BlackBerry Podcasts updated earlier today to version 1.5 adding some new features.  It’s been exactly a year since BlackBerry Podcasts took off, as we were ending WES 2010.  Any way, here’s some new features included in BlackBerry Podcasts v1.5:

• Addition of a preview or play option while the podcast is downloading
• Web podcast searching with integrated Google® search
• Improved content presentation within categories: the first 40 listings in each category will be “featured content,” a combination of the most popular feeds and RIM-programmed feeds

Download BlackBerry Podcasts v1.5 >>

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This video makes me really want to grab an OtterBox case for my BlackBerry PlayBook.  In best hopes I never end up dropping my PlayBook as it is demoed in this clip.  Here we see some drop tests with the BlackBerry PlayBook face down.  We see the edges get really banged up and the screen shattering a bit in the corners.  On the second drop, we see longer cracks and damage done from the drop.

Source: SquareTrade

Thank ecivon for the tip!

It’s no surprise that Hulu blocked out the BlackBerry PlayBook browser from accessing Hulu.  The tactic seems to be that Hulu wants tablets to have a Hulu Plus advantage only where members must pay monthly ($8) to watch all offered television shows and movies.  At the moment, it looks like RIM is in talk with Hulu to bring Hulu Plus to the BlackBerry PlayBook.  I think it’s safe to say we’ll be expecting an application to hit App World, assuming all is approved.  Hulu Plus is also offered on the Apple iPad giving an easy and clean user interface for browsing television shows and movies to watch on demand.

Source: Yahoo!

It looks like US Cellular has put out a memo including some end of life devices and has a secondary list with dates as soon as September.  Two BlackBerry devices make way – Bold 9650 and Curve 9330.  Both of these devices aren’t really “outdated” if we think about it.  After all, they’re just getting OS 6.0 officially too.  September isn’t so close now, but it’s interesting to see that the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330 had a really short lived life.  As for the BlackBerry Bold 9650, I think we had enough with it, and it’s time to move forward to bigger and better devices such as the Bold Touch.

Source: Android Central

Nobody plans to fail, but a lot of us fail to plan. Keeping an extra battery, charged and handy, is a good plan anytime. Long flights and longer meetings, power blackouts and transit snarls – an extra battery gives you the power to keep on communicating, come what may. Only genuine BlackBerry smartphone batteries work best with your device, holding their charge longer and taking the maximum number of charges over their lifetime. That’s why your battery features a cryptographic chip to assure you it’s genuine.

A cryptographic chip identified by a closed lock on the battery, ensuring you’re using a battery approved for your BlackBerry device.

Compatibility: Bold 9650, Curve 8900, Storm 9500, Storm 9530/9530T, Storm2 9550/9520, Tour 9630

Price: $29.95

BlackBerry D-X1 Standard Battery >>

BlackBerry Bridge is a feature I’ve been waiting to take advantage of since I received my BlackBerry PlayBook.  Unfortunately, it has not worked for me at all since Bridge officially launched last week.  I’ve gotten the application to work on my BlackBerry Bold 9780, Torch 9800, and Pearl 9100, but always encountered some sort of issue with each device.  The Pearl 9100 worked fine a few times then just stopped.  As for the Bold 9780, it only worked after I wiped my handheld completely for about a dozen times.  The Torch never made its way to connect at all, as there’s some sort of communication issue between the device and the PlayBook.  There’s not many helpful tips available online for how to fix the issue, but if any of you have had some of your own with BlackBerry Bridge we’d like to hear about them.  Drop us a line in the comments.

A+ Chat for Facebook is another alternative application to Facebook Chat on your BlackBerry.  There are quite a few out there, and this is just another one added to the list that may or may not be in your favor.  As you know by know, the official Facebook app for BlackBerry gets Facebook Chat built in, but that version is currently still in beta at BlackBerry Beta Zone, so some of you folks might be out of the loop with that.  As far as this app goes, I’m fond of the pop-up notifications when a new message is received as seen in the screenshot above.  A+ Chat for Facebook is free to download from the PocketBerry Store.

Download A+ Chat for Facebook >>

BlackBerry Handheld Software v6.0.0.2391 (All Languages)

Package Version: 6.0.0.2391
Consisting of:

• Applications: 6.0.0.534
• Software Platform: 6.6.0.200
• File name: 9700AllLang_PBr6.0.0_rel2391_PL6.6.0.200_A6.0.0.534_Bell_Mobility_Inc.exe
• File size: 176.47MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

Download OS 6.0.0.534 for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 >>

BlackBerry Handheld Software v6.0.0.2426 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 6.0.0.2426
Consisting of:

• Applications: 6.0.0.522
• Software Platform: 4.4.0.434
• File name: 9330AMEA_PBr6.0.0_rel2426_PL4.4.0.434_A6.0.0.522_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 140MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

Download OS 6.0.0.522 for the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330 >>

BlackBerry Handheld Software v6.0.0.2426 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 6.0.0.2426
Consisting of:

• Applications: 6.0.0.522
• Software Platform: 4.4.0.434
• File name: 9670AMEA_PBr6.0.0_rel2426_PL4.4.0.434_A6.0.0.522_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 163.94MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

Download OS 6.0.0.522 for the BlackBerry Style 9670 >>