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BlackBerry’s new Dev Alpha B handset runs BB10, we go hands-on
BlackBerry’s Dev Alpha handset proved to be quite the popular item when it was revealed earlier this year. It was so popular, in fact, that the company ran through the 5,000 it constructed in short order. So, it had to build a whole new batch of developer handsets to meet the demand, and thus was the Dev Alpha B born. We got our mitts on this new bit of kit and had a chance to see how it handled RIM’s latest incarnation of BB10, so join us after the break for our impressions.
RIM reveals more details about Blackberry 10
Well, it’s finally here. Sort of. It’s been a long and winding road for BlackBerry 10, and as has been RIM’s way, the company continues to out new BB10 details just a bit at a time. As you may recall, we got a good look at RIM’s original Dev Alpha hardware back in May, and were able to swipe our way through a good bit of BB10 a month later. It’s BlackBerry Jam time now, though, and RIM gave us a more thorough look at the OS than ever before, and we got to see it running on a new Dev Alpha B handset. We couldn’t pry loose any details about the hardware inside the new dev phone (other than it’s got a BB10-standard 1280×768 screen), but we did get a few fresh facts about the software running on it. Once again, RIM reminded us that the software we saw was not the final version, but that shouldn’t deter you from reading on past the break and seeing a video of BB10 in action.
RIM To Release BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Beta This Week
RIM has announced that they will release the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Beta before the end of May, so that means some time today or tomorrow, the news was announced by an RIM PlayBook product manager on Twitter.
The new version of RIM BlackBerry tablet OS will come with a range of new features which include multitasking support with Android apps, the use of calendar, email and contacts apps in portrait mode and more.
Other new features will include text messaging via BlackBerry Bridge when your tablet is paired with a smartphone, plus there will also be access to the camera API and in app payments for developers.
Source Liliputing
BlackBerry Curve 9320 now official: BB OS 7.1, 2.44-inch display, BBM button
The 9320 has visited more countries during its short gestation than some phones get to see in their whole lives, but it’s finally arrived. The specs are pretty much what we guessed, with the socially-focused BB OS 7.1 onboard, a 3.2-megapixel camera and typical Curve features like a 2.44-inch 320 x 240 non-touch LCD display, ‘super charged’ 1450mAh battery, FM radio and a small, lightweight 103 gram QWERTY form factor. Same specs, different day, but then there’s also microSD expandability beyond the 512MB RAM, which can’t be taken for granted, plus a new feature in the form of a dedicated BBM key on the side. As for the 9320′s cheaper sibling, the 9220 shown above, we’ve already been hands-on at BlackBerry World and spotted that one of its main sacrifices is the camera: it’s only 2-megapixels and there’s no flash. That’s all 11,000 rupees ($210) gets you.
RIM Gives Us A Look At BlackBerry 10 (Video)
RIM today officially unveiled their new BlackBerry 10 OS, and now the company has released a video which shows the latest version of their mobile OS in action.
In the video below we get a brief look at BlackBerry 10, which will come with a range of new features including a new camera app, a newly designed keyboard, Flow (multitasking) and more.
It will be interesting to see what the new BlackBerry 10 devices are like when they launch later in the year, as soon as we get some details on the first devices, including some specifications we will let you guys know.
Source Gizmodo
BlackBerry 10 Camera App Will Come With Timeline Feature
RIM has revealed some details on their new camera app that will be available in BlackBerry 10 devices, and it comes with an interesting feature, described as a timeline feature it will take photos before hit the shutter button.
So if you take a photo, but miss something, or say someones eyes are closed in the photo, you can scroll through the cameras cache with a circular ‘timeline’ to pick the best frame for your photo.
This sounds like an interesting feature, and the device will start to record frames as soon as the camera app is loaded, giving you plenty of possibly decent shots to pick from if you take a bad photo.
Source Engadget
RIM Unveils BlackBerry 10, And BlackBerry 10 Dev Smartphone
RIM has unveiled the latest version of its mobile OS, BlackBerry 10 at its BlackBerry World event in Orlando, its new OS is based on QNX, and now we finally get some details about the OS and the hardware.
The first BlackBerry 10 devices will launch later in the year, and RIM has shown off a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha handset, which you can see in the photo below.
Whilst we don’t have any details on any devices that will be released, the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha handset should give us a taste of what is to come, and it features a 4.2 inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels.
The device comes with NFC built in, and it features a quad band HSPA radio and a microSIM card slot, and is apparently very similar to the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, although in a smaller form factor.
Source The Verge
Image Credit: The Verge
RIM Launches BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
We recently heard a rumor that RIM would be launching the latest version of their PlayBook OS today, and now has confirmed that BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is available from today.
BlackBerry PlayBook OS brings a range of new features to RIM’s PlayBook tablet, which include new email, calendar and contacts built in to the OS, as well as a range of social network integration.
“Building on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s proven web browsing, multimedia and multitasking strengths, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 introduces a range of new communications and productivity enhancements as well as expanded app and content support,” said David J. Smith, SVP Mobile Computing, Research In Motion.
You can find out full information on all the changes on the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS over at RIM, and the OS is now available to download to your PlayBook tablet.
RIM Accepting Android Apps For BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
RIM has announced that they are now accepting Android application submissions for their BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, and developer have to submit applications for approval by next Monday the 6th of February 2012.
RIM are expected to launch the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 some time next month, although they haven’t given an exact release date as yet.
Seeing the great response for the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps at CES, developer meet-ups and conferences that we’ve attended over the last few months, we’re expecting a huge interest in the consumer space for these apps when the update is made available next month. We want to ensure that you are able to capitalize on this unique opportunity by having your applications available when BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is launched!
Android applications which run on the BlackBery PlayBook OS 2.0 will also be compatible with RIM’s latest smartphone OS, BlackBerry 10 which is expected to launch later in the year, you can find out more details over at RIM.
Source Netbook News
BlackBerry London resurfaces in leak, sports matte black exterior, nonexistent OS
That salacious onyx number up there? Per CrackBerry, it’s a rendering of RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry codenamed London. Found lurking in a leaked Waterloo slidedeck, the svelte render now sports a more curvaceous and onyx exterior — a departure from the angular metallic P’9981-esque dummy-unit first spied back in November. Those tweaks validate another rumor, which foretold the redo, as-well as the killing of its Milan and Colt siblings. Looks like RIM might be putting all of its eggs into this redesigned London-basket, which per this leaked roadmap could be yours come Q3. All or nothing, Thorsten Heins? We like your gusto — bring on the black unicorn.
Eldar Murtazin gives RIM six months to win back customers, says Nokia is selling its soul to Microsoft
Murtazin is a guy well known for scoring handsets way ahead of even their debut showing. He also has an uncanny knack of knowing exactly what mobile companies are plotting — sometimes. He’s a guy worth listening to, especially for his often outspoken views on company failings. In his latest (lengthy) editorial, Eldar Murtazin takes umbrage with two companies that have weathered a tricky 2011; RIM and Nokia. He reckons that the BlackBerry makers have around six to eight months to convince people and the markets that there’s still a future — a worrying deadline given that we’re not expecting to see its OS successor until the second half of 2012. Regardless of when these long-awaited QNX handsets do appear, Murtazin maintains that even if they arrived with the kind of OS that dreams are made of, they are unlikely to recover the ground lost in recent years — especially on corporate handsets.
However, he saves most of his ire for the Nokia-Microsoft partnership, claiming that Nokia executives have lost their ability to sensibly judge the state of the mobile world. With apparently the “most valued” engineers and developers leaving the good ship Nokia, the shuttering of Nokia’s own Ovisync services are apparently talismanic of a shift closer to Microsoft. Murtazin thinks that Nokia CEO Elop has only two aims while at the helm; to ruin the company’s chances of recovering in the mobile market and increasing Microsoft’s own share and influence in the same sphere. He also reckons a Microsoft buyout of Nokia is still plausible, and while we’re sure you’ve been reading Eldar’s missives with a hefty side of salt, it would make for an even more interesting 2012.
Adobe releases final Flash Player version for Android, BlackBerry PlayBook, promises future updates
Opera Mini And Mobile Browser Updated Across Multiple Platforms
Opera has today rolled out a new update for both its Opera Mini and Opera Mobile browsers bringing all its browsers to the same version across multiple platforms.
Opera Mini has now reached 6.5 on iOS, S60, J2ME, and BlackBerry, and the more powerful Opera Mobile has now reached version 11.5 for S60 and MeeGo. New features in the new update include a usage tracker which shows you how much data you have saved using Opera over other mobile browsers with their compression engine technology.
Other small updates include Opera Mobile receiving improved Opera Turbo and additional video support, as yet there is still no sign of a Opera version for Windows Phone 7 but you never know what could happen in the future.
Source: Verge
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 recovers, BlackBerry services coming back online
Well, that was quick. Mere hours after holding a press conferencestating that it didn’t know when BlackBerry users would have their BBM, internet, and email working again, services have begun to come back online. Apparently email is up across the globe, as is BBM. Web browsing, however, continues to be “temporarily” unavailable to those on EMEIA networks in Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa and Latin America. There is of course a considerable backlog of messages to get through, but the good news is that all the BlackBerry bits and bytes are flowing freely once again. Hit the source link to get the info straight from the horse’s mouth.
RIM clarifies global service outage, doesn’t provide ETA for restore
If you don’t own a BlackBerry yourself, chances are you know somebody who does. And if that person lives in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America or South America, they’re probably quite unhappy with RIM at the moment. This week’s service outage began with a server failure in the UK, and spread like wildfire to Africa and the Middle East, before continuing on to parts of Asia, the US, Canada and a good portion of South America. This is only the latest BlackBerry service outage for RIM, bringing email, BBM and web browsing services to a halt. But with BlackBerry services playing a critical role in real-time business and government communications, any interruption is unacceptable, and costly for all.
BlackBerry Tag: touch-to-share for… multimedia?
Is a second generation Kindle Fire tablet hitting early next year?
Shortly after information started leaking out about the warmly-named Amazon tablet, gdgt offered up some supplementary details from sources explaining why the Fire looks an awful lot like the PlayBook. According to the anonymous informants, the thing was built using the same template as RIM’s device. Apparently the product is more or less being rushed out the door to make it out in time for the holidays. It seems that there may be another pressing reason for the rush to bring the reader-friendly tablet to market — namely a much improved second generation device, which is currently on-tap for the first quarter of next year. Why so close? Well, the newer tablet’s release date has supposedly been secured for some time, while its predecessor was pushed back for various reasons. It wouldn’t be the first time that Amazon launched two Kindle products months apart, with the Kindle DX arriving shortly after the Kindle 2. It’s not exactly the same thing, given that one device wasn’t meant to replace the other, but it certainly doesn’t bode well for the company’s ability to schedule. There are still some questions here, of course — even if the above is true (and that’s certainly a big “if”), that doesn’t mean that this second-gen tablet will hit its own mark. If it does, however, a lot of early adopters may get burned by the Fire.
Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on
So, the trickle of Blackberry juice is now a flood. Just weeks after RIM launched its high-end Torch 9810, 9850 and Bold 9900 handsets, today it revealed the refreshed mid-range Curve 9360 (aka the 9350 or 9370, depending on carrier and region). When compared to the Bold 9900, which can be seen as a richer cousin with a similar form factor, the new Curve clearly comes with key hardware sacrifices in order to meet a lower (but still TBC) price point, including an 800MHz processor (instead of 1.2GHz), no touchscreen, and a 360×240 HVGA+ display rather than the Bold’s full VGA panel. Compared to previous Curves, however, the 9360 is a significant upgrade. It sports the new BB OS 7, a 5MP camera and a physical design that RIM hopes will entice the “youth demographic” as well as the millions of international users who have helped to turn the Curve into RIM’s internationally bestselling range. The question is, is this device enough of an upgrade, considering it’s been two years since the last refresh in the Curve series? Read on for our initial hands-on impressions…
RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video)
Want to get your BBM on in style without spending a fortune on RIM’s latest trio? Say hello to the new 11mm (0.43 inch) thin BlackBerry Curve, now official in 3 variants — the dual-mode GSM / CDMA 8370, the GSM / UMTS 8360 and the CDMA-only 8350. These long rumored handsets feature an 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, a tiny 2.44-inch HVGA+ (480×360 pixel) display, a five megapixel EDoF camera (with LED flash and VGA video recording), Bluetooth, WiFi b/g/n with UMA, GPS / aGPS and NFC. While there’s no sign of that new-fangled touch screen technology, you’ll find BlackBerry 7 under the hood, along with an 1000mAh battery to keep it ticking all day long, 512MB of built-in storage (1GB on the 8370) and microSD card support (up to 32GB). RIM is still mum on pricing, but the new BlackBerry Curve is “expected to be available from carriers in Canada this month and from other carriers around the world beginning in September” — including Vodafone, based on the video (and PR) after the break. We’ll have a hands-on later today so stay tuned for more.
