MacDailyNews Take: A slide-out keyboard? How quaint. Even Android phone makers have begun dropping that anachronism.
Miller and Bensinger report, “The BlackBerry Torch has a touch screen, like the iPhone, and a full Qwerty keyboard similar to those on RIM’s most popular BlackBerry models, the companies said today.”
MacDailyNews Take: RIM’s most popular BlackBerry models. You know, the ones they’re forced to move with unending “Buy One, Get One Free” promotions. Because of Apple’s iPhone.
Miller and Bensinger report, “The phone has a new operating system and Internet browser, and will start selling Aug. 12 for $199.99 with a two-year AT&T contract.”
MacDailyNews Take: The browser is based on Apple’s WebKit work and why would you buy RIM’s thing when you could get an iPhone 4 for the same price? Answer: You wouldn’t.
Miller and Bensinger report, “The phone may help RIM regain lost market share by combining the iPhone’s fingertip Web surfing with a physical keyboard useful for typing long e-mails.”
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, just like no pseudo multi-touch fake iPhone with a physical keyboard has helped any company regain market share lost to Apple’s iPhone. RIM is like a horse-drawn carriage maker who starts making an automobile that drops horseshit every block in order to make their luddite customers feel comfortable. A slide-out physical keyboard is stupid, wasteful (both in space and margin), superfluous, outmoded, and it’s already been proven by RIM and others not to work in “takin back share” from Apple’s iPhone.
Miller and Bensinger report, “For AT&T, the device helps expand the carrier’s smartphone choices beyond the iPhone. Rival Verizon Wireless plans to begin selling the iPhone in January, people familiar with the plan said in June.”
MacDailyNews Take: Note to building superintendents at RIM, Google, Motorola, HTC, and other would-be “iPhone competitors'” headquarters: Bar the window ledges before January or prepare for extensive sidewalk cleanup.
Miller and Bensinger report, “RIM’s share of global smartphone shipments fell to 19.4 percent in the first quarter from 20.9 percent a year earlier, according to researcher IDC. Apple claimed 16.1 percent of the market, up from 10.9 percent a year earlier.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Listen, RIM, you had a good run, but nobody needs yet another pretend iPhone with yet another fake iOS, especially from a little outfit that still hasn’t even recognized the death of device festooned with little plastic buttons.