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RIM reports Q3 2011 earnings: $5.2b revenue, $265m net income and 14.1 million handsets shipped
News out of Waterloo isn't all bad today, as Research in Motion has revealed its financial results for the third quarter of 2011. While the company previously had to scale back its earlier earnings projections of $5.6 billion in the quarter, it's apparent the firm came close to meeting that mark. After close of the markets today, RIM reported $5.2 billion in revenue with $265 million in net income and 14.1 million handsets shipped. The company was only able to eke out 150,000 PlayBook tablets during this time frame, however, which no doubt contributed to these reduced numbers. Unfortunately, the market hasn't taken so kindly to the revelation, as RIM's stock has fallen seven-percent in after hours trading. In a small bit of positive news, the firm reports that its subscriber count is up 35-percent year-over-year, which now totals 75 million subscribers. Looking forward, the company expects to bring in between $4.6 and $4.9 billion in revenue for the next quarter, where it hopes to ship between 11 and 12 million units. Co-CEO Jim Balsillie referred to the last few quarters as among the most trying in the company's history, and promised to re-evaluate RIM's product portfolio, R&D strategy and to "leave no stone unturned" as it seeks to regain prominence in the smartphone world. Meanwhile, co-CEO Mike Lazaridis reaffirmed the commitment to the PlayBook OS 2.0, which remains on track for a February launch. As for the QNX-based BlackBerry 10 smartphones that we've been looking forward to, Lazaridis said to not expect anything until late 2012. Apparently, its availability will be hampered by a critical chipset supply that's not expected to become available until mid-next year. In other words, unless consumers develop a love for BlackBerry 7 OS real quick, 2012 may sadly be another ugly year for the folks in Waterloo.
DingleBerry breaks PlayBook free from RIM's chains (again), Android Market access makes a comeback
To root or not to root? For savvy PlayBook owners running beta 2.0, that should no longer be a question. With the recent release of DingleBerry, users comfortable with command lines have been enjoying superuser privileges on the slate, but the fun could've been short-lived. RIM moved swiftly to issue an update that addressed the security hole, effectively crippling the exploit. But as hacker Chris Wade made known via Twitter last night, a new workaround has already been finagled. Full Android Market access has, once again, been restored to the tab, although there's still no fix for Hulu just yet. So, if you're keen to reap the unintended fruits of Waterloo's 7-incher, you'll likely want to sidestep any further OTA updates. Or, y'know, you could actually just buy a proper Honeycomb tablet.
RIM loses BBX trademark battle, next OS is named BlackBerry 10
Die-hard fans of RIM's mobile efforts should put those BBX tattoo plans on hold, as the US Federal Court has blocked the company from using the BBX trademark, favoring the existing use by BASIS International for its software. As a result, the boys from Waterloo just announced at BlackBerry DevCon Asia that the new name for its next phone OS is BlackBerry 10 (and the Roman numeral for 10 is... ah, we see what you did there.) Let's hope RIM's plans for pulling its tablets and phones into a single unified platform are better executed than its naming process -- next time, they should probably just leave it up to the machines.
DingleBerry jailbreak hits beta, frees PlayBooks until tomorrow
Been awaiting the release of a PlayBook jailbreak with bated breath? Well if you've got Canada's favorite tablet and are rocking Windows, you're in luck as DingleBerry has just gone live. While beta 0.2 of the tool won't re-enable web access to Hulu, the haxors responsible are adamant it'll come in due time, as will a Mac version. The team pushed up the release schedule as RIM informed them their exploit will be plugged in an update tomorrow -- so we'd skip that OS upgrade if you like being rooted. Want to break the biggest BlackBerry free from the clutches of QNX? Hit the source and let us know how it works out in the comments.
RIM takes $485 million hit on the PlayBook in Q3
Just how much is the PlayBook costing RIM? The BlackBerry-maker revealed that it will be taking a $485 million hit in the third fiscal quarter, thanks to the QNX-packing tablet. The charge reflects flagging sales on the PlayBook, which moved some 500,000 units in its first quarter, followed by 250,000 and 150,000 in the following two. In spite of such numbers, the Canadian smartphone manufacturer remains committed to the tablet, which has seen some healthy price drops in recent weeks, in hopes of staying competitive amongst new crop of budget tablets.
BlackBerry PlayBook gets root thanks to childishly named DingleBerry tool
It's been a long time coming, but the PlayBook has finally been rooted. Devs neuralic, xpvqs and Chris Wade have been hard at work and have finally discovered a persistently exploitable hole that enables unfettered root access to the PlayBook. The culmination of their efforts, DingleBerry, hasn't been released just yet, but it should be hitting the series of tubes in the not too distant future. Obviously having super user access opens a world of possibilities to developers, but there are some immediate advantages too. For one, with DingleBerry the creators were able to re-enable web access to Hulu -- not only bypassing the lack of an app, but skipping the usual requirement of a Plus account for mobile consumption. Head on after the break to see the hack in action.
RIM unveils BlackBerry Mobile Fusion for enterprise, extends reach to Android, iOS
In an apparent attempt to solidify its standing in the corporate world, RIM has unveiled a new platform that allows IT specialists to more tightly manage company devices -- even those from rival manufacturers like Apple and Android. With the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion software, announced this morning, companies will be able to set up rules governing employee passwords apps and other software across a variety of smartphones and tablets, including the iPhone, iPad and Android handsets. The system also allows managers to remotely wipe and lock any devices that go missing or stolen, potentially bringing enhanced security to a workplace that's become increasingly fragmented. "Our customers have been saying, 'We're moving to these different adoption models, and we'd like you on board with that,'" said Alan Panezic, vice president for enterprise product management, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Slated to launch during the first quarter of next year, Mobile Fusion represents RIM's first foray into the multi-platform management market, and may expand even further to encompass Windows Phone devices, as well. Compatible with BlackBerry OS and BBX, Mobile Fusion will also allow users to remotely manage PlayBooks from BlackBerry handsets, though that won't happen until February, when the tablet finally receives a software update. No word yet on pricing, but Panezic says it will be "competitive" with the market.
RIM's giving away PlayBooks to enterprise customers, might start begging soon
It slashed prices, promised the moon on a stick for next year's OS upgrade and now Research in Motion has resorted to just giving the beleaguered BlackBerry PlayBook away. Purchase a copy of BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5 between now and the end of the year and you'll bag a free 16GB tablet. The offer is open to everyone in the United States and Canada -- except Quebec -- who want the only tablet that's packing the full BlackBerry experience (sans email, messaging, calendar...).
PlayBook native email, calendar and contacts finally get peeked, look ready for their close-up
We've been waiting very, very patiently, for RIM to make good on its promise to deliver a native email and calendaring experience to the PlayBook. So far, we've been sorely disappointed. Supposedly the essential productivity and contact management tools will be coming with the update to version 2.0 of the OS in February, but until now we've seen neither hide nor pixelated hair of the apps. At the BlackBerry Innovation Forum RIM finally took the wraps off and demoed the email, contacts and calendar suite for a presumably relieved audience of QNX fans. The photos snagged by BlackBerry Cool aren't the greatest, but you can see the experience has been carefully crafted for a tablet, and the smartphone apps have simply been blown up to fill seven diagonal inches. A particularly interesting feature is, as the number of appointments you have scheduled on a particular day increases, the date grows and becomes bolder to alert you to your hectic schedule (above). For a bunch more pics and few more details check out the source link.
BlackBerry Playbook gets massive, temporary $300 price cut in Canada
So, PlayBooks haven't exactly been flying off the shelves... anywhere. Not even in RIM's native Canada. But that might actually change over the nex few days as BestBuy, Walmart, Staples and Future Shop have chopped $300 off the price of the QNX-based slate. The sale lasts from November 16th to the 22nd in Quebec, and the 18th to the 24th in the rest of Canada. Now, they're probably not going to eclipse the iPad in sales anytime soon, but a $200 16GB PlayBook is a much more compelling proposition than a $500 one. The WiFi only 32GB and 64GB models are also being discounted to $300 and $400 respectively which, in case you're not mathematically inclined, means the 64GB BlackBerry tablet will actually cost less than the 16GB version normally does. Obviously, though, you'll have to be quick -- we're sure this fire sale (tundra sale?) will have stocks running pretty low. [Thanks, Shawn]
RIM to forge ahead with Flash on the BlackBerry PlayBook, even if it's dead
Adobe may have killed off Flash for both TVs and mobile devices, but that isn't stopping RIM from continuing to support it on the PlayBook. In a statement provided to All Things D yesterday, the BlackBerry manufacturer confirmed that it's not giving up on the dream just yet, because it's one of the Flash Player source code licensees that Adobe will continue to support post mortem: "As an Adobe source code licensee, we will continue to work on and release our own implementations. RIM remains committed to delivering an uncompromised Web browsing experience to our customers, including native support for Adobe Flash Player on our BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (similar to a desktop PC browser), as well as HTML5 support on both our BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook browsers. In fact, we are pleased that Adobe will focus more efforts on the opportunities that HTML5 presents for our developers, and shares our commitment to HTML5 as we discussed together at DevCon Americas." It certainly sounds strange for RIM to issue such a ringing endorsement of an ostensibly moribund platform, though it's not entirely unreasonable, considering the fact that Flash is a major component of QNX. Still, it's hard for us to see RIM expanding the medium much further, at a time when virtually everyone else seems committed to an HTML5 future.
RIM: BBX smartphones will have same resolution, aspect ratio as PlayBook, BES support, too
Wondering what RIM's got up its sleeves for its forthcoming lineup of BBX-based handsets? According to the company, it's derived at least some of its inspiration from its very own BlackBerry PlayBook. Speaking to PC Mag, VP of Developer Relations and Ecosystem Development Alec Saunders confirmed that the manufacturer's next generation smartphones will boast the same 1024 x 600 display resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio that you'll find on the PlayBook, all squeezed into a smaller frame. He also reassured developers that apps designed for the tablet will be compatible with BBX handsets. "Look, if you build [an app] for the PlayBook, then it will run on BBX," Saunders explained. "We have maintained aspect ratios, BBX also has the ability to upload multiple dimension graphics... [and the standard resolutions] are the same as PlayBook." Oh, and as for those rumors that RIM's first BBX phone (Colt?) would lack BES support? Pure hogwash, according to Saunders, who said the phones will also feature a native e-mail client, and that users shouldn't expect BBX "to be behind the PlayBook."
ZDNet: Adobe's no longer developing Flash for mobile devices (Updated)
According to a report from ZDNet, Adobe is no longer working on Flash for mobile devices. A statement released to developers claims Adobe will provide bug fixes and security updates for the current version of mobile Flash for Android and RIM's Playbook, but will halt further development. Adobe writes, Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates. This surprising move, if true, is a big blow to Android which touts Flash as a competitive advantage over iOS. It's also a small victory for Apple. In a scathing public statement released last year, Steve Jobs explained why Apple didn't add Flash support to iOS and attacked Adobe for its mediocrity in developing the Flash mobile plug-in. Jobs was widely criticized for this decision, but it appears he was right. Flash never lived up to its potential and now Adobe may be killing it, leaving Google handset makers in the lurch. Companies like HTC will have to drop their support of Flash like Apple or follow Amazon's lead with the Kindle Fire and build their own plug-in if they want a working version of Flash on their future devices. Update: Adobe confirmed in a blog post that Flash will continue to be supported on the PC, but not on mobile devices. Adobe will focus its efforts on HTML5 for mobile devices and will help Flash developers create Air applications for all the major App Stores.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: tablets
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Of all the electronic gifts you could buy someone right now, a tablet seems like one of the safer bets. It's a cheaper way of saying "I love you" than bestowing a $1,000 laptop, and it takes less chutzpah than signing someone up for a smartphone (along with two years of data fees). And let's be real here: what's more festive than flopping onto the couch in pajamas after opening gifts and lazily playing Angry Birds while It's A Wonderful Life airs in the background? Yeah, we can't think of anything either.Sadly, we don't have any webOS-flavored tablets this time around, and we couldn't include some hotly anticipated numbers like the Transformer Prime, since they're not shipping yet and we don't even know much they'll cost. Still, we managed to find a slew of Android tablets (and one iPad) across a range of budgets. Been on the fence about what to get? Skip past the break for some ideas.
BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta previewed, Android apps look right at home (video)
Are you in DevCon withdrawal? Need a little BBX preview to ferry you safely into the weekend's arms? Well, you're in luck, as German site Macberry.de took the time to film a walkthrough of the recently released BlackBerry Playbook 2.0 developer beta. The homescreen of this new build now offers users folder options similar to that on iOS, neatly collecting your gaggles of data into appropriate bundles -- like documents and games. But you probably care less about that, and more about seeing BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps in action. We're happy to report those Google-specific applications are shown here running quite smoothly, filling the 7-inch tab's screen without any hint of lag. You can download the dev build now for your own first-hand account, or simply click on past the break to gawk at the silent tour.
RIM announces PlayBook 2.0 Developer Beta and Runtime, marries Android to BlackBerry
Research in Motion announced the developer beta of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 today at its annual DevCon event. The new beta will be released today, and has a few goodies that we've been waiting a long time for: namely, BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps and the BlackBerry Plug-In for Android Development Tools, which will give developers the opportunity to bring their Android apps to the PlayBook. Also coming along for the ride is support for Adobe AIR 3, Flash Player 11 and WebGL, a new tech that enables hardware-accelerated 3D graphics to show in the browser without needing additional software. Needless to say, this changes the ballgame a bit for Waterloo. Sounds great, but is it enough to keep the company's head above water? Remains to be seen, but check out the press release after the break to get the full scoop, and head over to the Runtime site to get started.
BlackBerry DevCon Americas 2011 keynote liveblog!
RIM's hit a bit of a rough patch lately, but that doesn't mean the company can't thrill us here at DevCon Americas 2011. Mike Lazaridis is in the house, and we're expecting some good news to come out during his keynote. What's DevCon got in store? All will be revealed in due course, so bookmark this page and tune in at the times below for the big show. Feel free to throw your time zone and day in the comments below, you know you want to. 05:30AM - Hawaii (October 18th) 08:30AM - Pacific (October 18th) 09:30AM - Mountain (October 18th) 10:30AM - Central (October 18th) 11:30AM - Eastern (October 18th) 04:30PM - London (October 18th) 05:30PM - Paris (October 18th) 07:30PM - Moscow (October 18th) 12:30AM - Tokyo (October 19th)
BlackBerry DevCon starts today, get all the liveblog action right here!
It's only hours away from starting, so all you BlackBerry fans should be good and hyped for DevCon 2011. Will we finally see the promised Android app player for the PlayBook? Could those oft-rumored QNX handsets show up in the flesh? There's only one way to find out, so bookmark this page right here and tune in at the times below to see what RIM reveals to the world in sunny San Francisco. Feel free to throw your time zone and day in the comments below, you know you want to. 05:30AM - Hawaii (October 18th) 08:30AM - Pacific (October 18th) 09:30AM - Mountain (October 18th) 10:30AM - Central (October 18th) 11:30AM - Eastern (October 18th) 04:30PM - London (October 18th) 05:30PM - Paris (October 18th) 07:30PM - Moscow (October 18th) 12:30AM - Tokyo (October 19th)
RIM's BlackBerry Packager for Android emerges in leaked video
Well, what do we have here? RIM has just posted a video outlining its new BlackBerry Packager for Android, just a few hours ahead of today's DevCon event. The tool, which received brief mention in RIM's conference schedule, essentially allows Android developers to port their apps to the PlayBook platform by converting their APK files to BAR files. As explained in the clip, developers should first obtain their signature keys from BlackBerry's Developer Zone before undertaking any porting or development. From there, they can check their existing app's compatibility with the PlayBook. If everything checks out, all they'd have to do is simply click "repackage and submit," and the system will automatically sign and package it away. We're expecting to get more details on RIM's new Packager in the very near future, but you can catch a sneak peak in the video, after the break. [Thanks, Ferganer]
BlackBerry PlayBook native SDK opened to devs, time to get rich?
Selected app developers who impressed RIM with their source code struttin' have been rewarded with access to the closed beta of the PlayBook's native SDK. The kit includes the Mac-compatible QNX Momentics Tool Suite, updated APIs and samples as well as support for Adobe AIR extensions. We know there aren't millions of PlayBook users out there, but we also know a platform doesn't have to win gold to make gold. [Thanks, Ferganer]
