RIM: A Dollar Too Much, To Late

Iain Marlow, reporting for The Globe and Mail:

Research In Motion Ltd.’s top executives cut their salaries to $1 as they delivered yet more dismal news to investors, telling the world the product that was supposed to save the company will come out almost a year later than promised.

The news that a new line of BlackBerrys with an upgraded operating system won’t be released until late 2012, combined with a weak outlook for the company’s fourth quarter, pounded RIM shares in after-hours trading. The stock fell more than 7 per cent to about $14 (U.S.).

At least their taking their time hopefully in an attempt to release something good.  Problem is, their track record is abismal.

Ewan: Browser access on the BlackBerry is fine. It works perfectly well.

Delusional.

RIM Rolls Out NFC-Based BlackBerry Tag (whatever)

RIM seems to be a company who has lost all focus, all purpose and is struggling to stay afloat.  They should take whatever money they have, go into top secret lockdown and brainstorm, innovate a game changing product - instead of putting out the same crap.  It’s what Microsoft did earlier.  See what someone else is doing and then rush to get something similar to the market (remember the Blackberry Storm???) only to have it flop - why?  Because the same innovative quality wasn’t also included to make the product shine.

Blackberry, living in a dreamworld. BlackBerry Bold 9900, $300

What planet is Blackberry living on?

Open Letter From an Anonymous ‘High-Level RIM Employee’

Devastating and comprehensive examination of the hole RIM is in, purportedly sent to BGR from a company insider. (RIM’s version of Mini-Microsoft?) Their products offer uncompetitive user experiences, their management is riddled with bozos, their plans are unfocused, they have no expertise in the areas where they lag the competition, and their marketing stinks.

Amazingly, RIM responded, hours later. 330 words to say nothing.

RIM, You’re Done Here (RIP #Blackberry?)

Hard to argue that Blackberry’s primary customers haven’t moved on.  Those clinging to them seem to be of the older more experienced executive generation.  ;-)  Prime example of why you must always, always, always be innovation oriented or i-motivated!

Apple Overtakes Research in Motion in U.S. Smartphone Usage Share

RIM recalls 1,000 PlayBooks, Nvidia CEO explains slow Android tablet sales

Whoa, and just released too…  Not good.

RIM/Android Tablets, they're bad, have a long way to go.

Gruber:

These aren’t “beta” tablets. They’re bad tablets. It’s that simple. It’s true that their hardware seems closer to iPad-caliber than their software, but improving software is the hardest part of making products like these.

It’s true, and not just because I’m an admitted Apple fanboy.  Apple doesn’t release crap, and that’s precisely what these other tablets are.  Sure, the hardware is almost there, the software, alone, sucks.  Yeah yeah, the open source stuff (Android) is great and all but if the hardware and software can’t play together in harmony, the user experience suffers.  It’s one thing to play catchup, e.g., RIM, Android Tablets, it’s another to take your medicine, suck it up, and develop a real competitor.  All others are just wannabees.