Considering picking up a BlackBerry or two? Like Verizon? Well you’re in luck; Verizon are kicking off their “Buy One, Get One” promotion, and unlike last year they’re apparently opening up the deal to cover not only a second BlackBerry but a netbook, PC card, USB modem or MiFi.
Phone launch leaks a-plenty this weekend, as the Boy Genius Report scoops up a couple of interesting screenshots from Best Buy and AT&T. According to the retailer, whose plans for August 23rd have been snapped below, in a couple of weeks time buyers will have the choice of several anticipated devices, including the T-Mobile Samsung Gravity 2 and the Verizon Omnia 2 and LG Chocolate Touch.
Back in November 2008 SlashGear heard talk of mobile music service Didiom bringing their hybrid download/streaming service to RIM’s BlackBerry smartphones. Turns out our tipster was correct: Didiom have announced the release of their app, free in the BlackBerry App World download store. With it, users can not only buy music and audiobooks on the move from a catalog of over 2m songs, but stream audio content from their home computer.
RIM have applied for a patent which details a hybrid touchscreen, combining both resistive and capacitive elements to improve accuracy as well as support multitouch, gestures and other functionality. The patent app, titled “electronic device and touch screen display”, describes a regular twin-layer resistive panel which recognizes position by the physical contact point between the two layers, and a capacitive sensor attached to the outermost resistive layer.
A spec-sheet of the BlackBerry Curve 8520’s CDMA sibling, the BlackBerry 8530, has been discretely handed in to the Boy Genius Report by one of its insider tipsters, seemingly confirming that the QWERTY smartphone – expected to land on Verizon – will include WiFi. The phone is expected to slot into the entry-level position in Verizon’s BlackBerry line-up.
Zeemote have launched a version of their Bluetooth mobile gaming controller for BlackBerry smartphones. The Zeemote JS1 is compatible with all BlackBerry handsets that have a trackball, and connects wirelessly to offer over fifty hours of battery-powered gameplay.
Update: video demo after the cut
RIM have officially announced the BlackBerry Curve 8520, the handset formerly known as the BlackBerry Gemini. Set to land on both T-Mobile USA and Vodafone UK next month, the Curve 8520 is the company’s latest non-3G smartphone, complete with a full hardware QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad for navigation and a 2-megapixel camera.
There’s also a 320 x 240 display, Bluetooth and WiFi. A microSD card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack round out the specifications, while the battery is good for 4.5hrs of talktime or 17 days of standby. While many may scoff at the absence of high-speed cellular connectivity, the success of other 2.5G BlackBerry handsets such as the Curve 8900 shows there’s still a demand for straightforward, solid messaging-centric smartphones.
Don’t ask how, but CrackBerry have managed to lay their hands on not one but two working BlackBerry Storm 2 prototypes, and seeing as they know we’re all just a little bit interested in the upcoming touchscreen smartphone they’ve shot a demo video. First-impressions are positive, with an improved SurePress touchscreen and better on-screen typing feel.
If you use a BlackBerry and have a Mac computer, you’ve probably been irritated by the lack of compatibility. But now it seems RIM is stepping up to the plate with their Desktop Manager for Mac OS 10.5.5.
According to the Boy Genius Report, RIM’s BlackBerry Storm 2 – the touchscreen follow-up to the original Storm launched back in November - will indeed include WiFi b/g along with EVDO Rev.A and 2100MHz UMTS (for roaming). Known as the BlackBerry 9550, it will also be joined by the 9520, a version of the Storm 2 for GSM carriers AT&T and Rogers Wireless.
JP
