Majority of Blackberry users experienced loss of service, or partial disruption in service in the first half of October. On October 13th RIM announced that they restored full service functionality and cleared the backlog from previous days. Loss of service manifested in various ways. Sometimes users just couldn't open attachements (from gmail for example), at other times no new emails arrived for many hours, or even the functional email account stopped working completely (and needed an re-configuration throught web interface mobileemail)…

Free Apps as an apology

As a compensation for all the trouble, RIM decided to offer dosen of premium applications for free. List of these premium apps include the following:

• SIMS 3 – Electronic Arts
• Bejeweled – Electronic Arts
• N.O.V.A. – Gameloft
• Texas Hold’em Poker 2 – Gameloft
• Bubble Bash 2 – Gameloft
• Photo Editor Ultimate – Ice Cold Apps
• DriveSafe.ly Pro – iSpeech.org
• iSpeech Translator Pro – iSpeech.org
• Drive Safe.ly Enterprise – iSpeech.org
• Nobex Radio™ Premium – Nobex
• Shazam Encore – Shazam
• Vlingo Plus: Virtual Assistant – Vlingo

RIM started offering these free downloads through AppWorld. Downloads will be available till end of year. Happy downloading.

RIM's share dwinedling

Service outage came at the worst time for RIM, as Apple just launched new iPhone 4S smart phone a few days prior. Latest numbers (source millenium mobile ad service platform) show that RIM lost some percentage points again.

Android now owns more than half of smartphone user base, with Apple strong second. RIM's part is shrinking for last 2 years, and is fast closing the other ramaining platforms in the chart… Sincere apology of RIM's founder and president Mike Lazarus was nice, but what RIM needs to show is QNX based smartphone, that will keep all strong points of blackberry phone, and be able to run Android apps (as Blackberry App World is being deserted by developers)… Would you buy such a phone? Sorry - not this year…

Althought many were enticipating the release of Torch 2 after big announcement on Blackberry's official webpage yesterday, company released something different. Althoght we are more and more dissapointed with RIM's inability to get new phones out as fast as the competition (we now lag a generation behind), at least this news is good for all users, for all Blackberry devices!

Facebook for Blackberry 2 was released today. New version was released for smartphones and RIM's tablet Playbook. Both version support Facebook Places and Facebook Events.

Facebook for Places is something FB already has for some months. You can check into places you visit, and then you can see who of your friends is around you, or read reviews of the place you are in. This is especially good if you do not know the place you are at…

Facebook Events has two aspects. First is that you can view events you were invited to, you can see who was invited, see comments, talk about it… And second thing is that you can see who has birthday, go directly to that persons page…

Also Facebook for Blackberry apps is now forked, so that the tablet version is now looking much nicer, as it supports higher resolution. This means more stuff you can see on the screen, which nearers facebook app to facebook over the web experience. It supports HD video as well. All in all new Facebook 2.0 for Blackberry brings better GUI and more features for the user, which is nice to have.

New Facebook for Blackberry 2.0 is already available for download at Blackberry's AppWorld.

Here is a quick official overview video about new features:

Reputable newspaper Bloomberg reported that RIM's upcoming Tablet PC Playbook is inclined to support Android applications. Although RIM's using its own operating system called QNX, it is expected to enable Android application usage through their in-house developed virtual machine. This will ensure that users get the option of using more than 130 thousand applications from Android market.

If this argument holds, it may prove a winning combination. RIM will manage to pull together the best of both worlds:  - built-in blackberry encryption and advance communications and wide range of applications from Android. RIM has not commented on these statements. They said only that their Tablet PC is on schedule to sell in the first quarter. Sales outside U.S. will follow in Q2 and later this year.

A heated discussion is also ongoing on various Blackberry related forums. Many users are abandoning Blackberry for the lack of developer support, and small number of third party applications available on AppWorld. If RIM manages to bring Android application base to not only its tablet PC, but also next generation smart phones, that would most probably turn the trend around. Many advance users prefer Blackberry devices, and would stick with them if they would be capable of running Android apps.

We think RIM is also aware of that, but it might be too optimistic to think that android apps support will come to blackberry phones in second half of the year. Although some announced hardware changes (for example Torch 2 refresh) might support this wild idea.

Torch 2 specifications include everything that Google requires for Android smart phones: faster CPU, digital compass and other new sensors, at least 512 MB ram and 8 GB+ flash. These are the complete Torch 2 specs as leaked a few days ago:

• 1.2GHz processor
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• Tri-band HSPA 14.4Mbps
• 3.2-inch VGA 640 x 480 capacitive touch screen
• 8GB flash memory
• 512 MB RAM
• Bluetooth 2.1
• GPS
• NFC
• 5-MB camera with LED flash
• Magnetometer
• Accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• 1300 mAh battery
• BlackBerry OS 6.1
• OpenGL ES

But will Blackberry OS 6.1 really include support for Android apps? So far only new QNX based OS is mentioned in this remark, and taking into the account the RIM's (lack of) speed with new development (Skype for blackberry was announced in 2009, but still not out; Adobe Flash support was announced for 2010, but still not out…), we remain rather pessimistic…

Torch 2 is scheduled for Q3 this year.

Storm 3 should have a 3.7 inch screen and 1.2GHz processor. In addition to new models of BlackBerry Bold, Curve and the sliding smartphone and business phone successor Torch, rumors say that Research In Motion is preparing the third model from the Storm series.

The original Storm was the first phone of this company with a touch screen, and this third model will be the strongest so far and will have a 3.7 inch touch screen with resolution of 800×480 pixels, 1.2 GHz processor, support for WiFi and HSDPA, a digital camera 5-megapixel resolution with support for 720p video recording, 8GB internal memory and microSD slot for memory cards and will run on BlackBerry OS 6.1 mobile operating system.

It is interesting that the same rumor says Research In Motion may have to change the name of Storm series. So new Storm 3 could in fact be called Monaco or Monza. Storm 3 can be expected on market only in September.

RIM acquired Canadian Ottawa-based QNX Software earlier this year for around $200 million. Now it is becoming clear that RIM gained exclusive access to QNX's software technology, including operating system for more graphical devices. RIM's CEO announced that QNX will run new RIM's devices, including its newly announced PlayBook tablet, at company's annual conference for developers Blackberry DevCon in SF.

Newly launched PlayBook tablet computer will be first RIM's device to run brand new QNX operating system. Device is targeted to ship in Q1 of 2011 for US, and in second quarter for the European market.

RIM confirmed that new QNX based operating system will power its recently unveiled PlayBook tablet , and that QNX OS will gradually replace the aging BlackBerry OS that is still running on all BB devices. IntoMobile reported that RIM's VP acknowledged that QNX OS core technology would eventually phase out the Blackberry OS itself. VP said that Blackberry OS 7 will be a stepping stone for a full switch on to QNX in the future BlackBerry devices.

Let us remind you, that RIM unveiled the BB OS 6 at the start of August 2010, which means approximately 14-months after Blackberry OS version 5 came the market. Analysts expect that the BlackBerry OS version 7 will be released before end of 2011, and that QNX-based system nicknamed Blackberry OS 8 will be launched sometime in 2012-2013.

Playbook is RIMs answer to Apple iPad

RIM finally entered the tablet market. On monday at RIM's blackberry developer conference, company introduced its first tablet device. RIM describes the device as first enterprise class tablet computer. Device will be called RIM PlayBook. Touch screen tablet will enter highly competetive market of devices from Dell, Hp and Apple.

RIM means to market the device as extension to its Blackberry smartphone to the corporate market. Analysts believe product has to differenciate from other devices on market, in order to succeed. No price was given at the time. Playbook will launch in US in early 2011, so it will miss the shopping season at the end of the year.

If you think RIM's Bold phones are awesome, but you are also taking a quick glances in the direction of Android based smartphones like HTC's Desire and Legend, then you are like me…

But is looks like RIM has an answer for us, wanting larger screens. RIM will shortly announce the Blackberry Bold 9800 Slider mode, which is basically Bold 9700 with larger screen, and with keyboard hidden under it - releasing it with sliding move.

Not a lot of details are known, but phone is released to ship this summer - june to be wxact - with AT&T in USA. This operator put in quite a big order (exceeding 1 million pcs), which hints at mainstream targeted price. Also confirmed is the fact, that this device will be RIMs first smartphone based on new OS version, Blackberry OS 6. Here is the preview video.

On start of march Amazon announced availability of Kindle client for Blackberry smart phones. Initially Kindle for Blackberry is only available to U.S. customers, which comes as a surprise, as Kindle itself is now available globally…  So, if you are from US, you can download Kindle for BB directly here: www.amazon.com/kindlebb, but if you are OUTSIDE US – follow the steps below:

So how to download Kindle for Blackberry outside USA? Don’t worry. It is simple and won’t take more than 5 minutes.

1. Download the Kindle application here. If the link is no longer working try our own mirror here.

2. Since application you just downloaded comes in .COD file form, you need a way to install (push) it to your blackberry device. Download and install free windows utility BBSAK (Blackberry Swiss Army Knife - you can download it from RIMGeeks.com).

3. Connect your Blackberry to the PC via cable, run the BBSAK (optionally you will be prompted for a password).

4. Select “Install COD”, and point to the (previously unzipped from Kindle.zip) kindle.cod file.

After approximately half a minute, BBSAK will report success, and you will be able to find your Kindle for Blackberry app on your Blackberry in your Download folder. You can run it, enter your amazon’s username + pass, and voila! Application works, and it will show all the e-books in your kindle account. You can also buy additional e-books, or …

How to import other e-books to Kindle for Blackberry?

If you don’t want to buy e-books, feel free to download free ebooks here (click on 11,000 free eBooks tab).

Alternatively you can visit www.freekindlebooks.org to download 1000s of free, classic books.

With e-books downloaded from both sources (.mobi ebooks work on Kindle for Blackberry), save them to Blackberry’s memory card in the /kindle/eBooks/ folder. Open the Kindle app (Close & reopen if it's already running) and you should see all your books + new ones.

This will in no way void your Amazon’s account, as you can still purchase books from Amazon through the Kindle for Blackberry as well. Also, you can still sign in to download any books that you've previously purchased for the Kindle.

How to buy cheap e-books limited to Amazon’s U.S. audience from anywhere in the world?

And a little advice for non-US book lovers… Go to your amazon’s profile, and change your country to US (any state). Kindle store will now give you access to New York Times bestsellers for $9.99, months ahead of their international availability (at higher price)… I guess as long as we buy and pay, nobody cares for digital migrations… Happy reading!

UPDATE: Since Blackberry for Kindle is only available to US, you do not have to change your Country in account profile to access New York Times Bestsellers in kindle store! So, now we know why app is limited to US. Probably they need few more weeks to release extended app, that will show/hide certain modules in regard to user’s home country…

Ahh, last week I finally got the Bold 9700! And while I want to play around with it a bit before posting review, checking the new OS5 features we already mentioned… Anyhow, before I used Desktop Manager to “change device” to new Bold, I wanted to make a full backup of my Bold 9000 in case I needed to go back/just to have a full backup handy. Normally when you do a backup all the data is backed, but this is not the case with 3rd party applications…

So, if you are like me, you probably have many 3rd party applications installed, and it is a few hours work to find/reinstall them again (especially if you bought some of them, in which case, you have to first find that email with user data/serial/download link etc)… Anyhow, a full backup with all 3rd party apps is the solutions. But how to do it?

Well, it is simple. First make sure you have the latest Desktop Manager installed, as this method only works with Desktop manager 4.7 and higher. Besides – if you have Desktop manager prior to 5.x you are missing out, as Desktop manager 5 is faster!

1) Plug in device>Open Desktop Manager>Device Switch Wizard

2) Device Switch Wizard>BlackBerry devices

3) Make sure ONLY 3rd Party Applications is checked>Select Next

4) Desktop Manager will back up 3rd party apps, when finished DO NOT select Next or Cancel!!!

5) Search your computer Files & Folders and DEFINITELY make sure to search HIDDEN FILES & FOLDERS for a folder with the same name as your PIN and a .alx file.

6) Move both the folder and .alx file to an easy a accessible place you remember.

7) Go back to the Desktop Manager and cancel the process.

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