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.

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.

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 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.

I really don’t give two cents what your virtual mafia war crime boss is doing and I’ve become a little weary of farm animals on my news feed (although the black sheep is cute). Kiss me all you want in YOUville… I’m just not feeling the love! My facebook homepage consists of watching friends giving each other psuedo-drinks and digital food (bits & bytes if you will). I was really more interested in keeping up with what friends were doing in real life which is why I joined facebook in the first place. What happened to meeting on facebook to discuss plans for a real event?

The good news for people like me is that it seems that facebook lite appears to be much cleaner and simpler. It seems to be a better site for Facebook newbies or for anyone who finds the current site overwhelming or noisy, remaining app free.

The profile page is simple with a side menu of tabs where you can find a collapsed version of info, friends and photos widgets.  On the wall you will find some recent news, but little source info.  A simple post interface allows visitors to write on the profile wall.  

The homepage is much lighter, there is little in the way of suggestions, highlights and requests unlike the original facebook, but you can see new friend requests much clearly. 

Facebook lite is not complete. There are still settings pages under construction but I am sure they are working as hard and fast as possible to complete this project (considering how well received this has been). No worries about security, as the privacy settings are still controlled and stay true to those set on regular facebook. So far no glitches or holes to be found (and you know a nerd like me was looking)

The photos below include a couple screen shots of the Lite version of our favourite social space, and also a shot of regular facebook to which you can compare. Really though, why fake it by just looking at my blog… go see for yourself by signing into your profile at the new http://lite.facebook.com

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.

Schedule Future workouts
Need to plan out a routine? Use the Online workout calendar and schedule your workouts in advance. When you hit the gym, use Gym Technik Mobile on your Smartphone and pick up those scheduled workouts.

Track Multiple Workouts A Day
The most requested feature to date! Now you can start and track more than one workout per day. Have your workouts broken down by body part, or perform an AM/PM two-a-day workout plan? You can now track more than one workout on the same day.

No More Basic Limits
You can now leverage the full power of Gym Technik. You can now have more than 20 workouts in your library. Each workout can contain more than 20 exercises, and you configure more than 40 custom exercises to suit your personal fitness routine.

Enhanced Graphing
Slice, dice and analyze your performance. A Premium account allows you to analyze load graphs so you know how much total weight you are pushing per exercise, graph by workout so you know which exercises performed are beginning to plateau, and compare multiple exercises against each other.

Body Composition
Start tracking your body size metrics like your arm size, shoulder size, etc. Visualize your progress by tracking then graphing these metrics to see how far you have come.

Adding Cardio Directly to Your Calendar
Mixing cardio with your weight training to get ripped? Add cardio activities directly to your calendar using your Premium account.

Workout Instructions
You can now enter notes for each of your workouts to remind yourself for specifics on how much rest to take in between sets or the types of stretches you need to do before you begin the workout. This feature is available to all Basic members too!

Having used the service I think Gymtechnik is one of the best online and mobile fitness tracking systems available and it has only been possible due to the great ideas provided by its members.

Check it out now by going to their website at http://www.gymtechnik.com

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!

Set up of your blog(s) is easy. If you have multiple blogs under one username, the set-up process will find all those blogs and list them for you.

So far posting seems like a breeze, with the option to add photos and tags to all your posts. There are several menu options including the ability to save drafts or publish immediately. You can even preview your post before publishing.  In my case however the preview was a simplified text version as the theme for this ‘blog could not be retrieved’. This could be a due to a setting I need to tweak within the application itself.

I am still playing with options and looking for a few features such as a more tag, and images simply fall to the bottom of a post.  However this is definitely a great start, and will definitely do the job of posting on the go.  With this kind of mobility GearJunky as well as my personal blog could actually be resurrected!

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?

Users/Members have several options when reserving a vehicle including the choosing of a specific type of vehicle. Say you need a van. Click on “Select Vehicle Type” and user is directed to a list of vehicles. Then check off Cargo Van, then click Select and Search tab at the bottom of the screen. The results will show you where all the available vans are. Additionally members can select to reserve a vehicle based on the amenities it has. You can choose a vehicle that allows pets, for instance, if you happen to be travelling with your dog.  Be sure to browse the reservation system for all options.

The best feature of all, has to be the ability to search for a vehicle close to your location. You don’t know how many times I’ve been in the middle of the city and suddenly needed a vehicle. Being an autoshare member with access to their mobile reservation website now makes it easy. From a Blackberry or smartphone device the user can search for the closest (available) vehicle by entering a location – address or crossroads – and the system will provide a list of vehicles closest to that location. Clicking on a listed vehicle will direct you to a page which provides information about the vehicle (type, amenities, restrictions) as well as a Google Map of it’s location.

Once the user has chosen a vehicle it is simply a matter of choosing a start date/time and a return date/time. Then a simple few clicks later the reservation is made, provided the vehicle is available for the entire duration you chose.

Business and consumer members of autoshare can now plan meetings or events on the go, and quickly check/reserve an available vehicle to transport them without having to be tied down to a PC. The user also has the option of going back and viewing furture reservations details at a later time.

Autoshare members can set-up in advance some preferences such as email or sms confirmations of reservations as well as the new integration with google calendar so that you can view advance reservations on your Blackberry Calendar after a sync (my favourite feature yet).

Current members of the Toronto car-sharing service are already familiar with the PC reservations system, but this is a very big step in the right direction. I am confident that the company will see an increase in reservations by their current memberships alone, just based on the ease and availability of a mobile web application. Below are some screenshots of the system. Click on the thumbnail for full-size!

If you are already a member use your smartphone browser to connect to toronto.autoshare.net/m

About Autoshare:

AutoShare members get 24-hour, self-serve access to clean, modern cars and vans – at over 100 locations across the city – without the hassles, costs and headaches of ownership. Rent by the hour, when you need to. AutoShare is also great for companies, NGO’s and Government departments that need cars and minivans – and want to save money. Toronto’s favourite car alternative, since 1998.

100% Canadian & locally-owned.

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

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!

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!