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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.
QNX unveils concept Bentley Continental GT alongside Car Platform 2.0
RIM's subsidiary QNX has a serious thing for cars. Today, the company announced the QNX Car Platform 2.0 and an associated development platform, which is now available to auto manufacturers. Later this year, the group will also release an HTML5 SDK, which will provide specialized APIs for accessing various hardware components within a vehicle. To show off the platform, QNX partnered with Bentley to produce a concept Continental GT, which the duo unveiled today at CES. It's said to boast smartphone integration, voice recognition and video conferencing -- scary to think about that last one. In the following clip, you'll find an overview of the development process, along with a peek of the interface and controls. Consider the Porsche 911 officially jealous.
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
BlackBerry Z10 parts reportedly surface, include a 4.3-inch display
The pieces of the BlackBerry Z10 puzzle are slowly coming together -- and today, that's almost literally true. ETrade Supply has obtained what's claimed to be the LCD, touchscreen digitizer and housings for RIM's future flagship device. The more production-worthy components appear to fit together properly, and they hint at a mid-size smartphone with a 4.3-inch screen and a microSD card slot. The biggest surprise may be the SIM slot, whose position varies depending on the parts at hand: the incongruity could either reflect late-stage design tweaks or else variants for different networks. We'll have to sit tight until January 30th to know what the individual elements represent when they're part of a working device, but those who don't mind seeing an upcoming phone in its rawest form can catch a video after the break.
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
BlackBerry 10 model RFH121LW hits the FCC, leaves much to the imagination
A day after a BlackBerry 10 device with AT&T LTE support hit the FCC, another mystery model has arrived. The RFH121LW's documents don't reveal much in the way of specs or connectivity -- or even images -- but this is just another reminder that RIM's big BB10 unveiling is around the corner. Those who like to poke through the paperwork can click through to the FCC filing via the link below.
Mystery BlackBerry 10 device hits the FCC with AT&T-capable LTE
RIM's January unveiling isn't going anywhere without federal approval, and it seems the FCC is happy to oblige. Regulators put an unnamed BlackBerry device with a RFF91LW model number through the standard tests, giving it the green light for AT&T's LTE and GSM bands, as well as a few international frequencies. The handset's label sample is conveniently censored, of course, but FCC reports indicate that at least three of the devices RIM provided were running OS 10.0.9. Could we be seeing the "L-series" BlackBerry Z10? Or is this simply one of the Dev Alpha devices RIM has been handing out to developers? Either way, we'll get verification next month.
Tech's biggest misfires of 2012
You can't win 'em all, right? Sure, 2012 saw its share of high points, but there were plenty of missteps along the way from companies both large and small. Unfinished products, serial delays, lawsuits and layoffs -- after the break, we've got a list of some of the not-so-pretty moments in tech.
More BlackBerry N-Series images surface, appeases QWERTY lovers with sharper focus
Remember this little guy? It was Christmas Eve when Mr. Blurrycam gave us a look at this keyboard-equipped BB10 prototype. Skip to the present, and N4BB has apparently come across news images of it, minus the fuzz. Aside from being clearer, the phone's screen is notably powered on in this round images -- essentially proving it's more than a dummy. While we've known the unit is likely part of RIM's N-Series, the site notes that its actual model number may officially be presented as the X10 (not to be confused with Sony Ericsson, Klipsch and Fujifilm offerings of the same moniker). Things will certainly become even clearer on January 30th, that's for sure -- for now, hit the source link for a couple of more images. [Thanks, Joel]
The Daily Roundup for 12.28.2012
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.
'Leaked' BlackBerry 10 info shows video chat and screen sharing in BBM, new task manager
Top dog at RIM Thorsten Heins heavily implied that video chat would be added to BBM when BlackBerry 10 showed up, and now possible confirmation of the feature has come from what are thought to be leaked presentation slides. Originating on CrackBerry's forums, the images have been taken down on various sites, leading us to believe they're legit and that strongly worded requests have led to their removal. Not only do they suggest BBM video chat is coming to BB10, but also the ability to screen share during these video calls. Another slide details a new task manager for the OS called "BlackBerry Remember," which can sync with Outlook and -- based on its description and what was uncovered in the gold SDK -- may include Evernote integration. We've contacted RIM for comment and will update you with any response, but until then, take a look at the slide above and the pair hidden after the break to assess for yourself whether they're the real deal. Update: Here's RIM's statement, which doesn't really come as much of a surprise: "We understand that there is a lot of excitement for BlackBerry 10. We will launch the platform on January 30th and until then we won't comment on speculation."
The Daily Roundup for 12.26.2012
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.
RIM's keyboard-packing BlackBerry N-Series gets the Mr. Blurrycam treatment
Well, well, well, here's a holiday treat for the BlackBerry enthusiast in your life. CN Beta has a pair of enticing images purporting to be the forthcoming keyboard-packing N-Series from RIM. The picture of the back, sadly, is the sharper of the two, but the above shot still gives a pretty clear look at what may well be the BlackBerry 10 handset for those power users who just can't say goodbye to the world of physical keyboards. Either way, it won't be too long until we know for sure. In the meantime, we'll see you after the break for a view of what the back of such a device just might hold.
Purported screenshot reveals listing for black and white BlackBerry Z10
While BlackBerry 10's final build has yet to be seen by the masses, its hardware has arguably received more views than PSY's Gangnam Style. After sporting the codenames London and L-Series, RIM's upcoming full-screen handset appears to have settled on the recently leaked "Z10" branding. Spicing things up is an alleged inventory screenshot from Carphone Warehouse obtained by N4BB displaying a product listing for a BlackBerry Z10. Sure, this could be nothing more than a placeholder for things to come, but at least now we have a new frontrunner in the Name RIM's next smartphone game. One thing's for sure, BB10 will officially be revealed to the world on January 30th and of course we'll be there to bring you the play-by-play.
