Category Archives: RIM

No Internet – Panic stations

Android, Apple, Jan 2013, RIM, Tech News, Windows

Last week from 6pm on Thursday to 6pm on Friday, that’s 24 hours, I was positioned in a rural village which had no wifi and no mobile Internet. In fact, this place had no communications of any kind.

So there I was with an iPhone 5, iPad Mini, Blackberry Curve and all the accessories under the sun, yet unable to say or send a word. So what do you do. Answer. There is nothing you can do.

At the end of the 24 hours, I noticed was the battery level on my iPhone 5 was extraordinarily amazing. Nearly 24 hours later it was down to 93%. Not surprising it wasn’t doing anything.

But during that time of being cutoff from the world it felt really odd. I was getting withdrawal symptoms. I couldn’t tweet, couldn’t read/receive emails, check this, do that, read the online news, no calls, no SMS, no nothing. The first few hours felt dreadful. I kept picking up my phones, turning them on and off to see if I could get a signal. Then I tried moving around the lock house. (It wasnt a lock house, but it felt like it). Still no signal. And then I conceded defeat.

The lock house where I was staying did have a small library, and a sign saying “please feel free to borrow the books”. Clearly this place knew that there was no signal, no way of talking to the outside world, so they had a plan. Visitors would have to read an actual book, with physical pages. Yep, that’s right, no kindle app, no kindle ereader just a real book.

So I grabbed a pint of bitter in the bar, (it wasn’t all bad) and settled down and started to read. And you know what, it was really enjoyable, more enjoyable than my kindle app or kindle ereader. And as the hours passed and the 24 hours nearly came to an end it felt really good. I had detoxed myself of technology for a day.

And then I got in my car, and left the lock house and a mile later my phones started bleeping and going stir crazy. I had 800 unread tweets, 800 RSS feed items to read, 400 emails and more.

So ask yourself, is it really worth being connected. Just think of all the crap your mind has to put up with every day. Take the challenge. Turn the world off for a day. Relax and read a book.

PS. The lock house was actually a lovely old hotel with creaky floorboards and dusted in white snow.

Blackberry 10 initial review

RIM, Tech News

So Blackberry 10 will be available in the UK from tomorrow. Several reviews are published and they are mixed in their opinions.

I have already seen much of the specs and features and would agree that there are certain aspects of the new operating system that are good, other parts that are ok and areas that are dreadful.

Apps. 70,000 from launch. Except 69,000 are poor android ports or play book ports. Dedicated BB10 apps are limited in number. Blackberry really needed less but better quality.

The Hub. Great idea but may look messy. Notifications looks clumsy. Also since the screens are mostly full screen you have no idea of the time or battery status. The battery is poor.

The media selection has been done reasonable well. Carrier billing is present which probably explains why it’s available on so many carriers.

The web browser has adobe flash and works ok. Copy and paste is hard work.

Hardware is average and not ground breaking. Keyboard is awesome.

Overall it’s not too bad but iOS or android is better. But then they are maturer operating systems. Let hope Blackberry 10 saves the company.

Blackberry World news update

RIM, Tech News

RIM is really ramping up a gear now. Fresh off their press release is the news you will be able to rent or buy films the same day the are released on DVD. TV shows will be available the day after they are shown.

The full news release –

New BlackBerry World for BlackBerry 10 to Include Extensive Catalogue of Songs, Latest Movies and TV Shows

January 28, 2013

Unified Multimedia Storefront Will Carry Music and Video Content from All Major Studios, Labels and Broadcasters

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX:RIM) today announced that the new BlackBerry(R) World[TM] storefront (formally BlackBerry App World[TM]) for BlackBerry 10 will offer one of the most robust music and video catalogs in mobile today. The new BlackBerry World will include an extensive catalog of songs as well as movies and TV shows, with most movies coming to the store the same day they are released on DVD, and next day availability of many current TV series. The competitive offering will feature content from all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks. Customers will be able to preview tracks and access the content using multiple payment options.*

“Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favorite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are,” said Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at Research In Motion. “RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and to make it easy for them to get what they want.”

The video download and rental section in BlackBerry World will initially be available in the US, UK and Canada. Varying by region and distributor, customers will have access to movies from the following studios and independents: 20th Century Fox, Entertainment One (eOne), Lionsgate, MGM, National Film Board of Canada, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures (UK), Warner Bros. Customers will also have access to TV shows from the following broadcasters and studios: ABC Studios, BBC Worldwide, CBC/Radio-Canada, CBS, DHX Media, ITV, National Geographic, NBCUniversal (UK), Nelvana, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Univision Communications Inc, and Warner Bros.
The BlackBerry World storefront’s DRM-free music download section will feature an extensive catalog from all major and independent labels including: 4AD Records, Domino Recording Company, finetunes, Matador Records, [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Rough Trade Records, Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, XL Recordings and Zebralution. The music section will initially be available in 18 countries: Canada, USA, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

RIM might sell Hardware Division

Jan 2013, RIM, Tech News

In the news is the story that RIM might sell its hardware side. To be honest I didn’t find this a surprise. The company is going through some tough times and if the transformation to BB10 isn’t a success all options would naturally have to be considered.

So if the hardware division is sold, is this a bad move. I don’t think so as there are other companies that can manufacture state of the art hardware. Not add the BB10 software and you could be left with something special.

However, what is really important is the services Blackberry can provide as an Eco system and as a wider picture. It has worked out that apps are important, and has offered cash incentives for developers to submit apps. The numbers of apps being submitted are substantial. It will be interesting to see on the day of the announcement, just how many apps are available, the quality and range.

Personally I would like Blackberry to survive as we need more competition. Lets see what happens at the end of this month.

Blackberry Enterprise Server news

Jan 2013, RIM, Tech News

BlackBerry’s just replaced its Mobile Fusion brand with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. BES 10, which is now available for download, that not only supports the upcoming fleet of BB 10 phones and existing BlackBerry hardware, but Android and iOS devices as well. With the software, businesses can use a web-based interface to manage applications and data on company-issued devices or personal hardware that’s welcomed into the fold.

Here is a video explaining more.