In the effort to branch out and reach readers accross all current smartphone platforms, we have moved. All the latest BlackBerry news as well as in-depth how to articles can be found at our new home…. theSmartPhonefactory.com, we value our readers and hope to see every one make the move with us. the forums will also be ported over along with all user accounts and email addresses. All registered users will receive an email with the details.
Even during an outage RIM has found the time to release yet another version of BlackBerry Messenger. With all the recent releases, it doesn’t look like they are going to stop anytime soon.
5.0.0.57 is now available on the BlackBerry download site and I imagine it won’t be too long before it is available in App World. I have not had the chance to download the newest version due to the outage. From what I have been told this is just another service update. Not too sure what issues it addresses at this point, but my understanding is not too much has changed.
If you were one of the lucky ones that managed to grab it before the outage, leave us a comment and let us know whats new in the update if anything. If you had to wait to grab your copy get it HERE.
As you probably already know, RIM is experiencing another outage. I have heard that the outage is affecting most all U.S. carriers. I am unsure at this point if it is affecting Canadian carriers, From what I have read on the very few Twitter updates I received, they have been affected as well.
When I called Verizon Wireless to report the outage I received the standard recording saying that “They are aware of an issue in your service area, in regards to email and the BlackBerry server. RIM is working on the issue.”
So as it seems this is an issue that has been going on most of the day, as I am unaware of exactly what time I lost my data connection to the server. Hopefully RIM will have us back up and running soon. If you have service or any info in regards to the outage. Please leave us a comment here with carrier and region. Thank You and Happy Holidays
theBlackBerryfactory forums have went through many changes since our launch back in august. This is because we want to provide our readers with the cleanest, easiest to navigate layout possible for both the blog page and forums. Among the many features and categories you’ll find in our forums, we also have several knowledgeable moderators to assist you with any questions you may have. Below is a list of mods and they’re email addresses, feel free to contact them with any questions or concerns.
MikeBeattie -
support@theBlackBerryfactory.com
Macapple -
mike_belland@theBlackBerryfactory.com
Garvicad –
garyparent@theBlackBerryfactory.com
Cbeslash -
mattstauffer@theBlackBerryfactory.com
Xondra -
xondrasmart@theBlackBerryfactory.com
All user accounts will be transferred from the blog to forums, so if you have registered with us in the past you will not have to re register to join the forums. All users will receive an email with they’re updated login information as well. Thanks for your patience during this process and be sure to head to the forums and check things out,
theBlackBerryfactory.com/forums
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*Winner Announced*
It has been what seems like a long time since we started our Berry Merry Christmas Giveaway but we now have an official winner. We here at tBBF would like to offer congrats to tcu16. An email has been sent to tcu16 with instructions on how to redeem the coveted 8520 gift pack. We would like to give a big THANKS to all who entered. Keep checking back often and tell everyone you know, there will be a lot more giveaways. Again congrats to tcu16 for winning our Berry Merry Christmas Giveaway, we hope you enjoy your new BlackBerry!
*UPDATE*
So there is only one day left until the big giveaway. If you haven’t yet then you need to get entered in order to win. It’s going to be a great start to a new year! Good luck to all who enter!
Tis the season of giving, lets ring in the holidays with a bang! It is our first Christmas here at tBBF and we thought whats better then to give?
Do you want or need a new sleek trackpad equipped device? I know I do but this ones for you, our readers. We are are going to give all of you the chance to get your hands on a nice new BlackBerry 8520 package for the holidays. Included in the package is a Blackberry Curve 8520, a bluetooth headset and a car charger. Or the winner may choose our other package which includes a nice new 8520, a bluetooth headset and a gel skin for your Berry.
Sounds too good to be true I know…but it is. here are some very important rules that you will need to follow.
1) You will need to follow @theBBfactory and @mdorrett on Twitter. * if you don’t have a Twitter account sign up HERE*
2) You will need to add this pin to you BBM list with “8520 giveaway” in the invitation 306413F2 for those of you that do not have a BlackBerry yet you may use “GTalk” mdorrett@gmail.com
3) You will need to go to our 8520 Giveaway Forum and tell us why you deserve a new Berry. Please include your BBM and Twitter name so we can verify.
The winner will be chosen at random on New years eve and will be contacted via email shortly after with instructions on how to choose package and claim your prize.
We here at theBlackBerryfactory wish you and your families all the best during this holiday season. We enjoy having you our readers in our lives and hope that you keep us in yours. Many will enter and only one will win! Good luck to all of you!
*UPDATE*
We here at theBlackBerryFactory would like to congratulate our winners of our Google Wave invite giveaway cbeslash and maccapple. Both our lucky winners will be contacted by email with an invite to Google Wave. Please enjoy the invite. Please contact us if you have any issues. Once again congrats and enjoy!
As you may well remember just a couple of months ago, we at tBBf gave away a copy of Google Voice to one lucky winner. Well a big thank you goes out to @Sloth26 ! A very generous friend of ours. In honor of the holidays’ and Christmas being just around the corner, he has donated not one…but five coveted invites to Google Wave. That means that five lucky readers will get an invite.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Google Wave, although it may not be specifically for the BlackBerry it is a very cool new tool. Google Wave allows multiple users to share files in single conversation or “wave”. It also allows you to update Twitter from your wave. Google is adding a lot of cool tools as they progress with development, allowing users to share maps, media files and so on. Google wave is perfect for website owners and operators who may have to share files with people across the country in real time. Google Wave is only available by invitation at the moment. This is why it has been hard for some of us to get our hands on it.
So as I said before five…count em’ five lucky winners will have the chance to secure an invite for Google Wave. All you have to do is leave a comment in this post for your chance to win. Please remember that multiple entries will be disqualified, so only one post please. The winners will be chosen at random from all entries on December 18th 2009. The winners will be notified via email after the drawing. Make sure to tell all your friends and family. We at tBBF say GOOD LUCK! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
While checking Twitter updates on my break. I came across a tweet from our friends at www.BBHybrids.net with a link to BBM 5.0.0.52. I have installed this version which has been pulled from the newly leaked 9700 OS.
Although I haven’t had much time to tinker with it, I have noticed that the fonts have been changed and avatars seem crisper.
Here is the link for OTA. If you find any issues please let us know. Enjoy!
*UPDATE*
I have recently found out that this version has been released to carriers for testing so please use it and let us know what you think.
With a new baby and a new BlackBerry 9700 to play with, I’ve definitely been a bit sidetracked lately. Now that things are getting back to normal so will our BlackBerry coverage. To kick things off in the right direction we’ve recently launched our new forums. Although there’s still a few bugs to work out please feel free to drop in and check things out. Many new and improved site features will be rolled out over the next few days so please stick around and help theBlackBerryfactory 2.0 ring in the new year with a bang. Be sure to send us any feedback or requests via support@theBlackBerryfactory.com
With the introduction of out new forums, we are also in the process of building a team of developers to help build our site offerings. Along with free themes we will also be developing small utility applications and premium theme that will be on sale both here on our blog and on mobihand. If interested in an opportunity to showcase your talent and make some money, please send us an email via support@theBlackBerryfactory.com and be sure to add us to your BBM contacts pin:2109FE47. We look forward to working with as many talented people as possible.
theBlackBerryfactory is currently under going some major changes, one of the main changes are our forums. We are in the process of constructing a super forums page which will be home to every important link and file imaginable and a place for our readers to get involved and become acquainted with one another. We are looking for a few moderators to jump on board. One mod will be chosen to be our global moderator and help the others get the feel for moderating our forums. If your interested in the position please send us an email, support@theBlackBerryfactory.com
