Technology companies are constantly pressured to innovate in terms of their features, product lines, and product mix. RIM and MSFT in particular have been criticized over the past several years for not being able to effectively move into the mobile applications/tablet space.
Are these following moves going to change that reality?
Research In Motion's BlackBerry OS 10 software is set to offer a new feature: Time-shifting.
Cameras using BlackBerry OS 10 software will have the capability to wind back time on selected portions of photos to make sure that the image has captured all of its subjects at their best...
when one of the subjects had her eyes closed in the finished shot, the photographer was able to select her face and wind back, frame by frame, to find a moment when her eyes were open. With this moment found, only this portion of the final photo was amended.
This is by no means a new technology, but it is probably the first time it's going to be featured on a product as commercialized as the BlackBerry.
There is also rumor that the new BlackBerry OS 10 is going to include key functionality in regards to media-streaming to the TV. (no official release date for RIM's OS 10 yet, with rumors indicating new devices set for August).
Link to full article
Link to full article 2
More Apple rumors for the iPhone 5:
October release date
In summary:
With Apple set to introduce new Macs over summer, I'd argue against a summer launch, which also leads us into Fall. August isn't a good launch month as many potential Apple customers head off on summer vacation. As do many Apple staff.
Also, Apple is rumored to be using LiquidMetal for the body of the phone, which would result in thinner, lighter, stronger, and corrosion resistant parts.
Here is designer Antoine Brieux's guess at what it could look like (note, no Home button)
Microsoft
Microsoft has moved into the digital book business with a $300M+ investment in Barnes & Noble's Nook Platform, which represents a 17.6% stake. It's no secret that Microsoft is looking forward to a risky, huge release of Windows 8 tablets coming later in the fall. The integration of a media platform will largely aid MSFT in its attempt to catch up with Apple, amongst other competitors within the mobile app/tablet space.
So, there you have it.
- Which moves are you impressed by?
- MSFT has been widely criticized for its lack ability to stay in front its competition with its Zune, SPOT, Windows phone failures to date...Is MSFT's investment in the Nook too late in the game to compete with the likes of Apple in the mobile/tablet space?
- Where does MSFT move from here in regards to the ever-growing smartphone market?
- Who are you bullish/bearish on?
I have been long RIMM since it was falling fast. I have no financial reasoning for this other then my gut telling me to.
What was your entry point? I'm considering going long if it continues to fall...
The blackberry photo feature is pretty interesting but I can see it easily being emulated in the next week or so on an iphone. I think RIM is still dead in the water.
This. Technology is going to be hard to innovate in unless it's something that has some kind of embedded secret in it that some other company can't readily replicate.
As someone else mentioned, I don't know why someone hasn't already made a bid. With a market cap just over $6B, down from ~$80B in 2008, seems like a likely takeover target. Could the stock possibly get any lower before someone acquires them??
RIMM, no chance of revival.
MSFT, no chance of revival, though of course they have other businesses.
rim is going to bankruptcy 4sho
rimm won't go into bankruptcy, they will get squired for their patents. This is the same story as Palm.
What the fuck are you talking about. There's no way they'll go bankrupt, somebody'll buy them before that phase is even close by.
catching a falling knife is not easy... especially if it never stops falling
Thought it was surprising to see RIMM fall like 5% on the day they announced all their BB OS 10 stuff. I don't know what more analysts expected them to show off.
I think at this point the only headline that could give this stock a pop is RIMM hires advisor for sale... they need to try to sell this thing before they get to $3 a share, the only thing with any value I'm guessing is some patents.
RIM needs to stop its OS efforts and install Windows Phone in their next generation phones and somehow keep its enterprise mail functionality.
There is no reason for RIM to invest anymore in software, IT IS NOT THEIR CORE BUSINESS, they should just follow Nokia's move and invest in the hardware design.
And Windows Phone will take over Android in the next 3-4 years for sure.
I completely agree. I love my Blackberry... it's just a nice phone and has served me so well. They should focus on making nice phones. Phones, not tablets btw..
Would be bummed to see RIM go under.
The problem with acquiring RIMM is the same problem as buying Palm. It is a fading operating system that probably values itself at something more than it's current stock price would suggest. I remember a bit ago Larry Ellison commenting about buying them and that the price was too high. I suppose you could attempt to integrate them into a company, but frankly If I were a buyer you my swell wait for them to go all the way down and then bid for the patents... thats probably what an acquirer would want anyway. The hardware hasn't been keeping up, marketshare dwindling and their OS isn't all that great.
I wanna go long on RIMM too, the price is lower than book and would jack up with takeover rumors, they have some nice propriety technology and hardware, just lost their focus somewhat with QNX
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