Facebook For Blackberry Updated to 1.7

Thanks to a twitter tip, I got the goods on the new Facebook for Blackberry update. Version 1.7 is now available in Blackberry App World or by pointing your blackberry browser to Blackberry.com/facebook
I have had a few minutes to check it out and some nice surprises.

News Feed Filters – a dropdown menu the to toggle between News Feed, Status Updates, Photos & Links. You have the ability to comment and like items in the feed.

New Menu Option to View My Profile. Unfortunately you still have to open facebook in the browser for the option to delete something from your wall.

Additionally the application is a little faster due to better caching as well as pre-fetching of feeds so that the user does not need to wait for feeds to be updated.

Still missing is the chat feature.

Important New Viigo Release (for BlackBerry)

Continuing on their efforts to make Viigo the best and your favourite news reader, Viigo has released an all important update. Version 3.1.486 became available this morning. You can get it at getviigo.com

This update has a few new features but concentrates mostly on improving performance, memory consumption, data usage, battery life.

For full description of all the features on this update visit Viigo website.

Remember to uninstall any current versions of the application from your blackberry before installing the latest version.

Opera Mini 5 Beta Released

Mobile users favourite browser has just received a huge update. Version 5 of Opera Mini is now in beta and available for download.

The browser is now more intuitive and much easier to use, and aside from a super increase in speed Opera has incorporated some much anticipated features.

Tabs
With tabbed browsing, you no longer need to interrupt one session to start another. Use your Web mail in one window, Facebook in another, Twitter in a third and all that while checking the latest sports results. With Opera Mini, you can easily identify the different tabs and jump between them.

Password Manager
No more hassle with those hard-to-enter usernames and passwords. Opera Mini 5 will remember your credentials, and you can log on to your favorite Web sites with just a single click. The passwords are stored on your phone for your convenience.

Speed Dial
Get your favorite Web page with just one click. Speed Dial is a set of visual bookmarks you see when you open a new tab, like a dashboard for your on-line life. To add a new page, simply click on an empty Speed Dial slot, and Opera will make suggestions based on your browsing history and bookmarks.

Touch & Keypad
The user interface has been designed for both touchscreen- and keypad-style mobile phones. With a touchscreen, you can enjoy even easier navigation with our new zooming and kinetic scrolling.

There is much more to know about Opera Mini 5, and you can find out more by going to their website.

Download Opera Mini 5 Beta from your mobile browser to try it for yourself.

Facebook Lite Is Live!

Facebook lite is now available to current facebook subscribers in North America, India and the UK. The stripped down version offers a much cleaner interface a la 2006 style social network.

Gymtechnik Premium Service Arrived!

GymTechnik is a revolutionary new platform that allows you to access your workouts through the web or your smartphone.

Setup workouts online and later access them while at the gym by pointing  the smartphone  browser to m.gymtechnik.com.  Users can also track and modify progress through the calendar here directly on the web.

The great folks at Gymtechnik are giving a free trial of Premium membership to current members.
This upgrade is automatic so all you have to do is just sign in, and continue using GymTechnik as normal and you will see all the new changes.

A list of the Premium Features included follow.

WordPress For Blackberry

Just a quick update… Beta version 0.9.0.140 has just been released with several bug fixes. In addition we’ve been told to expect support for BIS soon! This news comes to GearJunky courtesy of the foremost Blackberry Social site Blackberry Underground.

WordPress has created a Blackberry application for on the go publishing. I am testing out this 5th installment of the beta 0.9.0.134 on this first post. So far my findings are impressive.  More screenshots follow!

Toronto’s AutoShare Now Available on Smartphones

AutoShare has listened to their smartphone using members and finally rolled out (pun intended) a mobile reservation system. Members now have the ability to reserve a vehicle using their blackberry or other smartphone. The mobile version of the website is surprisingly comprehensive.

Users can log in with their member number and password, then choose to view any new messages or reserve a vehicle. The reservation system will default to your favourite vehicle(s) – previously specified on PC during the account set-up process.  How?

Blackberry Software: Amaze GPS Navigation

Well its the that time again, where I go scouring the internet, and blackberry forums for the best in freeware for your favourite Blackberry smartphone!

This week we talk about AmAze GPS Navigation

amAze is a first of its kind free navigation and local search service. amAze is the only GPS navigation software that is really FREE. No future payments, no tricks. Supports both external Bluetooth GPS or internal GPS. Amaze contains wide coverage of maps including aerial photo in Europe, North America, Australia and parts of Asia and Africa.
Features include: Satellite and Hybrid 3D map view, as well as birds eye view, voice guidance, weather conditions, local and keyword search. Check out the full feature set on their website. Support for most Blackberry devices, including Storm and Bold. Use your Blackberry browser to Download AmazeGPS

Nobex Radio Companion Goes CANCON

In my daily pursuit of Blackberry news this morning, I came across the fact that Nobex Radio Companion has added Canadian Radio Stations to its lineup. Only 150 of them for now, but I’m elated that I can listen to some local radio during my commute home on the TTC, without having to purchase a seperate am/fm radio accessory for my blackberry. Set-up was fairly simple, and you can stream via wi-fi or mobile network. Best of all the application is compatible with the devices’ stereo bluetooth. I had my wireless headset on, so as not to disturb other passengers. Nobex Radio Companion was featured at CES 2009, and Crackberry.com recently did a review of the free application. Thre is an eventual plan to charge a small subscription fee but for now you can listen for free. I just happen to work for a Canadian broadcaster, so I quickly emailed a screenshot of my Bold to the guys in studio, to let them know just how much I love my Blackberry, especially now that I can listen in. To download your own copy of the app, go to the NobexRC.com website using your blackberry browser! Get it while it’s still FREE!

Spy Vs. Spy

PC Magazine is asking whether or not RIM has forgotten it’s largest market – the business community – in order to embrace the sought after consumer. Many organizations such as government agencies and financial institutions don’t like the camera mostly because they pose a security risk to the sensitive information within their facilities. And although IT policies exist within BES to disable hardware such as the camera, many also know that the savoy user can get around such restrictions. With no device since the 8800 (Feb 2007) to ship without a camera, some are wondering if there is still a market for such a device? PC Magazine (and possibly the Whitehouse) seem to think there is a reason many are still using the older camera-less devices.

Alternatively, a Vancouver company, Absolute Software Corp. known for laptop theft recovery software, has launched Computrace Mobile for BlackBerry Smartphones as well as Windows Mobile smartphones. A key feature of the new platform allows IT administrators to track their field smart phones via Google Maps using geolocation technology. Additionally the product can also detect hardware and software changes on a smart phone and features a “data delete” command that can help prevent sensitive corporate data from falling into the wrong hands (or possibly interrupt a resourceful game of Brickbreaker by killing it remotely). Absolute is targeting small to medium size businesses, with fewer than 20 smartphone units, where the cost of BES (US $3000) would be exorbitant. Basically, the software will allow managers to keep tabs on their mobile fleet at a very inexpensive price.

In this troubled economy, Computrace is the most conservative way to separate the slackers from the productive, so that it will be easy to make those big decisions when pink slips are being handed out. Just make sure those camera’s are disabled so that no one can snap photos of all your company secrets, on the way out the door!