In an interview with CrackBerry, RIM’s new CEO, Thorsten Heins, was asked was asked about licensure of both the BlackBerry Operating System and BlackBerry Messenger. His response may surprise some of the BlackBerry faithful who know Mike and Jim’s stance on licensing the BlackBerry OS. Here’s what Heins had to say:
“You should never rule this out; business is very very dynamic. It’s dynamic on the device side as well as on the software side. So never say no to anything. We’re constantly exploring our room to maneuver and our room to explore other businesses so I wouldn’t say categorically no to it. There is a time where this might make sense, and I have a team looking into this. I’m not saying I won’t license. People are again putting this in a black and white spot. I’m open for licensing if it makes sense. But it’s not what I was hired for; I was not hired to build a licensing company. I was hired to take BlackBerry to new heights. And that’s what I will do with my team.”
So far, I’m liking everything that the new CEO has to say. His initial response is that yes, if there was a profitable licensure request, RIM very well may go ahead with the process. I also like what he has to say about BBM. I personally think that moving BBM cross platform would allow for more people to experience the power of the service and get BlackBerry on their minds. Then when BlackBerry 10 launches, the BBM licensure may draw new customers. That is however, only my opinion. Heins makes sure to close out this answer by saying he wants to “take BlackBerry to new heights” and “not just build a licensing company.”
We have been hearing from RIM for quite some time that PlayBook OS 2.0 would be ready and launching in February. They never gave us a specific date in February, but I have always thought it would be mid to late in the month. It’s looking like I may be right, according to Best Buy. According to BBOS, employees at Best Buy locations all around the US and Canada are being told to prepare for the rollout of the OS for PlayBook on February 21st. I have even personally called and visited a few Best Buys and gotten either late February or the exact date for February 21 as the date from employees.
We must take this with a grain of salt, especially since we all know how carrier and tech store employees tend to carry on rumors over facts. However, with PlayBook OS 2.0 being such a big launch for the company, the employees may need to be let in on it a little earlier to get prepared. This launch will be highly publicized and marketed, something we have already seen from RIM in the first month of 2012. Now, I know most were skeptical at the launch date, especially considering RIM’s less than stellar track record of product release announcements followed by delays. It looks like this time, February may be correct and RIM my hit a specified launch date for the first time in a long time. All of this combines gives us great hope in RIM and the BlackBerry for 2012. They are finally living up to customer expectations, as well as their new slogan, #BeBold.
The last bit of information that we get from the plethora of leaked slides this morning is about the BlackBerry “Knight.” This device is the Porsche Design BlackBerry P’9531 and it looks to be nearly identical to the P’9981 that has already launched around the world. The P’9531 looks to be a North American version for the exclusive Porsche Design line and we could see it launching on any of the North American networks between March and May this year. Hit the break for some more details on the P’9531.
We’ve been detailing all the information from the leaked batch of RIM slides device by device, but in this post we’re going to take a look at the big picture for RIM in 2012. What you see above is the device launch roadmap for RIM in 2012. Yes, I know the dates on the slides say 2013, but that’s because RIM likes to use fiscal quarters, which are a year ahead. Let’s take a look at what’s to come this year from RIM.
First, we’ll discuss what’s probably the most important thing on the slide. There’s a box in the top right corner of the slide that says “Device” and has the words “Next Gen OS” above it. Can you guess what that is? It’s the forst BlackBerry 10 device! The roadmap has it releasing in October or November, something that the rumor mill has been confirming for a while now. The next big device to look at is the BlackBerry PlayBook 3G+. This is a fully refreshed PlayBook with HSPA+ connectivity. This device is currently slated to launch between March and May of this year. Head past the break for more information on decoding the BlackBerry 2012 roadmap.
What’s this we have here? Leaked specifications on the upcoming BlackBerry Curve 9220? The Curve 9220 is another device coming to the Curve lineup from RIM. This device will accompany the Curve 9320 to the hands of BlackBerry customers in emerging markets. The specs aren’t too shabby for a Curve, featuring a 2.44″ display, 512 MB of RAM, and WiFi b/g/n, the curve looks to be a great device for first-time BlackBerry owners. We haven’t confirmed if the new BBM key will be features on this device, but it’s a possibility. Look for the 9220 to launch sometime in March, April, or May of this year.
Another of the leaked slides from today shows off RIM’s White series of BlackBerry devices. It lists the current family of the Torch 9810, Bold 9900, and Curve 9360, alongside the upcoming additions to the family, the Bold 9790 and Curve 9380. The white option is a highly desired option that not only RIM is embracing, but many other manufacturers are, as well. If you’re a fan of White devices and you want a Bold 9790 or Curve 9380, then you may want to hold off till Q2 to get your hands on one.
You know how here at TheBerryFix.com we’ve been telling you about the BlackBerry ecosystem expanding and that 2012 will be a huge year for RIM? Well, here’s one piece of the puzzle falling into place. We have some leaked information on the BlackBerry Wireless Media Server. What is it, you ask? It will be a network similar to Apple’s iTunes in the Cloud, where your BlackBerry media is shared over a wireless connection with your computer, television, or game console. This looks like a great new feature to add to the BlackBerry and will be an awesome compliment to BlackBerry 10. There’s another slide with more information on BlackBerry Wireless Media Server past the break.
This is something new for RIM. It seems that the upcoming BlackBerry Curve 9320 will feature a dedicated BBM key to get you straight to your favorite BlackBerry chatting app. In addition to the new BBM key, the Curve 9320 will feature HSPDA connectivity, 512 MB of RAM, and a 2.44″ display. We can expect to see the 9320 hit store shelves around May or June of this year. You can check out the full spec sheet on the BlackBerry Curve 9320 after the break.
Today is quite the day for BlackBerry leaks. First up, we have some slides that detail the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook refresh. The new PlayBook, the 3G+, will feature NFC, a new 1.5 GHz Dual Core processor, and 42Mbps connectivity using HSPA+. The new PlayBook 3G+ looks to have the same 7″ screen and form factor that we are seeing on the current Wi-Fi only models. The PlayBook 3G+ is currently slated for a March or April launch; however, this could always change. Hit the break for a full spec sheet on the new PlayBook 3G+.
End-of-Life (EOL) is a status that we have seen with carriers many times before. For those that haven’t been with us and seen this term before, it means that the item listed as EOL is going out of stock and will no longer be sold through that retail outlet. This time the device that is gaining EOL status with Sprint is the BlackBerry PlayBook. The PlayBook is listed as going EOL in “Late January,” which means any day now. The particular model listed is “7 inch, Wi-Fi only,” which could mean one of four things.
First, Sprint could just be trimming their PlayBook stock so they can quit carrying the PlayBook in their stores. This is a distinct possibility since the Wi-Fi only model really doesn’t bring much revenue for a wireless carrier. Second, Sprint could be selling out stock of the Wi-Fi only model in anticipation of a 4G LTE PlayBook that could be launching sometime soon. A third reason for Sprint’s EOL on the PlayBook could be in preparation for a revamp of the 7 inch model, which could coincide with the launch of PlayBook OS 2.0 in February. The fourth and final possible reason would be the discontinuation of the 7 inch PlayBook in favor of a 10 inch model that would be launching soon. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear more.
Something that our readers may have notice is the negativity to BlackBerry maker Research In Motion. Over the past year RIM has had a few troubles and the media has attacked them like none other, after all it is easier to write negative press than positive. Positive press actually makes you do some work and research and build a real news article.
Well CHYM 96.7 has seen through the media fog and is asking you to look past it too. As people continue to wish for the demise of RIM what they don’t understand is just how connected RIM is with the world. The town of Waterloo Ontario, Canada is built upon RIM. While yes there are many tech companies within the Waterloo region RIM is the one that is building for the future of the students of the University of Waterloo and other schools in the area. If you’ve been following this site for the past year you’ll also remember that I had the chance to go out to RIM HQ and spend the day with the team at BlackBerry, but also see how they are giving back to the community, and the globe. One of RIM’s big initiatives is their build a village program, something I’ll be talking about more in the coming weeks. So you’ll want to stay tuned. In the meantime watch the vide above to see just how connected RIM is, and what the impact would be if the wish of many came true.
Remember, without RIM the team that works on TheBerryFix.com would not have a job either. Post a comment on how RIM is connected to you, and spread the word. Heck make a video and send it to us to post on the main page if you feel so inclined to do so.
LastPass is an app that all of us here at TheBerryFix.com use, in one form or another. Zach has been a longtime user on OSX and BlackBerry and I was just recently turned on to the wonder that is LastPass. Using this app, you can sign-in with a single password and all your passwords for various websites will be automatically filled in by LastPass. Before today, this app was not available for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Now; however, PlayBook owners have a chance to enjoy the convenience of LastPass right on their BlackBerry-branded tablet.
LastPass is available as a free download for the BlackBerry PlayBook through App World. You will either need to purchase access to the Premium LastPass service, which I assure you is worth it, or sign-up for a free 14-day trial to give it a go. The Premium Subscription service is only $1 per month and gives you access to all your passwords from nearly any internet-connected device. There is however, one caveat. LastPass was designed using PlayBook OS 2.0, so unless you have the Beta version of 2.0 on your PlayBook, you’ll need to wait till mid to late February to give it a shot. LastPass is compatible with nearly every OS out there, from Windows and OSX to iOS and Symbian. Sign up today for your free trial and ease your password-filled mind with LastPass.
And our final contest has come to an end, as a result the winner is about to be announced.
The winner of the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is……Chase Robert Andrew
Thank you for everyone that entered into the contest by comments or email. Stick around, we are sure to have a few more of these up our sleeves. Chase, please email us at contests (@) theberryfix.com to claim your BlackBerry.
Need for Speed was one of the original games to launch with the BlackBerry PlayBook, and consequently, it has seen a few updates. The latest of these updates comes in the form of v2.1.o. There’s no word on exactly what has changed in this version but you should download it and give it a try. If you find some changes or new additions, be sure to let TheBerryFix nation know in the comments.
Wunderlist is quite possibly the best productivity app available for Smartphones. It has been available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac for quite some time, and now BlackBerry users can enjoy all the awesome features that Wunderlist has to offer. What exactly is Wunderlist, you ask? It’s an all-in-one task management and planning solution that helps simplify your life. With Wunderlist, you can create tasks and separate them in a number of ways that allows you easy access to your lists. Not only can you access and organize your tasks right on your BlackBerry Smartphone, but you can access your list from the web, your Mac, your PC, or even your iPad (if you’re so inclined), and your information is synced across the WunderCloud on all your devices!
Wunderlist is now available for free and you can get it Directly from BlackBerry App World, which is the first link below. Wunderlist works on all BlackBerry devices running OS 5.0 or higher, including both touch and non-touch devices. The second link below will take you to the Wunderlist website where you can learn all about the app and even download the program for your computer or other mobile devices. If you’re looking for the perfect productivity solution, give Wunderlist a try today!
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