Comments on: RIM knows who Boy Genius is

By: BlackBerryCool » Blog Power Pt. 1: did we force RIM’s hand?

BlackBerryCool » Blog Power Pt. 1: did we force RIM’s hand? — Thu, 03 May 2007 16:18:46 +0000

[...] It’s been well documented how the efforts of one juvenile intellectual have had an impact upon RIM’s business. I think the supposedly early announcement of the BlackBerry Curve is another example. [...]

By: Montreal Gazette

Montreal Gazette — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:19:32 +0000

[...] We usually don’t do gadget reviews here at the Gazette; Ã¼ber gizmo geek Mark Saltzman usually does the honours. But Roger’s unveiling of the BlackBerry 8800 today was pretty interesting and worth a note. The 8800 is a full-keyboard scion to the Pearl, more targeted at hardcore business users who want the easy typing, and a bit thinner. RIM removed the camera and added a GPS antenna. California-based TeleNav provides the GPS software, which can be integrated with other applications: users can generate a map from the address book and send a map by email. A gentleman from VIA Rail I spoke to was excited about this functionality. An interesting application on display at the launch is mForms, made by Ottawa,’s TrueContext, which puts paper forms into the handset and transmits the data via the network. This could be useful for, say, credit card mongers who want to do away with clipboards and the need to retype the information onto a database. The 8800 also has a microSD card slot for movies, music and pictures. A 4GB card is available from SanDisk for true media aficcionados.Disappointingly, the 8800 does not work on Rogers’ 3G HSDPA standard, which can offer up to 3.6 mbps download speeds. It only supports EDGE, whose theoretical maximum speed doesn’t surpass 400 kbps.It will be available in Montreal in about a month. On a gossipy note, a RIM regional account manager told me the company does not know who the BlackBerry mole Boy Genius is (despite other rumours) has appointed three IT workers to sniff him out.He said CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsille are none too happy with this kid, but given RIM’s stock has a tendency to surge with leaked photos of unreleased handsets, you have to wonder just how hard they’re trying to stop him. Link to this | E-mail this | Digg this | Post to del.icio.us Published Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:27 AM by Roberto Rocha Filed under: telecom, gadgets [...]

By: BlackBerry Cool » 8800 to raise RIM shares

BlackBerry Cool » 8800 to raise RIM shares — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 12:24:24 +0000

[...] Alright. So today’s the day RIM announces their results for Q2, and we’re going to try our darndest to get right in the middle of things and stir it up – or at least listen in. News from the Globe and Mail this morning reports that RIM’s stock and Q2 results will be quite impressive, especially with the continual leaks we’ve been seeing. [...]

By: BlackBerry Cool » Cingular Pearl listed on-site - updated

BlackBerry Cool » Cingular Pearl listed on-site - updated — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 13:03:59 +0000

[...] Another week of the Pearl? Unless RIM announces another trifecta, it might just go that way. No matter, things are still exciting. The release dates for the Pearl on various retailers are slowly popping up, like Cingular listing their 8100c model on their website for a vague “October” release date. The differences are slight, really, I mean – who needs the camera, right? Spec-heads read on, more info after the jump. (BBHub> reports the 8100c disappearing from Cingular’s site. Seems as though everyone’sjumping the gun with details these days) [...]

By: BlackBerry Cool » Why RIM axed the scroll wheel and why that’s a good thing

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:10:19 +0000

[...] First off, why it happened. According to Boy Genius (who is kinda in the know, if you hadn’t heard), RIM axed the scroll wheel because it was preventing them from making slimmer devices. Considering that the form factor of smartphones is an important purchasing consideration for most consumers, and that previous BlackBerrys are kinda bulky compared to the competition, it seems like a good call. [...]

By: Thought

Thought — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:21:54 +0000

The best thing that could have happened to RIM was for the Pearl to have been leaked in the manner it was. It has ignited interest in the device, much more than a standard pre-launch announcement.

As for the idea that leaks decrease sales of existing products: that concept doesn’t so much apply with the Pearl as this is RIM’s first true foray into the consumer market. There’s no existing BB consumer device for which this can undermine sales. The market for the Pearl consists largely of people who otherwise wouldn’t buy BB, or in the case of those of us on these websites, people who already own a BB and are looking to upgrade or add another simply because of the features of the Pearl.

By: Thought

Thought — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:21:00 +0000

The best thing that could have happened to RIM was for the Pearl to have been leaked in the manner it was. It has ignited interest in the device, much more than a standard pre-launch announcement.

By: To penk

To penk — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:31:49 +0000

I think its stupid if you say public opinion will be against RIM if they take action against boy genius. Many people have access to important secrets and they don’t publish it even if they can. A lot of people have put their hard work in these products and companies spend huge amounts of money developing these products and to have it published even before launch like this is absolutely unfortunate. I hope RIM takes action against Boy Genius.

By: To penk

To penk — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 03:31:00 +0000

By: penk

penk — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:59:02 +0000

if RIM did choose to take action against BoyGenius, the court of public opinion would do what it could to voice their dissent and plea to RIM that the penalties be minor*.

as for a change in policy, i wouldn’t expect to see such leniency happen often. like was metioned above, if this much detail and proof were released too far in advance it would have the opposite effect. (please see exhibit Q)

* except bobolito who would hand deliver the subpoena

By: penk

penk — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:59:00 +0000

if RIM did choose to take action against BoyGenius, the court of public opinion would do what it could to voice their dissent and plea to RIM that the penalties be minor*.

* except bobolito who would hand deliver the subpoena

By: To jibi

To jibi — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:31:17 +0000

Ok so BG doesn’t work for RIM, my guess is that he must work for the FCC or one of the big carriers. My guess is the FCC because wireless devices need to be approved first.

I’m sure RIM has some legal grounds to get BG in trouble for leaking trade secrets, pretty serious consequences actually. Which then brings us to the question of why BG is doing all of this leaking, if not for the ‘fame’ then what? Pretty big balls if you ask me …

By: To jibi

To jibi — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:31:00 +0000

Ok so BG doesn’t work for RIM, my guess is that he must work for the FCC or one of the big carriers. My guess is the FCC because wireless devices need to be approved first.

By: jibi@bbf

jibi@bbf — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:28:15 +0000

First off, Boy Genius doesn’t work for RIM, nor is he even remotely affiliated with them. He has connections into pretty much ever facet of the mobile industry (as well as other industries) that would make most people VERY envious (trust me, I keep trying to get him to send me his Vertu). Also, as far as fame is concerned, BG doesn’t need any – and trust me, if you think that having his name plastered all over the mobile geek industry is ‘fame’ then you should rewrite your definition for the word and its association to BG.

As far as who Boy Genius really is… let’s just say that he’s something like Batman crossed with the lovechild of Angelina Jolie and Shaggy from Scooby Doo (either the cartoon or Matthew Lillard, as both are equally cool).

It is very smart for RIM to not attack perhaps one of the most resourceful ‘viral marketing’ non-strategies they may have. And sure, this could be somewhat harmful to their current lines (of which it seems the 7130 was a bust and should have been released almost simultaneous with the 8700), although I personally feel that it’s done more good than bad (if the info would have been known and released back in March/April, then I would take the position that it would have been harmful to the 8700 line). The relative dates from leak to launch make absolutely no difference on anything but anticipation and future sales. If they stay on track with a Sept 12 release on T-Mobile and follow up with a pre-Xmas release on Cingular, then this handheld should likely break almost any and all short-term sales records that RIM has.

By: jibi@bbf

jibi@bbf — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:28:00 +0000

By: Robb (RIMarkable)

Robb (RIMarkable) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:15:11 +0000

If RIM really does know who the the Boy Genius is, and they are controlling what he actually leaks, they shouldln’t tell the whole world that they are actually the puppet master pulling the strings.

Once the word gets out that Boy Genius leaks are actually all part of of the master marketing plan, he looses a bit (not a lot, but a bit) of credibility.

By: Robb (RIMarkable)

Robb (RIMarkable) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:15:00 +0000

Once the word gets out that Boy Genius leaks are actually all part of of the master marketing plan, he looses a bit (not a lot, but a bit) of credibility.

By: George

George — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:54:32 +0000

The only issue is that this could set a precedent to RIM employees that leaking information is cool and could possibly get you famous like Boy Genius. If I was RIM I would leak that Boy Genius was fired, but really keep him on and control the leaks because he has some pretty good contacts with the big blogging sites.

By: George

George — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:54:00 +0000

By: Albert

Albert — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:20:23 +0000

I thought many of the same points in this article. There’s really no way that if RIM wanted to clamp down on BG that they wouldn’t. Instead they’ve used it as a way to completely infiltrate geekdom and the prosumer