There's been an absolute deluge of different Twitter apps over the past year or so, and the number is only getting bigger as Twitter's popularity grows. The iPhone might be the leader in mobile Twitter clients, boasting Twitterrific and Tweetie, but the poor, maligned BlackBerry has been lagging behind. The team at Boy Genius Report decided to do something about that, though, and now BlackBerry users can turn to TweetGenius.
TweetGenius is the first client for the BlackBerry to include advanced features like search and TwitPic integration. While it might not measure up to its iPhone cousins in terms of UI, it's leaps and bounds ahead of competitors like Twitterberry in terms of looks and ease of use. The pop-up bubble for entering a tweet is a nice touch. If you're a BlackBerry user who's been reluctant to use Twitter because the right client came along, give TweetGenius a spin. You might like it.
While I'm not as big of an Evernote devotee as some other Download Squad bloggers, I do love the idea. For the uninitiated, Evernote is a service/app combo that is designed to let you capture all the bits of information that you want to save for future access -- business cards, to-do lists, audio messages, photos, screenshots, web links -- and organize those bits so that they are searchable and accessible from multiple computers and mobile devices. It's a great idea, and a great service -- but it's really only valuable if you either use more than one computer frequently (so your work machine is separate from your home machine), or if your mobile device is compatible with t he service.
Although Evernote has a GREAT iPhone app, as a hybrid BlackBerry/iPod touch 2G user, it really isn't the best solution for me. Chances are, if I'm away from my primary computer, my BlackBerry is what I'll end up using, unless there happens to be WiFi around for my iPod touch. If I had a Windows Mobile phone or an iPhone, that would be one thing, but I'm a BlackBerry user, and I'm used to getting short-changed on the mobile app front.
Fast-forward to this morning, where I see a post on the Evernote blog, announcing Evernote for BlackBerry. Unfortunately, before I could get too excited about the possibilities of keeping my handbag clean and consolidating my various notes in one digital space, I saw the system requirements.
Evernote for the BlackBerry requires OS 4.6 or higher. That means, you must have a BlackBerry Bold, a BlackBerry Storm (ick) or the new Blackberry Curve 8900. If you're one of the millions of users, who has the BlackBerry Curve 83xx (like me), well, you're still Evernote-less. On the mobile front anyway.
Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the Evernote developers for wanting to make the app as robust as possible, thus, they want to use the best OS framework available. I'm just a little peeved at RIM, who is continuing to sell BlackBerry 83XX series Curves by the truckload seems pretty content to let Curve owners languish with OS 4.5 (an OS that has made me hate my BlackBerry, yet I need 4.5 if I want to actually use the device for more than phone calls and e-mail), and thus, miss out on cool apps like this.
If you do have a BlackBerry that works with OS 4.6, you can download Evernote for the BlackBerry from the BlackBerry App World. Since I can't test, it, tell me what you think in the comments.
Zoho has launched a new mobile interface for its web-based office and productivity applications. That includes a mail and calendar app, as well as word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database utilities.
To launch the mobile version of Zoho, just visit m.zoho.com in any mobile browser. Or if you just want to see what the interface looks like, you can use the same URL in a desktop browser.
Zoho says the mobile interface supports mobile devices running Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, and Google Android as well as the iPhone and BlackBerry devices.
Zoho Mobile is available in English and Japanese. The team plans to develop mobile interfaces for additional Zoho office applications in the future.
The move means that mobile phone users who are unhappy with the built in office applications on their devices have another alternative -- although one that you'll have to use up some mobile minutes in order to use.
Research In Motion has launched BlackBerry App World, also known as RIM's version of the iPhone App Store. BlackBerry owners can purchase programs priced between $2.99 and $999.99 directly on their mobile phones, with some free apps available as well. Checkout is powered by PayPal.
You'll need a device running BlackBerry software version 4.2 or higher and the service is only available to customers in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Microsoft is expected to launch its own app store, called Windows Marketplace, for Windows Mobile devices soon.
Skype plans to begin offering a mobile VoIP client for iPhone through the iTunes App Store starting tomorrow. The New York times reports a BlackBerry version is due out in May.
The mobile clients will let users make free calls to other Skype users or low cost long distance and international calls to other phones. iPhone users will only be able to use Skype when connected to a WiFi hotspot, which prevents users from connecting to the AT&T network and skirting AT&T international fees by making calls over Skype.
In addition to making phone calls, the mobile client allows users to send instant messages, make conference calls, and snap profile photos using the iPhone's camera. You can find a series of screenshots of the iPhone app at Skype Journal.
Sling Media, the makers of the Slingbox set top box and SlingPlayer software have taken the beta label off the company's BlackBerry client. What that means is if you own a Slingbox and have it plugged into your home theater setup, you can stream live TV to your BlackBerry - for a fee. The SlingPlayer Mobile client will set you back $30. There's a 30 day free trial if you don't want to commit without trying the software out first, but you'll also need to have a Slingbox. There's no way around that constraint (unless you've got a friend who's willing to let you login to his or her Slingbox account).
Sling also has mobile clients for Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian. And it looks like an iPhone client is on its way. There's a new SlingPlayer for iPhone web page which shows a software demo video, and you can sign up for an email notification when the program is added to the iPhone App Store.
Like to keep things as simple as possible? Looking for a way to create notes for yourself?
Take a look at PicoNote. It's available in three forms: a free Windows application, a web-based app, and a mobile-friendly web app (http://m.piconote.com). From the moment you sign up, you'll enjoy its simplicity - the registration form only asks for a username and password.
Once you've created an account, adding notes is easy to do: create, add title and body text, and save your note. If it contains a URL, Piconote will automatically turn it into a clickable link. Private notes are hidden from prying eyes, but you can also create public notes to share with anyone. There are no formatting options, but you shouldn't really expect those from a "pico" application anyway, right?
The desktop application is just as easy to use. Its interface defaults to Polish, so to switch to English just click notatnik -> language. Once you've created a local notepad, Piconote will sync it to your web account and automatically sync it every time you open or close the file.
If that's not enough, you can also create notes via Twitter. Just follow @piconote and send a direct message.
Research in Motion is in the process of launching an app store that will let users purchase and download software directly from their Blackberry mobile devices. You know, kind of like the iPhone App Store. But for BlackBerry.
But there's at least one thing setting the BlackBerry App World store apart from the competition: prices will start at $2.99. The companies has released a FAQ for developers explaining the pricing tiers. And it looks like you'll be able to find free apps in the store. But the suggested pricing for paid apps starts at $2.99 and goes up to $999.99.
Now, it's possible that these prices aren't written in stone. RIM does refer to them as "suggested retail prices." But it's also possible that this is RIM's way of ensuring that the company's app store isn't filled with frivolous apps like the fart app craze that has recently overtaken Apple's app store.
If you have a SlingBox and a BlackBerry, get ready because on December 30th you'll be able to download SlingPlayer Mobile in a free public beta. The public beta supports BlackBerry Bold, Curve 8900, 8820, Curve 8320, Pearl Flip 8220 and Pearl 8120. Firmware must be version 4.5 or higher.
Some EDGE-only models will also work but due to slow video streaming and other versions it is not officially supported in the public beta. SlingPlayer Mobile is already available for PocketPC, Windows Smartphone,Palm OS and Symbian S60 and UIQ.
What does it all mean? You can carry a TV around in your pocket! The SlingBox set top box captures your home cable or satellite signal and allows you to watch it via the internet using the SlingPlayer software. I generally use mine while traveling - my parents don't have cable at all - so at their house I can snuggle up with my laptop and watch whatever is on at home.
I would think the BlackBerry would make for some tiny TV viewing, but it could certainly pass the time in airports and other places where you spend a lot of time waiting. And if you have one of those careers where you carry a BlackBerry because you need to know what is going on in the world, well, this would be the perfect way to be able to watch CNN and other news stations when you need information.
The public beta is free, beginning on December 30th. Other SlingPlayer Mobile players have a 30 day free trial before purchase is required. SlingPlayer Mobile is $29.99. You can expect the BlackBerry version to follow the same pattern after the initial public beta is over. You also need a SlingBox to make everything work and those start at $179.99.
Want to run BlackBerry applications without buying, you know, a BlackBerry? Soon your dream may come true. BerryReview has a first look at the BlackBerry Application Suite for Windows Mobile. The software is basically a virtual version of the BlackBerry OS that you can run as a Windows Mobile application on supported phones.
The application weighs in at about 32MB which is pretty large for a Windows Mobile application. But it will allow employees at companies that are currently tied to BlackBerry software the option of picking up Windows Mobile phones that can support BlackBerry's push email and other services.
The first release is still pretty limited. GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and video playback don't work. Neither does the ability to make phone calls. So the software clearly isn't ready for prime time yet.
Soocial is a free web service that provides a central location for all of your contacts' phone numbers, email addresses, and other information. If that's all Soocial provided, it wouldn't be that interesting. But Soocial goes a few steps further and allows you to synchronize your contacts across multiple platforms, including your cellphone, Mac, PC, and Gmail.
Yesterday the company released a utility for Outlook synchronization that supports Windows XP and Vista and Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007. While the Outlook sync plugin is in alpha and Soocial recommends backing up your contacts before running, I didn't experience any problems. In a matter of minutes, all of my contacts were backed up online and accessible through the Soocial web site.
Gmail sync, on the other hand is a bit slower. I've been waiting about an hour for the Gmail synchronization to kick in. If and when it does, Soocial wil fill in the next piece of a synchronization puzzle that I've been struggling with for ages. Using Soocial, you'll be able to keep your Outlook and Google contacts in sync, and using Calgoo or Google Calendar Sync, you'll be able to synchronize your Outlook calendar with Google Calendar. And that means you'll be able to update your information on any computer with a web browser, knowing that the changes will be synched to your primary computer and any mobile devices like cellphones and PDAs that you keep synched with Outlook.
Now would someone please release a tool that synchronizes Outlook tasks with Remember the Milk?
Soocial also plans to release a BlackBerry client soon, and already supports hundreds of cellphones.
After several false starts, it finally looks like mobile application development has real momentum. Although the iPhone and Android have received a lot of attention in regards to third-party applications, they aren't the only game in town. Approximately 19 million people have BlackBerry devices and as more and more consumers continue to adopt BlackBerry based smartphones, this is certainly a market with plenty of untapped potential. Back in May, JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners announced the creation of the BlackBerry Partners Fund -- a $150 million venture capital fund focussed on applications and services for the BlackBerry platform. Today, the BlackBerry Partners Fund is announcing its first three investments.
The companies receiving funding are buzzd, Digby and WorldMate. I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Talbot, the Co-Managing Partner of the fund and Nihal Mehta, the CEO of buzzd earlier this week, and both are really excited abut the future of BlackBerry's role in the mobile application space and the opportunities the Fund can help propel.
Not content with Android, the Google Mobile team has pulled another trick out of their sleeve: Gmail for mobile 2.0. Really, this is Gmail for mobile 2.0.6, but why quibble with details.
BlackBerry users got the bulk of the updates last month, with the Google Mobile App for BlackBerry, but now Gmail 2.0 has been pushed out to all J2ME phones.
Here are the highlights:
Offline support: This is big. You can read recent e-mail and compose messages, even if you don't have a signal. Messages you compose offline will be put in the outbox and sent as soon as you have a signal.
Multiple account support: The BlackBerry has had this feature since last month, and it is easily one of my favorite features. If you have multiple Gmail or Google Apps accounts (I have a Gmail account I rarely use for personal correspndance and three or four different Google Apps accounts), you know that having to log-in to a different account to access your mail is a huge, huge pain. You can set-up multple accounts and switch between them at ease.
Mobile drafts: You can compose multiple mobile drafts and then choose what you want to edit or send later. BlackBerry users have also had access to this feature for several weeks.
Shortcuts: Phones with a QWERTY keyboard can now use shortcut keys like, "z" fo undo, "k" to go to a new conversation, and "j" to go to an older conversatio -- just like in the desktop browser version of Gmail.
If you use Gmail and you have a BlackBerry or J2ME mobile phone, you definitely want to download the latest version of Gmail for mobile. You can get it at http://m.google.com/mail.
Yes, your PDA, cellphone, BlackBerry, or whatever it is you carry around in your pocket probably came with a calendar and contact manager. And they probably suck. Pocket Informant doesn't.
This personal information management suite was originally designed as a complete replacement for the PIM applications that come with Windows Mobile. It's now available for iPhone and BlackBerry devices as well.
The Pocket Informant calendar is nothing short of awesome. It offers agenda, day, week, and month views that are quite frankly more useful than anything you'll find in Outlook or Google Calendar. And they just happen to fit beautifully on a small screen. You can easily see at a glance how much free and busy time you have in a day. And you can link appointments to contacts, set reminders, and show tasks from your To Do list in your calendar.
Pocket Informant's search utility also puts the built in Windows Mobile search function to shame. Results appear almost instantly, and you can find top level information like a contact's name or phone number, or results that are buried down a bit deeper like a name mentioned in a note attached to a calendar item from a year ago.
Pocket Informant for Windows Mobile costs $29.95. The BlackBerry and iPhone/iPod touch versions are each $20.
I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.
In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.
To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.
Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.
There's been an absolute deluge of different Twitter apps over the past year or so, and the number is only getting bigger as Twitter's popularity grows. The iPhone might be the leader in mobile Twitter clients, boasting Twitterrific and Tweetie, but the poor, maligned BlackBerry has been lagging behind. The team at Boy Genius Report decided to do something about that, though, and now BlackBerry users can turn to TweetGenius.
After several false starts, it finally looks like mobile application development has real momentum. Although the 
