Aug 12

Will RIM’s PlayBook get WiMAX? The Now Network says no (update: RIM focusing on LTE)

Posted in: 4G, BlackBerry, blackberry playbook, BlackberryPlaybook, playbook, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Sprint, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili, WiMAX


Whoa there, RIM — not so fast. Despite an earlier commitment from Sprint, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Now Network has cancelled its plans to bring WiMAX to the BlackBerry PlayBook, leaving Research in Motion to continue selling WiFi-only models of the half-baked tablet. Sprint representatives cited poor adoption rates among business customers as one reason for the move to cancel PlayBook sales, along with an already crowded tablet market, also adding that the decision will have “no impact” on the carrier’s relationship with RIM. We can’t say that a WiMAX-capable PlayBook would have topped our back to school wish list, but this latest move is somewhat shocking nonetheless.

Update: RIM wrote in to share the following statement:

RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE. We remain excited and committed to delivering innovative and powerful 4G tablets to the US market together with our carrier partners. Testing of BlackBerry 4G PlayBook models is already underway and we plan to enter labs for network certifications in the US and other international markets this fall.

Will RIM’s PlayBook get WiMAX? The Now Network says no (update: RIM focusing on LTE) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink @Phonescooper  |  sourceWall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 11

UK Prime Minister exploring social media crackdown in wake of London riots (video)

Posted in: BlackBerry, london, politics, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili, twitter, uk, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom, video
As Londoners continue to pick up the rubble and carnage from this week’s riots, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is exploring new ways to maintain order — including, apparently, a government crackdown on social media. In a speech to members of Parliament today, Cameron made clear his belief that law enforcement officials should be able to curb and monitor the use of social networking sites under certain circumstances, lending credence to the theory that mechanisms like Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry played a critical role in inciting the recent violence:
“Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them. So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality.”
There’s a fine line separating issues of national security from the rights to free speech, but it’s a line that Cameron seems willing to toe. And, though he and his Conservative government are only mulling the idea, it’s difficult to ignore the irony in his statements. Keep in mind that this is the same man who roundly condemned Hosni Mubarak for shutting down Egypt’s internet at the height of its revolution, calling for the now-ousted leader to fully respect the “freedom of expression and communication, including use of telephones and the internet.” Cameron, of course, isn’t calling for anything nearly as drastic as what Mubarak orchestrated, nor is he facing anywhere near the same level of domestic turmoil. But the fundamental narrative remains the same: in the face of social upheaval, a national leader instinctively reaches for a digital muzzle as a stop-gap measure, while (perhaps) ignoring the larger, longer-term ramifications of his actions. Fortunately for the UK, though, Cameron is already doing one thing that Mubarak apparently never did — he’s thinking about right and wrong. Head past the break to see Cameron’s speech, in its entirety.

Continue reading UK Prime Minister exploring social media crackdown in wake of London riots (video)

UK Prime Minister exploring social media crackdown in wake of London riots (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink All Things Digital  |  sourceThe Daily Telegraph  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 08

BlackBerry Colt may be RIM’s first QNX smartphone, will lack BES support out-of-box?

Posted in: BlackBerry, Email, enterprise, Microsoft, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, smartphone, Today's Chili
To many, a colt is a representation of rebirth and a symbol for youthfulness. Research in Motion appears to be in desperate need for exactly that — a regeneration. It seems appropriate, then, that RIM may be launching the BlackBerry Colt, its first QNX-based “superphone,” in the first quarter of 2012. This timeline will ensure the device launches at the expected time, according to rumors by BGR, but there’s likely to be a few compromises to ensure it gets pushed out to market faster. The Colt is said to be undergoing internal testing with a single-core chip, contrary to promises of including dual-core CPUs. Additionally, the maiden voyage of the smartphone platform may be completely devoid of BES at the device’s launch; it’s taken longer than expected to rewrite the proper code to support QNX, and more time’s necessary to bring it up to par with RIM’s standards. What would the Enterprise customers do in the meantime? The alternative to BES is almost unthinkable: Exchange emails would be accessed by a preloaded version of Microsoft ActiveSync. Will the gamble yield greater returns in the long run, or will it remove the glue that still holds the company together?

BlackBerry Colt may be RIM’s first QNX smartphone, will lack BES support out-of-box? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 06

RIM BlackBerry App World 3.0 beta adds home screen search, social media features

Posted in: app, application, apps, BlackBerry, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili

How better to celebrate your billionth download than with a brand new app store? RIM just rolled out App World 3.0 beta to its Beta Zone users, bringing with it a redesigned home screen created to “let you quickly find what BlackBerry app, game or theme you’re looking for.” Seems a bit overdue if you ask us, but better late than never, as the idiom goes. There are also new home screen icons for Games and BlackBerry Themes — the store’s two most popular categories. (Yes, Themes really is one of the two most popular categories… behind Games, we hope.) You can also flick between app summaries, screenshots, and reviews from one screen, and share links to your favorite apps over Twitter, Facebook, email, SMS, and BBM. You may find it difficult to get too excited about an app store update, but for those of us who use BlackBerrys despite the occasionally less-than-stellar app experience, anything RIM can do to streamline the procurement process is more than welcome.

RIM BlackBerry App World 3.0 beta adds home screen search, social media features originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Scoop  |  sourceInside BlackBerry  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 04

Apple now the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung checks in at number two

Posted in: Android, Apple, BlackBerry, business, Google, HTC, industry, iPhone, market, market share, marketshare, nokia, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, samsung, smartphone, Today's Chili
IDC

We make our own truth. That’s how IDC can come up with roughly the same numbers as fellow research firm Canalys and crown Apple the king, when its rival called Android top dog — it’s all about how you slice it. See, where as Canalys bundled all Android handset makers together, IDC has broken them up, which leads to a rather interesting twist — the largest smartphone maker in the world is now Apple. Cupertino’s growth of 141.7-percent in shipments year over year was enough to push it past Nokia (which slipped to number three) and Samsung (which climbed two spots to take the silver medal), while RIM and HTC rounded out the top five. That being said, no one is running away with the lead here, and Sammy’s continued stratospheric rise should keep Apple on guard. Check out the full report after the break.

Continue reading Apple now the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung checks in at number two

Apple now the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung checks in at number two originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 04

Verizon Wireless year-end roadmap leaks, Android and LTE spotted on the horizon?

Posted in: 4G, BlackBerry, carrier, HTC, leak, LG, lte, motorola, motorola xoom, MotorolaXoom, network, Phones, playbook, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, roadmap, samsung, Smartphones, thunderbolt, Today's Chili, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw

Nope. There’s no mention of a Nexus Prime in this glimpse of VZW future, but don’t let that stop you from drooling over the purported goods. The leaked shot over on IGN lays out a back-to-school road filled with Android phones a plenty, and one lone RIM entry. September 8th is gearing up to be a busy Thursday for Big Red, with launches slated for the Droid Bionic, Motorola Xoom 4G, BlackBerry Curve 9370 (the LTE cousin of ‘Apollo’?) and Samsung Stratosphere — the operator’s rumored Galaxy S II variant. The end of the month gets a 2.3 combo of Gingerbread phones as the Samsung Illusion (codenamed Viper), and HTC Bliss touch down on the 29th. Refreshes for a couple of the carrier’s early LTE phones debut in October, when the Thunderbolt gets pushed aside by the virile HTC Vigor and LG gets a redo with the Revolution 2. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab P8 (most likely the Galaxy Tab 8.9) gets an unconfirmed November mention, while BlackBerry’s PlayBook languishes in a release date grey zone. Ready for that end-of-year upgrade? From the looks of things, there’ll be no dearth of options.

Verizon Wireless year-end roadmap leaks, Android and LTE spotted on the horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink BGR  |  sourceIGN  | Email this | Comments

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Aug 03

BlackBerry Bold 9900 appears in leaked T-Mo docs, reveals August 29th release date and $300 price

Posted in: BlackBerry, leak, leaked, leaks, price, pricing, Release Date, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, t-mobile, TMobile, Today's Chili

If you’re an abiding RIM fan who’s itching for a new ‘Berry addiction, your next fix is soon at hand. After AT&T put its cards on the table — along with Sprint and US Cellular — an internal T-Mobile document now suggests the Bold 9900 will arrive at the Magenta-clad carrier on August 29th. Sadly, your patience (and loyalty) is going to cost you, because this touchscreen endeavor carries a $300 price tag, and like Ma Bell’s model, it features only 14.4Mbps HSDPA. Sure it’s steep, but that’s all the better for expensing to the corporate account, no?

BlackBerry Bold 9900 appears in leaked T-Mo docs, reveals August 29th release date and $300 price originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 03

RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9360 outed — is this Apollo?

Posted in: BlackBerry, mobile, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, t-mobile, Today's Chili

Did RIM forget this budget entry update, or was it pushed aside for this morning’s announcements of its higher-end BlackBerry brothers? No matter the case, OneMobileRing got a hands-on with the Curve 9360, and it looks like this portrait QWERTY could be following in its brethren’s OS 7 footsteps. Shots of the device reveal a Tour-like chrome trim, optical trackpad and the requisite micro-USB port for your charging / connectivity needs. A pic of the device’s open battery door also shows off a SIM card slot, leading us to believe that this may very well be the ever-elusive Apollo. Could we see this mid-end, GSM workhorse in T-Mobile’s near future? Our in-house Ms. Cleo predicts a yes.

RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9360 outed — is this Apollo? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 03

AT&T to launch BlackBerry Torch 9810 this month, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900 later this year

Posted in: 4G, att, BlackBerry, canada, hspa, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, Today's Chili, video

Research in Motion has had better days — and years, for that matter — but it’s always had a loyal partner in AT&T, a company that’s cranked out BlackBerry products faithfully for the past twelve years. The tradition continues, as the GSM giant has announced its intentions to bring the 4G BlackBerry Torch 9810 (aka the Torch 2) to stores sometime this month, followed by the 4G BlackBerry Torch 9860 and 4G Bold 9900 “later this year.” No specific dates or prices were given on any of the devices.

The Torch 9810 comes with a 1.2GHz CPU, 3.2-inch touch display, a total of 8GB internal memory (with microSD expansion up to 32GB), and a 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture. Oh, and about the “4G” in the title? An AT&T spokesperson confirmed to us that the moniker is simply referring to HSPA+, capping at 14.4Mbps. It’s definitely a step up from the original Torch 9800, at least, but our appetite for 4G of the LTE variety runs deep. Will this be too little too late for the Canadian manufacturer, or can this year’s fall lineup be enough to keep the company healthy until QNX rolls into town?

[Thanks, Gary]

Continue reading AT&T to launch BlackBerry Torch 9810 this month, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900 later this year

AT&T to launch BlackBerry Torch 9810 this month, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900 later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 01

PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video)

Posted in: Android, app, apps, BlackBerry, developer, developers, Google, ios, iPhone, mango, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, RIM, smartphone, Smartphones, symbian, Today's Chili, video, webos, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7, Wp7

Until now, mobile app developers have followed a pretty predictable MO: develop for iOS first, Android second, and everyone else after that. Since last year, many of you code monkeys out there have been tapping into Nitobi’s PhoneGap, a project that makes it easier to churn out apps for almost every OS, all at once. It’s been picking up steam, with about 40,000 downloads per month, 600,000 in total, and a steady stream of donations. That all culminated this weekend with the release of PhoneGap 1.0, which lets devs use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to write and deploy apps for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, webOS, Bada, and Symbian. That’s a long list indeed, but we see one glaring omission: Windows Phone 7. Hit the source link to download it for free and check out the promo video below for an oh-so quick overview.

Update: Oops! Looks like WP7 is included! Our apologies, and feel free to celebrate accordingly.

Continue reading PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video)

PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TheNextWeb  |  sourcePhoneGap  | Email this | Comments

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