Jun 15

Samsung Enters Tablet Race With the Galaxy Tape

Posted in: BlackBerry, galaxy, research in motion, RIM, samsung, tablets, Today's Chili

Samsung is jumping into the tablet fray with a device powered by Google’s Android operating system. Samsung’s tablet, with the unlikely name of ‘Galaxy Tape,’ is expected to launch in September.

The device has a 7-inch OLED screen, runs a 1.2 GHz processor, and includes 16 GB of internal memory that can be boosted to 48 GB, according to a Vietnamese site Tinhte.

The Galaxy Tape–also known as Galaxy Tab–will weigh about 13 ounces and ship with the latest version of the Android operating system, Android 2.2 ‘FroYo.’

News about the Samsung tablet comes on the heels of a report Monday that BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is also testing a tablet. RIM is trying to create a tablet that could act as “companion” to its BlackBerry phone.

The tablet has become one of the hottest consumer electronics products of the year. PC makers and cellphone manufacturers are rushing to introduce a device that can be an alternative to Apple’s iPad. In less than 60 days since the iPad was launched, Apple said it sold more than two million of them.

Earlier this month, Dell launched a tablet called ‘Streak’ in the U.K. The Streak has a 5-inch display, a SIM card to make phone calls and runs Google’s Android operating system. The Streak is expected to be available in the U.S. in July for $500. HP is also working on a tablet computer called the HP Slate.

Details around pricing of the Samsung tablet or how it will be sold are not available yet but as the above photo (which was posted on on Samsung’s South African twitter feed and then deleted) shows the Galaxy Tape tablet is likely to have a user interface similar to the company’s Galaxy S phone.

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Photo: (nDevilTV/Flickr)




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Jun 14

Research In Motion Is Testing a Tablet

Posted in: BlackBerry, palm, research in motion, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is testing a tablet that could act as a “companion” to its BlackBerry phone, says the Wall Street Journal.

The BlackBerry tablet is reportedly in the early stage of development and will tether to the the phone. Last month, the Boy Genius Report web site said the BlackBerry tablet is likely to have an 8.9-inch screen and include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Since Apple introduced the iPad in April, other PC and smartphone makers have announced that they are working on tablets of their own. In less than 60 days since the iPad was launched, Apple said it sold more than 2 million of them.

Earlier this month, Dell announced it will introduce a tablet called ‘Streak’ that will have a 5-inch display and run Google’s Android operating system. The Streak also has a SIM card so users can make calls with it. The device is currently available in the U.K. now and is expected to launch in the U.S. next month for $500.  HP is also working on a tablet computer called the HP Slate.

RIM hopes to introduce its tablet to complement its BlackBerry phones. The move evokes Palm’s failed experiment with the Foleo. In 2007, Palm announced the Foleo as a companion device to its Treo phone. The Foleo priced at $500 would sync wirelessly to Treo phones. But, after much criticism, Palm cancelled the device even before it could make it to retail shelves.

RIM’s tablet might be better received. A tablet could help RIM compete better with the latest generation of smartphones. Except for the BlackBerry Storm, RIM hasn’t released any smartphones with touchscreens. A tablet could help bridge the gap between its keyboard-focused phones and the fast growing market for touchscreen devices.

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Photo: (ichibod/Flickr)




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Jun 14

Motorola and RIM settle patent dispute with a good old cross-licensing deal

Posted in: BlackBerry, deal, Law, legal, moto, motorola, patent, patents, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili

We always like to hear of companies burying the hatchet (and the lawyers with it, if at all possible), and our latest source of good vibes are two North American phone makers that have been at each other’s throats over patents since early 2008. Motorola and RIM had a previous intellectual property-sharing deal that expired at the end of ’07 and with the companies unable to come to a suitable extension agreement, it all spiraled out into a big and silly legal discord. That has at long last been settled now, with RIM paying a one-off fee and regular royalties, as well as licensing some of its own patent catalog out to Moto, in exchange for using the Americans’ knowhow in WiFi and other areas. All in all, an inevitable conclusion to an unnecessarily legalized negotiation. Now how about both you guys get back to building us those QWERTY sliders and 2GHz Androids?

Motorola and RIM settle patent dispute with a good old cross-licensing deal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 25

Is Dash Express dead? And if so, how will you know where to find the cheapest gas?

Posted in: research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili
Well, kids, we had a good run. According to an anonymous tipster (and apparent Dash Express user), Dash Navigation shot out an email last night saying that service and support for Dash Express will be discontinued as of June 30, with no new subscriptions available after today. If you went for contract service (as opposed to the ol’ month-by-month) you should receive a check pro-rated for your outstanding balance at some point. But then again, if that is the case, you probably received the email as well. Unless, of course, this is all a big hoax — one that is targeted at an extremely small segment of the population and which will, ultimately effect no one. But that doesn’t seem likely, does it? The company offices don’t open for a couple hours yet (we know, we called) so we’ll tell you if anything changes. Until then, you can read the aforementioned email after the break.

Continue reading Is Dash Express dead? And if so, how will you know where to find the cheapest gas?

Is Dash Express dead? And if so, how will you know where to find the cheapest gas? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 24

BlackBerry Bold 9800 caught sliding through OS 6 on video

Posted in: BlackBerry, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, slider, Today's Chili, video

When it rains Bold 9800 news, it pours. Just yesterday we were given a glimpse of its virtual keyboard and AT&T branding, and now BlackBerry’s upcoming slider can be seen more fleshed out thanks to the power of moving pictures. No narration for this video — that’s either good or bad, depending on your own personal preference — and the horizontal menu swipe looks like it’s missing some animation, but otherwise the phone’s looking pretty snappy for a pre-release. Unless we’re mistaken, that’s clearly a capacitive screen, and even better, it’s got pinch-and-zoom mulititouch. Not in the video? Some Dylan-esque troubadour holding up a cue card that gives price and release date. Bummer. Video after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9800 caught sliding through OS 6 on video

BlackBerry Bold 9800 caught sliding through OS 6 on video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 15:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 23

More BlackBerry Bold 9800 pics surface: AT&T and virtual keyboard in, SurePress out?

Posted in: att, BlackBerry, leak, leaks, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, rumor, rumors, slider, Today's Chili

You might’ve been intrigued by the previous show of the BlackBerry Bold 9800 slider, but this new series of images blows those all out of water. The Berry Fix has a plethora of pics for your perusal, chief among them a showing of the virtual keyboard to complement the physical QWERTY. We gotta say, every announce of good design sense lost on the 9670 must have been spent on this guy; we’re really intrigued by this one. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve got two more details that’ll tickle your fancy: an AT&T splash screen for one, and claims from the article’s author (via Twitter) that RIM’s not using SurePress here. That’d actually be quite a relief, but until we get our hands on the sucker, let’s just curb our enthusiasm, mkay?

More BlackBerry Bold 9800 pics surface: AT&T and virtual keyboard in, SurePress out? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 May 2010 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 30

Apple #1 US phone manufacturer, RIM enters top 5 worldwide, Motorola feels the burn

Posted in: Apple, iPhone, motorola, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili
Apple, love it or lump it, has seen some big numbers lately: one million App Store apps downloaded, ten billion iTunes, and now it looks like the company can claim to be the number one phone maker in the US. According to Forbes, Apple sold 8.8 million iPhones in the first quarter, as opposed to 8.5 million mobile devices sold by Motorola — quite a slide when you figure that four years ago the company moved something like 46.1 million in Q1. If that ain’t enough to give Motorola pause, industry analysts IDC have issued a report stating that, while the mobile phone industry continues to recover (growing almost 22 percent in Q1) Motorola has been knocked out of the top five worldwide mobile vendors by RIM. We guess the next question is, will Motorola’s all-Android, all-the-time strategy be enough to bring it back into the big leagues?

Apple #1 US phone manufacturer, RIM enters top 5 worldwide, Motorola feels the burn originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TUAW, SlashGear  |  sourceForbes, IDC  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 30

BlackBerry Breaks Into Worldwide Phone Bestseller List

Posted in: BlackBerry, LG, market, nokia, Phones, research in motion, RIM, sales, samsung, Today's Chili

smartphones-vendors-q1-idc

BlackBerry fans can break out the bubbly. Growing demand for its phones has helped Research In Motion move into the top five mobile phone companies worldwide in sales during the first quarter, says research firm IDC.

RIM replaced Motorola in the Top 5 chart and tied with Sony Ericsson for the No. 4 position. RIM shipped 10.6 million phones in the first quarter, while Motorola, which had been a fixture in the top-five ranking since 2004, shipped 8.5 million phones.

“This is also the first time a vendor has dropped out of the top five since the second quarter of 2005, when Sony Ericsson grabbed the number five spot from BenQ Siemens,” says Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker.

Apple doesn’t feature in the Top 5 chart because the company shipped 8.75 million phones worldwide in the first quarter, says IDC. Next week, IDC will release data on the top five mobile phone makers in the United States.

However, Apple has taken the top spot among U.S. phone makers, a rather small group that includes Motorola, Apple, Palm and a handful of minor players.

The worldwide rankings take into account both smartphones and feature phones. Though feature phones (cheaper, simpler devices) are still a big percentage of phones sold worldwide, low-cost smartphones are picking up in sales, says IDC.

Nokia, whose devices don’t get much love in the United States, held on to its No. 1 position worldwide, shipping 107.8 million phones in the first quarter of the year. That’s up 16 percent from the same quarter year before.

Samsung ranked second with 64.3 million phones sold, and LG shipped 27.1 million phones to bag the third place. RIM, which ranks fourth, sold nearly 2 million more phones than Motorola, says IDC.

“Key to its success in the first quarter was the popularity of its BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Bold 9700 across multiple markets, as well as its global prepaid offerings,” says IDC. “Strong consumer adoption, particularly among text-crazy teens, has also fueled demand for BlackBerry devices.”

Here’s a look at the top five companies worldwide by their market share:

marketshare-mobile-phone-co

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Charts data supplied by IDC


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Apr 27

Switched On: Revamps in Motion

Posted in: BlackBerry, mobile os, MobileOs, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, switched on, SwitchedOn, Today's Chili
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Before the iPhone’s release, there were four major smartphone operating systems — Symbian, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry OS. And after the iPhone’s release, their user interfaces all seemed dated in some way. Palm OS and Windows Mobile have essentially been replaced by new operating systems dubbed WebOS and Windows Phone 7. Symbian stakeholders, though, has decided that there is no need to throw out the past completely, and are instead looking toward a series of evolutionary upgrades to make the now open source operating system more competitive.

This week at RIM’s WES conference, the company is announcing a similar evolutionary path for the BlackBerry OS. Like Symbian, the BlackBerry OS has a reputation for being fast and efficient but has not kept up with many of the aesthetic and input amenities offered by more modern competitors. The challenge will be to preserve what users love about the platform while disrupting it in many ways. For example, while the new BlackBerry OS will be better optimized for touchscreens, reports are that it will not require one.

Continue reading Switched On: Revamps in Motion

Switched On: Revamps in Motion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 27

RIM shows off BlackBerry 6 on video

Posted in: BlackBerry, breaking news, BreakingNews, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, social networking, SocialNetworking, teaser, Today's Chili, twitter, video

While RIM’s WES 2010 keynote is still ongoing, the company’s YouTube channel has kindly released the first teaser video for the incoming BlackBerry 6 operating system. There’s a lot of movement on screen — so much, in fact, that it’s almost like RIM really doesn’t want you to see the OS at all. We did catch sight of a Cover Flow-aping music organizer, an onscreen keyboard engaging in some threaded messaging, Facebook and Twitter clients, and even the briefest of glimpses at that famed WebKit-based browser. Interaction in the video is done via touch, but you’ll naturally be able to utilize the new interface on more conventional, touch-less devices as well. Skip past the break for the moving pictures.

Continue reading RIM shows off BlackBerry 6 on video

RIM shows off BlackBerry 6 on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBlackBerry (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

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