Looks like Blackberry is finally understanding it’s positioning. Rather than try and go after iPhone users it is catering to their very loyal base of users.

The BlackBerry Torch is a perfect example of that strategy. Better web usage, touch screen but also the keyboard that made Blackberry a huge success. So best of both worlds. It also looks similar to the Bold and Curve. It has also conserved trackpad button that all new Bold’s and Curve’s have.

For technical stuff here is the specs : The Blackberry Torch 9800 will be the first RIM device to run the Blackberry 6 operating system, so expect faster Web browsing and downloads. It will also feature virtual and slide-out keyboards,  a 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera and 512MB of RAM.

Bloomberg is now reporting that Research in Motion (RIM) will be launching their Blackberry/iPad tablet PC in November.

There have been a lot of previous rumours that the RIM Tablet PC will be called the BlackPad. All of these rumours are because RIM registered the domain name Blackpad.com very recently.

Anyways, sourcing are now saying that this iPad competitor from RIM will be launching in November. Of course every tablet PC will be directly compared to the iPad, but with Microsoft about to launch into the same market, it all seems to be getting a little crowded.

There are few details on the BlackPad apart from the size of the screen 9.7-inch screen (identical to the iPad) and that it can be tethered to a BlackBerry phone so that it can access the Internet. Pricing is similar to the iPad.

We already know that Verizon and Microsoft have pulled the plug on the whole KIN series, the question then becomes what to do about existing supplies?

Word has come that anything and everything KIN gets sent back to…ummm wherever…starting tomorrow. What happens to them is anyone’s guess.

That’s right folks, we may be on the verge of a fabled E.T. game situation for the KIN-they will perhaps be dumped in a big landfill, where 20 years from now, rare NIB KINS will fetch for thousands of dollars on eBay.

The geek inside of us wants to run out and buy one to keep next to our big-head Han Solo action figure; the analyst in us sees Microsoft trying to erase this mistake from history and think that’s OK.

A useful tool which translates text using image based processing on your mobile phone. The application uses the camera on the phone to take a picture of a word or phrase; which is then processed and recognized as separate words. The user is then able to get word-by-word translations on-the-fly. The translations are done accurately depending on the quality of the image taken; the semantics used in the image-to-text conversion appear to be extensive and can usually recognize even a moderately distorted image. Processing of the image hardly takes any time, thereby making the user experience a pleasant one.

FotoTranslate is available in multiple language packages which can be purchased independently.

The application requires Symbian OS S60 3rd Edition, 5th Edition.

You may contact us to get Free Serial Numbers to check the trial version.

For more information : http://www.abbyy.com/fototranslate/

If you are an entrepreneur or a small business owner looking into the mobile application industry, either to ride the wave or to capitalize on the fact that your customers are spending more time with their phone, this post could come in very handy

Bellow you may find some thoughts on how the Mobile Development industry will evolve in the nearest future.

1. Micropayments
Micropayments within mobile applications can be used to upgrade basic app to a premium version, purchase game items, digital content or even small gifts for friends. Mobile bill payments and micropayments for digital content consumption continue to grow in the future.

2. Enhanced Security
Better security for mobile application platforms is expected. This is especially important when more users are conducting financial transactions and life streaming using their phones.

3. Business App Store
With all the mobile platforms targeting their app store towards average consumers, the introduction of a business app store is imminent.

4. Location-Based Technology
Location-based technology or GPS technology received the most buzz in 2009 and we expect it will continue growing this year.

5. Social Based Applications
Social networking activities certainly do not end when you leave your computer. We are already seeing a great number of people tweeting and updating their Facebook status on-the-go, not to mention those who are posting videos and photos to services like Twitpic and 12seconds using their mobile phone.

6. Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery – creating a mixed reality.

7. High Entry Barriers for Fledgling Developers
Developers that are new to the scene and without much support will face trouble getting user adoption. Not only that there are already tons of mobile applications out there, established developers have better advantages in terms of capability to introduce new features over a short time span as well as the resources to adapt and test their applications on new platforms.

8. Mobile Application Advertising
The increasing number of mobile application users opens up another advertising channel for brands and businesses. This is definitely good news for developers.

9. Importance of Marketing for Applications
There are already hundreds of thousands of mobile applications out there. In order to stand a chance, developers or mobile application entrepreneurs need to know how to market applications developed by them.

10. HTML 5 – Native Apps vs Web Apps
How will it affect the mobile applications space? Well, phones with a mobile browser that has HTML 5 rendering capabilities will be able to run web applications directly without any downloading and installation of apps. As for developers, there will no longer be a need to develop for different mobile platforms.

What other trends do you think will be likely this year for the mobile applications industry?

Your opinions are welcome!

Kristina Kozlova
Altabel Group Company
www.altabel.com

A rather brilliant article in iMedia Connection (http://bit.ly/anVI4W) highlights some of the flaws in Apples strategy, and refers to what many partners (developer especially), perceives as pure arrogance.

Among the noteworthy points made are:

* “Apple’s desire to control its marketplace has made it a poor choice for developers, even when it offers a large market. Having a large base of customers makes Apple initially attractive, but its poor support for the developer community eventually forces smaller niche players out.”

* “When Steve Jobs announced MS Office for the Mac to a stunned audience in 1997, he looked very uncomfortable about it. He justified it by saying Apple existed in an eco-system and could not sustain the Mac as a closed platform. His iPhone strategy seems to have forgotten this painful lesson.”

* “The iPhone may be popular now, but history has shown us that the days of competing operating systems eventually give way to more open platforms. The world will not tolerate three or four competing smartphone systems with roughly equal market share. Eventually, one system will dominate. Apple’s iPhone OS and BlackBerry’s RIM are not candidates for that role because they’re not available for other phones, which only leaves Google’s Android and Microsoft’s WinOS as candidates for global domination. “

A new leak has provided what should be the first known screens and features of BlackBerry OS 6.0.

Research in Motion is reportedly close to releasing a new operating system for its BlackBerry line of smartphones. A new BlackBerry OS 6.0 could correct some user complaints and help RIM catch up with its rivals, including Apple’s iPhone and Android-powered devices. Analysts expect a better BlackBerry browser and home-page tweaks.

Research In Motion may not be ahead of the curve, but it’s taking some bold steps with a new operating system  for its popular BlackBerry smartphones. The Canadian phone maker is close to releasing version 6.0 of its BlackBerry OS, published reports say.

The current OS has drawn complaints from BlackBerry users that RIM hopes to correct. The new OS is also expected to let RIM better compete with rivals, including the Apple iPhone and Google’s Android operating system.

“While the BlackBerry OS has enabled users to do what they want — e-mail, browse, social networking, apps, etc. — the experience has left a stale taste in their mouths,” said Ramon Llamas, an IDC analyst. “Most people don’t like the user interface, navigation and overall feel to it.”

Yes there is a new entrant in the app space and even in the OS space. Joining Android, iPhone, Windows, Palm’s WebOS, Blackberry, Maemo and not to forget Symbian… Samsung wades into the battle of the OSs. To get a good share in the mobile market Samsung has launched it’s own Linux based mobile OS named “Bada” which means Ocean in Korean.

Professing to be a totally open platform or OS Samsung says that it enables a richer user experience in applications on Samsung ONLY mobile devices and helps developers to create UI rich applications very easily. Samsung says that the design principles of bada aim to deliver simple, intuitive, and innovative user experiences through innovative visual design. Samsung bada includes a next generation UI framework with feature sets and design elements that facilitate leading-edge user interfaces for every bada application.

Watch a demonstration of applications from the Apple App Store built using Flash technology:

Flash Professional CS5 will enable you to build applications for iPhone and iPod touch using ActionScript 3. These applications can be delivered to iPhone and iPod touch users through the Apple App Store.*

A public beta of Flash Professional CS5 with prerelease support for building applications for iPhone is planned for later this year. Sign up to be notified when the beta starts.

Learn more in http://www.adobe.com/iphone/

Courtesy of Brian J. Friedman

Some wise tips on “Designing Mobile Widgets” by Rajesh Lal, Senior Engineer, Nokia shared at 2009 Maemo Summit.

Growing pervasiveness of mobile widgets has created every mobile app designers a challenging role to play within a limited space. Only 1 percent of Mobile Widgets are successful.

What makes some widgets thrive and used by millions, and others with equal functionality bite the dust ?

Rajesh demystified the ‘invisible’ layer below the surface with 10 pragmatic tips, which covered some of the most useful and often ignored standard design principals and the tip & trick to apply them in mobile context.