Yesterday when we posted some video & screenshots of Desktop Manager 4.5 somebody (Sir Brian of Dunwoody) asked why we left off the Media Manager. Turns out its there but we forgot about it. Feel free to check out the screencandy below:

Personally I am not the biggest fan of TaskMaster but I know a few people who use the application. They have improved the application a bit, especially the user interface. S4BB has also released an interesting new application that helps you add a task in 2 clicks. I have to see how this works but for $4.99 it may be a good deal.

QuickTask For BlackBerry – $4.99 – Features:

• Integrates with BlackBerry® Tasks, NextAction!, TaskMaster
• 2-click task adding
• Very easy and quick to use
• Highly productive

TaskMaster For BlackBerry 1.1.0 update – $19.99:

• Hide completed
• English / German
• Timezone bugfix
• UI polished

I know that there is Notifire and Webmessenger but AlertMatrix is a newcomer to town. I just read on BlackBerryGTD that it has been released. It allows you to setup alerts for your calls, sms, & email so that you can be alerted differently for each from different senders. The best part is that it even lets you backup your rules to their website!!! You can pick it up for $34.95 at this link.

Features (more info at this link):
AlertMatrix empowers the professional to:

• Never allow an important e-mail, phone call, or text message to go unnoticed again.
• Reduce the number of daily interruptions caused by trivial messages.
• Respond quickly and easily when necessary.

AlertMatrix makes it simple to:

• Create custom alerts (tones, vibrations, LED)
  for messages that match your watch-for rules.
• Configure frequency to repeat alerts if the triggered notification is not dismissed.
• Set up rules to watch for e-mails or missed calls from anyone at specific companies or domains.
  • example: “@nasa.gov“
  • example: “202-358-****”
• Set up rules to watch for e-mails, missed phone calls, or text messages from specific people.
  • example: “george.jones@nasa.gov”
  • example: “202-358-1234″
• Set up rules to watch for specific text in the subject of a message.
  • example: “911″
  • example: “emergency”
• Easily juggle the priority of alerts with REXwireless’ advanced ACE and Delay*All Plus technologies.
• Specify actions AlertMatrix should take when running in Weekday, Weekend, or Night alert modes.

You can pick up the demo at http://www.REXwireless.com/download from your BlackBerry browser

Dam it RIM ! 

I had my heart set on the new BlackBerry Bold but now it seems they are going to throw another handset into the equation. I have always been a huge fan of Flip-Phones (especially Clam shell style) ever since I had my Motorola V600 all those years ago. 

CrackBerry have released a few details of the new KickAss, sorry, I mean Kickstart for you to drool over.

From CrackBerry; “The BlackBerry KickStart is getting a little more REAL each and every day. Following up on yesterday’s latest KickStart sighting, today we are bringing you an exclusive first look at the BlackBerry Flip Experience. 

From the slides you can see RIM is not sacrificing any of the BlackBerry experience on the KickStart. When it comes to making calls the KickStart will work like any other flip, and when it comes to messaging, flipping the KickStart open will be like pulling an existing BlackBerry Device model from its holster. As one would expect, you will be able to use the music player with the phone closed.

On the rumor end of things, we’ve received word that the BlackBerry KickStart will ultimately ship with OS version 5.0 (Bold owners will be able to upgrade from 4.6 to 5.0 when released).”

For more pictures and browse the reader comments just hit ; Exclusive: The BlackBerry KickStart Flip Experience .

Thanks CrackBerry for the info and RIM for catering for another part of the cell phone using fraternity. 

The IT News has just published a press release whereby MO-Call announces the addition of the Blackberry platform to their list of supported phones. I had never heard of MO-Call before, but apparently it is popular in the UK. If you crave using their service but never did because your Blackberry was not supported, you’ve just run out of excuses. Here is an excerpt of the announcement:

London, May 29, PRNewswire: Morodo Ltd. is pleased to announce that its popular low-cost calling software, MO-Call, is now available for Blackberry mobiles. MO-Call provides seamless international calling from the Blackberry Curve 8300, 8310 and 8320; Pearl 8100, 8110, 8120 and 8130; and the Blackberry 8800, 8820 and 8830.
(…)
James Barnes, Morodo’s Technical Director, said, “MO-Call for Blackberry mobiles has been developed to offer a seamless way of using the MO-Call service. It’s simple to make calls, once the application is switched on, just dial and save.”

The rest is mostly just corporatese and announcementese, but you may click the link above if that is your cup of tea.

Be warned, however, that according to their FAQ the service is only available to owners of UK-based mobile phones. You can check the site for yourself HERE and the FAQ HERE. Parts of the site won’t work without Javascript.

I know many of you have been using Antair’s call screener application to avoid your stalkers. I just got an email from them that they have updated their product with some cool new features. I have not had a chance to try it out myself but there is a trial available if you are interested.

Features:

• Allow all calls (respecting blacklist entries)
• Block withheld numbers
• Allow calls from personal contacts only
• Block all calls (respecting whitelist entries)
• Unique number whitelist
• Unique number blacklist
• Full integration with the BlackBerry call log
• Full integration with the BlackBerry address book
• View full details of blocked calls with one click
• Add blocked number to the address book with one click
• Return phone call with one click
• Call voicemail with one click
• A comprehensive built-in product manual

The price is a bit high at $49.95 but it may be worth it to get some extra peace of mind.

I just learned that Opera Mini was updated a few days ago. No wonder it took me days to be informed, they called it a “silent release”. Their reason for not making a fuss over it is that it applies to the Palm and Blackberry only.

Two fixes for the Blackberry are mentioned: ability to use Wi-Fi only (also at installation) and BIS. What, BIS? Yes, I installed this new build 4.1.11355 and I could, in fact, use Opera and browse away over a pure BIS-B connection. Frequent BerryReview readers might be aware that I live in Brazil and my carrier, Vivo, does not let me have an APN, which causes a few programs to fail.

So I could finally give Opera Mini a try and see what the enthusiasm is all about. Frankly, I don’t see it. I find the Blackberry browser a lot better than Opera Mini. It’s not that bad, but the Blackberry browser has spoiled me. I missed too many things in Opera Mini that I take for granted in the Blackberry browser and couldn’t find anything about Opera Mini that made me want to have it.

The most notable difference was the rendering. I really think that the Blackberry browser does a much better job. OK, so Opera Mini has that “full desktop” view and zooms in on specific regions of a page more or less like the iPhone, but I detested it. Single column view FTW!

But many people love Opera Mini, and if you never tried it because you’re only allowed to use a BIS connection like me, then this is your chance. Head to operamini.com or mini.opera.com to get your free copy, but note that you need to have Javascript enabled in the Blackberry browser to find it. I always have it disabled and felt like an idiot running in circles unable to find the download link, which only was revealed after I enabled Javascript. Yet another reason for me to dislike Opera Mini…

(Note: the first screenshot is Opera Mini, the second one is the Blackberry native browser.)

I don’t know how we missed this in the news but better late than never. Puretracks is a mobile music store for BlackBerry. It seems to only be available for Canada and there is no trial so I guess you will have to pay to try it out. Otherwise if you really feel like buying your music just buy DRM free music from Amazon or iTunes. Its that much simpler…

If your still interested:

• Tune in to thousands of songs from top mainstream and independent artists
• Turn up the volume on high quality mobile audio files
• Search by artist, track or genre
• Enjoy weekly additions and new releases to mobile music catalog

Access and enjoy your favorite music anytime, anywhere. Just download the application, register, select your desired track. It’s that easy.

To install on your BlackBerry just go to www.puretracks.com/blackberry from the BlackBerry browser

You can read more info on their site. It seems like you need to buy a promo code which is like a gift card that lets you download music. Not really going to try it myself but it is news…