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RIM's PlayBook disappearing from online retailers in the US
If you want to get your hands on RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, you might be running out of time. It seems that the QNX-based device is no longer available in the US from retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, RadioShack and Staples, with Amazon and RIM's own online store being the exceptions. We're wondering if this means newer PlayBooks are in the works -- we've already seen updated 4G LTE models out in the open and recent OS updates indicate the company hasn't given up on the much-maligned PlayBook. Potential upgrades include the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, and hardware improvements wouldn't be a bad idea (Perhaps a flip-out keyboard addition a la Microsoft Surface?). In any case, RIM might want to move fast if it wants any chance of competing in the increasingly crowded tablet space.
BBM caught cheating with Android, CrackBerry epidemic to spread?
RIM's killer BlackBerry feature has always been BBM. So, you'll have to excuse us if we give some side-eye to these leaked shots of the private messaging service two-timing its Canadian maker. The pics over on TechnoBuffalo, supposedly obtained by a RIM employee, show off the BBM for Android app in question running on a crude developer phone. Not much can be glimpsed from the set aside from the application's icon and account interface. It could all be a slick hoax, or maybe the Waterloo-based co. really does plan to release its prized service into greener Android pastures. We'll let you know for sure when we hit up DevCon later this month.
Nielsen: majority of US app purchases are games, iOS users play twice as long
Apparently, folks in the US love gaming on their mobile devices and really don't mind forking over dead presidents to do so. That's according to a recent 30-day study by Nielsen pertaining to apps across mobile platforms. The company found gaming apps to be the most popular in that period, citing that 64 percent of users played and 93 percent would pay to play. The average amount of time spent gaming was 7.8 hours, although iOS users took the award for most dedicated by nearly doubling that to 14.7 hours. Android loyalists followed with 9.3 hours of fun times, but those with BlackBerry, Windows, and "feature phones" kept things closer to business hitting under five hours each. Also notable, is that people rocking Berries and dumbphones usually opted for pre-installed games over downloads. You'll find the full breakdown by hitting the source link, and we'll get back to besting our Real Racing 2 lap times.
Editorial: RIM seems to be as lost as my BlackBerry
The only way to open this editorial is to admit something I've been rather shy about on the pages of Engadget: I've been an avid BlackBerry fan and user for about six years now. I mean a real addict -- the kind who wakes up each morning looking for a blinking red LED, the kind who's refused to give up push email and BlackBerry Messenger in favor of more powerful, polished, and progressive mobile operating systems like iOS, Android, and webOS. In fact, when my Verizon contract was up last year I opted to get a Curve 8530 instead of the Motorola Droid or Palm Pre -- to say nothing of making the leap over to AT&T for the iPhone.There were lots of reasons I didn't want to give up my BlackBerry, but five days ago I lost that very Curve in a San Francisco cab. Then coincidentally, a day later I saw RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis speak at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference, where he almost embarrassingly avoided every question about the company's immediate smartphone strategy. I had always known that RIM was behind the curve (always a great pun!), but I also always had hope that the company would catch up with modern smartphones of today. Sadly, watching Mike dodge questions on the D stage took that hope away from me -- it's crystal clear that RIM won't have a solution to compete with those powerful smartphones anytime soon. So, what happens to a BlackBerry diehard like myself? Where do I go from here?
RIM's BlackBerry Bold slider with OS 6 does a little dance, gets down tonight (video)
Pictures are great, but video's better. What holds true for salacious celebrity tattle is equally true for gadget gossip. So hold tight and prepare to leer, we've got the first quick and dirty video of RIM's new Bold slider running BlackBerry 6 after the break. Somebody alert TMZ.
RIM's BlackBerry T slider pictured again, shows off OS 6 infusion
It's escaped again, the mysterious BlackBerry 'T' (for Talladega) slider that we've seen making the rounds over the past few months. These new pictures from Mr. Blurrycam (courtesy of BBLeaks) don't show us anything new on the hardware, but do show the phone running OS 6. Assuming it's scheduled to launch alongside that latest flavor of OS we should be seeing it before the third quarter is through -- probably about the same time that godawful 9670 crawls to retail. Deciding between the two? That should not be difficult.
BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac releasing October 2
A tiny little beta leak earlier this month let BlackBerry-toting Mac fans knew that something good was coming in the near future, and now we know it's very near indeed (though a bit later than expected). On October 2 RIM will release BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac, specifically at 1:00pm EST. That means instead of wrapping up your busy work-week being productive you can instead spend the afternoon fighting long download queues and playing around getting this app configured -- for purely work-related purposes of course, like syncing with iCal, Address Book, and automatically backing up contacts. Just don't tell your boss you'll also be able to sync your iTunes collection to your handset, including album art, something that should make Pre-owning Bob down the hall a little jealous. Again, the fun starts Friday afternoon at 1:00 EST. Clear your calendars accordingly.Read - RIM Launches BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac UsersRead - Download here come Friday
BlackBerry Niagara 9630 OS 4.7.1 previewed: good mix of Storm and Bold features, OS 5.0 in disguise?
We know you're hungry for some more details on the BlackBerry Niagara 9630, so here we go. Crackberry's released the second part of its impressions with the device, this time focusing on the OS 4.7.1 that they note functions like a hybrid of the Storm's OS 4.7 and Bold / Curve 8900's OS 4.6. Features lovingly borrowed from the SurePress-equipped touchscreen include app switching by pushing down the menu key, trackball gestures in the photo gallery, a revised profiles menu, bubblier boxes in the options menu, and possibly a new memory manager within the media center. On their own, these all seem pretty minor, but they add up to a much more pleasant experience. Judging by the preview, it looks it's still shaping up to be one of the best 'berry's you can buy. The CB crew conjecture this might actually be the upcoming OS 5.0 in disguise, judging by their similarities. We'll find out for sure sometime in May, when we can get our hands on the phone and can check that version number ourselves.
CE-Oh no he didn't, part XXXVI: RIM CEO lashes at Apple
His Steveness has been served, courtesy of RIM CEO Jim Balsille. The BlackBerry chief has stated that Apple's apparent stinginess in taking every bit of credit for everything iPhone is horning in on AT&T's part in the whole affair. For some reason, Mr. Balsillie seems a bit miffed that the iPhone is free of AT&T's logo and that it has to be activated using Apple's iTunes software. Balsillie added that Apple's "tremendous amount of control" gives him pause as he thinks about how the shifting of control outside the carrier somehow commoditizes the iPhone. We're still waiting on an unsubsidized 8300, okay Jim?[Image via hamiltonspectator.com]
T-Mobile BlackBerry users get free MMS service?
If you're a T-Mobile BlackBerry customer but aren't into push email (yeah, they exist), but you are into sending MMS messages from that Pearl's camera, you're in luck. There are reports that T-Mobile can turn the switch on a "BlackBerry Feature Enabler" which allows its BlackBerry customers to send and receive MMS messages for free if an SMS plan is subscribed to. We'd hate to think that those MMS users on T-Mobile's network would have to shell out $20 a month just to send pictures, and T-Mobile must have heard your pain. The solution -- if you're not using that BlackBerry's email functions or other data features -- is to call T-Mobile and have that $20 BlackBerry data plan taken off while adding the "BlackBerry Feature Enabler" (which is free) to your account.[Thanks, Ben]
RIM's stock options probed by U.S. Attorney's office
With stock option grants by many public companies sitting under the microscope of authorities these days, count RIM inside that select group. The company who made thumb-able email popular and en vogue has another fan looking into the culpability of stock-based accounting practices: the U.S. Attorney's office. RIM has "had contact with the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York upon learning that the U.S. Attorney's office is reviewing the company's stock option grants," based on company statements. Add this to the SEC's official investigation revealed just recently and RIM's more under the microscope than a high-school biology experiment. So far, company co-founder Jim Balsillie has stepped down from the company's board of directors but is retaining his co-CEO title at this time.
RIM's BlackBerry Desktop Media Manager released
As RIM moves ever more into the consumer spectrum of wireless handsets, it's gotta have media software for the desktop to help manage all that content. BlackBerry Desktop Media Manager (BBDMM) is supposed to solve that problem, seeing as songs, videos and pictures can be managed in a single place. So, if you're not happy with all the other media management software packages out there, RIM may have your ticket. Well, at least the ticket that allows content drag-and-drop to your BlackBerry, that is. The newest version of BlackBerry Desktop Media Manager requires BlackBerry Desktop software v4.2, Service Pack 2. In short, better get that desktop in order (version-wise) before you start managing all that content destined to make its way to your BlackBerry soon. Since the new BBDMM is based on Roxio Easy Media Creator, it should feel like home to prior or existing Roxio customers.[Thanks, Eddie]
BlackBerry 8830 World Edition announced for Verizon, Sprint
We've been salivating a bit since hearing the BlackBerry 8830 would be released sometime in May on Verizon Wireless, and our dreams appear to be coming to fruition. Hey, a BlackBerry with 2GB microSD support and possible built-in iTunes got our heads rockin' -- what can we say? With word on the street that Telus (in Canada) and Verizon (U.S.) would be the first carriers to get the new 8830, this morning's news confirmed it. Both Verizon and RIM announced today that the CDMA / GSM worldphone is coming to Verizon Wireless on May 14. If you're into a full QWERTY BlackBerry with CDMA EV-DO support in addition to GSM / GPRS (900 and 1,800 MHz only), you're about to be rewarded for your patience. Sprint customers will have to wait until July -- but starting tomorrow, interested customers can pre-register at the carrier's site.Read - Verizon press releaseRead - Sprint pre-registration (starting April 26)
Wireless email pioneer wants to fight -- with products
When RIM settled out of court with NTP over wireless email patent infringements, we wondered if more than a handful of others had thought of the idea as well. One such individual, Nicholas Fodor, really doesn't want $612 million like NTP was granted, but instead wants his products to do the talking. Fodor's self-proclaimed expertise in his years of working with email systems is enough to "make it possible to view and respond to messages sent to almost any e-mail account on a cellphone or other mobile device." While that's not exactly a revolutionary concept these days, Fodor's "Freedom Mail" will be platform and device-agnostic (no BES here) and will be supported by small advertisements appended to messages. The service will be supported on any cellphone that has Internet access. With RIM's recent outage causing quite a stink, maybe Fodor will get a fan base going here.[Via techdirt]
BlackBerry OS 4.2 ready for 8700 and 7310
We're game for salacious BlackBerry insider info just as much as anyone, so it was with great delight that a "high-level exec at RIM" leaked some info about an upcoming BlackBerry OS 4.2 upgrade (not pictured right) for that older 8700 or 7310. Here's a quick breakdown: BlackBerry Enterprise Server SP4 should be released in June, while BlackBerry OS 4.2 is apparently ready to roll from RIM's end for the 8700 and 7310 handsets -- it's just a question of when carriers will release it. And, oh yeah, BlackBerry OS version 5 is being touted for public release in 2007 or in early 2008 (we hope we can all wait that long) in harmony with its next-gen devices.
Get your official BlackBerry IM clients now, if you dare
If you're ready to tax your poor, swollen thumbs a little more than they already are, well, good news: official instant messaging clients that support AIM, ICQ and Windows Live Messenger are seemingly ready to snatch from RIM's website right onto your beloved BlackBerry -- with some catches. It seems the necessary service books to get the clients working are missing from most carriers' BlackBerrys at the moment, and there's no word on exactly when they'll be appearing across the Berrysphere (we just made that term up, for the record). But hey, sounds promising, right? It seems there are some hacky hacks lying around (bless the RIM community!) to get these working on the 'Berry of your choice, but as always, proceed with extreme caution.[Via Boy Genius Report]
New BlackBerrys imminent for T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint?
BlackBerry fans on T-Mobile, raise your hands: the BlackBerry 8300 is reportedly headed to the fourth-largest US wireless carrier next month. Not to be left out, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel customers can also raise their collective BlackBerry hands since you all may be getting a CDMA rendition of the BlackBerry Pearl, also in May. RIM's been on a tear lately getting its hottest handsets out to both the GSM and CDMA camps, and this is yet another example. Apparently, there's plenty of RIM love to go around this lil' industry of ours.[Via Boy Genius Report, thanks Tarik]
Gameloft bringing games to BlackBerry smartphones
If you're a mobile gamer, odds are you're probably not using a BlackBerry -- but if a major publisher has any say in the matter, that may not be true for long. Gameloft, Europe's biggest mobile phone games provider, announced this week that it will soon be making and selling games for the BlackBerry platform. This is quite a boost for BlackBerry owners who have probably wanted official support for cutting-edge mobile games for some time. Right off the bat, Gameloft titles such as "Asphalt Urban GT 2," "LOST" and "Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones" will be the first titles for the BlackBerry platform released by Gameloft, and will cost from $5.99 to $7.99 each depending on where the carriers price each title. With the U.S. mobile gaming market seeing 2006 revenues of $722 million, it's no wonder Gameloft saw such a nice opportunity here. BlackBerry owners aren't all business, right?
RIM boots Balsillie as Chairman, but he remains co-CEO
It looks like RIM co-founder Jim Balsille is out as the company's chairman of the board, although he will remain on with RIM as co-CEO. The crackberry BlackBerry maker has had a little of a black eye recently (like many tech companies) with its handling of stock option accounting, which dates all the way back to 2004. As a result, RIM will have to lower its earnings by what seems like a nice chunk of change -- $250 million. Although we don't think RIM is going anywhere fast, its recent public missteps like this one have added to a long list of woes in recent years. Just promise us, RIM, that this isn't going to affect the release schedule for the 8820, mkay?
Rogers officially announces Blackberry 8800
With the RIM 8800 having been through the review cycle recently, it seems fitting for Canada's Rogers Wireless to officially announce the newer Blackberry for sale from official channels -- not quite so fast though. The press release from Rogers states that the 8800 -- which will be exclusive to Rogers in Canada -- "is expected to be available in retail and business channels in March." Yawn, wake up when March comes, please. All in all, the Blackberry 8800 has now been "introduced" by Rogers as of, well, today -- but no availability for at least a few weeks. When it comes out, finally, customers on Rogers Wireless' service will have the newest Blackberry in their hands with all that EDGE goodness and thin-phone likeness -- as the 8800 is reportedly the thinnest Blackberry ever.[Thanks, Chris]
