Well the BlackBerry I have is a smartphone and I love it, I do want what it offers, I just don't need a something that needs recharging every day and does superfluous extra things - I have my PlayBook for that. ;)

Still no word on the unlocked/unsubsidized IP5 - looks like they will be delaying its release in the US, possibly for awhile.

I guess I could wait until I get to Canada and buy an unlocked version there then get the sales tax refunded.

just like with iphone 4 and 4s. They didn't start selling the factory unlocked versions in the US until they had satisfied the initial backlog of orders.

-David

The IP5 is in Canada unlocked...but the pricing is 699...which will probably mean US pricing is 699 and not 649 when it launches here. Unfortunately that makes the 4S more compelling as an upgrade from the 3GS.

is that 699 including tax ?

They sold them unlocked in Canada, HKG, Australia, UK and other countries on day 1 with the iphone 4 and 4s also.

I don't think it necessarily follows that it will be 699 in the US. We'll just have to wait and see. iPhone Pricing has always been country specific.

No. List price. http://store.apple.com/ca

-David

About that spiffy new sapphire lens cover...

"The iPhone 5′s Camera Is Faulty, Shows Purple Haze When Light Source Is Just Out Of Frame"

I will say however that while the issue is real - and being reported by many sites - this particular author needs a little edumication as to what is meant by a "sapphire lens/crystal".

"As we all know, Sapphire is a purple/bluish gem..."

Yes, true, but the problem isn't coming from the tint of the sapphire cover - unless Apple applied some type of optical coating to the cover - because of course the cover isn't real sapphire but rather a synthetic material that replicates the surface hardness of a real sapphire.

Whatever it is that is actually causing the chromatic aberration [the lens cover, the optics themselves, the sensor, etc] is still an issue and will need to be addressed.