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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Melissa Gilbert Timothy Busfield Engaged

Fredrick M. Brown/ Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images

Actress Melissa Gilbert is officially off the market.

PICS: Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings of All Time

A rep tells People that the former Dancing with the Stars contestant, 48, is engaged to former thirtysomething star Timothy Busfield, 55.

"They are engaged and both are incredibly happy," says the rep.

The couple's nuptials will mark the third "I do's" for each of them. Gilbert was previously married to Bo Brinkman and Bruce Boxleitner, while Busfield was married to Jenny Merwin and actress Radha Delamarter.

A source told People that the engagement took place over the holidays.

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B'klyn school janitor convicted of rape & sex assault for attack on eighth-grade girl

He’s going from the schoolhouse to the jailhouse.

Brooklyn janitor Ambiorix Rodriguez, 34, was convicted on multiple counts of rape and sex assault in Brooklyn Supreme Court today for having sex with an eighth-grade girl who attended the East Flatbush middle school where he worked.

The hulking Rodriguez had sex with the girl when she was 12 and 13-years-old in the basement and stairwell of the Middle School for Marketing and Legal Studies. The abuse took place between September 2010 and January 2011, according to Brooklyn prosecutors.

He was caught in 2011 after the girl reported the abuse to school officials, who called the cops.

Rodriguez faces up to life in prison when sentenced, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.

jsaul@nypost.com

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Turnberry Isle Miami has new managing director

Hotel industry veteran Paige Koerbel is now managing director of Turnberry Isle Miami in Aventura.

A longtime employee of Marriott, Koerbel was previously general manager of Doral Golf Resort & Spa, which was a Marriott property before Donald Trump bought it last year.

Earlier jobs in his 33 years with Marriott included regional vice president of Renaissance Hotels North America and Midwest general manager for Renaissance Hotels. He started the new job Jan. 2, replacing Douglas Hustad, who left in late 2012.

Turnberry Isle Miami is part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection, a portfolio of independently owned and operated hotels.

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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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Challengers line up against Grimm

He was re-elected just two months, but significant challengers are already lining up to take on Republican Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm again in 2014.

The latest is Brooklyn City Councilman Dominic Recchia, who is dropping his bid for Brooklyn Borough President, to explore a run against Grimm, sources said.

"He is still exploring his options," said a Recchia spokeswoman.

Michael McMahon, who lost to Grimm in 2010, is also looking at the possibility of staging a comeback.

Grimm, whose fundraising practices in 2010 became the subject of an FBI investigation, beat Democratic opponent Mark Murphy last year 53-46 percent.

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Investment firm announces loan for purchase of Sofitel Miami

New York-based Torchlight Investors provided the buyer of the Sofitel Miami hotel with a $25 million in debt financing, the investment advisor said Monday.

The firm provided the loan to real estate investment company Laurus Corporation for the hotel purchase, which was originally announced in December. Part of the money will be used for an improvement plan for the 10-acre property at 5800 Blue Lagoon Dr.

Torchlight Investors said the loans will be held in a fund targeting commercial real estate debt investments.

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Brush fire threatens homes in Southwest Miami-Dade

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Southwest Miami-Dade as crews continue to keep the flames from spreading to nearby homes.

The fire broke out at 1:07 p.m. Sunday in the area of 112th Avenue and 224th Street. As of 5:09 p.m., no homes are being threatened, said fire department officials.

Streets in the area have been blocked off, according to CBS4.

While the fire department has not called for mandatory evacuations of nearby homes, several homeowners are voluntarily leaving the area. The Florida Department of Forestry said the cause of the fire is still unknown.

This story will be updated as more details become available

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