901am

New Media News Every Morning

Android Ice Cream Sandwich vs BlackBerry OS 7

By

In the near future both Google and RIM will each offer new versions of their portable device operating systems. Google will introduce Android Ice Cream, an OS that integrates all the best features from previous builds into one powerful software. RIM, meanwhile, will update its BlackBerry OS to version 7, an update that many believe will be able to stand toe to toe with the popular Android. In order to separate truth from conjecture, we decided to compare the two operating systems to see which comes out ahead.

Web Experience
No longer content with keeping pace with its competitors, RIM has fully upgraded its browser with support for HTML5 and Flash. Furthermore, the tailored made Just in Time javascript engine renders HTML much faster than its predecessors. In fact, benchmarks have shown that the BlackBerry OS 7 outperforms the iOS, Windows Phone 7, and Android in loading web pages.

Android Ice Cream also provides a faster experience than its predecessor, Gingerbread. Flash and HTML5 content load quickly, with easily manageable tabs. The fact that it still runs slower than the BlackBerry OS 7 is a testament to RIM’s development team. [Read more…]

Originally posted on September 29, 2011 @ 5:13 pm

Android vaults over iOS in Europe

By

This will definitely rattle Apple’s cage, even for just a moment.

According to study conducted by ComScore, a digital research company, the Android mobile operating system has increased in popularity in five significant European markets, overtaking Apple’s iOS, and becoming the second most popular mobile operating system in the area.

The ComScore study revealed that Android usage has dramatically increased over the year and is now firmly entrenched in second place behind Nokia’s Symbian OS, which is still the top mobile platform in many areas in Europe. [Read more…]

Originally posted on September 14, 2011 @ 4:34 pm

Can Blackberry Make A Comeback?

By

Despite releasing a decent Blackberry smartphone as well as a tablet that is out selling everyone save iPad 2, investors do not seem to be pleased with RIM overall.

“We believe RIM has now squandered nearly every opportunity and competitive advantage it enjoyed through ineffective R&D resource management, delayed product launches and misreads of the competitive environment,” Morgan Stanley analyst Ehud Gelblum wrote in a note to clients on Friday. (Wall Street Journal)

While it’s still too early to write off the company as the next Titanic, if RIM doesn’t find a way to change their current state of affairs, they will end up suffering Nokia’s fate (who ditched their home grown OS MeeGo for Windows Phone 7). [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 13, 2011 @ 4:16 pm

Blackberry Investors Seeking Coup Against RIM?

By

The RIM investors are restless, and apparently there are murmurings for a new CEO to replace the two co-CEO’s currently running the Blackberry empire.

“These guys are very emotionally invested, taxed for time, and feel the pressure of being left behind and seeing your market fade away,” said an investor at a top-30 fund that would likely support but not instigate an activist play.

In an open letter ahead of the BlackBerry conference, Northern Securities analyst Sameet Kanade asked RIM to consider dropping Balsillie as a co-CEO, among other recommendations. (Reuters)

Unfortunately for some of the investors, Balsillie and Lazaridis both share power not only as co-CEO’s, but also apparently as chairman of the board (note: do they rotate with each other?)

Forcing either of them out would require not only a large amount of cash (as one has to buy up a certain percentage of stock), but also a viable plan from the rebel investor to challenge Apple and Android in the upcoming smartphone wars.

Although it’s doubtful that RIM can recover from the blow Apple dealt them during the launch of the iPhone, Blackberry does have a shot of thriving in the tablet arena (as the company is beating everyone save iPad 2).

That latter fact might be Balsillie’s key towards silencing his critics (although if TouchPad steals the silver from Playbook, it might be over for both co-CEO’s).

Do you think RIM should replace their co-CEO, or should the company come up with a better strategy for their Blackberry phone?

(Image via Blackberry Insight)

Originally posted on May 30, 2011 @ 5:13 pm

Why Is RIM Courting iOS And Android?

By

Apparently RIM has decided to expand IT management solutions beyond the Blackberry and upon other mobile OS devices.

Unfortunately the company pulled the press release from their website, although bloggers and journalists were able to view some of the juiciest details before it was pulled.

The single web-based console is being designed to provide IT administrators with a simple and efficient way to distribute software and manage policies, inventory, security and services for BlackBerry devices, as well as other mobile devices. IT administrators will be able to manage devices over-the-air, including activating devices, distributing software and applications, locking or wiping devices, enforcing and resetting device passwords, setting IT policies, and managing optional mobile applications for end users.  (Courtesy of ZD Net, original PR from RIM)

The company is planning on supporting smartphones upon other platforms including iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and Android (the latter which RIM has been courting for quite some time).

While while embracing rivals will boost RIM’s image amongst IT professionals (as they’ll only need one tool to managed multiple smartphone OS’s), it’s probably also a sign that RIM is losing confidence in their ability to compete against iOS and Android.

RIM seems to be preparing themselves for a corporate world dominated by iOS and Android devices, with Blackberry smartphones becoming a rarity instead of the norm.

Originally posted on May 2, 2011 @ 1:54 pm