Well pups, with all the hype of the Torch and BlackBerry 6, it has been quite a while since our last leak (which we were used to seeing almost weekly).  As it always is with leaks, please make sure you know what you’re doing (if you don’t please refer to our How-To guide on the subject).  Also, we cannot be held responsible for any instabilities that this leak may bring, so proceed at your own risk.  You can find the links to the file here.  Comment below and let us know of any problems or improvements you encounter!

via: BBLeaks

Owners of the Curve 8530 haven’t been getting much love lately when it comes to OS updates. With the BlackBerry Torch release and all the media attention BlackBerry 6 has been receiving, it feels as if other BlackBerry devices have been pushed to the back burner. I’m glad to report that Metro PCS has just released an official 5.0.0.847 OS update for the Curve 8530. With this update being officially from RIM it should be a solid install, but it looks like your standard, run of the mill update to fix minor bugs and improve overall performance. If you run into any problems, or have any questions about installation check out our How-To Guide for upgrading your OS, and don’t forget to backup your data prior to the update.

I like the fact that RIM is taking care of all there customers when it comes to updates. Nice to see companies like RIM wanting to go that extra mile and not completely dropping off the older models from their schedule. Also, report back with any new findings you come across. Leave your comments in the section below. You can download the official update by clicking here.

via CrackBerry 

Remember when the Storm2 9550 and the Curve 8530 were released? It was not that long ago, was it? Yet Verizon seems to be giving those two an End of Life after not even a year. It would only seem logical to EOL these two if there were some replacements on the way. The Curve 9300 series should replace the 8530, and the Storm2 is getting a refresh for OS 6 (maybe this is the Odin refresh we read about?).
The exact details of the EOL notices are the following:

BlackBerry Curve 8530:
The Curve2 is end of life – Final Shipments August
Refer to the “Stock Check” tool in POS for on hand availability
Device will retire on 8/1, replacement coming in Q3/Q4

BlackBerry Storm2 (9550):
The Storm2 is end of life – Final Shipments August
Refer to the “Stock Check” tool in POS for on hand availability
Device will retire on 8/15, replacement coming in Q3/Q4

When I first read this I was speechles. Since the Storm2 hit the German market, I wanted to have one and now that I have one, it will be replaced? I was so excited when I heard that OS 6 is finally on its way to the users and now – looking at my “old” Storm2 – my excitement just hit the basement and is hiding far beyond zero. It’s cool to have an Odin Refresh, really, yet I don’t want to spend so much money, just so I can have a Storm2 “refresh” that is capable of running OS 6.

Do you think it’s worth it? Feel free to express your thoughts in the comments.

via: BlackBerryCool

I will first preface this with the fact that I still love my BlackBerry.  As an upcoming college student, I have found the organizational tools found stock on BlackBerry invaluable.  But here is a caveat for anyone who has considered the 8530.

On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 8:00.  Upon rolling out of bed and reaching for my phone, I found that it was too hot to hold, and that there was no charge in it, even though it had spent the night on the charger.  I used one finger to maneuver the trackpad to my battery application, and opened it up to find that my battery was approximately 145 degrees fahrenheit.  Needless to say, this scared me quite a bit.

After about 25 minutes of fretting, I decided a battery pull was in order.  After pulling the battery and reinserting, I found that it immediately began to heat up all over again.  I plugged into my computer to see if I could reboot the OS (what I assumed was the problem) with no luck, as the battery died in the middle of the upload.  Now my BlackBerry wasn’t just hot, it was also bricked.

I will have to give big props to the ladies and gentlemen over at the Verizon Store, as they hooked me up quickly and were able to get a new phone shipped to me in two days.  The woman who helped me (her name was Shenna) said this is a recurring problem with the Curve 8530 if it was bought before January.  The post holiday season 8530’s seem to be fine, but the first batch had something awry.

Have you had any issues with your 8530 self-destructing?; be sure to let us know in the comments!

There were a few of you requesting the BBerryDog theme in different colors, so we’re (when I say we’re I mean Don from Dream Themez) here to deliver. As of right now the only other color available is crimson from Today’s iPhone, but they will be coming in the assorted colors associated with PhoneDog’s network sites, TmoNews, Today’s iPhone, and DroidDog. (Therefore, green, fuchsia, and orange are left as you can see in the picture below.)

To download your new, red BBerryDog theme, click here. As of right now it’s only available for the 85xx, 96xx, and 9700. Also, we have also received quite a few requests for a BBerryDog theme for the 83xx series. Your wait is over! You can now download the red version here from your BlackBerry Browser (blue version pending). Don is spread pretty thin between work, being a contributing editor, and making themes, so if the color you’re waiting for is not available yet, it is coming, but it may take a little longer than originally expected. He is working diligently on these themes for us and we want to make sure there is a flavor out there for everyone. So anyone who wants to show a bit of gratitude, you can follow Don on Twitter, or ask us about how you can donate. Also, if you’re an MMA fan like many of us here at BBerryDog and Don, check out Don’s other theme site Dream Themez MMA, and Unfiltered MMA where Don is a contributing editor.

Friday is the perfect day to reveal, in my opinion, a pretty awesome application.  For those of you unfamiliar with Carbonite, it’s basically a paid, online dropbox.  You back up files to Carbonite where you can access them from any computer.  With the Carbonite app, you are able to browse through your files at will, view said files on the go, and send those files via email.  Sadly, Carbonite is a paid annual subscription starting at $54.95 a year with support for both PC and Mac.  On the bright side, the BlackBerry application is free and available on the Pearl Flip, 96xx, 89xx, 83xx, 85xx, 9000, 9700 and Storm.

As a college student, I cannot see myself using this application at all.  On the other hand, for those of you with busy lives or long commutes on the way to work, this could be the perfect app for you.  During the commute (albeit not while driving yourself), you’d be able to jump on and review documents (say a sales report, notes you took on a hearing, or just something to read) without ever downloading them to your BlackBerry.  I guess the whole decision boils down to if you’re willing to spend the money for the subscription.  Will the mobile app benefit you enough to justify the money? If so, click here to learn how to get the beta app on your BlackBerry.

via: CrackBerry

The weekend is almost upon us! Today though, we have some love for those of you who use the Curve 8530. OS 5.0.0.734 has officially been released from Smart-Communications Inc. as a multilingual, 150.8 mb download. I updated to a 5.0.0.734 hybrid last night (details of which can be found here) and battery life has proved to be significantly better. If you are on Smart-Communications Inc. you can download the update here. If you’re not on Smart, you can download the same file, just remove the vendor.xml after installation. Remember to backup your data and if you need help upgrading you can always refer to our How-To guides.

Please comment below if you find other changes that the OS brings about!

via: BerryReview

We usually don’t talk much about hybrid OS builds here at BBerryDog due to the risky nature of installing untested software on your device, but this one is just too cool to turn down. Last night BlackBerryCool clued us all in on some hybrid builds of BlackBerry 6 mixed with other leaked OS 5.0.0.xxx versions for various models.

While I am no expert on hybrid OS builds, I have installed a few on my various BlackBerrys with no problem. Essentially, a hybrid OS is formed by someone taking files from one leaked version (in this case the leaked BlackBerry 6 for the clamshell device) and merging them with an OS from another build, typically for a different device. According to BlackBerryCool, 80 files from BlackBerry 6 have been successfully copied over into the different OS 5.0.0.xxx builds. While you probably won’t see any visual differences, the main purpose of the hybrid builds is to merge the beneficial parts of multiple OS’s together. It’s a genius idea, and always fun to tinker with.

I would not recommend attempting to install an hybrid OS unless you’re comfortable installing different OS versions on your phone and recovering a bricked device. As always, downloading and installing non-official builds is done at your own risk. With that said, if you’re interested in trying out the hybrid, giving feedback, and you’re using either a 9000, 97xx, 95xx, 96xx, 89xx, or an 85xx device, go here and download your respective hybrid OS files.

via: BlackBerryCool

Time to get your game face on FOOOOL!!! Bplay’s latest game release (just in time for the movie release), The A-Team, is an explosive, armed to the teeth, blow everything up, free for all.  Unite forces with Hannibal, B.A., Face, and Murdock, as you fight your way through 15 action-packed levels. Issue commands, use grenades or missiles to clear your path, or just use your fists along the way. Whether surprising your enemies, going toe to toe, or completely obliterating everything, you will enjoy this game from start to finish.

The A-Team can be purchased from Bplay for $5.99. You must have a data plan/internet access on your Blackberry device in order to install this game. Please refer to the installation instructions in the e-mail sent to your BlackBerry device upon purchase of this game. Use this link to take you to Bplay’s website here, and the direct link for The A-Team game here. While you’re there, check out everything Bplay has to offer such as themes, games, and applications for your BlackBerry. What are you waiting on FOOOL?

If you have played this game or plan to, tell us about it the comments section below.

It’s about time Curve 8530 owners got a little OS love thrown thier way! Today a leaked OS 5.0.0.722 showed up on the radar and, may be enough to keep 8530 owners content for the time being. Keep us informed of any changes you notice after installation in our comment section below or in our forums!

We don’t expect too much from a minor upgrade like this, but you can hope for improvements like battery life, snappiness, and overall performance. But remember, this isn’t official, it’s a beta leak so beware.

You can download OS 5.0.0.722 from these sources:

RapidShare MegaUpload

(Remember: Downloading and installing non-official builds is done at your own risk!)

via BlackBerryLeaks