Lock screens on devices have become an important part for many smartphone manufacturers. No longer is it just a place to enter your passcode, but rather a place to see pertinent information without unlocking your device.

Research In Motion is currently looking at a few different concepts for its lock screens. It's uncertain if these concepts are for OS 6/7 devices or QNX, but I am interested to see a native lock screen similar to apps like bLOC.

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0.1.29 is now available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. Just a couple quick fixes, but if your a beta tester head on over to the Beta Zone, and update your BBM.

Release Notes:

Fixed Issues

• BBM icon missing after upgrading
• EULA only appeared after attempting to open a Group

Known Issues

• User name and status in contacts carousel do not update when changed in public connection
• BBM EULA pops up and disappears before accepting it

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BlackBerry PlayBook owners have known for quite some time now that they should expect to be able to run Android applications using RIM's Android App Player. We have even been able to get a hands-on demo of the player with a leaked version that came out a few months ago. It looked great, and appeared to be everything that we hoped it would be.

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BlackBerry isn't going anywhere. RIM now has over 70 million subscribers worldwide. That's something to take seriously considering all of the turmoil the company has been going through over the past few months. Its clear many people are still choosing BlackBerry as their preferred mobile device.

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A few weeks ago we learned during RIM's earnings call that they would be releasing a few more OS 7 devices. Two of these new devices are expected to be the Curve 9380, and the Bold 9790. We have already seen a few leaked pictures of the Curve 9380, and the Bold 9790, so we know that these two devices are really close to being officially revealed. To add to the evidence both device's model numbers have officially appeared in the BlackBerry App World Developer Portal. This could mean the devices are close to being officially released.

We do not know much about these two devices. However, we can gather from the leaked photos that the 9380 is eerily similar to the one of the Torch models without the slide out keyboard. The Bold we see is a wee bit smaller than the 9900.

• What do you think about these two new devices? Let us know in the forums.

Hello BBOS members and guests, it's time for our Weekly Recap for 9/18 - 9/24, 2011. The links below are the "in a nutshell" of what happened in everything BlackBerry last week. Leave us a comment on what you thought was the most memorable moment of the BlackBerry weekly recap!

• Discuss the Weekly Recap with us in the BBOS forum

NOTICE: We are also currently looking for outgoing writers to join the BBOS team - Click here for more information on how to join.


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• BBOS Mobile Site Refresh Now In BETA!
  
• BlackBerryOS.com Weekly Recap 9/11 - 9/17
• What do you want the first QNX device to look like? [fan made picture]
• Official BlackBerry Torch 9810 OS 7.0.0.353 O2 UK Released
  
• Official OS 7.0.0.400 For BlackBerry Curve 9360 via Orange Spain
  
• Jennifer Lopez new video "Papi" shows off her BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930
  
• BlackBerry Bold 9788 Promo Video
  
• Sprint To Launch BlackBerry Curve 9350 October 2nd
  
• BBM Music Launch Party In London Video
  
• Sofia Vergara seen with a new Bold 9900
  
• Official: OS 5.0.0.1078 for the BlackBerry Tour 9630 via China Telecom
  
• BlackBerry Torch 9810 shows up on Vodafone UK website
  
• Push Notifications from RIM through BBM?
  
• Official OS 6.0.0.666 For Curve 9300, Bold 9700, 9780, And Torch 9800 from SmartTone Vodafone
  
• Mobilicity Offers Free Curve 3G With New 12 Month Multi-Month Plan
  
• BlackBerry Trade Up Program Now Includes BlackBerry 7 Devices
  
• Video: Resetting Your BlackBerry ID Password
  
• RIM hosting 9 new BBM Hackathon events!
  
• Heidi Klum Spotted Using Her New BlackBerry Bold 9900
  
• BlackBerry App Developers Make More Money Than iOS and Android Developers

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• Ocean Hunter Theme
• Graffiti Theme
  
• HDV HedoneDesign Carbon Theme
  
• Pristine Theme

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• UberSocial Adding BBM Integration in Private Beta
  
• UberSocial For BlackBerry Updated to v1.251
  
• Brew World updated to v2.0.2
  
• RIM's Wi-Fi Geolocation Has Launched For Developers
  
• BlackBerry Payment Service SDK 1.5 Now Available
  
• Kik Messenger v2 working on OS7 devices
  
• Rumor: Ebay app coming to OS 7 before end of month?
  
• Bible updated to v3.5
  
• YouMail for BlackBerry Updated
  
• Ticketmaster for BlackBerry v2.0.0.39 available in Beta Zone
  
• Leaked: Native BlackBerry Apps (from OS 7.0.0.400)
  
• Video: BBM integration with Navita Sports commercial
  
• Start your path to wealth with The 1 Million Plan app
  
• BBM 6.0.1.25 Available in Beta Zone Update
  
• 6 Tips To Improve Your PlayBook Browsing Experience
  
• RBC Capital Market Analysts Suggest Fixing Four Key Issues To Get RIM Back On Track
  
• Verizon CEO believes Microsoft will beat out BlackBerry
  
• BestBuy Canada Discounts PlayBook By $100 Starting Today

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• Giveaway: Get 1 of 100 BlackBerry Unlock Codes from Horizon Wireless Online
  
• Giveaway: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for Bold 9700/9780 winners announced
  
• iSpeech Bush and Obama Apps - Giveaway Winners Announced!
  
• GIVEAWAY: Win 1 of 5 Free Six Months Subscriptions for Privus Mobile Caller ID - Winners Announced!
  
• Giveaway: Win a free copy of Fightin' Words for BlackBerry - Winners Announced!

We are well aware of RIM's financial issues this year, and it seems as though just about everyone seems to have an opinion on this. I like most committed BlackBerry users tend to take most "analysts" opinions on RIM's financial future with a grain of salt. It does not mean that I refuse to adhere to any analysts comments, but it proves to be beneficial to sift through the nonsense, and get to the real issues.

Earlier this week Mobilicity announced that they will be offering a free BlackBerry Curve 3G with the purchase of a 12-month $55 Multi-Month plan.“To anyone who’s always dreamed of getting a BlackBerry but couldn’t afford or justify the total cost of ownership, we want you to know that with Mobilicity the world of BlackBerry is at your doorstep,” said Chief Customer Officer Anthony Booth.

Yes we know the phone is almost a year old, but the Curve 3G is actually part of RIM's most successful series.

Earlier this year RIM announced the availability of the BlackBerry Trade-Up Program. The program allows BlackBerry users to trade their old BlackBerry phones for credit towards a newer BlackBerry phones. At the time the selection was limited to a few devices.

If you're like me, you know that life is filled with dozens of passwords & sometimes you forget a few. With BlackBerry ID being an integral part of OS 7, forgetting that password can lead to a nightmare.

RIM has posted a video to show BlackBerry users that the reset password process for BBID is quite simple.

Ticketmaster for BlackBerry has received it's third beta version in Beta Zone. There is no changelog yet for v2.0.0.39, but we can be certain that it contains may bug fixes/tweaks.

Will this application see general consumer release soon?

With the recent OS 7.0.0.400 for BlackBerry Curve 9360 that was released, rroyy has decided to extract the updated native apps found within. These leaked apps will ONLY work with OS 6/7, so please DON'T install on OS 5 devices.

When you've got a feature like BBM Social Platform, you've gotta take every opportunity to flaunt it. Since BlackBerry Messenger 6 was released, RIM & several app developers has been creating commercials to promote BBM integration.

This most recent commercial shows Navita Sports. Could this be the start of a whole new advertising style for RIM?