Fresh details and this rather fetching official render of the upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9700 (aka the BlackBerry Onyx) have emerged, courtesy of CIO. Prematurely distributed by T-Mobile USA, they confirm that the Bold 9700 will pack both 3G and WiFi, together with support for UMA VoIP.
In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, there is a line from the Red Queen, in which she states, “It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” In evolution, this is a theory that is also known as an “arms race to nowhere”, in which two different species evolve in tandem, one after the other, in an infinite loop. The reason, is because as one system evolves, then the other must evolve with it, just to keep pace.
And so the system is unending and essential for the survival of a species.
It’s no different in the technology ecosystem. In fact, it’s a lot more evident there, as we can see the fruits of these evolutionary developments as clear as day. We watched as the iPhone became the iPhone 3G, and while it may not have been leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor in a lot of ways, we witnessed the 3G become the 3GS. And in turn, we saw almost every other major phone manufacturer develop phones to counter the iPhone. You’ve heard of them: the mythical iPhone killer.
RIM have acquired Torch Mobile, the software developers behind the WebKit-based Iris Browser. The move will see Torch Mobile’s developers working to deliver a new browser to BlackBerry handsets; WebKit is the engine underlying the iPhone’s Mobile Safari and the rendering core of Android handsets. It follows RIM’s revelations that it plans to put full Flash onto its handsets.
One of the most eagerly anticipated elements of the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 is its new touchscreen, which is promised to address the disappointing display of its predecessor. Details of the new panel have now been revealed, courtesy of a freshly-unearthed YouTube video; it apparently uses a piezo-electronic layer that can recognize touch-pressure at multiple simultaneous points rather than the single, central hardware button of the first-gen Storm.
The benefit is not just multiple points of touch recognition with the same tactile response as the first-gen Storm, but that it reacts quicker because the piezo system is electronic rather than physical. There are also no dead-spots – such as the corners on the Storm, which were always tougher to press – and the display physically locks itself hard when shut-off and then softens when turned on.
Video after the cut
It’s about time we made our way through the rumor mill, and it looks like we’ve got a good one for anyone who’s a fan of BlackBerry, and especially the Storm. Well actually, if you wanted a Storm, hated the first, and were hoping that the second would be better, this might be in your neck of the woods, too. And yes, we’ve heard rumors like this before, and we’ve even seen the Storm 2 on video already, but nothing official has been released regarding its debut date. Well, chalk up another rumor for that September launch, ladies and gentlemen.
Everyone seems to be browsing the internet on their mobile phone now a days, but let’s be honest: up until recently, it wasn’t the greatest of experiences. Why? Because we weren’t getting all that we could. Flash player has been something of a rarity, but it’s starting to peek its much-needed head out more and more, even sneaking on devices like the Samsung Jet. And now it looks like Research In Motion (RIM) is starting to see that Flash is the way to go. But, unlike Samsung’s Jet, RIM doesn’t plan on holding back.
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.
After a few good leaks of RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 for Verizon, it’s the turn of Vodafone’s GSM version to appear in the wild. Spotted by the gang at Benezblog.de, the Vodafone Germany smartphone has that all-important WiFi connectivity in place, just as we’ve heard the Verizon model will.
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.
SlashGear Japan
