Research In Motion got a pair of patent applications to target ads at traffic by a “smart billboard”, if you will. The plans are for the billboards to be controlled by GPS-equipped phones, and for the billboards to deliver more information the slower the traffic gets.For example, Aunt B’s kitchen wants a billboard. When traffic is flowing normally, the billboard would display the phone number, the exit, and the name. When traffic slows down, the GPS on the phones sends a signal to the sign, and all of a sudden, you have a picture of their best Fried Chicken, making you hungrier. Smart Advertising, right?

Even Better, the billboard would give you a QR code to take a picture of, and would give you a coupon. Is this the future of the Highway? Sound off in the comments below, pups.

via: Engadget

The rumor mill has started up once again. This time around the BlackBerry Curve 8980 is heading to China Mobile and while it doesn’t feature 3G  it does provide support for Wi-Fi.  The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will also be hitting China Mobile which will offer some variety when choosing your next BlackBerry device. The Bold 9700 has 256MB of RAM, 3.2 megapixel camera, and a high-resolution 480 x 360 pixel color display. The 8980 is the same form factor with a Curve-style keyboard. From what rumors we’ve heard about the Atlas before, the only differences between the 9700 and the 8980 are the 3G capabilities and the keyboard. We will keep you posted as more info is released.

via BlackBerryCool

Well, Big Red (aka Verizon) might finally be joining the ranks of those carriers with prepaid BlackBerry plans (please take this with a grain of salt.  It was proposed to come August 23 and we haven’t seen it yet).  From the look of the above document, you will still need to pay an extra $30, on top of your normal prepaid costs.  We are unsure of what devices will be offered, how much the devices will cost, and if this plan will even come into existence.

I personally love this idea.  I myself am I Verizon user and I stand behind them (even when maybe I shouldn’t).  This is truly a step in the right direction.  Bringing the BlackBerry to the public in more ways than one is exactly the kind of exposure that RIM needs.  If it does happen, will you be joining the ranks of prepaid customers in order to escape that vicious contract? Let us know in the comments below.

via: BerryReview

Back in April, RIM made a curious 200 million dollar investment in QNX Software Systems.  While it wasn’t a very conspicuous investment, and it remained nearly unmentioned, a big dollar amount such as this did raise some question.  The main one being, ‘Why?’.  Enter the BlackPad, RIM’s first tablet attempt.  While some speculated that the BlackPad would be running a mere BlackBerry 6 upgrade, it turns out that QNX and RIM will be teaming up to make an entirely new operating system for the tablet.

While not much is known about this mysterious operating system, I don’t know if this was the best move on RIM’s part.  BlackBerry 6 has been RIM’s baby for the past few months.  The other day, I finally got the chance to play with a Torch that wasn’t stuck in the AT&T store.  Although not perfect, BlackBerry 6 is very smooth, fast, and a major upgrade from the OS 5.0 nonsense some of us have grown bored with.  With all the hype that RIM played up on BlackBerry 6, I don’t know why they would throw it all away on something new that could possibly be a terrible failure.

via: Engadget

Earlier last week a leaked Verizon roadmap for 2010/2011 surfaced pointing to new BlackBerry devices being released in October, and even a tablet in November. Keep in mind that this roadmap has not been confirmed, but it does invoke interest. Among the devices to be released is the Storm 3 9570 with a  SurePress touchscreen, and running the latest BlackBerry 6 operating system. This contradicts rumors of the Storm 3 ditching SurePress and introducing its own unique operating system.On a brighter note, sources  report that RIM will be adding a mobile hotspot feature to the Storm 3 as well.  Not all bad, so far.

The roadmap goes on to state that RIM will also be introducing the BlackBerry Curve 3 9330 to Verizon customers. I see no real benefit that the Curve 3 offers over the 8530 other than BlackBerry 6. The specs are exactly the same on both devices. The chrome bezel is a nice touch though!

If this roadmap turns out to be spot on, it looks like this could be a big waste of time and money for RIM. I truley hope that this turns out to be fake,and RIM blows our minds come October. What are your feelings on the supposedly leaked roadmap for Verizon? Do you look forward to what RIM is palnning, or is this more of the same ol’, same ol’? Sound off below in the comments.

via BBLeaks

Now that the Torch 9800 release has come and gone it’s time to move on to the latest devices being cooked up in the RIM rumor oven. It seems technology never sleeps. The editors at BBLeaks have obtained two About screen images supposedly revealing new RIM devices. The first image is of the BlackBerry 9890, running version 6.3.0.975 and shows 4G support. No one knows what this device truly is, or what form factor, but some have speculated that it could the rumored Torch 2 currently being tested.

The second image hints at a device model number 9850 running operating version 6.3.0.899. This also shows support for 4G  networks. There have been talks of a CDMA version of the Torch heading to Sprint, or possibly Verizon.  Could this be the proof you’ve been looking for? Only time will tell. If you receive any additonal information regarding these rumored devices please post it in the comment section below. With at least one of these devices I’m leaning towards a fake, and here’s why, If you look at the About screen on any BlackBerry, the device model is always above “smartphone”. Second, “smartphone” is never capitalized. Notice that both of these things are wrong in the lower photo. So, take these as you will, and please take with the normal, appropriate dosage of salt.

via Blackberry Leaks

Four (now five) days after the original launch day of the AT&T BlackBerry Torch, Amazon does what it’s known for and offer great prices. While still $199.99 with a two-year contract in AT&T stores across the nation, Amazon is selling the Torch for a mere $99.99 with a two-year contract. Now, some have claimed that the low price is due to the unimpressive sales of the Torch. Nobody expected an iPhone-like launch with millions of phones sold on launch day. Nobody lined up to get their BlackBerry Torch, and we didn’t expect them to either. But that doesn’t constitute a price cut, and that isn’t what has happened here, contrary to what many others have been saying.

Amazon simply sells phones lower than carrier stores, they always have. Most online suppliers do, too. When you buy a phone from a supplier like Amazon, there are two agreements in effect, and many people are unaware of that. You’re agreeing to the carrier’s terms and conditions, as well as Amazon’s which are as follows:

When you purchase your device with service from Amazon.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you. This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days. If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, Amazon.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.

The Torch has been given mixed reviews here and there and not everyone is a huge fan of the sliding design. It is, however, running RIM’s new BlackBerry 6, which a lot of people are seeming to love. It isn’t what I want from RIM, I want more, but this is a good step in the right direction. I feel that once RIM gets BlackBerry 6 loaded on a full touchscreen device, things will go a little more smoothly for them. They really botched the marketing for BlackBerry 6 and the Torch to people that don’t follow BlackBerry news by not releasing word of the device until a week before its release. So I expected pretty low sales, but RIM has proven that they are not yet a dying breed.

Is this low price due to low sales? No. It’s Amazon, who has done the same with phones like the Samsung Captivate, which is still $200 with a two-year contract in AT&T stores, but $49.99 on Amazon with the same two-year contract. Take of it what you will, but this is nothing out of the ordinary.

via: MobileCrunch

When it comes to BlackBerrys, one thing is for sure, most users are huge Facebook/Twitter addicts. RIM has finally released their long awaited, beautiful BlackBerry 6 and without a doubt need to overhaul their accompanying Facebook application to go along with it.

In my opinion, RIM does Facebook better than anyone else. With push email that translates into push notifications for their Facebook app, it’s hard to top them. The Facebook experience on an iPhone or Android is far below Facebook on my BlackBerry, but RIM could do much better with it. There is no official changelog between 1.6 and 1.8, but most people are sitting, waiting patiently for Facebook Chat in some future release. Let’s hope RIM has been listening.

RIMarkable is claiming that we could see it as soon as later today, but don’t get your hopes up. They claimed the “chatter” about the release of version 1.8 is increasing, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot to this guy. We’re all on version 1.6 right now, but I can recall quite well how that release and the release of version 1.5 were. RIM claiming it was coming on one day only to have that date delayed a few times and when they finally did release it, App World and the download links supplied on the mobile BlackBerry website were simultaneously bombarded by millions of people all at once. Don’t get your panties in a twist if they release it today and you can’t download it until tomorrow, RIM is notorious for building hype and making their servers crash. It’s bound to happen when you have

via: RIMarkable

Regardless of the fact that BIS 3.1 was pushed out under two months ago, we already have a rumor on what 3.2 will hold for us!  Remember to take the following information with a grain of salt, as this is purely rumor.  Google Calendar sync will be added (for those Google-ites such as myself), interface and security will both be improved, as well as BlackBerry Protect integration.

For those of you already using Google Sync, you understand how the process works.  For those of you who don’t, let me explain.  Google Sync allows one to sync both their contacts and their calendar to a google account of their choice.  This allows contact checking and use of calender, even when your device isn’t on hand.  Google Sync will not become integrated into BIS (minus contact sync) for those of you who prefer staying 100% RIM.

The security update will basically demand at least 8 characters for your password, instead of the current 6.  Automatic login will also be improved (from your device) allowing you to quickly access, edit, or add new email information.

BlackBerry Protect contains a massive amount of information.  For more information on that, click here.

This sounds like a much needed BIS update, although I find it rather minor.  It seems like not much is contained within the update, and RIM is really falling behind the game for me.  I feel like I signed up for a reliable, well balanced, well supported device, and what I’ve received is below expectations.  I love RIM, but they really need to step up to the plate.  BlackBerry 6 seems to be the beginning of RIM stepping out of their comfort zone, but they need not stay there too long.  They better pull out the big guns and take aim on something larger than a UI overhaul.

via: Berry Review

(Photo credit: Engadget)

Rumors are beginning to turn in to facts and Apple Daily has brought some new information to the light. Quanta will be the manufacturer of the device, and it seems RIM has made large orders for their mysterious tablet. According to Apple Daily, there are two million devices slated for the expected November launch date, and another whopping eight million for 2011.

Personally, I’ve been following the BlackBerry tablet rumors as loosely as possible without losing contact with them. Since the iPad, BlackBerry fans and Android fans alike have been longing a rebuttal. Honestly, I don’t know if I’d enjoy any BlackBerry OS on a tablet. Having it on a palm-sized device is one thing, lofting it around on a 9.7″ device is another. Not only that, but BlackPad as the name, I don’t see that considering RIM and their naming schemes. The whole “pad” truffle was started with Apple’s iPad, and I don’t think RIM will want to promote that or Apple’s super, exquisite naming. Based on how RIM operates, I expect the name to be a BlackBerry ____ (insert a related, one-syllable word here). Sure, they’ve purchased blackpad.com, but that may just be to prevent anyone else from doing so. I guess only time will tell, and that time is winding down. See you in November, mystery tablet.

via: Engadget

Source: Apple Daily