Hasta La Gadget!

For those of us who aren’t fans of swipe gestures, the highlight of BlackBerry 10 is undoubtedly a unique keyboard that’s often a step ahead of its user. It’s a good thing for this last camp that RIM was just granted the final version of a related patent for logic-based text prediction. Instead of simply hunting for typos, the patented keyboard guesses the next word based either on the context of the words around it or on other criteria, like common expressions. About the only time the technique doesn’t predict words is for passwords — RIM would rather not be that clever. While there looks to be a few differences in the practical implementation of the patent as we’ve seen it in a pre-release BlackBerry 10, theory and reality are close enough that RIM won’t be worried about anyone else poaching its seemingly mind-reading technology anytime soon.

Update: We’ve dug deeper, and it’s more focused on simple frequency logic and auto-complete shortcuts (think “ttyl” generating “talk to you later”) rather than anything too complex. BlackBerry 10 isn’t so secure, then, although these are still quite important typing techniques.

Filed under: Cellphones

RIM gets patent for logic-based text prediction, BlackBerry 10 keyboard now preserved for the ages (update: not so ambitious) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During today’s shareholder meeting RIM CEO Thorsten Heins hinted that BBM, the companies celebrated group messaging service, might be getting some significant upgrades with the debut of BB10. In particular, the words “video chat” were tossed out as an example of how it planned to keep pace with the evolving mobile landscape. In response to a shareholder question, Heins said:

“BBM is a very, strong platform… With upgrading it into a new experience, think about adding features on BB10 such as video chat, for example, within BBM. There’s many other features to come with BB10 that will really level this BBM experience… which will upgrade that experience to a whole new social networking experience based on BBM… we want to use this to build a BlackBerry-driven social networking platform.”

So, does that mean BlackBerry is getting ready to take on Skype and Google? Perhaps. It would certainly make sense, but we’d stop short calling it a sure shot. What is clear, is that Heins really wants to push BlackBerry as the “social” platform focused on “experience” and seems content to let those other mobile OSes win the apps race.

Filed under: Software

RIM CEO hints at future BBM video chat feature originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite all the doom and gloom at RIM of late, CEO Thorsten Heins is a long, long way from throwing in the towel. After denying a “death spiral” and responding directly to Globe & Mail reader questions, he sat down with CIO‘s Al Sacco to talk about what he sees coming next year — and why we’re going to have to wait another couple of months for BB10. The reason for delay, he says, “is not because we added stuff to it. The delay is because our software groups were actually so successful in coding the various feature components… we got overwhelmed by integration efforts.” In other words, the company didn’t add too much stuff, there simply was too much stuff. That’s a very different state of affairs.

That being the state of play, the decision to delay again was a natural one, says Heins. “What I commit to the public out there is that when we ship BlackBerry 10, we will do it at high quality.” And he, of course, has high hopes for what they ship. “In January with the full touch device and the QWERTY coming, I think we will reinstall faith in RIM.” That seems to imply a January release for the device, or at least a final media unveiling, which could make the 2013 CES RIM’s last, best hope.

Thorsten Heins talks BB10 delay, promises to ‘reinstall faith in RIM’ in January with full touch device originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has the unenviable task of, well, being the CEO of RIM. Still, in spite of some gloomy numbers, the exec thinks the company is on the right track. Heins told CBC Radio that, since taking over, the company has been implementing changes that are helping Research in Motion transition to BlackBerry 10, adding that “there’s nothing wrong with the company as it exists right now.” Heins told the Metro Morning radio show, “This company is not ignoring the world out there, nor is it in a death spiral,” adding, “Yes, it is very, very challenged at the moment – specifically in the U.S. market. The way I would describe it: we’re in the middle of a transition.” It’s a transition from which, Heins insists, RIM “will emerge successfully.” What’s more, Heins also has an op-ed in today’s Globe & Mail, where he mostly reiterates that stance and flatly says “don’t count BlackBerry out.” You can find it at the source link below.

RIM’s Thorsten Heins denies company’s ‘death spiral,’ predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerryOS has posted what appears to be a leaked RIM roadmap, and it suggests that RIM is planning to launch the first of a glut of new BlackBerry 10 devices in early 2013. More »