MacBlogz - One Stop Apple News » Blackberry

Blackberry Ad Takes Aim at Apple

Dave — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:12:23 +0000

9to5 Mac points us toward a recent Blackberry ad which depicts a not-so-subtle metaphor of a blackberry ripping through an Apple.

Wow, did they think of that all on their own? It may not get any more unoriginal than this.

Leaked RIM Documents: Blackberry Media Sync App for Mac

Aviv — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:14:20 +0000

According to the Boy Genius Report, RIM is finally releasing a native Media Sync application for mac users.

Apparently the application is in a very early stage, and currently it can only sync iTunes playlists to a memory card or the device itself. In its full version you’ll be able to sync music, photos and videos as well. It’s a major step in the right direction seeing as how Google’s Android offers NO syncing application at all. A major gripe many have with the platform and the T-Mobile G1 itself.

RIM has been hard at work on the Mac side of things, and we’ve got a first look at BlackBerry Media Sync for Mac. This isn’t a final version so don’t get too depressed that the options are pretty limited at this time. We’d expect the final software to break down media types like photos, music, videos, and more. In its current state you can only sync music from your iTunes playlists, and it’s all very straight-forward. As far as the options go, you can choose where to sync your music to (device or memory card), choose to select individual playlists or all of them, BGR explains.

Ars points out that if these leaked images are even real, users will only be able to sync DRM-free tracks from iTunes playlists, seeing as how Apple hasn’t licensed out its Fairplay DRM to anyone. Essentially, preventing any device from playing restricted or encrypted tracks.

Currently, syncing a Blackberry with a Mac isn’t a seamless process like you would think. Users need to install an application such as PocketMac and go at it themselves. RIM, unfortunately hasn’t partnered with any developers to offer their customers a solution for free. “In addition to the personal relief that this client is rumored to arrive sometime in the first half of 2009, a native BlackBerry app straight from the horse’s mouth is a massive nod to the Mac platform and its adoption,” Ars explains.

In other words… This could be huge, as well as a rather dubiously complimenting way for RIM to try and snag market share from Apple’s iPhone.

[via Gizmodo]

Blackberry Thunder may be Released in October

Dave — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:02:29 +0000

I would take the following with adequate grains of salt. The website Fudzilla, is reporting that Research in Motion (Nasdaq:RIM) has confirmed a tentative launch date of October 8th for their answer to an “iPhone killer”, the Blackberry Thunder.

The report states that the device will be equipped with a 480×320 touch-screen, a 3.2 MP camera, microSD expansion and OTA MP3 downloads via Rhapsody. Lets face it, for their to be any chance of an “iPhone Killer” to exist, there needs to be some sort of iTunes competition in place. While Rhapsody provides some sort of a solution to this problem, will it really be as versatile in the long run? I wouldn’t count on it.

The Thunder is also reported to sport four physical buttons, including Call, Menu, Back, and End as well as having a landscape mode similar to the iPhone.

While the alleged launch date is not set for another two months, we are still getting a better sense for when consumers can expect to see it on shelves. Verizon, who had originally passed on iPhone exclusivity, is reported to be the sole carrier of the Blackberry Thunder.

I’ll bet those Verizon execs hide an iPhone under their pillow and play with it when everyone else falls asleep.