Technabob » rim http://technabob.com/blog Cool Gadgets, Gizmos, Games and Geek Stuff Sun, 27 May 2012 20:00:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 RIM’s QNX Porsche Learns to Listen http://technabob.com/blog/2012/04/23/rims-qnx-porsche-speech-recognition/ http://technabob.com/blog/2012/04/23/rims-qnx-porsche-speech-recognition/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:00:27 +0000 Shane McGlaun http://technabob.com/blog/?p=92198 During CES this year, RIM had a Porsche 911 convertible on hand that was fitted with its new QNX system. The QNX system replaced the normal instrument cluster with an LCD screen and puts an LCD screen in the center column for navigation and web access. That system has learned a new trick thanks AT&T’s Watson Speech API.

porsche qnx 1

That speech API turns the QNX system into something akin to Ford’s Sync voice control system. The QNX Porsche can now respond to voice commands from the driver such as locating a specific restaurant nearby or accessing a specific website. I wonder if the system will block things like twitter that might distract the driver.

porsche qnx

The system interfaces with the driver’s smartphones and can read back texts and e-mails. The cool part about this system is that the driver doesn’t have to pair the phone – instead it uses a wireless NFC chip. All the driver has to do is get into the car and it pairs automatically. I wonder if the voice-recognition technology works any better than Ford’s. If you have any sort of accent I’ve found the Sync system doesn’t work that well.

[via Engadget]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2012/04/23/rims-qnx-porsche-speech-recognition/feed/ 0 Rim Blackberry Playbook Tablet Takes Aim at iPad – Price, Release Date Not Set http://technabob.com/blog/2010/09/28/rim-blackberry-playbook-tablet/ http://technabob.com/blog/2010/09/28/rim-blackberry-playbook-tablet/#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:19:57 +0000 Shane McGlaun http://technabob.com/blog/?p=40150 The success that Apple has had with the iPad means that just about every maker of gadgets out there that can build a tablet wants one on the market. The latest iPad competitor to land is from RIM and is called the Blackberry PlayBook. I can’t decide if it’s a bag of fail or has a chance, I suspect fail, given the success rate of tablets other than the iPad, but who knows for sure?

bbplaybook sg

The Playbook is described as a professional-grade tablet and promises power and performance for the web. The tablet has a 7-inch screen that is high resolution and uses a 1GHz dual-core processor. The thing runs BlackBerry’s proprietary Tablet OS and supports HTML5, Adobe Flash 10.1, Adobe AIR and Java apps.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The tablet can pair with Blackberry smartphones and is ready out of the box for Blackberry Enterprise Server use. The screen resolution is 1024 x 600 and it has 1GB of RAM. Other features include a 3MP front camera and 5MP rear with 1080p HD video recording. It also has an HDMI output, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and more.

Availability is set for early 2011 at an undisclosed price. Both 3G and 4G versions of the PlayBook will be offered at some point.

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2010/09/28/rim-blackberry-playbook-tablet/feed/ 5 Bphone: Blackberry Mimics iPhone Ui http://technabob.com/blog/2007/10/02/bphone-blackberry-mimics-iphone-ui/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/10/02/bphone-blackberry-mimics-iphone-ui/#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:35:20 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/10/02/bphone-blackberry-mimics-iphone-ui/ While many of the BlackBerry models out there are arguably more capable than Apple’s iPhone (i.e. GPS integration, not locked to AT&T, etc.), most would agree that the iPhone user interface is a bit more slick. The bPhone theme for BlackBerry lets you have your cake and eat it too.

bphone blackberry

The theme installs on BlackBerry 8700, Pearl, Curve and 8800 models, assuming you have at least OS 4.2.1 installed.

While the icons and interface aren’t identical to those on the iPhone, they’re similar enough to give you the same general look and feel. Even the battery and signal strength indicators are stylized versions of the iPhone UI elements. For areas where there wasn’t a clear parallel between iPhone and BlackBerry Mac OS X design standards were used (like using a beachball for the “busy” indicator).

Sorry, no multi-touch display or motion sensor is included.

[via methodshop]

]]> http://technabob.com/blog/2007/10/02/bphone-blackberry-mimics-iphone-ui/feed/ 2 Blackberry 8800 Adds Gps and More http://technabob.com/blog/2007/02/12/blackberry-8800-adds-gps-and-more/ http://technabob.com/blog/2007/02/12/blackberry-8800-adds-gps-and-more/#comments Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:00:23 +0000 Technabob http://technabob.com/blog/2007/02/12/blackberry-8800-adds-gps-and-more/ Research in Motion today announced their latest smartphone model, the BlackBerry 8800. The new model adds numerous features including GPS tracking, expandable memory, and a long-lasting battery.

blackberry 8800 2

The 8800 is a full quad-band GSM/EDGE phone, and lifts many of the features found in the popular BlackBerry Pearl model, such as its well-received trackball navigation. The phone has a solid 320 x 240 pixel color display with light sensing technology to automatically adjust screen brightness depending on ambient light levels.

Since the 8800 has added both media player software and expandable memory via an SD slot, it has the potential to be your primary media player now. Built-in GPS and mapping features are also included.The 8800 also features enhanced battery life, with a standby time of 22 days and talk time of 5 hours. As is the case with other full-sized BlackBerries, this one also has the standard full QWERTY keyboard, push/pull e-mail, web browsing, calendar and contact management capabilities.

The BlackBerry 8800 should be available from major carriers (Cingular/AT&T for sure) later this month, but pricing has not been announced yet.

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