Stories by Al Sacco

BlackBerry PlayBook battery life weakened by OS update

Earlier this month, BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) released a significant OS update for its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that enabled a new PlayBook video chat application, as well as BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) functionality via RIM's BlackBerry Bridge application. But the OS update seems to have had an unintended effect on

BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat behind the firewall

If you're attempting to employ RIM's brand new BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application while connected to a corporate network, but keep experiencing connectivity issues, your problems could be related to blocked ports or port forwarding in your enterprise firewall.

BlackBerry PlayBook tips for all RIM tablet users

Research In Motion's (RIM) first tablet PC, the BlackBerry PlayBook, was released in the United States and Canada almost a month ago, on April 19. Whether you ran right out to your local electronics retailer to pick up a PlayBook and you haven't put it down since, or you just nabbed a RIM tablet of your own today, you're sure to benefit from the following seven PlayBook tips and tricks.

BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5.1: New enterprise features

Research In Motion (RIM) made a number of significant announcements last week, for both its consumer and enterprise customers, at the first annual BlackBerry World Conference in Orlando, Fla.--formerly known as the Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES).

RIM, Microsoft announce partnership with focus on Bing

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) and software giant Microsoft on Tuesday announced a new pact under which the two companies will partner to offer a variety of Bing related services to BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook tablet users. Bing is Microsoft's Web search offering, and it's one of the top three search engines along with Google and Yahoo Search, according to Hitwise.

First look at BlackBerry PlayBook native email, PIM apps

Research In Motion (RIM) showed off the upcoming native e-mail and personal information management (PIM) apps for its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet for the first time this morning, including calendar and contacts, at its annual BlackBerry World Conference in Orlando. And the company says the native PlayBook apps should be available sometime this summer.

BES to get iOS, Android management features

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) has extended its reach in the mobile-device-management (MDM) space with the acquisition of a German software company ubitexx, maker of the ubi-Suite device management software.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 first impressions

This morning, Research In Motion (RIM) officially announced its latest smartphone, the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930, at its annual BlackBerry World Conference in Orlando.

BlackBerry PlayBook security tips

Research In Motion's (RIM) much-anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet hit stores this week in the United States and Canada. RIM has reportedly shipped some 50,000 PlayBooks -- a mere fraction of the hundreds of thousands of iPads Apple sold on its recent launch day, but a healthy chuck of gadgets nonetheless.

BlackBerry mobile conferencing app connects with one click

Frequent "teleconferencers" with BlackBerry smartphones take note: Research In Motion (RIM) today released a beta version of its new BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing application. With the app, which integrates with the BlackBerry OS, RIM handheld users can quickly and easily invite other BlackBerry users to a teleconference, add new teleconference info to their mobile calendars and connect to conferences with a single click. In addition, the software helps you quickly reconnect to an ongoing conference if you're ever disconnected.

Android tips: 7 ways to get around your phone faster

When you think of Android smartphones, "productivity" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind. But you don't have to use a BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 device or another boring "enterprise-friendly" handheld to get a lot done in a little time -- whether it be for work or play.

Amazon Cloud drive: 7 key facts

Amazon.com beat Google and Apple to punch this week with the unveiling of its hosted consumer-storage service, Amazon Cloud Drive, and Web-based music-player, Cloud Player.

Amazon Appstore for Android: Reasons to love it and hate it

Amazon.com took a significant step into the word of mobile applications this week with the launch of its <a href="http://www.amazon.com/apps">Amazon Appstore for Android</a>, now available for free to select users of Google Android devices.

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