Congrats Dave!!! Welcome to the Team! Let’s kick things off with a look back at your CrackBerry Idol Audition Video!

After three months of CrackBerry Idol craziness here on the blogs, the competition is now officially over. The winner of the final community vote is none other than the CrackBerry-addicted Dave Peckens. The voting was close, but in the end Dave emerged the winner capturing 29.8% of the popular vote, in front of Kerri (23.18%), Brittany (22.95%), Joseph (12.79%) and Aloha Joe (11.29%). As winner of CrackBerry Idol 2010, Dave will be accompanying Adam, Bla1ze, Isaac and myself to the BlackBerry Developer Conference in San Francisco at the end of the month and you’ll start seeing some posts from him here on the CrackBerry blogs in the near future. In his CrackBerry Q & A, Dave said if he won CrackBerry Idol he’d help us update and get our BlackBerry 101 section in tip top shape, which I’m definitely looking forward to (and going to hold him to that!).

Also, keep in mind that while Dave was voted CrackBerry Idol by the community, I’ve been watching all of the contestants throughout the competition and taking notes as to who else I’d like to start see contributing here on CrackBerry. We have some gaps to fill and things I’d like to see us do better. In the next few days I’ll be reaching out to these contestants and I’m hoping they’ll be interested in posting on CrackBerry too. We’ll officially welcome them to the blogs when they make their first posts as CrackBerry writers. Exciting Stuff!

I hope everyone enjoyed CrackBerry Idol 2010. Yep, it was a long event, but over a quiet summer of BlackBerry news it gave us a lot of great content and introduced us to a lot of amazing people. I want to personally thank everybody who entered the competition — I know how much time and effort goes into writing and doing video for these kinds of posts — so really do appreciate it. That’s it for CrackBerry Idol 2010! 

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. And the Winner of CrackBerry Idol 2010 is…. Dave Peckens!

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**** VOTE NOW!!!! ****

It’s time folks! Over the last two weeks you’ve witnessed ten in-depth BlackBerry accessory reviews from our ten Round 2 competitors in CrackBerry Idol. The judges gave their feedback on each review and now it is in YOUR HANDS to decide which FIVE competitors will continue on to the FINAL round. Below you will find the links to each of the accessory reviews, as well as the CrackBerry Idol voting poll where you can vote for which competitors (up to a max of five) you want to see advance. We’ll leave the poll running on this post right up until midnight PST, this Sunday August 15th. Voting is below. Think hard before you vote. Now go vote!

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. CrackBerry Idol Round 2 Voting Now Open – Vote Now!!

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The CrackBerry Idol top 10 has been hard at work on their accessory reviews for the last week. They had some late nights and sore fingers and churned out some great stuff. We have a load of great reviews on the way, and starting today we’ll be posting one each day for you to check out. After all the reviews are posted we’ll once again be narrowing down the field to see who moves on. Watch each one as they are posted and then think about who did the best job. We’ll be asking for your votes as we did in the last round, so it’s ultimately up to you who will be crowned CrackBerry Idol. Stay tuned for all the reviews!

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. CrackBerry Idol back in action! For Round 2 the top 10 give us their accessory reviews

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*** CrackBery Idol Round 1 Voting Ends Sunday – Vote Here Now!! ***

I was expecting it to be a fairly quiet week on the BlackBerry news front, but between the new official BlackBerry 6 video (which hopefully means its right around the corner), the BlackBerry Protect preview and the and the Apple antenna shannigans we had a lot of things to keep us entertained. And course CrackBerry Idol Round 1 voting is NOW OPEN. Click the link above to vote if you haven’t yet. Ten contestants will move on to Round 2. Check out the links below to see what you missed.

What You May Have Missed

• So Research in Motion did look at buying Palm… >>
  
• RIM Official Statement on Apple’s Attenagate Propaganda >>
  
• BlackBerry Quick Tip: What are these notification icons? >> 
• New Official BlackBerry 6 Teaser Video! >> 
• BlackBerry Protect Preview  >>
  
• Hootsuite Twitter client for BlackBerry on its way >>
  

CrackBerry Idol

• CrackBerry Idol Round 1 Voting Now Open – Vote Now!! >> 
• QuickLaunch for BlackBerry Review >> 
• BerryPopup for BlackBerry Review >> 
• Mobile Checkbook for BlackBerry Review >> 
• Documents To Go for BlackBerry Review >> 
• MLB At Bat 2010 for BlackBerry Review >> 
• Foursquare for BlackBerry Review >> 

Contest Reminders

• Alter your photos with ImgEdit from Toysoft – 30 free copies up for grabs! >> 
• SmartBDocs – 100 free copies to give away! >> 
• Wirelessly sync iTunes and your BlackBerry using Music WithMe – 10 licenses to be won >> 
• BlackBerry theme roundup for July 12th, 2010 – 50 copies of Frozen Yogurt to be won! >> 

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Reminder: What you may have missed this week; CrackBerry Idol voting ends Sunday… Vote Now!

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

Telenav for BlackBerry Smartphones Takes to the Road and Gets Reviewed!

One integral part of blackberry smart phones that I use quite often is the GPS feature. However, finding the right navigation application has always been a challenge. The built in Blackberry Maps might suffice for some but for me that wasn’t enough. Blackberry Maps doesn’t have turn-by-turn, voice guided directions, which is actually missing on all those free GPS applications like Google maps. Then there are the many paid GPS navigation applications like Telmap Navigator and Garmin Mobile that do offer features similar to standalone GPS units. One of those is my now favorite TeleNav GPS Navigator. After using Garmin for so long, I have decided in the last week to try out TeleNav Navigator to see what all the hype was about. With features like full voice guided navigation, automatic rerouting and voice recognition search, it’s easy to understand why it’s Crackberry’s choice as the best GPS navigation program for 2009. Let’s take a look at some of the key features in-depth to see why.

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Telenav GPS Navigator for BlackBerry Review [cb idol]

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Game Time! Review of Pinball Deluxe for BlackBerry Smartphones

Alright kids, grab your cherry sodas and throw some change at the jukebox its pinball time!! If you’re an avid follower of CrackBerry.com you’ve already heard great things about the extremely popular game, Pinball Deluxe. The two flippers, a reassuring shake of the bumpers and the rapidly ascending score counter proves that simple is often the most addictive. If you’re on the lookout for an alternative to BrickBreaker as your go to vice to pass the time, read on cause were covering all the ups, downs and bumpers of a game you’ve probably already mastered!

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Pinball Deluxe for BlackBerry Review [cb idol]

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Dieter, Georga and Craig.. our own Randy, Paula and Simon of sorts!

If you tuned into the CrackBerry Idol audition videos we ran on the blogs here (check out parts I, II, III, IV and V) you already know the competition is heating up big time. We have a lot of talented individuals entered into the competition, each coming at the challenge with a unique perspective and a lot of passion. It’s stil anybody’s game. 

Now that you have all seen the audition videos and know the competitors, it’s time to move onto Round 1 of CrackBerry Idol – the BlackBerry App review.  Each contestant has prepared a fullout review of their app or game of choice, complete with video, screen caps/photos and write up. We have 24 reviews (Finza had to drop out of the competition – so not 25) in the queue and we’ll be posting 2 each day (taking Sundays off) until we’ve run them all on the blogs. We did a random draw for the order of post appearance (kind of crazy, but first up for the app review was also the first app for the audition posting order). Our CrackBerry Idol judges will give their feedback on each review in the first comment to each post, and the community can follow up with their thoughts.

Once all of the BlackBerry App Reviews have been run on the blogs, we’ll do a recap post accompanied with the community voting, so you can cast your vote for who you’d like to see advance into the next round. 10 contestants will move onto Round 2. Keep it locked to CrackBerry for more Idol fun. This is gonna rock!

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. CrackBerry Idol update: Round 1 Kicks Off Today – 24 BlackBerry app reviews coming your way over the next two weeks!

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

We’re back with our fourth preview (see parts 1, 2 and 3) of five more of the contestants competing in Round 1 of CrackBerry Idol. The CrackBerry Idol winner will become a regular contributor to the CrackBerry blogs, so among the audition vids you’ll be witnessing a future CB blogger. Who that person is will be up to the community to decide, so be sure to watch all of the audition videos so when it comes to the competition rounds (app review, case review, accessory review, device review) you’ll know who each competitor is.

Next up we have Aloha Joe, Tim, Earl, Kerri and Manav. Each of them is ready and more than willing to be the next CrackBerry Idol, and they each have some compelling arguments as to why they are the ideal candidate for the position. Watch their awesome audition videos below and be sure to leave some shoutouts of encouragement in the comments – the road to becoming the CB Idol is paved with hard work! Keep in mind the community judging starts with the app reviews (not the audition vids), so please keep your comments relevant and constructive.

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Get to know the CrackBerry Idol competitors – watch their audition videos! (part 4)

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

OK, we’re back with our third preview of five more of the contestants competing in Round 1 of CrackBerry Idol. The CrackBerry Idol winner will become a regular contributor to the CrackBerry blogs, so among the audition vids you’ll be witnessing a future CB blogger. Who that person is will be up to the community to decide, so be sure to watch all of the audition videos as we get them up here, so when it comes to the competition rounds (app review, case review, accessory review, device review) you’ll know who each competitor is.

Next up we have Martin, Todd, Gregg, David L. and Bryan. Each of them is ready and more than willing to be the next CrackBerry Idol, and they each have some compelling arguments as to why they should be the next CrackBerry Idol. Watch their awesome audition videos below and be sure to leave some shoutouts of encouragement in the comments – the road to becoming the CB Idol is paved with hard work! Keep in mind the community judging starts with the app reviews (not the audition vids), so please keep your comments relevant and constructive.

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Get to know the CrackBerry Idol competitors – watch their audition videos! (part 3)

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

OK, we’re back with our next preview of five more of the contestants competing in Round 1 of CrackBerry Idol. The CrackBerry Idol winner will become a regular contributor to the CrackBerry blogs, so among the audition vids you’ll be witnessing a future CB blogger. Who that person is will be up to the community to decide, so be sure to watch all of the audition videos as we get them up here, so when it comes to the competition rounds (app review, case review, accessory review, device review) you’ll know who each competitor is.

We did a random drawing for which order their audition videos would hit the blogs and next up we have Dave, Finza, DJ, Nick and David. Each of them is ready and more than willing to be the next CrackBerry Idol, and they each have some compelling arguments as to why they should be the next CrackBerry Idol. Watch their awesome audition videos below and be sure to leave some shoutouts of encouragement in the comments – the road to becoming the CB Idol is paved with hard work! Keep in mind the community judging starts with the app reviews (not the audition vids), so please keep your comments relevant and constructive. 

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CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Get to know the CrackBerry Idol competitors – watch their audition videos! (part 2)

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

25 contestants are currently hard at work prepping their BlackBerry app reviews for Round 1 of CrackBerry Idol. But before their reviews hit the blogs next week we have this week to get to know the competitors via their audition videos. The CrackBerry Idol winner will become a regular contributor to the CrackBerry blogs, so among the audition vids you’ll be witnessing a future CB blogger. Who that person is will be up to the community to decide, so be sure to watch all of the audition videos as we get them up here, five at a time.

We did a random drawing for posting order and first up we have Joseph, Yousif, Brittany, Zander and Shankeith. Each of them is ready and more than willing to be the next CrackBerry Idol, and they each have some compelling arguments as to why they should be the next CrackBerry Idol. Watch their awesome audition videos below and be sure to leave some shoutouts in the comments at your favorite. I can tell the battle is already heating up, and the first round has yet to begin!

CrackBerry Idol Audition Videos 

1. Joseph

2. Yousif

3. Brittany

4. Zander

5. Shankeith

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Get to know the CrackBerry Idol competitors – watch their audition videos! (part 1)

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

TV Review: ‘Idol’: Season 9 winner is…
American Idol ‘s ninth season came to its star-studded conclusion tonight with a live telecast from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles that featured guest performances by Joe Cocker, Christina Aguilera, Alanis Morissette, Chicago, Carrie Underwood, and Bret Michaels, plus several dozen Idol alumni (including seven out of eight former winners) paying tribute to Simon Cowell.

Read more on Entertainment Weekly

TV/FILM: Lee Dewyze is Season 9 ‘Idol’
This is it: The new “American Idol” gets crowned tonight, as America says goodbye to Simon Cowell. (Until next year when he returns to Fox with his new show.) What was it like to actually be inside the Nokia? [Spoiler alert: This contains details from the finale of "American Idol."] This year, the Nokia has a special surprise waiting for its “Idol” guests. To get to your seat, you have to first …

Read more on All About Jazz

Lee DeWyze is new Idol
PETALING JAYA (May 27, 2010) : Although I have my issues with Mama Sox aka Crystal Bowersox, I have to admit that she dominated the stage at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with Lee DeWyze delivering three great songs – Me And Bobby McGee, Black Velvet and Up the Mountain with all the class of a seasoned performer.

Read more on The Sun

Lee DeWyze wins “American Idol”
Former paint salesman Lee DeWyze was the surprise winner of “American Idol” on Wednesday, beating front-runner Crystal Bowersox on a night that saw the talent show’s former champions reunite to bid farewell to Simon Cowell.

Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! News

Janet Jackson Performs Live On American Idol Finale
Actress/singer Janet Jackson performed live on the American Idol finale show last night (May 27). The R&B superstar took the stage at Nokia Theater after the whole cast of contestants, excluding the final two, sung her 1993 single “Again” from her Janet album.

Read more on DimeWars

And the ‘American Idol’ crown goes to. . . Lee DeWyze????????
Though Elliston’s Mamasox rocked the Nokia Theater, Lee DeWyze takes the ‘America Idol’ crown

Read more on The Cleveland Plain Dealer

DeWyze triumphs over Bowersox on ‘American Idol’
In this photo provided by PictureGroup, contestant Crystal Bowersox performs at the American Idol Season 9 Top 2 Performance Show at the Nokia Theatre on May 25, 2010 in Los Angeles.

Read more on The News-Times

Lee DeWyze wins “American Idol” as Cowell departs
By Jill Serjeant

Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! Philippines News

‘Idol’: How’d the top 3 do?
By Michael Slezak SPOILER ALERT! Michael Slezak’s guess for top 2; add comments, check back when sun’s up for recap

Read more on Entertainment Weekly

‘Idol’ Power List: the Top 9
Michael Slezak’s weekly look at who’s up and down before performance night — is that a guy in the top 2?!

Read more on Entertainment Weekly