BlackBerry Storm: It's a Dud

Families boot up computers, phones on waking

(NEWSER) - When it comes to morning routines, the modern family has a new set of priorities, many of which require a screen, the New York Times reports. “It used to be you woke up, went to the bathroom, maybe brushed your teeth, and picked up the newspaper,” says an expert. Now, “I’ll be the first to admit: the first thing I do is check my email.” More»

List includes advancements from iPhone, Amazon and Netflix

(NEWSER) - David Pogue runs down the best tech ideas of 2008 in the New York Times, “the flashes of genius that somehow made it through committee, past the lawyers, and into the marketplace.” Highlights include:

• Headache-free packaging: Amazon’s plastic-free alternative is good for the environment and does not require the jaws of life to open.
• Freehands gloves: Type away on your PDA—effectively—without exposing your paws to frostbite.

Bugs and design flaws in newest, much-anticipated model irk dedicated users

(NEWSER) - BlackBerry’s newest model, the Storm, has provoked frustration among users over bugs and bad design choices, MSNBC reports. Though the phone gained favorable early impressions for its “clickable” touchscreen, BlackBerry-related websites have recently been buzzing with criticism, as many have found writing email on the screen to be a slog. “You can type quickly or accurately, but not both,” said one analyst. More»

Smartphone has solid biz base, adds apps

(NEWSER) - The low-profile BlackBerry's Storm is poised to be silent killer to Apple's iPhone and Google's G-1 when it goes on sale next month. GigaOm's Jim Courtney explains why:

• Storm cleverly runs on 3G carriers like Verizon, whose 70 million customers can't use iPhone.
• The advanced touch screen and keyboard are amped up with many entry options and quick access to tricky characters like "é."

Companies go 'topless' to boost employees' attention

(NEWSER) - Tired of competing for attention with iPhones, BlackBerrys and laptops, some Silicon Valley companies are banning them from meetings. One exec calls it going "topless," short for laptopless, and the Los Angeles Times reports that it's boosting some companies' efficiency. "Aside from just being rude," an exec wrote, "partial attention generally leads to partial results." More»