Blackberry 9000 release rumors swirl

Let's preface this by saying that we honestly have no idea what's going on with the hot BlackBerry 9000, but Fortune is reporting that it's delayed due to either a) AT&T concerns over call quality; b) AT&T concerns over launching a 3G Blackberry and the 3G iPhone at the same time or; c) or something else entirely. That's news to our homeboy Boy Genius, who thinks Fortune needs to start double-checking its model numbers and code names before it starts rumor-mongering, and points out that he's been on top of power-management-related 9000 delays for a while now. Testy! We're a little more inclined to trust BGR on this stuff -- the man's got a point when he says he's gotten pre-release versions of every RIM device since the Pearl 8100, and if the 9000's faster processor and 3G are indeed causing power problems, he's likely to notice. Let's just hope this all gets sorted soon -- we're ready to move on up.

Read - Fortune: "Delay seen for RIM's new Blackberry"
Read - BGR: "Cleaning up those BlackBerry rumors"

[DYLAN C @ Apr 25th 2008 5:29PM]

First!!! ATT TILT FTW!!!

[MacBookOwner @ Apr 25th 2008 5:40PM]

Just check the byline of that Fortune article. That should tell you everything you need to know about the reliability of that "report" :p

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 5:47PM]

How pathetic of RIM to emulate the look of the iPhone. A cursory glance at those images could easily dupe users into thinking its an iPhone.

Hmm on second thought, good job RIM. You just made a product to help promote the iPhone for free.

[CarpeD1em500 @ Apr 25th 2008 5:59PM]

No.

Just...no.

It looks like a Blackberry. Probably because *gasp* it IS a blackberry...

Stupid Apple fanboys

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 6:08PM]

Without the need to spout direct insults to users, I will respond with simply this. RIM deliberately copied elements of the iPhone. If you fail to see the similarities, then you are exactly what you have accused me of in accordance to your preferred product.

[Nabil @ Apr 25th 2008 6:09PM]

Oh come on....

if anything, they are emulating the Q9

Plus Apple doesn't have a patent on silver cases, or the letter "i"

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 6:27PM]

@Nabil and your insult happy friend.

It's quite understandable that many technology enthusiast are usually anemic at understanding the industrial design world. Thus explaining your inability to see the design cues from the product as a direct link to the iPhone. Perhaps a quick visit to the library or Barnes & Noble for industrial design related subjects will help you with this challenge. I suggest you speak to an associate when you get there to help you pick out the right materials as soon as possible.

[Ted @ Apr 25th 2008 6:26PM]

To be fair, I also noticed the resemblance to the iphone on first glance. But it looks sexy nevertheless. It's like the blackberry with an infusion of style (not business chic style).

Gotta stem the flow of iphone envy among blackberry users, who (for the most part) could easily afford an iphone if they wanted it.

[Quikboy @ Apr 25th 2008 6:51PM]

@Jubei : " A cursory glance at those images could easily dupe users into thinking its an iPhone"

The only thing I see that's remotely similar is the the silver lining on the edge. And that's been on other phones way before the iPhone was made.

Otherwise, these Blackberries have :
- keyboards (love it!)
- simple trackpad
- different UI (looking at the 3rd one)
- it says Blackberry on it (surprise, surprise!)

Only the 3rd one, could I say might have just the slightest resemblance. But it's still far contrasting. There's been more closers imitations of the iPhone, than this. Personally, I'm a WinMo user, but I like Blackberry hardware.

It's really sad to see some Apple fans so rooted to Apple. Basically you guys claim any other company "copies" Apple all the time when they release something new and competing. I wonder how blind a person can be.

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 6:56PM]

It's really quite amazing how much Quickboy can make so many assumptions about anyones thoughts. I suppose its typical of a frustrated Zune user nowadays. I pointed a single obvious observation and what has been echoed by many others. All of sudden you start silly list of things that I have not even stated. It's okay. I understand why you reacted with such haste.

[Quikboy @ Apr 25th 2008 7:44PM]

@Jubei : What assumptions?

I stated in that post : Why I think it doesn't look at all a copy of an iPhone, and I said you're an Apple fan that has eyes only for shiny stuff.

No assumptions in the first part, and the second part is based all over your comment history.

You made several assumptions of me : I'm not a " frustrated Zune user". I don't know where you pulled that one from.

"echoed by many others" - Others? As in more than one? Only Ted mentioned it was this as a copy, and for all I know, he could be some multiple account you set up to help yourself.

So tell me Jubei. How is this a copy of an iPhone? You failed to mention that. Give me a list on what makes it a clear copy. If you get more than 5 (reasonable) reasons, then you're probably right. If not, you're obviously mistaken. Because I just don't see it.

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 7:52PM]

@Quickboy

Why do you need a list? Are you too much of a dunce to even see the obvious industrial design cues? Or the obvious lifting of UI elements? LOL How much hand holding do you need? Go find your partner in crime and maybe with both your brains working in tangent, you can figure it out yourself.

[telepheedian @ Apr 25th 2008 8:24PM]

I know I will take a bunch of flak for this, but I have met multiple people who thought my Zune 80 was an iPhone of some sort. Just shows what marketing does to people. There are still a few people left who think that the RAZR is a cool phone. IMO, the only three options that the average dumb consumer sees when shopping for phones are A) RAZR, B) iPhone, and C) generic. If the user is in business, they might consider a blackberry as number 4, but the average American consumer knows nothing of phones like the Nokia N95, or the LG Prada.

[Quikboy @ Apr 25th 2008 8:26PM]

@Jubei : No list, or even a mention as to what's copied doesn't prove a point, does it? I guess you fail. I expected this response. I also notice you never respond back to each point I mention. You dismiss those (since you can't admit it) and move on to more criticizing. I don't see any "lifting of UI elements" here. A row of icons on the bottom. A purplish background. Wow, it looks so much like the iPhone not.

Again. If you can't take any response to the things I point out, you're not making what you say valid. I'm guessing it shouldn't matter to you anyways. Oh, and please get my name right, like I had the respect to do for you. It's Quikboy, without the "c".

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 8:38PM]

You really do have an inferiority complex. Since when has this been a test of some sort? You've only proven the fact that your incapable of understand industrial design cues from products. You then bring up a silly list to trump up your own lack of knowledge. Perhaps to help trigger some synapses from some deep dark corner of your mind that pray tell is still active in some way. You and Nabil really need to go to a library and read up on some materials. Its simply amazing that your still incapable of seeing the similarities on both hardware and UI elements. Absolutely hilarious. Your so much fun. :-)

[Hatch @ Apr 25th 2008 10:21PM]

. . . yeah, the keyboards look the same

[Abuzar @ Apr 26th 2008 5:46AM]

Hey Jubei, why don't you STFU?

[jaknell1011 @ Apr 26th 2008 4:42PM]

@jubei

I love watcing Apple fans go nuts whenever someone, being person or company copies any aspect of the Iphone, when the Iphone itself is one of the biggest replicas of an existing phone (in terms of style) out there. The Prada phone was out before the Iphone, if you want an example of a company copying another's phone model, see for yourself.

http://www.intomobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/iphone-vs-prada-pt2.jpg

Iphone addicts really have nothing to say about a company copying one small aspect of the style of a phone. Espescially since it is so different (scroll wheel, keyboard, just different build in general)

[Allan @ Apr 27th 2008 12:40AM]

You guys gotta be kidding me... be realistic here.
It was definitely inspired by the look of the iPhone..
If you could find me a phone that has the look of this blackberry and the iphone then show me one. not just a silver edge. but just the overall look.
im in no way an apple fan but if the rest of you just deny the truth because you hate apple its kinda a biased attitude. I just find it ridiculous. seriously.

[James Cameron @ Apr 25th 2008 6:01PM]

Nice calculators.

[Jubei @ Apr 25th 2008 6:27PM]

I agree. All three of these devices looks a bit dated. Exactly as you state. They look like calculators. Actually, like those cheap Radio Shack calculators. Maybe their future products in 09 will be much improved.

[Matt @ Apr 25th 2008 9:02PM]

What cheap RadioShack calculators?

[Jon @ Apr 27th 2008 6:59PM]

@ jubei

first it looks like an iPhone and now it looks like a calculator. which is it? i understand that it is silver and black like an iPhone, but im pretty sure that the keyboard will prevent any brand confusion.

[hwoarang27 @ Apr 25th 2008 6:01PM]

was never a big fan of the Blackberry phones... their browser interface is confusing to say the least.

they need to reinvent their phones or they'll end up like PALM.

[Mike @ Apr 25th 2008 6:35PM]

What elements of the iphone were copied? I'm curious on your take of it.

[T-Bone @ Apr 26th 2008 12:49AM]

Maybe it is the big chrome bezel. That is something you don't see every day.

[MacVicta @ Apr 25th 2008 6:51PM]

RIM needs to step it up if they wish to remain competitive with Apple. In a year they will have corrected most of the iPhone's enterprise issues, added 3G, hit new markets across the world and built an attractive stable of third party applications all while refining the best smartphone software known to man.

Meanwhile RIM struggles to re-release the same crap they've produced for years due to a new chip.

They should be biding their time more wisely. The price gap will continue to close. It's only a matter of time before the "iPhone Centro" arrives, something cheap with an impact akin to the iPod mini and nano. What happens when price is no longer to your advantage?

[Dan Davis @ Apr 25th 2008 7:54PM]

This conversation isn't going to be worth a hill of beans once the Xperia X1 comes out.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Apr 25th 2008 10:50PM]

The Experia X1, you gotta be kidding. You can buy three iPhones for the price of that chunky device.
http://www.fundevices.com/content-product_info/product_id-2457/sony_ericsson_xperia_x1.html

I estimate Sony/Ericsson will sell about a dozen of those wonderbricks with everything. Another handset with a features list as long as your arm. All you need to do is figure out how to access them.

Yeh, sure the Experia X1 is the handset of the future in the Bizarro world.

[caleb @ Apr 26th 2008 12:55AM]

It looks like Apple made an iPhone with a regular QWERTY keypad.... big whoop... apparently Apple isn't the first ones to make a phone with a silver lining, but they are definitely the most prominent, so I'm gonna keep to that comparison.

[caleb @ Apr 26th 2008 1:00AM]

I take that back, it looks like a cross between an iPhone (silver lining), a Sidekick (looks like similar dimensions), and a good old-fashioned PDA.

[TaCoCaT @ Apr 26th 2008 1:01AM]

That Experia X1 sure reminds me of the LG Voyager. The industrial designs are impecabbly similar. The UI is outstanding. Man, this is too much, I must go back to LibAry to study up on my knowledge of industrial design.

Jubei, stop being such a frikkin tool.

Forreal tho, that X1 is a brick, yo. That thing can't be fun to tote around. But yes, this would be a fine addition for the tech-savy citizens of Bizarro world.

[Pavan @ Apr 26th 2008 4:01AM]

Delayed RIM Jobs FTL

[FF @ Apr 26th 2008 6:57AM]

It really looks as if RIM copied the frame design of the iPhone... I didn't belive that before I saw this picture.

[w00t @ Apr 26th 2008 6:23AM]

I don't get the comparisons with the iPhone here, even if the far right one has some vague visual resemblance, it doesn't matter.

The iPhone and the BlackBerry are not really competing for the same market, I appreciate the effort apple are putting in but it's yet to be seen if that even makes a dent with RIMs head start and experience.

And the whole keyboard issue is always going to be there for business users, even Ballmer was right on the ball with that one.

I love my iPhone, but it's very much a consumer device and the BlackBerry is the clear choice for enterprise.

[T-Bone @ Apr 26th 2008 9:34AM]

It is amazing how when someone makes an iPhone comparison, the IQ of the discussion drops. Even more interestingly, it isn't necessarily because of the comparison itself but often because of the replies that follow.

[VerbalTachi @ Apr 27th 2008 2:41AM]

LOL, I can't believe you guys are letting this Jubei character get to you guys. He's obviously getting a hard on out of this situation. He sounds like some snooty butler to me.

[skulldriveshaft @ Apr 27th 2008 1:16AM]

If anyone sees a resemblance to a Apple Phone in a BlackBerry, they're ready for some cataract surgery, or need to stop squinting, one inch from their screens.

They're called CrackBerry's for a reason, and like before, another company will wade into the Enterprise sector of the mobile devices market.

BlackBerry may become a legacy device for Enterprise users, the Apple Phone fits another niche.

In the end R & D departments will have to focus on the sys admins, they're the ones that will be pulling their hair out, from wherever it still grows.

[Linh @ Apr 27th 2008 9:50AM]

@Jubei: it's incredible how many times you get voted down in just one page, keep up the good work

[Linh @ Apr 27th 2008 9:52AM]

@Jubei: By the way, I'm voting you down on all your posts. I don't know why. I just can't help it.

[cyberDJ @ Apr 27th 2008 1:30PM]

@jubei

Open your eyes.

This a BLACKBERRY and it looks nothing like the iPhone.
Remember, RIM created what Apple is trying to capitalize on.

The Blackberry and other non-iPhone devices prove one thing: Buttons are needed for certain applications.

Enjoy your iPhone.