I have used dozens of sat nav apps over the years on smartphones but have never found a great one for BlackBerry, until now! Taking all the others into consideration there are two main things I look for when deciding if the app is for me or not. The first is ease of use and the second is how aesthetic it is. Maybe the latter of the two is not as important for everyone but I'm kind of fussy and like things to look pretty.

One thing to remember about Telmap Navigator is that the maps are not stored on your device but downloaded as required, so if you have no network coverage you may run into problems. On the upside this means that the app won't take up a load of space on your BlackBerry. Luckily for Telmap Navigator both my requirements have been fulfilled and I'm as happy using Telmap on the BlackBerry as I have been using Tom Tom or CoPilot on iOS and Android.

Read Full Review

I met a nice chap this week at BlackBerry 10 Jam who goes by the name of Aaron. Aaron's application, Caveman, has been around on both iOS and webOS for sometime now but it will be in App World for the BlackBerry PlayBookwithin the next four weeks or so and it will run on BlackBerry 10 also later in the year.

As you will see from the video the concept of the game is similar to the traditional Lemmings game from years gone by. Aaron actually said that Caveman runs smoother on the PlayBook than on either of the other two platforms, which is rather encouraging. Why he chose BlackBerry as his next platform of choice is quite simple. Because RIM has made it so easy for developers. Did you hear that iOS and Android devs?

Anyway, the demo video is just a preview of what is to come and we will have a full review of the application prior to it hitting App World. Watch this space.

Today we have been notified of Live Tracker Monitor for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Some may consider the app as a form of spying but I have to disagree and as far as I am concerned it has some great benefits and could even be a life saver. To cut a long story short, with Live Tracker Monitor installed on a PlayBook you are able to track other BlackBerry smartphone users who have the phone app installed anywhere in the world. Sounds good, right?

There are three versions of the PlayBook application: Live Tracker Monitor Enterprise, Live Tracker Monitor Lite and Live Tracker Monitor free, so depending on your requirements will dictate which version of the app you will need to download.

We will of course be putting the app through some vigorous testing over the next week or two so expect to see a full review on CrackBerry soon.

In the meantime you can see the full press release and download links below:

Continue reading article

CrackBerry's James Richardson went hands-on with BlackBerry 10 today and brought back some hot photos and initial reactions!

I had the pleasure of attending BlackBerry 10 Jam in London earlier today. The keynote sessions were not too disimilar to what we saw at BlackBerry World in Orlando, however that wasn't the main reason I was there. I was on a mission to find BlackBerry 10 running on the dev alpha device and luckily for me this had been arranged in advance.

So thanks to Vivek Bardwaj, of Research In Motion, I had a one to one session with his device. I wasn't expecting to see anything that had not already been shown off, however seeing a new OS on a big screen and getting hands on are two totally different things. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

Fortunately my high expectations of what I was allowed to play with on the device were lived up to. BlackBerry 10 is awesome!

Continue reading article

They just keep on coming. This is the fourth (I think) TV advert from RIM UK that we have seen over the past month or so. 'Love what you do' makes a reappearance this time instead of the "people that do' concept seen more recently.

The theme for this one is 'Get more from your day' and essentially as you will see it demonstrates a vast array of applications and features that can be performed on the BlackBerry smartphone to make your day not only more pleasurable but also more productive.

At over two minutes long I'm not sure this full version will hit our TV screens. It may be chopped up into smaller segments or maybe even destined for cinema advertising or similar?

Either way, RIM have done another great job at making the BlackBerry smartphone look as useful and user friendly as possible. Nice work chaps!

It was only earlier this week that we published the details of an ace new application for the BlackBerry PlayBook called Magellan Compass. I managed to speak with the developer yesterday, who was a very nice chap, and he informed me that the app had actually been updated to version 3.1.0 since our announcement post.

The update includes better search options, easier directions for destinations and regional map caching. Having used the application myself I have now found a new love! I am pretty sure more updates will follow in due course.

Features:

• Map Quest data provider
• Open Street Maps data provider
• Easy navigation to accelerate panning and easy finger zooming
• Multiple types of GPS heads up display
• Multiple map types including maps, satellite, and hybrid
• Automatic map caching for off-line usage
• Real-time traffic for the U.S.
• Real-time traffic incidents for the U.K.
• Real-time weather radar overlay for the U.S. Along with radar animation.
• User-defined Points-Of-Interest markers associated with bookmarks
• Directions and guidance system

More information and download of Magellan Compass

bMagnified is a great new application from mappau OG which is ideal for people with impaired vision. It isn't just a camera app but as the title suggests, the application acts as a magnifying glass allowing users to not only read small print via their BlackBerry, but also take snap shots for a later date. In addition you can use bMagnified as a extra tool when taking macro photographs so it serves dual purposes.

Although the app is compatible with all BlackBerry smartphones I have one concern after testing and that is that you really need a BlackBerry with an auto-focus camera. I tried it first on my Bold 9900 with not much luck, however on the Torch 9810 it was perfect. In addition I have spoken with the developer today and he is working towards support for BlackBerry 10 so the app will be fantastic on all future BlackBerry handsets. Good news!

Priced at $0.99 the app is a real bargain if your vision gives you problems reading print.

More information/Download bMagnified

Once again it is fantastic to see that one of the largest IT corporations in the world is including the BlackBerry PlayBook in upcoming updates. Adobe Connect 9 web conferencing software is due for an upgrade in Q3 this year and as well as working on iOS and Android, us BlackBerry PlayBook users will also be able to join the gang. I can only presume that BlackBerry 10 will be supported too?

I have never taken part in a webinar, however the thought of doing it on the PlayBook kind of makes me want to do one (even though not really understanding it!). For business users on both a national and global scale the update sounds like great news. Bring it on!

Adobe Connect Mobile is already in BlackBerry App World for the PlayBook however I have never had the need to use it so I can't comment on its efficiency at present. Anyone want to invite me to test? Full press release below.

Continue reading article

Ever wanted to edit an MP3 so you have have your favorite snippet of a music track for your BlackBerry ringtone? Well now you can thanks to MP3 Editor for the BlackBerry PlayBook. As you will see in the video it is just a case of choosing the section of the track you require, cropping it and saving. Simple pimple! This app can be yours for just $1.99.

"Use it to create ringtones from a new song you have purchased or to remove unwanted parts from songs or recordings. The touch optimized interface allows you to select parts of the file by swiping the screen and then work with the selection."

Of course, if creating your own ringtone is too much work, you can always head over to CrackBerry's free ringtone gallery and download to your heart's content! Just make sure you're logged in to the forums (and if you aren't a member already than what the heck are you waiting for?) and you have instant access to thousands of user submitted ringtones.

More information / purchase MP3 Editor

The Good Food Guide’s brand new app for BlackBerry smartphones has launched, making decisions about dining easier than ever. Don’t make a meal out of eating out – by downloading the UK’s bestselling restaurant bible to your BlackBerry device, you will never be stuck for delectable brunch, lunch or dinner options again. From quaint cafés to high-end dining, search the app in a way that works for you to find the cuisine you are after, in the location you need, and at a price that suits you. And knowing that the 1,300 restaurants featured met the exacting standards of The Good Food Guide, you can rest assured that your dining experience will be of the highest standard.

Continue reading article

There are a few options in App World for having a slide to unlock your homescreen option on your BlackBerry. To be honest, it is not something I have considered until I recently started using my BlackBerry Torch 9810 as my second device. Slide Lock is a simple customisable application which on the Torch works like a dream, although it will also work on non touch screen devices.

Features and settings:

• Custom lock timeout.
• Integrated with native app.
• Option for Enable or Disable if an app is in foreground.

As you will see in the above video Slide Lock will prevent your BlackBerry from making unwanted calls etc when in your pocket. The application will also let you set an autolock option on Native and Third Party apps which is pretty sweet.

"Slide Lock automatically locks your keyboard when the back-light goes off to prevent unwanted keypress activity. No more battery loss because you forgot to lock your phone and an accidental key press launched a GPS app in background. No more accidental calls because you forgot to lock your phone!"

More information/ download Slide Lock

The popular action game 9mm HD by Gameloft has had a most welcomed update overnight. Version 1.0 offered great gameplay but had one major flaw: no auto save. There is nothing worse than completing a few stages and then upon relaunching the app having to start from scratch. Well fear not as the update brings the auto save back to the game, Phew. So if you haven't downloaded 9mm HD I suggest you go and do so. As my American friends would say "It's awesome." And for 99 cents it's a real bargain.

"John "Loose" Kannon is the leader of a special team of hardened cops that aren't afraid to bend the law to clean up the streets. But when they kill a local drug lord's brother and steal millions in cash, Kannon's whole team becomes a target of revenge. Now Kannon has only one option: Take down the gang leader that's hunting them, legally or not, before his team gets taken out first."

More information / purchase 9MM

Last year we saw the integration here in the UK of the Orange and T-Mobile networks coming under the one parent company of Everything Everywhere. This of course was great news for not only us BlackBerry users, but all phone users as both 2G and 3G switches seamlessly between whichever mast has the strongest signal.

Today Vodafone and O2 have announced a similar plan where they too will share cell sites. The companies will very much remain separate but the mast sharing will give the two networks a broader and more efficient network coverage.

So how does this effect us BlackBerry users you may well ask? The answer is quite simple.

When considering buying a new BlackBerry many of us are restricted to certain networks due to cell coverage. The plain and simple fact now is that the predicament is going to be massively reduced in the future allowing consumers to pretty much choose whichever network offers the best deal.

Sounds absolutely perfect if you ask me and fantastic news for us BlackBerry users. You can see the full press release from O2 and Vodafone below.

Continue reading article

While the above advert may not be the most exciting in the world it is nice to see that Vodafone are pushing the BlackBerry Curve 9320.

BBM is mentioned which is clearly targeting the youth market here in the UK. All the cool kids have a BlackBerry! With RIM receiving negative press on a daily basis these days it is encouraging to see that in some parts of the world the BlackBerry is still kicking the other operatings systems into touch.

Nice job Vodafone. You have earned some extra respect points from the CrackBerry Nation.

For a lot of folks, BlackBerry Protect may just be an application on your BlackBerry smartphone that you've never bothered to enable. It has the potential to be quite useful and a BlackBerry smartphone feature that everyone should be making use of whether you see a need for it or not. Consider it a preventative measure should you ever need it, though we hope you never do.

Aside from it being an app, BlackBerry Protect offers a full online site to interact with your device should you ever lose it or otherwise not have access to it. Check out the video above for a full run through of the features and options available through the BlackBerry Protect website.