Common Paradox Tech Blog

A new survey of smartphone users paints a pretty grim picture for RIM and their Blackberry line of smartphones. According to market research firm Crowd Science, 40% of blackberry users plan to swap their device for an iPhone come the end of their contract. And it’s not just the iPhone that has these normally reserved business types excited. The survey also indicates that 32% would be willing to trade in their Blackberry for a Google Nexus One.

Crowd Science also asked about how people use their phones, and this may provide some insight into why people seem ready to jump ship. According to the report, people want to use their phones for both business and personal use. Only 16% of Blackberry users say they use their device for personal matters. About two thirds of iPhone users report using the phone for at least some personal and business exercises.

If RIM has any magic left, they might want to bring it to bear. In contrast, over 90% of iPhone and Android users planned to stay with their platform of choice come the next upgrade. Let’s hope Blackberry OS 6.0 can turn some frowns upside down. It’s going to take more than good keyboards to fix this.

Samsung is trying to maneuver itself into a position of prominence in emerging device segments. After having announced plans to enter the increasingly crowded e-reader market this spring, it now plans to lend to the bustle in another burgeoning segment: the tablet/slate PC market.

According to a  APC Magazine report, which quotes a high-ranking executive, Samsung will enter the tablet market in the second half of 2010. Philip Newton, the director of Samsung Australia’s IT division, told the magazine that the new tablet will be a consumer product unlike its Q1 UMPC, “a very niche product for a vertical market.”

You are not alone feeling underwhelmed by the iPad, especially given the hype it has generated. Newton made no attempts to smother his disliking for the hype surrounding the iPad, which he dubbed "a glorified MID (mobile Internet device)."

“I do feel that that slate-type platform has legs but I think the legs need to be far more powerful, for example an Atom-based product which has far greater flexibility, not to mention inputs and outputs. This has more potential than an iPad,” Newton told the APC Magazine. Going by Newton’s comments, Samsung’s perception of a tablet is that of a second computer rather than just a fun device that ships with ephemeral joy.

Image Credit: Engadget

If you’re still waiting to jump on the webOS bandwagon, we’ve got good news for Sprint lovers: if you head over to RadioShack in the next two weeks, you can pick up a Palm Pre or Palm Pixi on contract for the low price of nothing. While the Pixi has been free for a while (depending on where you’re looking), it’s rare to see the Pre available for free.

The RadioShack sale runs through March 27th, and is, of course, open only to new Sprint subscribers. If you’re already on Sprint, well, you’ll be paying money upfront for your Pre or Pixi. Of course, these phones require at least a $69.99/month Everything Data plan with a two-year contract, so a free phone is a difference of $50 or $100 on a nearly $1800 commitment.

Thanks to everybody who sent this in and to Derek for the photo!