BlackBerry App World has been updated to version 3.1. The biggest feature is the ability to ask for and give apps as gifts, but there is also an age rating system, so you can tell if apps are appropriate for general audiences, teens, mature folks, or adults only. Awhile back, RIM was talking about being able to gift airtime, which would have been a nice addition, but probably a fair bit more work to pull off.

We are looking at here is the first image of the BlackBerry Milan, a slide-up QWERTY keyboard revealing BBX 10 device that shows the future of RIM-made smartphones in several clearly new features both in image and in rumor surrounding the device. The image is from CrackBerry where writer Kevin Michaluk notes he also has a set of tips on the device that make it a good indicator of what is to come from RIM in 2012. Rounded corners looking like the PlayBook and a higher density pixel array through the display are but two of the innovations coming down the chute.

On the bottom of the device you will find slightly sharper corners looking much more like what wehave heard about the "BlackBerry London" and the whole device is set to rack up what very much appears to be the tallest smartphone on earth award

A new version of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS is now available to all BlackBerry PlayBook tablet users BlackBerry PlayBook OS v1.0.8.4985. This free update can be downloaded over-the-air from your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS v1.0.8.4985 contains the following fixes and updates:

• Updated version of Adobe Flash Player version 11.1 and Adobe AIR 3.1
• Daylight savings time updates for time zones in the regions of Latin America, Australia and Central America
• Updated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi software to help to improve connectivity
• Fixed issues some users were experiencing with account payments in the BlackBerry App World storefront

Improved synching when restoring applications with BlackBerry Desktop Software
This update also includes a security update for Adobe Flash Player, as noted in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB-11-28, which addresses issues that can potentially affect any PC, tablet, or other device with an operating system that supports Adobe Flash. While there are no known reports of any BlackBerry PlayBook tablet users being affected by these Adobe Flash Player issues, RI< (as always) encourage all BlackBerry PlayBook tablet users to update to the newest version of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS.

RIM has just launched a new beta for their signature BlackBerry Messenger app. The biggest feature in BBM 6.1 is support for animated .GIF files as profile pictures. You betcha. Thankfully, they only come to life when you hover over them, unlike the jolly fellow to the left who will ROFL until the end of time, or you explode with rage and punch your display.

BBM will include some preloaded animations, including "in love", "smile", and "laughter", but you will be able to load up your own too. On top of that, BBM 6.1 will have 12 new emoticons, double character limit for status messages, coloured chat bubbles on a per-contact basis, and the ability to set avatar images directly from the native camera application.

The BlackBerry PlayBook can run Android apps, but can it run DOS apps... yes it can run Prince of Persia, Wolfenstein 3D, Lion King and even Windows 3.11, all run on the PlayBook thanks to the efforts of the users over at the CrackBerry forums.

Someone even managed to install Windows 3.11 and run it as the image above attests. Also some reports refer to a Windows 95 running on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Video Below!