RIM developing "Apple Killer" touchscreen BlackBerry?
By Ryan Block 
posted April 27th 2008 12:35PM
posted April 27th 2008 12:35PM
The times has a verbose 2,000 word piece about the high stakes world of high-end cellphone manufacturers (no way!), specifically centered around RIM's post-iPhone trials and tribulations. Besides a bit of vague lip service paid to the 9000 series, they're claiming that two 3rd party developers -- no sources cited -- leaked that RIM has a skunkworks product dubbed "AK" (which stands for "Apple Killer"), and that apparently it'll be touchscreen. And then comes the tub-thumping money shot from co-CEO Mike Lazaridis: "I couldn't type on [the iPhone] and I still can't type on it, and a lot of my friends can't type on it. It's hard to type on a piece of glass." Right, until you guys decide to do one of your own -- these executive types are so transparent they might as well just be up front.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
An IPod killer would have to have 3G wifi, physical keyboard, 16GB or better and a touch screen while still having strong multimedia capabilities. If they do that, and have an affordable data plan bundled, I'm all over it
Anything that is a "killer" can kiss my butt. I am so sick of that word being used with anything anymore. I took a crap today.. it was "killer" compared to yesterdays.
I think it's hilarious that Engadget points to it's own previous article, with the link labeled as 'RIM's trials and tribulations' that shows a stock market chart of Apple going up with RIM going down. Of course, that chart was only showing part of one day! I am not a RIM fan (have big problems with the direction of their technology), but the doom saying is hilarious considering that RIM has - for years now - continuously outperformed analyst expectations. For over 5 years we heard how RIM was going go down in the face of Windows Mobile competition, etc.
Well looky here:
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=1y&s=RIMM&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=aapl
..and this chart shows the entire last year - not some afternoon from over a year ago. It looks like a desperate attempt to re-enforce your editorializing when you use that chart.
Not a fan of RIM technology - but you can't argue with the business acumen. I doubt that their CEOs are losing any sleep.
Why does the Blackberry have SONY's XMB Wave in the background?
"I couldn't type on [the iPhone] and I still can't type on it, and a lot of my friends can't type on it. It's hard to type on a piece of glass."
Normal!! On a piece of glass, you don't type! You TOUCH! :)
these points are all very good, but we left one thing out...multitouch is the $hit. having a normal touch screen would piss me off right about now...multitouch=GOAT (god of all things)...blackberry can multitouch my balls
Apple killer? Who are you guys working for...really. Last I checked RIM was monstrously more popular. As to iphone being a blackberry killer, that won't happen either. The main function of an enterprise level phone is calling and text messages or emailing. Iphone does both poorly because of it's touch screen and focus on internet browsing. And at the iphones price it won't make headway into the mainstream market either. So far it has just been widely accepted by apple and gadget enthusiasts. Sales look good but people forget to compare it to the actual amount of phones being sold ever day in this country.
Also worth noting that RIM doesn't need to make an "Apple Killer" device. Not unless the iPhone is somehow outselling the Blackberry family.
The iPhone killer is called the N95. It came out a year before the iPhone!
Now it's just a matter of re-enforcing the position.
The answer to typing accurately and comfortably with your fingertips on a touch screen phone is the Phraze-It Keyboard, a full computer keyboard that features 15 large on-screen keys and ample room to view and edit text.
RIM technically is already an "Apple Killer" but not necessarily an iPhone killer.
Its sales far outweigh those of the iPhone, because RIM have made loads of smartphones for years and years, which Apple cannot possibly catch up to.
To those saying that RIM are not innovative, you clearly haven't enjoyed the little "Pearl" scroll ball on the newer devices.
Also, to those that believe nobody can copy Apple's technology and make it better, have you heard of Windows? Old Bill stole Apple's ideas, and made them massively better, and now enjoys a 90% market share. (Yes yes, Windows has its flaws, but is far more compatible and just better than OSX... but lets not go there).
I own both the iPhone and a Blackberry 8110 Pearl, and find them both better at different things.
The iPhone is much more colourful and user-friendly, with miles better mp3 playback, but the BB8110 is more customisable and much better for e-mailing etc.
Also, my iPhone's firmware became corrupt and had to be sent back to the manufacturers. The BB also had a problem quite similar... and I connected it to the PC and flashed the firmware myself. Sorted.
In reality, the iPhone should be compared to the latest Sony Ericssons, which are marketed as music phones too.
The Blackberry aims for a totally different audience and therefore should not even be compared (hence why Apple fans and RIM fans will never agree).