News and Rumors

Good news for theme developers as the Gold release of BlackBerry Theme Studio 6 is now available for download! BlackBerry Theme Studio is a free and powerful device personalization suite of tools that includes the Theme Builder for creating themes, and the BlackBerry Composer for creating animations and graphics to use in themes.

This new release of Theme Studio makes it even easier for users and professional designers to customize virtually everything, including backgrounds, sound effects and ringtones, icons and menus, and fonts. You can even add animations and screen transitions. Among the exciting new features are:

• A new user interface for Theme Builder that lets you click on any item on the preview and directly edit its settings.
• The Background Wizard that makes it easy to add dynamic wallpapers to your theme.
• New productivity features that allow you to batch update all of the graphics in a theme automatically and also change fonts across multiple phone screens automatically.
• A new export option that makes it simple for professional designers to offer themes through BlackBerry App World.
• Support for the BlackBerry 6 devices, including the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry Style smartphones, and new BlackBerry 6 UI elements like the graphic context menus.

Theme Studio continues to be compatible with popular graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Paint Shop Pro. If you decide to create a theme of your own, be sure to share it with us in the BlackBerry Themes Forum.

• Download BlackBerry Theme Studio 6 Gold
• Get help and support in our Theme Developers Forum

Verizon Wireless’ data plans are in for a big change stated in a report today by Reuters:

Currently, Verizon Wireless smartphone users with family plans are required to pay $29.99 per line for cellular data. Non-family-plan smartphone customers can purchase unlimited mobile data (with a 5GB allowance) for the same monthly price. Many are also questioning on whether Verizon will 'Grandfather' in users already using 4G device on the Verizon LTE network - which seems like will be the case.

Are you on the Verizon network? How much would you be willing to pay for 4G data? Tell us in the BBOS Forum.

Verizon Wireless customers will be able to join the LTE network in nine new cities, taking advantage of lightening-fast speeds on 4G devices. The expansion includes:

• Mobile and Montgomery (AL)
• Greater Fairfield and New Haven (CT)
• Gainesville, Pensacola, and Tallahassee (FL)
• Fayetteville-Lumberton (NC)
• Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen (TX)

There are also reports of access in Albany, though VZW has yet to confirm launching LTE in New York's capital city. The carrier has also expanded coverage in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.

This additions bring the list of LTE cities to 55, just over the 35 percent mark towards the carrier's goal of 147 cities by year's end. 4G PlayBooks are also expected to hit the market this summer. Soon we'll be enjoying 4G on our BlackBerry tablets!

Are you a veteran BlackBerry users that went Droid or iPhone only to have regret the change? I may have a cure for you... In addition to the recent T-Mobile 2011 roadmap leak which reveals that they will be carrying three of the upcoming BlackBerry devices - T-Mobile has also launched a new Trade-In program which allows you to trade your device for money that can be used toward the purchase of a new handset. See the solution? Get rid of that old junkie Droid or iPhone and get yourself a fresh new BlackBerry and rekindle your BlackBerry loyalty!

T-Mobile will give you up to $300 credit for your device, regardless of brand name or which carrier it is on. The minimum criteria is that the phone needs to be fully functional, have an intact and working display and be free of liquid damage or corrosion.

You can take advantage of this offer by visiting any T-Mobile retail store. A T-Mobile representative will determine the trade-in value for your device and a check for the quoted amount will be given to you via a mail-in rebate process.
To check the estimated value of your old phone in advance, just visit My Trade Ins | T-Mobile.

According to RBC Capital Markets Managing Director, Mike Abramsky, believes that RIM has sold around 250,000 PlayBook tablets since it's launch on April 19th. A note to investors pointed out channel checks that stated PlayBook sales have been steady. If the estimates ring true, then that means the PlayBook is outgunning the Motorola XOOM tablet. At the current pace of 250,000 units per month, RIM is on track to sell just over 2 million units this year.

• Discuss the PlayBook with us in the Forums

A flurry of devices were revealed today as part of T-Mobile's 2011 roadmap, and three of the upcoming BlackBerry devices are on the list! Keep in mind though, all dates are subject to change, so nothing is concrete as of yet. Here are the dates and BlackBerry devices on the roadmap:

July 27th, Blackberry Monza - See more on the Monza.

August 17th, BlackBerry Bold Touch - See more on the Bold Touch.

August 31st, BlackBerry Apollo - See more on the Apollo.

So, is this enough to make you switch to T-Mobile?, or will you wait it out to see if your carrier will Berry up on the new devices?

• Discuss the T-Mobile 2011 roadmap in the BBOS Forums

It's now full on smartphone warfare as British rapper GT Solo has recently published a song called “BB is Dead”, which 'disses' the BlackBerry’s camera, GPS, internet browsing, app selection, and obsession with BBM. Others mentioned (briefly) are Android, Nokia, Motorola, and LG. Who knew that fanboy music videos would also be used to slander a product. Is Apple now resorting to the lowest common denominator to handle their dirty work? Let the conspiracy theories sound off!

• Discuss the music video with us in the BBOS Forums

via:IntoMobile

Adam Lambert makes his CBS debut with a BlackBerry in hand. And while he loves BlackBerry, just make sure you don't bring your Berry to one of his shows (see the video). Any guesses on what kind of BlackBerry he is using in the above photo? Leave us a comment in the Forum!

via:cbs

Seems like the BlackBerry PlayBook is becoming a regular part of the music culture as it makes an appearance in Pitbull’s new video 'Give Me Everything' - ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and Nayeraround. Look for the PlayBook around the 1:40 mark.

What did you like most about this video?... The music? The PlayBook? Both? Let us know!

• Head to the Forums for more Celebrity BlackBerry Sightings

Our British friends that are thirsty to get their hands on the BlackBerry PlayBook will have their wish come true in under a month. UK retailers have revealed the date and price at which the PlayBook will be sold! Prices will be varied based upon how much storage capacity you want on your tablet:

• £400 (16GB)
• £480 (32GB)
• £560 (64GB)

Starting June 16th will be the soonest you'll be able to get your hands on one of these tablets. Don't worry though, availability will be widespread, with Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4u, and Best Buy UK having already announced they'll be stocking the tablet. You can even hit up the source link now and lay down some cash to secure your pre-order.

• See the full press release and discuss in the Forum

Good news for Business users in China as RIM announced plans today to launch BlackBerry services for small businesses. In addition, the companies are launching the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone. Staring tomorrow China Telecom will offer BIS for small business customers who will be able to send and receive email from up to 10 supported work and personal email accounts. Additionally, the service will support BBM and other Instant Messaging services.

China Telecom will also offer BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express, a free software downloaded from RIM that provides small businesses and SOHOs advanced management and security features with no additional software or per user licensing fees.

• See the full press release and discuss in the Forum

Earlier this month RIM officially launched a new program called BlackBerry Balance that is designed to help business users separate their work from play eliminating the need have multiple BlackBerry devices. Alec Taylor, VP of Platform Product Marketing at RIM, explains the basics in understanding the recently announced BlackBerry Balance solution for smartphone users in the enterprise. If you aren't sure what BlackBerry Balance is, or if the program relates to you, then you'll want to see the video interview (see above).

• Discuss BlackBerry Balance with us in the BBOS Forums

BlackBerry just released a new commercial showing off the PlayBook's ability to use Adobe Flash for a awesome browser experience. If you haven't had a hands on with the PlayBook's browser, I suggest you head to your nearest PlayBook retailer and get a demo of Adobe Flash in action. The PlayBook currently runs Adobe Flash v10.2. Can the iPad do that? Not a chance!

• Discuss the BlackBerry PlayBook in the BBOS Forums