Amazon brings Kindle to BlackBerry phones: TechVi Now Morning Edition
Amazon has released another way to read its Kindle e-books, this time on RIM's BlackBerry. Microsoft looks to keep Windows Mobile alive under a new name and Google kills something it just acquired. Find out more on TechVi Now.
CES 2010: Sling, Samsung, RIM, and AT&T
Wednesday is Press Day at CES 2010, and the TechVi team took a look at the hottest things coming up in this year's show. Randall, Iyaz, and Eric sit down and summarize some of the highlights of the day.
Sling Media
Sling announced a slew of products today. The Total Control 100 is a high-end touchscreen remote control that has a WiFi connection to download show guide information and connect to Slingboxes. The Sling Monitor is a 15" LCD complete with Sling Catcher circuitry to catch content without a separate box. And the 700U is a new auto-configuring Slingbox that can plug directly into some DVRs.
Samsung
The update to the popular Android-based Moment was announced today, and it will include a mobile digital TV tuner to display live television programming on the phone without clogging up its cellular data connection.
Research In Motion
BlackBerry-toting pitchmen around the world rejoiced at RIM's announcement of the BlackBerry Presenter, a $199 device that allows the popular smartphone to connect to any VGA or S-Video projector or display.
AT&T
Finally, the country's four largest wireless carriers have Android offerings as Dell, HTC, and Motorola all plan on making Google-powered handsets for AT&T.
RIM adds dev tools for 3D gaming and themes
The new features to the BlackBerry Application Platform include OpenGL ES for games and BlackBerry Theme Studio for personalization. RIM seems to be targeting consumers with these new moves.
BlackBerry Bold 9700: Hands-on impressions
We were lucky enough to get our hands on RIM's latest BlackBerry, the Bold 9700 (aka, the Bold 2), and put it through some real-world paces. On the whole, Iyaz felt like it was a pretty solid device, noting the BlackBerry's trademark penchant for a killer keyboard was still intact, and the new trackpad is a more-than-suitable replacement for the trackball of BlackBerrys past. Check the vid for our full impressions, and let us know if you have any questions about the device so we can get 'em answered.
Verizon to ‘charge’ extra fee for Exchange on Droid
Engadget Mobile says Verizon is planning to levy a $15 fee per month for people who use corporate Exchange email with their beloved Droid smartphones. But, it's less clear how Verizon would actually detect Exchange usage on Android devices, since they don't use a BlackBerrian server to do the pushing. We're with Engadget; just use Exchange and don't tell Verizon, because they probably won't know anyway.
RIM working on new browser for BlackBerry
Source:
Permalink
A job posting on RIM's site looking for a WebKit developer may mean RIM is ramping up or overhauling its BlackBerry Browser. The BlackBerry OS is definitely due for a major update at this point and this may be RIM's way of moving its BlackBerry line into the quickly moving modern market.
BlackBerry Storm firmware updated
Source:
Permalink
Research-In-Motion has released an update for the original BlackBerry Storm. Version 5.0 of the firmware will allow for better device rotation detection, gives the ability to change the number of audio alerts when an SMS is received, and fixes many bugs users have been complaining about.
BlackBerry Storm 2 to have ‘MiFi’ capabilities?
Source:
Permalink
RIM's BlackBerry Storm 2 is set to have 'MiFi' capabilities, according to Engadget which means the device will be able to share out its 3G wireless internet connection to any WiFi capable device like a laptop or iPod touch. The device is due to released on October 21st on Verizon.
BlackBerry to announce Bold 2 on October 21 for T-Mobile and AT&T
Source:
Permalink
Engadget is reporting that T-Mobile and AT&T will both announce the addition of the Blackberry Bold 2 on October 21st. The Bold 2, also known as the 9700 model, trades in the traditional trackball for a touchpad, while retaining the familiar Blackberry keyboard and buttons. Pricing and street date of the Bold 2 is still to be determined.
BlackBerry Messenger hits version 5.0
RIM has released the long-awaited BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 application featuring 'avatars', or a profile photo in messaging applications on the device.
BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 can also generate a barcode version of the user's PIN that other users can then scan using their camera, eliminating the need to manually enter the PIN, as well as the cumbersome texting, copying and pasting that is routine for users.