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BlackBerry goes glam, enlists Alicia Keys

BlackBerry wants to be hip, and it's going to Alicia Keys for help.

The Canadian smartphone maker, which previously called itself Research In Motion, today named Keys as its global creative director. The position is one BlackBerry created to help "inspire the future" of the company.

Keys said she previously was a BlackBerry power user, but she left the platform after noticing sexier phones at the gym. For a while she had two phones, but Keys has now moved back to just a BlackBerry.

It's typical for companies to seek endorsements for their products, and some … Read more

Big-name BlackBerry 10 apps available now (or very soon)

It is no secret that RIM is gunning for its revamped BlackBerry OS to occupy third place among mobile platforms (behind iOS and Android). To this end, the struggling company -- in particular Alec Saunders, RIM VP of Developer Relations -- has been making a strong push to lure developers in droves. While we can't say yet whether the masses are buying in, we can say that, so far, BlackBerry 10 has a good head start in the app department.

Around 70,000 apps are reported to be available for BlackBerry 10 from the BlackBerry World store now. Of … Read more

BlackBerry Z10 review: RIM fans will love it; everyone else won't

Members of the BlackBerry Faithful, meet your new phone. The BlackBerry Z10 has everything you've been waiting for: a sleek, modern, and professional touch-screen body with an up-to-date OS to match and 4G LTE support. You'll revel in the virtual keyboard's ease and in BlackBerry Messenger's seamless voice chats. You'll crow about the Z10's Micro-HDMI port, and enjoy the 8-megapixel camera with its built-in editing tools.

In the most important ways, everything comes together: a lovely HD screen, a fast processor, a camera (with tricks!) that's good enough to stand alongside those of … Read more

New BlackBerry 10 OS looks great, but trips on kinks

Let me start by saying this: I really wanted to fall in love with BlackBerry 10 OS. Overhauling and reinventing a mobile operating system is a tremendous undertaking, and one that deserves respect for the blood, sweat, and tears that go into designing and coding an entire platform from the ground up. In this case, it's based on QNX, a version of which also powered the BlackBerry PlayBook. You expect a few bobbles here and oversights there, and if there's one thing that the beleaguered handset maker needs right now, it's a break.

In many ways, RIM'… Read more

RIM sheds old name, becomes BlackBerry

Adios, RIM. Research In Motion is no more.

At the BlackBerry 10 launch event in New York City today, CEO Thorsten Heins announced that the venerable RIM moniker has been retired for simply, BlackBerry. "Our customers use BlackBerrys, our employees work for BlackBerry," Heins said before a packed house.

With its name change comes a change to the company's ticker symbol. On the Nasdaq, the Canadian handset maker has retired RIMM in favor of BBRY.

The move is not so surprising. BlackBerry's customers were largely unaware of what "RIM" meant and what it stood … Read more

BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 smartphones make big debut

BlackBerry, which previously called itself Research In Motion, today unveiled two new smartphones that it hopes will aid its efforts to return to favor with consumers and business users.

One phone, dubbed the BlackBerry Z10, features a full touch screen -- no QWERTY keyboard on this one. The 4.2-inch display has a pixel density of 356 per inch, compared to the iPhone's 326ppi density.

The other, dubbed the BlackBerry Q10, includes a full keyboard similar to those on older versions of the BlackBerry. … Read more

RIM updates BlackBerry World with movies, music, and more

RIM is trying to amp up interest in BB10 by beefing up its BlackBerry World store with new music, movies, and TV shows.

BlackBerry users will find a variety of individual songs ranging in price from 99 cents to $1.49. Full albums will cost anywhere from $7.99 to $11.99. You can preview any piece of music to help you decide whether you want to buy it.

People looking for their favorite movies or TV shows will find them available for rental or purchase. The prices are comparable to those at competing app stores, ranging from $2.99 … Read more

Only 1 in 8 would consider a BlackBerry 10 device, says poll

RIM may have trouble luring in buyers for its BlackBerry 10 devices, at least based on the results of a new poll.

A healthy 47 percent of consumers were intrigued by certain features found on the new BB10 phones, according to a poll from mobile app developer Bite Interactive. But only 13 percent would consider buying one, and just 1 percent plan to get one right away.

Specifically, one in two of those polled said they definitely would not buy a BB10 device, while one in four said they're unlikely to buy one.

RIM will pull back the curtains … Read more

RIM's BlackBerry 10 launch: Join us Wednesday (live blog)

Research In Motion will finally formally unveil its BlackBerry 10 operating system and the first BlackBerrys running on the platform on Wednesday.

The launch event, which comes after years of delays and half-starts, kicks off at 7 a.m. PT. CNET's Brian Bennett and I will be bringing you the news live from New York, while Sarah Tew will be capturing photos at the event.

You can tune into the live blog here:

CNET's live coverage of RIM's BlackBerrry 10 event on Wednesday

There's a lot riding on the success of BlackBerry 10, which represents a … Read more