Archive for July, 2009
BlackBerry App World
Jul 9th
BlackBerry App World, RIM’s answer to Apple’s app store, now holds 2000 Applications. But is it enough?? not for me, the pricing of apps is ridiculous in comparison to those of the iPhone and Android and RIM need to step up a gear in encouraging developers to release more apps at affordable prices. The usability of App World is somewhat lacking too! there is no way to separate the free apps from the paid for or the old from the new, and for PayPal haters there is no way of purchasing.
Before Apple’s iPhone, the apps found upon a BlackBerry where somewhat unique, I mean when RIM released the FaceBook app no other phone manufacturer or developer had such an amazing piece of kit others tried and failed miserably, RIM had this knack of making things work and making them desirable.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think BlackBerry have taken a step backwards, but I do feel they need to be quicker in taking a step forwards. The iPhone really has taken off and people will stop at nothing to get one, even the ridiculous pricing doesn’t seem to put people off. Google and its Android OS is coming on leaps and bounds with views of the “Hero” leaving many a jaw dropped and now with Sony Ericsson’s effort “Rachael” confirmed by GSMArena, very soon the market will be flooded with sexy looking Android devices.
OS 5.0 for BlackBerry cannot come soon enough in my opinion, especially now that the iPhone has push capabilities, even my G1 buzzes before the Bold™ when I get an email!
Though for anyone who has ever used a BlackBerry you will know they still have a mysterious attraction which will keep me coming back to a phone that “just works”.
Google Chrome OS
Jul 8th
Google announced today its intentions to bring their own Operating System to market by next year, the OS which is built upon Linux and mostly web based, is built from the ground up eradicating problems found in other OS’s with security issues leading to a virus free OS much like good old OSx.
Google have also said that the new OS is completely seperate from Android as they are both aimed at seperate devices, Android to cover mobile phones, set-top boxes and netbooks, where as Chrome OS will be aimed at netbooks and larger devices. Chrome Os will run on x86 and ARM chips and they have already bagged a few undisclosed manufacturers to bring the devices and OS to market in the second half of next year.
Chrome Os will be open source and the applications will be web based meaning they will not only run on dedicated machines but also any device running a standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux. This means there will be more interest in the writing of apps if they are multiplatform without too much or very little messing around.
Google hope to bring simplicity to the masses with the new web based OS, simply put an Os that boots within seconds day after day, automatic back ups to web based servers, and no lengthy installation process for new applications.
In reply to my Shazam gripe!
Jul 8th
Back in June I moaned about having to pay for Shazam for the BlackBerry whilst I could use their service completely free on the G1, in my haste I removed Shazam from the Bold as I couldn’t use it without paying yet I am told it is still free from numerous sources including Shazam, and that I will have limited use of the app + adverts unless I pay up.
For some reason I couldn’t use the app whatsoever without payment and I hadn’t used it for a while so I couldn’t have reached the limits set by Shazam. So I guess I’ll have to install it again and give it another go!
As mentioned I emailed Shazam and this is the response they gave:
“We make significant investments in developing applications for each platform and we always try to find the right balance so we may offer Shazam to the masses in an affordable and fair way.
We believe that Shazam is a compelling and popular service for music lovers, and feedback from our existing customers has indicated that they would be very happy to pay a small fee for the Shazam service. However, we’ve looked at how they use Shazam and have recognized that users have different requirements.
There will always be a free Shazam service - on a limited usage and feature set - supported by advertising with an upgrade path for a full-featured version with a small up-front fee or pay a monthly subscription for a premium service. In time, we expect to have this pricing model consistent across all the platforms that host the Shazam application."
So there we have it! more info over @ Shazam!
Sony Ericsson’s return to form???
Jul 8th
As an ex Sony Ericsson fan I was pleased to see the rumoured Android device dubbed “Rachael” appear across many a website these last couple of days.
I must say I really do like the look of this new device, by far the sexiest looking Android device to date. Rumoured to be sporting an 8MP AF camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 3D accelerator and the all important 3.5mm headphone jack (perhaps my biggest gripe with the G1).
There are also numerous sites sporting videos of the rumoured makeover Sony Ericsson have applied to Android, much in the same way HTC have with the Hero. There is no mention as to who will be making this device, but if it’s HTC and I were they, I would be keeping this sexy little number for myself!
One thing about Android and the makeovers the OS is now getting from the likes of HTC, these only go to compliment the extremely capable OS that lies beneath unlike with a Windows Mobile device where the makeover hides an ugly and outdated OS.
Video courtesy of BGR
