Let me first introduce myself by a name that most of you haven’t heard in a long time. I’m Nic Ball the “Berry Guru”. Before there was a Gadget Gurus, before there ever was an Angry Guru and much before I secured my doctorate, I was simply a blackberry junkie. I walked around with my head held down and my thumbs busy typing away on a keyboard as I weaved through pedestrian traffic. It was the best of times. The smartphone market was on in it’s early childhood. We’d finally crossed over the threshold of Windows Mobile and the world was ours to take. Then the iPhone came along and started the downward slide. Android came on the scene and it was as if all the air in the room had been let out. Now here we are only a few years later but it seems like forever ago. Now here we are, RIM, the former king of the market is now the ugly red-headed step child of smart phones. What, if anything, can RIM do to save this ship?

The most obvious problem with RIM has been the total consumerization of IT. No longer are system admins able to keep everyone on an easy to manage and easy to control system without justification for that granular control. Now days CEO’s are demanding the use of an iPhone or iPad and the notion of using a BlackBerry is quickly fading away. RIM has missed out on consumer market in belief that there would always be a rock solid business market. As this layer starts to fade away we have to look at other solutions at RIM.

Management:

Let’s start with the people steering this ship. Co-CEO’s and Co-Chairmen Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have lost touch with the pulse of consumers. Being both co-CEOs and co-Chairmen of the board they dictate the agenda and answer to no one. This and their admitted success in the industry to the point of total domination before the iPhone have lead to delusional isolationism. Just one month ago Mike Lazaridis said

“These new models will build on the incredible success of the BlackBerry Curve line and further expand the largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in our history” and “RIM has taken a unique path and the reason why we do things might not always be obvious from the outside.”

Might not be obvious? How about ‘is clearly mind boggling.’ These two would better server as CEO where they’d have the ability to kill any ideas they didn’t like, but would also be held accountable by shareholders via the board of trustees. With the threat of being canned over their head they might be more willing to try new things.

Ecosystem:

What started out as an alternative to Flash could be the answer to solving a lot of RIMs ecosystem problems. Outside of BBM there aren’t too many applications that RIM has nailed down that anyone wants to use outside of their ecosystem. RIM doesn’t have Instagram, or FaceTime or anything else Apple ‘wows’ you with. What they do have is strong developers who create apps that you would only want and know about if you already had a BlackBerry. There’s hope that more major titles will come to BlackBerry but I think there’s an easier solution. With HTML5 a company such as Instagram would be able to make a single HTML5 app that looked beautiful on PCs, Macs, Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows Phone.

Think this is all crazy talk? Here are a few early examples.

• DeviantART Muro - HTML5 based sketch app
• Hootsuite - Social media dashboard
• Coolendar - Simple and ‘polished’ calendar app
• Grooveshark - Music service whose apps were pulled from iOS and Android markets

Hardware:

When it comes to deploying your own OS and hardware RIM hasn’t always been the worst but they’ve run into stagnation. Their phones all seem to be the same and look the same. When was the last time someone was asked “did you see the new blackberry?” Heck the last innovation this company made was the Storm, which was a flop for consumers and critics. Perhaps the solution is in licensing their OS out to the likes of HTC and or Samsung. Two companies who know how to make fresh and appealing hardware. Even Microsoft with all of its cash didn’t decide to make hardware on their own. Allowing another manufacture to develop hardware for them could really give a fresh start to RIM.

NFC:

NFC is currently in its infancy. Only one American device currently has it. If RIM were to commit to this new technology they could be the forefront of a new and developing market. RIM is already starting to dabble in this technology with their “BlackBerry Tag” protocol. If done right this could be the equivalent of BBM appeal. NFC door locks, car docks, nightstand dock, etc. It’s really a crazy and fun tech that could do so much for their bottom line.

PR:

Finally the first reason of hope I’ve had for this company in a very long time came from the following video from Ashley Esqueda. It was the first breath of fresh PR air I’ve whiffed in awhile from camp RIM.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]
Now Ashley does two things well. She shows cleavage and seems to be genuinely excited about what she’s seen from RIM at CES. RIM basically we need more excitement. We don’t need some unknown DJ explaining how his eccentric life-style fits BlackBerry. Or for that part how some broke ass bike messenger uses BBM to meet up after work with his fellow broke as messenger friends.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]
Apple nails this. They show “real” people using their products in “real” ways.

Conclusion:

The bottom line here is simple. RIM has a ton of ways to save their company and right this ship. The only question is whether or not they’ll be able to do any of these things. RIM has shown that over the years they’ll make the wrong choice despite what seems obvious to the rest of us.

HTC has been doing very well the last couple of years in the smartphone market and this year they are seeing a 20% decline in sales, when compared to this time last year. Before HTC hit this small dip, they have been on an increase for 6 straight quarters. That is some really strong momentum, so what gives?

Could it be the fact that HTC has not really put out any phones that are groundbreaking? Most of their hardware, although nice, is more of the same like that of previous devices. They have tried to incorporate the Beats headphones and it really seems that there is not much interest in that to generate sales.

Maybe HTC needs to sit back and re-evaluate their future plans. Could they possibly ditch Sense to help them some, or do they need to work harder on it? Who knows, maybe they have something up their sleeves and they haven’t let the cat out of the bag. What do you think?

(via Tech Crunch)

Hardware

In today’s world of 4.3” and 4.5” phones being the norm, the HTC Rhyme seems rather small with it’s 3.7” 480 x 800 screen. Measuring 119 x 60 x 10.85mm and weighing in at 4.58 ounces, the Rhyme feels great in the hand. The edges are rounded and the back is coated with soft touch plastic giving the device a very “friendly” feel. The frame of the phone is made of aluminium that wraps around to the back as well. It’s not quite “unibody”, but it feels very solid. The back is also home to a 5mp camera, flash, and charging contacts for the Rhyme’s custom desktop dock. The traditional charging port is on the bottom left covered by a plastic “flap”, which I hate since I have no nails, and the volume rocker is on the top right of the device. The top contains the power button on the right and headset jack on the left. The look is very clean and minimalist. It’s a good looking phone. Even in “plum”.

The Rhyme also comes with a “charm” that plugs into the headset port of the device. It’s a long cord with a plastic square on the end that lights up when you have a missed call or text. The idea is that this charm dangles outside of your purse (or man bag), so you can easily see when you have a new message or missed call. This is one of many specialized accessories that are offered with the Rhyme. There is also a desktop dock that has a built in bluetooth speaker so you can stream your device’s audio to it. Dropping the Rhyme in the dock also activates a pretty snazzy desktop mode that includes a clock, weather forecast, music player and photo slide show.

Camera

The 5mp camera takes decent shots in optimum lighting conditions, but suffers greatly when not in bright light. You could of course turn the flash on, but it washes images out and gives them a yellow hue. Since the Rhyme is running Sense 3.5, you get a ton of photo effects settings. Tapping the effects button on the top left brings up settings like vignette, dots, grayscale, vintage and way more. There are also a bunch of scenes to choose from like portrait, landscape, action, panorama, HDR, low light, whiteboard, and close up. On top of all of that, you have settings for ISO, white balance, auto focus, auto enhance, and more. I can appreciate all the options and settings, but I just want to pull the phone and shoot. I don’t want to have to mess with settings and tweak the image to get a good photo.

The Rhyme also captures video in 720p HD resolution. The videos look pretty good, but they suffer form the same low light issue that still shots do. It’s as if the sensor just doesn’t let enough light in. The audio recording is good as long as there aren’t multiple sound sources or anything too loud. The sound gets washed out pretty easily if your in a loud environment like a concert or party.

Software

Running Android 2.3.4 and HTC’s Sense UI version 3.5 the Rhyme has a very “been there, done that feel”. Sense UI seems to get bigger and heavier with each new version, no longer adding things that Android lacks, but seemly adding things just to add them. Not all additions are bad however. The lock screen is a large improvement over the traditional Android lock screen, allowing you jump into shortcuts quickly. The notification window has a tab for quickly accessing settings like WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It’s a nice touch, as it’s much faster to swipe down the window shade than rummaging through the settings menu.

HTC Sense is known for it’s huge selection of eye catching widgets and the Rhyme doesn’t disappoint including 70+ widgets. The calendar widgets are as useful as they are beautiful. The weather widgets are sized small to large and provide great at a glance information. Then there are newer additions like the “Quick Launch” widget, which takes up an entire home panel. The widget gives you customizable shortcuts to apps and a clock with your weather forecast. The Quick Widget doesn’t seem that useful, especially considering HTC already provides multiple weather and clock widgets.

My other growing issue with Sense UI is that you are forced to use HTC’s mail app if you want to use their mail widgets. One of the advantages of Android is it’s awesome Gmail app, but Sense forces you to use HTC’s mail app if you want tight integration within the widgets. It feels disconnected to the rest of the Android experience, not to mention the HTC mail app lacks many of the features that Gmail provides.

Then we have the issue of updates. The Rhyme was released with Android 2.3.4, right around the same time Google released Android 4.0. HTC issued a statement with the devices they plan to update first and the Rhyme was absent from that list. I understand that this device is not aimed at the geek elite, but I feel like it should be noted.

Battery and Performance

Today more Gs are more better right? If you’re living on the bleeding edge than you won’t settle for anything less than a 4G device, especially on Verizon. The Rhyme however, was launched with 3G only. Obviously HTC and Verizon are not marketing this device to the tech geeks that count Gs and processors. With download speeds ranging from 600kps-900kbs and upload speeds from 400kps-700kps the Rhyme is no speed demon, but it was very consistent.

Being a 3G only device and powered by a 1600 mAh battery the Rhyme has great battery life. I could easily go 10-12 hours with moderate to heavy use. You won’t be winning any download races, but think of the Rhyme as the turtle from the Tortoise and the Hare.

I was worried that with Sense 3.5 and being powered by a single core 1 GHz processor, that the Rhyme would be a bit of a dog. I have actually been pleasantly surprised by the performance. Swiping through home screens is super smooth and I have seen very little lag overall. The only time where I noticed some slow down, is when unlocking the device. This is probably due to the way Sense UI “spins” the home screens into view when you unlock the phone. Overall, the performance of the Rhyme is solid. It’s not a spec’d out power house, but it delivers where it matters most.

Conclusion and Final Score

The HTC Rhyme is a pretty forgettable device save for the plum color and some cool accessories. It gets lost in a sea of device not only from Verizon, but from HTC themselves. What differentiates this phone from the Droid Incredible 2? Not much if anything. But hey the Rhyme isn’t geared towards me. It’s geared towards busy ladies. Well, at least that’s how HTC and Verizon are marketing it. In all honesty, I like this phone a bit more than the Droid Incredible 2, but would quickly overlook it thanks to it’s plum body. Is that good or bad? I don’t know. What I do know is, if you make a great product, you don’t have to market it to specific genders. If you make a mediocre product, have to do something to make it stand out.

Guru Inspection
Hardware
Even though it's smaller than most of today's smartphones, the Rhyme looks great and feels great in the hand.
Cameras
Both still shots and video suffer from serious low light issues, but in good lighting the camera works well. there are tons of settings for pre and post photo taking to fine tune your image.
Software
HTC Sense 3.5 looks great and offers some advantages to vanilla Android but takes a small toll on performance.
Battery and Performance
The battery will last you a full day easily, but your data speeds suffer greatly with the lack of 4G LTE. The Rhyme showed little to no signs of lag even carrying the heavy load of HTC Sense 3.5

Overall
The Rhyme is trying really hard to stand out with it's lackluster specs and fancy design. It performs well enough, but leaves a lot to be desired.

According to an email recieved by Android Central forum member trter10-2, HTC is working on bringing Android 4.0 to the HTC Thunderbolt early 2012. Of course you should take what anyone says with a huge grain of salt until an update is actually available for download. Also this representative might have mixed up the Thunderbolt and the previously released statment from HTC. Either way, stay tuned, we’ll keep you updated!

“HTC knows how excited our fans expect to receive on their smartphones latest operating system from Google, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, so we are pleased to announce the list of devices that fall under the first wave of update :  HTC Vivid, HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, as well as HTC Rezound, HTC EVO 3D, HTC EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G, by working closely with our retailers. We continue to evaluate our products, so stay tuned, in which you can find dates and other devices that will also have Ice Cream Sandwich, but a little later. “

via [Android central Forums]

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The Otterbox Defender for the HTC Thunderbolt is all about give and take. The phone is by no means “small” and the case on the phone, we’re talking tank size. It’s heavy, it’s big, but it will take a beating and keep your device safe! With a multilayer approach, the Otterbox encases your Thunderbolt in a plastic housing with a built in screen protector. Then wraps that housing in a thick rubber skin that buffers the phone from accidental damage.

I changed the spark plugs on our car the other day, and I would have normally left the Thunderbolt inside away from harm. I’m paranoid and the thought of wrenches, oil, and other hazardous materials around my device makes me cringe. With the defender on my Thunderbolt, I had no reservations with bringing it out and keeping it close. The result, other than new spark plugs in a Civic, was a scratch free Thunderbolt.

The rubber skin has covers for your charging port, headset, volume and power buttons. While this prevents dust, grime and liquids from getting in the ports, it makes charging and using the headset port a pain. You have to pull back the rubber tabs each time you want to charge or use the headset jack. Not the end of the world but it can get cumbersome.

The Otterbox defender case also comes with a holster that has a 360 degree pivoting clip. It’s a plastic belt clip style holster that you’d imagine a police officer or Batman wearing on their utility belt. With the case being so big, this just looks ridiculous, but it does do a great job of holding the case onto you without fear of it getting hit and falling off.

Again, the Otterbox is all about compromise. You get a great case that is rock solid and will, with out a doubt, protect your phone from the most treacherous of situations. On the other hand, it’s bulky and extremely heavy. Not really the cases fault since the Thunderbolt is BBP (big beautiful phone), but it is something to keep in mind when choosing your protection. I don’t normally put cases on my phones, but when I do, it’s the Otterbox Defender.

Today HTC had an announcement planned, and they finally announced the rumored device code named Vigor. The device was announced under the name Rezound. Verizon has announced several LTE heavy hitter Android devices and this is another to add to the list.

Spec wise the Rezound is very impressive. It is supporting a 4.3 720p display, which seems to be the beginning of the new Android trend on resolutions. Powering the phone is a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of storage on board with a 16GB SD card, and 1GB of RAM, all running on Sense 3.5.

The not so good news is, the fact that the device will launch with Gingerbread, but of course, HTC says that the phone is capable of running Ice Cream Sandwich. The phone will get the 4.0 update early next year. The camera has been really worked to give great shots with its 8MP optics and instant shutter, panorama assist, action burst, complimenting an f2.2 lens. It is capable of 1080p video recording and has slow motion capture integrated.

If you look on back you will see the red Dr. Dre Beats logo. This is the first phone that comes with a pair of Beats headphones ,and there is an API that will allow developers to take advantage of the hardware and software. This HTC phone is a true Android killer and will no doubt be the device you will want to get if you love, Android, Music, Beats Audio, Verizon and HTC.

(via Android Community)

via [Mobile Burn]

Key Facts

Customers can purchase HTC Jetstream, AT&T’s* first 4G LTE/HSPA+ tablet, online and in company-owned retail stores starting September 4.
HTC Jetstream is HTC’s first tablet running on the Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system which was specifically built for tablets.
Tablet features a 10.1” HD display, Snapdragon 1.5 GHz dual core processor and front and rear facing cameras.
For the first time, AT&T custom

ers can receive discounted tablet pricing after committing to a two-year agreement for a new $35, 3GB monthly data plan.
For a limited time, HTC Scribe ™ – an optional digital pen accessory- will be available at no additional cost.
Customer Benefits

Exclusive to AT&T customers, HTC Jetstream is the company’s first 4G LTE/HSPA+ tablet. It runs the Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system and represents the first iteration of the HTC Sense™ user experience on Honeycomb. HTC Jetstream boasts a large 10.1” WXGA high-resolution display for an immersive entertainment experience, third-generation Snapdragon 1.5 GHz dual core processor for fast multi-tasking and instant screen refresh. A rich web browsing experience supports Adobe® Flash® Player and an enhanced HD video experience with1080p playback and capture.

The tablet is also compatible with HTC Scribe™ – an optional digital pen accessory, which is sold separately, – for content creation as well as Evernote integration for storing your documents in the cloud. Additionally, HTC Jetstream is preloaded with services optimized for the tablet such as AT&T Family Map, AT&T Navigator ®, HTC Watch™, HTC Hub, Friendstream™, Android Market, and much more.

Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)

HTC Jetstream is AT&T’s first tablet to showcase the Android™ 3.1 OS. The brand new operating system was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screens. It improves on Android favorites with new interactive and resizeable widgets plus improved multi-tasking, browsing, notifications, and customization. The new version of the platform also features Google Maps 5.0 with 3D-like interaction, access to over three million Google eBooks, incognito mode for browsing internet with no history tracking and Google Talk with video chat over Wi-Fi.

Quotes

“This tablet is a beautiful 10.1-inch, LTE powered masterpiece,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “When you combine powerful options like HTC Jetstream with our upcoming LTE technology and nationwide HSPA+ network, it flies.”

“HTC Jetstream combines the acclaimed HTC Sense experience with Android Honeycomb to provide an innovative and engaging experience on a 10.1 inch tablet,” said Martin Fichter, acting president, HTC Americas Region. “Paired with AT&T’s upcoming 4G LTE speed and mobility, HTC Jetstream delivers connectivity for social and entertainment needs alongside productivity and creativity tools in a portable package.”

Price and Availability

On September 4, the tablet will be available exclusively to AT&T customers online and in company-owned retail stores for $699.99 with a new two-year contract.

AT&T postpaid tablet customers now have a new $35, 3 GB monthly data plan option with a two-year contract. Customers who do not choose a long-term commitment may still select one of two existing monthly billing options:

Postpaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment will be charged $10 per 1 GB of overage. Charges will appear on customers’ monthly wireless statements.
Prepaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment may choose to purchase an additional 2 GB for $25. Charges will appear on customers’ credit card statements.
Offering the simplicity of a single bill, the postpaid option will show up on customers’ monthly wireless bill after the data is used. The new postpaid billing option will be available online at www.att.com and across AT&T retail locations.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/jetstream.

HTC Jetstream Specifications

LTE (700/AWS)
HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)
HTC Sense™ UX for tablets
Display: 10.1” WXGA HD screen
Processor: Third-generation Snapdragon 1.5GHz dual-core processor
Camera: Front Facing 1.3 MP, Rear facing 8 MP and Dual LED Flash
Battery: 7,300 mAh
Expandable Memory: MicroSD up to 32 GB
Dimensions: 7” (l) x 9.87” (w) x 51” (d)
Weight: 25 ounces
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ (with enhanced backhaul) or LTE, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

AT&T FamilyMap and AT&T Navigator® require a separate subscription.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Limited-time offer. Specifications subject to change. Device subject to availability. Mobile broadband access requires a DataConnect Plan for Tablets or a Session Based DataConnect Plan. DataConnect Plans are billed monthly and automatically renew every month, unless you cancel service prior to the start of the monthly renewal. No term commitment or termination fees apply (with no service commitment plans). Overage charges apply if the monthly data allowance is exceeded. Offer not available for on-tablet activation. Credit check may be required. Geographic and other restrictions apply. Session Based DataConnect Pass Plans for Tablets: Time begins expiring immediately upon purchase/activation, whether you are using the service or not. Once your time expires or the allotted data is used, whichever comes first, your data access will cease. 30-day domestic plans automatically renew, unless you cancel auto-renewal. Fees are non-refundable. Other restrictions apply. For full terms see DataConnect Pass Wireless Data Services Agreement on att.com/wirelesslegal.

Promotional tablet pricing requires a two-year agreement and a minimum $35 a month 3 GB DataConnect Plan for tablets. Overage is $10 for each GB provided, if the included monthly data allowance is exceeded. Geographic and other restrictions apply. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to 10% restocking fee may apply to returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose additional fees. Equipment fee may apply if service canceled within 30 days of purchase. See att.com/returns for details. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.

CRU and IRU customers must purchase a qualifying DataConnect Plan for Tablets.

HTC Scribe Pen Offer: Customers must add the HTC Scribe at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other equipment promotion, discount, or other offer. Subject to availability limitations. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. Customers who purchase HTC Jetstream between September 4 and October 15 and later return the device must also return the HTC Scribe pen. Offer runs until Sunday, October 15, 2011 11:59 p.m. EDT.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

About HTC
HTC Corp. (HTC) is one of the fastest-growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

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