Poynt v1.8.1 Update Adds BlackBerry Messenger 6 Integration

Poynt just updated their PlayBook app and now their smartphone app got an update over the weekend. The latest version is 1.8.1 and is a nice update from the previous release a few months ago. The new version adds in integration for RIM’s new BlackBerry Messenger 6 API’s letting users share information through BBM along with Facebook, Twitter, and email. Poynt actually had their main dev at the BBM Hackathon in NYC so it is not surprise to see the update. They also threw in support for the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 in this update.

If you live in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia you can

 

pick up Poynt free in App World[qrcode pix=180]http://nhcbba.com/downloads/Poynt[/qrcode]

bbr

NYC to trial mobile payment parking system, Lovely Rita looks for a new gig

Tired of burning your hard earned cash on parking fines? You might wanna move to New York City, where the Department of Transportation will soon begin testing a “pay by phone” parking system. The mobile payment technology, which has already been introduced in cities like Washington, DC and Atlanta, essentially allows drivers to pay for their parking spots without ever having to interact with those menacing, metallic meters. After registering online, users would be able to pay for curbside real estate by entering the number of the nearest meter and the amount of time they’d like to purchase into a customized app, or by texting it to the city’s Department of Transportation.

BlackBerry Developer Challenge Adds BBM Social Platform Category

Along with the release of BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 comes a new category for developers to compete in the annual BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge. The new competition is for social apps in the “Most Addictive Social apps using BBM Social Platform” category. This new category is now open for submissions until September 23rd, 2011.

You can get more info at www.blackberrypartnersfund.com/challenge.

This is on top of the already heated BBM Apps Hackathon in NYC, August 11-12, 2011, and its two day BBM social platform coding marathon. You should be able to see the winners who are competing in the Hackathon at this link.

via: bbreview

Developers: Enter Your App Idea to Win a Trip to NYC Hackathon, $500 and a BlackBerry Bold 9900

 

UPDATE: Please email tips@blackberrycool.com if you are going to enter. We need to know to help give out the prizes.

RIM is hosting a BBM Apps Hackathon Event August 11-12 in NYC. It’s an exclusive event that gives developers the opportunity to participate in an apps-building marathon using the highly popular BBM Social Platform. RIM experts will guide participants through different development approaches and techniques that leverage the viral/social functionality of BBM Social Platform and best integrate with applications.

BlackBerryCool will be identifying the best developers for the Hackathon Event and giving away one trip to the event, $500 spending money, and a BlackBerry Bold 9900.

To be eligible for the Hackathon, the developer must:

• have an idea for a new BlackBerry® application that incorporates BBM
• have the capability to build a BlackBerry smartphone app with their idea
• have a laptop with all the software, accessories and equipment needed to build their app, including a laptop loaded with BlackBerry® WebWorks™ or BlackBerry® Java®
  be a resident of the United States, District of Columbia (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, New York and Florida) or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• be able to travel to attend the BBM Apps Hackathon Event (“Event”), August 10-13, 2011, and be able to confirm such availability within 48 hours of potential winner notification from RIM
• understand that the Event will be filmed and that by participating in the BBM Apps Hackathon Contest, consent to the filming of their developer story and the use of their image

Ideally, the winner will have a BlackBerry app that they want to integrate with BBM.

Click through for the rules of the contest and more details or head over to bbmnyc.com to get started.

A quick recap:

• The contest will run until July 22, which will be the last day to submit an entry to the Hackathon
• The winners who will participate at the Hackathon in NYC will be announced on July 27

The eligibility criteria that developers need to meet to enter this contest include:

• have an idea for a new BlackBerry® application that incorporates BBM
• have the capability to build a BlackBerry smartphone app with their idea
• have a laptop with all the software, accessories and equipment needed to build their app, including a laptop loaded with BlackBerry WebworksT or BlackBerry Java
  be a resident of the United States, District of Columbia (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Florida) or Canada (excluding Quebec)
• be able to travel to attend the BBM Apps Hackathon Event (“Event”), August 10-13, 2011, and be able to confirm such availability within 48 hours of potential winner notification from RIM
• understand that the Event will be filmed and that by participating in the BBM Apps Hackathon Contest, consent to the filming of your developer story and the use of your image

NOTE: New York residents are eligible.

More information about the event is at bbmnyc.com and details regarding Contest Rules at bbmnyc.com/contestrules.

To help developers build apps using the BBM Social Platform, RIM is also offering the following series of webinars:

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time.
Step 1: Viral Distribution and the BBM Contact List
Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time.
Step 2: User Profile and Custom Profile Box
Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time.
Step 3: BBM Chat and Embedding Chat within your App
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST

 

Via: BBCool

Free Dark Galaxy Text-Based Online Game

Are you a fan of Mafia Wars? If so then you will definitely dig Dark Galaxy. Dark Galaxy is not exactly new but Todd introduced us to the game and the team seems to be addicted since. It is sort of a text based Mafia Wars style game with an online multiplayer twist. The only real downside is you need to be online to play which sucks on the NYC subway.

 

Instead of taking over the streets you are colonizing planets throughout the galaxy since Earth resources are spent. You have missions, hunt bounties, and kill enemies to your hearts content. Game features include:

• assemble advanced spacecrafts
• master missions for special rewards
• hunt bounties and annihilate enemies in real time
• move up the ladder of the top 10,000 marines
• build your alliance to help you in epic battles with your enemies
• updated with new content weekly

Check out Dark Galaxy in App World at this link[qrcode pix=150]http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/21305[/qrcode]

via:bbreview

AT&T Gives NYC Parks Free Wi-Fi

It appears that AT&T is trying to fix its bad rep in New York City for cellular coverage with a mighty gift: The company just announced a new initiative with the city offering free Wi-Fi in its parks for the next five years. And it’s not just restricted to subscribers — the public in general, customer or no, will be able to enjoy the free connectivity.

Starting now, Battery Bosque (Battery Park), the north-end playground in the Joyce Kilmer Park (Bronx), and the rec center at Thomas Jefferson Park (East Harlem) are all operational, with 23 more locations to follow. The list of sites includes:

• Bronx: Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx River Park and Devoe Park
• Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Herbert Von King Park, McCarren Park and Prospect Park
• Manhattan: Battery Park, Thomas Jefferson Park, Central Park (multiple locations), the High Line, Holcombe Rucker Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park
• Queens: Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and MacDonald Park
• Staten Island: Clove Lake Park and South Beach

This is either a “make-good” or an attempt to ease the cellular data load, but either way, Mayor Bloomberg has reason to be tickled pink. In total, 26 locations across 20 parks will be outfitted with free public hotspots, and there are also renewal options, so the service might even continue beyond five years.

Users with select AT&T mobile devices will be able to connect automatically, while others will scan for their open Wi-Fi networks and join “attwifi.” Doesn’t look like any password is needed; just launch the browser and click to connect.

One word of caution, though: Be sure to set passwords/security for your devices. You don’t want random people tunneling in. You’ve been warned.

Travalert Tries to Wake You Up Before You Miss Your Stop

I ride public transportation practically every day and totally understand the problem Travalert is trying to solve. You will be on a subway, train, or bus tuning out to music or even grabbing some shuteye and you almost miss your stop and your heart jumps in your chest. I usually set a alarm on my BlackBerry when I am listening to music but with train and bus times ranging based on signal issues or traffic it gets a bit tricky.

Alessandra Ambrosio In NYC With…. A PinkBerry?

Ed Westwick In NYC With His Blackberry

via:cbs

Adobe and RIM letting developers meet the BlackBerry PlayBook – starting today in NYC!

In a series of events, Adobe and RIM are giving developers a chance to Meet the BlackBerry PlayBook. The first event starts today in New York, followed by one in Toronto on the 14th and another in San Francisco on the 16th. The events will feature tracks of sessions geared towards both technology and business.

While those who attend won’t likely have a chance to get too hands-on with the BlackBerry PlayBook, BlackBerry PlayBooks will definitely be present at the event (though most likely in the hands of RIM and Adobe associates, or behind glass as we saw at DevCon).

I was nearly going to fly out to NYC for this one, but instead we’ll have one of our NYC-based friends who is a BlackBerry developer and attending today’s event do some reporting for NHCBBA (it’s not really a media event, and I’m saving myself for CES in January – hopefully PlayBooks will be ready for some prime time love by then!). You’ll want to keep it locked to NHCBBA today – we should have some solid new BlackBerry PlayBook footage for everybody to drool at.