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BlackBerry Q10 coming to Canadian carriers May 1st for $199 on contract
It's usually safe to presume that BlackBerry will give the most love to its home country, and that's proving reasonable with the BlackBerry Q10. Bell, Rogers and Telus have all confirmed that they'll be carrying the QWERTY-equipped smartphone on May 1st, quite possibly putting them on the cutting edge of the Q10 launch schedule. Smaller networks like Fido, Koodo, Sasktel and Virgin Mobile are also on deck. The big three are already taking pre-orders today, but we'd brace for a rather steep price premium -- they're all asking about $199 for the Q10 on a three-year contract, which is more expensive than many of the phone's touch-only rivals. BlackBerry hasn't outlined plans for the US or other countries yet, but we're hoping they get a slightly better deal.
BlackBerry 10.1 OS preview uncovers HDR camera mode, PIN-to-PIN messaging inside Hub
If you're already starting to feel that shiny 'wow' factor fade from BlackBerry 10, then you'll be glad to know about some new features that are primed to appear with the next update. Reports are now flowing in from developers that suggest an HDR camera mode, PIN-to-PIN messaging within the BlackBerry Hub and an improved text selector are all likely candidates for inclusion in BlackBerry 10.1 OS. Other smaller tweaks include the ability to paste phone numbers into the dialer, the option to disable alerts for specific applications and the ability to check for app updates more easily. These reports are based on a pre-release version of BlackBerry 10.1 OS that the company recently shared with its developers, and while the list is by no means comprehensive, it sure beats unsubstantiated rumors. %Gallery-186018%
Rogers leak pins BlackBerry Q10 Canadian launch date as April 30th (update: pricing confirmed)
BlackBerry fans waiting for an opportunity to blend the BlackBerry 10 OS with a more familiar QWERTY form factor may know exactly how long they have left, at least north of the border. MobileSyrup received this pic tonight of what is purported to be an internal Rogers document, which lists the launch date for the BlackBerry Q10 as April 30th. A few other phones appear on the list as well, revealing the Canadian carrier will be offering the Nokia Lumia 520 and a couple of Doro's PhoneEasy models. If this date holds up it's a lot more specific than what we'd heard before -- hopefully we're not left waiting much longer for US release information. Update: Rogers is going on the record for many more Q10 details... except the ship date. It tells us that the smartphone will cost $200 on a 3-year contract, and that Rogers will be the first (but not only) Canadian carrier with the white edition. The Q10 will also be one of the few Rogers smartphones to supplement the usual AWS-based LTE frequencies with the 2,600MHz band, the other notable example being the LG Optimus G. The more eager among us can reserve the Q10 today.
BlackBerry 10 'R-Series' QWERTY images leak out, imply a Curve successor in the making
If BlackBerry's Z10 and QWERTY-keyboard equipped Q10 aren't enough for you, how about a successor to the venerable Curve series? This image popped up on the BlackBerryOS forums and purports to be an "R-Series" device that will fill the lower-end hole in the lineup, with 8GB storage, less RAM, the QWERTY keyboard you see and side mounted SIM and SD card slots. Meanwhile, BlackBerry Empire has posted a diagram of the supposed device which shows off the externally accessed ports and suggests a $300 - $400 off-contract price. The screen's blurred edges can be explained by the placement of serial numbers seen on earlier BlackBerry 10 developer units, however we may not know if there's truth to this rumor until the supposed Q3 / Q4 release window arrives.
Cheat on your iOS or Android device with this BlackBerry 10 OS tour
The BlackBerry Z10 is now attainable on three outta the four big US carriers, leading many to wonder what a BB10 phone would be like. Well, if you haven't had a chance to fondle the handset in-store, Heins & Co's got another way for you to (somewhat) experience the OS through its "glimpse" website. Load it up in the browser of your iOS or Android device, and it'll take you through a linear tour of some of the gestures and ways to multitask, as well as show you the BlackBerry Hub, BBM and Time Shift camera feature. It's far from a full emulation, but at least you'll be a little more informed at the end of it. Point your portable's browser at the source link to see what we mean.
Try out BlackBerry 10 on your iPhone
BlackBerry is rolling out its BlackBerry Z10 handset and its fresh, new BlackBerry 10 operating system. If you are curious to see how BB10 compares to iOS without actually buying a BlackBerry phone, you can visit BlackBerry.com/glimpse using mobile Safari on your iPhone. You'll be able to check out the predictive keyboard, the screen share and video features of BlackBerry Messenger and the basic feel of the OS. As noted by CNET, the emulation experience is a not as smooth as it would be on a Z10, but it's as close as you can get without taking a trip to your local Best Buy or nearby wireless carrier.
PSA: BlackBerry Z10 (finally) arrives on AT&T today
The American BlackBerry faithful have been waiting and while those with business (and T-Mobile) intentions got there a little early, the Z10 is now available to the more typical pay-monthly masses from AT&T. Priced up at $200 on a two-year contract, you can pick it up from Ma' Bell's for-real stores and online today, just click on that source link for all those carrier details.
BlackBerry 10 reaches the 100,000 app mark, adds Amazon Kindle today
While it's still got some distance to make up, BlackBerry has swiftly reached a milestone of sorts -- its first 100,000 apps. According to the announcement, BB10 has notched up over 30,000 new games and apps over the last seven weeks, all before it's even entered the USA. Notable new additions include the Kindle reader, available today, which Amazon confirmed back in January. There's also apps from The Wall Street Journal and OpenTable, with the promise of eBay, CNN, Rdio, Skype, Viber and more arriving "in the coming weeks."
Rogers clears Suretap NFC payments on some Android and BlackBerry 10 devices
While Canadians got a major NFC payment system through Rogers' Suretap service late last year, it was largely defined by what it couldn't do: there was only one platform to use, in only some places, with only one bank. Those horizons are at last broadening, as the carrier just certified a much wider range of phones for Suretap-capable apps. Android at last joins the party with approval for Suretap use on LG's Optimus G, as well as Samsung's Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. BlackBerry fans also won't have to cling to older devices now that the Z10 is good to go. More than a few pieces of the NFC puzzle are still missing, of course. Beyond waiting for the apps themselves, there's no certification for Windows Phone 8 or a broad range of Android devices, and customers still don't have the freedom to choose their banks or carriers. Still, we're glad that there will be at least some choice in hardware for future wallet-free trips to Tim Hortons.
BB10 is ready to ship, BlackBerry's marketing department does its best Etta James parody (video)
Their phones are fine and dandy, but we liked the band before it sold out.
Foursquare's BlackBerry 10 app updated to add features that iOS users already enjoy
Heads-up, BB10 users -- checking in just got a little less second-class. Foursquare has today issued an update to its BlackBerry 10 app that effectively brings it closer in line with the version already available for iOS users. For starters, there's a more compact Explore screen, and your friends can now be tagged in check-ins and comments. For big spenders (or frugal ones, we guess), Visa and MasterCard specials can now be taken advantage of by Z10 users. Per usual, it also ironed out a few miscellaneous bugs along the way, and you can get your update in the source link below.
Verizon BlackBerry Z10 launching March 28th, pre-orders begin March 14th
It was AT&T's turn earlier this week, and now it's Verizon's. Big Red has confirmed that its edition of the BlackBerry Z10 will be in stores on March 28th, just a week after it surfaces at its first major US carrier. Pricing will remain the same $200 on a contract, although Verizon has a decided edge for fans of variety: it'll have an American exclusive on the white model, albeit with conspicuous branding. Pre-orders start March 14th at both Verizon itself (starting from 8AM) and Best Buy, so those who've embraced Hubs and Peeks can commit to a Z10 very quickly.
BlackBerry Z10 coming to AT&T March 22nd for $199.99, pre-orders open tomorrow (update: Best Buy)
The BlackBerry Z10 has already been available in various parts of the world -- and will soon be delivered to T-Mobile business customers in the US -- but most consumers within the 50 states are still exercising a bit of patience. Fortunately, it doesn't appear that American hopefuls will have to wait too much longer, as AT&T has announced that the flagship 'Berry will be available for pre-order on March 12th for $199.99 on a two-year commitment, and should be ready for purchase in retail stores and online beginning March 22nd. Update: Best Buy says it will also take Z10 pre-orders starting March 12th, in addition to carrying the phone on launch day.
Back to BlackBerry: closing time
Time's up. I've now had a full month to call the BlackBerry Z10 my very own and use it as my everyday device. I've had the opportunity to use it in every likely scenario, including a nine-day trip to Spain for Mobile World Congress. Now comes the moment of truth: have I become a BlackBerry convert? Is the Z10 my new daily driver? Unfortunately, it's not. But before the BlackBerry fan base breaks out the torches and forms mobs, this isn't a denunciation of the phone or its OS. Quite the opposite, in fact. I decided to pursue this experiment for a few reasons: it's the best way to learn a brand-new operating system, I genuinely am interested in how well it handles regular day-to-day use and a month gives me plenty of time to form a solid idea of the platform's potential and future. Is it possible to have a great deal of admiration for a phone while simultaneously rejecting it as my daily driver? Yes. After the break I sum up the highlights of BB10: what works, what doesn't and what simply needs a little nudge or two.
German government buys 5,000 BlackBerry Z10s, bucks the BYOD trend
Most of the worry about BlackBerry's market share has centered around its once-certain corporate and government clientele: when even stodgy institutions have either embraced Bring Your Own Device policies or have switched platforms outright, nothing has seemed safe. The company may be clawing back some stability through a newly approved deal with Germany's Federal Office for Information Security. The government agency has reportedly agreed to buy 5,000 BlackBerry Z10 phones for its staff, all of which will be locked down with Secusmart protection for data, messaging and voice. We wouldn't call it a full comeback when there's been just a few weeks for such deals. Still, the purchase is a very public endorsement for BlackBerry at a time when it's not clear that large-scale customers will remain faithful.
The Weekly Roundup for 02.25.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 7 days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
First BB10 update addresses battery life, low-light photography, third-party app performance and more
BlackBerry 10 has been out in the wild for almost a month, and today early adopters will begin receiving the first update to the new platform: version 10.0.10.85. Battery performance has been addressed, and over 60 "optimizations" should help lengthen the time between charges. Other changes of note are the "improved performance" of third-party apps, and that the camera should now produce superior low-light snaps. In-browser video playback has also been tweaked, and importing online contacts should work better, as should call logging in the BlackBerry Hub. Finally, the new software is supposed to fix issues with Gmail calendars. BlackBerry says the 150MB OTA update is available on some carriers right now, and will roll out to everyone "over the coming weeks." Head to the source for the full changelog.
Back to BlackBerry: international travels
Dropping a smartphone is an absolutely horrifying experience. And on my first day in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress, it happened to me with my BlackBerry Z10. As much as I hate to admit, it was a dumb move on my part. Unfortunately, tragedy can strike with as simple an act as brushing one's elbow across the table, and that's all it took for me to knock my smartphone right onto a hard surface -- facedown in a perfectly horizontal position. If you've ever been through such an accident, you know the few seconds it takes to pick up the phone and survey the damage can be incredibly nerve-wracking and one of the most suspenseful moments of your life. I'm happy to say that this particular story has a positive ending, as I turned the phone over to see if I would need to call BlackBerry HQ in a panic. To my shock, it was completely fine. There wasn't a single scratch or ding, and the touchscreen was just as responsive as ever. It would've been a different story had it fallen onto a concrete floor, but this still significantly increased my opinion of the Z10's durability. Had my Z10 come face to face with concrete, I would've been in a nasty predicament. Not only would I have had to pause or put the kibosh my 30-day trial run with the BlackBerry Z10, but I'm also on the other side of the world in a foreign country. While getting a new phone isn't impossible, it's expensive, time-consuming and frustrating. Yep, this was how my 10-day international adventure began, but how well has it gone for me since?
BlackBerry exec allegedly confirms a new BB10 tablet will launch in 2013 (update: not true)
The company formerly known as RIM is currently rolling out two devices running the new BlackBerry 10 OS, and apparently that's not all it's got in store for 2013. Know Your Mobile India reportedly heard from the Head of Developer Relations for Asia Pacific at BlackBerry, during the recent Z10 launch in India, that a "BB10 tablet is definitely coming later this year." We already knew that BB10 was to be shoehorned onto the PlayBook, and the same exec confirmed that it's still in the works, so your old slate won't be left with outdated software when this new hardware arrives. We've reached out to BlackBerry for confirmation or comment, and will update you when we hear back. Update: Well, that was quick! The exec mentioned above has told us he was misquoted, and that BlackBerry has no immediate plans for a new tablet, instead focusing fully on the Z10 and Q10 for now. Sorry, folks -- no PlayBook 2 for you.
BlackBerry launches the Z10 in India for $800
The BB10-toting BlackBerry Z10 has just been unveiled in India, priced at Rs 43,490 ($800) for an unlocked unit. Coinciding with the announcement, the BlackBerry Music Store has also gone live in the country starting today, offering a mix of local and international music. Support for local languages aside, the app offerings have been given an Indian flavor with the inclusion of country-specific goodies spanning various genres including news, banking, travel, entertainment and lifestyle. The subcontinent is quite important for the company formerly known as RIM, and its devices are still popular in the region, despite taking a beating in market share recently (see coverage), courtesy the BBM service that makes them the go-to smartphones for those hooked on to the instant messaging platform. However, the Z10's sticker price puts it in the same league as the 16GB iPhone 5 and HTC's full-HD Butterfly (both costing roughly $50 more), and it remains to be seen how the price-sensitive Indian market will react to the new entrant.
