Blackberry | CHRIS CREDENDINO

Foursquare App for BlackBerry Updated to Version 1.7

March 11, 2010May 4, 2010 Chris

Recently Foursquare pushed out app updates to both iPhone and Android users just in time for SXSW so it was only a matter of time before BlackBerry users got their hands on an update. Well, as expected, Foursquare pushed out a new update to BlackBerry users this morning. If you are running the Foursquare app and don’t already have the v1.7 update, simply launch your Foursquare app and it should automatically update to the newest version. You can also download the app from the BlackBerry App World store or visit the Foursquare Web site to download.

There is not a whole lot going on under the hood in this update other than changes to the UI. After firing up the app you will notice four icons in the top navigation menu: Friends (F), Places (P), Tips, and More. While some of these icons might look familiar to you from the previous version, the “Tips” icon is a new addition to the navigation menu. Let’s take a quick look at the new navigation menu and what changes took place.

An Inside Look at the Twitter for BlackBerry App

February 13, 2010May 4, 2010 Chris 6,433 Comments

Research In Motion (RIM) introduced the first version of Twitter for BlackBerry® on Thursday and allowed users with an invite code to take the app for a test drive. I managed to get my hands on the Twitter for BlackBerry® app and at first glance I really liked what I saw. The GUI was clean, the color scheme was attractive, and the app was loaded with features. It appeared to be far more advanced than any of the other BlackBerry Twitter apps that I have seen, but as I started messing around with it there were a few features that I felt could have used some improvement and the overall performance was quite sluggish. I’ll explain that in greater detail a bit later, but first let me give a quick preview of the app.

According to the Inside BlackBerry blog, Twitter for BlackBerry® was designed to integrate seamlessly with the Blackberry platform so it would create a familiar experience for both BlackBerry and Twitter users. Upon launching Twitter for BlackBerry® you are presented with a stylish home screen which contains seven navigation icons: Home, Mentions, My Profile, Direct Messages, Find People, Search, and Popular Topics. Just below the home navigation bar is the status update field where you can type your tweets and the remaining portion of the screen is your Twitter timeline. I have used just about every BlackBerry Twitter app from TwitterBerry to UberTwitter to SocialScope and while SocialScope has always been my preferred app, Twitter for BlackBerry® crushes the competition when it comes to its GUI and with a little work and some additional features it should set the new standard for BlackBerry Twitter apps.

WordPress for Blackberry Version 1.0 Released

February 4, 2010March 31, 2010 Chris

wordpress-berryapp WordPress announced today that beta testing for the WordPress for BlackBerry app is complete and version 1.0 is now available in BlackBerry App World. WordPress for BlackBerry 1.0 has been in beta for more than six months, but version 1.0 adds support for VideoPress, improved commentening, and a spot in BlackBerry App World. What can you do with the WordPress for BlackBerry app? WordPress for BlackBerry is pretty awesome if you want to blog while you are on the move. The app allows you to write posts, edit pages, manage comments, and upload photos and videos.

Although I don’t have a lot of time to blog, I really like the idea of having an app on my BlackBerry that will allow me to blog whenever I have the urge. I went ahead and installed WordPress for Blackberry on my Tour and it works like a charm. I’m not sure how often I will use the app to create a new blog post or edit existing pages, but it’s nice to know that there is a feature that will allow me to do it. I really like the fact, however, that I can approve, delete, or put a hold on new comments because that is always an annoying task.

Foursquare Releases BlackBerry Beta App

December 26, 2009May 4, 2010 Chris

Foursquare, the location-based social networking service, rolled out their BlackBerry beta app on Christmas Eve and I was thrilled to receive one of the invites. The company sent out an email to about one thousand people who made the VIP list of beta testers so they could download the app to their BlackBerry and take it for a test drive.

Unlike iPhone and Android users, who were already familiar with a Foursquare app, BlackBerry users were forced to visit the Foursquare mobile site (m.foursquare.com) to “Check-in” to venues so I was stoked when Foursquare released the BlackBerry app. I was ready to download the app, fire it up, and give it a go.

Google Voice gets ready for Prime Time

March 12, 2009April 2, 2010 Chris

googlevoice2 Google announced the release of their new service “Google Voice” on Wednesday. The service appears to be an expanded version of GrandCental, which is a service acquired by Google in 2007. Although this release is a preview (beta) and currently available to existing GrandCentral users only, those who are interested will not have to wait long for the full release. Google expects to have the service ready for new users within weeks, but in the meantime you can submit your email address to Google and they will notify you as soon as Google Voice is available to new users.

What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is an application that improves the way you use your phone. The service provides a single phone number for all your phones and this phone number is actually tied to the user, not to a phone or location. Although Google Voice is not a phone service, it allows you to manage all your phones. The cool thing is that Google Voice works with mobile phones, home phones, work phones, and VoIP phone lines. What’s more? You can actually access and make calls from the phone as well as the Web. Those of you who have multiple phones will enjoy the luxury of having a single number to reach each phone individually.