BlackBerry Roadmap Shows 7 New Products For 2012 Year

You’ve already heard from us that RIM is currently gearing up for the upcoming release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and BlackBerry OS 10. Both systems will be derived from a different platform called QNX. Now, you’re probably thinking of what’s next. RIM didn’t say much at the 2012 CES but it plans to release its new set of devices that will, of course, be running on its newly-developed kernels.

If not for the leaked 2012 BlackBerry Roadmap that we got from the folks of n4bb, we wouldn’t have learned about RIM’s forthcoming products. But it seems that you won’t be seeing much of these new devices. Based from the leaked roadmap, there’s only one BlackBerry OS 10 device that will be launched this year. The mobile device will most likely be called as the BlackBerry London (or BlackBerry Surfboard) but you will have to wait until September before you can avail one at selected retail stores.
Aside from London, the roadmap revealed RIM’s plan to release the PlayBook OS 2.0 (along with the new PlayBook Admin Service) by the end of February. There were also rumors stating that the firmware could be out this coming February 17th. Meanwhile, the Mobile Fusion service management tool has already been slated for April. With Mobile Fusion, IT administrators can remotely access your BlackBerry, iOS or Android device. On the same month, RIM plans to release a 7 inch BlackBerry PlayBook with a built-in support for 3G+. The LTE enabled 10 inch PlayBook will then be released by December 2012.
But wait, there’s more. Do expect that RIM will be launching its two new Curve handsets. The date of release was not specified but it seems that the other one will be offered as a 2G only device. Sadly, the roadmap revealed that the phones will only be made available at selected regions in Africa and East Asia.

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BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) 6.1.0.49 Upgrade Now Available in App Store

There was a reason behind the folks at RIM being quite busy lately. Finally the beta-testing phase for BBM 6.1 is over and it has been uploaded on the Blackberry App world for download. The new BBM 6.1 is a mixture of increased functionality accompanied by new features and a joyful blend of entertainment. One thing that is certain in the instant messaging world is that when it comes to Instant Messaging, BBM is way ahead of all the other services in the market.
Let us take a look at some of the new features of the BBM 6.1:

• Animated Avatars:  The old display pictures have now been replaced by Animated Avatars. The avatars come into action when they are pointed upon and display emotions like smile, laughter and love.
• Emoticons: 12 new emoticons have been added based on the suggestions from the customers who were a part of the beta-testing.
• Increased character count: Users of BBM will now be able express more in a personal message as the character limit has been doubled making it 160 characters.
• Chat Appearance: For users who always had wanted to make their chat bubbles colorful and brighter will now be able to do so as there will be 10 color options available to choose from, and different colors can now be set for different contacts.
• Camera to Display Picture Integration: Clicking a picture and then uploading it to BBM as your display picture has been made easier as the steps have been reduced, and this can be done instantly with the new 6.1 BBM.
With these increased functionality we expect it satisfy the needs of the customers even better and provide them with a pleasant experience.

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RIM Showcase BlackBerry OS 10 at 2012 Mobile World Congress (MWC)

There were rumors stating that Research in Motion (RIM) plans to license its BlackBerry 10 OS to a particular handset manufacturer but that may not be the case now. Words on the street have stated that RIM will be showcasing the said operating system at the 2012 Mobile World Congress.

Just don’t get your hopes high. RIM did note that it won’t be releasing the said OS until the later part of this year. Thus, it is very unlikely for the company to unveil any new hardware that will be powered by the BlackBerry OS 10. As for the trade show, it seems that Research in Motion will be focusing on the capabilities the aforesaid operating system. The BlackBerry OS 10 will highlight the use of BBM connected apps as well as the integration of NFC (Near Field Communication) that can be used for mobile payments and electronic identification.
It can be noted that RIM did rename its next-gen OS from BBX to BlackBerry OS 10 due to a legal dispute that was filed by a particular Albuquerque-based company. But what’s even more important to know about this new OS is the fact that it will based on Research in Motion’s QNX platform. That may seem like a good thing though. But there’s a bit of a downer. It seems that you won’t be able to upgrade your BB OS 7 based device to BlackBerry OS 10. The same goes for the PlayBook OS. On the lighter side, RIM promises that the BlackBerry OS 10 will flaunt a unified system that can be used on tablets, handsets, vehicles, etc.
This new QNX based platform from Research in Motion seems to be quite promising. We’re certainly looking forward to see the demo at the 2012 MWC. Most importantly, will this new OS from RIM be able to establish a solid base in a market that has already been infiltrated by iOS and Android? We’ll see.

Source: Techzek.com

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Apple iPhone 5 Pre-Order in China: Rumored Specs & Release Date

Although the iPhone 5 is  a long way away from being released, that hasn’t stopped retailers in China from starting to accept pre-orders for the device. These retailers both online and offline have started displaying pictures of the purported new iPhone and some have even been posting technical specifications of the device.

Considering how tight lipped Apple have been about anything and everything to do with the iPhone 5, the source of these photos and technical specifications is somewhat dubious. Closer inspection has since revealed that many have been sourced from iPhone 5 rumors and mock-ups that have appeared online in the last few months.
Some Chinese retailers are even using pictures that closely resemble the iPod Touch.
Despite all of that, these pre-orders have already reportedly started to sell. Bearing in mind the immense popularity that Apple enjoys in China, this should come as no surprise. Some of the retailers are accepting pre-orders for a small ‘booking fee’ of about $200, while others are charging a full $1,100 upfront.
No release dates are offered by any of the retailers however.
Rumored iPhone 5 Specifications
There are a lot of rumors about regarding the iPhone 5 and what it will look like as well as what sort of specifications it will come with beneath its exterior.
Many rumors agree on the fact that the iPhone 5 will feature a bigger screen, and will have a much more sleek ‘unibody’ design for its aluminium casing that is reminiscent of the MacBook Air. As of yet the sources of these rumors are unconfirmed, but considering the iPhone 5 is set to compete against Samsung’s Galaxy S3, it stands to reason that it will probably have a larger screen than its predecessor.
Another rumor that is also unconfirmed is that the iPhone 5 will run on Apple’s new A6 quad core processors.
Last but certainly not least one of the more outlandish theories is that the iPhone 5 will come with a 3D camera that is capable of recording both still images and video in 3D. The source of this theory is a patent that Apple supposedly filed for that outlines a 3D imaging camera, but both the existence of the patent and whether or not such a camera is targeted for the iPhone 5 is in doubt.
Expected iPhone 5 Release Details
As of right now Apple has still not made any official announcement regarding when the iPhone 5 will be available. Many are expecting a ‘late fall’ release sometime from September to November however.
The most likely rumor regarding the iPhone 5′s release is that in late September it will be ‘unveiled’ by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, before being finally released sometime in October. Even this is uncertain however, and until Apple actually comes up with a date it is really all just speculation.
While the iPhone’s popularity has already been well documented, this is the first time that retailers are actually accepting pre-orders for the device when there isn’t even an official release date. The worry is that some of these ‘pre-orders’ may actually turn out to be scams to take advantage of those who want to be among the first to get their hands on Apple’s new smartphone.

Source: Techzek.com

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iPhone 5 Featuring 4-Inch Display & Sleeker Design To Land in Q3

While almost every smartphone manufacturer making buzz about their upcoming devices and releases, Apple couldn’t stand being left behind doing nothing. That’s why on Monday, a report indicated that the Cupertino-based technology titan will be releasing a new model of its famous iPhone this time with bigger display and newer, sleeker look. Brian White, Topeka Capital Markets analyst, received information during his meeting with suppliers in China that the next generation iPhone will completely be different and new. A new 4-inch screen is supposed to be used for the iPhone 5 and will come with a Unibody case to have a sleeker appearance, White said.

Moreover, Apple might give its go signal to begin fabrication of iPhone 5 parts in June. If it will go in that time range, it is possible that we will be able to see the new iPhone in August or September. Well, no one really knows what will become the official name of the next generation iPhone. Others call it, iPhone 4S refresh, and some call it iPhone 5 and that include us here. Maybe Apple will call it the New iPhone when released just like its New iPad. But anyway, if the rumors were true, then it won’t take long before we can see another stunning device from the technology giant.
The 4 inches screen or display will definitely be larger than what the current iPhone has (3.5 inches) but it will never be huge that it will lose its sense of pocketability. Most of the smart phones released by other manufacturers have 4 inches displays or even bigger but iPhone owners are stuck with 3.5-incher because according to the late Steve Jobs, it is the perfect size for everyone in which many tech enthusiasts also agree. However, the plan of inducing Apple’s newest Retina Display technology may require larger displays. If this will be realized, then next gen iPhone owners will enjoy a resolution around 768 x 1024 pixels and ~316 PPI. Alongside these rumors come another suggesting that it may sport an A5X chip and 1 GB RAM just like the New iPad.
The 4G LTE is also cited by tech enthusiasts to be one of the features of the new iPhone to be able to cope up with the latest trends in the world of smartphones. We don’t know the exact release date as well as the price because basically the production hasn’t been started yet. But there is always truth behind these rumors. What they are will be revealed in due time. Anyway, if you are an iPhone 4S owner, would you buy this iPhone? Or does it even make an appeal to you?

Source: Techzek.com

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Rumored iPhone 5 Specs & Features: Things We Want To See In The Next Generation iPhone

There is a lot of rumors and unconfirmed reports about the next generation iPhone (5) specs and features. Some say iPhone 5 will come with better, improved and enhanced processor while others say it will come with relatively larger screen. Among other rumors is the speculation that it will feature LTE connectivity. The thing is there is no available information about the real specs of iPhone 5 simply because Apple hasn’t revealed them yet. But it’s always good to have our own wish list of the things we want to see or included in the next release of Apple’s most popular device. So, we collated some rumors and speculations to be discussed.

Improved processor. For specs-conscious people, an improved processor would always make an appeal because it is the benchmark of a faster device. Logically so, improved processor on iPhone 5 will lead to a better performance and faster processing. Moreover, a faster processor adds up to the reputation of a smartphone; the faster the processor is, the more popular the device will become.
Larger screen. The advantage of having a larger screen/display on the next generation iPhone is that things would look bigger in it and that owners will not find it difficult to browse as there is enough space for the fingers. But in truth, the reason why Apple made it almost a tradition to use 3.5 inches screen is because that size is just appropriate for any user; it’s neither big nor small. Besides, having a bigger screen might degrade the quality of the Retina Display on the device if Apple decides to showcase it on an iPhone.
LTE connectivity. The evolution of internet connectivity has been so vast in the past couple of years and users are wishing their devices are capable of transferring data at the speed of light. This capability is also on the wish list of expectant iPhone owners who might be planning on getting the next generation iPhone. It seems people are not content with the speed of our current internet connection.
Slimmer model. Let’s face it, slimmer smartphones are often dubbed as “elegant” than those bulky ones. There is some truth behind it, though. Slimmer but stronger devices often have the quality that goes beyond expectations and that’s where art and superb engineering enters. I might call those devices “amazing” than being “elegant” but honestly, it’s just the art of using words with the same meaning.

Source: Techzek.com

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Apple iPhone 5 to Sport 4.6 inch Retina Display Confirmed by South Korea Media

Here’s good news for all the iPhone lovers. Apple has come up with its next generation ‘iPhone 5’. It may interest you to know that this new generation iPhone will be sporting a huge 4.6-inches retina display screen. Yes, you heard it right!
Is it a Rumor?
This news has been confirmed in the Maeil Business Newspaper issued by South Korea Media Outlet. The statement was quoted on Wednesday evening by Reuters.

Brands like Samsung and LG supply the displays to Apple from their display units. But when asked about the news of supplying 4.6-inch display screens, both the brands decided to stay quiet. Industry reports state that Apple has already placed larger display screen orders to their suppliers.
Till Date this device has the largest screen size in Apple generation
The last release of Apple was iPhone 4S. The 4S model of iPhone had a 3.5-inch display screen that is believed to be an optimal size for one-handed use touch screens. So, as compared to the previous one, the latest generation of iPhone has an inch bigger display screen.
If we peep into the past, Apple had specifically declared that 3.5 inches display screen is an optimum size for a smartphone and the brand (Apple) wouldn’t be contending on display size. That’s the reason every version of iPhone including the latest release i.e. iPhone 4S had a 3.5 inches display screen.
Every year the display sizes of Android SmartPhones have been increasing with some or the other model stepping in to the market. It seems as if even Apple has entered the league. By launching iPhone 5, Apple is sure to give a tough fight to Samsung Galaxy S2 and flagship Galaxy Nexus by Google as these two shares the same display size of 4.6 inches.
What about the Specs and Techs of this New Generation iPhone 5?
Unfortunately, no other details have been leaked out about iPhone 5. The Techs and Specs remain a secret.
Price and Availability:
As per the statement made by Apple, the device will be available in the market by the onset of the second quarter this year. IPhone 4S was announced by Apple last October and it arrived in the market within the time frame. So let’s hope this next generation iPhone 5 will hit the floors soon.

Source: Techzek.com

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