Jumat, 20 April 2012

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BerryReview.com Giving Back to the BlackBerry Community

BBM Music 1.2.0.17 & BlackBerry Travel 2.5.18.99 Released

Posted: 20 Apr 2012 01:24 AM PDT

BBM Music 2

RIM has updated two more of their apps in App World this week. The first to take the plunge is BBM Music which has been updated to v1.2.0.17. You can now see more about new friends who invite you before accepting or declining an invitation. The updated version also adds the ability to favorite a song with a star. RIM also threw in an intelligent shuffle feature along with a "default friend" for all BBM Music listeners. They have also hit the gas speeding up startup times and performance. Pick up BBM Music v1.2.0.17 in App World.

The second update to BlackBerry Travel brings us to v2.5.18.99 which is a relatively big jump from v2.0 before. This update mainly brings integration with BBM so you can automatically update your BBM status based on your travel. Check out the latest version of BlackBerry Travel here.

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 20, 2012, 4:24 am. | BBM Music 1.2.0.17 & BlackBerry Travel 2.5.18.99 Released | Leave a comment |


BlackBerry 10 USB Host & Bluetooth Accessories Coming! (USB & Bluetooth APIs)

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:48 AM PDT

PlayBook-deconstructed 

RIM has teased us with USB host and other accessories for awhile now but it looks like they are finally coming. One of the unscheduled sessions at BlackBerry 10 Jam is a GRP101 – Roundtable: BlackBerry 10 USB and Bluetooth Extensibility. There three RIM employees will be discussing how accessories can connect over USB or Bluetooth. This includes:

  • Learn about the USB APIs for BlackBerry 10 (e.g. USB Host-Mode Serial Device, Android Accessory Protocol etc.
  • Discover Bluetooth APIs for BlackBerry 10 (e,g. Serial Port Profile, Device Discovery, etc.)
  • Offer feedback to product managers on the usefulness of these technologies

The Android Accessory Protocol is totally new along with RIM letting developers share their own feedback. I just love how these APIs are already a given with BlackBerry 10. Now if only I could fast forward and get a copy on my PlayBook… Here is how RIM describes the session they will be covering:

Accessories connected over Bluetooth® and USB can augment input and output mechanisms for many users. BlackBerry® 10 is capable of supporting these accessories. There are currently devices that work with BlackBerry out of the box, but sometimes the technology requires greater control using APIs. Join us for discussion to learn what's possible and available.

The speakers are

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 2:48 pm. | BlackBerry 10 USB Host & Bluetooth Accessories Coming! (USB & Bluetooth APIs) | 9 comments |


BBM on BlackBerry 10 Built Using Cascades & BBM Social Platform Coming Too!

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:39 AM PDT

BBM BlackBerry Cupcakes

I dug a little further into the BlackBerry 10 Jam session catalog and ran into a bit of gold. RIM has already told us before that BlackBerry 10 will have BBM at launch. The thing is it seems like RIM has been running along and building it faster than expected. During BlackBerry 10 Jam on May 2nd Robert Connell, Team lead BBM Client Development at RIM, will be having a session on DEV129 – How We Built BBM Using the BlackBerry 10 Platform and Cascades.

Notice the past tense "Built" along with RIM sharing UI screens and sample code with developers. Here is the session description:

This session shows how RIM® internal teams are building Cascades apps for the BlackBerry® 10 platform. We'll use a sample BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) app to introduce developers to the process we followed and the steps we took along the way. You'll come away with UI screens and sample code to help with your own development efforts.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn about the possibilities of building Cascade apps
  • Follow an example of an app created for BBM
  • Understand how to compose various screens and flows using BBM screens

It gets even better with another session at BlackBerry 10 Jam where Avinash Chidambaram, BBM Project Manager at RIM, covers how to "DEV182 – Create Socially Connected Apps Using the BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform." See they are assuming that they are already releasing the BBM Social Platform for BBM and offering code samples and UI models on how to integrate BBM into your BlackBerry 10 app right then and there!

Here is how they describe it:

This session introduces the key features of the BlackBerry® Messenger Social Platform for BlackBerry® 10 and how developers can leverage the platform to help their users build stronger social networks. Attendees will be presented with code samples and UI models that demonstrate how you can integrate the BBM Social Platform into your app to increase visibility through a social network. Find out which aspects of the BBM Social Platform are the most appropriate for your application.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn what’s possible with the BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform
  • Help your users develop more vital social experience through chats and status updates
  • Understand how easy it is to bring BBM™ into your application

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 2:39 pm. | BBM on BlackBerry 10 Built Using Cascades & BBM Social Platform Coming Too! | 11 comments |


BlackBerry 10 Jam Sessions Reveal Upcoming Features & Dev Tools!

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:30 AM PDT

BlackBerry Experience

RIM has let developers know more about the components of BlackBerry 10 but I found something interesting when I started looking at the BlackBerry 10 Jam session catalog. Many of the sessions assume that certain features, APIs, and developer tools will be released before the session or at least at the same time. For example, there is a session (DEV180) on using "the new Push Data Services for BlackBerry 10… and will examine the new SDK" which we all assumed were coming but I guess they are coming very soon. (Cascades, Qt, Push services, etc)

Here are some of the others I noticed. Let me know if you spot any others:

Another thing of interest is that RIM has a few sessions that try to help you bring PlayBook apps to BlackBerry 10. They mention developing for multiple screen sizes but not multiple screen resolutions which is nice…:

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 2:30 pm. | BlackBerry 10 Jam Sessions Reveal Upcoming Features & Dev Tools! | 8 comments |


RIM Offering App World Vendors Free Passes to BlackBerry 10 Jam! (LIMITED!)

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 09:10 AM PDT

Gift PlayBook

RIM has been ramping up to their first BlackBerry 10 Jam developer event which is a sister conference to BlackBerry World. They have been promoting the conference and offering incentives to get as many developers to come and develop for BlackBerry 10 as possible. They are also giving these developers BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha devices to test their apps on which is pretty sweet!

Now that the countdown to the conference (May 1st to 3rd) is almost here RIM has one last promotion that they are offering to BlackBerry App World Vendors to fill the last spots at BlackBerry 10 Jam. They have distributed a code to all vendors giving them a free registration pass to BlackBerry 10 Jam. We reached out to a RIM spokesperson for some clarification and she told us that":

"We wanted to find a way to reward our BlackBerry App World vendors for their continued support and enthusiasm for BlackBerry. We also know that BlackBerry 10 Jam is going to be a really unique opportunity for developers to get not only insight into the tools for BlackBerry 10, but to ask questions, receive one-on-one help and get practical experience with the tools, under the guidance of our platform experts. This just naturally led to offering our vendors the opportunity to come to the show. That said, they'll need to register pretty quickly, as space is limited and we have to do this in a first-come, first-served manner.

The conference is definitely open to all developers and the schedule is packed with at least 60 sessions planned that run from information sessions to hands-on tutorials and labs, an AppendTo training hack day, an App Circus event and the unconference day. But the complimentary conference pass is really for BlackBerry App World vendors only. One of our top priority areas right now is recognition and reward for our developers and this seems like a pretty good way to say thanks."

If you are an App World vendor make sure to check your email for the opportunity and coupon code or let us know if you need it. You are also still eligible for the every 100th app contest which will pay for your travel and hotel. Let us know if you are an App World vendor and did not get the email to register. Either way hurry up since there are not that many spots left! Tim and I will be right across the road at BlackBerry World so make sure to let us know what you are developing!

Here is why RIM thinks developers should attend BlackBerry 10 Jam:

  • All BlackBerry 10 Jam attendees get access to some BlackBerry World™ activities, including the BlackBerry World General Session. Hear from Research In Motion® (RIM®) executives, including President and CEO Thorsten Heins on RIM’s vision for the future of mobile computing and more.
  • Find out the latest on the BlackBerry Developer Community from Alec Saunders, Vice President, Developer Relations and Ecosystem Development, QNX Software Systems Limited, and get in-depth examples of up and coming BlackBerry 10 applications from our BlackBerry partners.
  • Browse through the Session Catalog to find out about all of the content that will prepare you for building BlackBerry 10 applications.
  • RIM is hosting our first Unconference Day on Thursday May 3. We will provide the room and you bring the ideas! You can participate in sessions led by RIM and the BlackBerry development community, have the opportunity to present your hot topics, and even participate in an exclusive appendTo development training session where you can get hands on training on how to develop HTML5 + BlackBerry® WebWorks™ applications using the jQuery Mobile framework.
  • AppCircus is going to be at BlackBerry 10 Jam on Unconference Day! Submit your app by April 29 for a chance to win a year of concerts with $25,000 USD.
  • Ready to Jam? RIM is holding a special networking event for BlackBerry 10 Jam registrants on Wednesday May 2 from 7:00-10:00pm. This is your chance to synch up with fellow attendees and the RIM’s Developer Relations and Software teams to talk code and have fun.
  • Visit the BlackBerry World Solutions Showcase to meet and connect with theconference sponsors exhibiting their latest innovations.
  • Take advantage of all the networking opportunities, including the BlackBerry Appy Hour TweetUp, the BlackBerry World Welcome Reception and the BlackBerry Party.

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 12:10 pm. | RIM Offering App World Vendors Free Passes to BlackBerry 10 Jam! (LIMITED!) | Leave a comment |


New Curve 9220 commercial shows a new advertising style

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:57 AM PDT

To go along with the launch of the new Curve 9220 in India, RIM released a new commercial to focus on the new device in India.  In my opinion the style of this ad is much different than the Be Bold campaign and gets right to the point of the device which is messaging.


Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link

As you can see the ad is right to the point, hits a target demographic and focuses 100% on messaging.  It ends with 4 focus points of OS 7.1, Social Apps, FM Radio and BBM.

Its this straight to the point advertising that RIM needs to stick to.  No glowing bikes or DJ’s or fruit vendors.

This is what our device does well.. boom.  Buy it

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Posted by BBA Brian for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 9:57 am. | New Curve 9220 commercial shows a new advertising style | 3 comments |


BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet Celebrates its First Birthday!

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Ronen Halevy and Mike Lazaridis PlayBook Demo

It is hard to believe it has been a year since RIM launched the BlackBerry PlayBook right before BlackBerry World. Now a year later we know that a refresh is soon upon us with improvements like a 1.5Ghz processor and LTE. Still the PlayBook has come a far way and is really laying the groundwork for BlackBerry 10. I am really enjoying the improvements RIM has made in PlayBook OS 2.0 but what I am really waiting for is when RIM brings it all together with BlackBerry 10. We will start seeing this shortly with Cascades and other developments until we get the features and APIs necessary for SuperApps.

Congrats to the RIM team and we hope the PlayBook's second birthday will be when it truly shines!

PS: Thanks to everyone who reminded us about the launch day. That picture above is actually from the PlayBook launch party.

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 9:43 am. | BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet Celebrates its First Birthday! | 5 comments |


Free Wikipedia PlayBook App Now in App World

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:32 AM PDT

Wikipedia PlayBook3 Wikipedia PlayBook

We told you before that one of RIM's employees, @gordtanner, that came from their TinyHippos acquisition was working on a Wikipedia app. Specifically he was porting their HTML5 open source app to work on the PlayBook through PhoneGap. Now that app is officially in App World directly from the Wikimedia Foundation and is totally free. The font size is a bit small for my taste but definitely makes browsing Wikipedia much easier. Update: You can change the font size in the settings to be easier to read.

Check out Wikipedia for the PlayBook free in App World

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 9:32 am. | Free Wikipedia PlayBook App Now in App World | 4 comments |


Kayak.com Releases PlayBook Travel Search App (Android Port)

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:12 AM PDT

Kayak PlayBook Kayak PlayBook3

It seems like RIM is using the Android player in PlayBook OS 2.0 to bring some companies to the BlackBerry 10 platform. Kayak stopped developing their BlackBerry smartphone app but now @AlexKinsella at RIM pointed out that Kayak has ported their Android app to the PlayBook. The app is definitely not a native app but this is all part of RIM's onboarding strategy for developers and apps on BlackBerry 10. I personally feel like all of these content portal apps will be HTML5 shortly so bringing them natively to the PlayBook will be even easier then.

Check out Kayak.com for the BlackBerry PlayBook in App World

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 9:12 am. | Kayak.com Releases PlayBook Travel Search App (Android Port) | One comment |


Free Smart Blocks Tetris Clone for BlackBerry Smartphones

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:38 AM PDT

Smart Blocks Smart Blocks2

There have been a few Tetris clones for BlackBerry over the years including a few official one. Now Thom let us know that Techsoft Ventures has released their own called Smart Blocks. The rules are exactly the same as the classic including 10 speed levels and 2 boards.

Check out Smart Blocks free in App World for OS 4.6+ BlackBerry smartphones

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Posted by Ronen Halevy for ©BerryReview, April 19, 2012, 8:38 am. | Free Smart Blocks Tetris Clone for BlackBerry Smartphones | Leave a comment |


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