RIM

NTSB tosses the BlackBerry in favor of the iPhone

Here's another signal that might be pointing to a BlackBerry swan song -- the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is ditching the device for Apple's iPhone 5. This is the latest in a growing number of government agencies that have turned their backs on the mobile phone.

The government agency announced its plan in a government filing last week, according to Bloomberg. The reason it gave for dropping the phone is that it is not reliable.

BlackBerry devices have been "failing both at inopportune times and at an unacceptable rate," the NTSB wrote, according to … Read more

CNET's Tech Turkeys of 2012

It was a year of fakers: fake degrees, fake demonstrations, even fake interviews. It seems the tech industry this past year has been awash in people who couldn't tell the truth -- or maybe wished the truth were something different.

We had executives racing for the exits of what was a year ago one of the hottest companies on the Internet. We had a head scratcher of a mistake from Apple that even the company's CEO seemed to think was a conundrum. And we have a system that's supposed to protect entrepreneurs that -- and not to … Read more

Apple a bit less green this year than last, Greenpeace finds

Apple saw its environmental friendliness slip a little over the last year, according to a new study from Greenpeace.

The organization today released the 18th annual "Guide to Greener Electronics." Apple took the sixth spot this time around, with a score of 4.5 out of a possible 10, down from 4.6 (and fourth place) last year. The company was hit hard on Sustainable Operations for "lacking a robust take-back program in India." Worldwide, however, its recycling program is quite good. The biggest issue Greenpeace has with Apple is that lacks "transparency" and … Read more

RIM CEO: We'll win back users with BlackBerry 10 (Q&A)

*Video depicts existing and developer devices, not unannounced hardware.

RIM CEO Thorsten Heins settles all 6 feet, 7 inches of his lanky frame into the high chair of the hotel conference room where we both sit, slumping down slightly before the camera rolls and the questions fly. (Heins quips that he's short for his family; his son stands 6 feet, 10 inches.)

Heins may speak with an executive's calm, practiced ease, but make no mistake that the next six months for RIM and its chief officer will be anything but easy.

With BlackBerry 10 launching January 30, Heins … Read more

TomTom beats the drums for its own map-based ecosystem

TomTom, the company best known for its auto navigation systems, has opened its mapping data for app developers, making it easier for companies to make programs that could rival those from Google and Apple.

The company, which is one of the main data providers for Apple's Maps app, says it's providing access to its location and navigation services, including map display, routing, and traffic details.

TomTom noted its program, dubbed the TomTom Location Based Services Platform and Developer Portal, will expand its capabilities over time.

It currently includes the following content and services:

Map Toolkit API with … Read more

BlackBerry 10 will get full carrier support, RIM exec says

Research In Motion says it's hearing all the right things about BlackBerry 10.

Carriers and Fortune 500 companies that have played with RIM's next-generation operating system are enthusiastic about its prospects, Chief Operating Officer Kristian Tear told CNET today. More importantly, the carriers have promised their full support, he said.

"We will put our full effort into this launch," he said. "The carriers will do the same thing."

Tear was light on details when it came to launch, preferring to save a larger reveal for closer to BlackBerry 10's unveiling, scheduled for January 30. … Read more

BlackBerry Messenger gets support for voice chats over Wi-Fi

BlackBerry Messenger is adding voice call support, Research In Motion announced today.

Upon downloading the free BlackBerry Messenger update, customers will find that they can place voice calls to other BBM customers whenever they're on a Wi-Fi connection. In order to connect to BlackBerry Voice, customers must already be a BlackBerry service plan customer. According to RIM, the calls can be placed at no charge.

The new feature allows users to switch between talking and texting at will. In addition, RIM says that customers will be able to text message and call at the same time. BlackBerry Voice has … Read more

First BlackBerry 10 smartphones available in February -- report

After several delays, Research in Motion wants to move quickly in the final stretch before the launch of BlackBerry 10.

RIM said yesterday that it plans to unveil the phones at global launch events on January 30. The company is aiming to make the phones available by February, according to Bloomberg.

RIM doesn't expect the phones to hit the various carriers simultaneously, but the launches should occur within 30 days of the unveiling, Bloomberg reported based on an interview with Chief Operating Officer Kristian Tear.

RIM has long delayed the release of BlackBerry 10, which has been talked about … Read more

BlackBerry 10 will launch on January 30, RIM says

Research In Motion has finally set the date for the launch of its next-generation BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

The embattled smartphone manufacturer said today it would release its newest BlackBerrys on January 30 with multiple events in a global launch. The company will unveil its first two BlackBerry 10 smartphones -- a full touch-screen device and one resembling its current Bold flagship line -- as well as provide more details on the platform.

BlackBerry 10 represents the company's last, best shot at a turnaround. The once high-flying company was a major player in the smartphone world, but in recent years … Read more