News and Rumors

Last Friday comScore released its latest mobile subscriber market share report, showing the continued trend of Google and Apple gaining on the falling numbers of RIM. To many of us BlackBerry fans out there, this comes as no surprise as patience begins to wear thin with the new BlackBerry OS 7 devices still far out of reach. Google's Android U.S. market share jumped 5.2 percentage points to a 34.6% grip of the industry. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS market share grew a marginal 1.3 percentage points to a 26% share. RIM’s BlackBerry OS share fell from 30.4% in January to 25.7%, for a loss of 4.7% - a telling number to say the least. I don't have to beat a dead horse here, we all know why the number trends have continued the way they have. I think a nice surprise from RIM right now would be ideal to gain consumer confidence and boost RIM back on top in US smartphone subscribers. Leave us a comment on the recent comScore numbers. Any predictions?

• See the comScore chart for all the numbers and discuss in the Forum

Scoreloop has just joined Research In Motion to bring their expertise in creating social and collaborative gaming toolkits for mobile developers to the BlackBerry platform. Scoreloop is a pioneer in mobile social gaming and offers a customizable and cross-platform social mobile gaming developer tool kit. One has to wonder if RIM has plans to go cross platform in some way with this new acquisition?

Tyler Lessard, VP Global Alliances & Developer Relations at RIM, announces:

If you are not already familiar with Scoreloop, you can find out more about them at Scoreloop.

• Discuss Scoreloop joining RIM in the BBOS Forum

BlackBerry Desktop Manager pushes out an update to version 6.1.0.35 beta with a few new features:

• You can use the new Files feature to manage your files between your smartphone and computer.
• If encryption is turned on for your smartphone, you can also synchronize encrypted media files or copy encrypted files between your smartphone and computer.
• If your smartphone is associated with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you can also synchronize security certificates
• Support for BlackBerry OS 7

Get updated and leave us some feedback on how the update works for you!

Update v1.1 has been pushed to PlayBook users for the incredibly popular app Poynt. Some users had experienced GPS issues with the prior version, but all seems to be working fine now, at least in my case. You can download Poynt for in BlackBerry App World, or from their official site. Get updated and tell us what you find in this new update as no change log has been posted.

• Download Poynt for PlayBook in BB App World
• Go to the official Poynt website

Why the Vodafone logo? Reports coming in, primarily from Vodafone UK users, say they have been experiencing data outages up to the last 24 hours or so. No official update on what the exact issue is, but hopefully this won't take long to resolve. A member reported back in late Feb that Vodafone UK had undergone some vandalism, but they were able to resolve any network issues very quickly. Let us hope that this is not the case again. If you are also experiencing data outages please leave a comment on where and who your carrier is.

• Report any data outages in the BBOS Forum

Vodafone has posted a video on their YouTube channel featuring the sexy new BlackBerry Bold 9000. When should you expect to see this gem? We reported last month that Vodafone would be carrying the Bold 9900 but there has been some debate as to a certain launch date. Rumors have stated from mid August to sometime in the month of September. Either way, both rumors are still a ways off for those who are dying to get their hands on this new Bold device. Now for a few details from Vodafone:

• Discuss the upcoming Bold 9900 and Vodafone in the BBOS Forum

Just got word from the BlackBerry Blog that a new BlackBerry Tablet OS update will soon be available! BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.5 introduces a variety of new features and enhancements, so similar to the v1.0.3 update. Some of the new features include:

• Head to the Forum to see all the new features that come with this PlayBook update!

Today at Apple's WWDC 2011 keynote event, Apple has announced the upcoming additions for iOS 5. One of these features is a native messenger app called iMessage, which is basically a copycat of BlackBerry Messenger. iMessage touts an all-inclusive (text, photos, videos, meta-info like contacts) messaging platform by which any two iOS 5 users can chat and trade files securely, over WiFi or 3G. Advanced features like read receipts, live typing indicators, etc. Tight integration with notifications, and non-invasive pop-in of incoming messages. Multi-tasking friendly. We knew this was bound to happen, but will it be enough to catch the eye of those users sticking to BlackBerry mainly for the use of BBM?

Will this new messaging platform send you off into the abyss of Apple?, or, is a Apple messaging platform not enough to pull you from your RIM podium?

• Discuss this and vote in our poll in the BBOS Forum

Hello BBOS members and guests, it's time for our Weekly Recap for 5/29 - 6/4. Get caught up on the news if you missed it! The links below are the "in a nutshell" of what happened in everything BlackBerry. Enjoy!

• Discuss the Weekly Recap with us in the BBOS Forum

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


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• How to change app icon positions on the PlayBook
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 not launching until September?
• Video: Torch 2 demoed (again)
• Sprint Market Director Say WiFi PlayBook Coming June 5th
• Become a Writer or Moderator for BlackBerryOS.com!
• BlackBerry dominates Canada with 42% market share
• Leaked: OS 7.0.0.115 for BlackBerry Touch 9850 'Monaco'
• Leaked: OS 7.0.0.115 for BlackBerry Bold 9930
• Leaked: OS 6.0.0.576 for the BlackBerry Torch 9800
• BlackBerry seeing competition within US government
• BlackBerry PlayBook 2 Details and Specs Leaked?
• First images of the BlackBerry Bold 9790 leaked!
• Video: BlackBerry Curve 9360 (Apollo) Demoed
• India telecom company to take on BlackBerry with Bharat Berry
• Memorial Day - Thank You to American Heroes
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 Simulator Leaked Online!

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• BlackBerry Theme - 789 v2.0
• BlackBerry Theme - Dream Of Kitty
• Botanical Flower Theme v3.0
• BlackBerry 7 Wallpaper Pack

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• Anatomy Quiz for BlackBerry
• BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing app now available in App World
• Show Me the Images - Take control of the images in your inbox!
• Foursquare for BlackBerry Updated to Alpha v1.9.94
• BerrySlider - Slide to Unlock for BlackBerry
• Blaq for BlackBerry PlayBook
• BlackBerry Java SDK v7.0 Beta Now Available!
• Video: BlackBerry Protect v1.1 from BlackBerry OS 7
• Ringtone Creator - A Must-Have App For BlackBerry Fanatics
• Super Color LED - Change the color of your blinking LED alert light

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• Fancy Widgets for BlackBerry - 10 copies to giveaway!

According to what sources have told the guys over at BGR, we will not be able to get our hands on the Bold 9900 until this September. If this turns out to be true it will definitely have a toll on the patience of BlackBerry users, as RIM announced announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 would be available "in the summer" from carrier’s when the product was unveiled at BlackBerry World 2011. I don't think that anyone imagined that it would be at the very end of summer. How do you feel about the new Bold 9900 not being available till September? Are you changing plans to get another Berry if this date becomes confirmed?

Another little snippet of information mentioned at the end of the BGR blog:

One more additional OS step to QNX may put a damper on getting any Android apps onto BlackBerry smartphones anytime soon. Unless this intermediate BlackBerry OS 7.5 will include the Android player app - which allows users to have the ability to run Android apps. We'll keep our eyes peeled on this one and let you know of any changes in the news.

• Discuss this with us in the BBOS Forum
• Learn more about the upcoming Bold 9900/9930

In case you missed the first video demo of the upcoming Torch 2 device, here is another from Engadget with their take on the device. They go through the routine, showing you a few native apps and the functionality of OS 7, as well as the look and feel of the device. If you are a Torch 1 owner, let us know how you think the Torch 2 will compare?

• Learn more about the Torch 2 in the BBOS Forums

Foursquare for BlackBerry gets an updated to alpha release v1.9.94. 5 days ago Foursquare Update to v1.9.93 Beta which included several improvements, but this time we only see a small update to v1.9.94 Alpha without any official change log. Most likely just a few bug fixes. Leave us a comment on what you discover after you update!

• Download Foursquare alpha release v1.9.94 (OTA)
• Discuss any findings/fixes in the Forum