Plenty of Facebook users have been waiting for it, and we had a pretty good feeling it was coming today. That said; Facebook v2.0 is now available for download for both BlackBerry smartphones and the BlackBerry PlayBook. As noted from RIM:

We are pleased to announce the availability of Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 today in BlackBerry App World. Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook was the first optimized tablet Facebook application that offers users a highly engaging experience with access to popular features such as Facebook chat, video uploading and Places.

New features include:

• Facebook Places – Users choose to share where they are, what they are doing and who they are with – with Facebook friends. Get directions to and from a Facebook Places by clicking on the map image, which will seamlessly launch the Bing! Maps on the BlackBerry Playbook.
• Facebook Events – View events and birthdays and receive notifications of new invitations. View event details like the time, place, guest list and more. Users can even RSVP and write on the event’s Wall.
• View ‘Likes’ – See the names of the friends that ‘liked’ a user’s post. Users will also be able to tap their friends’ names to launch directly to their profiles.
• Privacy control on status updates – Control who can see each update users share. Simply click the lock icon in the lower-right corner of the status publisher to select who to make the status update visible to before posting it.

Also available today in BlackBerry App World, is the official Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones v2.0 app. Thanks to user feedback on the beta, this next generation app includes a sleek new user interface and many new features based on customer feedback, including Facebook Chat.

Fire up BlackBerry App World now and grab it — if you’re not seeing it as of yet try refreshing your applications list or sideloading it directly from the BlackBerry App World webstore online.

Download Facebook for BlackBerry v2.0
Download Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0

The other day, I was helping one of my friends get better acquainted with his new BlackBerry Torch. He’s no stranger to BlackBerry, he had one before I did. In fact, if you go back and look at my CrackBerry Idol audition, he’s the one with the 8820 who told me to get a BlackBerry.  Without that bit of advice, I never would have joined the CrackBerry Team. The other day, he asked me to show him how to restart his smartphone without pulling the battery. Needless to say, I forgot to show him how before I headed home; but that got me thinking. He’s probably not the only one wondering how to do this; so B (and everyone else), this post is for you.

Most people know that removing the battery from your BlackBerry is a perfectly acceptable way to reset the BlackBerry. There is another way. A soft reset will accomplish the same thing as pulling the battery but without all the hassle of taking your BlackBerry out of its case, removing the battery door, pulling the battery, waiting for a few seconds, replacing the battery, replacing the battery cover, and returning the device to its protective case.

Incidentally, a “soft” reset is not a kinder, gentler way to restart your BlackBerry. Soft, in this case, means the device is reset by the SOFTware. A “hard” reset involves pulling the battery, a HARDware reset. To accomplish this soft reset, you’ll hold three keys down all at the same time. On your keyboard, press and hold the ALT key, press and hold the right SHIFT key, and press DEL. In my mind, this is almost the same as pressing Control-Alt-Delete to restart a Windows PC (at least it once did).  Unfortunately for Storm and Pearl users, this soft reset is only possible on devices with QWERTY keyboards.

Though the reset starts immediately; at first, it won’t appear that anything has happened. Don’t worry, it has. The screen freezes and you won’t be able to use the device (because it’s resetting). After a moment, the screen will go blank and that comforting red LED will turn on letting you know that screen won’t be blank for long. After a few moments, you’ll be back in business with a refreshed BlackBerry, and you didn’t even have to touch the battery.

Hey. How are you doing? Did you have a bad day? I’m sorry to hear that. Why don’t you sit back and relax while I start playing some relaxing, soothing sounds to calm your nerves.

Sounds pretty good right? Here’s the thing- it’s not a person saying that to you – it may just be your BlackBerry. An application called Therapy Studio could be right up your alley if you need a few minutes to disengage from a stressful situation. It provides a dozen tunes and sound effects that can be enjoyed individually, or up to a combination of three simultaneously. These sounds include a creek, chimes, a singing bird and crickets. You can choose the duration of each loop and their start times – making it a truly personal, relaxing experience. A timer is also included so you know when to leave LaLa land and get back to the daily grind. Therapy Studio also has a free version available, but it’s a lot less relaxing. What I mean is the lite version has a greatly reduced number of sounds to choose from. You also don’t have access to the help menu, where it’s said you can learn which sounds can be used in certain circumstances and how to get obtain optimal relaxation. If you want to grab the full version of Therapy Studio, you can pick it up for $1.99 from the CrackBerry AppStore.

More information/download Therapy Studio
More information/download Therapy Studio Lite

Getting tired of your same old avatar on BBM/Twitter/Facebook, or looking for a way to pass a few minutes and feeling creative? Check out Profixel, a FREE app for your BlackBerry that you can use to make a fun and unique pixel based avatar for any number of uses! Profixel includes 2 pre-loaded templates that you can use as a starting point. After choosing one, you use the menu button to bring up a color palate, and from there you can alter the template however you like, one pixel at a time. If you’re stuck, and in need of some creative inspiration, you can check out some sample avatars that are included in the app. Once you have your avatar the way you want it, simply save it to your device, and you can use it as your profile picture or avatar anywhere you choose.

Also from within the app, you can upload your avatar to the Profixel Fanpage on Facebook, and you can email it! I was also informed that once the final BBM SDK is released, Profixel will be updated so that you can set the picture as your BBM avatar from within the app as well. So go ahead, let your creativity flow, and create yourself a fun new avatar on your BlackBerry!

For more information/screenshots and to download Profixel FREE

TuneIn Radio user? If so, you’ll want to hit their website for the latest update available — which, is now v2.1. Quite a jump from the previous version being 1.9. Unfortunately, no changelog has been created to go along with this update but we’re guessing as soon as it hits BlackBerry App World the CrackBerry forums post will be updated with release notes.. But for now, you can grab v2.1 directly from the TuneIn Radio link below.

Download TuneIn Radio v2.1 directly

Source: BerryReview

Skype is one of the best ways to reach out to people for free or cheap. From your desktop or laptop you can enjoy free VoIP or Videos calls between Skype members. You can even get into group video calling. But what if you find yourself without a computer? Armed with your BlackBerry, you can still keep in contact by using the IM+ Talk application. Through IM+ talk, you unlock some of the features that make Skype so useful. Free and Cheap VoIP calls, instant messaging and file sharing between members; you are never too far away from those important to you (whether you can admit they are or not).  Let’s check out what IM+ Talk has to offer.

Read more… »

The Motorola S10-HD Bluetooth stereo headphones keep your music moving with you. High Definition audio provides amazingly rich sound and the advanced design ensures that the headphones are light, comfortable, and sweat-proof. You can even take calls while listening to music.

Features: High definition audio for deep, rich sound Sweat proof design with hydrophobic acoustic mesh Includes microphone so you can take and make calls Lightweight, comfortable design ideal for working out

Buy This Item: Motorola MOTOROKR S10HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Buy Now $74.95

Motorola MOTOROKR S10HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Buy Now $74.95

Plantronics BackBeat 903 Stereo Bluetooth Headset Buy Now $89.95

Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Buy Now $49.95

Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones Buy Now $84.95

RIM will release the next version of PlayBook in Fall 2011. Known as the PlayBook 2, this tablet will feature a 10-inch multitouch display, a new operating system and support for email client and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). Too bad, there is no further info about this upcoming gadget. Stay tuned for more updates. [Boy Genius]

Today, some of you Twitter users are in for a treat. Available for most BlackBerry Beta Zone users is Twitter for BlackBerry 2.0.0.7. The update brings a brand new and very attractive interface, and seems to make better use of your BlackBerry’s screen real estate. Other new features include:

• Redesigned Navigation Bar
• New Compose Tweet Button
• Single Search Screen
• External Notification- New app header shows you notification from other apps like email, BBM, etc.
• New Black/Chrome Color Scheme

Overall this is a great update, adding a lot of features. So if you are a Beta Zone user, head on over and check it out. Hit the break for more screen shots.

Download T4BB v2.0 at the BlackBerry Beta Zone

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Facebook for BlackBerry v2.0 has been available in the beta zone for a few weeks now, and today RIM has issued another refresh of the popular social networking application. Version 2.0 brings along a new UI for the app as well as Facebook chat and more. The refreshed version is available today for enrolled Beta Zone members. Features include:

• Support for BlackBerry OS 5.0 – The beta app now supports BlackBerry smartphones with BlackBerry OS 5 and above.
• Facebook Chat Enhancements
  • Know when a friend is typing a message by the visual cue of “is typing a message”
  • Filter Online Contacts to quickly find a specific friend and start a Chat message.
• Mutual Friends and Friends List – Discover which friends you have in common with other users via the Info tab on Profiles (dependent on Privacy Settings of the user).
• Enhanced integration with BlackBerry native apps – Click on PINs, Phone Numbers, and email addresses displayed in Wall posts, messages or the Info tab, to perform the respective action (e.g., place a call) or save the information to your BlackBerry Contacts application

The new version can be found in the BlackBerry Beta Zone today.

Source: Inside BlackBerry

Expense reports on the go couldn’t be easier with ProOnGo Expense with Receipt Reader. You can track your mileage via GPS, time via call logs, and regular expenses by taking pictures of your receipts, all right from your BlackBerry! When you take a picture of your receipt, the app automatically extracts the dollar amount, merchant name, and date which it then generates into an expense report. When it’s time to submit the report, ProOnGo has tons of options for that as well. Other features include currency conversion, integration with calendar and contacts, receipt image editor, reminders for recurring expenses, and more!

The newest feature that was just recently added gives you the ability to compute two different types of taxes on a single item. Users just enter in in a percentage and ProOnGo Expense will find the the tax amount and include it in your expense details.

ProOnGo Expense is free to download, and has a 30 day trial. To continue using the app after that you will have to choose a subscription package, which ranges from $.99 to $9.99 per month with discounts for pre-paying.

For more information and to download ProOnGo Expense from the CB Store
For more information and to download ProOnGo Expense from BlackBerry App World

Watch the best hands-on, help, how-to and comparison videos for the BlackBerry PlayBook!

Want to know more about the BlackBerry PlayBook? Here we’ve compiled all the best videos so you too can be a PlayBook guru. We have help videos that will get you up and running, comparison videos so you’ll see how the PlayBook stacks up to the competition and more. Even if you’ve read our BlackBerry PlayBook review and checked out all our other PlayBook articles, the videos will all be here on one page for easy access, and we’ll be sure to add to the list so all of our BlackBerry PlayBook videos are never more than a click away. Be sure to bookmark this page as we’ll be updating it often with all of the latest PlayBook videos.

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Press Release

Best Buy Begins Accepting Orders For BlackBerry PlayBook Today

Minneapolis, MN and Waterloo, ON – Customers eagerly awaiting the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet can begin placing their orders today. Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), a preferred retailer for the BlackBerry PlayBook, today announced the pricing and launch date for the highly anticipated tablet in the U.S. and Canada.

The BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi will come in three models, featuring 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage at $499, $599 and $699 respectively.  It is scheduled to be available from all Best Buy stores and Best Buy Mobile stores in the US, as well as Best Buy and Future Shop* stores in Canada, on April 19. Customers in the US and Canada can place their orders beginning today by visiting their local Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile or Future Shop store or by ordering on-line (after 8am ET) at:

U.S. – www.bestbuy.com/playbook

Canada – www.bestbuy.ca/blackberry or www.futureshop.ca/blackberry

“Previews of the BlackBerry PlayBook have generated tremendous excitement and we know that customers are eager to get their hands on one,” said Craig McLennan, Regional Managing Director, North America, Research In Motion. “We share that excitement and we are very pleased to announce that customers can begin placing their orders with Best Buy today.”

“Tablets are becoming a bigger part of our business everyday and the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook will heighten the level of excitement in this category,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “RIM has a tremendous history of producing great mobility products for our customers and we are excited to help launch the BlackBerry PlayBook.”

BlackBerry PlayBook is the world’s first professional-grade tablet. It features an ultra-portable design and delivers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.

BlackBerry PlayBook Specifications

• 7″ 1024×600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
• Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1” x 7.6” x 0.4” (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• BlackBerry® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
• Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
• 1080p HDMI output
• Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
• 1 GB RAM memory
• Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
• Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support

For more information about the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, please visit www.blackberry.com/playbook.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

About Best Buy Mobile

Best Buy Mobile was founded in 2006 with a goal of changing the way consumers shop for and purchase mobile phones in America. Today, Best Buy Mobile is in every Best Buy store and also has 178 Best Buy Mobile specialty stores around the country. Best Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends to help customers get the most of their mobile phones. For more information about Best Buy Mobile, visit www.bestbuy.com/mobile or www.bestbuymobile.com.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way Best Buy does business. In fiscal 2010, Best Buy donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where their employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.

* Future Shop stores operate as a division of Best Buy Canada Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.  RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

RIM just let us know that the long talked about BlackBerry Protect app/service is now available to users. We took a detailed look at this wayyy back in July 2010, so check out our BlackBerry Protect Preview to get up to speed.

BlackBerry Protect is a free application that allows users to wirelessly backup, restore and locate their BlackBerry smartphone. In the event that their BlackBerry smartphone is misplaced, lost or stolen, BlackBerry Protect provides features like: remote device wipe, remote device lock, ‘Lost and Found’ screen, locate device on a map, remote activation of the BlackBerry smartphone loud ringer, and wireless device backup and restore.

Key features of BlackBerry Protect include:

• Remote Device Management:
  • Remote wipe
  • Remote lock and ‘Lost and Found’ screen
  • Remote activate loud ringer
  • Cell Tower and GPS device tracking

• Over the Air (OTA) Backup and Restore:
  • Contacts and Calendar
  • Memos and Tasks
  • Browser Bookmarks
  • Text Messages
• Administration:
  • Based on BlackBerry ID system
  • Web-based End User portal
  • Operator Call Center access

If you want to give it a try, you can find the BlackBerry Protect app within the Test Center in BlackBerry App World (note for some users it may take up to 24 hours for it show up) and you can head to blackberry.com/protect to download, login to the web interface, and for more info.

Talk about BlackBerry Protect in the CrackBerry Forums