Survey shows strong consumer interest in BlackBerry 10, but few are willing to buy just yet

The good news for RIM (RIMM): Lots of people are interested in checking out its upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform. The bad news: Few are willing to commit to buying a BlackBerry 10 device at the moment. According to a new online survey of more than 1,100 Americans commissioned by mobile application specialist BiTE interactive and conducted by reputable pollster YouGov, 47% of Americans find “at least one of BlackBerry’s new features appealing,” although only around 13% say they’ll consider buying a BlackBerry 10 device.

[More from BGR: Apple’s 128GB iPad shows the world exactly what Apple does best]

[More from BGR: Apple unveils new 128GB iPad]

The survey found that the new Time Shift Camera, which lets users rapid-shoot multiple pictures of the same subject and then choose the best one from the bunch, was the most popular new BlackBerry feature, followed by BlackBerry 10′s new predictive keyboard. But as BiTE operations executive vice president Joseph Farrell notes, there’s a big difference between interest in new features and a commitment to spend money acquiring them. Farrell also thinks that RIM will still struggle to be relevant as long as app developers neglect BlackBerry in favor of iOS and Android.

“RIM’s much anticipated BB10 launch is a major, and much needed overhaul for the one-time smartphone leader and all indications are that it has, at very least succeeded in convincing Americans to give BlackBerry a second look,” he says. “However, it is clear that while all the new features can catch the interest of Android and iOS owners, the key chink in RIM’s armor remains its apps ecosystem. RIM has made great efforts to catch up with iOS and Android in this regard, but it, like Microsoft, is likely to find this far easier said than done.”

BiTE’s full press release is posted below.

BlackBerry 10 Captures Attention of One in Two Americans

But only one in eight will actually consider buying a BB10 device

Los Angeles, January 29, 2013 – Ahead of the launch of Research in Motion’s long-anticipated BlackBerry 10 operating system and two new smartphones this week, nearly one in two Americans online (47 percent) finds at least one of BlackBerry’s new features appealing.

Despite interest in the new features only one in eight Americans (13 percent) will consider buying a BB10 device, and only one in 100 plans to get one immediately. The findings are according to a report from BiTE interactive, the native mobile application specialist for Fortune 1000 brands, which commissioned YouGov to poll the views of a representative sample of 1,127 American adults online.

Time Shift Camera wins most American hearts, especially with Android owners

RIM’s Time Shift Camera is the most compelling new BB10 feature for 16 percent of Americans. The Time Shift Camera takes multiple shots of a subject in a single picture and lets you choose the best composite image. 46 percent more women than men identify it as the most attractive new feature of BB10, while it is most appealing for one in five (21 percent) 18-34 year olds. The same age group is also the most likely to find one of the BlackBerry 10’s features appealing (66 percent). RIM’s new predictive keyboard feature is the most compelling new feature for only six percent of Americans while only one in 100 picked the new ‘flow’ interface.

The new BB10 features appeal to more Android (65 percent) than iPhone owners (56 percent).

“RIM’s much anticipated BB10 launch is a major, and much needed overhaul for the one-time smartphone leader and all indications are that it has, at very least succeeded in convincing Americans to give BlackBerry a second look,” said Joseph Farrell, EVP Operations, BiTE interactive. “However, it is clear that while all the new features can catch the interest of Android and iOS owners, the key chink in RIM’s armor remains its apps ecosystem. RIM has made great efforts to catch up with iOS and Android in this regard, but it, like Microsoft, is likely to find this far easier said than done. A lot of eyes will be on the new BlackBerry World from day one, as its success is pivotal to that of the BB10 devices as viable mainstream consumer handsets.”

iPhone owners least likely to jump to BlackBerry

According to BiTE interactive’s report, iPhone owners are the least likely to buy into BB10. Only around one in 10 (11 percent) have any interest in owning one of RIM’s new phones compared with around one in five (21 percent) Android owners. Overall, almost one in two (44 percent) Americans definitely will not get a BB10 device while a further one in four (27 percent) say they will likely not get one.

Joseph Farrell added, “RIM’s challenge is compounded by the fact that Google and Apple have already built up huge mobile user bases who, for the most part, have invested lots of time and money learning and using their platform of choice. To switch to any new platform, even between the two, means a new investment of time and resources that many do not wish to spend, let alone taking a perceived risk on the new BB10 platform, no matter how impressive some of the new technology is.”

Research methodology

BiTE interactive commissioned YouGov to poll the views of a representative sample of 1,127 US adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between January 23-25, 2013. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

This article was originally published on BGR.com

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Sneak Peek: Johnny Depp Super Bowl Teaser for 'The Lone Ranger'

Super Bowl ad spots garner just as much -- if not more -- attention as the NFL finale itself, and this year viewers will be treated to a new clip from Johnny Depp's action movie The Lone Ranger.

Disney released a short teaser from the clip on Tuesday that shows Depp -- who plays Native American spirit warrior Tonto -- cavorting with his famous partner The Long Ranger -- played by Armie Hammer -- amid speedy horse chases through the desert, fiery explosions and elaborate train stunts.

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The film -- set to hit theaters July 4 weekend -- is a collaboration between producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the team behind the successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. According to Disney, the movie delivers "a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero The Long Ranger is brought to life through new eyes."

Watch the sneak peek and tune in to the CBS Super Bowl pregame show this Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. ET to watch the full clip!

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Obama praises bipartisan Senate immigration reform plan in campaign style speech

LAS VEGAS — Declaring "now is the time" to fix broken immigration laws, President Barack Obama on Tuesday heralded a rare show of bipartisanship between the White House and Senate lawmakers on basic plans for putting millions of illegal immigrants on a pathway to citizenship, cracking down on businesses that employ people illegally and tightening security at the borders.

But both the White House and Senate proposals for tackling the complex and emotionally charged issue still lack key details. And potential roadblocks are already emerging over how to structure the road to citizenship and whether a bill would will same-sex couples — and that's all before a Senate measure can be debated, approved and sent to the Republican-controlled House where opposition is likely to be stronger.

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President Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Obama, in the heart of the heavily Hispanic Southwest, said Congress is showing "a genuine desire to get this done soon." But mindful of previous immigrations efforts that have failed, Obama warned that the debate would become more difficult as it gets closer to a conclusion.

"The question now is simple," Obama said during a campaign-style event in Las Vegas, one week after being sworn in for a second term in the White House. "Do we have the resolve as a people, as a country, as a government to finally put this issue behind us? I believe that we do."

Despite possible obstacles to come, the broad agreement between the White House and bipartisan lawmakers in the Senate represents a drastic shift in Washington's willingness to tackle immigration, an issue that has languished for years. Much of that shift is politically motivated, due to the growing influence of Hispanics in presidential and other elections and their overwhelming support for Obama in November.

The separate White House and Senate proposals focus on the same principles: providing a way for most of the estimated 11 million people already in the U.S. illegally to become citizens, strengthening border security, cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and streamlining the legal immigration system.

A consensus around the question of citizenship could help lawmakers clear one major hurdle that has blocked previous immigration efforts. Many Republicans have opposed allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens, saying that would be an unfair reward for people who have broken the law.

Details on how to achieve a pathway to citizenship still could prove to be a major sticking point between the White House and the Senate group, which is comprised of eight lawmakers — four Democrats and four Republicans.

Obama and the Senate lawmakers all want to require people here illegally to register with the government, pass criminal and national security background checks, pay fees and penalties as well as back taxes, and wait until existing immigration backlogs are cleared before getting in line for green cards. After reaching that status, U.S. law says people can become citizens after five years.

The Senate proposal says that entire process couldn't start until the borders were fully secure and tracking of people in the U.S. on visas had improved. Those vague requirements would almost certainly make the timeline for achieving citizenship longer than what the White House is proposing.

The president urged lawmakers to avoid making the citizenship pathway so difficult that it would appear out of reach for many illegal immigrants.

"We all agree that these men and women have to earn their way to citizenship," he said. "But for comprehensive immigration reform to work, it must make clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship."

"It won't be a quick process, but it will be a fair process," Obama added.

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Remodel behavior

Beth Mumby has been remodeling her 30-year-old Cooper City home for years. She has replaced kitchen cabinets and retiled floors, and now the married mom of two is in the midst of a bathroom makeover. Known for her meticulous research of materials and labor, Mumby said she’s learned a few things along the way about picking the right contractor.

Doing your homework is the first step in finding the best contractor for your home improvement job, said Michael Galvin, vice president of communications for the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a renovation project, it’s important to remember that it’s a business decision.

The biggest mistake in these economic times is that people are always looking for the cheapest price, Galvin said. “That doesn’t always work out. People need to do their homework up front and approach it as a business decision, rather than an emotional one,” he said. “People get all excited and say ‘Oh, that price is so cheap,’ which means it’s probably too good to be true.”

The U.S. home improvement industry is rebounding from its worst downturn in the past 50 years, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Homeowners who shied away from maintenance and improvements during the recession are starting to open their wallets for repairs and upgrades. Foreclosed properties are being rehabilitated and homeowners forced to stay put during the housing market crash are making improvements for the long haul. Spending on homeowner improvements is expected to grow annually at 3.5 percent, according to the agency’s 2011 study.

People spend about $1,000 to $15,000 annually on home improvements and repairs, said Ellen Siegel, a certified financial planner with Ellen R. Siegel and Associates in Miami. “You have to be financially prepared.”

•  Get referrals: The best referrals come from your friends — people who have had work done to their own houses, said May Cheung, a certified financial planner for The Enrichment Group in Miami and a part-time real estate agent. “Then you can go to their house, look at their bathrooms, look at the floors, and see the work.”

Cheung has completed four home improvement projects on her West Kendall home. “I’ve learned a lot,” she said.

Mumby has used referrals from friends and contacted contractors working in her neighborhood, but now relies on Angie’s List, a subscription service that compiles consumer ratings of service people. “It gives a grade, and there are written reviews. I’ve found that to be really helpful,” Mumby said.

Many homeowners shy away from interviewing prospective candidates, especially in South Florida, where a lot of languages are spoken, and the contractor may not speak yours well, Siegel said. That can lead to decisions you’ll regret.

•  Verify licenses: It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, because you’re excited about your home renovation, Galvin said. But don’t neglect your homework. Go to www.myfloridalicense.com, to your county’s board of licensing and to the Better Business Bureau to check licenses and a complaint history.

“People say ‘Why do I need to do all this?’ ” Galvin said, “but if something happens, it’s too late. And it will have financial consequences.”

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Driver in tow-truck fatality sued

The widow of the college dean killed when his car, being towed form his Lauderhill driveway, ran him over, has amended the wrongful death lawsuit she filed on Thursday against the towing company and a “John Doe’’ driver, to name the driver.

He is Kenneth Jay Schraff, according to papers filed Monday in Broward Circuit Court. Public records identify him as a 48-year-old Lauderdale Lakes resident.

Schraff was at the wheel of a wrecker Jan. 16 when Elias Konwufine of Lauderhill, an associate dean at Keiser University, fell under his own Mercedes-Benz. The 38-year-old father of three, a native of Cameroon, died later at a hospital.

The suit, on behalf of Francisca Konwufine and her children, also names Superior Lock & Roadside Assistance, Sure Fire Auto, and Capitol Towing, interrelated companies, as co-defendants.

It alleges that Schraff was negligent when he drove away from Konwufine, as Konwufine tried to negotiate the return of his car, which had been parked partly on a swale in violation of a homeowners association rule.

State law requires a wrecker driver to allow a vehicle’s owner to make a reasonable offer to settle the matter before towing. The lawsuit said that Schraff never gave Konwufine the chance, and drove away so recklessly that he endangered Konwufine.

Public records show that Schraff has an extensive felony arrest record in Florida. He plead no contest to third-degree felonies in 2003 including burglary, larceny and grand theft. A woman identifying herself as his mother answered his home phone, said he wasn’t there but had been told by his attorney “not to talk to anyone.’’

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TSX little changed, RIM positioning offsets banks

TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada‘s main stock index finished little changed on Monday, as gains in the financial group were partially offset by Research In Motion Ltd shares, which sagged ahead of its critical BlackBerry 10 launch this week.

The Toronto Stock Exchange‘s S&P/TSX composite index <.gsptse> was down 0.72 of a point at 12,815.91. Half of the index’s 10 key sectors climbed higher.</.gsptse>

(Reporting by Solarina Ho)

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Diablo Cody Sweet Valley High Interview Athena Film Festival

Since bursting onto the scene with 2007's Oscar-winning Juno, writer Diablo Cody has dabbled in a wide array of genres, but every film she's written has given voice to one uniquely engaging woman after another, cementing her as a writer steadfastly dedicated to capturing the female experience on-screen.

That's why she's the perfect person to serve as co-chair for the Athena Film Festival, a four-day festival that includes conversations with female directors and Hollywood stars, workshops for filmmakers and celebrates women in leadership positions.

ETonline caught up with Cody this morning to find out how she came to partner with the Athena Film Festival, why the ultimate sign of the festival's success would be its evaporation and what you can expect from her next project: a big screen adaptation of Sweet Valley High!

ETonline: How did you get involved with the Athena Film Festival?

Diablo Cody: They contacted me after their first year, and I was intrigued. Obviously I'm very interested in women in film, and had noticed that women are not placed in leadership positions as often as they should be. I liked that there was a festival that recognized and celebrated women in leadership positions, and the films they are making. There's opportunities for education, there's a directors workshop that AFI is sponsoring -- it's really a three-dimensional experience. Last year was a success, so I wanted to get involved again. I think it's super necessary.

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ETonline: Much ado has been made over Kathryn Bigelow's Best Director omission this year -- what's your take?

Cody: Honestly, I don't want to sound like the world's biggest whiner, but it's so sad to look at the Oscar nominations and not see a single woman nominated for Best Director. And, out of 12 people nominated for Best Screenwriter, only one is female. It's pretty obvious to me that there's a major disparity.

ETonline: Would the ultimate success of the Athena Film Festival's success be its disbanding on the day Hollywood's so inclusive, it's no longer necessary?

Cody: [laughs] You know, I've thought about that -- maybe it is the goal, but the Athena is so cool, I'd hate to see it eliminated. But I know what you’re saying. The festival is necessary because women are not being given the opportunity or accolades in the mainstream space.

ETonline: I'm not surprised to see the festival turn to you for participation -- you've not only been an artist women of all ages can aspire to be like, but you seem singularly dedicated to bringing unique female experiences to the screen.

Cody: Thank you so much. That's what I’m trying to do. I'm trying to tell women's stories -- especially the unconventional ones. It's not always the easiest sell. It's a lot easier to go into a pitch meeting with something that's mainstream and will appeal to a mass audience. For me, I'm always coming in with stories that are like, "OK, so there's this girl, and she's a burn victim..." It's a harder sell, it's harder to get the money for those films, but it's important to me.

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ETonline: What excited you about the stories you could tell with Sweet Valley High?

Cody: It's about the polarity of the good girl versus the bad girl, which is something I played with a bit in Jennifer's Body. I'm just fascinated by the way women are put into boxes in our culture. The Sweet Valley High books are about Jessica and Elizabeth, these identical twins; one is the perfect straight-A, ambitious good-goody and the other is this really selfish bitch who tends to have a lot more fun. In the books, they frequently switch places and adopt the other's identity. I thought that was a fun idea -- especially, like, in a big, fun, pop-y movie with songs that people can enjoy as hilarious eye candy on a superficial level or on a deeper level exploring some more of those themes.

ETonline: The books were published over the span of 20 years; did you have a hard time deciding which time period to set your movie in?

Cody: No, I knew it had to be 80's because, hello, I love the 80's. Also, I had read all of the books, but one stuck with me. There was a book [Dear Sister, published in 1984] I loved and read the most that involved Elizabeth going into a coma and waking up from her coma and acting like Jessica. I thought we could have a lot of fun with that. Cuz, what happens when you establish which twin you are and then your twin decides, "No I'm going to be that twin." It made for a great screenwriting experience.

ETonline: In terms of casting, are you looking for twins or are you going to pull a Social Network with one actor and face replacement surgery?

Cody: It’s funny, we bring up Armie Hammer all the time. In a way, it would be easier to find the one perfect girl and pull the Winklevoss technique on her. On the other hand, there's something really fun about searching for the perfect twins. The decision hasn't been made yet.

ETonline: You recently directed your first film, given the filmmakers you've worked with and spoken to at the Athena Film Festival, was the experience of actually helming a film different than you imagined?

Cody: It was very shocking. There's a reason why I procrastinated for so long and didn't direct. After Juno happened, when you win an award like that, everyone says, "What do you want to do next?" And I said I didn't want to direct because I wasn't ready at that time. I waited four years to be ready. I finished this script and was getting ready to send it out to directors, but I didn't want to. I wanted to take this script and shoot it [myself] and I got the opportunity. It was one of the coolest, craziest things I've ever done in my life and I'm so glad I did it.

For more information on The Athena Film Festival, running February 7 through 10 in NYC, click here!

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Frank Ocean wants to press charges against Chris Brown after brawl

R&B singer Frank Ocean intends to press charges against bully boy Chris Brown for punching him and starting an all-out brawl outside Westlake Studios in West Hollywood on Sunday night.

Police want to talk to Brown, who is still on probation for beating up Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards.

Ocean, who publically came out in July as a bisexual, is “desirous of prosecution,” L.A. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Post. “We’ll find out what happened.”

The fight over a parking space reportedly involved six men. Ocean tweeted: “got jumped by chris and a couple guys. Lol. I only wish everest was there.” Everest is his dog.

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Frank Ocean

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Chris Brown

He later added: “cut my finger now I can’t play w two hands at the grammys.”

The violence is expected to put the kibosh on Brown’s plans to perform with Rihanna at the Grammys on Feb. 10 at the Staples Center.

Rihanna’s advisors have tried in vain to keep her away from Brown and fear her relationship with the hot-tempered singer-dancer will hurt her fragrance and fashion ventures, if not her album and concert sales.

The Barbadian beauty included Brown on two cuts of her latest album, but sources said she’s not planning on singing either of those songs at the Grammys.

Brown, who is on probation until August 2014, also got into a brawl last summer at a Manhattan nightclub with rapper Drake, who had been hooking up with Rihanna. No charges were brought in that incident.

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FIU offers free online courses

Florida International University is offering five online courses that anyone can take, for free.

The courses, which make up FIU’s initial offering of “Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC),” include entrepreneurship, real estate and a class on project management in English and Spanish.

Each course is a self-directed, condensed version of a college-level course and takes about eight hours to complete. Participants can watch a short video of the content of each course as described by the instructor before enrolling.

To sign up, visit www.open.fiu.edu. Students can enroll and complete the course at their own pace. At the end of the course, participants have the option of receiving a certificate of completion. No college credit will be awarded, FIU said.

The five courses are:

Applied Real Estate: What you need to know about buying and selling residential real estate.

Entrepreneurship and New Ventures: Geared to give students practical tools to help them rapidly assess the potential of a new business idea.

Legal and Ethical Governance - A Roadmap for Florida's Public Officials and Employees: The course includes both theoretical and practical approaches to common ethical issues, with an emphasis on Florida law.

Project Management Basics: Aimed at providing key concepts and techniques for successfully managing projects from planning to completion. It is offered in English and Spanish.

FIU said additional courses will be added later this spring.

INA PAIVA CORDLE

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Brush fire threatens homes in Southwest Miami-Dade

High winds are fueling a rapidly growing brush fire in Southwest Miami-Dade as firefighters work to keep the flames from spreading to nearby homes.

The fire broke out just before 2 p.m. Sunday in the area of 115th Avenue and 224 Street. Streets in the area have been blocked off.

Blustery conditions are hindering the efforts of fire crews, who are preparing to possibly evacuate homes and businesses in the heavily populated area.

The Miami-Dade Fire said Florida Power & Light officials are on the scene and are prepared to cut power to the area if needed.

This story will be updated as more details become available

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