard frets are missing - that is a spaced out keyboard) but it's easy to see how it could be confused, especially when the photo is shrunk down and the keyboards are a bit more difficult to distinguish and the towel is covering up a bit of the corner of the phone. *

* Update: D'oh!!! Early morning blogging with no cup of coffee and these things can happen... UPON CLOSER inspection, that's actually a BlackBerry Curve 8900 in the photo. Though from that angle, it's fairly easy to confuse both devices. I guess it's wishful thinking... if you really, really want a 9630 then maybe that's what you see. We'll take a comparison photo and post it here shortly so we can all be educated. *

No, BlackBerry Circle isn't located in Waterloo (RIM's World Headquarters) but rather beautiful Colchester, Vermont. But seriously, who wouldn't want to live on a street that shares the name of their favorite smartphone?

The only thing I can think of that could be better than this would be living on CrackBerry Street (or Drive or Avenue... I'm not picky!). So yeah... if anybody out there wants to rename a street CrackBerry, let me know  when the official unveiling is and I'll be there! Thanks to AJ for sending this in.