(Image source: RIM)

BY EVAN THOMAS

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

You're watching multisource video news analysis from Newsy.

The shuffle worked for Apple's iPod, and now Research in Motion has tried one of its own. Effective Monday, RIM co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis have stepped down.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the two said they made the decision themselves, though investors stung by RIM’s recent market performance have been calling for a similar shakeup.

Bloomberg reports Thorsten Heins has taken over as CEO, and has his work cut out for him.

“Chief Operating Officer Thorsten Heins will now take over in the CEO role, but he has, of course, a big challenge ahead of him: how to revitalize Blackberry and RIM’s products to effectively compete with Apple.”

For his part, Heins is already looking to the future.

“We have taken this to total new heights, and that journey isn’t over yet. If we continue doing well what we are doing, I see no problems with us being in the top 3 players worldwide in the next years in wireless.”

Heins says he’s confident in RIM’s current handset and tablet products. Engadget doesn’t share his optimism.

“...call us crazy, but he'd be wise to just spout out reality and make clear that RIM's existing lineup is nowhere near competitive in the grand scheme of things.”

GigaOM agrees. To be competitive again, RIM will require some immediate innovation.

“There needs to be a radical improvement in execution, some very mind-blowing ideas introduced and some real progress shown on the app developer front.”

A good first step, according to The Globe and Mail, is building a reputation for credible, reliable business.

“If the company can do that, then developers and retailers will take to RIM no matter who is standing on the stage introducing the products.”

Meanwhile, RIM’s old guard isn’t leaving the company entirely behind. Balsille is now a director on the company’s board, and Lazaridis is the board’s vice chairman.