blackberry

Blackberry Thunder touch screen photos

I'm personally not too keen on a touch-screen keyboard but this new Blackberry Thunder looks to be a potential real competitor to the iPhone, at least for business users. And yet, somehow this new BB makes me like the iPhone even more.

I'm not convinced music apps matter as much to BB users and so far the iPhone still stomps every other device in terms of multimedia. It would be good if RIM would pick a focus area for BB to compete with iPhone.

Via BlackberrySync.com

In Japan, iPhone over BlackBerry?

According to a recent survey, the Japanese hate the BlackBerry and love the iPhone. This Nikkei Business Publications chart reveals one possible reason: smartphones aren't generally used for business there.

iShare, which conducted the survey, also asked respondents if they "feel that the number of people carrying two mobile terminals will increase as a result of the expansion of the smartphone market."

Roughly 30 percent of all respondents said "Yes," while more than 10 percent said, "No, it will decrease" as consumers look to use one device for all of their mobile-computing needs. … Read more

Why Instinctiv avoided the iPhone SDK

A few days ago, I posted about Instinctiv's Shuffle application for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It's an interesting piece of software that addresses a growing problem for some discerning listeners--how to get a meaningful playlist without having to program it song by song--but it only works on so-called "jailbroken" devices.

Instinctiv's FAQ alluded to problems that made it impossible for it to use the iPhone software developer kit (SDK), but I was curious to hear more, and Monday I had a chance to talk with Instinctiv co-founders Justin Smithline and Peter Brodsky.

As Brodsky … Read more

First Look video: JiveTalk mobile IM

There are a few multinetwork IM clients for mobile phones, but JiveTalk is the one I keep coming back to on the BlackBerry Curve. It may not have the translation engine of Shape Service's more established IM+ All-in-One Messenger (all platforms), but it does have the emoticons, some file-sharing, and a more generous trial period than both IM+ All-in-One-Messenger and Mundu IM (all platforms), another excellent choice. JiveTalk costs about $30 for a lifetime license and is free for iPhone users.

Viigo 3.0 beta chases Yahoo Go 3.0 beta

Another Yahoo department has cause for concern. Up until last week, Yahoo Go was top dog in the mobile widget arena, pulling everything from weather, news, and finance to local listings, Flickr photos, and search onto Yahoo Go 3.0 beta, the company's rich application for smartphones. But Viigo 3.0 beta has added many of the same elements to what is essentially a faster-loading and more visually straightforward wrapper.

I've sung Viigo's praises when it was flexing new-found muscle as a superb RSS reader for Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices. The new beta, released June 19, … Read more

The Digital Home 21: Can RIM control the cell phone industry?

Don Reisinger sits down with RIM for a discussion on the BlackBerry and what the implications of the company's plans are on the entire cell phone industry. It's a must-see interview! Also listen to Don tackle Gene Simmons, Yahoo, Blockbuster, and more! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 21 … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 753: RIAA killed the radio star

OK, now this is weird: the music industry is trying to undermine the way the music industry distributes and promotes music and has always distributed and promoted music. They're calling radio piracy. What has the world come to? Also, RIM totally biffs it with the BlackBerry Bold; hackers crack the London Tube and ride around for free; and Microsoft sets a date for Windows 7. Somebody reserve the church. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 753

Internet provider halts plan to track, sell users’ surfing data http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401033.html… Read more

Blackberry Bold on Video

If you, like me, have opted against the iPhone (AT&T doesn't work at my house), then this new Blackberry Bold is probably right up your alley. The Bold has wi-fi and several other features that have taken way too long to hit from RIM.

The Blackberry continues to destroy your work/life balance

Writers and producers at ABC News demanded payment for after work usage and reached a settlement with management. ABC agreed last week that workers can get paid for some work on their BlackBerrys -- if it goes "beyond routine."

I go through phases of Blackberry obsession. Lately I have been forcefully placing my electronic leash face down on my desk at home so I can't see the red light blinking.

Self-control is a powerful thing. The Blackberry is a great device that serves an important purpose, but most people should be able to recognize when they've … Read more