Posted on June 30, 2008, at 4:25 pm .
With the recent release of Roger’s new BlackBerry data rates and the unveiling of their iPhone voice and data rates on Friday, we thought now would be a good time to offer a head-to-head comparison of both plans. Unfortunately, while Rogers has updated their data-only plans, they have yet to update their integrated voice and data plan, leaving us to compare the iPhone plan with its approximate BlackBerry counterparts. Still, the results are surprising and might impact your next smartphone purchase.
(Original image Alex Eben Meyer via Slate)
Click here to see the Rogers data and voice rate comparison
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 3:32 pm .
Previous rumours were pointing to a July 15th. release date for the BlackBerry 9000, but the latest is pointing to a little bit later. Vancouver’s launch party is July 17th., which would definitely nix the old rumour, so the 25th. sounds like it’s in the right ball park. That being said, an August release on AT&T doesn’t sound that bad at all, although BlackBerry and the 3G iPhone are apparently close enough in the races for a few weeks release difference to make or break many sales.
(via CB)
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 2:47 pm .
Sounds awfully ambitious, but there are rumblings that the OS 4.6, which is coming out with the BlackBerry Javelin, will be packing a multiplayer gaming platform. You’d think pros like Magmic might be in on something like this, but we’ve heard nary a peep from our Ottawa neighbours. Bplay already has a separate multiplayer service they work through, so if anything, RIM’s developing something in-house. Cool idea, if nothing else.
OS 4.6.1, launching with the BlackBerry Javelin, will also be sporting some cell-tower recognition to provide some light location service, along with a safe mode to make software testing a little easier. Hey, speaking of the Javelin, we hear there’s still a BlackBerry 8900 out there, which could very well be the Javelin. Jibi also has it that the flip BlackBerry Kickstart has been rebranded as the 8220 and 8210, which both check out for our sources. It looks like the BlackBerry Bold is going to be in a class of its own for awhile…
(via BlackBerry News)
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 12:48 pm .
Tele Atlas has just announced that over the next five years they’ll be providing Google with all of the mapping info they suck up through the satellites, along with everything they’ve already piled up. This means that fancy Google Maps app for BlackBerry with the newfangled transit info will have a healthy booster shot of photos and information. Tele Atlas has done a lot of good work with mobile GPS applications, and partnering with Google is solid step to doing more.
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 11:33 am .
BerryVine’s BlackBox launched recently, offering project-based travel tracking. Clock in, track your movement, and clock out. This would make for quick expensing, and can report time just as easily in a variety of file formats. This is definitely a more flexible system than RideCharge, and seems really easy to use. You can grab for € 49,95 over here, or give the trial a shot by downloading BlackBox over the air from bb.berryvine.com.
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 10:51 am .
Carriers have a pretty solid relationship with RIM, but as soon as you get second-degree stores like Carphone Warehouse and Wireless Giant, things must get a little stickier. Luckily, Brightstar has recently started up some work with Verizon and RIM to provide better support to indirect sales outlets. The new program provides “marketing, sales, inventory management and credit management programs” for the little guys to help push BlackBerrys out through new channels.
Posted on June 30, 2008, at 8:45 am .
So, the aforementioned BlackBerry Internet Service upgrade went through this weekend, but word has it that the matching version 4.5 handheld software won’t be available until September. The biggest kick in the teeth here is the lack of HTML email viewing, but those who have smuggled the early betas of the OS onto their BlackBerry will be able to enjoy the feature on BIS. OS 4.5 will bring some other goodies to the table, like native file downloading in a variety of formats (including audio and video) up to 3 MB and document editing. Integration with AOL and Windows Live won’t require the new OS, and is being offered right now with BIS 2.5. For further features of the new BlackBerry Internet Service, check out this knowledgebase article.
(via BGR)
Posted on June 27, 2008, at 4:52 pm .
The illustrious Mr. Douglas Soltys graces us with his presence this episode, as we run down the week’s news…
All MP3 and no iTunes makes RSS a dull boy.
Also on BerryTunes, for streaming podcasts right to your BlackBerry!
Posted on June 27, 2008, at 1:47 pm .
If chugging through the BlackBerry OS to load up ringtones is too much hassle, Ringo just added a bunch of new ringtones to their app, letting you easily pick and chose up to 50 from a variety of styles for all your incoming alerts. Feeling Christmassy? Load up some “Deck the Halls” in the middle of summer just to confuse passersby. Maybe you get a lot of calls from ex-girlfriends – well, you can group them all together and give them the same dour, foreboding classical tune. Even if you have a specific MP3 you want to load up, like Dumb & Dumber’s “Most Annoying Sound in the World” for the in-laws, Ringo makes it all really easy. Check it out!
Posted on June 27, 2008, at 10:14 am .
I believe it was Mark Twain BBCool Simon who once said, “If you own the tracks and the trains, you own the passengers.” In Canada, if there was ever a modern day version of the great train barons, it would be the telecoms: 3 year contracts, expensive data plans compared to our U.S. counterparts, lizards selling phones… it’s terrible.
Yesterday Simon had a great interview with Canadian MP David McGuinty, who has introduced a bill to eliminate extraneous wireless costs like data overages and system access fees and unlock all phones. However, we want to do one better and bestow the BlackBerry Nation with the (hypothetical) power to regulate carriers any way you see fit. What will you do?
The person who posts the best comment will win a FREE YEAR-LONG 30G SUBSCRIPTION TO SUGARSYNC and a sweet BLACKBERRY COOL TEE SHIRT.
Click here to see last week’s Weekly Contest winner!
