Blackberry Unlocked

Here is a cool contest from Telus And SportsNet. It's play off time for hockey and qualifying teams are all on their way to a long fight for Lord Stanleys cup and with that comes many, many traditions and superstitions. Some players may not change their socks, some may put their gear on in a specific order and others, well others grow big bushy beards and that is not limited to just the teams. Hockey fans get in on the action as well to show their support and growing a beard is just one of many things that goes on during playoffs. This year Telus and SportsNet have teamed up for a wicked contest for the fans that grow the bushiest beard. You and six of your friends could win big.

• 47” HDTV
• NHL tickets for next season to see either the Leafs, Senators, Flames, Oilers or Canucks
• TELUS Mike handsets for their entire crew

As well Telus has set up even more fun for everyone at their site where you can try out the Text to Speech function on devices such as the Curve 8350i. Try it out and you can send friends and family members some funny messages you have personally created.

Check Out Full Contest Details And More At No Ordinary Phone>>>

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Grow A Beard, Win Prizes From Telus And SportsNet!

It's no secret there are tons of BlackBerry related blogs out in cyberspace, and with new ones popping up every day, some slip under the radar.  We're not really sure how this one managed to slip by, but the latest arrival to the blog party is Inside Blackberry – The Official Blackberry Blog.  To our knowledge, there was no press release or announcement of any kind, but from the date on the first post, it looks like the blog popped up around April 15th.  Pretty cool that there is an "official" blog now so we can keep up with the news straight from RIM employees.  Head on over to http://blogs.blackberry.com/ to check it out. 

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. RIM Launches The Official Blackberry Blog

This years Brandz.com Top 100 list is now out and BlackBerry has seen some nice growth within the rankings. This year, BlackBerry achieved the second highest percentage increase in brand value (100%) behind China Merchants Bank (168%) in 2009, after achieving the largest percentage increase on the list in 2008 (390%).

The BlackBerry brand moved up 35 points this year in the global ranking. BlackBerry and Amazon tied for the largest ranking increase in 2009. And at this point is now ranked 16th globally, 10th in North America and 6th in the technology category.

The BlackBerry brand is a main point to RIM's success so maintaining the brand image is of key importance. These rankings prove that RIM does that quite well. 

• Read The Full Report (PDF) And See How Other Companies Did As Well>>> 
   

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry Ranks 16th on Brandz.com Top 100 Brands Report

Now this is slick.  Typically I don't like themes that are mock ups of other devices such as Windows Mobile or Android.  I feel like if I wanted a Windows Mobile theme, I'd have bought a Windows Mobile device, right? But this one is different. This is like a splash of HTC's TouchFlo smacked with BlackBerry branding.  This theme has some serious looking animations, all compiled into a theme that flows much better then even the devices it's based on. HTC Touch Slide by CrackBerry.com forums member KDJayo is just simply beautiful.

With Quicklaunch integration, huge animated sliding icons and "hidden" buttons all over this place, all I can really say is I'm throughly impressed by this one. If not only by how slick it looks, but how it functions as well. If you want to see the theme in full action you can check out the Youtube posting of the video. As well, KDJayo has incuded some sexy custom wallpapers in the original forums post. Sadly, currently only available for the Storm at this point.  The cost is just right for this kind of theme and you can pick it up for only $5. I can only imagine the time it took for this one.

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. HTC Slide Theme For BlackBerry Storm!!

A month ago to the day we introduced the beta of our new on-device CrackBerry App Store client. We're still leaving the *beta* tag on version 1.02, which features several improvements including: a much more polished and user-friendly interface (now optimized for the Storm), better use of the menu key for navigation, faster load times, support for coupon codes and many minor bug fixes. Still to come before we leave beta and make the app store official is version tracking, integrated downloads and support for Paypal.

Download/Upgrade: If you already have the CrackBerry App Store client installed, you will automatically be prompted to upgrade to version 1.02, or you can click the BlackBerry menu button and Check for Updates to make sure you are on the newest version. If you do not yet have the app store installed, simply point your BlackBerry's web browser to crackberry.com/appstore to download. 

Beta Feedback: If you have any feedback on this update, we want to hear from you! Be it suggestions, bugs or otherwise, you can email it in to crackberrysupport @ mobihand.com. We'll pick the top 15 emails received over the course of the week and reward those people with $15 in free app money!

Why CrackBerry App Store? There are a lot of compelling reasons to have and keep the CrackBerry App Store installed on your device: Deal of the Day features a new popular app at deep discount every 24 hours; there are themes galore; app pricing as low as 99 cents (you'll find many apps that sell for $2.99 in App World for a dollar or more less); credit card checkout supports countries around the world… and the list goes on. You can click the image above for more details.

20% Off All Apps Sale: In honor of CrackBerry.com passing the One Million Member Milestone, we've set up coupon code onemillion for use at checkout within the on-device app store (will not work in PC web store). The coupon code is valid until this Sunday at midnight, so be sure to download the updated app store client and give it a whirl and save! *Please keep in mind the coupon does not apply to already discounted apps.

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. CrackBerry App Store Client Updated and 20% Off Apps Sale

Not a bad turnaround time… Less than 24 hours after OS 4.7.0.141 dropped in the forums for the BlackBerry Storm 9500, it has now surfaced for the BlackBerry Storm 9530. Be sure to read the disclaimer below… then let the fun and games begin!  

*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). Follow the links below for more information and instructions. * 

• Download OS 4.7.0.141 for the BlackBerry Storm 9530 >>
• Leaked OS 4.7.0.141 for the Storm 9530 Forum Thread >>
• Official OS 4.7.0.141 Findings and Fixes Thread >>
• Instructions: How to Upgrade your BlackBerry's Operating System >>
• Instructions: How to Downgrade your BlackBerry's Operating System >>
• Instructions: Mess things up? Fix a Bricked BlackBerry Here >>

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Leaked: OS 4.7.0.141 for the BlackBerry Storm 9530!

You can take this post as you see fit, we're just relaying the information here…  an anoymous tipster sent us in what they say is a screen print of the first SKU to show up in the Telus inventory system related to the BlackBerry 9630 (codenamed "Niagara", now thought to be going to market as the BlackBerry Tour 9630).  

The SKU isn't for the device though, rather it's for a BlackBerry 9630 accessory (I shrunk the image down slightly to fit the blogs). It's no surprise that the 9630 will be coming to Telus, but if the appearance of an accessory SKU can be taken as a sign that a device release is planned in the not-so distant future, then this would be very good news to many a Telus subscriber. We're not totally sure if that is the case… but certainly hope so!

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Telus BlackBerry Tour 9630 Accessory SKU Appears

Login to CrackBerry.com and leave a comment to this blog post for your chance to win a free copy of BerryPopup! 200 copies to be won!

New from Bellshare, the developers who brought you BerryBuzz and BerryWeather, comes BerryPopup, the latest app to bring popup email and SMS alerts to your BlackBerry smartphone.

Following in the footsteps of PeeKaWho, Email Alerts and Message Peek, BerryPopup appears to be a pretty feature rich, well-executed app:

• Preview incoming e-mails/alerts
• Open inbox, reply, forward, mark as read and delete e-mails right from the popup
• Open inbox, reply and forward SMS right from the popup
• Disable popups until backlight dims or for a certain time right from the popup
• Customize order of messages (Oldest first, Newest first)
• Only show popups for messages from contacts you have in your phonebook
• Customize positioning of the popup ("System Default", "Bottom of screen" or "Stretch to the borders of the screen")
• Customize position of the button bar (left, right, top, bottom)
• Automatically turn on backlight when a message comes in
• Auto-dismiss popup after specified time
• Disable popups while in the messaging application
• Disable while device is locked so you will not be flooded with popups after unlocking
• Disable popups while backlight is on
• Show contact photo and customize its size
• Customize font sizes
• Integrates with SmartAlerts (coming May 2009) for absolute control which messages trigger popups and which don't

BerryPopup sells for $6.95 but is on sale in the CrackBerry App Store until May 6th for $4.95 (no coupon code required). A 7-day free trial is available.

Contest – Win a Free Copy: Bellshare was going to give us 100 free copies to giveaway, but in honor passing the 1 Million Member Milestone they doubled it to 200 free copies. Just leave a comment to this blog post for your chance to win. Entry deadline is Midnight PST on May 3rd. Good luck!

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Contest: 200 Free Copies of BerryPopup!

Check out with coupon code 1million before Midnight PST tonight & save 10%!

The dermaSHOT by Incipio is a tight fitting high density silicone case with a smooth anti-static surface which provides users full access to all of the Blackberry's functions. It features a play-through design for full function while in case. Shock absorbing silicon protects your device and the dermaSHOT's anti-static coatig grips the BlackBerry, not your hands. Incipio's dermaSHOT case retains easy access to controls, ports, touch screen and inputs and are available in a wide assortment of colors. You can click the images above or follow the links below to learn more about each dermaSHOT case.

• dermaSHOT for the BlackBerry Storm >>
• dermaSHOT for the BlackBerry Bold >>
• dermaSHOT for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 >>
• dermaSHOT for the BlackBerry Curve 8350i >>
• See all Incipio BlackBerry accessories @ ShopCrackBerry.com >>

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Now Shipping: Incipio dermaSHOT case for BlackBerry

For all the ladies out there holding a BlackBerry, this bit of news is especially for you. The folks over at Gym Technik, the BlackBerry fitness app we've covered quite a few times, have just partnered up with Oxygenfit, an industry leader in womens fitness, to redefine the term "Fitness On The Go".

Gym Technik has updated their library with around 100 new Oxygenfit exercises and 10 new Oxygenfit workouts built specifically for women. These portable workouts can be followed and tracked right on your BlackBerry as you perform them anywhere.

So for those women who have already flexed out their BlackBerry smartphones with Gym Technik, you can check out their updated library and make sure to update your own workout library with the ones that meet your bikini season needs (summer is just around the corner… w00t!). And if this is the first time you're hearing about Gym Technik, you can learn more about their service and Oyxgenfit partnership here.

And finally, for all you guys feeling left out – Mothers Day is just around the corner and what better way to say "I love you mom" than a brand new BlackBerry coupled with a portable fitness plan! I tell ya… I bought my 60 year old mom (she'll disown me when she reads this post on Viigo for saying her age) a BlackBerry Bold last Friday and she's already a full-fledged CrackBerry Addict. If you feel the need to snatch the best son ever title away from your siblings, I highly recommend it.

CrackBerry.com’s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Gym Technik Takes On Womens Fitness