Thanks to the OTA link provided by BBHybrids, you can get in on the fun too.  Make sure your device has OS 5.0 before you get to downloading.  With reports that BlackBerry Messenger version 5.0.0.52 is significantly improved from 5.0.0.33 (the official version), it may be worth checking out.  The OTA download link can be found here.  I’m not sure how long the download link will last, so be sure to download ASAP if you’re interested.

As always, install at your own risk, and report your findings in the comments section and our forums!

Via: CrackBerry

It’s no secret – despite my love for all things BlackBerry, I’m not a fan of the web browser.  When compared to alternatives such as those found in Android, webOS, and the iPhone, it falls short.  That being said, Bolt has launched version 1.6 of their popular browser, which can be set as the default browsing tool.  What’s more, Bold v1.6 offers better page rendering, the ability to stream videos, and the ability to upload large files.

The full press release can be found after the break, and you can download the new browser at boltbrowser.com.  Get your download on, and report back with your findings!

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bitstream Inc. (NASDAQ: BITS) today announced the availability of BOLT 1.6, the most fully-featured mobile browser available for mobile phones of all types. BOLT 1.6 delivers the industry-leading data compression ratio and offers the best website rendering, displaying full Web pages just as they appear on desktop computers. BOLT 1.6 outscores competing mobile browsers earning a perfect 100 percent on the Web Standards Project’s Acid3 test. The Acid3 test, created to help browser vendors ensure proper support for Web standards in their products, tests Web 2.0 dynamic Web applications and visual rendering, including Web fonts.

This newest release of BOLT includes a number of important design enhancements, as well as incremental improvements driven by BOLT’s users. For all mobile data networks that support it, BOLT 1.6 now offers full socket-based connectivity which can increase the page rendering speed of BOLT by as much as 15 percent. BOLT 1.6 also includes a new password manager, allowing usernames and passwords to be saved by the browser for easier and faster logins to users’ favorite websites and online applications.

Responding to a frequent request from BOLT’s BlackBerry smartphone users, BOLT 1.6 can now be set as the default browser on their smartphones. A version of BOLT created specifically for BlackBerry smartphones not only has all the features of BOLT, but also includes default BlackBerry shortcuts and optimizations.

Downloaded over 2.8 million times since its February 2009 debut, BOLT has also been selected by handset manufacturers around the world as the standard browser on new lines of mobile phones in production.

With advanced features like the ability to stream video from the most popular video websites, copy and paste, upload files such as photos and videos to websites, and order and arrange favorites into custom folders, BOLT is also the most fully-featured mobile browser. BOLT is able to operate on the widest variety of mobile phones – from feature phones to smartphones – running efficiently on an estimated 3 billion handsets already in the market.

BOLT’s Unique Capabilities Include:

• Best of breed page load speeds
• Most accurate page rendering
• Displays full websites just as they would appear on desktop computers
• Streams videos from popular video services such as YouTube
• Copy and paste text
• Uploads video and photo files directly to websites from browser
• Only major WebKit based cloud computing browser

Recognizing that some mobile phones currently in use cannot support robust applications and some network providers limit the size of application downloads, Bitstream created a light version of the BOLT mobile browser, BOLT lite^TM. BOLT lite contains all the essential features of the BOLT mobile browser, retaining BOLT’s feature-rich functionality, best-of-breed download speeds and desktop PC-style page layout in a smaller package optimized for entry-level devices.

BOLT and BOLT lite are both available for free download at http://boltbrowser.com.

About BOLT

The acclaimed BOLT mobile browser has the most faithful rendering of Web pages of any browser in its class. This fast mobile browser quickly and accurately displays Web pages on mobile phones just as they would appear on desktop computers. BOLT is the only browser for mobile phones of all types to support streaming video from popular media sharing sites such as YouTube and MySpace. Based on the same WebKit rendering engine used by the iPhone’s Safari and Android’s Chrome browsers, BOLT is compatible with the majority of the world’s 4 billion mobile phones. BOLT features a patented split-screen viewing mode, intuitive keystroke shortcuts and copy/paste functionality, and offers a user-friendly, feature-rich mobile browsing experience for even entry-level mobile phones. Download BOLT for free at http://boltbrowser.com – the mobile Internet has never looked this good on your phone.

About Bitstream

Bitstream Inc. develops software technologies and applications for the graphic art and mobile communications industries. Bitstream develops award winning fonts and font technologies that enable device manufacturers and application developers to render the highest quality text in any language, on any device, at any resolution. The company’s MyFonts brand is the world’s leading provider of fonts to consumers. Bitstream’s Pageflex brand enables marketers to easily produce customized communications in print, email, and online. Bitstream’s latest offering is the BOLT mobile browser, which has been installed by millions of users worldwide since its release in February 2009.

Via: CrackBerry

I received the official press statement last night, and immediately went to download the program.  I’ve been incredibly pleased so far.  Instead of opening up Google Talk, AIM, ICQ, and the like each and every time, Nimbuzz supports several clients, so you can use one application to open them all.

The program includes support for the following: fellow Nimbuzz users, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo!, Facebook, Google Talk/Orkut, AIM, MySpace, ICQ, studiVZ, schulerVZ, GaduGadu, Giovani, Hyves, Jabber, Gayet, and Azbuz (though the latter three are listed as “currently not available” on my device).  That’s quite the number of instant messaging clients and social networking mediums, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of half of them.

The program is free to download at Nimbuzz or the BlackBerry App World and can be had for any BlackBerry device running OS 4.6 or higher.  The full press release can be found after the break.

NIMBUZZ LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING NEW SOCIAL NETWORKING APP FOR BLACKBERRY SMARTPHONE USERS

Innovative native application for multiple IM networks; Skype IM; online chat for Facebook & MySpace

San Francisco, 2nd December 2009 – HYPERLINK “http://www.nimbuzz.com,/”Nimbuzz (www.nimbuzz.com), the award-winning* multi-community mobile instant message application, has today announced the launch of its groundbreaking new app for BlackBerry® smartphones, that runs as a native application enabling users to connect with each other via their favourite social networks.

Just one of a number of industry ‘firsts’ contained in the new release, native functionality will allow Nimbuzz to run constantly in the background, have alert notifications ‘pushed’ to the home screen and integrate notifications with sound profiles, ensuring users never miss another message.
Free to download and free to use, the Nimbuzz app also supports instant messaging through Skype, allowing BlackBerry® smartphone users to bring their Skype contacts with them wherever they go. In addition, online chat will be available for other communities including Facebook, MSN, GoogleTalk, Yahoo! and MySpace, making Nimbuzz the most comprehensive mobile social messaging application available for the Blackberry®.

The new app was just honored by RIM with the Connect On BlackBerry award as the most innovative and is optimised for BlackBerry® smartphones  running OS v4.6 or higher, including the BlackBerry® Storm™, BlackBerry® Bold™, BlackBerry® Tour™, BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip and BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones. The application is available for download from HYPERLINK “http://www.nimbuzz.com”Nimbuzz.com, as well as on BlackBerry® App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld) and other major download channels such as Handmark.
Evert-Jaap Lugt, founder and CEO of Nimbuzz says:  “We are delighted to offer Nimbuzz as the first credible, all-in-one social messaging solution for BlackBerry smartphones. It demonstrates why we have become market leaders in mobile internet communication integrating the award-winning functionality of Nimbuzz to get the best out of each operating system and handset.  This 1st generation client for Blackberry® will continue to be developed and will evolve to provide the full Nimbuzz experience over time.”

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (or any other holiday for that matter), nosy families, and such, I present DonTouch.  Ever been in that situation where the family member tries to access your phone and read your messages without your knowledge?  It’s a near-perfect solution.  Simply activate the app, and when it detects any movement, the alarm is sounded.

DonTouch is available for the Storm and Storm2, and can be found here.

Via: CrackBerry

Ubertwitter too old for you? Not into Socialscope yet? Don’t want to pay for TweetGenius?  TwiXtreme, available as a free download in the BlackBerry App World, is a great alternative to the relatively small list of (useful) Twitter applications we’ve had as of late.  Sporting a clean, organized appearance, I’m impressed.  It’s nice to see a decent, ad-free app that doesn’t cost anything.

Stay tuned for a full review, but in the meantime, get your download on!  And let me know what you think of it in the forums.

This looks like fun.  Storm users, pick it up here for $.99 (until November 27th).

This might be the best app since sliced bread. Really. Let’s paint the picture: you’re laying in bed, using your phone. Naturally, your head is on the pillow, but when you turn the device to accommodate, the accelerometer turns with you, switching the device from portrait to landscape mode. There are few things worse (in the tech world) than laying in bed and having to hold your device a certain way so the accelerometer doesn’t kick in. Usually, I end up having to twist my arm to keep the device in portrait mode while keeping my head on the pillow.

For those of us plagued by the issue, Stop Turning! is here to help. Supporting OS 4.7 and 5.0 on the Storm and the Storm2, Stop Turning! allows you to lock your screen in one orientation – and keep it there. The application is available at the sale price of $1.49 in CrackBerry’s App Store.  Hurry – the offer expires on November 22nd.

Via: CrackBerry

If you’re like me, dining with friends (or family), while enjoyable, can be frustrating at the onset of the evening.  Why, you ask?  The simple task of picking a restaurant.  This is where urbanspoon comes in handy.  Pick a side of town, the cuisine you’re interested in, the amount of money you’re willing to spend, and hit ‘spin.’  The program will then auto-generate a restaurant for you, complete with maps, relevant information, and a phone number.

Download urbanspoon for BlackBerry at http://www.urbanspoon.com/blackberry, and stay tuned for my mini-review!