Posts Tagged ‘BlackBerry’

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BlackBerry unveils new Bold and Pearl smartphones

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) on Monday launched another smartphone — called BlackBerry Bold 9650 — to add another device to its premier Bold brand.

The company also unveiled the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G, its smallest smartphone yet.

“The new BlackBerry Bold 9650 is an extraordinary smartphone that we think customers will love,” said RIM president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. “Whether at work or at play, the new BlackBerry Bold 9650 offers a truly impressive communications, multimedia and connectivity experience,” he said at the launch of the latest smartphones.

About the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G, he said, “The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is unlike any other smartphone in the world and we expect a broad range of new and existing customers will be drawn to its powerful features and compact design.”

Beside a keyboard, optical trackpad and built-in Wi-Fi, the new smartphone also allows users to talk on the phone while browsing the web or sending and receiving email.

Loaded with 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB microSDHC cards, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone supports 3G networks.

Built in stylish design with glossy black finish and chrome highlights, the new device features large high-resolution display which allows pictures, videos and web pages with great contrast and detail, the RIM statement said.

Apart from a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording, the new BlackBerry Bold also features advanced media player for videos, pictures and music, a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and support for Bluetooth.

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G measures less than two inches wide and weighs only 93g. It also features an optical trackpad for smooth navigation, a 3.2 MP camera with flash for quality pictures, and support for up to 32 GB of personal content.

Both the new devices will support mobile applications built by third parties for RIM and carry built-in GPS with support for geo-tagging, BlackBerry Maps and other mapping applications.

“The BlackBerry Bold 9650 fuses form and function in a striking design and, in addition to providing premium phone and multimedia features, it of course delivers the industry’s leading mobile solution for email, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and social networking,” the company said in its statement.

Resource:

http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/gadgets/article411227.ece

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Posted in New Technology | No Comments »

Android, BlackBerry apps drive Ford’s Sync AppLink

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Ford Motor Company announced the launch of Sync AppLink, a downloadable software program enabling auto owners to access Android and BlackBerry smartphone applications via voice commands and vehicle controls. Debuting in association with the 2011 Ford Fiesta, Sync AppLink promises to seamlessly integrate apps with the driver experience, improving eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time; the first wave of Sync-enabled apps, available later this year, includes Pandora web radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter. Android Market and BlackBerry App World will offer updated versions of each app incorporating the Sync API; in addition, Ford will introduce the Sync Mobile Application Developer Network, offering developer tools and resources to collaborate with the automaker on new apps.

The Sync in-car communications and infotainment system is currently standard on all 2010 Lincoln models and available on select 2010 Ford and Mercury models. The service allows drivers to operate most MP3 players, Bluetooth-enabled phones and USB drives using voice commands–additional features include turn-by-turn navigation, realtime traffic updates and business search tools

Resource:

http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/android-blackberry-apps-drive-fords-sync-applink/2010-04-20

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Posted in Mobile Application Devlopment | 3 Comments »

Google Maps for BlackBerry 4.0 Arrives, Brings Voice Search

Friday, April 9th, 2010

The first Google Maps update of the year for BlackBerry mobile devices adds features such as voice search and Google Buzz. Users can also touch a location on a map to get details about a business.

Google has rolled out a Google Maps for Mobile update for BlackBerry handsets. Though this is the first update of the year for BlackBerry users, the wait for Version 4.0 may have been worth it as it includes, among another features, a Search by Voice option.

“Simply press and hold the green ‘call’ button, speak your search and see your results quickly appear without typing a single letter,” Software Engineer Ole CaveLie explained in an April 7 post on the Google Mobile Blog.

Users can speak the name of a specific business—”La Pergola in Los Angeles”—or request a more general search, such as, “Italian restaurants.”

CaveLie also said, “Currently supported languages include multiple English accents and Mandarin Chinese.” (Surely the phrase “multiple English accents” is enough to warrant a download.)

Care to forego voice searching for some tried-and-true typing? A time-saving personalized search function—already enjoyed by Android handset users, CaveLie said—begins pulling up terms that a user has already searched for, using the first letters typed.

Still other new features enable BlackBerry owners to:

“Use Labs to try experimental features like the Scale Bar or Terrain layer (great for hiking enthusiasts!)

See nearby businesses at an address or location by selecting a point from the map.

Report a problem with the map data or a business listing.”

BlackBerry owners can now download Google Maps 4.0 for BlackBerry “by going to m.google.com/maps in your BlackBerry Internet Browser. The update for BlackBerry Enterprise Server administrators and users, including support for BlackBerry OS 5.0 phones, is available here.

RIM’s BlackBerry fan base continues to grow, and in 2009, RIM was second only to Nokia in worldwide smartphone market share, shipping 34.5 million handsets. On March 31, RIM announced revenue of $14.95 million for fiscal year 2010, up 35 percent from a year earlier.

However, according to AdMob, the fastest-growing smartphone operating system in the United States is Google’s Android.

Google’s Nexus One smartphone, as Google reminds visitors to its Google Maps for Mobile page, comes with Google Maps preinstalled.

Resource:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-Maps-for-BlackBerry-40-Now-Available-Includes-Voice-Search-670557/

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LinkedIn app gets the thumbs up

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

The new LinkedIn application for the Blackberry has received a positive response from early users, although they say a few tweaks could make it even better.

LinkedIn for BlackBerry v1.0 was launched on Tuesday and lets professionals access the social networking site on the go.

Sales professional Matt Bush said the application was easy to use, although he added it offers a different experience to accessing the social network from a computer.

“When I access LinkedIn on my Blackberry, the home screen is network updates, a bit like Twitter,” said Bush. “Normally, I’m used to seeing my inbox first when I login.”

“I think the application will be useful if I’m out and about and I quickly need to access information on someone that I’m going to see. I also like it how it allows you to email your LinkedIn contacts easily. I actually find it easier to find a contact through the application than I do from my phone.”

Bush said he would use the LinkedIn application more than he does the Facebook application for Blackberry.

“It’s difficult to update Facebook from my Blackberry and difficult to find things,” he said.

However, Bush said he would not be using the application as much as he does the Twitter application for Blackberry. “The Twitter application is the best. I even access Twitter from by Blackberry while I’m at the office.”

Comments left on the LinkedIn blog in response to the announcement have been generally positive, but a few users have asked when the application will be available for the Blackberry Storm.

At the moment the free application is available immediately for owners of BlackBerry Tour, Curve and Bold series smartphones, and operates on devices running BlackBerry OS 4.3 or later.

“I’ve downloaded the app, spent some time on it, and think that it’s definitely a solid first addition. It’s easy to navigate, it’s easy on the eyes and it’s fairly fast — which is nice,” said a poster by the name of BlinkedIn.

Resource:

http://labs.v3.co.uk/2010/04/linkedin-app-ge.html

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Posted in Application Development | No Comments »

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