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A look at what's new about RIM's latest phone, and how it compares to its major competition

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<h2><strong>Research In Motion BlackBerry 10</strong></h2> <br> <strong>Bio:</strong> The first BB10 phones will be full-touchscreen devices. A BB10 phone with a physical keyboard is expected later in the year. <br> <strong>Screen:</strong> Likely to be somewhere between the iPhone’s 4-inch display and the Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch screen. <br> <strong>Software:</strong> The new browser reportedly handles new Web coding standards such as HTML5 better than any other device on the market. Software highlights include a function called Hub, which allows one-touch access to all messages, and Flow, which simplifies the process of transferring information from one app to another. <br> <strong>Apps:</strong> When it first hits stores, BB10 is likely to give users access to about one-tenth the number of apps they can download on the Google or Apple app stores. <br> <strong>Weakness:</strong> An unknown quantity. It is unclear whether multiple delays have already cost BB10 potential customers, or if the device’s innovations will be enough to win those customers back.

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<h2><strong>Samsung Galaxy S III</strong></h2> <br> <strong>Bio:</strong> Released last summer, this is the only high-end smartphone to (temporarily) knock the iPhone from the top of the sales charts in the United States. <br> <strong>Screen:</strong> At 4.8 inches, slightly larger than the latest iPhone (and, probably, the upcoming BlackBerry 10 phone). <br> <strong>Software:</strong> runs on a version of Google’s Android operating system. Includes exclusive features, such as tools to wirelessly transfer data between phones. <br> <strong>Apps:</strong> Has access to the 700,000 apps available on the Android virtual marketplace. <br> <strong>Weakness:</strong> It’s becoming more and more difficult to differentiate the Galaxy line from myriad other phones that also run on Android.

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<h2><strong>Apple iPhone 5</strong></h2> <br> <strong>Bio:</strong> Released last fall, this is the latest and most powerful iteration of the most well-known smartphone in the world. <br> <strong>Screen:</strong> A 4-inch, high-resolution “retina” display. Slightly smaller than most of the phone’s high-end competitors, but in line with the average smartphone screen size. <br> <strong>Software:</strong> Exclusive tools such as a virtual coupon book and the voice-powered personal assistant Siri. Millions of songs, movies and TV shows are also available through the iTunes store. <br> <strong>Apps:</strong> Gives users access to some 700,000 apps through Apple’s app store (Apple used to have a strong lead in app numbers, but Google’s Android app marketplace has largely caught up). <br> <strong>Weakness:</strong> After six years, some consumers are starting to suffer from iPhone fatigue.

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