Messaging App Market & BBM's Rise - In 2005, instant messaging became as prevalent as email, particularly among young users, highlighting a shift in communication preferences [16] - Text messaging cost 10 cents per message, creating an opportunity for free, real-time messaging apps like BBM [1][33] - BBM launched on August 1, 2005, offering features like group chat, file sharing, and read receipts, resembling a full-fledged mobile IM client [34][35] - BBM's pin-to-pin messaging allowed read receipts, a novel feature at the time, enhancing user experience [35] BBM's Peak & Decline - By 2010, BlackBerry faced increasing competition from Android, marking a turning point in its market dominance [40] - BBM introduced features like BBM Music for $4.99 per month, attempting to create a sticky ecosystem [37][38] - In 2013, BBM had approximately 60 million users, but WhatsApp already had 300 million users, indicating a significant market shift [44] - BlackBerry considered spinning off BBM as BBM Inc, aiming to compete with WhatsApp and Skype [44] Strategic Missteps & Missed Opportunities - BlackBerry executives chose to keep BBM exclusive to BlackBerry devices, hindering its potential for broader adoption [41] - The company failed to capitalize on the stickiness of messaging platforms, leading to a rapid decline once users switched to other services [41][42] - BBM's cross-platform Android APK leaked in 2013, causing a system overload and delaying the official launch [44] - BBM officially shut down in 2019, marking the end of an era [44][45]

AI Companion Product Analysis - The AI companion product, "Friend," is met with skepticism and criticism from some users, as evidenced by graffiti expressing negative sentiments [1][2][6] - The AI companion primarily functions by listening to the environment and responding to user queries via text messages, with limited capabilities such as short responses and inability to provide to-do lists or transcripts [2][3] - The AI companion is positioned as a solution to loneliness, reflecting a trend of individuals seeking companionship through AI, as seen with reactions to updates in other AI models [3][4] Limitations of AI Companionship - The core argument is that AI companionship lacks the essential elements of real friendship, such as genuine care, emotional investment, and shared experiences in times of need [4][5][6] - The AI companion is perceived as incapable of forming meaningful connections or providing the same level of support and empathy as human friends [6] - The value of real friendship lies in the mutual care and concern for each other's well-being, which is absent in AI relationships [5][6]

Here's a bunch of stuff that The Verge sees in our feed. This is a Tesla phone on Facebook. This is obviously not real. I love that this is only $299.And Elon Musk is doing like a YouTube thumbnail face in here. This phone has five cameras on it, which I think is funny. A lot of people are falling for this stuff.My uncle's friend told me he can't wait for the Tesla phone to come out. This is another favorite one. The Nokia has two screens on the back and both say the time.one a little tiny bar and then one ...

It's 2005. Your phone bill is out of control because text messaging is taking off and you're paying 10 cents every single time you send or receive a text message. 10 cents.It's outrageous. But what if I told you there was a better way. What if there was an app on your phone that you could use to send messages to all your friends in real time for free.And you could even see when they'd read your messages. And did I mention it's on your phone. And that's never really happened before.It all sounds too good to ...

So, Alex Cooper of the podcast Call Her Daddy announced this week that she has some big inaugural deal with Google to make pixel ads. I have traditionally been very skeptical of the like celebrity endorsement deals, but I'm starting to come around to the idea that perhaps these actually matter quite a bit. And I think that a few years of Alex Cooper posting Instagram photos with a Pixel would probably do more for Android and the Pixel brand than if the Pixel 12 could perform brain surgery.Like I I do not th ...

What I'm hearing in the world is I can make Spongebob do meth. Like that's cool. >> We don't call it stuff, Patrick.It's blue barnacle >> with Sora. I think people underestimate how much people just want to like meme their friends, you know, and that's what it allows you to do. And it's also strangely accurate.I was like terrified when I saw the demo because I couldn't tell what was real, especially when it was not like a fantastical setting. You know, if it's someone just talking in front of a white wall o ...

Search. Keep >> I pay for this seat like everybody else. He's quiet.He ain't bothering no one. >> For this week in AI slop. Yeah.Sorry to tell you this. This video isn't real. >> It's just a Joey. He's in a sling.He's >> We'll talk about it outside. Okay. Watch.>> Even though it has this Sora logo on it that's saying it's AI, a lot of people in the comments weren't able to tell. Here's some stuff to keep an eye out for. Keep looking at people's eyes in these videos because you'll notice that so many people ...

I tested a few viral travel gadgets to see if they're worth the hype. This is the Mobile Pixels Dux Max, a 14-inch 1080p portable slidable monitor. I actually really like the idea of having a monitor that slaps on the back of my laptop and can slide out when I need it.You do have to stick four magnets on the back of your laptop that will just stay there forever as long as you want to use this. So, what I do like about the monitor is that if you want to power it not through the laptop and plug it into like a ...

Why does this DJI Osmo Pocket 3 say extra. Why does it look the same. Today, I'm toying with the Extra Muse, and I'm pretty sure it is DJI trying to dodge US regulators.Let's get in there. This fabric bag doesn't scream DJI. But inside, we find this doohickey.And of course, the camera itself. And it's identical in size and shape. Look at the sides. Look at the bottom.Look how they power off the exact same way. Look how they track me identically with identical image quality. Yeah, I think it's pretty clear.B ...

How does one of the best phone cameras on the market right now compare with vintage film? I took my '70s Canon EF SLR out on the streets of London together with the Vivo X200 Ultra to see how two very different cameras handle the exact same shots. Which do you prefer? Subscribe: http://goo.gl/G5RXGs Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLvX Follow on TikTok: http://bit.ly/42VeCVU Watch The Vergecast on YouTube: https ...