BlackBerry Pearl 9100 and Curve 9300 now available with AT&T

RIM’s latest candybar device and lesser cost QWERTY 3G handsets are now available for purchase from your friendly AT&T store.

BlackBerry Pearl 9100

§  Sure Type keyboard

§  3G

§  Wi-Fi

§  GPS

§  3.2 megapixel camera

§  1150mAh battery

§  $149 with 2 year agreement

BlackBerry Curve 9300

§  QWERTY keyboard

§  3G

§  Wi-Fi bgn

§  GPS

§  2 megapixel camera

$99 with 2 year agreement

RIM “BlackPad” to Use QNX Operating System?

RIM has just introduced BlackBerry 6...but now reports have its rumored BlackPad tablet running an entirely different OS from QNX.

Canada’s Research in Motion just introduced its revamped BlackBerry 6 operating system with the BlackBerry Torchsmartphone, but the company is apparently planning something different for its rumored “BlackPad” tablet: an operating system based on technology from QNX, which RIM acquired back in April.

QNX real-time operating systems are used in some motor vehicle software, some medical equipment, networking hardware, and navigation systems—it’s used in BMW’s current audio systems and software used to control the U.S. Army’s unmanned Crusher ground vehicle, for instance. RIM acquired QNX under the auspices of enhancing BlackBerry integration with automotive systems.

Now, according toBloomberg,, RIM intends to base its tablet operating system on technology from QNX. The story cites no specific reason, save that it may have been faster to repurpose QNX’s technology for a tablet due to “legacy code” in BlackBerry 6.

Other companies hav demonstrated that mobile operating systems can scale well to tablet devices: a slew of Android tablets are due to hit the market before the end of the year, and of course Apple is way out in front of the game with its iPad, which runs a version of its iOS mobile operating system.

By rolling out a whole new OS for a BlackBerry tablet, RIM may face challenges, however: not only does it have to re-invent the wheel after putting enormous work and resources into the touch-based BlackBerry 6, but it potentially breaks compatibility with existing BlackBerry applications.

Reports of RIM’s unannounced “BlackPad” tablet began surfacing last month, with the device sporting a 9.7-inch touchscreen display and functioning more as a peripheral to a BlackBerry smartphone than a standalone product: for instance, to get mobile 3G service, the tablet would have to pair with a BlackBerry smartphone.

RIM sets guidelines for countries wanting access to its data

The latest news regarding the BlackBerry ban is a bit anti-climactic, with RIM declaring guidelines for the governments that want access to BlackBerry data. These guidelines clearly dictate the limits of information governments will be able to access when monitoring BlackBerry services, refusing access beyond what is legally required by a local government. RIM also said that whatever monitoring that the governments do will have to be vendor and technology neutral, which also ensures that RIM is not required to provide any methods of access that is not available for other devices.

This move goes against the news that RIM would be cooperating with the government of Saudi Arabia by providing them with the access, access that is certainly not vendor neutral. We’ll all just have to wait and see what will happen next, or, for the true climax to the story.

BlackBerry Torch Review

Review: The incremental upgrades in BlackBerry’s new Torch 9800 won’t win over many Android or iPhone 4 users, but they should prevent BlackBerry loyalists from jumping ship.

Introduction

Whether or not you believe the new BlackBerry Torch 9800 from AT&T is as revolutionary as RIM’s TV ads imply, depends on what side of the smartphone divide you’re on. If you’re a current BlackBerry user, you’ll find the Torch a quantum improvement over RIM’s last touch-screen attempt, the Storm, and an amusing alternative to BlackBerry’s suddenly quaint non-touch interface. If you’re an iPhone or Android user, however, a few minutes touching Torch will make you chuckle patronizingly before returning it to its chastened owner. In other words, BlackBerry users will find it a huge step up, but it still won’t staunch the bleeding RIM continues to suffer from defections to the iPhone and Android phones

Features and Design

Even though RIM touts the Torch as revolutionary, it’s a doppelganger of the Storm, only with the addition of a vertical slide-out keyboard – same size screen, same basic design and layout.

The Torch would have been revolutionary – or at least competitive – even a year ago, but now suffers badly in comparison with the latest wave of iPhone and Android superphones. It has just a 3.2-inch screen, the same size on the Storm, but now suddenly considered small, considering the iPhone has had a 3.5-inch display since for more than three years and the 4-plus inch screens available on the Samsung Galaxy S, Motorola Droid X and HTC EVO. A 600 MHz processor compared to the 1GHz engines on all recent superphones. VGA rather than HD video recording. The Torch does offer a modern 5-megapixel still camera and 3G tethering – nice, but hardly comparable to the mobile hotspot capabilities of the Droid X from Verizon, or 4G hotspotting on the EVO and the upcoming Galaxy S Epic from Sprint.

BlackBerry is building its own App World app store, but the Torch also includes AT&T’s own AppCenter app store, which is slightly confusing.

BlackBerry’s biggest attraction has and always will be its highly responsive, sculpted physical QWERTY, but the Torch compromises this prime feature. To slide comfortably under the Torch’s top screen half, RIM flattened the keyboard, and as a result, the keys are nearly flush and don’t have Blackberry’s deep, firm response. Even though the keyboard is around the same approximate size as on previous BlackBerry slab phones, you’ll find now trying to hit ALT and the adjacent 7 key nearly impossible.

Multimedia

As compared to the iPhone and the current crop of Android phones, the BlackBerry’s Torch’s knack for dealing with music, photos and video is limited.

While smaller than current superphones, the Torch’s screen is nonetheless big and bright enough for casual video viewing. But MobiTV offerings are pixelated, and instead of a dedicated YouTube app, the YouTube icon instead simply takes you to the YouTube Web site, and I could find no way to watch videos in high quality, as you can on Android or iPhone. AT&T’s own video service doesn’t seem to be pre-loaded on the Torch, but you do get PrimeTime2Go.

Sound Quality

Like previous BlackBerrys, the Torch gives excellent, crisp voice conversation with plenty of volume. For speakerphone and media playback, it also delivers plenty of volume, albeit thinner aural quality

Phone Functionality

Torch maintains BlackBerry’s excellent functionality, in some ways thanks to, and in other cases in spite of, BlackBerry OS 6. App icons are laid out across swappable vertical screens – All, Favorites, Media and Downloads, Frequent – that can be pulled up like Android’s vertical app and notification screen. Icons can be moved within a screen or from one screen to another – but not all. It seems each app has its own set of user customization options. Even with some of these built-in restrictions, the Torch offers can more customization than the Storm or previous BlackBerrys.

With pages filled with app icons, it looks as if the Torch comes pre-loaded with lots of functions. But many of these apps are pointers only; you still have to download the full apps. And some of the icons aren’t actually apps. The CNN and ESPN icons are merely pointers to those Web sites.

But the Torch is filled with anachronisms left from the days of scroll wheel, jog dial and trackpad control. For instance, options have to be highlighted before activated with a second touch, and some menu items remain too small and too tightly bunched to ensure consistent clean and correct taps, hence the continued need for an optical trackpad.

BlackBerry 6 also isn’t as intuitive as its competitors; keyboards on both the iPhone or Android phones adapt depending on the app. The Torch’s landscape and portrait touch keypads, however, remain static, which is annoying since the “@” key is always on a secondary screen, even when used in an e-mail app.

RIM will eventually figure out what Microsoft discovered: You can’t take an OS designed for a physical button or stylus-based interface and map it to a touch. If you have a touchscreen, you shouldn’t need a separate optical track pad. RIM should just take an ax to its current OS and start all over to create a completely new OS founded completely on touch, as Microsoft finally did with Windows Mobile 7 after realizing adapting Windows Mobile 6 and 6.5 to full touch wasn’t working. Unlike Microsoft, (initial looks as Windows Mobile 7 on the Kins isn’t encouraging), RIM has enough goodwill and a large enough installed base to be successful.

Web

With just a 600MHz processor, Web surfing on the Torch is surprisingly – no, shockingly – sluggish. Web-optimized sites can take up to 10 seconds to load, three times longer than on the iPhone, while non-optimized sites can take nearly 30 seconds to completely load.

Signal Strength

In additional, signal retention is far less consistent than on the iPhone. While riding on an elevated train in New York City, the iPhone retained 3G connectivity while the Torch slipped to EDGE; and while coming into an underground station, the iPhone retained 3G connectivity longer and restored connectivity sooner than the Torch.

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Camera

The Torch’s 5-megapixel camera may be its best feature. It snaps colorful, crisp pictures, geo-tagged outdoors, with little of the spotty off-center blurriness found on many cell cam images. Torch’s torch – er, flash – does a great job of illuminating subjects without overwhelming them, and most indoor shots are crisper than from other recent cameras.

VGA videos are bit a disappointing. The Torch shoots at 24 instead of 30 frames per second, with too much smudgy pixilation, even without blowing up the image.

Battery Life

RIM rates the Torch at 5.5 hours of talk time, but we always had plenty of life left after a full day of real-life usage.

Conclusion

The Blackberry Torch’s kludgy touch interface will not attract a single defector back to BlackBerry, and current BlackBerry users will not like the less responsive flush Torch keyboard. As such, it really doesn’t matter how advanced the new BB OS 6 is compared to previous BlackBerry touch attempts, or how good the camera is. RIM’s ads are correct: The Torch is the most advanced BlackBerry yet. It’s just not necessarily a better BlackBerry, or a competitor to phones running more sophisticated touch operating systems like Apple iOS and Google Android.

Highs:

• Bright, colorful, 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen


• BlackBerry 6 OS


• Vertical slide QWERTY


• 5-megapixel camera with LED flash


• 4GB built-in memory; 4GB card pre-installed

Lows:

• Functionality not completely compatible with touch


• Slow Web surfing


• Flat physical QWERTY keys


• Poor network connectivity


• Smaller screen than smartphone competitors

RIM's BlackPad to release in November for $499 [Rumour]

It seems that the now infamous BlackPad, or BlackBerry tablet, is a step closer to reality, if the latest rumours are to be believed. Apple Daily has “sources” that told them that the BlackPad will have all the same specifications we’ve previously heard about (9.7-inch screen, WiFi, front and rear cameras, Bluetooth, etc.,), and also revealed new information about the production side of things:

Apparently Quanta Computer (a popular OEM) won the bid to manufacture the BlackBerry tablet, and plans to start producing 2 million units starting September, due for a November release (again something we've heard before), and another 8 million planned for next year. That’s a lot of anticipated demand! According to the same sources, the price is going to be around $499 (in case you've forgotten, that's the starting price of the iPad).

BlackBerry Torch 9800: Everything You Need to Know

RIM’s new BlackBerry Torch 9800 brings the business brand forward as the first device to sport BlackBerry OS 6, the first to support multitouch, and the first truly “hybrid” BlackBerry.

With the iPhone 4, HTC Evo 4G and Samsung Captivate all shaking down smartphone buyers for money this summer, the BlackBerry stable of smartphones was starting to look a little grey – until today, that is. At a press event in New York City, Research in Motion did its best to streak in some Just for Men with the Torch, the latest member of an expanding family of touchscreen BlackBerry devices. Why is the Torch so hot? Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know.

How is the Torch different from any other BlackBerry?

It’s the first BlackBerry to offer a hybrid experience – meaning both a touchscreen and RIM’s legendary tactile keyboard. The Storm series of devices that introduces touch to the BlackBerry portfolio have never offered hard keyboards, and none of the more traditional BlackBerrys, like the Bold 9700, have ever made use of touch. The QWERTY keyboard on the Torch slides out vertically, like on the Palm Pre, and there’s an optical trackpad as well.

It’s also the first BlackBerry device to offer BlackBerry OS 6, the next major revision of RIM’s operating system, and the first to support multitouch – which allows gestures like two-fingered pinching to zoom and unzoom, for instance.

Why do I care about BlackBerry OS 6?

Mostly the browser. BlackBerry OS 6 will bring a browser based on WebKit – the same technology powering browsers on iOS, Android and WebOS – for a smoother, more powerful browsing experience. Traditionally, the weak BlackBerry browser has been one of its biggest faults, so moving that experience forward should give the brand a real boost. That’s far from everything, though. RIM will also implement multitouch, kinetic scrolling, a revamped home screen, universal search, and a brand new media player. Read more about all of them in our first look at the new features in BlackBerry OS 6.

What do the specs look like?

The Torch has a 3.2-inch HVGA+ screen (480 x 360), weighs 5.68 ounces, and measures 4.37 inches tall, 2.44 wide, and 0.57 deep, making it one of the largest BlackBerry devices in the current lineup. You’ll also get a 5-megapixel camera with flash, 4GB of built-in memory with a 4GB microSD card included (the slot can handle up to 32GB) and of course, 3G connectivity. RIM estimates it will deliver 5.5 hours of talk time on GSM networks and 18 days of standby. Hit RIM for the nitty gritty.

When will it be available? On what network? How much?

BlackBerry decided not to tease us for too long, instead launching the Torch on August 12, less than two weeks after the announcement, on AT&T. Like all next-gen phones, it will cost you $200 after signing a two-year contract.

RIM BlackPad Expected To Compete with Apple's iPad

Research In Motion is expected to introduce the BlackPad to compete with rival Apple's iPad, which currently dominates the tablet market. RIM recently acquired blackpad.com, and is also expected to introduce the BlackBerry Bold 9800 to regain smartphone market share from Apple's iPhone. RIM faces an uphill battle with the BlackPad.
Research In Motion will introduce its own tablet computer, called BlackPad, in November, according to news sources. The BlackBerry maker is moving to compete with rival Apple, which currently dominates the tablet market with its iPad.

RIM is also expected to introduce the BlackBerry Bold 9800 smartphone with a sliding QWERTY Relevant Products/Services keyboard next month to recover market share lost to Apple's iPhone. According to IDC, RIM's share of the global smartphone market was 19.4 percent in the first quarter, down from 20.9 percent a year earlier, while Apple rose to 16.1 percent from 10.9 percent.

News sources said RIM's BlackPad will be about the same size as the iPad and include both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so users can connect to the Internet through smartphones. The price is expected to be close to the iPad, which currently starts at $499.

The operating system for the BlackPad is not known, but could be the upcoming BlackBerry 6. RIM and AT&T could discuss that operating system at a press conference next week expected to focus on the Bold 9800.

Canada-based RIM recently acquired the domain blackpad.com.

Even with a tablet, RIM will have to scramble to compete with the more than 225,000 apps available for the iPad and iPhone on Apple's App Store. RIM's BlackBerry App World had a bit more than 9,000 apps as of Friday.

The BlackPad will reportedly have front and back cameras for videoconferencing. News sources said it will also be tied to the BlackBerry e-mail system used by many enterprises.

With more than three million iPads sold, Apple has a tremendous market lead and RIM will be playing catch-up along with tablets expected from Hewlett-Packard, LG Electronics, and Samsung. Dell Relevant Products/Services has already introduced its Android-powered Dell Streak tablet and smartphone in the United Kingdom and has a large volume of pre-orders for its U.S. debut

BlackBerry to be banned in Saudi Arabia today; US State Department defends RIM

Saudi Arabia’s ban on BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS) is due to start today, while Indonesia,India, Lebanon, Kuwait and the UAE have all threatened to ban it in the near future as well, unless RIM negotiates with the governments’ demands. Well, RIM does have advocates all over the world defending its security and privacy, and that includes the US government, many of whose officials and diplomats use BlackBerry devices, or more importantly, use BlackBerry devices overseas in above-mentioned questions.

To that end, Hillary Rodham Clinton, or, the Secretary of State in the current US administration, has said that they will be actively working to figure out a compromise between RIM and the countries in question, and has released the following statement: "We are taking time to consult and analyze the full range of interests and issues at stake because we know that there is a legitimate security concern, but there's also a legitimate right of free use and access.

Another official from the State Department added that they will be discussing things with the countries in question "to understand the security concerns and see if we can't work collaboratively to find solutions. If some of these countries follow through on what they've announced it would have an impact on the U.S. government and our diplomats operating in different countries. So we are directly affected by what has been suggested. But, obviously, we know that both American businessmen, American citizens traveling abroad, the citizens of other countries would be affected as well."

Well, it was just a matter of time that the Canadian business phone manufacturer, Research In Motion, got some official backing, and it certainly wasn't Canada upholding its prodigal son's interests.