News and Rumors

New photos leaked show the upcoming device, BlackBerry 9860 Touch Monza, with a new style of bottom buttons that aren't present in previously leaked photos. It looks like a few of these prototypes are flying around as RIM is still in the testing phase with the 9850/9860 devices. Also shown in another photo, the device is running OS 7.

Here is a neat video of foursquare developers, Pete and Jeff, providing a great demonstration of the upcoming foursquare for BlackBerry smartphones app integration with BlackBerry Messenger. I love where BBM integration is going with apps!

• Discuss foursquare and BBM in the BBOS Forum

According to Comscore's latest report, RIM has taken the biggest hit in US market subscribers, slipping 4.5 points to a share of 27.1 percent. While Android's share of the US smartphone market jumped six percent in the three-month period to land at 34.7 percent, putting them in the lead that RIM once held. And while RIM had a big drop, it still was enough to stay ahead of Apple, who sits at 25.5 percent.

Let's not beat around the bush here. It is the lack of production from RIM to be able to push out the line of upcoming BlackBerry devices into the market that caused such a shift in the rankings. And while RIM has had a lot of their focus on the tablet market with the relatively successful PlayBook, as they try to find a place in the growing number of users who use tablets - it shows this shift in focus has affected the Smartphone end, as many BB users lose patience. RIM did officially announce the Bold 9930/9900 at BlackBerry World 2011 last week, and Vodafone UK has also announced that they will be carrying the new Bold Touch device, but is it already too-little too-late to take the lead back in the coming months? It makes one wonder how many will be holding off or jumping ship until the new devices are in the hands of Smartphone users.

• Leave us your feedback in the BBOS Forum

Looking for another way to dress your BlackBerry device? Get the one and only BBOS wallpaper and make your Berry happy! The BBOS wallpaper is available for all devices including the new PlayBook resolution. Head to the Forum and download now!

• Download the Official BBOS Wallpaper

Embark on an epic journey to save the Earth from the wrath of invading aliens! When aliens begin their attack, you must use your skills to fend them off with 17 unique and brilliantly animated humans ranging from flamethrowers to attack helicopters! Immerse yourself in 5 beautifully rendered locations as you unlock characters and fight off 9 different types of encroaching aliens. Fight your way through day and night against aliens that do everything from cloak themselves and fly above your defenders.

Try your skills at Unlimited Mode and see how long you can last against an unlimited flow of aliens. Meteors rain from the sky destroying both humans and aliens, making you stay on your toes!

I think you'll love this new tower defense game from Epic Applications. Humans vs Aliens is launching with the introductory price of only $3.99 on the BlackBerry App World!

• Download Humans vs Aliens! from BB App World
• Head to the BBOS Forum to discuss the Game

Coming to Vodafone?... Yes! "Coming soon" to Vodafone?... Perhaps not. We reported earlier that techsite, BGR, acquired information from sources today which say that the Bold 9900/9930 will not be launching until mid-August at the earliest. Three months from now is hardly "Coming Soon." If the information received is correct, then be prepared to have a little patience to get your hands on the device.

It could be that Vodafone just wants to get a hand in first with the touchscreen Bold device from RIM with a early announcement. Either way, you can still be the first to know when it becomes available by registering for updates at the Vodafone website.

• Register for Bold 9900 updates from Vodafone
• Discuss the Bold 9900/9930 with us in the BBOS Forum

The guys over at BGR claim to have been told by 'multiple sources' that RIM is planning on releasing the next PlayBook design around this year's holiday season. Rumor has it the next PlayBook design will be a 10 inch model, adding to the already 7 inch model.

Also, via unconfirmed information - the just announced BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 will not be launching until mid-August at the earliest. The previous timeframe for the launch was during June/July. The launch has been delayed for reasons unknown. Additionally, the rest of RIM’s 2011 lineup won’t be announced until BlackBerry’s DevCon conference on October 18th. Apparently the hierarchy at RIM have been vocally unhappy about the “disproportionate” reallocation of resources to the PlayBook away from the OS 7 lineup.

How about it? Would you buy a 10 inch PlayBook?

• Share your thoughts with us in the BBOS Forum

While we wait on RIM to approve the native email app aMail from third party developer AiFlex, we have a chance to see one of the most anticipated demos of BlackBerry World 2011. Keynote attendees got a sneak peek of the upcoming Native email and PIM (Personal Information Management) for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. These PIM applications (including Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, MemoPad and, of course, Email) will come to BlackBerry PlayBook tablets via an update to the BlackBerry Tablet OS later this summer. Andrew Bocking, VP Handheld Software Product Management, gives us a video demo of the Email and Contacts applications. Be sure to take a look and post a comment to let us know what you think!

• Discuss this topic with us in the BBOS Forums

Just days after the Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook app announcement, Inside BlackBerry's Douglas Soltys decided to catch up with his fellow blogger and BlackBerry App World Project Manager, Alex Kinsella to show us the ins and outs of the new app. If you’ve got your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in hand, you can download the Facebook app from BlackBerry App World right now! Let us know what you think, and feel free to post a comment with your thoughts about the Facebook app for PlayBook!

• Discuss Facebook for PlayBook in the BBOS Forum