How to (Sort Of) Get LinkedIn Installed on your BlackBerry 7 Device

 

Update: Sergey let us know that this workaround originated from his post on LinkedIn. Kudos for finding it!

I have been hearing from a few readers who are upset that LinkedIn has not continued to support the latest BlackBerry devices with their mobile app. Personally I find that their mobile app has always sort of sucked but their mobile website is actually greatly improved. If you still have a hankering for their app installed on your phone David let us know that you can install it directly from LinkedIn by bypassing their check for supported device. It more or less works on my BlackBerry Bold 9900 with a few annoying glitches in the interface because of the higher resolution screen.

If you wish to live a little on the wild side feel free to download LinkedIn directly from your BlackBerry browser by using this link and let us know how it works!

Hold Off on Upgrading to BlackBerry Desktop Software v7.0 for PCs

In case you have been considering updating Desktop Manager on your PC to v7.0 I highly recommend holding off for now. We have been hearing reports of multiple problems with Sync and connections working on the new version. Users who have been calling RIM support have been told to wait a few days for the fix and @Bla1ze has confirmed as much on CrackBerry. If you have upgraded to v7.0 and are having issues you can downgrade by downloading the older version from carrier sites like T-Mobile here.

Why RIM should definitely license BlackBerry 10

Forget the rumors of a RIM sale. As with all public companies, the possibility exists. But it appears that RIM is intent on digging itself out of the hole it dog for itself in the last few years. From what we’ve seen in just the last few weeks, they might be onto something. First it was the image of the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone, and then it was the images of BlackBerry 10 running. Both look pretty sharp indeed, and should convey at least a sense of confidence in RIM’s future. Yet they might not be able to go it alone. RIM could need the help of other big mobile players if they’re going to truly thrive in the new mobile environment.

That looks like a pretty usable smartphone interface. Of course, it’s just a still, and it does look a bit like BlackBerry 7. But given what we know about BlackBerry 10 — after all, it is based on the tablet OS — we could be in for something big. Add to that a number of other features, including a 3D virtual keyboard, and RIM could really knock this one out of the park. There’s just one problem, though.

They need a serious marketing push.

It’s impossible to deny the negative public perception of RIM right now, particularly in the US. The US is a huge and profitable portion of the global cellular market, and if RIM is going to turn around the BlackBerry brand it has to do so in the States. But how are they going to convince people that the BlackBerry is back for real? Having a stunning product is Step 1, and apparently RIM plans to nail down that one. They’ll need some more oomph to make a big impression, though. And that’s where licensing come in.

While RIM certainly wants to sell BlackBerry-branded handsets, seeing as they make money that way, they do stand to benefit from harnessing the power of HTC, Samsung, and other big mobile players. Those manufacturers are basically running with Android and little else. They do have influence, and they do have clout. If they put their reputation behind a new BlackBerry OS, well, it might turn around some people that RIM wouldn’t otherwise reach.

There’s no doubt that RIM loses out some in this equation, since they might be eating into their own handset sales. But remember, RIM does have other divisions. They’ll still make money on these Samsung and HTC handset sales, not only from the license, but also fromBES and BIS connections. That is, their data center services provide income that other similar companies just don’t realize. It might be enough incentive for them to go ahead with the licensing program.

If anything has become clear in the last few weeks, it’s that BlackBerry 10 has some serious potential. We’d heard the hype before, and now we’re starting to see some of the details leak out. I expect to become more impressed as the leaks grow larger. Here’s the thing, though: RIM has to execute here where they did not in the past. As the old passive line goes, mistakes were made. Now it’s time to learn from those mistakes and forge ahead. It’s not an easy battle, not with the current state of mobile in the US. But RIM appears to be positioning itself well for Blackberry 10. Licensing it to other manufacturers could prove an excellent marketing vehicle.

Images of Blackberry 10 OS leaked, home screen widgets on the way…

Crackberry.com (CB) has recently been tipped off on the upcoming feature sets of the upcoming QNX based smartphone OS, Blackberry 10. The images below suggest zealous design changes from the team of The Astonishing Tribe {TAT}.



CB mentions that the leaked documents seem to have come from partners, but the images sure look convincing. Judging by the leaked photos, one of the most exciting feature expected on the new OS is the implementation of home screen widgets on the devices. True that the widgets look like a cross between Android widgets and Windows Phone tiles, they do look sexy and extremely functional. It also seems to be safe to assume that the Blackberry OS shall also have multiple home screens, especially since it seems one can't accommodate more than 4 widgets on one single screen, unless the widgets' sizes are adjustable.
The menu screen of the OS looks very much alike the PlayBook OS 2.0. It even has similar implementation of folders, with 4 random app icons visible on top. The pictures icon does look refurbished, with a random image from the albums visible as the cover art of the icon. What is interesting to note is that there is already a Cut the Rope application icon in the menu list, which surely suggests that the hugely popular game shall be available on Blackberry 10 right from launch.
 



Speaking of apps, one serious concern I have, and hopefully the RIM execs too, is whether the current crop of applications would be able to run on the new operating system. Since the whole backbone and the architecture of the smartphones have been rehashed, I truly doubt so. Which gets me to the question, what happens to the apps Blackberry users have already bought? What adds to the injury is the fact that RIM apps have traditionally been much costlier than those on other platforms. And, I doubt many Blackberry users shall be happy to lose the support for apps that they have paid through their noses for.


The neat and sexy UI of phone call indicates that video calling is not too far for Blackberry devices, unless RIM decides to make that feature possible only between BB devices (maybe via BBM), the way it did with the video calling feature on the PlayBook.
Nonetheless, it must be noted that the platform still looks promising, and the rate at which the number of quality apps are growing for the PlayBook, I am hopeful the BB platform shall surely be a good contender for a third place, with Microsoft, if though it's time is pretty over as far as the top 2 positions in the smartphone market goes.
Microsoft, time to buckle up!

Import contact from Blackberry to Windows mobile using BB desktop sofware.

Send Short Voice Messages Over BBM With Free VVM Messenger App (Beta)

Sending short voice messages over BBM is a fun idea. It may not be the most efficient way to communicate, but if it’s something that requires tone, sarcasm or any emotion, then text probably won’t do it justice. From the same developer that brought you the Viira GTD, you can send short voice messages over BBM with this free Beta app called VVM Messenger.

With VVM Messenger, you can send short voice messages up to 25 seconds in length to your BBM contacts for free. In a sense, this app is like PTT (push to talk) and could save you money when traveling. Check it out!

Head over to VVM Messenger to download the free app.

Courtesy blackberrycool

Twitter & Facebook Apps to Soon Be BBM Connected

We first got a tip yesterday that N4BB spotted an updated version of Twitter that showed as being BBM connected.These versions have been rumored for awhile and its pretty much a no brainer for RIM to BBM connect their own apps but hopefully they get released soon!

What to Make of RIM Appointing Thorsten Heins as CEO

It is a pretty big change for Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie to step down. During the conference call this morning RIM’s new chairman of the board Barbara pointed out that the appointment of Thorsten Heins was supposedly came from Mike and Jim. That is leading some to think that he is essentially a puppet for RIM’s previous CEOs but it is way too early to judge. On the other hand there are some things that he has made very clear.

• He thinks RIM is on the right course for success and does not need drastic changes to the strategy Jim & Mike started when they decided to acquire QNX 18 months ago
• He drives a BMW motorcycle which is part of his German heritage (I respect him just for that!)
• Thorsten believes that RIM needs to double down on consumers with marketing targeted towards them which they started with the Be Bold campaign. Hopefully a new CMO will be selected soon.

The most important part of Thorsten’s announcements as CEO was the fact that he plans on streamlining the R&D, prototyping, and release schedules. That means RIM will no longer try to innovate during the release cycle which is what has caused them delays in the past. He plans on enforcing accountability and deadlines and confirmed that PlayBook OS 2.0 is coming in February. I agree that this is one of the biggest changes that needs to happen at RIM. They need to drive changes to market faster than ever before. They can no longer do their old 18 months from announcement to release cycle. They need to deliver consistant solid results and focus on their strengths.

Hopefully Thorsten is the right guy to deliver on RIM’s promise! He definitely will have a busy 2012.

RIM's new CEO is willing to entertain BlackBerry licensing proposals

Running through this morning's conference call again, Research In Motion's shiny new CEO, Thorsten Heins, had a lot to say about about BlackBerry's large-scale strategic direction, particularly previous hints that they would be willing to license the operating system to other manufacturers.

"Now, on the licensing piece, I'm absolutely confident that BlackBerry 10 will prove itself as a platform. If there is requests coming towards Research In Motion to talk about licensing that platform to other companies, I will entertain those discussions, I will listen, I will assess the business opportunity for RIM, and if it makes sense strategically and tactically to go down that path, then I will make the decision together with the board. It's not my focus one. My focus one is strengthen RIM's business based on their integrated approach because there's not many companies out there that have this. One is the other fruit company that has it, and one is us, and I want to leverage this. This is a very, very strong asset to have. A former colleague of mine once said 'trust you're successful in business when you're in the nervous system of your customers'. You can translate this into 'you're successful when you have the biggest value contribution to your customer's business', and this is where BlackBerry is, and this is where I want to stay, and this is what I want to build upon."

It's certainly not news that RIM is willing to flirt with cross-platform arrangements, what with the Android player running on the BlackBerry PlayBook, and iOS support on the way in RIM's enterprise management console. Historically, RIM had even shoehorned most of the OS into Windows Mobile, and with the relatively recent Bing partnership, it wouldn't be surprising to see another cross-over emerge for Windows Phone. 

Still, Thorsten made a point to say that this isn't a high priority, and that he has a ton of confidence in BlackBerry 10 to be able to stand on its own, thankyewverymuch. What do you guys think - is there a chance at a BlackBerry Connect revival?

The New BlackBerry Mobiles with the New Looks…

BlackBerry Empathy concept phone

 


A Research in Motion sponsored project has unveiled a groundbreaking concept design for upcoming BlackBerry handsets.
More than just a basic smartphone, the BlackBerry concept phone, dubbed the Empathy and envisioned by a project carried out by the Art Center College of Design, claims the ability to read users emotions and display the emotional states of contacts in a coloured ring bragging social map.

With a large touchscreen interface that turns transparent when not in use, the RIM concept design offers an insight into the future of mobile design. If the future BlackBerry is anything to go by, the current era of smooth, rounded edged handsets could be given the boot by more angular, original designs.
Despite being nothing more than an idea at present, the graphical user interface of the Empathy, seen in the video below, is not a far stretch of the imagination away with interactive social hubs and relevant, updating contact information becoming increasingly integral to smartphone users.
 
 
 
 

BlackBerry London: is this the first RIM phone with the BBX OS?

 

 
We've just gotten a look at what might be the first-ever photo of the next iteration of BlackBerry devices (based on the upcoming BBX operating system and its QNX roots), and we wanted to share. The phone you see in the picture above is apparently dubbed the BlackBerry "London," and is said to be headed for a June 2012 release. The phone allegedly is equipped with a TI OMAP dual-core CPU clocked to 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter. The London is reportedly "thinner than the iPhone 4" and roughly the same size as a Galaxy S II (though our source didn't say which S II specifically). Oddly, the source says that the phone can be stood straight up on one of its sides (suggesting more boxiness than can be seen in the picture).
As you can see, the phone is running some variation of the PlayBook's operating system, though coloring and icons have definitely been tweaked. For instance, the music app icon looks more like an evolution of the note you see on the PlayBook's version (this time appearing overlaid onto an optical disc). Our source says the phone shown was a "dummy" model, so it's likely the screen is nothing more than a static image.
What's strange about the phone design is that it closely resembles RIM's Porsche Design P9981. Given the source of this image, it's possible that this is also a Porsche-designed BlackBerry destined for countries other than the US or Canada. We're told that RIM is also showing off two lower-end devices, as well as the next version of the Torch, which is said be "very thin" with a 3.7-inch display and slide-out keyboard.
Even though we did multiple passes on this image for Photoshop and / or rendering artifacts, this could ultimately be someone's hilarious idea of joke. It's also possible that this is a prototype or concept design, and won't make its way to production. Still, given the detail in the image and some of the information we were given to back it up, we believe there's truth to this story. We're pounding the pavement for more info as we type, so stay tuned for updates as we get them.
 
 
 
 
 

New Porsche Design P9981 Blackberry luxury mobile phones

 

In the splendid setting of Dubai Porsche Design and RIM unveiled the new Blackberry luxury, The BlackBerry Porsche Design P 9981. The new product is the vision of the future according to Porsche and RIM with a design that breaks the mold, angular and hard, with the front part steel but in the back skin. A touch of class for a blackberry at the top in terms of performance with 8 GB of internal memory, 1.2 GHz processor, a dual-band Wi-Fi and 720p HD video with touch screen. Still no official announcement on the price, even though the model presented in Dubai at a cost of two thousand U.S. dollars: Technology, luxury, style and design in a blackberry destined to be talked about.
The new BlackBerry Porsche Design P 9981 is the first born from the collaboration between Porsche Design and RIM that it fit into the market luxury mobile phones with a model of high prestige.
“Porsche Design P 9981 smartphone is a very modern and luxurious, in which the timeless style of Porsche Design meets the unique experience of Blackberry” These are the words of Todd Wood, Vice president of Industrial Design at RIM. It is a model of the futuristic and so good for a few pockets.
 
 
 
 

Exclusive: First Image of BlackBerry Milan - next generation BlackBerry 10 slider!!

Well that didn't take long. Last week we posted our BBX (now BlackBerry 10) Roadmap Preview for 2012, where we dropped a number of new codenames into the mix beyond the already photographed BlackBerry London. Lisbon, Nevada and Milan were among the codenames of upcoming QNX-based phones mentioned, but the details we're still pretty slim.
With the first image of BlackBerry Milan above, things are getting more clear for the next generation of BlackBerry 10 phones. While we don't have any specs just yet for Milan, the photo above says a lot. It's a slider BlackBerry, featuring the physical full qwerty keyboard that BlackBerry addicts know and love. And I'm hearing all of these next generation BlackBerry devices sport amazing displays (higher pixel density than the iPhone 4's retina display), which will really add to the sex appeal here. It's interesting to note that the design on this one seems to merge together two looks: at the top are rounded corners, similar to the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, while along the bottom we have the sharper edges simliar to the photo of BlackBerry London. There's still time for RIM to tweak things up before locking down final hardware design for manufacturing so I'll be curious to see if things change up from here at all by the time we get this phone in our hands.
This image also gives us a big hint as to how the traditional BlackBerry experience will evolve on BlackBerry 10. Gone is the optical trackpad, call, hang-up and menu and back buttons from the main navigation area of the phone (where the BlackBerry logo is in this image). This means we can assume a much more PlayBook like experience moving forward, even on BlackBerry 10 phones that have a full qwerty. Expect a lot of bezel gestures! Just looking at the phone you know some of that one-handed ease of use of the traditional BlackBerry experience will be sacrificed here, but I don't think many people will care about that given how much more modern and intuitive the touchscreen user interface will be.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.1.0.190 Leaked

BlackBerry Bold 9900 owners just got a nice treat. N4BB spotted a link to OS 7.1.0.190 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900. This is a far newer release than the previous OS 7.1.0.74 we saw leak though it is still to early to tell if it is any good. Report back in the comments and let us know!

Download at Fileserve or the (FileFactory mirror)

Warning: This OS will not install on any other BlackBerry besides the one mentioned above and is not an official release.If you do not know how to upgrade your BlackBerry OS please start by reading this step by step guide from blackberry site.Don’t forget to delete the vendor.xml file located in c:program files>common files>research in motion>apploader to install it on a different carriers device. Don’t forget our usual warnings: do not download and install these updates if you don’t know what you’re doing. Incorrect procedure or just bad luck could render your BlackBerry inoperative or unstable.

List of RIM acquisitions and expectations in 2012

RIM scheduled PlayBook OS 2.0 at the end of February 2012. Will 2.0 getting all missing features on BlackBerry PlayBook? RIM has showed a lot of possibilities and features with the BlackBerry PlayBook but not yet delivered. Listing out some proposed features:

Native PIM, Native File Manager, Video Store

1. Print FROM the PlayBook to a printer
2. Print TO the PlayBook from a computer (paper replacement)
3. Bluetooth Stereo receive support (play music from other devices through PlayBook speakers)
4. Cloud storage provided by RIM
5. 3G/4G connectivity
6. DLNA server support (push media to other DLNA devices)
7. DLNA client support (receive and play media pushed FROM other DLNA devices)
8. USB Host mode (for connecting USB devices like control devices or storage devices to the PlayBook)
9. Connect to network storage drives or shared folders (i.e., NAS/SAMBA)
10. Management of a PlayBook by a BES
11. Cross-platform Video Chat (i.e. Skype or custom app for other platforms)
12. FLAC audio codec support
13. Native BBM on PlayBook
14. Native Email, Calendar, and Contacts applications (with IMAP/POP3/ActiveSync support)
15. Native fully-featured Office applications
16. Access to BBM Groups on PlayBook
17. Native Twitter integration
18. Fully functional Android Player (to launch Android apps on PlayBook)
19. Netflix application, or Browser support for Netflix streaming
20. BlackBerry Maps (with online maps available over Bridge or Wi-Fi)
21. BlackBerry Maps (with offline maps, for use anywhere)
22. BlackBerry Protect for locking and locating your PlayBook remotely
23. An application to purchase or rent movies and TV shows, and much more

BlackBerry PlayBook Stereoscopic 3D Demo (FireFly Media Manager)
BlackBerry PlayBook WebWorks Demo (VIDEO)
Cascades Demo: Rich UI Development for BlackBerry Apps

List of RIM acquisitions:

What is QNX Software Systems?

Date: April 9, 2010 for $200 million.
Over the past 30 years, QNX software has become a big part of everyday life. People encounter QNX-controlled systems whenever they drive, shop, watch TV, use the Internet, or even turn on a light. Its ultra-reliable nature means QNX software is the preferred choice for life-critical systems such as air traffic control systems, surgical equipment, and nuclear power plants. And its cool multimedia features have QNX software turning up in everything from in-dash radios and infotainment systems to the latest casino gaming terminals.

Who uses QNX?

Customers rely on QNX to help build products that enhance their brand characteristics – innovative, high-quality, dependable. Global leaders like Cisco, Delphi, General Electric, Siemens, and Thales have discovered QNX Software Systems gives them the only software platform upon which to build reliable, scalable, and high-performance applications for markets such as telecommunications, automotive, medical instrumentation, automation, security, and more.

Full development life cycle support

Through our embedded market specialization and proven expertise, we’ve become a trusted partner to the world’s largest device manufacturers and systems integrators. Developers rely on feature-rich QNX® Neutrino® RTOS and the highly-integrated QNX® Momentics® development suite to accelerate time to market, and our broad range of engineering services such as flexible support programs, professional training, expert consulting, and custom engineering help customers speed every stage of their development cycle.
http://www.qnx.com/

What is Certicom?

February 11, 2009 for $106.5 million
Encryption technology developer
As the world-leading expert in public key infrastructure implementations, device security, anti-counterfeiting, product authentication, asset management, and fixed-mobile convergence, many of the largest companies and government agencies rely on Certicom technology to secure applications, communications, and mobile devices while protecting content and other critical assets.
The combination of best-in-breed technology with high-quality products has led industry-leaders – IBM, Continental Airlines, Aristocrat Technologies, Cavium, General Dynamics, Motorola, Oracle, Research In Motion (RIM), Unisys, XM, Bally Technology, General Electric, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Mitre, L-3, Phillips, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Nortel – to become Certicom customers.
In recognition of the company’s expertise, Certicom received the 2006 Private Sector Leadership in Advanced Technology Award for innovation, expertise and leadership in security from the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA).
Founded in 1985, Certicom’s corporate office is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

What is Cellmania?

Date: August 24, 2010

Cellmania drives mobile ecosystems for mobile operators, infrastructure providers and content owners. Cellmania’s integrated mFinder™ solution provides infrastructure on either a licensed or hosted basis to allow digital rights management of downloaded content onto mobile phones, subscription billing, time and location based content management and billing integration onto customer bills. Cellmania’s mFinder™ solution is used as a full end-to-end delivery and ecosystem solution for some of the world’s largest mobile operators. Cellmania also provides the world’s largest repository of mobile content consisting of over 200,000 items across 200+ handsets from 100+ countries in 55+ languages. Content owners can provide their wares to Cellmania to distribute across Cellmania mobile operator and other distribution channels with a win-win business model. Cellmania provides content in many different media types including ringtones, java content, browseable content and video files.
Founded in 1999, Cellmania is based in Mountain view, California.
http://www.cellmania.com

What is Dataviz?

September 8, 2010 for $50 million
DataViz® is an industry leader in developing and marketing Office compatibility and productivity solutions across a variety of platforms including Apple iPhone, Android™, BlackBerry®, Java®, Linux®, Maemo 5, Palm OS®, Symbian OS™, WebOS, Windows Mobile®, Windows® and Macintosh®. Founded in 1984, DataViz began its business developing file conversion software and has since expanded its expertise to providing solutions that meet the increasing demands of the handheld and mobile markets. With enterprise-grade solutions that include its award-winning mobile Office suite, Documents To Go®, and wireless Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® client, RoadSync®, DataViz is committed to developing premium solutions that mobilize ‘Microsoft Office’ without compromise and providing customers with instant access to critical files and business data.
Strategic Partnerships
DataViz is committed to providing best-of-breed technology and high-quality products that benefit its own customers and those of its partners. This commitment has fueled its success in establishing licensing partnerships with software and hardware vendors, both large and small, in the desktop and mobile markets. Partners include Microsoft®, Palm®, Sony Ericsson, Motorola®, MontaVista®, RIM® , Samsung and other industry leaders. Strong distribution and carrier partnerships with companies like Ingram Micro and Cingular Wireless in the US, along with Brightpoint and Orange abroad have helped propel the company’s office mobility product line into the marketplace.
DataViz is a member of the Palm Developer Network, Nokia Forum Pro, MOTODEV, Symbian Partner Network, Samsung Mobile Innovator Program, Sony Ericsson Core+ developer program, Apple Developer Connection and is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, BlackBerry Alliance Member, Orange Partner Premium member and a member of the AT&T Certified Solutions Program.
http://www.dataviz.com

What is The Astonishing Tribe (TAT)?

December 2, 2010

UI development team

The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) was a company with headquarters in Malmö, Sweden. Founded in February 2002 by Mikael Tellhed, Ludvig Linge, Paul Blomdahl, Karl-Anders Johansson, Per Grimberg, and Hampus Jakobsson. TAT started out as a hobby project and for the first year the company worked with TV commercials, animation, post production for film, consultancy services within image compression for embedded systems, and interactive art. During the second year the company got traction in the mobile industry and started to employ people. Focus shifted completely to user interfaces, especially licensing technology for rendering and structuring of the user interface. As of September 2010 over 180 employees work for TAT at the offices in Sweden, South Korea, the United States, and the newly opened office in Japan. TAT worked with some of the biggest mobile brands such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Orange and Motorola. TAT also licensed software to other industries such as automotive and consumer electronics.

What is Gist?

February 14, 2011

Professional contact manager

Gist was founded in 2008 by T.A. McCann and acquired by Research In Motion in early 2011.
Gist removes the noise from individual email alerts, eliminates the hassle of going to multiple services to get news and updates about contacts, and automates the delivery and presentation of the most important information about the contacts in your professional network. By spanning the most on-line contact and content sources, Gist users are better informed with insights and actionable information about clients, prospects, and contacts.
We do this by pulling together all your contacts from your various inboxes, address books, social networks, and other sources then adding news, status updates, and blog posts to them creating a rich business profile for everyone in your professional network.
http://gist.com

What is Tinyhippos?

March 25, 2011

HTML5 mobile developer

RIM officially announces that tinyHippos has joined hands with them. tinyHippos is going to be a part of the BlackBerry Developer team and will be bringing their expertise in cross-platform emulation environments to the BlackBerry platform.
tinyHippos are the makers of a mobile environment emulator called Ripple and have extensive experience in web and mobile widget/web development. If you aren’t already familiar with them you can find out more about tinyHippos at tinyHippos.

What is Tungle?

April 27, 2011

Social Calendaring Application

Tungle makes it easy to schedule meetings inside or outside your organization, across calendars and time zones.

• No more back & forth finding time to meet
• Prevent double bookings
• Automatically adjust for time zones
• Connect to your existing calendars
• Propose multiple times for meetings
• Easily share your availability with anyone

Inbound & Outbound Scheduling

There are two ways to schedule meetings with Tungle. We call them “inbound” and “outbound”.
Inbound Scheduling
This is when others request meetings with you through your profile page.
Inbound scheduling is perfect when others want to meet with you. You simply direct them to your profile page where they can see your availability and send you meeting requests proposing multiple times, without having to sign up.
Outbound Scheduling
This is when you send meeting invitations to others – either one person or a group.
Outbound is ideal when you want to meet with someone else. It gives them the flexibility to choose what works for them from your proposed times, and book meetings with a simple click.
When sending a group invitation, each invitee selects all the times that work for them and Tungle finds the common times that work for everyone.
http://www.tungle.me

What is Scoreloop?

June 7, 2011

Social gaming company

Scoreloop provides everything you need to add social elements to any game. From developers to brands, operators and OEMs, Scoreloop’s social gaming ecosystem and SDK creates instant communities and connections, and new ways to generate revenues from mobile games.
Unlike other social mobile gaming platforms Scoreloop is customizable and cross-platform, meaning that developers can add as many or as few Scoreloop features as they want. From simple social network connections to in-app purchases and virtual currency, Scoreloop makes mobile games more social and profitable.
Supported by a growing developer community and 24/7 developer support, Scoreloop adds that extra social ingredient to mobile games every hour of every day.
Scoreloop was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany with offices in the US and Asia. The company was acquired in 2011 by Research in Motion.
http://www.scoreloop.com/

What is ubitexx?

May 2, 2011
Smartphone Security Software Developer
ubitexx develops and distributes over-the-air multi-platform mobile device management and security solutions for enterprises. As a technology leader, ubitexx simplifies the complexity of managing a wide range of mobile terminals over any network. ubitexx solutions enables enterprises to carry out first-time provisioning and deployment, and ongoing support, from any number of mobile terminal units remotely, over-the-air, with minimal expenditure. Management of applications and updates, security policies and intelligent asset management included.
For the first time, the compliance module reliably implements mobile security on all smartphones and PDAs according to company’s specifications. Enterprises can fully benefit from the use of mobile devices without worrying about mobile security. Winner of the most prestigious European software awards, including the 2008 German Internet Prize, the European ICT award 2007 and the Bully Award 2010, ubi-Suite multi-platform mobile device management solution sustainably speeds up the launch and lowers the ongoing support costs for smartphones and PDAs. ubi-Suite keeps mobile workers working.
Since the company’s founding in 2002, ubitexx’s over-the-air mobile device management solutions and mobile security solutions have been used throughout the world by leading banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals and energy groups, media companies, in the public sector, in retail, and within the engineering and automotive industries.
http://www.ubitexx.com/

What is JayCut?

July 22, 2011

Video editing software developer

“In early 2006 we started asking ourselves if web video couldn’t be about more than just consumption. We wanted to add creativity into to the equation. Nine months later, in December 2006, we had laid the foundation for what would come to be the world’s most advanced technology for online video editing. The company was founded early 2007.
Today, JayCut is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Our customers include some of the world’s leading brands, and the company and technology has received some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. But our firm belief is that we’ve just scratched the surface of what web video can be.
Ask yourself what would happen if anyone could edit video, anywhere, with any mobile device, using any media on the web and finally publish the result to any device or website. Join us in starting this creative revolution!”
http://jaycut.com/

Hard facts

• Name: Jaycut AB
• Founded: February 2007
• Location: HQ in Stockholm, Sweden
• Number of employees: 7
• Goal: To help people interact with video, anywhere, anytime
• The name: A combination of DJ and the act of cutting video

What is NewBay?

October 7, 2011
Founded in 2002, NewBay specializes in the development of mobile phone software that allows users to create, store and share digital content in the cloud. The company had deals with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile USA (and parent Deutsche Telekom), U.S. Cellular, Telefónica O2, France Telecom Orange and Telstra.
http://www.newbay.com

What is Torch Mobile?

Aug 24th, 2009

the developers behind the Iris mobile browser

“Our team of developers will join RIM’s global organization and will now be focused on utilizing our WebKit-based mobile browser expertise to contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the BlackBerry platform,” Torch Mobile wrote in a statement on the company’s Web site.
http://www.torchmobile.com
This is what RIM is today. The perfect OS (QNX), sexy UI developers (TAT), Video editing software (JayCut), Social gaming (ScoreMobile) and others accordingly which have been demonstrated but haven’t delivered yet on BlackBerry platform. Hopefully, 2012 can be the year of execution at once. Had to agree since past couple of years RIM hasn’t done anything to compete with competitors and stay updated with technology.
What is your view with these acquisitions made by RIM and future of the company?

How can BLACKBERRY compete with IPHONE/ANDROID.?

 

As 2011 winds down, it’s time we start thinking about BlackBerry in 2012. Unfortunately, we have a lot of time to do that. In the first half of the year the biggest thing we have is the PlayBook 2.0 release. New smartphones won’t drop until the second half. That’s the bad news. The good news is that they’ll be on a brand new platform, one that RIM thinks can turn the BlackBerry back into a force among the consumer market. Since we have plenty of time between now and then, here are four bits of unsolicited advice for RIM as they create the new line of BlackBerry 10 devices.

1. Deliver something Android and iPhone don’t

The first bit of advice might be the most difficult to execute. It’s not enough at this point for the BlackBerry to play catch-up with iPhone and Android. While a device at or slightly below the level of those devices could help RIM win some new customers, it won’t dramatically shift the market. The iPhone and Android devices have enough market hype that another brand will have to leapfrog them in order to make a real impact.

The problem is that both Apple and Android keep upping the stakes with every release. Apple in particular is adept at adding a new, unique feature with its iPhone releases. With the rumor of an iPhone 5 in 2012, they could even further shift the market. That will make things more difficult for sure. But it also means that there are things that RIM can do to help position itself as a true competitor. It will take some imagination an ingenuity, but they can create a unique feature that will draw users.

What type of feature can they add? If it were easy to figure out, everyone would be doing it. They already have BBM as a selling point. Now it’s time to add something else that will make people flock to the BlackBerry.

2. Include basic functions

This might seem simple, but it’s something that the BlackBerry has not done in the past. Apps might be fun and great, but they have a time and place. With the BlackBerry it seems that too many apps perform functions that the BlackBerry should do out of the box. If RIM wants to make its new line of devices succeed, it needs to think of all these features and ensure that they are included natively.

There is an indication that this is a possibility. In their latest operating system they added a number of these features. Most notably, they allowed the ability to add a new number to an existing contact. That’s a basic function, but previously it wasn’t available without an app. Third party developers might enjoy the lack of these native functions, since they can profit a bit off them. But RIM has to make sure that they have all these features out of the box.

Here’s a short list of simple features currently lacking from the BlackBerry:

• The ability to take screenshots
• Editing the original message in forwards and replies
• Custom LED notifications
• Save sent messages to a folder
• Monitor data usage

Again, this is just a sampling of the opportunities RIM has with the new BlackBerry. The more of these features it includes without the need of apps, the better.

3. Make us forget the old BlackBerry

The third item might not be as difficult to execute as the first, but it might be the most important. In our current consumer environment, branding is everything. People recognize brands, and when they create a negative association with a brand it can prove damaging. The BlackBerry brand has been damaged in the past few years, and the new line of smartphones will have to start the repairing process. The most effective way to do this will be to make us forget that the old BlackBerry models ever existed.

In many ways this will take care of itself. The first new BlackBerry device will be a full-touchscreen one, which is not what people think about when they think of the BlackBerry. Sure, there was the Storm, but that was something completely different. There is also the more recent BlackBerry Torch 9850, but few people have experienced RIM’s first fully capacitive touchscreen device. The first BlackBerry 10 release will also feature bezel gestures, just like the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. That is, it will be, out of the box, completely different than previous BlackBerry models.

This will be of even greater importance when RIM eventually releases a new BlackBerry with a QWERTY keyboard. It will look the same as the typical BlackBerry, but RIM has to do whatever it takes to make people forget that the old devices exist. These are the new ones. They’re not just the future. They’re the present. Only by erasing the negative associations people have with the BlackBerry can they make a breakthrough in the market.

4. Give us real names

One of the most frustrating aspects of the BlackBerry is the naming system. RIM has simply refused to ditch its old, inefficient naming system. That might have worked when there were only a few BlackBerry models in production. But a numbering system just doesn’t work when there are multiple devices on multiple carriers. It’s confusing and boring at the same time.

Take the Bold 9900 for example. In production it was called the BlackBerry Montana. That’s a decent name. It might not be the best on the market, but it’s distinctive. Yet on the market the Bold 9900 is 1) the name of an already-existing BlackBerry device, 2) a set of numbers that are meaningless to the average consumer, and 3) one of two identical devices. That is, the Bold 9930 and the Bold 9900 are the same exact thing, but with different cellular technology (GSM and CDMA). One of the most frustrating questions I get is one where someone describes their device as a BlackBerry Bold. Which one?

There are plenty of other factors in the success of the next BlackBerry line. These are just four suggestions that can get the ball rolling. If RIM can accomplish this, and then some, they have a chance to reclaim their place in the smartphone market.

RIM Slashes Price of All BlackBerry PlayBooks to $299

Want a BlackBerry PlayBook? This might be a good time to buy one, especially if you were looking at the models with more storage memory. RIM has slashed the price of all PlayBook models to $299 in a limited-time offer that ends Feb. 4.
The deal isn’t great if you are interested in the cheapest PlayBook with 16 GB of memory. Its price has previously been cut even lower, to $199.
However, if you want a higher-end PlayBook, the savings are decent. Normally, the 32 GB variant costs $599, and the 64 GB variant is $699.
The sale will end either Feb. 4 or when supplies dry out; right now, all three models are available for purchase

RIM has been losing money on the PlayBook, and sales have been dwindling. In its first quarter of availability, RIM said it shipped 500,000 PlayBook devices; in the second quarter, that number fell to 250,000, and in the third quarter it went down to 150,000.
HP’s post-mortem success with the TouchPad has shown that there is a market for non-iPad tablets if the price is right. RIM has frequently slashed the price of its tablet as part of various deals and promotions; we’ll see if this latest deal puts the PlayBook sales on the right track.

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Bluetooth Keyboard for the BlackBerry PlayBook Review

I was recently sent a Bluetooth Keyboard for the PlayBook by The Next Success and TotallyTablet. A Bluetooth keyboard is coming officially from RIM, and it’s great to see Next Success bring one to market this fast. I’ve used the keyboard for over a week and this review breaks down whether it’s a good investment.

The Bluetooth keyboard for the PlayBook by Next Success comes as a case with a built-in keyboard. The keyboard is charged via Micro USB and pairs to the PlayBook like any other Bluetooth accessory would.
Some of the great things about the Next Success keyboard is that the keys are made from rubber so that when your PlayBook screen rubs against them, your screen won’t get scratched. The case that surrounds the PlayBook also feels like it’s fairly good quality and the stand that props the PlayBook upright is at a nice angle.
The typing experience on the keyboard is pretty solid and the letters register on the screen quickly. There isn’t as much feedback from the keys as you would want though. It feels as though the keys are hollow rubber, and because of this the typing experience takes some getting used to. Compared to the virtual keyboard on the PlayBook, if you have any significant amount of typing to do you’ll love this keyboard. Writing emails, documents and completing forms with the Bluetooth keyboard was significantly faster.
The major criticism I have of the Bluetooth Keyboard is that the case that the PlayBook sits in didn’t take into account the gestures that are used by the PlayBook. The leather cover hides the bezel which is integral to the PlayBook experience. If you’re browsing multiple apps, you will want to swipe from the far right to the center, or from the bottom to the center. This is difficult with the PlayBook case and hurts the user experience a bit.
It should be interesting to see how this Bluetooth Keyboard compares to RIM’s official one that launches in “early 2012″. If you’re someone who is on the road a lot and you’re looking to make your PlayBook a laptop replacement, this is a great solution.

Personal Safety App bSafe Launches on BlackBerry

Bipper has just launched their free personal safety app bSafe on BlackBerry. Already available for iOS and Android, bSafe broadcasts text-based SOS messages to your pre-selected contacts along with your GPS location with the press of a single button.

Broadcasting messages that you are in danger with a push of a button can be a real deterrent to would-be attackers. The software is set up so that you select in advance from a list of your most frequent callers who is to be on your guardian list. You can select as many guardians as you like you receive SMS notification that you are in trouble; you also get one person on your list that receives a pre-recorded voice call. Other features include being able to trigger a false incoming call and triggering an SOS if you don’t check back after a certain time.
Though it’s no replacement for street smarts and common sense, it’s far better than having no plan of action if you need to quickly send out an SOS. Software like this is only as good as your friends’ response time and your phone’s GPS, but it does give users something to think about in terms of how to go about avoiding danger and being proactive about getting out of bad situations.
Download bSafe for free from BlackBerry App World

2011'S Best Gadgets

Tablets



Among the more impressive rivals to the iPad is BlackBerry’s 7.6-inch PlayBook (pictured; $500;blackberry.com), arriving this spring. However, its rich touch-based experience uses a proprietary operating system that’s likely to keep its price tag high; by adopting the Android 3.0 system, other manufacturers will be able to offer better values. Among the first is Motorola’s Xoom ($600; motorola.com), which sports dual-core 1GHz processors, front and rear cameras and a 10.1-inch screen. Expect even more stripped-down models to appear from a multitude of sources—AOC says it will offer a $200 model—as tablets try to move netbooks to the bin.
 
 
 
Televisions

 
By reducing bezel width to just 0.2 inches, Samsung added an extra inch of viewing area to its D8000 (pictured) and D7000 LED televisions (samsung.com), out this spring, without increasing the overall size of the sets. But the real test of a TV these days is its ability to pull content from the Internet. By the end of the year, to accompany its Viera models, Panasonic (panasonic.com) will start offering four- to ten-inch tablets that can access various online resources, from streaming video to e-books to social networking—and they double as secondary screens.
 
 
 
Cameras
 

 
A boxy shape has been a hallmark of camera design since the earliest days of photography, so the outside-the-box thinking behind Casio’s Tryx camera (pictured; $250;casio.com), coming in April, is refreshing. Its basic elements—lens, screen and body—swivel and flip into almost any position, then fold back into a compact half-inch-thin frame, while a sensitive 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a wide-angle 21-mm lens and HD-video capability promise quality images. Meanwhile, new cameras like the Olympus XZ-1($500; olympusamerica.com) are taking the best features of big digital SLRs and putting them into compact boxes that are easy to tote. The XZ-1 features a superfast wide-angle lens and large, light-gathering CCD sensors usually found in more expensive SLR models.
 
 
 
Cars
 

For its next generation of cars, Audi(audi.com) aims to transform the driving experience with a raft of innovations, relying largely on a new mobile processor called Tegra that generates high-resolution graphics quickly. Drivers will be able to program the car’s instruments to display a variety of information: Arrows indicating direction will get larger as a turn nears, for example. And the car itself will be able to maintain an Internet connection that supports up to eight devices being used by passengers.
 
 
 
Eyewear

 
PixelOptics’ futuristic emPower glasses ($1,200; pixeloptics.com )have lenses that are covered with a transparent layer of liquid crystals whose molecular structure alters as needed for viewing either near or far. For reading, the wearer taps the side of the frames and an electric current reorients the crystals, changing the refraction of light as dictated by the prescription. The wearer taps again and the lens goes back to its standard setting, for seeing into the distance. Miniature chips, accelerometers and batteries make the changes noiselessly and quickly.
 
 
 
Headphones(bud model)
 

 
Noise-canceling headphones certainly help to make airplane travel more tolerable, but in an age where every ounce of carry-on luggage counts, their bulky size has become a liability. Sennheiser solves the space and weight problem with its new CXC 700 earbuds ($230; sennheiserusa.com), whose innovative three-position button suppresses different ranges of frequencies
 
 
 
Headphones

 
Noise cancellation is also a feature of Andrea Electronics’ Superbeam headphones ($130; andreaelectronics.com), available this June, but the real attraction, especially for Skype users, is the elimination of the boom microphone extension. Instead, microphones embedded in the housing pick up spoken words like tractor beams while disregarding extraneous noise.
 
 
 
 
TV-PC Hybrid
 

 
The major benefit of Lenovo’s 21.5-inch B320 ($700; lenovo.com ), available in June, is its versatility: It works as both a PC and a high-definition TV, and it’s relatively easy to toggle back and forth between modes—or access both at once using the picture-in-picture capability.
 
 
 
 
Athletic Gear



Compare yesterday’s run with today’s using the Nike+ SportWatch(from $200; tomtom.com), a collaboration between Nike and TomTom, coming out in April. Working in conjunction with Nike’s running-shoe sensors, the watch tracks location, time, distance, pace and calories burned and keeps a record of past performances, all data that can be downloaded to a PC. It also sends reminders about your next scheduled run and gives you a virtual pat on the back if you beat.
 
 
 
 
Security System

 
Home security doesn’t get much simpler than this. The Vue Personal Video Network (vuezone.com)comprises a collection of small, battery-operated cameras installed indoors and outdoors. With full panning and zooming capabilities, the cameras can be controlled and checked remotely from a computer or a smartphone; motion activation also sends a picture alert. A basic two-camera setup lists for $270; each additional camera runs $100. There’s also an annual service fee of $20 (the first year is complimentary), and a broadband network must be in place
 
 
 
 
Mobile Phones
 

 
The Android operating system for mobile phones is on the rise, breathing new life into mobile phone offerings from companies that rival Apple. Case in point: Sony Ericsson’s new Xperia Arc(sonyericsson.com), coming this spring. Like most Android phones, it has Google Maps and access to a wide array of apps. It also comes with a large 4.2-inch touch screen and a versatile 8.1-megapixel camera with software for easy uploads. But what’s really amazing is how thin it is: just 8.7 millimeters, or roughly a third of an inch
 
 
 
Speakers
 

 
Klipsch is already well known for its high-quality horn-loaded speakers, which are components of the company’s new Gallery Studio Media System (pictured; from $400;klipsch.com). Due out this fall, the system connects wirelessly via WiFi and can be controlled using an Apple iPad or iPhone. Also this fall, McIntosh Laboratory, another high-end American audio manufacturer, plans to introduce an amplifier-speaker combination (from $2,000;mcintoshlabs.com).
 
 
 
 
Driving
 

 
Any driver who has ever nodded off during a long trip or drowsily veered into another lane knows how scary those situations can be. Developed in Denmark, the Anti Sleep Pilot($200;antisleeppilot.com)  is a dashboard-mounted device that monitors fatigue, relying mainly on periodic alertness responses that require the driver to touch the device, and also tracking personal data, driving conditions and car speed (thanks to a built-in accelerometer). When fatigue sets in, the Anti Sleep Pilot issues both visual and audible alerts that signal it’s time for a break. An app, for use on a dashboard-mounted iPhone, is also available for $20.
 
 
 
 
Communication

 
Instant messaging, SMS, Skype, email, Facebook: The newly updated VoxOx (voxox.com) desktop program puts all those modes of communication into one manageable window so that staying up-to-date with friends and colleagues no longer requires checking multiple devices In addition, VoxOx offers a bevy of other communication tools, including on-the-fly translation of e-mail. The only charge is for outbound texts, faxes and calls.
 
 
 
 
Smart Appliances

 
Are you smarter than your washing machine? That’s a question you may ask yourself after checking out Maytag’s Maxima (from $1,600;maytag.com), which uses algorithms to determine how much detergent is necessary and precisely when to add it for maximum cleaning. A decade ago, washing machines used upward of 40 gallons per cycle; the Maxima only needs 11.5. When paired with its companion dryer, the Maxima uses 48 percent less energy than models
 

visit http://visionkode.blogspot.com/2011/12/incredible-top-20-future-gadgets.html for top 20 gadgets.