Tag: blackberry
BlackBerry Tablet Coming this November?
by Ranju Chaudhary on Jul.31, 2010, under Latest Web Technologies
BlackBerry tablet rumors continue to gain momentum, with a new report indicating that the device, possibly to be called the BlackPad, is set to hit stores this November.
According to Bloomberg, Research in Motion, the company behind the BlackBerry, is planning on releasing its tablet device this fall. The device will reportedly feature a 9.7″ screen, roughly the same dimensions as the iPad. The device will also feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options, with the option of using an existing BlackBerry smartphone as the data connection.
Rumors of a BlackBerry tablet have been swirling for quite some time, but Bloomberg is citing two sources familiar with the details. RIM could not be reached for comment, but declined to speak with Bloomberg as the company doesn’t comment on rumors or speculations.
RIM recently took over the domain BlackPad.com, fueling speculation that this will be the moniker for the new device. As CrackBerry.com notes, however, RIM has more than 4000 registered domains; “BlackPad” may not end up being the name for the fabled product.
Bloomberg’s sources say that the device will feature front- and back-facing cameras for video conferencing. Rather than bundling the device with a 3G data connection, it will use Wi-Fi or connect to a BlackBerry phone via Bluetooth to tether a data connection. Although the tether option is potentially less expensive for consumers (who wouldn’t need to have another subscription to use the BlackPad), we’re not really sure why a 3G radio would be omitted as an option.
The biggest question we have about a BlackBerry tablet involves the keyboard. If you’re into physical keyboards, in our mind, the BlackBerry stands out among other devices with this feature. However, physical keyboards and tablets don’t really mesh. In any event, we hope RIM doesn’t decide to include the click-screen that make the BlackBerry Storm and Storm II such “fun” to use.
Incidentally, RIM has an event Tuesday, at which point the company is expected to unveil its latest BlackBerry smartphone, the 9800. The device will feature a slide-out keyboard alongside a pure touch screen. Whether or not a slide-out keyboard would work on a larger form remains to be seen.
Does this Make Sense?
RIM is busy readying BlackBerry OS 6.0 for release; the new OS, which includes a new browser, better media options and tighter social network connectivity, looks like it just might be what RIM needs to recharge the BlackBerry brand.
However, we question the need for an RIM tablet. Even before the iPad was officially announced, a larger-form iOS device made sense because of the large ecosystem of games, media players and entertainment content that were already available from the iTunes ecosystem.
BlackBerry doesn’t have that same ecosystem. Sure, a BlackPad could be a great device for watching video and surfing the web, but the BlackBerry’s best features have always been based around instant messaging, e-mail and getting things done. That isn’t to say that that experience can’t translate well to a tablet. With the right software support and screen resolution, the BlackPad could be a great mobile word processor. But the use cases for consumers don’t seem as apparent they do with other devices.
Ultimately, we think price is going to be a big factor in the success of a BlackBerry tablet. I know lots of BlackBerry users who have purchased an iPod touch or an iPad, but I don’t know if Android or iOS users would jump at the chance to get a BlackBerry powered tablet.
5 Free Ways To Find Local Concerts on Your Smartphone
by Ranju Chaudhary on Jun.26, 2010, under Latest Web Technologies
Chad Burgess is the Marketing Manager at SeatGeek, a forecasting and search web application that helps fans save money on sports and concert tickets. You can find more from Chad on the SeatGeek Blog or follow him on Twitter at@chadburgess.
We’ve previously shown you how to discover music, how to find concerts online, and how to share setlists. If you’ve got those areas of social music covered, you might now be looking for concerts when you are on-the-go.
If you want to simplify the concert process on your smartphone, mobile apps make it easier than ever to find and attend concerts in your area. These five apps will evolve your music lifestyle so that you never have to miss another concert again.
1. Local Concerts
Local Concerts (by iLike) is the “#1 concert app” on the iPhone
. This simple app allows you to browse concerts in your area based on music in your music library. The search function lets you perform both artist and venue searches. You can also set up alerts so that you don’t lose track of your shows.
Being able to access just “My Artists” is the core benefit to most of these apps, as it simplifies the browsing phase by eliminating random artists and bands. The ‘Venues’ screen is extremely comprehensive, but does not allow for filtering. The ability to sort by ‘Most Popular’ venues in your area would be a really nice feature for general navigation.
Summary: Local Concerts has been one of the most popular concert apps since its debut. If you are looking for a simple UI and an easy way to find concerts, this may be the app for you.
2. preAmped
PreAmped provides popular concert apps for the iPhone, Android
, and the Palm Pre. PreAmped was created to “capture and share the experience of a concert.”
Once you have found the event you are looking for, the app has options to share with your friends (by e-mail,Facebook, or Twitter), find tickets, and view directions to the show. The app features “Shows,” “Artists,” and “Venues” screens, and also offers the ability to toggle by location on the venues screen. This feature lists the venues closest to your GPS location.
Similar to most top apps in this space, the preAmped app allows you to see upcoming concerts based on your music library.
Summary: If you are constantly on the go and like to easily discover new venues in your current location, you will want to check out this app.
3. Gigbox
Gigbox is an app for Android that allows fans to find relevant, local events tailored to their music tastes. Gigbox has a rich social feature set including live chat, ratings, and picture publishing. “Live” mode is designed to enhance the shared experience of concertgoers by surfacing pictures, ratings, and “mood” sourced from all users in the audience. This content is then aggregated and published on the Gigbox website for future reference. Although these features require a high adoption rate, they are unique and potentially useful.
Gigbox is integrated with Last.fm, which provides comprehensive data, streaming music, and the ability to sign in with your Last.fm account.
Summary: A socially ambitious app that you should check out if you are active on Last.fm and/or an Android user looking to enhance your concert experience with social media.
4. StubHub
StubHub’s app is another great download. Currently only on the iPhone, it offers the ability to sort by “Upcoming,” “Events,” “Favorites,” or “Search,” and then ultimately purchase tickets within the app.
“Upcoming” provides a complete list of events in your area including sports, concerts and theater, with corresponding tickets. The UI is a little cumbersome as you have to scroll to the end of the long sports section to access the concerts. An “Events” screen allows for easier filters by “Sports
,” “Concert,” “Theater,” and “Venue” which can be improved in future releases with additional sub-category sorting options (currently it is alphabetized).
The “Favorites” screen allows you to toggle to “iPod Artists” to view only tickets that match artists in your library. What separates StubHub ticketing is that they offer a tightly integrated buying experience directly in the app. Tickets can be purchased by credit card or with an existing StubHub or PayPal account.
Not to be left out on the social side, StubHub offers social media integration via Facebook and Twitter, so you can share upcoming events with your friends.
Summary: StubHub is best for those looking to easily purchase tickets on-the-go.
5. YP Mobile
From YP.com (the redesigned yellowpages.com), YP Mobile is the sleeper hit on this list. Even though it is within the umbrella of a traditional media company and is not strictly for finding concerts, this app (available on iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, and Pre) has partnered with Zvents to produce some surprisingly robust event data.
YP Mobile allows you to search thousands of events by venue or city in addition to offering all the “what” and “where” search capabilities that we are accustomed to on YP.com and other local verticals.
Summary: If you want a single app to find a local concert, a restaurant to go to before, and a bar to go to after, this might be the choice for you.
