In 1984, a leap year which began on a Sunday, Research In Motion (RIM) was founded in Waterloo, Ontario. Best known for the development of the BlackBerry product line, RIM, now in its late twenties, has grown up with users born that same year.

During that time, RIM has put smartphones, software and the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in the hands of users all around the world. Mobile access to email, apps, communication and information that matters most are things that BlackBerry customers have grown accustomed to regardless of when they grew up.

Since RIM is still in its late twenties, I’d like to hear from loyal #TeamBlackBerry members under 30 years old. How has mobile technology changed in your lifetime? And what do you expect from your new BlackBerry 10 smartphone?

Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Let’s make sure that we keep ourselves—and our BlackBerry devices—warm and dry during the coming winter months by keeping an eye on the forecast with BlackBerry weather apps:

WeatherEye HD by The Weather Network: Local weather and alerts are sent straight to your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet through the WeatherEye HD app. You can receive active weather coverage and detailed forecasts for thousands of locations in cities through the U.S., Canada and other locations throughout the world.

e-Mobile Weather by e-Mobile Software, Inc.: This weather app offers live, detailed weather on your BlackBerry smartphone. You can view real-time weather reports, forecasts, trends and radar images. E-Mobile Weather also supports international cities for your trips abroad.

Weather by Simply Apps: With this app you can get day-to-day weather details and weekly weather outlooks on your BlackBerry smartphone. You can save battery life by choosing to refresh weather details automatically or manually. You can even use the GPS on your BlackBerry device for hyper-accurate weather reporting.

How do you use your BlackBerry smartphone or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to keep tabs on Mother Nature? Let us know in the comments!

One of my favorite things about the drop in temperatures is that the holidays – and holiday meals – aren’t far away. We do a lot of planning and preparing of festive, traditional holiday meals. If you’re like me, you might even keep photos of delicious meals on your BlackBerry ® smartphone to remind yourself how the final product should look—or as a trophy for a job well done. This year, I decided not to dust off the old cookbooks, but instead prepare a gourmet holiday meal using only my BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet.

Step 1: Finding Recipes – I store cookbooks on my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet through the Kobo by Kobo, Inc. reader app. Since we make so many holiday dishes simultaneously, it’s nice that I can reclaim some counter space by having all the recipes I need on one device.

Step 2: Measuring Ingredients – It’s great to think on the fly, but when it comes to replicating a family recipe, a unit conversion app helps to ensure you’re adding the right quantities to your dishes. This will especially help if you’re travelling across borders and cooking in unfamiliar kitchens with different utensils.

Step 3: Crises Aversion – Sometimes I need to call my grandmother, mom, or mother-in-law, for a cooking tip to avoid an emergency situation. Since “showing” is always better than “telling” when it comes to food, we use the Video Chat app on our BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. They can tell me exactly what to do, and it’s often something I’ve never considered.

Step 4: Capturing the Final Meal – After developing a masterpiece, it’s important to document it. Use the camera on your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to photograph your meal. Using an app like Scrapbook, create a collage with customized colors and text.

So, when cooking with a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, what recipe would you try first?

Great news for all you BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet fans out there. We have updated the operating system software to version 2.1 and packed some new features and functionality in to the already powerful OS. If you enjoy the multitasking, social integration and strong communications functionality in the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you’ll love what’s new. Here are my three favorite changes:

1. Updated BlackBerry Bridge: Now you can view, respond and compose new SMS messages on their BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet when connected to a BlackBerry smartphone over Bluetooth®. You’ll also enjoy increased performance and speed of other BlackBerry Bridge functions as well. So you can do more, more efficiently. Txt away, my friends.
2. Email and PIM Enhancements: You’ve asked for it and we’ve delivered portrait support for email, calendar and contacts, giving you the option to use your tablet in either orientation to message. This will definitely come in handy for those of you who enjoy thumb typing in portrait mode like I do.
3. Improved Android Application Support: Includes Multi-Window Applications, Camera Support and In-App Payments. We all love a richer app experience, and with the improvements to the Android runtime, that’s just what you’ll get. Running the applications in separate windows allows you to multi-task between Android apps easier, and in-app payments will make it easier for you to enhance your app content. Game on!

There are also a ton new features on the enterprise side so you can separate your work from personal data, check out Luke’s post on the Inside BlackBerry for Business blog for more details. We’ve added more apps and content as well including an update to the Print to Go app and the Canadian video store now comes preloaded into the OS so there’s no need for you to download it from the BlackBerry® App World™ storefront.

The update is available starting today for the WiFi® versions of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and availability for the 4G LTE™ BlackBerry PlayBook is expected within the next month, upon carrier approval of software.

How to update your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet:

You will automatically receive a software update notification on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet status ribbon, or you can check for the software update at any time by going to the settings menu under “Software Updates” and tapping “Check for Updates”. Then follow the steps to update.

Learning more and obtaining support:

For those that have some additional questions or need additional support, visit the BlackBerry PlayBook support website. To find the support website for your specific location, visit the following link and select Get Support next to your preferred language & location.

Have a BlackBerry PlayBook? Check out the update and let us know what you think in the comments.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

If you’d like more information on the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, fire away in the comments. You can also visit BlackBerry.com or send a tweet to @BlackBerry on Twitter®.

Yes, you read the title correctly. The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet you know and love is now even better, with a new model available in Canada on select carriers beginning August 9th that has built-in support for ultra-fast 4G LTE™ networks.

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is already designed to be portable and easy to bring along wherever you go. Now you can enjoy cellular network access with the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, so there’s no need to be within range of Wi-Fi® to experience the web, check your email, or download the latest apps. Simply purchase a Micro SIM card and data plan from your wireless service provider, and whether you’re in the park, around town, or on the beach, you’ll be able to stay connected wherever you have mobile coverage*.

After spending some time with it, here are my four top reasons you should consider buying the new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet:

1. It’s fast — and I mean fast: Whether you’ve got to do a web search for some information, answer that urgent email, or check in on your social networks, this tablet is there when you need it, serving up the details at the speed you need them.
2. Sized right — take it with you: As a frequent traveler, one thing I know is that I don’t like to be bogged down. The size of this tablet is ideal for me because of its compact size and light weight.
3. Browse the web like you mean it: When I’m looking for information on-the-go, I prefer not to get the watered-down mobile version, especially when there are tons of websites built to have a rich multimedia experience. This tablet supports more HTML 5 content than any other native tablet browser on the market** and it plays Adobe® Flash® for that side of you that loves streaming videos and playing games.
4. Movies and TV shows in your hands: Along with the introduction of the new 4G LTE variant, all Canadian BlackBerry PlayBook tablet customers will be able to access the BlackBerry® Video Store for the first time. The app is available for download in the BlackBerry App World™ storefront. Now you’ll have access to a video catalogue filled with thousands of movies and television shows, with new releases to be made available for purchase or rent the same day they come out on DVD.

The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet comes with 32GB of storage that you can use for photos, videos, music, documents, and more. With its gorgeous screen and rich stereo sound, you’ll have a portable media powerhouse in the palm of your hands. The 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook will be pre-loaded with OS 2.0.1, which is also now available for Wi-Fi PlayBook owners as a maintenance update.

Canada is the first country to launch the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, and additional models supporting various high speed cellular networks are expected to be available in the coming months from carriers in the US, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Now that there’s built-in 4G LTE, where will you be taking your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, #TeamBlackBerry, or better yet — where will it take you?

* LTE connectivity is currently only available from a limited number of carriers in specific countries. Where LTE is not available, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet can automatically adjust to connect on HSPA+.

** As measured by the independent HTML5 test site at http://html5test.com/results/tablet.html

Copyright Notice:
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Rated PG © 2011 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. U.S., CANADA, BAHAMAS & BERMUDA. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, NR © 2011 New Line Productions, Inc. Joyful Noise, NR © 2012 Alcon Film Fund, LLC. Happy Feet Two, NR © 2011 Village Roadshow Mumble 2 Productions Pty Ltd. IMAX: Born to be Wild, NR © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation, Toronto, Canada. Package Design & Supplementary Material Compilation © 2012 IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Superman vs. The Elite, NR © 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. Project X, Rated R © 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Farmageddon, NR © 2011 Kristin Marie Productions, LLC. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, NR © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. New Year’s Eve. NR © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

When you think of a beautiful and relaxing summer day at the beach, in the garden, or by the pool, what sort of items do you picture yourself needing? At the beach you’ll need sunscreen, a blanket, and maybe a game to keep the kids occupied. In the garden, odds are that you’ll want a spade, plants, and a pretty good plan. By the pool, don’t forget a towel, pool toys, and a good book. Pay attention, because here’s the really cool part: The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet can help replace one of these items no matter where you go this summer! Let me show you how:

Life’s a Beach!

Kids love the sand and the swimming at the beach, but sandcastles and shells can sometimes give way to sighs of “I’m bored” right when you finally get comfortable. BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to the rescue!

• Encourage the kids to take pictures of their sand creations and send them to family members or post to social networks. Check out the photo frame apps in the BlackBerry App World™ storefront for that extra touch!
• Fire up a game like TETRIS™ or Monopoly for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet for the whole family to play while enjoying the waves.
• Browse the Internet with the kids to learn the history of the beach and some of the wildlife that occupies it. Searches for “shark attack” should be avoided, however.

No Green Thumb, No Problem

While navigating the mysteries of your garden, budding botanists and pros alike may sometimes wonder what to plant where, what grows best in shade, and what’s with that leafy thing that never seems to die. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet has your back again.

• Browse the Internet to research the best places to plant, when to plant, and what to plant to create your dream garden. Some websites may even let you buy plants online and pick them up at the store.
• Photograph plants you are unsure of whether to dig up or water, and share them with experts or friends to get the whole story. Was that poison ivy you just stepped on?
• Show off your beautiful garden when you’re done by sharing 1080p HD movies and photos!

Poolside with the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

An afternoon by the pool can be among the most relaxing of summer activities, but all that laying around can sometimes get a bit boring. After all, we are “BlackBerry People”, and we like to get things done! Here’s how the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet can help.

• Load up a book in Kobo Reader and get lost in your favorite fiction, cower from a thriller, or swoon through a romance novel from the comfort of your deck chair.
• Watch your favorite movie or television show from the video store with the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet Video Store. It’s like having a whole video store at your water-shriveled fingertips.
• Shoot high-quality HD video and pictures of the kids diving from the high-dive or jumping into the pool. You never know when you may need to access it later for an Olympic highlight reel or a wedding slideshow!

These are just a few suggestions and my favorite ways to use the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in the summer, but I’d love to hear yours as well. Where will you and your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet go to chill?

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

If you love making music, be sure to swing by the BlackBerry App World™ storefront to check out the award-winning MorphWiz-Play application. I’ve been using the app for about a month now, and my favorite synthesizer patch by far is called “Rush Analogue” – check it out!

Have you been using MorphWiz-Play? Be sure to let us know what your favorite patch is in the comments.

You know that feeling you get when the kids are out of school, the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and you’ve finally found your favorite flip-flops? It’s summertime! One of the greatest freedoms that comes with summer is the ability to pack up the kids for a family vacation, or even send them to camp and have a mini-vacation all for yourself. Whatever your summer travel plans entail, you’re first going to want to grab these top travel apps for your BlackBerry® smartphone or BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet before leaving the house.

BlackBerry® Travel – By Research In Motion® Limited (RIM®)
This one is a must-have – and it’s free! Using the BlackBerry Travel app allows you to plan, book, and manage your travel plans by offering destination, hotel, and transportation options for finding the best price and most convenient flight times. You can also book your travel elsewhere online, and then pull your details into the app with the trip scanning feature; this gives you the whole itinerary right at your fingertips. BlackBerry Travel’s best feature? This app will notify your BlackBerry smartphone of a late or cancelled flight.

KAYAK Travel search Flights Hotels Cars Flight Status Trips – By Kayak.com
KAYAK rocks the bargain-hunting at a near mind-blowing level. Their app – which won the 2010 Gettie Award winner for best BlackBerry smartphone app – helps you to compare deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals across multiple websites for the best deal. If you like to travel on the cheap (and who doesn’t?), I highly recommend checking this app out.

Compass – A Premium GPS-based Compass – By SRID Games
Hikers, climbers, and outdoors enthusiasts of all skill levels can appreciate a good compass, and this one from SRID Games is a beauty. Using your BlackBerry smartphone’s internal GPS, Compass can help you find your way home from whatever adventure you’re returning from. This app also includes your movement speed (perfect for runners), latitude and longitude, and the direction of True North — which is perfect for trips to Canada to see your favorite OS, smartphone and tablet maker!

Navita Translator – By Navita Tecnologia
If you are headed abroad in your travels, this nifty free app Navita Translator is the perfect solution to make you seem like a local. Translator translates more than 50 languages, and can speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Russian from words or phrases from e-mails, web pages, SMS messages or arbitrary text typed into the software. If you need to share your translations, Translator also allows you to send translations through Twitter®, email, or BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™).

These are just a few of our favorite travel apps for summer that I collected from asking around the office, but I’d love to hear your contributions, too. How do you get the best deal, not get lost, or go native with your BlackBerry smartphone when you travel?

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]