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Corporate server managers everywhere were given a jolt this week when rumors emerged that RIM might implement a hard cutoff for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10: any devices based on BlackBerry 7 and earlier might not connect at all, leaving IT leads with the uncomfortable choice of either running a BlackBerry server platform that’s supposedly without a future (BES 5) or having to upgrade both the servers and phones all at once. RIM is putting minds at ease — more or less. The company’s Kim Geiger has confirmed in a statement to the media that BES 10 will support legacy devices when it ships in the first quarter of 2013, and that existing server customers will get an upgrade for smooth sailing around when BlackBerry 10 arrives. That’s no doubt a comfort, but there are lingering doubts. Rumor source BGR maintains that companies will have to run both the old and new servers side-by-side to address everyone, which could make a truly harmonious environment complex, expensive or both. We’ve reached out to RIM for a more definitive explanation to hopefully settle the matter. In the meantime, we wouldn’t panic; no one is being pushed to adopt BES 10 right away, and those that want to upgrade don’t have to give up their legacy hardware.

Filed under: Cellphones

RIM says BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10 users will get legacy device support, IT admins (may) rest easy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It hasn’t been long since Hotmail users found themselves rebranded to Outlook.com. When Outlook.com launched it became the most recent web-based e-mail service to try to lure in users with support for Windows and Mac computers. When Outlook.com it had a few missing features for some people.

One of those missing features was no support for IMAP and apparently; the Mac client left a lot to be desired. Outlook.com team members recently answered a few questions about the new service, and the reason for the missing IMAP support was offered up. According to a team member, the reason IMAP wasn’t included is because it’s an old protocol that doesn’t support things other than mail synchronization. Specifically, IMAP will support calendar and people synchronization.

However, team members from Outlook.com are hinting that IMAP support may come in the future. The representative stated, “I expect we’ll support IMAP for Outlook sometime down the line.” Outlook.com team members also spoke a bit about support for Mac computers stating that “client support on the Mac isn’t great.”

Team members say that Microsoft is working on improving support for Mac users. Right now, users of Hotmail in Outlook.com have to use POP3 or a web interface to access their e-mail using OS X. Windows users on the other hand can use dedicated Windows Live Mail client or an add-in for Outlook.

[via TheVerge]

Outlook.com team teases IMAP support is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Mozilla’s Thunderbird mail client just hasn’t enjoyed the same level of stardom as its Firefox cousin. Their developer must be feeling this discrepancy more than most, as the company has confirmed plans to take the organization out of active Thunderbird development. The shift is officially being spun as an adaptation that lets the Foundation center its energy on Firefox OS and the usual browser plans, but when Mozilla proper will only be handling bug fixes and security updates for a client that’s “not a priority,” we’d say it’s putting Thunderbird on ice. Accordingly, leaked details from TechCrunch show Mozilla moving some of the team out of the project at some point; any new features will have to come from the community, which suggests the future upgrade schedule will be more than a bit unpredictable. The writing is on the wall soon enough that existing owners could have food for thought well before a final strategy is due in early September.

Mozilla giving Thunderbird the (effective) axe, leaving its fate to the community originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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