[JRF_1986]

I for one, am not offended. If I know a site is known for bashing products just for the "clicks", that site loses all credibility in my eyes. It's been a while since I've visited Engadget or seen any of their videos. Same as BGR.

[RubberChicken76]

It's all relative. I didn't even see a mention of it on BGR when I looked. Tech crunch either, though it may be buried.

[RubberChicken76]

Is it pathetic that BB had to basically buy their OS because the one they had before was so bad and they didn't have the talent or tech to improve their own?

Uhh - don't think it's quite that simple ...

[anon(3993749)]

Does reading engaget influence you?

It might

[ibmbc]

No its not. Blackberry 10 is struggling because of several reasons. The first is Blackberry let their reputation go from being viewed as the segment leader to an outdated company within a short span by letting themselves fall tragically behind in the mobile OS world. They were putting out the same rehashed out of date os (5.0 - 7.0) with minor tweaks over the 4 year period that they went from being the market leader to almost extinct. This killed their brandname consumers.

Secondly, the explosion of demand for mobile apps happened. Blackberry failed to realize the importance of this early on, was late to the app game and has never even come close to closing the gap. (And I really don't want to hear anything about the new Android support ability. The fact is the average consumer is going to mess around with that. I sell phones for a living, I can tell you the average customer wants to be able to pick up and use something)

Finally nail in the coffin was the launch pricing. The Z10 had a chance to be a decent seller, the issue was it launched with WAY too high a price tag. The simple fact is Blackberry was essentially starting from scratch in the market. No one outside the tech community (and even many within it) knew much of BB10. Average consumers don't like buying the unknown. Why does Apple and Android sell so well? Because most people want the phone their friend bought. I'm not saying it is right, but it isn't exactly an industry secret. To combat that what Blackberry needed to do was launch the Z10 on a really aggressive price point. Many people are willing to take a risk and try something they if they feel the value is too compelling to pass up. Let's be honest it's not like the Z10 was was using the most expensive state of the art hardware at the time, they didn't have to launch with that price tag. However Blackberry management at the time thought it was important to start making money to help the stock price which was floundering with the poor sales of older BB devices at the time. It was a terrible decision. (not unlike the decision to dump a ton of money into a terrible superbowl commercial)

The premium price on the z10 at launch, combined with the lack of a competitive app store and tarnished brand name is what killed the launch of BB10.

[ajst222]

No its not. Blackberry 10 is struggling because of several reasons. The first is Blackberry let their reputation go from being viewed as the segment leader to an outdated company within a short span by letting themselves fall tragically behind in the mobile OS world. They were putting out the same rehashed out of date os (5.0 - 7.0) with minor tweaks over the 4 year period that they went from being the market leader to almost extinct. This killed their brandname consumers.

Secondly, the explosion of demand for mobile apps happened. Blackberry failed to realize the importance of this early on, was late to the app game and has never even come close to closing the gap. (And I really don't want to hear anything about the new Android support ability. The fact is the average consumer is going to mess around with that. I sell phones for a living, I can tell you the average customer wants to be able to pick up and use something)

Finally nail in the coffin was the launch pricing. The Z10 had a chance to be a decent seller, the issue was it launched with WAY too high a price tag. The simple fact is Blackberry was essentially starting from scratch in the market. No one outside the tech community (and even many within it) knew much of BB10. Average consumers don't like buying the unknown. Why does Apple and Android sell so well? Because most people want the phone their friend bought. I'm not saying it is right, but it isn't exactly an industry secret. To combat that what Blackberry needed to do was launch the Z10 on a really aggressive price point. Many people are willing to take a risk and try something they if they feel the value is too compelling to pass up. Let's be honest it's not like the Z10 was was using the most expensive state of the art hardware at the time, they didn't have to launch with that price tag. However Blackberry management at the time thought it was important to start making money to help the stock price which was floundering with the poor sales of older BB devices at the time. It was a terrible decision. (not unlike the decision to dump a ton of money into a terrible superbowl commercial)

The premium price on the z10 at launch, combined with the lack of a competitive app store and tarnished brand name is what killed the launch of BB10.

Beautifully said.

Photo a Day: C002B5A07, my amateur photography Channel

[anon(3993749)]

Exactly.

There seem to be some who think every one else in the world is but a dandelion, subject to the dastardly winds of passing rumor and conjecture.

Just take a look at our leaders. In democratic countries the majority chooses a leader. In most cases that leader is an idi0t. That can only mean one thing: yes, most of us are dandelions.
Most of us belive what we see/read in the press. Most of us belive in a book written by some random people a few thousand years ago. And most of us buy what everyone else is buying. This is the reality.

[RubberChicken76]

The first is Blackberry let their reputation go from being viewed as the segment leader to an outdated company within a short span by letting themselves fall tragically behind in the mobile OS world.

Yes

They were putting out the same rehashed out of date os (5.0 - 7.0) with minor tweaks

They did lots and lots of updates to that OS, but the foundation was the problem. Same issue encountered by Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Classic Mac OS etc.

Secondly, the explosion of demand for mobile apps happened. Blackberry failed to realize the importance of this early on, was late to the app game

Not really. There were apps on a BlackBerry for years before there ever was an iPhone. There were developer tools on the BlackBerry for years before there ever was an iPhone SDK. Developers were allowed to put apps wherever they wanted. They quickly came out with an App Store within about a year of Apple doing so (plus carrier app stores), and also launched developer conferences.

However, they did have a difficult platform, and couldn't match Apple's marketing gusto and not all the devices had the same specs, OS version, screen sizes etc.

[anon(3993749)]

The premium price on the z10 at launch, combined with the lack of a competitive app store and tarnished brand name is what killed the launch of BB10.

And who exactly helped tarnish the brand name? And why is the brand still being mocked more than a year since they released a new competitive platform? I agree with everything you said about OS5-7 and maybe the Z10's launch, but that was 12 months ago. Why haven't sales picked up? Why is the media still on a mission to destroy BlackBerry? You can't possibly believe this isn't affecting their sales.

[ajst222]

And who exactly helped tarnish the brand name? And why is the brand still being mocked more than a year since they released a new competitive platform? I agree with everything you said about OS5-7 and maybe the Z10's launch, but that was 12 months ago. Why haven't sales picked up? Why is the media still on a mission to destroy BlackBerry? You can't possibly believe this isn't affecting their sales.

Why haven't sales picked up? Because none of that has been fixed. BlackBerry still priced their phones like crazy. BlackBerry World still had a poor selection. And the marketing still isn't there.

Photo a Day: C002B5A07, my amateur photography Channel

[igor10000]

my dog is a better foodblogger than all the engadget inkslingers are techbloggers

[Taede]

In their defense.. BlackBerry hasn't conjured up any kind of fan fare advertising their new features or promoting this update, so why should anyone else?

Because they report on Tech news and have their finger on the pulse of what is happening. It is their job to inform us, to report honestly and fairly the bad and good, omission is not accurately reporting. Whether you like a brand or not shouldn't have any bearing on doing your job. I am not saying they did this I did not read the article but the question was asked, why...?

[SirJes]

Because they report on Tech news and have their finger on the pulse of what is happening. It is their job to inform us, to report honestly and fairly the bad and good, omission is not accurately reporting. Whether you like a brand or not shouldn't have any bearing on doing your job. I am not saying they did this I did not read the article but the question was asked, why...?

Thanks for getting back on topic

CLICK HERE To Join My Music & Poetry Channel. Please&Thanks.

[Bla1ze]

"It wasn't in the press release" is the worst excuse ever. It's been known for months... but whatever.. at least they updated it.. kinda.

[h20work]

So he attempted to cover his tail by dismissing this.... whats the excuse for the rest of it I wounder

Would you know about it if it wasn't for cb and leaks? The average user who doesn't visit forums wouldn't have a clue about the direct apk installs. Until BlackBerry mentions it I wouldn't expect anyone else to...

[Bla1ze]

Would you know about it if it wasn't for cb and leaks? The average user who doesn't visit forums wouldn't have a clue about the direct apk installs. Until BlackBerry mentions it I wouldn't expect anyone else to...

He's not an average user. He's someone who is paid to tell others about tech and what's relevant to them. I take a ton of crap for using an iPhone, WP and Android device but that's one example why I use them, read about them and learn about them.

If I'm an associate editor of a tech site, there is a certain expectation that comes along with that. Do I know everything? Nope.. but I sure as hell look beyond what is simply in the press release each and every single damn time.

A simple Google search of BlackBerry 10.2.1 would have led him to more information, the first link NOT from today highlights their use of Android. But whatever, he updated.. so there's that. Engadget fell off must read list long ago.

[propeller10]

"It wasn't in the press release" is the worst excuse ever. It's been known for months... but whatever.. at least they updated it.. kinda.

Engadget coverage has been going down hill for months. It looks like number of editors left the site(not sure). They miss so many important tech stories.

[h20work]

He's not an average user. He's someone who is paid to tell others about tech and what's relevant to them. I take a ton of crap for using an iPhone, WP and Android device but that's one example why I use them, read about them and learn about them.

If I'm an associate editor of a tech site, there is a certain expectation that comes along with that. Do I know everything? Nope.. but I sure as hell look beyond what is simply in the press release each and every single damn time.

A simple Google search of BlackBerry 10.2.1 would have led him to more information, the first link NOT from today highlights their use of Android.

My point is, unless someone is specifically told about that feature (the direct apk install) they won't just find it by using the update. "Oh look there's a dark theme for bbm now" is the kind of thing you would expect to find by playing around with the new os, not a hidden non announced feature.

So unless that writer spends time on BlackBerry forums they aren't very likely to know it exists.

[Bla1ze]

So unless that writer spends time on BlackBerry forums they aren't very likely to know it exists.

It's his job to know it exists or at the very least go looking for more than what is simply in the press release. Like I said, he didn't even need to be a member here, all he had to do was quite literally Google "BlackBerry 10.2.1" and he would have learned more. I don't expect the average person to know and that's the point.. he's paid to tell them what they need to know unless I'm totally mistaken and he's paid to simply re-word press releases.

[h20work]

It's his job to know it exists or at the very least go looking for more than what is simply in the press release. Like I said, he didn't even need to be a member here, all he had to do was quite literally Google "BlackBerry 10.2.1" and he would have learned more. I don't expect the average person to know and that's the point.. he's paid to tell them what they need to know unless I'm totally mistaken and he's paid to simply re-word press releases.

Maybe BlackBerry should of just told him (or everyone else) for that matter.

Isn't it pretty obvious they aren't advertising this as a feature? Why keep quiet on the biggest new thing in your shinny new os unless you don't want to talk about it (for whatever reason at this point)?

[anon(3896606)]

Maybe BlackBerry should of just told him (or everyone else) for that matter.

Isn't it pretty obvious they aren't advertising this as a feature? Why keep quiet on the biggest new thing in your shinny new os unless you don't want to talk about it (for whatever reason at this point)?

They can't advertise it yet as the don't have a safe source for the users to get the APKs, once they have that they will be able to.

[Bla1ze]

Maybe BlackBerry should of just told him (or everyone else) for that matter.

Isn't it pretty obvious they aren't advertising this as a feature? Why keep quiet on the biggest new thing in your shinny new os unless you don't want to talk about it (for whatever reason at this point)?

You're still missing the point IMO and I'm not going to argue it, I don't really care. He updated it. All I know is if I wrote what was only ever in the press release or announcement without some further investigation on certain subjects, I'd hear about in the comments as well just like he did. Hell, I hear it when I forget to include which OS an app is for even though BlackBerry doesn't even list it on BlackBerry World anywhere anymore.

[Kurdis Blough]

They can't advertise it yet as the don't have a safe source for the users to get the APKs, once they have that they will be able to.

They also don't have a legal way to distribute apks. The only Android apps that BlackBerry is authorized to distribute are the ones already in BBW.

BlackBerry not announcing the runtime was their only play.

[h20work]

They can't advertise it yet as the don't have a safe source for the users to get the APKs, once they have that they will be able to.

Easier to get mad at bloggers, tech sites, etc for not mentioning something BlackBerry doesn't want to talk about

[Bla1ze]

Easier to get mad at bloggers, tech sites, etc for not mentioning something BlackBerry doesn't want to talk about

Damn right I'm mad... if I have to work hard so should others.