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One of the best reasons to upgrade your Playbook to OS 2.0 is its support of Android apps through an emulation engine called the Android Player. The use of such an app is fairly seamless, since it opens in a full screen window that incorporates many of the existing Playbook features such as swiping down to make the menu bar appear.

But there seems to be something fishy going on behind the scenes. Dolphin Browser HD, one of the most popular third-party browsers in the Android Market, was made available for download by a company called Handster. Turns out, though, Handster had nothing to do with the development of Dolphin, and merely packaged and submitted it to the BlackBerry App World in spite of of developer MoboTap. Handster seems to be submitting both free and paid Android apps to the App World irrespective of whether the original developer intended for it to be available.

Handster is a publishing company owned by none other than Opera, the creators of its own popular Android browser. MoboTap has expressed concern over this practice and is looking to have Dolphin Browser HD removed from the App World listings. I had a chance to test it myself and found performance to be about as poor as possible on a tablet, coming nowhere close to the fluidity of the native Playbook OS 2.0 browser.

MoboTap claimed, “We do not condone Handster submitting our Dolphin Browser app to BlackBerry’s App World for us and are currently working to take it down and assure Handster will not submit our app for us again. We will assess developing for BlackBerry when the time is right.” We think that is the correct strategy, and it’s unfortunate that the Android capabilities of the Playbook are being taken advantage of by publishers with dubious intentions.

Neither Handster or RIM have responded to calls for why third-party publishers are allowed to repackage and submit existing Android apps, but we’ll let you know if they do.

Source: Engadget

Related posts:

1. Over 1500 apps have been submitted to BlackBerry App World, 6600 developers registered in last two weeks
2. RIM: BlackBerry apps generate 40% more profit than Android apps, App World is the 2nd most profitable app store
3. BlackBerry App World now has over 10,000 apps

MobileSyrup.com

RIM may release the BlackBerry codenamed Colt, its first QNX-based “superphone,” in the first quarter of 2012.

In order to get this smartphone horse to market quickly there will be some compromises, the BlackBerry Colt will have single-core processor and may be launched without BlackBerry Enterpirse server.  In order to use email on the QNX BlackBerry businesses will have to use Microsoft Active Sync.

RIM is reportedly aiming to release the BlackBerry Colt  some time in the
first quarter of 2012, obviously depending on how internal testing
goes which is currently in process now.

QNX software is supposed to help make BlackBerry smartphones more competitive.

QNX is full-featured robust that scales down to meet the constraints of real-time embedded systems.

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

CrackBerry published a leaked roadmap from Wireless Giant (BlackBerry) stores showing BlackBerry release dates and prices including the BlackBerry TV (Cyclone) but is listed according to codename.  To make it easier for you with have written out the release dates and prices for the most popular BlackBerry smartphones.

The 4G BlackBerry Torch 9810 (.99) from AT&T and Sprint Touch Bold 9930 (9.00) have August 21 release dates.

The CDMA BlackBerry Torch 9850 has a September 1 release date and 9 price tag.  This most likely is the Sprint BlackBerry Torch . 

The BlackBerry TV (Cyclone) will have October 31 release date.

The AT&T BlackBerry Torch 9860 (Monza) is priced at 9 and 4G BlackBerry
Bold 9900(Dakota) priced at 9 are shown to have November 6 and
November 20 release date respectively.

BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 9930 is the world’s thinnest phone with a dedicated QWERTY keyboard and 2.8″ touchscreen.  Features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1.2GHz processor, GPS, NFC (Near
Field Communications), microSD slot, 5MP camera, 768MB of RAM, 8GB
onboard memory, and a 1230mAh battery.

The 4G BlackBerry Torch
9860 is called the “multimedia powerhouse” with a 3.7″ 253ppi high-resolution touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 1.2GHz processor, GPS,  microSD slot, 5MP camera, 768MB of RAM and 4GB
onboard memory.

As we know from the past, release dates for smartphones can be delayed and can change due to “issues” with networks.

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

RIM purchased QNX Software Systems back in 2010 for 0 million. At the time the company was solely focused on bringing the web to the automotive market. Over the past few months we’ve seen RIM expand the OS into their PlayBook, and also acknowledge that future BlackBerry smartphones will be powered by QNX.

During the recent Q2 financial results Mike Lazaridis, RIM co-CEO, said “Development efforts on the first QNX-based smartphone products are going extremely well. We plan to ensure that when we launch the product will have the features, industrial design and content and app ecosystem it needs to deliver a dynamic and industry leading customer experience. The development platform for QNX phones will be presented in more detail at DevCon in October, and prototype phones featuring the QNX operating system and development platform will be available in the not to distant future.”

Now a slide from the recent QNX Auto Summit in Japan shows the letters “BBX”, this is the abbreviation that RIM is expected to rename the OS, letting go of the familiar BlackBerry OS and possibly bringing the company under one unified brand.

So it’s certainly a time of transition for RIM, but an exciting transition. It’ll be interesting to see what these new BBX/QNX-based prototype smartphones will be like, both in looks and raw power. Over the past few months rumours surfaced of a touchscreen device with a dual-core processor that goes by the code name of “Colt”.

The BlackBerry DevCon is happening on October 18th in San Fransisco.

Source: CrackBerry

Related posts:

1. Audio: Lazaridis says BlackBerry QNX-based smartphones “will be available in the not to distant future”
2. Live from the BlackBerry World 2011 Keynote presentation
3. CNET: “Priceless” iPhone 5 prototype lost in a bar, possibly sold on Craigslist for 0

MobileSyrup.com

BlackBerry maker RIM is helping London police in investigating the use of BlackBerry Messenger by rioters who use it to plan disturbances and undermine police. Concerned citizen are also forwarding messages to police. Here’s a case where enterprise security is making Londoners and police feel very insecure.

David Lammy, the U.K.’s intellectual-property minister,
today called for a suspension of BlackBerry service to prevent
its use among rioters to communicate plans, according to a
statement from his office. BBM is encrypted and police can’t access it.

Research in Motion  posted a
message on its official U.K. Twitter account last night saying,
“We feel for those impacted by the riots in London. We have
engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can.”

Research In Motion’s Inside BlackBerry blog was
hacked today by a group called Teampoison. The group
posted a warning to the company not to cooperate with police.

“You Will _NOT_ assist the UK Police because
if u do innocent members of the public who were at the wrong place at
the wrong time and owned a blackberry will get charged for no reason at
all,” the statement said.

“If you
do assist the police by giving them chat logs, gps locations, customer
information & access to peoples BlackBerryMessengers you will regret
it, we have access to your database which includes your employees
information; e.g – Addresses, Names, Phone Numbers etc. – now if u
assist the police, we _WILL_ make this information public and pass it
onto rioters,” it said.”

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

Of course there are always slight possibilities of shipping delays, inventory etc… but this is the second time that the August 15th release date for the upcoming TELUS BlackBerry Torch 9810 and Torch 9860 has shown up. Still no word on what price points TELUS will be launching these new OS 7 devices for, probably expect the no-contract prices to be around the same as Rogers… just 1-week away now!

More soon!
(Thanks tipster!)

Related posts:

1. TELUS launching BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9810 and Torch 9860 August 15th
2. Update: TELUS says the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9810 and 9860 are “coming soon”
3. Bell to release the BlackBerry Torch 9810, Bold 9900, Torch 9860 and Curve 9360

MobileSyrup.com

Back in February RIM announced that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has 35 million worldwide subscribers and 2 thousand new users were being added every hour. Today at BlackBerry World 2011 RIM shouted out a bigger number with 43 million active users with 2 million new users per month. RIM also showed that BBM saw a 110% [...]

Related posts:

1. Facebook has 15 million active mobile users: “people are hungry”
2. Facebook for iPhone has over 100 million active users
3. Poynt app seeing 15,000 new users a day

MobileSyrup.com

If you’re planning support our Canadian tech pride and joy Research In Motion and grab hold of the BlackBerry PlayBook tomorrow you have several options. First, here’s a full list of the Canadian retailers who are selling this tablet: Bell, Best Buy, Chapters / Indigo, Costco, Future Shop, Mobilicity, MTS Allstream, Rogers, Sasktel, Sears, ShopBlackBerry.com, [...]

Related posts:

1. Staples Canada showing April 15th for BlackBerry PlayBook “District Challenge”
2. TELUS BlackBerry PlayBook also includes a 45-minute session with a “Playbook pro specialist”
3. Mobilicity employees start BlackBerry PlayBook training

MobileSyrup.com

TS2R Wireless News from Wireless and Mobile News

BlackBerry Twitter 1.1 Out – Twitter for BlackBerry version 1.1 is free and now available in BlacBerry App World. New features include location for Tweets, updated interface and streamlined layout for Add Photo and Add Locations on the Home screen.

Cheaper Kindle with Ads Added – Amazon has launched a cheaper version of it Kindle Wi-Fi eReader called Amazon Kindle with Special Offers for 4 with screensaver adds by Amazon partners.

Sprint Music Plus Debuts – Sprint is offering a new music service, Sprint Music Plus, powered by RealNetworks. The service features playlists, ringack tones, music search by  artist/title/keyword, organization features, previews and reccomendations.   DRM-free full tracks range from .69 to .29 per song.
Customers are charged for music on their Sprint bill.

Cricket Moves to Muve Music in More States -Cricket Muve Music is now available in new Cricket markets across the nation. Beginning today Muve Music will be available in Lexington and Louisville, KY; Cincinnati and Dayton, OH; Kansas City and St. Louis, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; San Antonio, Del Rio-Eagle Pass, El Paso, McAllen, Laredo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Harlingen, TX; Portland, Eugene and Salem, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; and Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, NM.

Verizon & Motorola Win Harris Poll - Verizon was named the Mobile Networks Brand of the Year among consumers according to the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend study. Motorola placed first for mobile phones followed by HTC, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Apple.

Full news stories today included new trademarked HTC names, T-Mobile Mobile 4G Hotspot, AT&T LG Thrive prepaid smartphone and HTC Sensation announcement by T-Mobile. 

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

TS2R Wireless News from Wireless and Mobile News


AT&T Slashes Prices - AT&T has slashed the prices on some of its most popular smartphones with a two-year contract.  The Samsung Captivate now costs .99.  The BlackBerry Torch, Samsung Focus, and LG Quantum are all .99, while the BlackBerry Curve 3G has been reduced to .99.

Sony Ericsson No Japan Disaster Impact – Sony Ericsson does not expect any significant impart on its business operation due to the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Google Paves the Way for Payments with MasterCard and Citi - Google is working with MasterCard and Citigroup to embed NFC payments.  Google will give retailers data about the payers.

RIM’s PlayBook Makes Play to Play Android Apps – RIM has added Android support for its PlayBook tablet.  The apps will work via app players for both BlackBerry Java apps, and Android (2.3) apps.  These new app players will allow users to download Java and Android apps from BlackBerry App World and run them on the PlayBook alongside native apps.

AT&T Coupon-Link  Off AT&T Wireless with Plan
for new customers with a contract.  See details at deals page.

Full news articles today include a new HTC Windows Phone app, HTC Compass, Motorola Atrix update, and a mobile email filtering miracle.

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS