Applications

Research in Motion has unveiled App World 2.0 beta, which introduces a number of new features that improve the user experience. There are now top 25 paid, free, and theme sections simplifying the user experience. continue

The handheldcleanup.exe tool must be run when logged in as the BlackBerry Enterprise Server service account. The most common use of this utility is the handheldcleanup.exe -u switch after a mailbox is moved to resolve GAL lookup issues.

If the mailbox was moved to a new mailbox store on the same Microsoft Exchange Server, see KB00142. continue

Built-in GPS can be used with BlackBerry® Maps and third-party mapping applications. When a BlackBerry smartphone user is unable to use built-in GPS, the following should be checked to ensure that built-in GPS is functioning. continue

Research in Motion and BMW have been working on technology that essentially turns your BMW’s ConnectedDrive (iDrive) into a remote control of your BlackBerry.  Using a new Bluetooth protocol called MAP (Message Access Profile), the BMW and BlackBerry can pair allowing ConnectedDrive to sync all the contacts and email from the BlackBerry.  Once paired, ConnectedDrive can scan through and read headers of emails through the iDrive console and select messages can be read using iDrive’s text-to-voice feature. continue

New KB released by RIM:

With the release of BlackBerry Desktop Manager 1.0, a BlackBerry smartphone with tethered modem capabilities can be used as an external modem to connect a Macintosh computer to the Internet using a USB cable or Bluetooth® connection. As part of this, a script has been included with the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software installation that provides the ability to select Research In Motion as a vendor when configuring a BlackBerry smartphone for tethered modem use. continue

Localytics has posted some data gathered after two months of polling “millions” of iPhones and BlackBerrys for application usage. They’ve concluded that BlackBerry users, throughout the workday, are more active with apps than on an iPhone.

They found that BlackBerry usage is higher during the workday and starts to peek at 7PM. The iPhone on the other hand peaks at about 9PM. The interesting thing is that BlackBerry use does not slack down significantly during the weekend and app usage still appears concentrated around professional use.

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RIM felt it important to release a KB for this:

Overview

A hoax message circulating on BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) asks users to forward on the BBM message to their contacts in order to maintain BBM service, and claims to have been originally sent by Research In Motion (RIM). 

Rest assured that this BBM message did not originate from RIM and that it does not impact the security of BlackBerry smartphones. It is simply a hoax chain message. Unfortunately, many social networking applications face this scenario, whereby any message, including a hoax message, can be forwarded to a user from one of their contacts. We recommend that users simply ignore the message and do not forward it. continue

Twitter for BlackBerry has been released as a publicly available beta and can be downloaded from App World. The client has been tested internally by RIM, and the general release includes the following number of options: continue

Research in Motion has recently purchased Viigo, a Toronto-based company that’s been collaborating with the BlackBerry maker for years.  Viigo announced the purchase with a small note on their website this week.  Viigo aims their software at media companies and smartphone manufacturers.

Viigo delivers news, weather, sports, stocks, and other information in a single, unified RSS-based interface. It’s known for running quickly even on older phones, and features plenty of customization options and the ability to import Google Reader data.

Following the acquisition, Viigo will continue to bring its “expertise in BlackBerry application development and real-time content delivery to the BlackBerry platform.” Moreover, the Viigo app for BlackBerry will still be available, for free, via BlackBerry App World.

This explains why you cant view youtube videos on a BlackBerry. It only works with the WAP browser, not the Internet or BlackBerry Browser. Check with your provider that WAP is included in your Data Bundle.

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