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Lenovo CFO says 'RIM and many others' are on the table as possible deals
This one is expectedly drawing a big no comment from RIM, but Bloomberg is reporting today that Lenovo has at least considered the possibility of acquiring the company or forming some other type of strategic alliance. That word comes straight from Lenovo's Chief Financial Officer, Wong Wai Ming, who said at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos that "we are looking at all opportunities -- RIM and many others," adding that, "we'll have no hesitation if the right opportunity comes along that could benefit us and shareholders." That interest has apparently extended as far as speaking to RIM and its bankers about various possible arrangements, but it's not clear when that happened or how far along the talks went. He also unsurprisingly didn't offer any indication as to when Lenovo might make a decision on the matter. As Bloomberg notes, such a deal would also require clearing a number of regulatory hurdles, including a review by the Canadian government.
RIM notes 'remarkable' number of app submissions, extends $10,000 incentive deadline
After unveiling its new BlackBerry World app hub (music and video still incoming), its dev blog has now announced that RIM will be extending its Built for BlackBerry scheme. Intended to draw in even more native apps for its new mobile platform, the final cut-off date has now been moved from January 21st to February 18th. Talking to German paper, Die Welt, CEO Thorsten Heins recently backed up claims that BlackBerry's new OS would launch with 70,000 apps, although we all know that quality trumps quantity -- something that RIM aims to address. If devs submit an app that makes over $1,000 but less than $10,000, the Waterloo phonemaker will fork out the difference -- app authors can also submit their programs for approval without charge. If you're hungry for some app-based paychecks, check on the detailed criteria at our second source link.
Blackberry App World store makes early switch to Blackberry World, but no music or video yet
We're still a few days away from BB10's genuine debut, but RIM's decided to press on early with its app store changes. Starting with the webstore front (which is rolling out in the next 24 hours, depending on your territory) then moving on to the PlayBook and existing BlackBerry phones, the renamed BlackBerry World store will also offer up access to videos and music -- RIM reckons it'll be your "one-stop shop" for mobile entertainment, but those channels aren't live just yet. Test out the store's new offerings at the source link to the right.
Latest BB 10 leak confirms Z10 branding and Verizon support
As if you needed anymore confirmation that RIM's soon-to-be-released BB 10 touch device was making its way to Verizon, we now have the screen above. What's more, it also appears that the candybar-shaped handset will actually go by the previously rumored Z10 name, lending further credence to the many leaks that have come before. Aside from an obvious offering in white and black, there's not much else to go on, but we suppose that's what the upcoming January 30th launch event is for. Building a mystery? Not RIM.
BlackBerry 10 camera app flaunts filters, transformation tools (video)
What's better than a non-functional prototype? One that actually works, of course. The Gadget Masters have apparently been spending time with a pre-production version of RIM's upcoming Z10 smartphone, and plundered its camera app in the process. The ensuing video (after the break) didn't reveal any new features, but carries the novelty of actually manipulating an image with the app's tools. After snapping a picture of the carpet (daring!), our host leads us through a few filters, mentioning the app's ability to crop and transform images. It's not groundbreaking, but it's good to see a fully functional version of the app. After all, Thorsten Heins' big event is just around the corner.
RIM's mobile payment solution gets thumbs up from Visa
The final pieces of the puzzle are falling into place just ahead of the big reveal on January 30th. The carriers are on board, there's apps galore and now Visa has approved RIM's Secure Element Manager (SEM) for its mobile payment system. Being given the green light means that BlackBerry wont have to worry about being upstaged by the flood of Android devices coming down the pipeline with NFC payment solutions embedded in them. It's also a major boost to the SEM platform developed by the Canadian firm which has already won the backing of many carriers in its homeland, like Bell, Rogers and TELUS, but has struggled to gain a foothold in the US. For more, check out the PR after the break.
Leaked BB 10 sales training manual reveals a few more specs, promises 70K apps at launch
Crackberry claims to have gotten hold of an official Rogers BB 10 training manual that may or may not add to your anticipation of January 30th. The leak is a Powerpoint slideshow that apparently contains screenshots from an online course for sales people -- so there's been at least one twist in its journey before it reached us, and that's reason in itself to be a bit cautious. Nevertheless, the document repeats familiar claims from RIM about its new flagship smartphone having "best in class" HTML5 browser compatibility and performance. It also highlights the promise of 70,000 QNX apps in the re-named BlackBerry World, although we don't know how many of those are totally new, ported or perhaps cross-compatible with older QNX devices. Finally, a few more specs are detailed in the hope of enticing tech-minded shoppers, with reference to a Snapdragon S4 processor, a 1,800mAh battery and a 356 pixel density that tallies with what we've already seen of the 4.2-inch 720p screen. Check out the full pitch at the source links below.
The Daily Roundup for 01.15.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
CES 2013: Interview roundup
Our CES plates were jam-packed full of eye-opening conversations this year. We had the chance to speak to top tech luminaries, entrepreneurs, celebrities and fellow journalists. Much of that opportunity arose from the return of our stage, parked right in the middle of the Las Vegas Convention Center's Grand Lobby. We blew things out this year, packing the schedule from the show's opening on Tuesday morning to its close on Friday night. Below we have a list of the interviews we did at this year's show, both on-stage and off, so you can relive the thoughts, theories and comments that defined this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
BB 10 Twitter and Google Talk app integration leaks ahead of launch
Care for a sneak peek at BB 10's third party app integration? Well, if the screens above are to be believed (and we have reason to assume they're quite legit), standalone applications like Twitter and Google Talk could be ready to download on BlackBerry World at launch. From what we can glimpse, it appears the apps will be folded into BB Hub, the OS' new unified inbox, lending further credence to RIM's claims of a seamless "flow," as it doesn't seem likely social applications will be sandboxed. Design-wise, both apps offer a direct parallel to their current offerings on other rival platforms, albeit made to fit the straight and soft BB 10 aesthetic. We'll know much more in the weeks ahead as RIM prepares to reveal the full monty. For now, buckle in for a load of expected leaks.
Sprint joins BB10 bandwagon, plans to offer devices later this year
Ah, there you are, Sprint -- didn't speak up at first. Following confirmations by US carriers, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T that they'd be carrying BlackBerry 10 devices this year, the Now Network has joined the fray. While we'll surely find out the full details from RIM come the OS's official kick-off on January 30th, details are currently slim. A rep for the company confirmed the news to BGR (and Engadget, for that matter) stating, "Sprint plans to bring BlackBerry 10 to our customers later this year. We will share more details soon." Notably, Sprint is the only carrier that hasn't committed to having devices upon the launch of the OS -- of course, being the Now Network doesn't always mean being first.
Leaked images may show black & white Blackberry Z10s, BBM Video and more (updated)
As Sony, Apple and others well know, it's hard to slip a phone into the marketplace without leaks, considering the many, many points on the supply chain where Mr. Blurrycam can spot it. This time, Rapid Berry allegedly espied promotional photos that look like they came directly from the source, hitting all the Blackberry 10 marketing points like the upcoming Z10 handset in black and white, BBM Video with Screenshare, the new BB keyboard and the so-called Time Shift Camera. While we've seen much of this before, these are among the first press-type pics we've seen straight from RIM -- and tie up the imminent Blackberry 10 future with a pretty bow, if real. Go to the source to see the entire series. Update: Rapid Berry's also found a short video showing BBM Video in action at the coverage link below.
Blackberry users suffer fresh server chills across UK, Europe, Africa (update: it's a Vodafone problem)
It's 2013 and RIM's BlackBerry servers seem to be as grumpy as ever -- and totally oblivious to the need for happy headlines in the run up to January 30th. We're hearing from multiple readers that BB servers are down in the UK, while Vodafone has confirmed that its customers are having problems, with the biggest casualty being push email. Meanwhile, BlackBerry UK's Twitter feed says the outage is the result of "Vodafone service issues" and is affecting "some customers" across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We'll update if we hear more. Update: An early statement from Vodafone gave no hint that it was responsible for the outage, and merely said it was "working closely" with RIM to fix it. However, this does now look like a Vodafone problem. The company's African offshoot, Vodacom, has seen fit to apologize on Twitter and has said services in that continent are now being restored, though a backlog of data could cause delays.
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to offer BlackBerry 10 devices at launch
Can't wait for RIM's big mobile refresh? Neither can major US carriers, apparently. Just like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have confirmed that they'll be carrying BlackBerry 10 devices at launch, too. Hardly a surprise, considering all three carriers have stocked RIM hardware in the past -- but still an important win for customers betting on BlackBerry. UK carriers announced something similar recently as well. As VP Alec Saunders tells us, BB10's designed to be different and to move you forward -- and going by what we've experienced so far, the upcoming six pack just might help the folks at Waterloo move forward, too.
RIM CMO says 'at least' six BlackBerry 10 devices will arrive in 2013
RIM first talked about plans for a batch of six different BlackBerry 10 devices -- split evenly between QWERTY and all-touch models -- last summer, but it's been relatively mum on the matter since then, focusing more on the sole device that will launch on January 30th. It looks like that is indeed still the number the company is looking at beyond that first device (and a QWERTY model to follow), though, with CMO Frank Boulben confirming in an interview with FierceWireless that RIM is looking to release "at least" six BlackBerry 10 devices before year's end. Those are said to cover a range of price points on the low, medium and high-end, but Boulben didn't get much more specific than that, nor did he offer any indication as to when we can expect those other models during the year.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with RIM's Alec Saunders (update: video embedded)
It's been a long time coming, but this month marks the long-awaited next step for Research in Motion. As you can no doubt imagine, we've got plenty of questions for VP Alec Saunders -- and thankfully, he's no doubt in a much better place to answer than he was this time time last year. Join us after the break for what's sure to be a fascinating conversation about BlackBerry 10 and the steps RIM must take to make it in the cut-throat smartphone market. January 8, 2013 1:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
ComScore: iPhone up to 35 percent of US smartphone share in November, Android steady
Smartphone launches sometimes have to build up steam before they can go full speed ahead. Apple might be learning this first-hand, based on ComScore's figures. After a lackluster October, the company's just-reported November smartphone market share in the US was up sharply, to 35 percent; while the spike isn't directly credited to the iPhone 5, rapidly growing availability of the company's newest smartphone certainly didn't hurt. Android was still comfortably ruling the roost at 53.7 percent, although its share was only a slight increase over October. As such, most of Apple's gain during the month came from smaller rivals' pain. It was a more familiar story among individual phone makers. Samsung had a comfortable lead at 26.9 percent of the larger American cellphone market in November, while Apple padded its advantage over a sinking LG to hit 18.5 percent. With Motorola and HTC also on the downward slide, the US market this fall was increasingly mirroring its global counterpart, where it was really Apple and Samsung's game to play -- others might have to be content watching from the sidelines in the future.
T-Mobile launches Curve 9315, BlackBerry 7 still alive and kicking
Hey everybody, there's a new BlackBerry in town! But don't get too excited, this isn't one of them fancy BB10 handsets we're all so eagerly anticipating, this is yet another 7.1 model. In particular it's a slight rehash of the Curve you're all quite familiar with. The 9315 is a QWERTY-sporting device bound for T-Mobile that also features a dedicated BBM key and a 3.2-megapixel camera. And, if you haven't fully embraced the digital music revolution yet, there's an FM tuner for pulling in your favorite terrestrial radio stations. (Just in case the internet isn't providing you with your daily dose of Gangnam Style.) Perhaps the most interesting thing about the new phone is the wallet friendly price of $50 -- after a mail-in rebate and with a two year contract, of course. The only question is, how many people will care since a week after its January 23rd debut RIM is set to take the wraps off its next-gen devices. PR awaits you after the break.
RIM busts Mr. Blurrycam, patents tech to 'prevent inconspicuous use of cameras'
RIM's own smartphones have been the target of many a "Mr. Blurrycam" snap, but a new feature could put an end to "inconspicuous" shooting, according to a patent issued today. The tool would be in line with the company's mission to protect corporations from security vulnerabilities, which include not only unauthorized access to data, but also leaks from employees. According to the patent, "the camera restriction prevents a user from taking a picture of a subject if the device has not been steadily focused on the subject in question for a predetermined period of time." Just how long you need to keep your BlackBerry still could be dictated by individual IT departments, which would also have the power to flip the switch and push restrictions to an employee's device. While such a delay would certainly be an inconvenience for frequent shooters, it is a step forward from RIM's traditional strategy of shipping models without cameras altogether. We haven't seen any indication that such a technology will be implemented with future models, but thanks to the minds at RIM, patent junkies can get their fix now at the source link below.
Engadget's top posts for 2012
So, are sugar plum fairies dancing in your head yet? Us neither, so how about those always-popular year-end lists? It's time to re-raise a toast to that tradition here at Engadget with a look at the top articles over the last 12 months as voted on by you, dear readers. If you're drawing a blank about any such ballot-casting, you did it with each duly noted click -- meaning that, Kumbaya-style, our list is also your list. Overall, 2012 was a red-letter year at Engadget as we unveiled a snappy fresh look (literally and visually), changed to a new commenting system, added the poshly accented Eurocast and generally kicked butt with more features, liveblogs and scoops than ever -- all of which is reflected in (woot!) our largest all-time yearly readership. After a couple of years off, we're re-booting the top yearly post tradition, so without further ado, here's a list of the articles that brought the biggest page-view ruckus in 2012. Top 20 most trafficked posts of 2012, in order: 1. Apple's next-generation iPad liveblog 2. Apple's next-generation iPhone liveblog 3. Apple's 2012 WWDC liveblog 4. Apple's iPad mini liveblog 5. Live from Amazon's Santa Monica press conference 6. Live from Apple's education event 7. Samsung's Mobile Unpacked liveblog 8. Microsoft's major announcement liveblog 9. Live from Microsoft's Windows 8 press event at Mobile World Congress 2012 10. Google's I/O keynote 2012 liveblog 11. Live from Microsoft's 'sneak peek' at Windows Phone 12. Engadget Live: 'Ask me anything' Q&A with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop 13. Live from Microsoft's E3 2012 keynote 14. The Windows Phone 8 event liveblog 15. Live from the HTC press conference at MWC 2012 16. Live from Blackberry Jam Americas 2012 17. Live from Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012 18. Live from the Nokia press conference at MWC 2012 19. Nexus 7 review: the best $200 tablet you can buy 20. iPhone 5 review 15,514 - total number of posts for 2012 1,039 - number of hands-on posts 246 - number of Engadget reviews 48 - number of liveblogs 10 - number of Engadget shows