With the iPhone scheduled to appear on July 11, I think RIM is trying to insert just a touch of F.U.D. (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) into the minds of buyers. A video was just sent out by RIM that gives a very brief overview of the yet to be priced or scheduled for release Blackberry Bold. This video is a pretty high level look at the device that points out the web browser (static page) and the nice big screen for watching movies. Watch the movie for yourself at the link below.

Link: Blackberry Bold Video via CB

InfoSync has a handy chart spotlighting estimated Blackberry Bold 9000 release dates for all US carriers. The iPhone effect seems to be pushing RIM to release their devices to all carriers on a more timely schedule. Those of you using Verizon or Sprint know that before Apple’s iPhone started eating RIM’s lunch newer devices like the Blackberry Curve previously took up to an additional year to appear on the CDMA carriers. According to InfoSync all the major carriers will have the new Blackberry by September.

Link: InfoSync Blackberry Bold 900 Release Chart
Link: John Mayer unboxes his Blackberry Bold

Image: Crackberry.com

Web site Crackberry.com continues dissecting the pre-release/beta Blackberry 9000 they scored from an eBay auction earlier this week. This device has been deemed “drool worthy” for it’s 3G connection, improved 480 x 320 HVDA color LCD and advance peek at the new operating system (OS version 4.6.0.22 (67) is on their early release device). They have a short video that demonstrates the browser playing Youtube video, other than that the web browser seems largely unchanged. It’s unclear whether this is the final version web browser. From what I’ve read nearly all the improvements to the Blackberry 9000 have been cosmetic or LCD screen improvements. Not a glimpse of any HTML email capabilities, and comments from the reviewer about this being an “evolutionary OS” and “mainly visual” OS improvements - lead me to wonder if this Blackberry 9000 might be considered “lipstick on a pig” by users hoping for more?

Link: Crackberry.com - Blackberry 9000 Smartphone Review - Part III - OS4.6
Link: Great YouTube Video Created By CrackBerry.com - Live Demo of Blackberry 9000

Looks like Kevin at Crackberry.com was the lucky bidder for the Blackberry 9000 that sold for $828 on eBay last week. This pre-release phone is the first 3G device to emerge from Research in Motion. While there’s no official release date, most speculation is for a late summer AT&T exclusive. Kevin notes that the Blackberry 9000 has a plastic coated fake metal trim (hopefully it doesn’t squeak like my early model 8800 did), the keyboard is somewhere between an 8800 (tolerable) and Curve (great), OS 4.6 is on the device and he reports it’s rather speedy. He’s particularly impressed by the 480 x 320 HVDA Color LCD. There aren’t any screen shots of the v4.6 OS up on his site yet. It will be interesting to learn of what new functionality actually has made it to this device’s OS v4.6. Fingers crossed for HTML email.

Via: Crunchgear — Crackberry Blackberry 9000 Review