A new OS for the Tour has been leaked, 5.0.0.419.  Download via BBGeeks

I’ve just updated to the latest version of blackberry messenger.  Not a lot has changed if you are already running 5.0.

You will notice an improved menu as well as the ability to preview pictures on download.   You will also notice that SMS messaging is now integrated into chat.

Go to http://blackberry.com/messenger to get the update.   It’s 2.5 MB so make some coffee while you wait for the download.

BBM 5.0.0.55

written by couturefreak (Courtney Elizabeth)

In short, TweetGenius v1.1.2 for Blackberry looks great!!

Truth be told, I had to stop midway through this post to figure out what the heck was going on with the “unable to send tweet” messages. I didn’t want to give this application the short end of the stick, so I did a few battery pulls to make sure that it wasn’t my Storm 2 that was malfunctioning. But I think it’s just that because it’s graphic heavy…it pulls tweets and posts tweets slower than ubertwitter beta 6, SocialScope, Twitterberry (now OpenBeak), and Seesmic for Blackberry.

At one point, when I was trying to include location (GEO) in an update, it was able to pull the google map, but was not able to convert it to bit.ly, and gave me a bit.ly error, and simply posted the google map location. HOWEVER…the location is pretty exact. And when I mean…exact…I DO mean…EXACT. So…if you’ve got stalkers…or your twitter feed is not “blocked” or “private”…please don’t turn send out your location, unless you really want to. ubertwitter beta 6 uses approximations…which is a great safety feature if you’d like people to know that you’re in the area, but never really know where you are. lol.

Pros

• Great looking interface. G-REAT!
• Automatically fetch new tweets in the background
• Displays counts for new tweets, @replys, and DMs on Home page
• Aligns your tweets to the right.
• Save tweets as favorites
• Delete tweets
• Send your GPS location – THIS IS EXACT. BE. CAREFUL. PLEASE. THX.!!!
• Shorten URLs
• View trends
• Search in real time
• Mark messages as read when you’re done reading them
• View user profiles and timelines
• View users by both username and real name

Cons

• It’s slow….loading, posting…
• Quite a few errors when trying to post if you have SMS, MMS, BBM, or Facebook coming through while trying to post
• Unable to Reply All (UberTwitter, SocialScope, Seesmic)
• Unable to select picture from “camera” icon (SocialScope)

[via xoxoboon]

Google Voice is by far my most used application.

Go to m.google.com/voice to install the app on your blackberry device.

Features:

• Tweet images and video to twitter
• View tweets
• Search Yfrog
• View followers and people you’re following
• View messages and mentions

The Yfrog app is available for all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2 and higher. For more info visit Yfrog App or click here for an OTA download.

.54 is now up for OTA download

Be cautious.  This is a leaked copy so download at your own risk.  If you decide to download, please back up your contact first.

Here are some OTA links

By the way, if you are still running the old messenger, you can always downloaded the current “real” version from www.blackberry.com/messenger

[via crackberry]

Love Amazon.com?  Own a blackberry?

Then this app is a must have.

Features:

• Currently available for BlackBerry smartphones with a trackball or touch screen.
• Buy millions of products wherever you go.
• Access your existing Amazon account, cart, wish lists, payment and shipping settings, order history, 1-Click, and Prime benefits.
• Snap a photo from your BlackBerry and we’ll search for a similar product available from Amazon.com.
• All orders placed are processed by Amazon’s secure servers.

Grab it over-the-air from www.amazon.com/bb

[via berryreview]

How To Remove the Battery Door on a BlackBerry Bold 9700

The latest edition of Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry Connection newsletter went out yesterday, and the mailing included more than a dozen tips and tricks on how to improve your BlackBerry-digital-camera know-how. Most of the suggestions are fairly basic, but they’re worth a look—especially if you frequently employ your smartphone to snap pictures. I’ve also got a couple of related tips of my own that you won’t find in any RIM newsletter. Keep reading for specifics.

First, RIM’s tips:

1. Get closer to your subjects
2. Hold your hand steady
3. Be patient
4. Use the flash when necessary
5. Use photos to help remember future errands/tasks/etc.
6. Organize your digital media using BlackBerry folders
7. Share images via digital photo apps like Flickr, Facebook or MySpace for BlackBerry
8. Use a photo editor (There are free options)
9. Modify white balance settings
10. Experiment with built-in color effects like black & white or sepia
11. Employ geotagging, where available, to tie location info to images
12. Modify BlackBerry image quality camera settings

Again, most of these are somewhat obvious, but each and every one will indeed help to make you a better BlackBerry photog. And much more detail on each item is available on RIM’s site.

I use my BlackBerry camera fairly frequently, and I’ve experimented with all the suggestions mentioned above and more. One tip that’s often overlooked due to its simplicity: Make sure your camera lens is clear of dust and other debris.

The simplest way to do this is to wipe both the lens and flash, found on the rear side of your camera-equipped ‘Berry, with a Q-Tip or other cotton swab. I’m also a fan of La Fresh’s Travel Wipes, which can be used to clean your smartphone’s screen in addition to your camera lens. If you don’t have any of these products handy, a paper towel or tissue will do, but make sure to use a quality brand that won’t just leave more of a mess.

My other suggestion is an extension of RIM’s second tip: Hold your hand steady. I’ve had the best luck using both hands. I use one thumb and forefinger on the top and bottom to hold my BlackBerry horizontally in place while my other hand holds the device like I normally would, with a thumb on the trackball and the rest of my hand wrapped around its side.

This is particularly helpful when using RIM’s new BlackBerry Curve 8900 or Storm devices. Both handsets have higher resolution cameras than other BlackBerry models—3.2 megapixels compared to 2.0 megapixels—as well as a new autofocus feature. The autofocus in particular really makes a difference in picture quality. But it also causes a delay after you click your trackball or screen to snap an image, so holding your device steady for those final few seconds is crucial.

In addition to the cameras usage tips, RIM also included a breakdown of the BlackBerry Camera Settings in the newsletter. I won’t get into details, but if you’re new to using a BlackBerry shooter, these tips are a great place to familiarize yourself with RIM’s camera application.

The most interesting tidbit from the camera settings section:

“If the [BlackBerry] battery power level drops below 20 percent, the flash dims to conserve battery power. In cold temperatures, when the battery power level drops below 20 percent, the flash might turn off.”

Apparently there are battery-life-protection measures built into the camera app that jump into action whenever the temperature drops below a certain level. Who knew?

[via Al Sacco]