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Blackberry Torch: What’s Black And White And Red All Over?

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After launching the Blackberry Torch to the masses, RIM is now allowing new users to purchase their premier smartphone in two additional colors.

However the best news may not be the ability to purchase the device in a different skin, but also at a different price as well.

Best of all, the price has dropped from the original $200 down to just $99 for both the black and the coloured versions. Of course, you’ve been able to pick it up from places other than AT&T for that price for quite some time now, but an AT&T price drop may just mean you can find it for even less elsewhere. (MobileCrunch) [Read more…]

Originally posted on November 8, 2010 @ 2:01 pm

Should Bing! Buy SnapShots? (Microsoft)

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Dear Bing!, we have a problem. Despite the fact that you were able to assimilate Yahoo! search (without having to buy the whole company), you are still falling behind your number one nemesis, Google.

Not only has Google come out with Instant Search, but now they are already rolling out their preview feature to the masses.

Instant Previews provides a graphic overview of a search result and highlights the most relevant sections, making finding the right page as quick and easy as flipping through a magazine. To use it, click once on the magnifying glass next to the title of any search result and a visual overview of the page will appear on the right. From there, hover your cursor over any other result to see a preview. (Official Google Blog)

Although Microsoft could simply hire a few extra engineers to create the same exact thing upon Bing!, it might be a better idea to acquire a startup by the name of Snap Shots instead. [Read more…]

Originally posted on November 11, 2010 @ 2:52 pm

Windows Phone 7 Hacked?

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It looks like developers are not the only ones going crazy over Windows Phone 7, as apparently Microsoft’s cherished smartphone has fallen prey to hackers.

Well, today it looks like the Windows Phone 7 platform will get its jailbreak on in the near future, as WP7 devs have already confirmed that they’ve hit the first major milestone on the way to jailbroken nirvana – they’ve managed to gain root access to the Windows Phone 7 file system. The next step, apparently, is to open up this file-system to unofficial, “jailbroken” apps that would theoretically endow the phone with snzzy [sic] new features – like, (cough, cough) cut-and-paste. (IntoMobile)

Although Microsoft will probably see the hack as a security breach (as the mobile OS is locked down just like iOS), the software giant should probably take the jailbreak as a compliment, especially in light of the small number of Windows Phone 7 devices sold.

Instead of trying to find ways of thwarting hackers for attempting to customize the device (whether through themes, additional features or unapproved apps), Microsoft should reach out to them in order to help enhance the device in their war against iOS and Android.

Originally posted on November 12, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

Would You Buy A Blackberry Playbook For $500?

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After showing off Blackberry’s answer to the iPad, RIM is reportedly considering selling the Playbook below $500 USD in an attempt to give their tablet some leverage against Apple.

Research In Motion Ltd., moving into the tablet-computer market for the first time, said it will begin selling its BlackBerry PlayBook for less than $500, suggesting RIM may try to undercut Apple Inc.’s iPad. […]

RIM may sell the Playbook through retail stores of Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. in the U.S. as well through carriers, Balsillie said.

“Looking at both channels is the likely target,” he said. (Business Week)

The reduced price makes sense considering that the Blackberry Playbook is much smaller than the iPad, which means that users will have less screen real estate to navigate (giving RIM’s tablet a more “crowded” feeling).

In order to remain competative against Apple, RIM may have to reduce the Playbook’s price by at least $100 in order to convince customers to even consider their tablet, especially considering the fact that the Playbook will only tether with Blackberry devices.

Ironically Blackberry Playbook’s success may depend upon the slew of Android tablets that will be hitting stores for the holiday season, whose prices could undercut RIM and make their cherished tablet irrelevant in the eyes of users.

(Hat Tip: Daring Fireball)

Originally posted on November 10, 2010 @ 2:49 pm

Google Docs Courts Web App (But No Native App?)

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Despite launching a native app for Google Voice, it looks like the search engine giant is continuing its embrace of web apps by allowing users to edit their documents directly from the mobile browser.

With Google Docs, we’re always trying to make you more productive—and part of that means making it possible for you to get things done from anywhere, at anytime. That’s why we’re excited that the new documents editor now supports editing on your mobile browser. We’re rolling this out over the next few days. […]

In the next few days, we’re rolling this out to English-language users around the world on Android with Froyo (version 2.2) and on iOS devices (version 3.0+) including the iPad. We’ll be adding support for other languages soon. And as before, we also support editing of spreadsheets from your mobile device’s browser. (Official Google Docs Blog)

Android and iOS users can visit docs.google.com in order to edit documents upon their tiny screens, although truth be told users are better off using something larger like an iPad or Galaxy Tab by Samsung.

Despite requests from their comment section, Google has not indicated whether they will consider creating a native iOS app for users, although truth be told there are third party companies (like Docs To Go) that sync with Google Docs (providing you are willing to pay the price).

Unfortunately Google seems to have left out three other phones in the cold (hint: Windows Phone 7, Blackberry and Palm Pre), although the company will hopefully provide support for those devices in the future.

Originally posted on November 17, 2010 @ 3:20 pm