Alec Saunders, VP of Developer Relations, just took the stage at RIM’s DevCon gathering in Amsterdam to build up and promptly knock down a few “myths” about RIM’s state of health. First up, he tackled the notion that BlackBerry is a declining platform by saying that App World is seeing six million downloads per day, which is up 30 percent from three months ago. He also rejected the idea that BB apps devs don’t make money, revealing that 13 percent of them have made over 0,000 from their products and that App World generates 40 percent more revenue than the Android Market. Lastly, Saunders said “we’re sorry” that RIM’s strategy has been “hard to understand” for “some people”, but added that BB10 will solve that problem. He said that the new OS represents a “simple and easy-to-understand strategy” that is about combining the best of QNX and the current BB OS, offering consistent cloud services and making software that is both backwards and forwards compatible.

RIM indulges in some ‘myth busting’ at BlackBerry DevCon Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The BlackBerry Curve 8300 emerged as one of the best smartphone ideas of 2007. It pre-dated the first Android handset by a full year, and unlike the original iPhone, it was priced within reach of the average consumer. It introduced the masses to the possibilities of a connected and capable handset, and was the primary catalyst for the BlackBerry’s meteoric rise to household name. With each subsequent iteration, however, the Curve remained a handset geared toward first-time smartphone buyers, and that axiom feels particularly true today.

RIM’s BlackBerry Curve 9360 outed — is this Apollo?

RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video)

Blackberry Curve 9360 hands-on

We’re now presented with the Curve 9360 (), a device that’s ostensibly hobbled in order to differentiate itself from RIM’s higher-end offerings, most notably the Torch 9810 (), Torch 9860 () and Bold 9900 (9). Specifically, we refer to its lack of a touchscreen. The omission will certainly be a deal-breaker for some, but whether it causes the market to reject it as a whole remains unknown. For our part, we’re most interested in the impact on the handset’s usability and its relevance in an increasingly competitive environment. In other words, has RIM included enough improvements to keep its Curve franchise afloat, or will this iteration sink like a stone? Join us after the break, as we delve into the Curve 9360 and explore these finer details.

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 9360 review

BlackBerry Curve 9360 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trying to keep the points off your record, but just can’t resist the urge to tweet, text and talk behind the wheel? Maybe it’s time you gave up on that whole “self-restraint” schtick and leaned on technology to keep your cellular inhibitions in check. Scosche’s cellControl might do the trick, it pairs bit of bluetooth-enabled automotive hardware with a feature-blocking smartphone app to keep your handset under lockdown when you’re on the go. It even rats you out if you deactivate or uninstall the system — automatically sending a text message or email to a “designated administrator,” just in case you fall off the wagon. The system boasts compatibility with over 1200 devices across Android, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile 5 and 6. Artificial restraint will set you back 0, you know, in case self-control and other distracted driving apps aren’t doing the trick. Hit the break for the system’s official press release.

Continue reading Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit

Scosche cellControl locks your device while driving, tattles on your text habit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gizmodo

After months upon months of investor backlash, RIM’s making some significant changes. And by “significant,” we mean the co-chief executives (and founders) are out. As of tomorrow, both Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis will be stepping away from the top posts, enabling “a little-known company insider” to take over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Purportedly, this is all part of “a board and management shuffle,” with COO Thorsten Heins (seen above) to step into what many expect to be an impossible role to thrive in. The Globe and Mail asserts that he’ll be immediately seeking a Chief Marketing Officer to polish up the company’s severely damaged brand, and he “will not rule out licensing RIM’s new BlackBerry 10 operating system to other handset manufacturers.” In an interview with the outlet, he stated that he’ll be executing “flawlessly” and with vigor — not unexpected, but still, bold words.

Startlingly, Heins also asserted that he’s “confident” in the existing lineup of BlackBerry handsets and the software update recently made available for the PlayBook; call us crazy, but he’d be wise to just spout out reality and make clear that RIM’s existing lineup is nowhere near competitive in the grand scheme of things. As for Mike and Jim? The former will become “vice-chair of the board with special duties to examine innovation,” with the latter becoming a traditional director. In an interesting move, outgoing co-CEO Lazaridis stated the following: “I think it’s that unwillingness to sacrifice our long-term value for short-term gain. That’s why we didn’t choose Android. That’s why we decided to build the future on QNX.” So wait, RIM had the chance to choose Android… and didn’t? No time like the present to reach back and shake things up, Mr. Thorsten.

Continue reading RIM’s Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10

RIM’s Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis are out, new CEO Thorsten Heins may license BlackBerry 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading RIM and Turkcell partner to bring NFC payments to Bold 9900, Turkish pazars

RIM and Turkcell partner to bring NFC payments to Bold 9900, Turkish pazars originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you want some of that Porsche Design look, without the German engineered price, then check what just pulled up on the driveway: a port of the custom theme and icons. Sadly, only BlackBerry 9900 / 9300 owners — which share much of the same hardware as the P’9981 — running BlackBerry OS7 (not 7.1) can give their handset that new car smell. This means the sharp lines and luxurious brushed finish that made the P’9981 catch our eye in the first place will remain firmly in those pockets deep enough to afford it. Tap the source link if you still want to add the racing stripes to your current saloon.

Porsche Design theme ported to BlackBerry 9900 / 9930, saves you a small fortune originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The department store Harrods is no stranger to exposing Londoners to some of the finer — and more eccentric — things in life, and so after learning that it’d be bringing RIM’s Porsche Design P’9981 BlackBerry to its shelves as a UK exclusive, we couldn’t help but smile with curiosity. While we’ve yet to see anything official come across the wires, it’s reported that this sexy slab of unlocked goodness will retail for £1,275 and hit stores before the month’s end. We’ve attempted to confirm these details with RIM’s UK group but, as it turns out, Brits like going home early on Friday, too.

Harrods reportedly nabs Porsche Design P’9981 BlackBerry as UK exclusive, costs a princely £1,275 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wired Top Stories

We had mobile apps before the iPhone, but the modern mobile app market really began with the App Store in 2008. Three years later, we’re swimming in apps and poised to hit a big milestone: 1 million apps available to users.

Mobilewalla, a mobile analytics firm, said iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 have collectively hit 991,524 apps available in their stores, with the big milestone set to be reached sometime next week. This is not a complete list, and leaves out Symbian apps and older Windows Mobile and Palm software. But it’s still a reminder of just how big this modern market is and how much it’s grown in just a few years. Developers have already built more than 1 million apps on iOS and Android alone, but a good chunk of apps have been pulled over time.

Apple continues to lead the pack with 59.6 percent of the market, with 591,428 apps and Android follows with 321,020 apps or 32.3 percent of the market, according to Mobilewalla. BlackBerry has 43,544 apps, good for 4.4 percent of the total, while Windows Phone 7 had 35,248 apps or 3.5 percent. Apple’s developers are adding about 1,000 new apps a day while Android developers are uploading about 1,400 a day, said Mobilewalla’s founder and executive chairman Anindya Datta.

He said the market for apps has doubled this year, which started out with 484,000 apps. There are 150,000 app developers and companies responsible for the apps on the market now, according to Datta. The top app categories across all platforms are Entertainment (16.68%), Games (13.36%), Lifestyle (8.02%) and Utilities (7.13%).

Again, we had an app market before the iPhone. But it reached more of a niche audience, nothing like the mainstream phenomenon we’re seeing now. Companies are now making huge money in mobile apps including Rovio, which reportedly turned down a .25 billion acquisition offer from Zynga. Gartner has said it expects mobile apps to bring in billion in revenue this year, while Juniper Research believes app revenues can hit billion by 2015. It’s a mobile app world and we just live in it.

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