The most exciting thing that we saw this week — or, rather, late last week — was Boy Genius Report’s walk-through of OS 6 on the Bold 9700. There had been much confusion as to the new OS’s availability on older devices. We had heard that it would only work on devices with 512MB of RAM, meaning older devices needed not apply. But now it appears that some older devices might be eligible. Many of you, I’m sure, have seen the video, but we still want to lead with it, because it’s that important.
OS 6 running on the 9700
Here’s BGR’s takeaway line:
Comparing BlackBerry 6 on the 9700 to BlackBerry 6 on the 9800, we feel that the 9700 runs it better. It is less complicated to use, more functional (at least for us), and above all, faster. It even boots up in around a minute.
When will this hit? On what devices will it become available? These are questions we just can’t answer yet. But it doesn’t seem too far off.
RIM’s rotating keyboard patent
Patent applications can be fun. Most of the time they describe devices that we’ll never see. For instance, RIM patented a slider device back in 2007 or 2008, and while they did release a slider it was not anything like the device described. Their latest you can see above. It comes from GoRumors, and, well, I’d have a hard time describing it myself. Here’s the take from the patent application, which was apparently filed in 2009:
In a first aspect, a handheld electronic device, such as a smartphone, has a first device member and a second device member that are connected via a connector. The second device member is rotatable about a rotation axis that is canted relative to an axis of the second device member. As a result, when the second device member is rotated between a first position and a second position, its orientation changes. This may facilitate, for example, switching the handheld electronic device between a text entry mode and a telephone mode.
Essentially, the device has a rotating keyboard that features both a numerical keypad and a QWERTY keyboard. The point of this? I have no idea. I’m pretty confident in saying that we’ll never see such a device. Then again, I never thought RIM would release a full-sized clamshell, so I’ve been wrong before.
(Via BerryReview)
RIM acquired Cellmania to help with App World
The above image really says it all. Cellmania is a company that, as TechCrunch puts it, “builds and licenses the software that drives many mobile phone stores.” It looks like they’ll continue to do that for existing customers, but now that RIM has acquired them it will mean much deeper work with App World. Which is always a good thing. RIM has made strides with their app platform in the year and change it has existed, and acquiring a company like Cellmania signals that they’re serious bout becoming the best.
Roundup
- Early in the week we learned that Verizon will get into the prepaid BlackBerry game. Later in the week Rogers launched their own prepaid BlackBerry. The device costs $350 and the plans range from $40 to $55 per month.
- Should RIM build a device that runs the Android OS? Robb at RIMarkable lists five reasons why they should.
- Where will the BlackBerry tablet stand among its peers?
- It’s no surprise that RIM doesn’t have as large a share of the mobile ad market as Android or the iPhone. But they’re growing.
- A quick look at the OS 6 theme builder.
- Is Sprint having issues with the 9330? Delays are always a shame.
