BBMGroupsOnline.com

For fans of the heavy metal band Metallica

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This post was submitted by symbolofmylife.

Group Description:Get daily quotes on your blackberry.
BBM PIN:23A1A3DB

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This post was submitted by VIRALKATARIA.

Group Description :Facebook users can now socialize on BBM
BBM PIN:23A1A3DB

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This post was submitted by VIRALKATARIA.

A home for 9800 users to discuss their 9800. Discuss apps we use, problems you may have and to help each other out with any difficulties that may come up on their devices. NOT a group to get a date.

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This post was submitted by djghettoredneck.

RIM is hosting BlackBerry Developer Days that feature technical and go-to market sessions for developers of all experience levels. The sessions are designed to take you through some of the intricacies of developing for the BlackBerry platform and feature hints on how to get started. Upcoming dates include:

Dubai – 26 January 2011
Washington – March 8th
New York – March 15th
Toronto – March 24th
Sunnyvale – April 13th

Learn more about BlackBerry Developer Days at this link and see if one is coming to a city near you.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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In a recent Tweet from Mike Kirkup, director of developer relations at RIM, we heard that by the end of January, RIM will be launching an updated beta version of Theme Builder with support for all 6.0 devices. Themes for BlackBerry 6 are pretty interesting because BlackBerry 6 is sort of a theme itself. RIM has gone through a lot of changes in how the UI works, and it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that fewer themes are being purchased as users upgrade to the latest OS. It should also be interesting to see if the upcoming QNX OS will support themes.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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We all love our BlackBerry smartphones, but what happens when the unthinkable occurs? What if you drop your prized possession and it breaks into a million pieces? What if you go to set your BlackBerry down in the cupholder in your car, but you realize all too late that there is a cup of coffee there? What do you do when these unfortunate events happen?

Well, you have a few options, but I want to tell you about a new option I just recently learned about at CES.

Worth Ave Group – A new way to insure your BlackBerry

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Back in September we let you know that Starbucks was testing out their new mobile card app in limited markets. It looks like their testing went well, because starting Wednesday, January 19, the app is going official across the US. What does this mean for you? Just enter your Starbucks Card number and your BlackBerry Tour, Curve or Storm becomes your Starbucks Card. You can register your card, check your balance and track the Stars you earn toward free beverages through My Starbucks Rewards.

And here’s the coolest feature: you can pay for your drink using the Starbucks Card Mobile app! Enter your card number and your device will display a barcode you can use as your Starbucks Card to make purchases. Mobile Pay is available at more than 7,500 Starbucks stores, including all Target Starbucks stores, in the United States. To download Starbucks Card Mobile for your BlackBerry, text GO to 70845.

I hope Starbucks expands the availability of the app to more BlackBerry models and other countries, and soon! There is a huge chunk of market out there they are missing out on with the current limitations. If you are a Tour, Curve, or Storm owner in the US will you be trying out the Starbucks Card Mobile app?

Use your BlackBerry to make purchases at Starbucks across the US!

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ToySoft Development recently released an application to aid the shutter bugs of the BlackBerry world. One of the biggest problems with taking pictures on the BlackBerry is the size of the image. As weird as it sounds, even as I type it, but size does matter. Snickering aside, the only power we have over the images on our BlackBerrys is setting their size before they are captured. On my Torch, I can choose between 2592 x 1944 and 640 x 480. The images are stuck at the same size until you upload them to your computer. Hang on, I’m going to throw out a cheesy “or are they” out there…

ToySoft’s AutoResize application allows you to create a resized image of existing images, as well as images you are in the process of taking. It then saves the resized image on your SD card, without removing or replacing the original image. Now you have a smaller sized image handy that can be emailed without having to worry about data usage. Depending how incriminating the image is, the recipient may be thankful for the smaller image popping up on their screen.

Features

• Automatically resize picture when you take a picture with the Camera
• Set different resize from 1024×768 to 320×240
• Save in JPG with different compression setting or PNG format
• Notify you when the picture is saved
• Can enable and disable resizing pictures taken with the Camera app
• Integrates with the Media and Files applications for manual resize. You can select a predefine size or enter a custom size to resize
• Resized pictures are saved into a different folder on the SDCard. Original picture is never deleted
• Compatible with BlackBerry OS5 and OS6

You can pick up AutoResize for $0.99 from the BBMGroupsonline App Store

More information/download AutoResize for BlackBerry

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We let you know yesterday that FileScout is now fully integrated with Dropbox, and now we have learned that Dropbox has also updated to build 1.0.39 for BlackBerry users. It doesn’t look like there were a lot of changes this time around, but hopefully if you had trouble with the last versions then the update will help you out.
From the change log:

• uploading file changes for file stored in folder with non-ASCII characters can result in creation of damaged folder name with contents of a new file
• user interface rotation glitches on some screens
• BES permissions problems
• resolve some chronic upload retry issues and related UI glitches
• file browser lagginess when dealing with non-ASCII characters in file names

You can download Dropbox on your BlackBerry from the link below! Let us know if this update fixes any issues you were having with previous builds.

Dropbox

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One of my personal favorite and most used apps for BlackBerry, Google Maps, just got an update to v4.5.2.  We aren’t seeing a changelog posted so our guess is that this is just a bug squishing release. The previous version was 4.5.1 which we saw released back in October of last year. If you notice any significant changes drop a comment below, or discuss your findings in the forums! To download the update head over to m.google.com/maps on your BlackBerry.

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In a recent post on the official Developer’s Blog, Mike Kirkup sums up the recent announcements surrounding the BlackBerry Platform and Dev Con Asia. The following announcements have been making headlines lately:

PlayBook announcements:

• The BlackBerry WebWorks SDK
• Updated Adobe AIR SDK for the PlayBook
• The free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet offer has been extended.

BlackBerry smartphone announcements:

• In-app payments are now available for beta testing.
• The BlackBerry Push Service SDK has been updated.

One of the more interesting tidbits of information provided in the post includes the fact that the BBM Social Platform, which we discussed back at Dev Con 2010, will have a beta SDK available in Q1 of this year.

The BBM Social Platform makes a lot of sense from an app and especially gaming position. There are a ton of games out there that use an in-game chat system, which would be best served by BBM. Another interesting application of the BBM Social SDK would be a dating platform. There are a ton of dating and PIN sharing sites out there, and they would all kill for a chance to be able to use the BBM Social Platform to connect their users in-app.

Read more about the BBM Social Platform here.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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One of the most requested apps I have seen over the past year is a good chat application for Facebook. AHaz Designs has met the request with his new application, Improved Chat for Facebook. The application does just what you expect it would. It allows you to chat with all of your online Facebook friends, and in a familiar chat interface. The app features homescreen notifications, editable sounds in your device’s profiles, automatic saving of conversations, and the ability to update your Facebook status right from the application. This is all done through a secure login to Facebook.

You can pick up Improved Chat for Facebook at the CrackBerry App Store, on sale for $1.99.  The application is compatible with all devices running 4.7 and up, including BlackBerry 6.

More information and download of Improved Chat for Facebook

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Did you recently purchase a BlackBerry® 6-equipped BlackBerry® smartphone such as the BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone, the BlackBerry® Bold 9780 smartphone or the BlackBerry® Style™ 9670 smartphone? Are you considering purchasing one in the near future? If so, I’d like to talk about some of the preloaded applications that are included in BlackBerry 6. For more information on each application I’ve listed below, simply click on the Application name to visit the applications website.

Facebook

Stay on top of your social life with Facebook® for BlackBerry smartphones. This free application makes Facebook services – like sending messages, poking friends, writing wall posts, inviting friends to join and uploading photos – available on the go!

Look for the Facebook icon in the All window.

Twitter

Be among the first to know what’s happening. With Twitter® for BlackBerry smartphones, you can get your Direct Messages as soon as they arrive, and even view them in your message list! It even works with your BlackBerry® Browser and BlackBerry smartphone camera, so it only takes a moment to post a link or upload a picture directly to Twitter. Plus, you can follow friends, search for a topic of interest, edit ReTweets, and find users quickly by typing @usernames.

Look for the Twitter icon in the All window. (Also, check out Sean’s post about basic features for Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones!)

BlackBerry Podcasts

Get free podcasts delivered directly to you with the BlackBerry® Podcast app. Subscribe to your favorite podcasts, or download some new ones, and watch them when you want on your BlackBerry smartphone.

The BlackBerry Podcast app allows you to do the following:

• Browse and search for free podcasts from categories like Arts, TV & Movies, News and more.
• Subscribe to, download and play podcasts directly from your BlackBerry smartphone.
• Receive notifications when new episodes of your podcasts are available, and download them.

Look for the BlackBerry Podcasts application in the Media window.

To learn more about these applications in addition to other features available in BlackBerry 6, please review the user guide for your particular BlackBerry smartphone which can be found at the BlackBerry Documentation site. I also recommend visiting the BlackBerry 6 website as it contains additional information as well as videos from BlackBerry smartphone users discussing some of their favorite features in BlackBerry 6.

If you are using Twitter, please feel free to ask @BlackBerryHelp any questions you may have regarding your BlackBerry smartphone, as they would be happy to help you out. In addition to @BlackBerryHelp, don’t forgot to visit the BlackBerry Support Forums, where the BlackBerry smartphone community can provide assistance if you have any additional questions.

Which of these preloaded apps do you use the most? For me, it’s definitely Twitter as I like staying on top of the news. What about you? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Slacker announced today that they’re expanding the free unlimited Basic Radio service to all Canadian users. Initially, the basic radio service was offered with a 30 day trial, but not it’s free indefinitely. Slacker is also available as a premium service, called Slacker Radio Plus. With the premium service, users get station caching, ad-free listening, complete song lyrics, unlimited song skipping, song requests and more.

Slacker Basic Radio features:

• Create custom stations based on artists or songs
• No monthly listening limits
• High-quality stereo playback from any available wireless connection
• Over 80 professionally programmed and customizable genre stations
• View artist biographies and photos
• View album art and reviews
• Pause and skip songs
• Rate songs as favorites
• Ban songs and artists

Slacker Radio Plus features:

• Cache stations to leading smartphones and listen even without a wireless network
• Unlimited song skipping
• Ad-free listening
• Complete song lyrics*
• Unlimited song requests for creating stations
• “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview
• ABC News station and headline news updates for any station

Take a tour of Slacker at their site with this link. Slacker Basic Radio is free to download and Slacker Radio Plus is available for around CAD$3.99 per month.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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Mobihand is currently beta testing a new social network that lets people discover their mobile app discoveries called AppVerse. Mobihand has an enormous catalog of apps and accounts of users who purchased apps, and AppVerse adds a social layer to the app discovery process.

This is Mobihand’s second shot at socializing the app discovery process. We wrote about their first attempt, a partnership with Blippy, which lets you connect your Mobihand account and share app discoveries with your friends. AppVerse keeps the process in-house and lets you follow, review and rate your own favorite apps, track expert app reviews, and ask questions about apps that catch your eye. For developers, AppVerse lets you interact with users who buy, rate, and review your products – creating an ongoing, two-way dialog.

To try out AppVerse, head over to this link and give it a try.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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UPDATE: We’ve been told that the image above is a mockup – so Skype isn’t confirmed for the PlayBook. Too bad because Skype would be really awesome on the tablet.

The first look at App World on the PlayBook reveals that Skype will be coming to the BlackBerry Platform via the PlayBook. We’ve been hearing about Skype coming to BlackBerry for a long time now and the only devices to get it are on Verizon. Other than Skype, App World for the PlayBook has a really slick interface and we’re expecting some awesome apps to be ready when the device launches.

Hit this link to see a roundup of other apps you can expect to see on the PlayBook.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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Ford has announced a new smartphone app that’s available to BlackBerry users and will likely complement the unannounced Ford Focus Electric. The app has a wide range of features but is mainly going to be used to monitor the car’s charge. Other features include the ability to find your car via GPS, remotely unlock/lock the doors, and download performance and system data about your vehicle. Features of the MyFord Mobile app include:

• Find current and projected state of charge information including estimated range and the amount of charge time necessary for additional distances
• Program vehicle charging with utility input, allowing the car to start charging immediately or when electricity prices are lowest with the value charging feature, powered by Microsoft
• Receive alerts if the vehicle isn’t charging when it’s scheduled to, or if charging stops unexpectedly due to a power outage, plug removal or other event
• Receive alerts during recharge when the vehicle has reached a particular preset charge level or has the ability to reach a particular destination
• Engage remote vehicle preconditioning, using grid power to heat or cool the battery and vehicle interior
• Remotely lock/unlock doors
• Use the built-in GPS system to locate the car
• Download performance and system data
• Receive various achievements for driving and ownership milestones that can then be posted to your Facebook or Twitter account
• Fun ways of understanding your driver behavior, with ratings from ‘Zen’ to ‘zippy’
• Receive information personalized to the driver, depending on which key the driver used

More details available at Ford’s blog.

© BlackBerry Cool for BlackBerry Cool, 2011

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Following up on Kevin’s post from earlier, here are two more BlackBerry PlayBook videos from RIM: Your Portable Life and Striking Power. I really like the one with the cowboys. All this advertising lately is very encouraging to those of us waiting anxiously for any indication of just when the PlayBook will be released. Check out the videos after the break and make sure to stay close for more coverage from CES 2011!

read more

C

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Aside from the BlackBerry PlayBook itself, the thing I was most excited to see (thus far) is definitely the BlackBerry PlayBook Charging Pod. We didn’t get the greatest look at it since it’s behind RIM’s “don’t touch me” glass, but seeing it up close is good enough for me. There isn’t a lot to it obviously, but it still looks pretty sweet. It holds the PlayBook on a slight angle so it makes for a great “nightstand” device or for watching movies while in the charger. Very cool stuff. No word on pricing yet but we’re pretty sure it will be available at launch of the PlayBook, which means you’ll definitely be able to pick it up at store.bbmgroupsonline.com.

C

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