RIM has just announced that the latest build of Blackberry Messenger version 5.0  will be available tomorrow, October 7th! BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 will feature enhanced SMS, avatars, large media file transfers, a  bar-code identity feature, and more. 

Stay in tuned for more information.. are you already using the new BB mesenger 5.0?

BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 is the latest release.

Features:

• Enhanced SMS -Allows for a conversational chat-like user experience with a single contact list for the most personal mobile-to-mobile communications
  • Note: BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and later is required for the SMS functionality.
• Avatars - Users can choose a picture from the BlackBerry Smartphone gallery and save it as their personal avatar, which will be seen by their contacts. They can also view other avatars in the contact list and zoom in on the avatars of contacts participating in a conversation by selecting “View participants.”
• Large Media File Transfer - Users can send/receive large file transfers up to 6 megabytes for pictures, files and audio.
  • Note: BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 is required to receive large media files.
• Enhanced Group Functionality - Allows for the ability to update, share & communicate with a subset community.
• Bar-code Identity - A user can add a contact to the BlackBerry Messenger contact list by displaying a 2-dimensional bar code that invitees can capture with their device cameras.
• Reliable Contact Backup and Restore - Contacts are backed-up on a server and do not require the need for BlackBerry® Desktop Manager.

Via Crackberry

According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, specific absorption rate, or SAR, is “a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body.” For a phone to pass FCC certification and be sold in the United States, its maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram.

The Environmental Working Group’s launched a website dedicated to rating cellphones on their radiation output alone. Looks like the T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G and the Shadow are 2 of the phones with high radiation.

Here is the complete list

Android 1.6 SDK is available for download. Android 1.6, which is based on the donut branch from the Android Open Source Project, introduces a number of new features and technologies.

The new Android 1.6 will support CDMA ( ready for the Sprint Hero and Verizon Sholes ) and GSM ( Motorola Cliq just recently announced )and additional screen sizes, your apps can be deployed on even more mobile networks and devices. You will have access to new technologies, including framework-level support for additional screen resolutions, like QVGA and WVGA, new telephony APIs to support CDMA.

Check the video

What’s new?

New User Features

Quick Search Box for Android

Android 1.6 includes a redesigned search framework that provides a quick, effective, and consistent way for users to search across multiple sources—such as browser bookmarks & history, contacts, and the web—directly from the home screen.

The system constantly learns which search results are more relevant based on what is clicked. So popular contacts or apps that have previously been picked will bubble up to the top when a user types the first few letters of a relevant query.

The search framework also provides developers a way to easily expose relevant content from their applications in Quick Search Box.

Camera, Camcorder, and Gallery

An updated user interface provides an integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery experience. Users can quickly toggle between still and video capture modes. Additionally, the gallery enables users to select multiple photos for deletion.

Android 1.6 also provides a much faster camera experience. Compared to the previous release, launching the camera is now 39% faster, and there is a 28% improvement in the time from completing one shot to the next.

VPN, 802.1x

A new Virtual Private Network (VPN) control panel in Settings allows users to configure and connect to the following types of VPNs:

• L2TP/IPSEC pre-shared key based VPN
• L2TP/IPsec certificate based VPN
• L2TP only VPN
• PPTP only VPN

Battery usage indicator

A new battery usage screen lets users see which apps and services are consuming battery power. If the user determines that a particular service or application is using too much power, they can take action to save the battery by adjusting settings, stopping the application, or uninstalling the application.

Accessibility

Users will be able to download new accessibility services built on the new accessibility framework and enable them in Settings.

Android Market Updates

New Android Market UI

For devices with Android Market, the latest version improves the overall user experience and makes it easier for users to discover great apps and games from developers.

• At the homescreen, users can choose among Apps, Games, and Downloads.
• Inside a category, users can explore titles that are Top paid, Top free, and Just in.
• For each title, users can now see screenshots submitted by developers in addition to reviews from other users.

New Platform Technologies

Expanded Search Framework

The Android search framework has been redesigned and expanded to provide third-party applications the opportunity to surface content from their applications in Quick Search Box, the global search tool. To do this, developers will need to make their app “searchable” and provide suggestions in response to user queries. To enable application search suggestions, users simply select each application from which they’d like to receive suggestions, under Searchable items in the Search settings.

Text-to-speech engine

Android 1.6 features a multi-lingual speech synthesis engine called Pico. It allows any Android application to “speak” a string of text with an accent that matches the language. The engine supports the following languages: English (American and British accents), French, Italian, German and Spanish. If you’re using a T-Mobile G1 or Dream device, you’ll need to download the SpeechSynthesis Data Installer from Android Market, which includes the “voices” needed by the text-to-speech engine.

Gestures

A new gestures framework provides application developers with a framework for creating, storing, loading, and recognizing gestures and associating them with specific actions.

Developers can use the new GestureBuilder tool included in the Android 1.6 SDK to generate libraries of gestures to include with their application.

Accessibility

Android 1.6 provides a new accessibility framework. With this framework, developers can create accessibility plugins that respond to user input, such as making a sound when a new window is shown, vibrating when navigating to the top of a list, and providing spoken feedback.

Expanded support for screen densities and resolutions

Android 1.6 adds screen support that enables applications to be rendered properly on different display resolutions and densities. Developers can also specify the types of screens supported by their application.

Telephony support for CDMA

Android 1.6 includes support for CDMA in the telephony stack.

New version of OpenCore

Android 1.6 includes the updated OpenCore 2 media engine, which has:

• Support for OpenMAX encoders
• Support for additional audio codecs in AuthorEngine
• Improved buffering model supports shared buffers allocated in the decoder

2.6.29 Linux kernel

Android 1.6 upgrades the Linux kernel from 2.6.27 to 2.6.29.

New Framework APIs

For a detailed overview of new APIs, see the Version Notes. For a complete report of all API changes, see the API Differences Report.

Source

We know tha the new Blackberry Tour 9630 is coming for Verizon on July 12th  for 199 and Sprint on July 20th. Now just FCC passed the new Blackberry. It features quadband GSM/EDGE, 2100 UMTS and 850/1900 CDMA/ EVDO.

Here some specifications:

• World Phone Capabilities
• 3G Network
• Camera (3.2 MP)
• 256 MB Built-in Memory
• Enhanced Media Player
• Supports BlackBerry App World™
• Built-in GPS
• BlackBerry® Maps
• Wireless Email
• Organizer
• Browser
• Phone
• Corporate Data Access
• SMS/MMS

FCC

The pictures speak for themselves….

Enjoy!

The LG VX9200 is a CDMA 1900 and 850 with EvDO capability. The camera is unknown but probably will be 2 MP. Qwerty keyboard, Bluetooth, MP3 player and GPS.

More news will be posted soon, stay tuned.

FCC

We talked to you about the LG VX9600 Versa a week ago and now we are ready to spill the beans. The official release date is finally set…. March 1st, 2009! The Versa is running LG’s next-generation touch screen technology.

Home Screen

The Home Screen features an animated 3D user interface. The users will be able to quickly customize up to 3 different Home Screens with there favorite feature, applications, and contacts.

Accelerometer

The built-in accelerometer rotates the screen from portait to landscape automatically. It is also intergrated it to the phones games so that users can quickly control rotation movements.

Key Features

• EVDO Rev A
• Large 3” Touchscreen with Tactile Feedback
• Virtual QWERTY Keypad & Detachable QWERTY Keypad
• 3 Customizable Home Pages
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera with Autofocus, Flash & Picture/Video Editing
• HTML Web Browser
• Stereo Bluetooth
• V CAST Music with Rhapsody (subscription, wireless and PC downloads)
• Music Formats Supported: MP3, WMA, unprotected AAC & AAC+
• Up to 16GB MicroSD Optional Removable Memory
• Chaperone Parent/Child capable
• VZ Navigator
• Visual Voice Mail
• Nationwide Plans Only
• Connect & Premium Plan Capable

Specifications

• Talk Time: Up To 290 Minutes
• Standby Time: Up To 430 Minutes
• Size: 4.16H x 2.07W x 0.54D
• Screen Size: 3.0″
• Weight: 3.81oz.
• Screen Resolution: LCD: 262K Color TFT, 480 x 240 Pixels
• Number of Contacts: up to 1000 Entries with multiple contacts

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