Soooo … it’s September 17th right now, and if you bear in mind from our 2nd to last podcast we declared nowadays AT&T picket day if the BlackBerry Bold 9900 didn’t show up. Following up on our petition to AT&T, I took matters into my own hands and blocked my day off to do my CrackBerry duty. With my Verizon Bold 9930 and Rogers Bold 9900 in hand and the power of the CrackBerry nation behind me, I set out for my nearby AT&T store to get my picket on. As you can see in the video above, the shop was entirely dead (since they don’t have the Bold 9900 .. duh) and regrettably they wouldn’t let me film inside. I did do some solo picketing for as lengthy as I could though. I don’t know if it helped our cause or not, but regardless … come on AT&T … give us the BlackBerry Bold 9900!!!
Did you head out to your nearby shop and picket today? Did you rally the troops? If not you nonetheless have time! Let us know in the comments — and if you haven’t signed our petition yet, what are you waiting for?!
Even though Verizon has had a non-camera version accessible given that launch, Sprint will now be releasing their non-camera version of the BlackBerry Bold 9930 on September 9th. While many folks can make use of the camera equipped versions, there is nonetheless somewhat of a demand in the enterprise sector for devices without cameras. Some employers just do not permit the use of camera equipped phones. Fewer and fewer device manufacturers are catering to this user base, rather relying on computer software locks and IT policies to block camera access. RIM could do that as nicely by means of the BES infrastructure but it is still nice to see separate devices getting made available.
Personally, if I by no means employed the camera on my device — I believe I’d opt for a non-camera version just for the cleaner appearance of it. No cost distinction is found in between the two versions but if you’re in need of a non-camera equipped BlackBerry and Sprint is your carrier you can get the BlackBerry Bold 9930 for $ 249 from Sprint beginning September 9th.
Following up my BlackBerry Soft Shell Case Assessment, I switched it up to the BlackBerry Tough Shell Case for the Bold 9930 / 9900. It is offered in two color options – black or white. In this evaluation I take a appear at the black version, but I’ll be positive to do up an additional photoshoot for the white one when I get my hands on it as it’s searching quite hawt!
Like the Soft Shell case, the Tough Shell case was created with tight tolerances and fits the phone perfectly, generating you virtually forget that there’s even a case on the telephone. If not for the cut outs for the headset jack, microUSB port and camera, you may possibly not even know there was a case on it. The Bold 9900/9930 is so thin to begin with, even with a case it doesn’t feel big. On a couple of occassions now I’ve handed my 9900 over to pals to check out. Right after letting them play with it a for a couple of minutes with case on, they were actually shocked when I then grabbed the phone back, took the case off, and handed them the phone back naked. That says a lot.
Overall both the Difficult Shell and Soft Shell situations deliver quite comparable experiences. The Challenging Shell case capabilities a difficult plastic back, featuring a bit of a dotted grid pattern that looks good, and it also gets the chromed BlackBerry logo like the actual phone has. It’s surely tougher than the Soft Shell case when protecting against bumps and drops. The soft touch rubber about the perimeter of the case is grippy and makes the buttons effortless to use. Finding the telephone in and out of the case isn’t challenging, which is a very good thing as if you also own a BlackBerry Charging Pod you will have to eliminate the telephone from the case. And if you are looking to use the incased Bold with a holster, even though it will not fit the 9900 holster it will fit into the original leather holster from the Bold 9000 (see this post for a lot more details).
The BlackBerry Bold 9930/9900 Challenging Shell case has a list cost of $ 29.99, but you can get it for much less at ShopCrackBerry.com. With such high demand for Bold 9930/9900 cases it’s been difficult to keep inventory in stock, but you can nonetheless order now for initial crack at the new shipments and we’re even giving away a chance for you to win 1 for totally free (particulars below). Maintain reading for a video, more photos and particulars surrounding this amazing case.
Device tear down videos are as frequent practice as device boxings even so, tear down videos serve a greater good. That of course getting, need to you ever occur to require to fix your device or replace parts, you can do so with a visual guide for reference. The folks over at Directfix have taken apart a BlackBerry Bold 9900 for us all, although — we hope you never need to make use of it. But either way, excellent to know it’s there ought to you ever need it.
A little Friday fun eye candy comes to us from the forums courtesy of member greggebhardt. The title of the forum thread pretty much sums it all up: 9900 is WELL worth the wait. There isn’t much to the Bold 9900 that we haven’t seen thus far, but here we have a few more photos to keep us drooling. There are some cool Bold 9900 / 9000 side by side shots for a little comparison, so if you were wondering just how thin the Bold 9900 is now you can see first hand. According to the thread there is no sign of mobile hotspot in the OS just yet, but that may or may not change as the device nears release. Keep reading for some more images then hit the link below to join in on the fun.
Quite honestly, we don’t really have a lot to say about this image. Since it came to us over the CrackBerry Twitter account and it was so beautiful we thought it fitting enough to go ahead and toss it up for everyone to enjoy. What you see above is both a BlackBerry Bold 9900 and what is presumed to be a BlackBerry Torch 9860, in other words the GSM variation of the Torch 9850 that’s set to head to Sprint. Both are shown running on Telus but sadly that’s where the joy ends. Still no official device dates for either device as of yet, in fact the 9850/60 still remains unannounced unless you consider the release of the device simulator an official announcement.
With Vodafone UK recently giving us a sneak peek into the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Phones4U have also joined in on the parade. However, rather than just do a plan old review of the device, Phones4U have added their very own twist to the review. It’s fun to see these videos pop up, but they just add to the pain of waiting for the device. We still have no official release date for the Bold 9900 or 9930 but we’re hopeful that we’ll hear one for sure before long. Check out the video for yourself.
While you’re at it you can join in on the discussions on the Bold 9900 in the forums.
Since not all of us were able to attend BlackBerry World this year that means that we all had to live out the Bold 9900, and OS7 through our computer screens by watching hands on videos from those who were lucky enough to play with it. If you have been dying to get your hands on OS7 and see how it differs from OS6, and to get a little alone time with the 9900, you can now simulate that relationship with the device simulator. So, if you aren’t out with the family at a bbq, or doing something else this Memorial Day weekend give it a download and check it out for yourself.
Well happy President’s Day, let’s celebrate with a leaked OS for the BlackBerry Bold 9780! OS 6.0.0.461 appeared in the CrackBerry forums a bit ago, thanks to ALKi3. Be sure to let us know in the comments below what you think of it if you install it, and don’t forget to do a backup of your device, just in case.
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Bold 9700 (left) vs. the new BlackBerry Bold Touch (right)
Gotta love it when a plan comes together! Following up on the 2011 BlackBerry Smartphone Roadmap leaks of January, we’re starting to see these devices take shape for REALZ in February. We saw the monaco/Storm 3 show up on video yesterday, and now today we’re looking at live photos of the BlackBerry Bold Touch, which currently goes by the codename dakota. As you can tell, the newest Bold (pictured above on the right) looks more like the original Bold 9000 from the front than the smaller Bold 9700/9780 we’re currently used to. I can’t wait to pound out emails and BBMs on the Bold Touch’s keyboard… that is the Cadillac of smartphone keyboards right there. As for what the Bold Touch is packing inside, here’s the specs as they have been rumored to date:
Dimensions: 115 x 66 x 10.5mm
Radio: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE; Tri Band UMTS
Display: 2.8" diagonol – VGA 640 x 480, resolution 287dpi
Keypad: Wide QWERTY – Physical Send, End, Escape, Menu, Right Side Convenience Key, Volume Control
Memory: 8GB – 768MB RAM – up to 32GB MicroSd Card
WiFi: 2.4 GHZ b/g/n – 5GHz a/n – Mobile Hotspot
Connectivity: Micro USB – Bluetooth – NFC
Sensors: Magnetometer – Accelerometer – Proximity
Lots more photos after the break, so check them out! You don’t want to miss the one where you see that the trim around the Bold Touch’s keypad LIGHTS UP!!! Who’s waiting on this one?? I know I am!
It’s not often that OS leaks go backwards in numbers but that’s seemingly what happened here. If you’ve not been satisfied with the 6.0.0.446 then 6.0.0.443 might be worth — downgrading to. Sounds weird right?! Remember to back up your data before you load this up. Also be sure to drop comments letting us know how it all turns out for ya’s!
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Hey BlackBerry Bold 9700 users, looks like we have something for you tonight! OS 6.0.0.461 has leaked for your device, so if you’re into that sort of thing go ahead and give it a go. As always, back up your device data first please. We’d hate to see you lose anything. Let us know what you see that is new and improved, and hop on over to the forums to discuss it further!
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
The Case-Mate Fuel Lite Case was one of my go-to accessories when I was using my Bold 9650. I alway had it charged and ready in my bag when I was out and about. It was way easier than carting around an extra battery and got the job done just as well. The hard case sits snug on your device and is ready to juice you up when you need it. Leave it powered off (or off the device completely) when you don’t need it, then just hit the button to power up when you do. Pretty handy for staying charged when there is no plug in sight. The Case-Mate Fuel Lite case is available for the Bold 9650, Tour 9630 and Bold 9700/9780 at ShopCrackBerry.com
BlackBerry Bold 9650 owners, if you’ve not been happy with OS 6.0.0.431 as your daily OS you now have a new leak to test out. OS 6.0.0.466 has now revealed itself and is ready for your testing. Remember to back up your data before you load this up. Also be sure to drop comments letting us know how it all turns out for ya’s!
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
*Update: Looks like this may be the case for Bold 9650 users as well. Make sure you’re running the last official OS from Verizon and see if the update is available to you.
A few users have been reporting in today and it looks like OS 6 may be on the way down the pipeline from Verizon. Justin snagged us this screencap of his 9330 where it looks like OS 6.0.0.431 is available for an OTA update. Still no sign of OS 6 on Verizon’s download site, but it’s not unlike them to make the wireless update option available ahead of time. If you have a 9330 and are running an official OS, head to the wireless update option and let us know if it’s showing for you. Thanks Justin!
As expected, Verizon has now posted up the Desktop Manager install files for those of you with either a BlackBerry Bold 9650 or a BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330. You can head on over to to the Verizon Wireless website and grab the downloads if you never got the OTA install. Of course, if you’re running a previously leaked version then you can simply pass this one over.
Oh hey, Blackberry Bold 9700 users! You’ve not been forgotten about. Last leak for the Bold 9700 was that of 6.0.0.424 and now, you can fire up the tools needed to update to OS 6.0.0.448 should you so wish. As always, back up your device data first please. We’d hate to see you lose anything. PS: No funny business with this one, it’s your basic installable file. But you do get a new Facebook v1.9.0.26.
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Two days of leaks now but still nothing for the 9800 yet. But here is the latest for the BlackBerry Bold 9780, v6.0.0.448. If you’re interested in trying out this leak, fire up app loader or desktop manager or whatever you prefer to use and get to updating. Don’t forget to back up your device first, and read the disclaimer below. Newer Facebook is also included with this release.
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
All of you BlackBerry Bold 9650 owners out there will be happy to see that OS 6.0.0.431 has leaked for your devices tonight! Word has it you’re likely looking at bug fixes and minor app updates in this one. If you were waiting for a new OS for your 9650 or if you are a hybrid builder, you can download it from the link below! Let us know in the comments what fixes you see if you choose to install this leak. Take caution however, you must have OS .333 or .415 installed before you can upgrade to .431 as noted by the source.
*OS Disclaimer – Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you’re comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base – do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *
Well here we are with the first CrackBerry Theme Roundup of 2011! We had a lot of requests lately for a more girly theme roundup, so here it is ladies! I found a few different styles, so hopefully something below will suite you. And guys don’t worry, I found the manliest theme I’ve ever seen and included that for you below. The contest this week is small, but don’t worry because I have something good in the works for you theme junkies so watch for that in the next day or so. Until then enjoy the picks below. Don’t forget to send in your themes and tips to themeroundup[at]crackberry.com!
Sure seems that way when looking at a piece of documentation found over at Android Central. We’re not sure if it will be a rollout of BlackBerry 6 or not at this point but the BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be moved into a MR3 release while the BlackBerry Curve 3G will be hitting MR1. Also noted is a MR4 for the BlackBerry Curve 8330 but that is left at TBD. Of course, we know that won’t be getting BlackBerry 6 but the others really should be at this point. Guess we’ll just have to wait it out and see but if all goes as we hope it does, BlackBerry 6 will hit land on Verizon soon. Keep in mind; its been delayed before so it could happen again.
Earlier today there was some information floating around about the expected release of BlackBerry 6 on Sprint for those of you making use of a BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Curve 3G devices. The information noted that starting December 22 users would be able to download BlackBerry 6 via OTA and then via desktop on December 29. Well, it appears that rollout has begun as we’ve had a few folks send us tips about the rollout. As you can see in the above image, the OS being delivered is 6.0.0.415 so, be sure to check for updates folks if you have a Bold 9650 or Curve 3G and let us know in the comments if you’re seeing it. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
One of the most popular case/skin options for the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and 9700 is the OtterBox Commuter Series. And there’s good reason for this. The Commuter Series case is rugged and durable and provides a ton of protection for the Bold 9780 and/or 9700, yet still feels good in the hand. While it does add a little bulk to the phone, the comfort and feel for everyday use is still there. It’s really hard to say anything bad about this case for the 9780/9700.
The biggest downfall for people who use the the Commuter Series case on their Bold 9780 or Bold 9700 is that there is no good leather holster option for the phone. With the Commuter case installed, the phone becomes too big for the standard Bold 9780/9700 leather holster or pouch, which a lot of people love to use. However, that’s not actually the case! Check out the video above and you’ll see our CrackBerry solution to this problem. It turns out the good ‘ole OEM Leather BlackBerry Pouch for the 87xx series works GREAT with the Bold 9780/9700 OtterBox Commuter case. It fits perfectly and the sleeper magnet functionality works too (the sleeper magent puts the phone into standby automatically and enables the in-holster sound profile settings). Pretty awesome, hey? You can grab both the OtterBox Commuter for the 9780/9700 and 8700 Leather holster at the links below from ShopCrackBerry.com. And for all the Canadians in the crowd, don’t forget to check our new Canada store!
While it may not mean much to many folks in terms of usefulness, BlackBerry developers out there can now download the new BlackBerry 6 device simulators for the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330. One could speculate that with their release, a BlackBerry 6 OS release for the same devices cannot be that far off but we don’t really want to create any false hope for anyone. Though, deep down we really do hope that’s exactly what it means. If you’re a developer or just want to poke around in the device simulators you can grab them now from the developers resource page.
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