It could be a good weekend for refreshing your BlackBerry with the latest software for your desktop (as long as you’re running Windows) and the device itself.
RIM has released the
latest version of its Desktop Manager 5.0 software which handles synchronisation, media transfer, backup and application loading from your Windows PC to your BlackBerry.
Alas, there’s still no sign of an equivalent for the Mac – Apple users must either take their chances with the much-criticised PocketMac or shell out for the far superior but commercial (US$40)
Missing Sync 2.0 for BlackBerry.
If you’re prepared to live a little on the wild side, taking risks and carpeing the diem, you can also grab the leaked version of RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 instant messenger app.
BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 gains cool features such as avatars, smiley icons and GPS-based location awareness
This adds support for user avatars including thumbnail photos; location-awareness for BlackBerry handsets with a GPS receiver, which permits selected friends to see or even request your location, and even alert you when you’re within a close distance to BlackBerry Messenger buddies; organise conversations by subject, and even pin Messenger contacts directly onto the homescreen to contact with with a single click.
The quick-off-the-mark folks at CrackBerry.com have posted a set of
links to the leaked BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 software for the BlackBerry Bold, Storm and Curve (both the 8300 ad 8900 models).
However, we can only repeat CrackBerry.com’s caveat: this is leaked and thus unofficial software, so install it at your own risk.