Posts by unlockworldwide

This month's BlackBerry CEO vows: I won't axe the smartphone-making biz

The Can Opener App

Well, that's certainly going to make opening a "Can of Worms" easier for John Chen !

BlackBerry's AD BLITZ: Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

The Undertakers Weekly

I must agree that rumours of imminent flatlining are greatly exaggerated. With Mike Lazaridis announcing interest in reacquiring RIM (as it will RE re-branded) the prospect of a huge injection of hubris implies a steep climb in share price and the prospect of the BlackBerry regaining its former dominance.

It is worthy of note that Mr Lazaridis' command of HUBRIS was outclassed only by that of Bankers in the Subprime Mortgage success.

Cisco, Google and SAP may buy BlackBerry's bits: report

The Corpse

Hopefully the Coroner will release the body before it becomes a stinking mess, bleeding dollars and subscribers as each quarterly report passes.

Whether the Cisco Kid or the Google Monster consume the corpse is almost irrelevant as they will cremate and dispose. The notion that Microsoft will resuscitate BlackBerry is something of a joke ...... unless Balmer is replaced and breathes life and logic into an increasingly irrelevant behemoth (remember those lawsuits to prevent Gates from ruling the world).

As for Prem Watsa ........... I am not the only one to be sceptical. He's simply bargaining to reduce his losses.

Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 3: HOT CURVES – the 'gold grill' of smartphone bling

Personally I perceive the "customer indifference" irrelevant; Samsung may not have created a "must have" device but appear unlikely to suffer any economic disaster by showing that they can do it.

And there is the key; it is Samsung who CAN do it.

It is not Apple engineering skill, it is the Korean's who invest in the R&D to attain those skills.

Curved screen is more likely to impact the TV market where, on a larger scale than we are used to today, they can "suggest" a wrap around that the public comprehend and will WANT. The illusion that we innovate and they build it for us ..... is defunct.

BlackBerry goes all 'patch Tuesday' with multi vuln fixes

Their distraction is understandable; difficult to see germs when you are bleeding profusely.

Government intervention unlikely for beleaguered BlackBerry

Salvage

A once fine ship is reported to be sinking off the coat of Canada; it floundered, near The Banks of Hubris after hitting an Apple, under the command of Captain (resigned) Mike Lazaridis. Rescue efforts by the Canadian Coast Guard are unlikely as Salvage Experts are reported to be already circling the wreck. Or are they? Are even the salvage guys interested?

Replacement Captain Heins attempted (bravely) to steer the MS RIM by renaming it BlackBerry. This may have succeeded had the Apple not been concealing an underwater berg as big as a Galaxy. Essential crew were regrettably placed into lifeboats before avoidance measures were initiated, resulting in Investors commandeering the remaining lifeboats.

Huge loss of careers is predicted.

BlackBerry's retro-look QWERTY Q5 mobe: Resentment by design

Pre Nups or Wake?

An interesting and discomforting evaluation that supports (or confirms) this months disastrous financials; and possibly the resignation of several top execs over recent months.

While the BB10 OS and the limited stable of devices may have technical merit, it's hard to configure how a struggling "one pony" enterprise (diversity is the Playbook) can compete with the likes of Apple, let alone Samsung.

Even Apple, with revenue from Macs and iTunes, must fear the growing tentacles of Samsung; they sell us everything from fridge freezers, cameras, and the latest and greatest in flat screens. Nor is that old saw "they just make what we create" valid; both LG and Samsung developed the (albeit unaffordable) ultra thin, curved screen TV.

Afraid I see only divestment in my crystal ball.

To be fair to Mr Heins, when the sale (or wedding) does take place, it will be on better terms and $$$$ than when he inherited hubris from Lazaridis. And, credit due, when he inherited the mess I did not expect BlackBerry to be even operating in 2013.

BlackBerry 10: Good news, there's still time to fix this disaster

Not exactly the sweet smell of success.

If other reviews are as lukewarm as this then BlackBerry do not have the funds to survive. Only ecstasy was adequate to see BlackBerry through the hard slog that lies ahead.

After all, how long will any of these perceived advantages remain unique.

Bring on the suitors who can consummate a marriage with RIM (sorry BBRY) and make BBX (sorry, BB10) a hot commodity. After all, who could resist acquiring an intimate interest in their new Global Creative Director, Alicia Keys?

RIM shares jump as analyst decides it isn't as dead as he thought

Is RICHTO right-o?

He is undoubtedly correct that you can obtain products that render your "whatever OS" to the same level of security and application menu as the BlackBerry., etc. etc.

But, like many of the BlackBerry 80 million global subscribers I am not as smart as he is. Hence I/we lapse into permitting RIM to exploit the convenience of letting them do it all for us.

No disputing that RIM lost the plot, alienated millions in their US market and under-delivered, especially on deadlines. But 80 million people, many as naive as myself, imply that given a faultless launch of BB10, Misek could be right.

Of course, I shall not be giving up my iPhone; my wife needs that to transfer photographs from her BB Curve, so that she can view them on a decent screen.

Even US generals have realised BlackBerries are uncool

The Legacy, The Deprivation,The Consequence.

Whether one is a devotee or critic (frequently as rabid as a member of the Tea Party) of the iconic BlackBerry, one has to sympathise with the plight of RIM's new CEO, Thorsten Heins.

The previous incumbents, joint CEO's Lazaridis and Balsillie, were so endowed with hubris that Heins inherited a Research In Motion devoid of initiative, deprived of both product and the ability to achieve. The consequence has been a drought of new devices unparalleled in the communication industry.

The only saving grace was that L&B departed (or in the case of Lazaridis pretended to depart) leaving cash in the Bank. Money buys time. However, no amount of money guarantees success and survival (the slow demise of Microsoft comes to mind, no matter what Steve Balmer may say and ignore).

It is conceivable that BB10 will resuscitate the BlackBerry, principally because of it's appreciation within the emerging nations, where it is valued as a reliable and effective tool in e-commerce; where mobile banking and business transactions are raising thousands (if not millions) from poverty to relative affluence.

The Generals are not unimportant but they represent a society where Apple's superiority at AngryBirds is considered of greater importance than NFC, Mobile Banking and any new instrument that offers a village access to education or medical help.

However, that is the world we live in and RIM has only RIM to blame.

Microsoft, RIM ink new licensing agreement

Alone In The Dark

Unable to fathom why RIM are to pay protection money to Microsoft I carefully studied the comments. I find myself none the wiser.

RIM, nurturing every penny (we hope) to survive the longest product drought in mobile device history, surely have a valid application for ExFat? So, with all numbers being kept under wraps we can only surmise that RIM found an established fee a lesser evil than the litigation lottery.

Paying legitimate licence fee's protects and stimulates innovation by the small guy. Regrettably the overindulgence of litigation, specifically by Microsoft and Apple, tend to feed Attorneys to the detriment of those individuals who have original, off the wall, unique, intuitive ..... ideas.

RIM reshuffles UK and European team ahead of new OS

BB10 Will Beat Them All

Brave words from the faithful. Regrettably the commercial world is not dictated by the Tony Robbins positive thinking formula; it's a cruel, unjust world out there.

No matter how good BB10 may be its launch and virtues will drown in the sea of PR emitted by Apple, Google and Microsoft.

The BlackBerry was doomed long ago when Lazaridis succumbed to hubris and failed to invest management support of anything innovative within RIM. Nor did they excel at buying innovation. In that they share the talent of Microsoft who, if Balmer remains, will soon slide inexorably toward the same abyss that RIM have fallen into.

RIM boss accuses China of IP theft risk

The Closing Door

Considering that perceived security is pretty much all that RIM can brag about these days, I cannot blame Heins for his decision. While China is currently being pragmatic in its stance toward the West, it is not an immigrant nation and, once the technology has been transferred and absorbed, will close it's doors to pretty much everyone.

We presently delude ourselves with talk of our superior innovative skill. Oh yes? It's Valedictorian/Salutatorian time in the States ....... just look at how many Asian faces are published by the local press. Who is studying, grafting, striving and succeeding?

It was the northern work ethic that colonised North America and that ethic has dissipated as we, both individuals and corporations, seek the instant reward. Only the Germans show singleminded determination to nurture their manufacturing base. The weather is lousy. I'm depressed !

RIM-Moto sketch THIRD nanoSIM design as peace offering

While my vested interest is obvious I am concerned that part of Apple's intransigence suggests a strategy to deny device owners (not subscribers) the right to replace a SIM. While unlocking is much misunderstood it is a valuable service to many migratory users.

RIM should focus on BBM, find a human CEO

Convergence or Divergence?

Astute article; causes me to pause and attempt to wade through the daily plethora of biased opinion and technical gobbledegook.

Playing to the BlackBerry's strength is a rational strategy. As the market heads toward a super macho showdown between GoogleMan, WindowsMan and an Apple (not forgetting that ChinMan may soon stir), there is unlikely to more than a niche for the "also rans".

Of those "also rans" Research In Motion stands out as having a unique attribute (albeit not for long) and one can envisage survival, however modest, on the back of serving BBM as service to subscribers of the industry giants.

As for Heins onstage performance, he has a hard row to hoe; he was promoted to manage RIM out of a hole. An evangelical saviour he is not. The last of those died recently and it may not be long before Apple need to resurrect him.

RIM retracts denial on consumer devices: Pulls out, spins in circle

What day is it?

Ah ..... spring must have sprung ..... did I just hear the first cuckold of summer?

RIM's apps revolution swings on Blackberry 10

Convergence

I will defer to the others in respect to the technical attributes ... or lack thereof, of the Playbook.

I am however intrigued by the ability to use the smartphones qwerty keyboard to supplement, or substitute the tablets touchpad. Regrettably, that still leaves the user to purchase and carry two devices.

Assuming that the technical attributes are all up to snuff; I think the next great incentive for those who want more than a phone, will be a tablet that incorporates all the phones functions, offers a slide out qwerty, and leaves the user to carry the tablet in .... dare I say ... a "man bag". A wireless earpiece completes the ensemble.

The mass market, while susceptible to Apple hype, will ultimately follow convenience and affordability.