Salomondrin kept his promise and made a video overview of the BlackBerry Atlas, yet another version of the Bold!

• Made for East Asia and China
• Keyboard like 8900’s keyboard, has a Trackpad
• Says Bold on the back but no leather battery door
• Size comparison with the Tour
• Uses Bold battery
• Not a 3G device, uses EDGE and GSM
• WiFi enabled
• OS 5.0.0.239 Platform 6.0.1.9
• Runs fast
• Comes pre-loaded with John Mayer video
• Sal’s getting a cat (haha)

That’s it for now but be sure to check back for the next video Sal puts together. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

It’s been a few months since we last heard about the BlackBerry Atlas but it’s back and already had its first photo shoot!

Salomondrin has posted up a bunch of pictures showing the Atlas at a few angles including the front, side and back, as well as side-by-side comparisons with other devices. From the back you can see the “Bold” logo. This begs the question: Will the BlackBerry Atlas be another version of the Bold?

Here are some observations made by Sal:

1) It says Bold on the back

2) Keyboard of a Javelin

3) Its NOT 3G, its just EDGE

4) Has flash in the camera

5) Has a trackpad

Sal says he’ll post more about this device soon, so for now let me know what you think about the Atlas in the comments!

This one totally snuck by me last week.

CrackBerry Kevin let us know about a video evaluation put together by equity analyst Chris Umiastowski in regards to how BlackBerry is doing compared to Apple with its core features. Here are some things from the video that Kevin pointed out:

• RIM acknowledges it needs to improve panning and zooming within the web browser and that the issue is an on-device one – it has nothing to do with connecting through the NOC. The key issue is memory management (not enough device RAM). RIM says it’s a fixable problem and expects to have a browser on par with the iPhone’s Safari browser by next summer.
• Javascript support will be enabled by default within the web browser this fall. Currently it ships with the JS support setting disabled (enabling JS support tends to slow things down… remember my Bold’s Buggered browsers post which was written nearly a year ago?).
• And very interestingly, RIM gave a reason as to why WiFi on a BlackBerry can often be very slow (not any quicker than using Edge/3G). Apparently RIM has diagnosed the culprit and it has to do with being too conservative on BlackBerry battery management in that the device puts the WiFi radio to sleep too often. Not many details are given here (other than devices being released in upcoming launches should hopefully have much faster WiFi transfer rates) but it’s quite possible that if you’re using your WiFi browser at the same time that you’re connected to Edge/3G but your device doesn’t seem to be browsing any faster than if WiFi was turned off, that well, WiFi may actually be asleep and you are actually on Edge/3G.

I think RIM is definitely making some smart moves with its BlackBerry development. What do you guys think?

via TD Securities & CrackBerry

Last night @arukaen uploaded a video review of the BlackBerry Storm 2, codenamed the Odin.

This video is not @arukaen’s, he just uploaded it. Here is what is covered in the video:

• Touchscreen (one piece)
• Battery door made of metal
• Button placement on top and side
• Side keys are made of plastic/rubber
• Same battery as the Tour
• SIM card and media card location
• Lighting for bottom buttons, no leaked light
• Storm 2, Onyx and Tour side-by-side comparison
• Screen can’t be pressed unless the Storm 2 is on
• Memory screen
  • Applications, Device (1.8 GB total), Media Card
• Comes with new BlackBerry Messenger and threaded SMS
• Media folders
• Loud speakers (really loud)
• Composing a SMS message
• This Storm 2 is running on AT&T with EDGE,
• Mobile Network connections
  • Switching between GSM/UMTS, 1XEV and Global

Let me know what you think in the comments!

One of BGR’s ninjas sent them the specifications for an upcoming BlackBerry, model number 9700.

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• UMTS/HSDPA
• 480×360 resolution display
• Wi-Fi a,b,g
• OS 5.0
• QWERTY keyboard
• 3.2 megapixel AF camera
• Bluetooth

Still no codename or pictures of this BlackBerry, but this is definitely a start. Hopefully we’ll see some more details about this device soon.

If you have more information about the BlackBerry 9700 be sure to send me a message!

Sprint has also launched their BlackBerry Tour 9630 sign up page!

Not only that, but they actually have some pricing information too:

The BlackBerry Tour will be available at Sprint stores, www.sprint.com and 1-800-Sprint1 later this summer for $199.99 with a new line of service or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate. Additional savings may be available to business customers through their Sprint account manager.

Nice! You can check out the Sprint Tour page at www.sprint.com/tour or RIM’s own at www.blackberry.com/tour.

Full Sprint press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

I’ve gotten a bunch of emails asking me whether or not I have heard anything new about the BlackBerry Magnum or any other upcoming BlackBerry devices. Until now I’ve had no updates besides what was leaked at the end of 2008.

One of BGR’s ninjas was able to get some info about three upcoming and confirmed BlackBerry devices:

BlackBerry Onyx:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS device
• GPS
• Camera
• Wi-Fi (no UMA support)
• QWERTY keyboard
• 480×360 resolution screen
• Confirmed carriers: AT&T

BlackBerry Driftwood:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS device
• GPS
• Camera
• Wi-Fi with UMA
• QWERTY keyboard

BlackBerry Magnum:

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS device
• GPS
• Camera
• Wi-Fi (no UMA support)
• QWERTY keyboard
• 480×360 resolution screen
• Confirmed carriers: AT&T

So far it looks like the Driftwood and the Magnum might be the same device, but meant for different carriers. BGR also says that the BlackBerry Bold might get refreshed to allow UMA connectivity.

The Onyx, Driftwood and Magnum are part of the 9000 series, so they will all be 3G capable.

Who’s excited about these upcoming BlackBerrys!?

Source: BGR

Unlock Your BlackBerry Storm let me know about their new BlackBerry unlocking service. You can remote unlock the Storm 9530 to be used on the GSM and EDGE network!

Unlock Your BlackBerry Storm has also provided me with a coupon code just for BlackBerry Rocks! readers to get 10% off the sale price, which is $39.99. The coupon code is BBROCKS.

Here are other services they offer for BlackBerry remote unlocking:

• Remote unlock any AT&T BlackBerry $16
• Remote unlock any BlackBerry $49
• Remote unlock Rogers BlackBerry $16
• Remote unlock T-Mobile BlackBerry $16
• Remote unlock Vodofone UK BlackBerry $45

Info for unlocking your:

• Storm 9530
  
• Other BlackBerry

The coupon code BBROCKS works for their other unlocking services too, just in case .