RIM’s BlackBerry 10 and the Next Generation of Mobile Computing (September,2012)

You probably have been hearing a lot about BlackBerry 10 lately.   It’s the “make-it-or-break-it” chance that Research in Motion(RIM), the makers of the BlackBerry smartphone, has at reclaiming its mobile greatness.  The idea is to create a brand new QNX-based operating system to replace the Java-based one of current BlackBerry smartphones.  This should allow for better memory management, better multi-tasking, more app compatibility, better interconnectivity with other devices, and lots of other good stuff.  Beyond improving the operating system, however, RIM is now looking to create a paradigm shift in the mobile world.But how did RIM get in this situation?  Looking back at the introduction of the iPhone, Apple generalized the definition of the smartphone, empowering the average consumers with tools they never dreamed of using on a very mobile device.  Behind in mobile gaming, third-party applications, and consumer eye candy, RIM struggled for relevance in the high-end consumer market it once dominated.  This new concept of the smartphone seemed almost at odds with the function and design of the BlackBerry.  During this struggle, RIM found itself looking in a mirror and was unsure of what it saw in its reflection.  Was this a corporate company?  Does the world really value the “BlackBerry philosophy” of productivity, communication, and security anymore?  RIM dug deep, and came out with a new, and bold(no pun intended) vision of what the smartphone should be.At the core of RIM’s beliefs, people should be connected.  And it became clear that not only people had to be connected better, but apps as well.  For example, say I wanted to time how long it would take me to run a lap, then convert the units to seconds, append it to an excel spreadsheet, and then share that file in a DropBox account.  It is possible with most platforms.  However, you are probably imagining it would require opening a bunch of applications and transferring the information from one application to another somehow.  Starting to get a headache?  Well, what if you could do it all within the SAME app without changing the experience at all?  This is one of the main ideas behind BlackBerry 10, which RIM is betting on as the next generation of mobile computing.While iOS and Android do connect apps to some extent, the connection is very forced and the experience changes between apps.  For example, despite both being images, CD album covers and Facebook profile pictures are never linked without some convoluted method.  The text from an email, tweet, BBM, Word document, text in a web page, or even a camera photo can’t be passed from app to app without copy and paste.   In most cases, the calendar, contact list, messages app, mapping app, tasks, and memo pad don’t share any information even though they overlap in functionality quite often.BlackBerry 10 is going to be different.  The calendar app should know exactly who you’re going to see, what notifications they’ve sent you, when the meeting will be, where on the map your meeting is, how to get there, any notes or related documents you need, what you need to accomplish in the meeting, and any possible information you could ever need about that event.  You won’t even have to leave the calendar application.  Even applications by third-party developers can connect their apps to others using the very same framework, expanding their functionality automatically.Even with more power under the hood, much more impressive games and applications, a touchscreen-optimized user interface, BlackBerry 10 is not the typical mobile touchscreen OS you’ve come to know.  It’s matching the entertainment and gaming chops of the android and iOS-based smartphones, but taking connectedness to a whole new level with messaging innovation and an OS designed optimized for productivity.With some soul searching, RIM has emerged with a clear goal in mind.  Their new focus on connectedness in BlackBerry 10 runs parallel to their historic roots in making efficient communication tools.  The task is a difficult one, but so is the situation they are in.  After all, drastic times call for drastic measures.  RIM is doing what few OEMs dare.  RIM knows they cannot compete directly with Google and Apple and are instead carving out a new niche in the smartphone industry.  By reimagining the smartphone and staying true to themselves, BlackBerry 10 could be one small step for RIM, and perhaps one giant leap for mobile-kind.

How to Bookmark a Website on your BlackBerry Browser (September,2012)

For some of us, the BlackBerry Browser is one of the tools we use the most. I’m constantly looking up stuff on the internet with my BlackBerry and sometimes typing the address to a website too many times gets annoying. Bookmarks a great, fast way to access your favorite websites with just a tap, so this guide will show you how to add bookmarks to your BlackBerry Browser.There are two simple ways to do this. First one is:1. Open your BlackBerry Browser and type any address you’d like to bookmark.2. Tap the browser icon next to the address bar and select “Add to Bookmarks”.3. A small window pops up asking for the Title and Address you’d like to bookmark. You can leave it as it is or modify it.4. Bookmarks can be saved in different folders, which you can choose by tapping the “BlackBerry Bookmarks” button.5. Once you’re done, tap “Add”. That’s it, the website has been added to bookmarks. The second way is by entering the address manually. Here’s how:1. In your BlackBerry Browser’s, press the Menu button and press Bookmarks.2. Once there, press the Menu button again and select “New Bookmark”.3. Here you can enter the title, address and folder of the bookmark you want to save.4. Once you’re done, tap “Add” and the bookmark will be saved.This is very useful for those who regularly access their favorite websites through their BlackBerry. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment below! Also, which “How to” would you like to see next?

BlackBerry 10 Homescreen and Demo Video Leaked (September,2012)

A video showing how to insert the Battery and SIM card into the BlackBerry 10 L-series phone has surfaced.  With some classic background music to calm even the most excited BlackBerry fanboys, the video does reveal some interesting information about the all-touch BlackBerry 10 smartphone as well.  The battery is clearly labelled as a LS1 1800 mAh battery, which strongly suggests that it is the size of the production battery for the device.Other information about the battery:Maximum Voltage: 4.35VRated Voltage: 3.8V  Capacity : 1800 mAh (6.7Wh)The help movie is launched from a functioning BlackBerry 10 operating system, as can be visible from the multitasking tiles in the video.A leaked homescreen screenshot shows some additional icons such as StoryMaker, FocalPoint, Browser and Maps, which have not been seen from earlier BlackBerry 10 demos .  The “StoryMaker” app could possibly be the result of RIM’s aquisition of JayCut, a video-editing company.   The FocalPoint icon appears to be productivity and document-related app, but this is pure speculation judging from the image itself.Source: BlackBerry Italia