I am not sure who is responsible for this current pipe dream but it is just doomed to failure. They are essentially going to be selling MicroSD cards with an album on it. They managed to convince MI Music, SONY BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group that this backwards approach is a good idea. On top of that BestBuy and Walmart will be carrying these music cards. Have these guys never heard of music downloads?

So far the details are slim but there are a few upsides. The music will be encoded in 320kbps MP3 files on a 1GB MicroSD card and they will be DRM free. This just seems to be a way for SanDisk to get rid of some useless 1GB MicroSD cards due to the dropping prices of higher capacity cards. This card will also come with a small USB sleeve adapter to connect it to your computer.

You can check out the press release at this link if you really want but expect this to flop at launch.

Tom just let me know that SBSH has just released their first application for BlackBerry. Tom has been part of the beta test for SafeWallet and he came away impressed so this could be interesting. SafeWallet is essentially a secure storage application for your private information. Kind of like CryptMagic, SplashWallet, & Ascendo Datavault. You can find it in the store for $24.95 and it looks like it has a trial.

From the description:

SafeWallet is a secure storage application designed to help you manage all your private information in one secure solution! Including a mobile version for your Blackberry and a PC companion keeping your wallet synchronized all the time! Use SafeWallet to store credit cards info, passwords, bank account info and much more!
Features:

The Secure Choice! Store your information in Wallets protected by personal passwords and enjoy the most advanced security technologies. SafeWallet allows you to safely carry your sensitive information with you everywhere you go!

SafeWallet back-end engine uses powerful 256-bit AES encryption, the same encryption standard adopted by the U.S. government, along with additional security technologies based on IDF experience - providing you with the best encryption solution to keep your information secured! Auto-close feature will automatically shut down SafeWallet when left unused after a user-defined time interval, making sure your wallet information will never be accessible to anyone when SafeWallet is left active. Ensure maximum security for your sensitive information by setting SafeWallet to close automatically when running at the background or when placing your device to the holster, making sure your information will always be kept away from unwanted eye!

Utilities and Features

• Search utility allowing you to quickly search for cards content within your wallet. Items searching is done using T9 searching technology, an advanced dynamic sequence search method. Using SafeWallet T9 based search you can find wallet information in the fastest way possible using your Blackberry device
• Add your favorite cards to the Favorites folder and enjoy swift access to your most used cards at anytime!
• Clean and simple interface allowing to easily create new wallets, folders and cards. Edit different items, copy passwords to your device clipboard and more!
• Assign icons to each of your cards and folders, creating a good looking interface and easier navigation within your wallet content

Cards and Templates

• Create new cards based on pre-defined templates, allowing you to easily create new cards with a set of pre-defined fields configuration specifically for your card needs
• After creation of cards based on templates the card is no longer linked to the originated template, allowing you to add, edit and remove existing fields within each of your cards based on changing demands
• Assign icons to your cards from a large icons store with more than 240 professionally designed icons to meet your every need!

Desktop Companion

• Enjoy full synchronization between your Windows PC and BlackBerry device! SafeWallet Pro is shipped with a complete wallet solution for your Windows PC along with the mobile version for your Blackberry device!
• Your wallets information is automatically synchronized between your SafeWallet for PC and Blackberry versions each time you hook your Blackberry with your PC! Providing the best solution to carry your important information with you wherever you go!
• Custom templates created using SafeWallet for PC are also automatically synchronized to your Blackberry version
• Screen Orientation, QWERTY Support and more!
• SafeWallet is designed to work on all different BlackBerry device screen orientations, both portrait and landscape
• Special features and design guidelines were used for maximum efficiency when used with either QWERTY keyboard devices or dial-pad devices
• BlackBerry PC companion designed for use with Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP and Vista

Astraware & Handmark just let me know that they have released Platypus. Its a arcade side scrolling shooter game with one major flaw. It has to be one of the most expensive games for BlackBerry clocking in at $19.99. Add that to the fact that there is no free trial and this game has the deck stacked against it. Its saving grace is that it is based on the PC/MAC game with the same name.

From the product description:

Based on the cult classic for PC and Mac, Platypus is a fast, frantic and fun side-scrolling arcade shooter with a difference - the entire game is made from clay! The vast continent-spanning city of Collosatropolis has finally reached the limits of its expansion, and tall buildings cover every available space. The Collosotropolan leaders have decided the simplest solution is to invade the neighbouring country of Mungola. They don’t anticipate much of a struggle - Mungolans are simple, earthy types without much love for industry. In fact, Mungola’s entire defence force consists of a single squadron of fighter planes - the venerable F-27 ‘Platypus’.

Pilot your trusty Platypus and save peaceful Mungola in the squishiest arcade shooter ever!

• Defend peaceful Mungola from the invading Collosotropolans
• 4 massive clay worlds to explore
• 20 challenging levels of squishy side-scrolling fun
• A range of powerups to enhance your firepower and boost your score
• Fantastic music soundtrack inspired by classic Commodore 64 games

Your mission is to pilot your trusty Platypus and save peaceful Mungola! Fly across the squashy fields and trees, avoid the snowy mountains and protect your planet. Shoot down the enemy ships and marvel as they disappear in a splat! Collect fruit bonuses and a range of power-ups to aid you in your quest!

Platypus is a fantastic, fun arcade game featuring 4 massive worlds each with several challenging levels. It’s the perfect casual game for arcade gamers and the perfect arcade game for casual gamers!

Last week we talked ranted about Verizon’s weekly internal Storm press release, Talking Up A Storm, and it looks like they are holding true to their hump day plan. More information was released today, mostly about the multimedia capability of the Storm. They talked about the 3.2 mega pixel camera, the ability to shoot video and their Facebook/Flickr support.

This announcement doesn’t really bring us anything we didn’t already know but it is our duty to provide you with the news. They also seem to love pointing out that they are the United State’s largest 3G network I wonder if they are poking fun at some of the other major carriers that have had problems recently?

Via CrackBerry.com

When we launch the world’s first touch-screen BlackBerry – the Storm – it will boast a 3.2 megapixel camera.

Storm’s high-quality camera and camcorder, along with BlackBerry’s reliable email features, make it the perfect device for anyone who wants to carry a mobile phone, camera and laptop all in one device.

And don’t forget, it all runs only on America’s Largest 3G Network – because a device is only as good as the network it’s on.

A look at what makes the Storm’s camera and camcorder features unique:

Talk Up A Storm - 3.2 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder

• Snap and Share – Customers can use the high-quality 3.2 megapixel camera to take pictures and record videos wherever they are and then share their pictures and videos with others via picture messaging
  

• Upload to Facebook and Flickr – Customers can upload pictures they take with the Storm to the popular social networking applications Facebook and Flickr, which are preloaded on the Storm right out of the box.

• Record Video – Customers can record video in the normal (240 x 180) format that can be stored on the 8GB MicroSD card included in the Storm box (an 8 GB SanDisk microSD memory card comes pre-installed in the BlackBerry Storm), or customers can switch to MMS mode and record 30 second clips that can be sent via picture message.

Read more on recently released specs after the jump…

Read the rest of this article

Review: Naztech’s N300 3-in-1 Charger
Rating: 8/10
Link: www.Naztech.com
Cost: $59.99 @ Naztech.com

The Naztech website seems to think that this product is only available for the Motorola V3, but I assure you it will work with most anything that charges with a USB cable.

Ronen mentioned mobile chargers in a post a couple of months ago which inspired me to take a further look. This device has actually cut down on the clutter in my truck by quite a bit. The N300 is a 3-in-1 charger but the device itself is a 2-in-1 charger (the 3rd way this product charges things is by including a USB cable to charge your device via computer). But that being said it is still a pretty cool thing to have around.

The Charger comes in a nice velvety pouch with 2 cables, a mini-USB and a micro-USB. You might as well toss these cables out as soon as you get the product home. They are about as cheap of cables as I have ever used, but in reality this is not a big deal as I have dozens of nice USB cables. The glory of this charger is that you can charge any device that you can charge from your computer, in your car or without a computer.

More After The Jump…

Read the rest of this article

UPDATE: Jason from usablenet let us know that the login bug has been fixed. Happy mobile gameflying!

I have been a GameFly subscriber for almost a year now so I was happy when they sent me an email announcing their new mobile site. They teamed up with UsableNet to mobilize their desktop website which looked terrible on the BlackBerry. The new site looks much better but seems to still have some bugs since I could not login no matter what I did.

The new mobile site will allow you to:

• Add titles or make changes to your GameQ
• Browse new releases and games coming soon
• Keep games you have rented
• Buy games from the GameFly Store
• Get the latest cheats, codes, and FAQs
• Read user reviews and critic reviews
• Find gameplay controls and game specs
• See game recommendations
• Update your account settings
• Check your GameFly Rewards

From your BlackBerry. Just head on over to: www.gamefly.com from your BlackBerry. The announcement and details page are at this link.

I just wish they would get to fixing the error you see below which does not let me login.

Real Networks has busted into BlackBerry gaming with the release of South Park Imaginationland for BlackBerry. I did not think South Park would ever make it on to the formerly conservative BlackBerry. The game mostly focuses on Butters based on his Imaginationland Trilogy so it might not be all about the usual characters. Sadly in true Handmark tradition there is no trial but thankfully instead of the usual $14.99 price the game is going for a lower $9.99 on Handmark. Anybody want to take the plunge and let us know if anybody killed Kenny?

From the description:

Based on the South Park Imaginationland Trilogy, you now control Butters in his quest to win The Battle of Imaginationland in this new mobile game.

Your quest takes you through Happy, Evil and The Battle of Imaginationland and has over 60 levels of gameplay which is taught to you by the Mayor. He teaches you the bouncing skills you need to collect items and accomplish missions in the game.

Accomplishing those missions gives Butters more power and allows you to rescue Imaginationland from the grasp of evil. The South Park Imaginationland game is packed with great graphics, amazing gameplay and the thrill of being able to save the worlds imagination by controlling Butters.

Peter just let me know that eVeek has just made their 4 premium themes for OS 4.2 & 4.3 free for all. Pretty cool if I may say so myself. These themes are not groundbreaking but I know a few people who are sporting them with pride. This is not a limited time offer so you can take your time but everybody is going to get OS 4.5 real soon…

The four free themes (Shown above) are:

• Luster Today - 8100, 8300, & 8800
• Mystified Zen - 8100, 8300, & 8800
• Blue Wave Zen - 8100, 8300, & 8800
• Neon Zen - 8100, 8300, & 8800

You need to register to download the themes. Once you have a free account just head to the themes section to find the free themes. Let us know what you think!

The announcement can be found at this link on eVeek if you are interested.