What impact will LTE add to RIM’s PlayBook? (Hint: Zip)

on July 24, 2012

Research In Motion is reportedly prepping an LTE PlayBook tablet for at least one Canadian network but it’s unlikely to boost tablet sales. Instead, the company should be focused on getting its new OS on phones sooner or improving the tablet in other ways.

First impressions of BlackBerry 10: Cautious optimism

on May 1, 2012

Research In Motion is showing off its BlackBerry 10 platform; perhaps the company’s last chance for success in the mobile market. The interface looks impressive, but there are still many hurdles to be cleared as pointed out on Twitter by those watching the demos.

RIM not totally flushing Android’s cesspool on PlayBooks

on April 10, 2012

Research In Motion clarified earlier statements about removing the ability to manually install Android applications on the BlackBerry PlayBook. The company previously said it was closing the loophole in the next PlayBook software update. Now it says the option will still be available for developers.

RIM closing the Android market “cesspool” on the PlayBook

on April 9, 2012

“[P]iracy is a huge problem for Android devs, and we don’t want to duplicate the chaotic cesspool of Android market.”

Research In Motion(s rimm) is planning to drop the ability to sideload Android applications on its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, citing that 53 percent of surveyed Android(s goog) developers believe app piracy is either somewhat of a problem or a huge problem. Alec Saunders, RIM’s VP of Developer Relations, tweeted the citation; a small survey of 75 Android app programmers from last year.

Saunders has a point, although I also see this as a way to deflect flagging sales and a limited application market for the PlayBook. The company has reportedly shipped 1.35 million PlayBooks since the device launched a year ago. Even with the newest software update, which brings added features and functions missing from the initial launch, I haven’t seen any reason to believe RIM is suddenly selling more PlayBooks and doing well. Instead, one of the former CEOs has left, revenue is down, and the new CEO says “substantial change” is needed.
Regardless, what may look as a cheap shot from Saunders about Google’s Android Market — recently renamed Google Play — is actually a fair observation from the standpoint of app quality. The Market is flooded with low-quality apps, but that alone doesn’t concern me as an Android user.
More important to me is wading through the “cesspool” to find the higher-quality apps that fill specific needs. And ironically — given that Google’s expertise is in search — I couldn’t find the new Instagram app when searching Google Play last week. Instead, I had to hit Instagram’s webpage to get the direct Market link.

Is RIM finally ready to deliver its promised 4G PlayBook?

on April 6, 2012

More than a year after promising to make WiMAX and LTE versions of its PlayBook tablet, RIM has delivered squat on its 4G promises. But now new photos have popped up on CrackBerry’s forums that appear to be of the mythical LTE PlayBook.

MobileTechRoundup podcast 261: iPad 3 and MWC

on March 4, 2012

Join Matt and Kevin for a recap of the phones from MWC and thoughts on the next iPad. OnLive Desktop comes to Android while MeeGo gets a great update. Matt also gives the Nike+ Fuelband a try; how well does it work?

RIM’s PlayBook starts its second life today

on February 21, 2012

Research In Motion delivered a major software update for its PlayBook tablet with the release of PlayBook OS 2.0. The upgrade brings overlooked features to RIM’s tablet, which has so far faced relatively poor sales and generally negative reviews. Is it too little, too late?