Zoompass have announced that they are now preloaded on Bell devices and users should start seeing the app on the homescreen shortly. This isn’t breaking news because we know that Zoompass is a joint venture with all the major Canadian carriers, but it’s good to see how fast they’re moving. About a week ago, we saw the announcement that the Zoompass app was preloaded on TELUS, and at this pace we can expect a Rogers announcement next week.

Personally, I think an initiative such as this needs the major banks to sign on. While it’s convenient to be able to use the app to transfer money between friends, and the Zoompass sticker to use at PayPass locations, it’s still not enough. To truly have a mobile payment solution, we need a way for the BlackBerry to interact with a debit machine.

UberTwitter have launched version 0.970 and they’ve included a nice changelog for those looking to see what specific updates and fixes have occurred. Some of the notable updates include the ability to opt out of sponsored tweets, delete direct messages and they’ve added a new shortcut for scrolling up your timeline (press ‘0′). Click the jump to see the full changelog.

The following changes have been made from 0.963 to 0.970

• Java exceptions on device boot – Fixed issue where java exceptions would be reported on device reboot due to lack of permissions.
• Opt-out of sponsored tweets – Users can now opt out of receiving sponsored tweets.
• Goto User bug fix – Fixed bug where entering a user not in your timeline and then pressing trackball wouldn’t use the text you entered but instead find the closest match from your friends list.
• Everyone Near You – Fixed bug where it wouldn’t uses your current location, and sometimes would revert to somewhere off the coast of Africa. Also increased the distance to a 10 mile radius, in the future we will let you select this.
• Mini-Icon Notification – Fixed bug where if the app didn’t have certain permissions not related to the mini-icon, it still wouldn’t show the mini-icon.
• Fine-Tuned control of visual notifications – There are now three settings each for the mini-icon and application icon so you can fine-tune the control over how you want each to notify you. Also, the number next to the mini-icon will only reflect the number of new tweets of the type it is tracking. For example, if you only set the mini-icon to track new DMs, then the number next to the mini-icon will only reflect the number of new DMs.
• New short-cut for page-up – Added a new short-cut to page-up in the timeline, pressing ‘0′ (zero) will now page up in the timeline.
• Instability when using cell location – Fixed bug that would cause instability in the app when using cell tower location.
• 3G Cell Tower Inaccuracy – Fixed a bug in the cell tower location mechanism when 3G towers were being used.
• Symbol Screen – Again reworked the symbol screen.
• Secure Connection – Changed the default Twitter endpoint so your traffic will travel over a secure HTTPS connection.
• Deleting DMs – We now allow you to delete direct messages.
• Constant permissions requests – Fixed bug where every time the app was started it would ask for permissions.

Verizon have begun to push their Skype Mobile services on YouTube, and while the video doesn’t reveal anything new about the product, it’s good to see that things are moving forward. Verizon claims the call quality will be excellent, and messaging will be an integral part of the service. Hopefully Verizon haven’t locked Skype down from doing business with other carriers, as I know many other BlackBerry users in Canada and on other providers would love to get their hands on this service.

Shazam is the app that’s famous for being able to tell you what song you’re listening to, simply by having the app tag a portion of the track. The app has been recently updated, and the major feature is that they are now offering sales through the 7Digital store. Also new to the app includes the ability to watch music videos of tagged songs with YouTube (Vevo?) and tweet tags to your followers.

Shazam is available on a free trial so check them out in App World.

Continue reading How the Terminator's .45 Longslide with laser sighting came to be (video)

How the Terminator's .45 Longslide with laser sighting came to be (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

All users of Humax's Freesat Foxsat-HD and Foxsat-HDR set top boxes will now be able to use the BBC iPlayer through the red button.

Humax has successfully completed a beta trial of a red button catch-up service and has now rolled out the functionality to all users.

"After successful BETA testing, the highly anticipated BBC iPlayer service, which enables viewers to search and view a range of programmes, is now freely available to all owners of a Humax Foxsat-HD or Foxsat-HDR box, so they can play their favourite shows from the past seven days direct to their televisions," confirmed Humax.

It 'beta' work

Users will need to make sure that their Humax Freesat box is connected to both the internet and satellite dish, press the red button when on a BBC channel and then either navigate to the somewhat confusing BBC iPlayer Beta option in the list or type in 7001 on the remote control.

Graham North, Commercial Director, Humax UK comments: "We are excited about being the first to offer this fantastic new service via the set-top box.

"Our customers enjoy being in control of their TV viewing and BBC iPlayer on Freesat gives them even more freedom to watch what they want, whenever they want to."

Nimbuzz is a free IM app that features quite a few clients such as AIM, Google Talk, MSN, Skype as well as Facebook. They let us know that the app has been updated, with the connection issue for OS 5.0 resolved. Features include:

• Runs in background.
• Connects all your friends: Put all your friends in one place, check their status updates, and chat right from the buddy list.
• Home screen notifications: You wont miss anything, a red dot will show up on the letf corner of your screen everytime you get a new message.
• Auto-reconnects: for switching between 3G, 2G and Wifi networks.
• “Clickable” URL’s: Share links and websites with your friends! No need to retype web addresses.
• Sound profiles – your notifications can be customized, so you can make them personal.
• Save money on text messages with free Nimbuzz to Nimbuzz messaging.
• Free!

Try Nimbuzz in App World.

US mineral companies to tech industry: drill, baby, drill originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The folks at Twinkler software have let us know they completed the process of getting AddOnis working on devices running OS 5.0. Not only did they get it working correctly but they also managed to work in the new standby and lock features seen in the most recent OS 5.0 versionsl. The change log for this one depends on what OS it is that you are running on your device. Some of the changes are for OS 5.0 and some were for 4.6/4.7. You can check out the full the change log for AddOnis as listed here.

• Click Here To Learn More And Purchase AddOnis For Only $6.99>>

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. AddOnis Now Compatible with BlackBerry Smartphones Running OS 5.0

MSN Video Player has been a big enough success through a pilot scheme to be launched as a major new product, and Microsoft is not ruling out offering the service to television manufacturers, on Xbox and through the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 Series.

A million people have already used the ad-funded and free MSN Video Player in beta to watch full-length programmes, trailers and clips, enough of an audience to convince the portal that the service has the appeal to become a key asset for Microsoft.

With users staying for an average of 25 minutes – far more than major catch-up services like ITV Player and 4OD – and advertisers champing at the bit to buy up pre-roll adverts before the features, Microsoft has now sealed deals with the likes of Endemol and Shed Media to expand their offering further.

Thousand hours

"We are expanding our catalogue to over 1,000 hours," explained MSN's Rob Crossen. "We've signed a number of new deals…we've gone out there and sourced content that appeals to our audience.

"The other aspect is that we are launching a new platform and it really puts content at the centre. It's not about other brands it's really about programmes.

"The reasons we are chasing the audiences that we are is that we know there is advertiser demand for those audiences because they are very tech savvy.

"It's not a discussion around getting thousands and thousands of hours [of content] it's more about a targeted offering."

The platform is optimised for Microsoft's Silverlight - support that was notably missing from the pilot - although it also works with Flash, and some of the content is available in HD streaming at 720p on connections of 2Mbps and upwards.

Xbox, Windows Phone 7 Series and widgets

With comparisons to the iPlayer inevitable, it's clear that Microsoft could roll out the MSN Video Player to television, its Xbox console, Windows Phone 7 Series and set-top boxes – in the same way as the BBC has puched its offering on multiple platforms from Virgin Media cable to the iPhone.

"What we're doing here is taking MSN beyond what it has typically been known for," added Crossen.

"An obvious place to tale MSN Video Player – given the quality of content that you are seeing on the platform – is the TV, and there are a number of ways that we could do that and in fact the challenge is prioritising so we're looking at a number of opportunities.

"There are a number of ways… widgets on internet connected TVs, we have our own products within the Microsoft network, Xbox and Windows Media Center for instance.

"There are a number of ways that we could choose to explore."

"We have a fantastic product coming later in the year," said Crossen when asked if a mobile MSN Video Player was likely for the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 Series, "but no fixed plans that we are announcing today.

"It's a reflection of our users telling us what they want and they also express their views how they want their content and how they consume it so it's absolutely no mystery to any of us how it could grow."

Xbox users already have access to long-form content through a tie up with the Sky Player and a movie download service, but the concept of a free and ad funded channel is likely to appeal.

The MSN Video Player officially launches tomorrow, go to player.uk.msn.com for more details.