RIM takes ZDNet UK on a magical pixie ride

Well, I'm here in Bochum, Germany, on a press trip with Research In Motion. I can't tell you yet why we're here (hint: it's BlackBerry-related, but nothing that I couldn't write up from ZDNet UK towers) because the embargo hasn't lifted yet.

I can however tell you that we've just been shown around a section of RIM's Bochum R&D facility. We saw various screens and machines that you would no doubt like to see. But you can't. They wouldn't let us take any photos.

So I'll describe the picture using words instead. We were guided into RIM's secret lair by a Canadian wizard. Elves danced around us, holding aloft BlackBerries and singing their jolly Rhinelandish songs. Laughing engineers sprinkled pixie dust on each smartphone, bringing the heavenly devices to life, one by one. The head wizard, chuckling Mike Lazaridis, benevolently ushered us into the most secret of grottos, where gumdrops flew around the air, as if by magic.

But you can't see that, because of the photo ban. Aren't you disappointed now? I certainly am.