• BlackBerry Messenger Coming to iPhone on April 26

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPhone, Rants & Raves, Rumors, Social Networks No Responses

    RIM was looking for a way to expand its BlackBerry Messenger platform to iOS and Android devices, with a release coming soon in the App Store. RIM apparently wasn’t happy about the hundreds of apps clearly inspired by BBM available for iPhones and iPads, and decided to develop a version of Messenger that doesn’t have all the features available to BlackBerry owners, but still allows iOS users to communicate with their friends and family. A compromise, that is, to have BlackBerry Messenger available on as many platforms as possible.

    A poster on MacRumors Forums now suggests BlackBerry Messenger for iOS may be launching in the App Store on April 26. At a “social media conference” in Toronto, RIM’s co-CEO Jim Balsillie allegedly revealed that BBM and “other services” will come to the iPhone on April 26 through the App Store. Balsillie also confirmed that they plan to release an update “this summer” with a new notification system, which may or may not suggest RIM knows something about iOS 5 and the improved notifications Apple has been rumored to be working on. But, then again, it is unclear why would RIM know about such an important aspect of iOS and Balsillie’s statements might just be speculation on his side.

    Right now, we have heard that Android is definitely a go. But again, we’re not sure on timing, though our sources are confident that it will launch some time this year. RIM chose Android first because of the fact that it could develop and integrate something like this much easier with an open platform, but the plan is to build and deploy an iOS version at some point as well.

    So it is possible that in the next few days an Android version of BBM will be unveiled, with the iPhone app scheduled for a late April launch. The rumor hasn’t been confirmed by RIM, but chances are they are really looking for a way to rise among the competition in the App Store (made of apps like WhatsApp, Textie and Ping) by releasing an iOS counterpart of BBM, which counts millions of users worldwide.

  • Android 3.0 Honeycomb Apps List is Only 17

    // Gradly // Android, Apple, blog, google, Humor, iPad, News, Rants & Raves, Steve Jobs No Responses

    While introducing iPad 2 last month, Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs described the competitive market for tablet apps on Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb as having “at most 100 apps.” The actual Android catalog appears to be closer to 17. as noted by Appleinsider.

    Jobs noted that the iOS App Store now has over 350,000 titles, of which 65,000 “take full advantage of the iPad,” drawing attention to “consumption apps, creation apps and fantastic games, and a lot of apps for business and vertical markets apps like medical. The things people are doing here are amazing,” Jobs said.

    “That compares to our competitors, who are trying to launch these days with at most 100 apps. And I think we’re being a little generous here. This is a huge advantage we have,” Jobs added.

    A review of Google’s Android Marketplace tablet offerings “featured for tablets” depicts just 50 apps, but as blogger Justin Williams notes, “most are upconverted and offer no significant advantages on a tablet other than a larger screen.”

    Looking only at apps that either require Android 3.0 or have a user interface “specifically designed for a tablet experience,” Williams counted only 17.

  • Apple’s WWDC 2011 Sells Out in Under 12 Hours

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News No Responses

    Still trying to gather enough money to attend this year’s WWDC event in June? Don’t bother, since the event is already sold out, twelve hours after tickets went on sale. Last year’s edition sold out in eight days.

    With prices starting at $1599, Apple had no problem selling each ticket to its highly anticipated event, which is being held June 6-10, in San Francisco, California. At this year’s event, Apple will focus on “the future of iOS and Mac OS.”

    On the first day of the event, Apple is expected to demo iOS 5 and OS X Lion. However, for the first time since 2007, a new iPhone is not expected to be announced at WWDC, since this year’s event will focus on software, not hardware.

    As a quick recap, according to Apple, WWDC ’11 will include:

    • More than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and Mac OS technologies;
    • Over 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques, and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS and Mac OS technologies in their apps;
    • The opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iPad®, iPhone® and Mac developers from around the world;
    • Apple Design Awards which recognize iPad, iPhone and Mac apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

  • Siri Virtual Intelligence to Play Major Part in iOS 5?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPhone, Rants & Raves, Rumors 1 Response

    With the news that Apple’s already addressed summer developer conference as a software-related show focused on Mac OS X Lion and iOS 5, TechCrunch chimed in with new purported details regarding the next major version of Apple’s mobile operating system. Author MG Siegler claims that WWDC will only see a preview of iOS 5 come June 6, with the final code slated for a Fall launch. Then he added:

    A year ago, Apple bought Siri, a virtual personal assistant startup that had released a very cool iPhone app. The Siri team and technology are now said to be a big part of iOS 5. The use of Siri’s artificial intelligence and assistance technology is said to be deeply integrated into the OS for all the different services offered. And the team is now putting the finishing touches on the elements that will be demoed at WWDC, we hear. This tech may also be opened to developers for use in third-party apps — though that information isn’t quite as concrete.