Hasta La Gadget!

Looks like the New York Times is signaling the death knell for RIM, albeit subtly. In a move that surely underscores the withering faith content companies have for the once beloved platform, the venerable Sulzberger-backed news organization has pulled all support for its DealBook Reader and NYTimes app for BlackBerry as of July 23rd. Users that attempt to access that application in the days since will find a stale content list that no longer updates and are being urged, instead, to visit the paper’s mobile site for a “more complete… experience.” And as if the ailing Waterloo-based company hadn’t suffered enough indignity, it’s been cast out of the developer pen alongside WebOS, joining PalmPre users on the reject list. Not to worry though, the Times crossword app has yet to get the axe — that’s got to be some consolation, no? You can check out the NYT’s official line on its decision at the source below.

[Thanks, Dhruv]

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

New York Times ends support for official BlackBerry, WebOS apps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 17:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, RIM really just can’t catch a break these days. The latest setback for the struggling company involves The New York Times’ decision to completely eliminate its downloadable BlackBerry application. A spokeswoman for the newspaper said that the decision to get rid of it really came down to app usage, and that the company wanted to direct its resources to where the highest levels of usage are found.

This is obviously not great news for RIM as it races to prepare for launching its new BlackBerry 10 operating system scheduled for next year, but the NY Times said that it hasn’t completely ruled out the development of an app for the new version. According to the company, that decision has not yet been made and it probably won’t be made until next year when it’s actually released.

A message to BlackBerry customers on the NY Times website stated: “Currently, our mobile website offers a more complete New York Times experience than the NYTimes app native to your device.”

So, all is not entirely lost since BlackBerry users will still be able to access the newspaper through its mobile website. The fight continues for RIM as it tries to somehow recover from a 47-percent drop in U.S. sales last year and a drop from 16 percent to 12 percent in smartphone market share during the first quarter.

[via Reuters]

New York Times pulls the plug on its BlackBerry app is written by Elise Moreau & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

RIM is already a beleaguered company, and what they need the most at this moment would be a boost of good news – but that is seemingly lacking in generous measure this day, where the latest blow to hit RIM would be word that The New York Times (NYT) has dropped its downloadable application for BlackBerry users. Those who still use a BlackBerry are able to access the newspaper via the mobile website, which will now be the main focus of its electronic- publishing efforts.

I guess NYT is sticking to tried and tested winners, where those who run on Android or iOS devices will still be able to get their daily dose of New York Times news via dedicated apps on its respective platforms. How does this affect you as a media consumer – is it any huge loss to your everyday news reading sessions, or have you long ditched the BlackBerry bandwagon and moved on to greener pastures in the form of an Android or iOS smartphone?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BlackBerry concept phone peeks at a potential QWERTY slider , RIM files for emotion-detecting patent, sounds intriguing,

There is nothing quite like a concept for you to let your imagination run wild, right? After all, you need not be bogged down by details such as physical limitations or a shorter battery life due to the number of features you threw into the mix. Well, here is a rendering of a concept phone by someone who figured out that RIM might actually want to consider when it comes to churning out a BlackBerry 10 QWERTY slider. The whole idea of this concept is to maximize the display area. When the concept phone is closed, the bezel looks extremely narrow, although it does not really break new ground in terms of hardware design.

Slide it open, and your eyes (and obviously, fingers) will be treated to a new-style angled keyboard for a greater ergonomic user experience. After all, this angled keyboard was picked up as a patent by RIM earlier this year. What do you think of the overall design – is the keyboard too flat for your liking at first glance? I do hope that RIM nails their next BlackBerry device correctly with the mass market, as the company really needs a shot in the arm at this point in time and in the immediate future.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: BlackBerry Blade concept looks sharp, RIM fantasizes with new BlackBerry form factors,

If you’ve been holding out for a BlackBerry PlayBook with LTE connectivity, you apparently won’t have to wait much longer. MobileSyrup has scored some info that shows the long-awaited tablet will finally be landing next week, or on July 31st to be exact. That date comes by the way of Bell Canada, just one of the carriers planning to offer the LTE variant of the tablet when it does go on sale.

The 7-inch slate will come with 32GB of storage, so it looks like RIM was serious when it said it would no longer 16GB as an option. Better yet, the processor will also see a bump to a 1.5Ghz dual-core model, although it’s not clear if it’s the same TI OMAP processor or perhaps one of Qualcomm’s offerings with an integrated LTE modem. The other specs remain the same, including 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera and 3-megapixel front-facing camera, plus PlayBook OS 2.0.

If you want a LTE connected PlayBook, you’ll be paying $549.99 unsubsidized. If that sounds fair, then you only have to wait a week or so, and you can take comfort in the fact that RIM will upgrade the tablet to BlackBerry 10 when the operating system launches early next year, assuming the company can overcome its financial and market troubles.

[via Engadget]

LTE BlackBerry PlayBook due on July 31st for $550 is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.