Attack of the iClones: RIM Storm Rising Edition
The iPhone shook up a very complacent smartphone world, but if we think it exists in a vacuum, if we think the other big players won't respond (no matter how embarrassingly long it might take them), and if we don't hope that they do -- hardcore style -- to prevent Apple from one day getting just as complacent, then we're not doing our jobs as bloggers or consumers.
With that, splinter-like, in mind, witness RIM launching the Blackberry Thunder, their first touch screen device. If you ever wondered how brilliantly Apple handled the release of the iPhone, from Steve pulling it from his pocket to the first videos and commercials, wonder no more. RIM's shows us by way of terrible -- near Microsoft'ian -- example, how badly that could have gone... (Though Mike Lanman certainly makes a convincing Doby to Lazaridis' Gollum...). Couldn't have hired them Virgin folks again?
We're still not sure about the whole-screen's-a-button approach. And the newly launched GDGT podcast is right on when they say RIM needs new software and they need it now (and tell a very funny story about how RIM's co-CEO really doesn't get that... scary...)
Head on over to Crackberry.com to watch the full video.
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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I'd like to see a full list of technical specs, not just the ones where they are compatible or better than the iPhone. Also, I'd love to see how their native apps look on the screen not just the ones that look good on the big screen. I'd love to see more about how navigation takes place on the device beyond a single touch. Where an iPhone user can pinch, squeeze and multi touch I'd like to see how RIM compensates. Finally, if it's a multi-media device like the iPhone what's the story that they have for movies, music, podcasts, etc. Time will tell if their nearly 2 years of development have allowed them to be competitive of just another wannabe.
I look at it this way, the next iPhone will have a better screen and better processor and more memory -
I wanted the Storm and still do to an extent. The push e-mail on BB is great. If apple could get that down then I would be very happy.
I do feel embarrassed and ashamed when iPhone users attempt to rewrite history with the idea that the iPhone somehow invented the touchscreen market. Windows Mobile devices and some others have been at it for several years after evolving from the Pocket PC PDA platform. The iPhone is great but please don't treat readers as idiotic mindless souls incapable of knowing just a few years of tech history.
@Aron
I have been thinking that for sometime wasn't Windows Mobile one of the first touchscreen devices. Wouldn't that mean Apple is a clone of that and just happened to make it better?
I guess people are saying everything is a iClone because it mimics what the iPhone does and the look of the OS on the screen.
Hey Rene Ritchie -
Your first sentence of the second paragraph should read "their", not "they're".
And we're supposed to trust you? Scary. Go get a job at Apple.
@Terry
Apple has done an optimum job of putting existing technologies together to make the iPhone. The keyword there is 'existing'. Multitouch, touchscreens, portrait rotation, Webkit, Widgets and accelerometers were not Apple inventions, so accusing new phones of being iPhone clones is rather absurd and rather cultic rewriting of technological history.
I think these so-called iClones make up a good motivation for Apple to strive for iPhone's perfection, i'm sure the next version will come improved with more innovations. That's a competitive market after all! If someone still wants a free iPhone 3G, go here: http://www.pikaba.com/c/ContestRules.aspx?m
Hey Peeps, Why all the hate for RIM and MS? Why do all Apple Iphone people run with PC's not macs? Why is mac on 10% of the pc population? Iphone is cheap and available as a clone last feb.
http://gizmodo.com/353413/closest-chinese-iphone-clone-yet
Looks like a iphone but better, SD Card and Battery!
Rice Man
Anything RIM creates is gold I cant wait till the storm launches then when you add the Verizon wireless data network you cant lose !