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Colorware freshens up BlackBerry Pearl 3G and Flip UltraHD with bodacious new paintjobs
Say, are you finding your 3G-equipped BlackBerry isn't looking quite so Pearlescent now that the Curve has also gone 3G and BlackBerry 6 seems to have moved things along (a bit)? Maybe it's time you gave that zany bunch at Colorware a call, as they've just started taking orders for repainting Pearl 3G (aka 9100) handsets into whatever shade of awesome you desire. Prices are still ludicrous, starting out at $165 for a respray or $640 for a brand new phone, though if you want some more affordable customization, you can opt to send in your Flip UltraHD for a $50 change of hue (or grab a new one for $260). Sure, none of it makes much fiscal sense, but then blinging out your gear was never about rationality anyway.
BlackBerry Pearl 9100 surfaces yet again, this time with specs
Rumors of a low-end BlackBerry Pearl 9100 have been swirling (or at least slightly agitating) as far back as November of last year, but it looks like we're now finally starting to get a clearer picture of some of the phone's actual specs. As we'd heard previously, this one comes equipped with a SureType keypad (no QWERTY version to be seen yet), and a trackpad instead of a trackball. According to Tech Digest, it will also boast 3G connectivity, along with a 3-megapixel camera, and a design that's said to be a "fair sight sleeker" than current BlackBerry Pearls. Still no indication of pricing or availability, unfortunately, but it seems like this one is getting about due for a release.
BlackBerry Pearl 9100 revealed, has lost its gemstone but not its luster
The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 was, and still is, a lovely little phone, QWERTYfied, pocketable, and rocking that little milky trackball that gave it its name. There's finally a true successor coming down the pipeline (the flippy 8230 not really counting) though it ditches the iconic pearl for a now-standard (and hopefully more reliable) touchpad. There's a similarly swoopy SureType keyboard and the overall dimensions look very much the same, meaning this should fill the tiny BlackBerry void once again -- whenever it ships. Update: But of course the original 8100 also had SureType, not QWERTY. [Thanks, Alex T]
Blackberry Magnum, Onyx, Pearl 3G, and Gemini to harmonize on AT&T
BlackBerry lovers, AT&T beckons. Looks like the just-reviewed Onyx is heading to AT&T and, as rumored before, so is the Magnum. We've got no pics of the latter device, but it's being touted here as the "BlackBerry Bold portfolio evolution" and uses the same processor as the Bold. It's also got a HVGA touchscreen, QWERTY pad, quad-band GSM / GRS / EDGE, GPS, and WiFi. Want more? How about an apparently non-flip Pearl 3G with 3.6 Mbps of HSDPA goodness, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headset jack, trackball, SureType, and aGPS. Rounding out this quartet is the Gemini, with a 512MHz processor, 256MB flash memory, 128MB RAM, Bluetooth, QVGA LCD, 2 megapixel sans flash, trackball, QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD slot, possibly GPS, and sadly, no 3G. There's no release date in sight, but hey, knowing they're on the way is half the battle, right?
Switched On: With Pre, Palm breaks from the Storm
Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In a recent interview with Elevation Partners' Roger McNamee, the Palm investor explained that Palm knew it had to step up its game after RIM launched the BlackBerry Pearl, which he described as "the first real consumer electronics product in the smartphone category." The Pearl launch served as the coming out party for the BlackBerry brand among consumers as RIM began stepping up its advertising, and the product's narrower hardware design was a noticeable break with the staid stylings of previous BlackBerry devices. Indeed, back in November of 2006 as Palm rolled out the somewhat consumer-focused Treo 680, I wrote a Switched On column noting that the Pearl broke with the evolutionary path that RIM had been on and served as an example for the kind of hardware shift Palm needed to make. Palm finally answered the Pearl with the Centro, a compact, inexpensive, and successful smartphone that has apparently served as the final resting place of the original Palm OS architecture. However, between the release of those two devices, the entry and subsequent SDK of Apple's iPhone proved a far more significant turning point in the evolution of consumer smartphones. The iPhone's resonance and popularity have provoked responses from many competitors, but there is a particular contrast in the flagship CDMA touchscreen handsets released by RIM and Palm --- the other two smartphone developers that grow their own operating systems -- since then.
Hands-on with Sprint and Verizon's new BlackBerry 8130 color choices
We stopped by BlackBerry for a brief visit -- and to try and get the skinny on the 8xxx -- and low and behold the new 8130's were there for us to check out. The red set was branded Sprint, but the Powderpuff pink Pearl while the right color lacked Verizon branding. Either way, enjoy the pics of the new playful tones for your favorite RIM devices by following the gallery links below.%Gallery-12917%
BlackBerry Pearl 8130 spotted in red on Sprint
Wow it seems like new-color-for-BlackBerry-Pearl-8130 day over here at Engadget Mobile is in full swing. First we saw a Powderpuff Pink 8130 appear in Verizon's stable and now it seems the cat's out of the bag for Sprint's update. While this isn't listed on the site, apparently you can get at it now if you're arranging to pick up a new one. Enjoy the new choices friends.
Verizon adds pink option for BlackBerry Pearl 8130
The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on Verizon is now pretty in pink, and while we know at least a couple readers are going to be stoked to see another color option, isn't the powderpuff pink option reserved for Paris Hilton and friends? Nothing much more to say here as the specs are identical to the 8130 we mentioned way back when, but just pinker. The handset is listed as "coming soon" on Verizon's Next site, but we'll be sure to post up the details on release when we see 'em.[Via PhoneMag]
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]
AT&T launches red Treo 680 and BlackBerry Pearl
It's a little late for AT&T to be quoting "roses are red" in their press release, but they've got the red -- not (red), as in the money-losing charity -- tip covered for the Treo 680 and, of course, BlackBerry Pearl. Both will set you back $200 with a two year commitment. Is red plastic really worth all that to you?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
"Missing Sync" for Mac OS X / BlackBerry about to hit shelves
Mac OS X aficionado? Check. RIM BlackBerry user? Check. Syncing a Mac and a BlackBerry? Not so fast -- until now. While RIM has had official syncing software available for years on the Windows platform, the faithful Mac crowd has once again been left behind. But, with Mac shipments upping the pace recently, perhaps hardware vendors will need to soon think again, eh? New "Missing Sync" software from Mark/Space is now available in a "public preview" format that allows Mac OS X users to synchronize data on their beloved Macs with their beloved BlackBerry smartphones -- with no unofficial hack needed. The solution uses a standard USB tethering cable and appears to be functional with many newer BlackBerry handsets, and owners of the BlackBerry Pearl and newer BlackBerry 8800 series handsets can even sync iPhoto albums and iTunes playlists. Although The Missing Sync isn't officially sanctioned RIM software, Mark/Space says that full release is expected by the end of March. You'll need Mac OS X version 10.4.8 and a BlackBerry handset running version 4.0 of RIM's BlackBerry OS.
Rogers pumps out its own Blackberry Pearl -- in white
Just like T-Mobile USA here in the states, Canada's Rogers Wireless is set to release a white version of the RIM Blackberry Pearl sometime on February 1st (like yesterday). We've loved how the "Pearl" sports its name due to the pearl-like navigation...thingy, but now Rogers can join T-Mobile with a more apt-pearl moniker of being offered in white this time through. It'll set you back $250 in royal-mounted Canadian greenbacks with a 3 year commitment -- to a voice and data plan. Is it really just GPRS as spec'd on Roger's website page? Man, we hope not, for the speed sanity of all those who'll be forking over decent pocket change for this unit. Perhaps Rogers just forgot that "E" in front of the "GPRS," eh? We like to at least live on the EDGE.[Thanks, Ashleigh]
Engadget Podcast 084 - 08.15.2006
We're back! Again! Yes, we're quite sorry for the delayed program (listen in to find out a bit why), but there's no dearth of news to discuss. Fresh from Apple's big WWDC 2006 kickoff event we've got the long predicted and somewhat jejune Mac Pro, the Cinema Display bumps, and some interesting tidbits on Leopard, including Time Machine -- which Ryan sorely needed this week. Sony also pulled a fast one on us with the mylo, an intriguing and beguiling new WiFi handheld that seems to compete more with the PSP than anything else. Also hot off the presses is Engadget Mobile's scoop on the BlackBerry Pearl, RIM's new mobile consumer foray, and their first with a camera, removable media, and media playback capabilities. Thanks for welcoming us back, and enjoy! Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3). [MP3] Download the show (MP3). [AAC] Download the enhanced show (AAC). [OGG] Download the show (OGG). Hosts: Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Solvent - Instructograph (Ghostly International) Format: 1:00:15, 27.6 MB, MP3 Program: 6:05 - Apple WWDC 2006 6:48 - Mac Pro hands-on 7:03 - Apple OS X 10.5 "Leopard" officially debuts 15:56 - Sony launches mylo 27:51 - The BlackBerry Pearl 44:00 - Listener emails LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
