No More Gmail Love for Blackberry

It was announced recently that Blackberry users will soon be unable to get their hands on a dedicated Gmail app for their devices.  However, as one might expect from a company like RIM who was basically one of the front runners in the smartphone market, this is kind of a surprise. Instead, the decision came from Google themselves.  RIM built their business in the phone market by granting a web experience on their devices and were one of the first to really get it right.  Only since the iPhone's debut has RIM been struggling to stay ahead of the tech curve. 

No doubt RIM is feeling the pressure being put on from both Apple and Google in the smartphone industry.  We have already seen this with the release of RIM's Blackberry Playbook which has all but been a 'hot item' since it's release.  So what is the plan with Google then?  Looks like the effective date is November 22, 2011.  If you are a Blackberry user who already has the Gmail app installed, you're in the clear.  Unless of course you require some sort of support for it.  Otherwise, you can continue to use it to your hearts content.  The other good news is that if you are indeed a Blackberry user, your device already includes native Gmail support via Blackberry Internet Services.  So you're still in the clear regardless what Google decides to do now or in the future.

If you are a Blackberry user who doesn't have the app but would like to get it.  You have until the 22nd of this month.  Instead of supporting a dedicated app, Google seems to be redirecting their efforts in this area to "building a great Gmail experience in the mobile web browser" per their website.  What do you think?  Does this sound like Google is trying to sway Blackberry/Gmail user's to move towards Android (or at least away from RIM)?  Either way, with about every other mobile device supporting a Gmail app sounds kind of funny with this move doesn't it?

It definitely sounds like it's been a big week as far as "tech shake up's" go.  With Adobe's announcement earlier this week of discontinuing mobile Flash to Google not supporting Gmail app's on the Blackberry platform...Man, what's next?  Is Netflix going to reopen Qwikster? (just a joke, sorry Netflix).

:)

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Why I dumped Netflix' DVD Offering & Instant Streamings Future

A few months back, we were greeted with the headlines and soon after an email from Netflix explaining that current prices where going to be raised for new and current subscribers.  Essentially, the existing offering of 1 DVD rental at a time + Instant Streaming cost user's around $10.00 USD.  With the new price rates, this same plan jumps to a about $16.00 USD.  I, like many loyal Netflix customer's felt this was pretty much unfair and probably uncalled for.  Feeling jilted by a company I have paid monthly subscription fees to for years now, I started looking elsewhere for my source of movies and television entertainment.  After trying several different services and experiencing what content they had to offer, I just couldn't find anything with the same collections of content that I enjoyed as much as Netflix has.

This led me to having to eat some crow, and keep my Netflix sub.  However, I did dump the DVD by Mail offering prior to the date the rate increase went effective.  Instead, my business for DVD rentals will go to one of two places: our local video store or the Redbox DVD services.  I will not be taking advantage of the DVD by Mail offerings.  I am still able to enjoy my Doctor Who back episodes, my Battlestar Galactica and the occassional, cheesy B-Sci-Fi flick.

As you have probably already seen in the headlines today, Netflix is making some internal changes regarding the DVD by Mail offerings and moving that entire offering into a seperate service called 'Qwikster'.  Checkout my article coming later today concerning these changes for DVD by Mail customers.

So what does this mean for Instant Streaming only customers?  Not much right now, nothing is changing regarding that service.  In a recent blog post on the official Netflix Blog; Reed Hastings (CEO/Cofounder of Netflix) ensures us that in the coming months a 'substantial amount of new content' will be hitting the Streaming Service.  Which is great news.  But I beg for one thing, and only one thing.  Please don't get rid of existing content when new stuff is added (unless it's the Starz Play stuff that will be going away next year anyways).

Instant Streaming is definitely the way of the future, as Netflix undoubtedly understands.  With the adoption of mobile devices being ever gradually increased every day and Netflix being a player in the mobile entertainment area with their Mobile app (unless you're on Android which then becomes really, really fragmented as far as Netflix is concerned); it's no surprise to me that they will push heavy in this area of their business.

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Netflix on the ASUS Transformer Tablet

Many owner's of the ASUS Transformer Tablet were expecting to get Netflix streaming support with their OTA update of Honeycomb 3.2 the other week.  Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.  However, on Tuesday ASUS started rolling out an OTA Update that will bring the tablet up to release version 8.6.5.9 and includes Netflix support.  Way to go ASUS!

Now, please give Acer some notes on how to handle their customers.  If the Acer Honeycomb 3.2 OTA Update includes Netflix support I will apologize.  Otherwise, enjoy your movie streaming Transformer fans!

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