BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 And Touch 9860 Promo Videos Hit The Web!

Looks like rumors of a massive dump of new Blackberry smartphones at RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry World event are more or less true. Why else would promo videos exist? Speaking of which, two such videos showcasing the Bold Touch 9900 and 9860 are waiting for you just after the jump. Eat your heart out CrackBerry users…

Leaked BlackBerry 9930 OS Packs Slew Of Videos.

CrackBerry fanatics need to send a big thank you to N4BB user “Lucky45″ for he managed to snag a leaked BlackBerry Touch 9930 OS complete with several video tutorials breaking down various aspects of RIM’s new up and coming flagship device. There’s five videos in all, so grab the popcorn and hop inside…

BlackBerry Touch (Monaco/Monza) Gets Groped On Camera.

BGR has managed to score the upcoming BlackBerry Touch/Monaco. This touchscreen + optical pad smartphone is said to have ditched the “Storm” name and clicky SureType. OS 6.1 comes along for the ride (sorry to those hoping for some QNX love) along with a new BlackBerry ID system that will ultimately make swapping devices easier as contacts, apps, and other data will be stored on the cloud and pushed downward. The Touch/Monaco looks nice for sure, but we’re not going to get too excited until we see some QNX bits bantered about. RIM…?

BlackBerry Curve Touch (Malibu) Breaks Cover. Promises 2009 Specs In 2011/2012.

Thank you CrackBerry.com for giving us leaked images of the BlackBerry Curve Touch. One the surface, it just looks like a prettier BlackBerry Storm. Underneath however, it’s a rather different story. However, there is room for concern. (More on that in a minute though.)

As the first official BlackBerry Curve to not feature the iconic keyboard that made the device famous, this touchscreen-only will feature a new Qualcomm MSM 8655 800MHz CPU, 3.25″ 480×360 HVGA display, 5 MP with support for HD video recording, 1GB Flash/512MB RAM, hot swappable MicroSD slot, NFC|Bluetooth|WiFI b/g/n|, and many different motion sensors.

Now, give the initial “wow”/shock factor a second to wear off and let the release time frame of “late 2011/early 2012″ soak in. As cool as it looks and as cutting edge (for a BlackBerry) as it is, there’s no chance this is going to excite the very consumer base RIM so desperately needs to reach come later this year or early next. An 800MHz processor in 2012 on a flagship phone?! The only saving grace this phone could have is using the QNX OS that the PlayBook uses.

Sorry RIM. Looks like you failed, yet again.

Steve Jobs finally wants you to finger more than just his iDevices…maybe

I remember hearing the beginning rumors of a touch iMac years and years ago, probably before the first iFone. None the less, this is still a much desired piece to my Apple collection. Supposedly, Apple is testing out panels for a future touchy type iMac. Now, if these rumors are actually, *finally* true, what do you think will come of it? Do you think we’ll have a hit like we have with all the iPhones and iPods we use and fingerblast all day long? Or will the dorks, including myself, just be sitting at their desks at home “greasing” up their monitors and making huge messes.

I like the idea. But at the same time I kind of don’t. I would for sure get some sort of Jersey Shore protective film for it, since no one that reads this site would ever enter to win it, but still. Would this benefit our desk lives? Or should we push for a touch MacBook. I’m sure most of you remember the touch MacBook mod from like a year ago. I think Apple would have more success with a portable model, somewhat like their iPad, just lest party piece, and more work related. I mean, the iPad is more for your wider screened iFapping than it is business.

I guess we’ll see what happens in the future, if these are just stupid iRumors, or if they turn into a reality. Either way, my iDevices probably won’t be able to WiFi sync with it…

Read more @ Digitimes

iPod Touch w/ 2 megapixel camera blows it’s cover.

Boy oh boy, I bet el Jobso is getting pissed. First it was his baby, the iPhone’s 4th rendition and now this, the next gen iPod Touch complete with 2 megapixel camera.

One interesting tidbit is that of the serial number. IT originates from late-2009 meaning it could be one of those infamous 3rd gen units that was leaked on eBay and never made it to see the light of day.

Other than that, the usual diagnostic software and geeky curiosity surround this leaked device.

Think we’re looking at the next-gen iPod Touch or is this just a rehash of yesterday’s leaks? Hop inside and let the video and pics tell the story…

And the stupidity continues: Apple yanks WiFi scanner apps…

Apparently ruffling the feathers of countless devs and customers over the whole Boobie Ban of 2010 wasn’t enough. Besides, if you sit there long enough, you could rationalize that porn really isn’t that big of a market. But what about something more useful, say WiFi scanning apps? While bare bones basic WiFi scanning is built into the phone for when connecting to a WiFi network, there are numerous WiFi scanner apps that divulge a slew of helpful information regarding IP addresses, DNS’s, etc. etc.

Apparently Apple has a problem with them, particularly because of a private API that a number of these apps were using. Solution: rip them all out of the App Store. Brilliant idea. /sarcasm. To be clear, GPS and database driven apps are still in the all clear. It is the apps which actively scan for networks on their own that are getting the axe.

I can somewhat understand removing xxx rated apps from the App Store (even considering the parental controls already built into the device and platform), but just because a private API is used — really? From the WiFi scanners I’ve seen so far, I’ve never seen anything malicious or shifty in what the app did. So why get all anal about it?

And since we’re at it, if this was such a big deal, why the hell wasn’t this private API caught the first time around? Seeing as how there are dozens of WiFi scanner apps being yanked, it’s not like it was simple oversight on a single app.

…and another shot in the foot for Apple…

Pocket-Lint > The Register

Apple backtracks on mature apps. Boobs & butts getting sent packin’

For all the flack Apple receives on about App Store policies, one of the more prominent issues was the restrictions on sexual content in the App Store. Now, some will say good riddance, and that such vulgar content isn’t needed. Buuuut…that’s what the whole 17+ restriction is for. Not to mention, if you don’t like something, don’t look at it/seek it out. With all that said, the developer of “Wobble iBoobs” (figure it out) has come forward and shared his recent rejection after the fact by Apple. According to Apple, the app was removed because of “sexual content”. Apple goes on further saying: “We have decided to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store, which includes *your* application”.

So tell me again, what’s the point of having a mature rating system and measures to prevent minors from purchasing mature content if you reject all of the content that’s supposed to occupy that space? Either way, there are hundreds of sexually oriented apps on the App Store that have made it through the approval process just fine. Why the change? Wiping these apps from the store so abruptly and without warning until after it’s already been removed is a slap in the face to the developers who spend time and money developing for the platform.

Then again, this isn’t the first time (or second, or third) that Apple has spit on developers. Any devs out there care to share any experiences?

Pocket-Lint

MWC 2010: Opera Mini for iPhone

One of the few parts of the iPhone that is generally free from any criticisms is it’s Mobile Safari browser. As far as mobile browsers go, it’s nearly perfect with blazing speed, extremely accurate rendering, and drop dead simple navigation. But you can’t please everyone with a single product. No matter how good a product is, it’s always nice to have a second or third choice. As far as third party iPhone browsers go, there aren’t too many legitimate contenders. Sure, there several 3rd party browsers now available since Apple lifted that restriction earlier last year. But these browsers aren’t as fully featured as Mobile Safari, or are slower, or less thought out in regards to navigation. This year at MWC, a real 2nd choice browser is being unveiled: Opera Mini.

If you’re not familiar with Opera Mini, it is a lightweight and highly nimble mobile browser that gets a big boost in browsing speeds thanks to server-side caching and heavy lifting. By the time the web page reaches your phone, it’s 1/10th or less the size of the original page. But it’s not only fast, it looks good and is easy to navigate as well. Just because everything adds up of Opera Mini, don’t get too excited yet — Apple still has to approve it.

Duplicating the functionality of the browser seems as if it would be a blatant rejection, yet there are other browser apps available. Of course, none are of the caliber or quality as Opera Mini. Even still, not only will it be a disservice to iPhone users if they reject Opera Mini, but also to AT&T and any cellular network admin. Opera Mini and it’s technologies take a big load off of the network and place it on their own servers. AT&T at least should be begging Apple for Opera Mini.

In the end, we really don’t have any say. As far as I’m concerned though, Opera Mini is already the best iPhone browser. Now Apple just has to approve it.

Unwired