• blackberry,  rim,  rumors

    Rumor: RIM Cancels 10″ Playbook, Realizes They Need New BlackBerry Phones

    The Boy Genius Report blog has word that the executive management team has gotten a cold, hard dose of reality and has finally realized that they need to get new QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphones out the door as quickly as possible.

    The sobering fact that RIM’s stock has taken a nose dive in recent weeks has served as what I can only describe as a wake up call.  According to BGR, plans for an iPad sized 10-inch BlackBerry Playbook are being scrapped and the company will “focus as much effort as possible on building and releasing its first QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphone.”

    The specs and timing for a new BlackBerry running the QNX operating system are, obviously, thin at best.

    “Specs of the purported next-generation BlackBerry smartphone include a single-core 1.2GHz processor — though it may be swapped for a dual-core if RIM can find a way to reduce the drain on the battery — along with a 4.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. Further details surrounding the device were not made available, nor was a codename, launch name or a time frame for the device’s release.”

    The previously planned 4G cellular version(s) of the BlackBerry Playbook is still planned for release in the October timeframe.

    As a strictly utilitarian device for email, text/instant messaging, and phone calls (who makes those anymore?), the BlackBerry is a great phone.  Messaging has always been at the core of what a BlackBerry is.  (I own and have used a BlackBerry Curve and Storm2 and loved them both.)  But today’s “prosumers” want more features than that, and when compared to the iPhone and Android devices, all of the RIM devices fall flat on their faces.  If RIM is serous about turning their company around, they need to get QNX-powered phones out the door as quickly as possible.

    [Via BGR.com…]

  • android,  google,  nexus

    Skyfire Can Save You Money As Carriers Push for Tiered Data Plans

    The huge success of the iPhone helped to not only change the shape of smartphones for ever, but the growing numbers of iPhones and Android devices is causing carriers to take action to protect their data networks – or reap huge profits; you can call it anyway you like.  With unlimited all you can eat data plans giving way to tiered/capped plans, look for more mobile applications to start to become more efficient with data use.

    “Skyfire came out with a set of numbers today showing that smartphone users can save up to $120 a year by using data efficient apps like their browser. If you recall our post showing Verizon’s data calculator, you can see that streaming video is what’s going to be really eating up your data on a month to month basis, but with Skyfire’s “Instant Optimization” video process, which compresses data by 75%, they can save you a ton on your monthly bill.”

    [Via Droid-Life…]

  • developer,  games,  ios,  iphone,  mac,  mac os x,  microsoft

    Xbox 360 Game Port Tool for iOS, OS X, Android, and the Web

    I just saw this over on Boy Genius Report and thoughts of playing Halo on my Mac (without Parallels) started dancing in my head.

    “Programmer Andrew Russell is working on a project that will undoubtedly pique the interest of game developers around the world. Dubbed ExEn, Russell’s open source software allows devs to port XNA games to iOS, Silverlight and in the near future, Android and OS X as well. In practical terms, this software gives developers a much easier way to take games they have built for Xbox 360, Windows or Windows Phone 7 using Microsoft’s XNA framework and port them to the iPhone or iPad, the Web (Silverlight), and soon to Android devices and Mac OS X!”

    [Via BGR.com…]

  • apple,  mac,  macbook pro

    Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update

    Mac OS X 10.6.8 is available now for all Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users.  Aside from the usual bug fixes and enhancements, Mac OS X 10.6.8 is a requirement for upgrading to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month.

    Use the Mac OS X Software Update control panel to download the update now.

  • android,  apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  nook,  web os

    Rovio Releases Angry Birds Seasons – Summer Pignic

    Just in time for the 4th of July holiday, Rovio arms us with another “eggciting” bird flinging adventure: Summer Pignic!

    Summer Pignic is the next installment for the popular Angry Birds Seasons game available now for iOS devices.  Rovio will also be releasing updates for Android, webOS, and the nook.

    Angry Birds Seasons – $0.99
    Angry Birds Seasons HD – $1.99

  • apple,  iphone,  rumors

    Rumor: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 – We Don’t Care, Just Give It To Us

    Boy Genius Report is claiming to have received word that the next iPhone — the 4S or 5 — will be a major update to the current iPhone 4 models.

    “While Apple has indeed been giving some developers access to a device known as the iPhone 4S — an iPhone 4 with upgraded internals — BGR has independently confirmed that the next-generation iPhone will not merely be an upgraded iPhone 4 as had been previously rumored. We have been told by a reliable source to expect a radical new case design for the upcoming iPhone, though we have not been given any additional details surrounding the design of the new iPhone case. What about a release, then? The consensus is that Apple is going to announce the next-generation iPhone at the company’s annual September event, traditionally focused on iPods, but we have heard it’s quite possible Apple will break tradition. According to our source, Apple may hold an event in the beginning or middle of August to announce the new iPhone, with availability to follow in the last week of August. We’re not sure if that means the iPod event will be moved up slightly, or if this will be an iPhone-specific event. Thisismynext reported earlier that the upcoming iPhone 5 would feature a new teardrop-shaped case design.”

    At this point, I don’t care what Apple is going to call the new iPhone; I just want it to be released so I can purchase one.  My Palm Pre is looking forward to retirement and I’m looking for a phone that isn’t an underdog.

    [Via BGR.com…]

  • games,  ipad,  iphone,  lifestyle,  touch

    Firemint Real Racing, Real Racing 2 On Sale This Weekend

    Firemint, recently acquired by Electronic Arts, has put their popular Real Racing series of games on sale for Father’s Day weekend!

    The “Manly-Man” sale reduces the prices for Real Racing, Real Racing HD, Real Racing 2, and Real Racing 2 HD.  Use the links below to get your race on!

    Real Racing $0.99
    Real Racing 2 $4.99
    Real Racing HD $1.99
    Real Racing 2 HD $6.99

  • blackberry,  rim

    Oh, Snap! O2 Takes a Pass on the BlackBerry PlayBook

    BGR.com is reporting today that UK-based wireless carrier O2 is going to sit this round out for the BlackBerry PlayBook.

    “Citing issues with the user experience, O2 UK announced on Thursday that it “will not be selling” the BlackBerry PlayBook. The wireless carrier began notifying customers who had signed up for more information about its change of heart on Thursday. The carrier officially stated: “unfortunately there are some issues with the end to end customer experience,” but didn’t delve further into its reasons for the decision.”

    I guess it’s better to not let an unfinished product out the door then to have it ship and then be a headache for your customers downstream.

    [Via BGR.com…]