It’s been cooking for a few weeks now, and it’s finally launched.  The PocketBerry Store now is equipped with AppVerse powered by MobiHand.  For those unaware of AppVerse, here are some key features of it:

• Find and follow people they know and recommended AppVerse community leaders.
• Invite their friends to join AppVerse.
• Share their app purchases, ratings, and reviews.
• Ask questions about apps – get advice and info from other users.
• Link to their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Interact with app developers (who receive notifications when users review or comment on their apps).
• Click to purchase any app they discover.
• Earn discounts and free apps (coming soon).

So if you’re into getting applications and want to know other users are purchasing and downloading, then check out AppVerse.  It’s a better way to gather more on applications you’re interested in, plus there’s soon going to be incentives where you earn free applications and discounts.

Sign up for AppVerse at the PocketBerry Store >>

We’re expecting to see quite a few devices revealed at BlackBerry World next month.  BGR got a tip that the BlackBerry Curve Touch is also another device that will be officially announced.  The BlackBerry Curve Touch is similar to the BlackBerry Touch codename Monaco/Monza, only significantly smaller.  It’s heading over to T-Mobile in either June or July according to the rumor.  Keep in mind this Curve Touch is full touchscreen and gets no physical keyboard, while there is another Curve on the way sometime that gets full QWERTY with a touchscreen.

What a coincidence.  Electronic Arts has also gone ahead and updated Tetris as well for the BlackBerry PlayBook.  Perhaps this has to do with RIM releasing the final version of BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK, so developers got right to work.  Tetris gets the same fix as Need for Speed with optimized graphics and improved controls.  Tetris is also a freebie that comes out of the box on the PlayBook.  Head over to My World in App World to download the update today.

It’s the third round of OS updates in less than a week for the BlackBerry PlayBook, but only once since launch day.  Last time around we saw OS 1.0.1.1690, and now this one’s a small jump to 1.0.1.1696.  There’s no telling what this build consists of but hopefully it’s got some bug fixes or performance enhancements.  The update isn’t available yet for everyone so be patient as it gets pushed around over the air.

Source: N4BB

Need for Speed Undercover went through two updates last night.  First it was to version 1.3.69 which added full HDMI support and then it was to version 1.3.74, which promises optimized graphics and improved controls.  Need for Speed Undercover comes stock out of the box (free) on the PlayBook, so head over to App World and update it in the My World tab.  If you deleted the game on accident, feel free to download it again from App World at no cost to you.

As the BlackBerry PlayBook made its official launch today, Ellen Degeneres gave them out to everyone in the audience today on her show.  Upset you couldn’t make it to her show to collect a PlayBook? The giveaway isn’t over yet.  You can log on to the Ellen Show website and enter a contest where a BlackBerry PlayBook will be given away each day to a lucky chosen winner.

Check out the contest >>

It looks like the folks over at iFixit already got their hands on the BlackBerry PlayBook and initiated their breakdown, where they take the tablet down to its bare pieces.  Here are some quick stats put together by the end of their disassembling process:

• BlackBerry PlayBook Repairability Score: 7 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
• The rear cover comes off easily with a couple of pries from the plastic opening tool
• The LCD is not fused to the glass, making the glass repair easier on the wallet.
• You have to dig through the entire device if you need to replace your cracked glass, but the mid-plane assembly comes out easily with all components attached.
• Front panel glass has a metal frame glued to it, which you’ll need to separate with a heat gun if the glass cracks.

Check out the full teardown of the BlackBerry PlayBook >>

More WordMaster editions have been added over the last few days.  We saw it release in English, Spanish, and Italian before.  Now we see Portuguese and Indonesian languages added as well.  For those unaware, WordMaster is a game just like Boggle, where you have to make different word combinations with a bunch of random letters.  It’s not like Word Mole, as the letters you use to make a word have to be touching somehow.

WordMaster is $4.99 to purchase from the PocketBerry Store, for whichever edition you choose.

Check out WordMaster Portuguese Edition  >>

Check out WordMaster Indonesian Edition >>

I was really looking forward to BlackBerry Messenger action as soon as Bridge launched earlier this morning.  At the moment, BlackBerry Bridge grants you access to Messages, Contacts, Bridge Browser, Calendar, MemoPad, Tasks, and Bridge Files.  BBM and BBM Video seem to be vacant, but according to a tip at CB, it will be rolling out in a few weeks in a software update.  I’m wondering how many software updates we’re going to have for this thing in the first year.  So far we have had two since Thursday.

AT&T has no love for BlackBerry Bridge yet, as we just let you know they’re still testing the application out.  In my opinion, they are looking for ways to charge extra for it, but let’s hope not.  As expected, there has been a workaround for AT&T BlackBerry users who want Bridge.  CrackBerry put up OTA links for both OS 5.0 and OS 6.0 devices where you can download Bridge directly and have it work.

Download Bridge for OS 6.0 >>

Download Bridge for OS 5.0 >>