TelekomPresse/ScreenshotScreenshot from video posted to German website TelekomPresse's YouTube account comparing what looks to be the new BlackBerry 10 touchscreen device to an iPhone 5.
In the lead up to Research In Motion Ltd.’s launch of its BlackBerry 10 platform next week, the company itself has been showing off the new software to journalists around the world using demo devices with different hardware than what will ship when the new handsets actually go on sale.
The corporate reboot at Research in Motion Ltd. marks its first anniversary today. The tech giant’s beleaguered stock price has been on an absolute tear of late — up 14% since last week to burst the $18 range and a whopping 170% appreciation from its 52-week low of $6.10 last September. Continue reading.
But there have been a number of leaks ahead of the launch and now German website TelekomPresse has what looks to be the touchscreen model, known as the BlackBerry Z10, and has posted a video on its YouTube account comparing RIM’s new flagship device to Apple Inc.’s iPhone 5.
(The touchscreen handset is expected to be the first to launch with a device including a physical keyboard to follow shortly.)
The video compares the hardware of the two devices and also pits the features of the BB10 device against the iPhone 5.
Take a look to see how they compare on elements like screen size, button position, sending and receiving messages, display of apps and opening web pages. The video is in German with some English subtitles.
The reviewer seems to conclude the apparent BB Z10 performs as well or better on many fronts but lacks the number of apps available on Apple’s ecosystem.
By Jan. 30 we’ll know exactly how close this and other leaks were to the actual devices RIM launches.
RIM shares were up close to 10% by noon ET Tuesday at about US$17.40 in New York amid renewed optimism for the company.
Scotiabank analyst Gus Papageorgiou raised his rating on the company to sector outperform on Tuesday, saying revenue from customers upgrading to the new devices alone could top analysts’ estimates.
RIM CEO Thorsten Heins also recentlyreiterated that the company is considering strategic options including a sale of its hardware production unit, giving fresh momentum to its stock.