Both the Outlook plugin and the BlackBerry client have been updated in this release. We have also enhanced the Viira Outlook Suite beta information page to include more details as well as tips and best practices.

If you haven’t done so already and want to give the beta a try, you can enroll in our beta program here. Once again, thanks to all of you who are participating in the beta program!

Combined Outlook-BlackBerry environments can differ widely between installations though: some people rely on Exchange and a BES-powered company BlackBerry, while others are content with just having BIS and standalone MS Outlook. While the Viira Outlook Suite works without a problem in both cases (and actually doesn’t even need a BlackBerry data plan), we are still looking to extend the testing period for the Viira Outlook Suite in order to make sure the 1.0 version works smoothly out-of-the-box for everyone.

With that in mind, we are launching the Viira Outlook Suite Beta program. Are you comfortable playing with beta software on your computer and on your BlackBerry? Are you interested in making your opinion count in guiding the direction and feature set of the growing Viira Outlook Suite?

If your answer is yes to both, you should go ahead and give the Viira Outlook Suite beta a try. We would love to hear your thoughts on it as that would give us an idea of what works for you and what you think we can improve so that we can solidify the Viira Outlook Suite as the ultimate GTD solution out there.

Here is a quick glimpse of what the Viira Outlook Suite looks like:

To kick of WES 2010, RIM officially announced the BlackBerry Bold 9650 which confirmed many rumors that have been circulating around. A CDMA-based worldphone with built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, double the flash memory of the Bold 9700 and a 3.2MP auto-focus camera with video recording capabilities, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 is a truly a “no compromise” smartphone, as RIM’s Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis put it.

No firm announcements on the availability of the Bold 9560 have been made by carriers yet, though we hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Also announced was the BlackBerry Pearl 3G. With its slick, stylish looks, a compact form factor and support for 3G, this BlackBerry would have easily been the BlackBerry that we would have gone for had we not set our minds on the 9650 already.

Telus and Rogers are the first carriers to announce the addition of the Pearl 9100 to their lineup, with Telus promising a availability in May and priced at $29.99 with a plan (Telus press release here). Verizon, AT&T and others are expected to follow suit shortly thereafter.

Another big announcement today was the upcoming release of OS 6.0 You can check out the preview video below. All in all, it was a very exciting day in the BlackBerry community, and we will provide more details if any other major announcements get made during the remainder of WES 2010.

Through the BlackBerry Alliance Research In Motion (the makers of BlackBerry smartphones) partners with companies like Karta Mobile that have strong commitment to and established presence in the BlackBerry ecosystem. The ultimate objective with this is to foster the development of leading-edge BlackBerry solutions and bring them to the palm of your hand.

Membership in the BlackBerry Alliance is something that we have been working towards in the last little while and are very excited to share the news with you. Most of all, we look forward to tapping into RIM’s vast network of resources, support and insight in order to build an even-better, more effective Viira for you to be effective, stay organized and get things done day-to-day.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the all things BlackBerry, Karta Mobile will be sending a representative to WES 2010 this coming week in Orlando, Florida. There have been a lot of rumours out there about new BlackBerry devices being on the verge of being announced (here and here), so stay tuned and we will try to bring you the latest scoop right from the source!

For this release, we went over all the recommendations and requests that we received from you over the last little while and implemented the ones that were requested the most. To a large extend Viira 2.1 has been a community effort from all of you trying to leverage GTD on your BlackBerry - and we would like to thank all of you for the many great suggestions that we received!

We do our best to grow Viira based on your recommendations and if your suggestions wasn’t included in 2.1, stay tuned as versions 2.2 and beyond take shape!

Here is what is new in Viira 2.1:

• Delegate a project or context. You can now use Viira to email instructions and to-do lists, provide step-by-step directions and send a shopping list to your spouse. You can even use Viira’s delegation capability to email things to yourself for review later or to print out an entire project or context.
• Navigation With Shortcuts. Quickly go from one view to another by using shortcut key combinations. ALT+C opens Contexts View, ALT+P changes to Projects View, ALT+D invokes Day View and ALT+T will start Tasks View. This was by far one of the most requested capabilities and we hope it improves the speed and effectiveness of navigating your mobile GTD system as it did for us!
• Project and Context Notes. You can now add notes to every project or context to record additional directions, thoughts or just important things to keep in mind when tackling all the to-dos in it.

As always, Viira 2.1 comes as a free upgrade to all buyers of Viira 2.0.

Viira 2.1 also comes with a free trial, so grab it OTA from our mobile site and see for yourself what a powerful additional to your BlackBerry Viira really is!

If you’re already using Getting Things Done with Viira on your BlackBerry, you’re well on your way to living a more organized, productive life. But if you still have lingering questions on how best to use GTD in certain situations, there are plenty of places to go online to get help.

We’ve compiled a list of the Internet’s leading authorities on Getting Things Done. From tips and tricks, to words of wisdom from David Allen himself, you’re sure to find the info you need in one of the links below.

• Otherwise known as Mecca, DavidCo is the official website of the David Allen Company. Find information on all Allen’s books, upcoming appearances and more.
• GTD Times is a division of David Allen’s network. The self-described ‘hub of all things GTD,’ this site includes a blog, newsletter signup, and links to many more GTD resources.
• Another part of David Allen’s rapidly growing empire, GTD Connect is a subscription service that puts Getting Things Done practitioners in touch with each other and allows users to participate in online classes.
• Visit the official Facebook fan page of Getting Things Done to connect with other like-minded productivity fans on this popular social network.
• Join the official LinkedIn page for GTD Enthusiasts. Open to everyone, it’s a fantastic networking group to share GTD tips and tricks. David Allen and his staff are said to stop by occasionally.
• The official YouTube page for Getting Things Done ihas informative videos from David Allen and others explaining how GTD works for them.
• Follow David Allen on Twitter for daily musings from this famous productivity guru.
• You’ve probably read all of Allen’s books cover-to-cover, but if you happen to be missing one, head over to Amazon.com’s David Allen page and complete your collection.
• Run by Merlin Mann, creator of the Hipster PDA, 43Folders.com discusses productivity, taking several cues from GTD.
• Getting Things Done is a popular topic on Lifehacker.com, a blog that offers tricks and shortcuts to living life effectively. Search the #GTD and #gettingthingsdone tags to see all the posts.
• Not to be confused with Lifehacker, Stepcase Lifehack also focuses on productivity and often mentions Getting Things Done.
• Getting Finances Done is a blog that preaches personal financial control, using many of the GTD principles.
• Written by a GTD enthusiast, the Did I Get Things Done blog has multiple updates per week on productivity and motivation.
• The official Wikipedia page for Getting Things Done gives a great overview on the productivity system when you need a quick refresher.

Finally, if you’re like us and read everything you can find on David Allen and GTD, here are links to a few prominent news articles that discuss the productivity phenomenon.

• Wired Magazine
• Business Week (don’t forget to click through to Part 2!)
• Time Magazine
• NPR

You requested it, and we listened. Over the last little while we have been hard at work on a combined BlackBerry-Outlook solution called The Viira Outlook Suite. In fact, it is almost ready for a beta launch!

At this point I would like to tell you more about what it will do, as well as give you a glimpse of how it will take your personal productivity and GTD workflows to a whole new level.  If you are interested in what a BlackBerry-Outlook GTD solution has to offer you can sign up for the Viira Outlook Suite updates - and maybe even help us a little by volunteering for our beta program.

Here is a summary of what our the Viira Outlook Suite will look like:

• BlackBerry *and* Outlook. The Viira Outlook Suite will contain both a BlackBerry app (Viira) and an extension to your Outlook. The extension (called plugin) will make it possible for you to do all the things you are used to doing with Viira inside your Outlook.
• Viira 2 functionality inside Outlook. The Viira Outlook plugin will provide the same features inside Outlook that Viira 2 currently offers, including projects, contexts and next actions.
• Full data upgrade path from Viira 2.  The Viira Outlook Suite will import all data from Viira 2 and people choosing to continue with the Viira Outlook Suite can do so effortlessly.
• Full purchase credit. Buyers of the full version of Viira 2 will get full credit ($29.99) towards the purchase price of the Viira Outlook Suite. We haven’t decided on pricing yet, but if the Viira Outlook Suite is say $29.99, then buyers of Viira 2 will get it for free. If the Outlook Suite is $39.99, buyers of Viira will be able to get it for $10.00, etc. So if you are interested in our Viira Outlook Suite and are also considering buying Viira 2, you might as well make your purchase now and enjoy Viira for longer.
• Same emphasis on GTD. Our Viira Outlook Suite will stay true to the principles of Getting Things Done, simplicity and ease of use.

So put down your name name and email address on our sign-up form and we will let you know as soon as the Viira Outlook Suite is available and ready for download. We all look forward to taking your productivity habbits and GTD workflows to a whole new level.

Don’t believe us? Well, the following examples may inspire you to apply the principles of Getting Things Done in ways that haven’t crossed your mind yet. With productivity tools like Viira and your BlackBerry, the multitude of ways to get things done is downright amazing.

@Book Recommendations - From Oprah to Arianna, everyone’s recommending a book. Keep track of the ones you want to read in their own Context. Adding a new book to the list is as easy as reaching for your BlackBerry.

@Travel Destinations - Make a note of the fantastic voyages you’ve seen in the newspaper’s travel section or on your friend’s slide show. When it comes time to plan the trip, just transform your notes into next actions.

@Supermarket - Manage your grocery list in Viira and you’ll always know what to pick up when you’re out and about.

@Resolutions - Write down your New Years resolutions. You will have them right on your BlackBerry to remind you - and then check them off the list one by one!

@Doctor – If you’re lucky, you only see your doc once a year. Make notes about all the items you want to discuss at your next checkup so nothing gets forgotten.

@Renovations – Anyone who’s tackled a remodel knows there are roughly five thousand details to keep track of, and Viira is the perfect place to do so. Just remember to always have one “kick-start action” to keep the project moving along, as David Allen recommends.

@Class – GTD isn’t just for working professionals. Students can also use it to take notes. Just create a separate context for each class and your notes will be at your fingertips during those late-night cram sessions.

@Take Notes — Next time you are at a seminar or presentation, instead of using pen and paper use Viira to take notes. Simply create a context, e.g. “XYZ Presentation” and write down points or follow-on reminders. You can review the presentation later, and even designate next actions for follow-up.

Remember, the guiding principle of Getting Things Done is to collect 100% of all your tasks and commitments, or “stuff,” as David Allen calls it. Your “stuff” doesn’t just live in the office—it’s all around you, and when you’re able to keep it all off your mind and at your fingertips with the Viira BlackBerry app, you’ll be free to focus on the bigger picture of staying focused in the new year and the new decade!

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to adopt GTD and install Viira on your BlackBerry, the perfect pair of tools to make your work and home lives more organized and productive. If you haven’t already done so, we highly encourage you to read David Allen’s fantastic book, “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.”  It goes into detail on the best ways to incorporate the GTD system into your life.

But what now?  You have the tools, but how do you start organizing all of your commitments into GTD via Viira?  Fortunately, the app makes it a cinch.

Step 1: Collect your Commitments

The guiding principle behind GTD is to collect and organize 100% of your tasks and commitments, or “stuff” as David Allen calls it.  This process gets the details out of your head, freeing your mind to focus on larger issues and bigger projects.

All this “stuff” may be in the form of sticky notes framing your computer monitor or scrap papers in a junk drawer.  Or, like most people, your email inbox might be the biggest culprit.  If so, Viira makes it simple to get your inbox to empty by transforming incoming emails into actionable items.  Since the app works seamlessly with the BlackBerry’s native email program, you can easily create a task directly from an individual email.

Step 2: Organize and File

All the “stuff” you collect needs to be acted on, and you can organize it all using Viira.  You may want to consider setting up your Projects and Contexts first. David Allen defines a project as “any desired result that requires more than one action step.”  Contexts, on the other hand, are groups of actionable items that all need to happen together, like @Computer, or @StaffMeeting.

Once you’ve got a handle on those, you can start adding actionable items into the system as Appointments (items with a due date) and Tasks (items that aren’t time sensitive).  These can be filed as a specific Project or Context…or nothing at all, if that’s your preference.

Step 3: Daily Review

David Allen warns of the danger of putting reminders out of sight, and suggests frequent reviews of your lists to make sure you stay up to speed on all your items.  To combat this, he recommends a daily review of your calendar, as it provides a “hard landscape” of what has to be done that day. Viira makes this a breeze with the Day View that stays seamlessly in sync with your BlackBerry’s calendar.

Once you get a handle on your daily schedule, take a look at your Tasks View to see what else you can accomplish.  If you’ve organized your next actions into Contexts, one look at the Contexts View will show you the items you can tackle in your current location.

Step 4: Weekly Review

Don’t forget about the bigger projects you’ve taken the time to add into Viira.  A weekly review of these areas in Projects View will ensure everything is up to date. David Allen recommends having at least one “kick-start action” for each Project amongst your Next Actions, to keep everything moving forward.

This is also a good time to empty your head of all the new projects, actions and appointments you haven’t yet captured in the app, along with clearing out actions that you’ve completed.  Remember, when everything is off your mind and at your fingertips on your BlackBerry, you’re free to focus on the big picture.

Step 5: Take a Shortcut

Now that you’ve got a handle on all your tasks and commitments, become a power user of Viira! Make the most of your BlackBerry and GTD by learning a few of the hotkey shortcuts: you can check them out at the Viira shortcut information page.

As you continue to use Viira and apply the principles of Getting Things Done with your BlackBerry you’ll likely find that your mind is clear and you’re able to consistently and effectively manage all your commitments.  As long as you continue to aim for 100% collection of all your “stuff,” and transform it all into actionable items using Viira, you’ll stay in this wonderful relaxed and productive state.

The conference has been chock full of important announcements for the BlackBerry developer community and has been covered all across the blogosphere (here, here and here).  It suffices to say that we are all very excited to harness a lot of the innovation, new technologies and device APIs to make Viira and even better, more engaging and comprehensive GTD system for BlackBerry smartphones.

RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie Addressing BlackBerry Developers

We took notes on new technologies, best practices and ideas and even engaged in a series of round table discussions with key RIM decision makers on how to best grow the app ecosystem on the BlackBerry. It felt great knowing that our gripes, recommendations and two cents are actually making an impact on the way the BlackBerry platform is evolving.

Yes, unlike other fruit companies, RIM listens.

All-in-all, it has been a spectacular event and we are all coming back energized and thrilled about what the future of the BlackBerry platform holds in store for everyone - for developers and consumers alike.