14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry mobile phone users out there have now yet another reason to rejoice, as an Open Source WordPress for Blackberry application has just been released publicly, through it is still in beta stage. According to Raanan Bar-Cohen from WordPress, the app comes from a collaboration with Danais, and it has been developed as a native solution.
Given the fact that we're talking about a beta build, there are a series of issues that the app comes around with, and the developers advise users to take extra care when using it. For starters, those willing to give it a try should do so on a backed-up blog, so as to make sure that noting gets messed up. At the same time, the developers also say that a 1.0 version should arrive in the near future.
As for the features that the app comes with, we should mention the fact that it has been designed for WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress version 2.5.1 or newer, and that it can be used on the new BlackBerry devices such as the 8700, Pearl, Curve, Bold, and Storm. At the same time, it seems that the application needs the BlackBerry OS 4.2.1 or newer versions to run.
According to the guys at WordPress there is one more thing that should be taken into consideration before starting to use the new app: “For self-hosted WordPress sites, please make sure you have XML-RPC enabled. To confirm, it’s a simple check box in your dashboard under Settings -> Writing.” Moreover, they also announced that developers interested in the app could find the source code and a copy of the application via SVN (http://blackberry.svn.wordpress.org/).
The installation of the beta application is a rather simple process. Users will just have to go to http://blackberry.wordpress.org/install on their BlackBerry browser after which they will have to follow the instructions. Updates are expected to surface in the near future, and the newer versions will overwrite the existing one, yet the settings and local drafts should remain the same.