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BlackBerry 10 not secure enough for UK government workers -- yet (updated: GCHQ responds)
Hitting one of Blackberry's key markets in the British Isles, its new smartphone platform (and the Balance software that divides work and personal profiles on the Z10) hasn't passed the security rigors of the UK's Communications Electronics Security Group. According to The Guardian, handset contracts with the government and NHS total in the tens of thousands, while the older BB 7.1 passed the 'restricted' security level -- two levels below the presumably agent-friendly 'secret' level -- at the end of last year. The Canadian phone maker said in a statement that changes in the approval process had affected the time it's had to jump through the necessary security hoops, adding that BB10 has already passed similar US and German tests with flying colors. Blackberry added that it is "continuing to work closely with CESG on the approval of BlackBerry 10." Maybe hiring Adele for that creative director position would have made a difference, or not. We've added BlackBerry's full statement after the break. Update: We've been sent another statement, this time from GCHQ. This is the organization above CESG and adds that it's still in discussions with BlackBerry about using BB10. It plans to issue "Platform Guidance" in the summer, which will deal with both the new OS and its Balance feature. "We have a long standing security partnership with BlackBerry and this gives us confidence that the BlackBerry 10 platform is likely to represent a viable solution for UK Government." So don't count 'em out just yet, Bond.
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.
WhatsApp lands on BlackBerry 10, offers Z10 owners a BBM alternative
Back at the Z10's launch, BlackBerry revealed that WhatsApp, along with a host of other third party applications, would be headed to its BB 10 platform. And as of today, the company's actually delivered on that promise, giving Z10 owners an open alternative to its BBM service. The messaging app, natively built for BB 10, brings with it support for push notifications, as well as integration with BlackBerry Contacts, thus eliminating the need to manually re-enter phone numbers. It's live in the BlackBerry World store now, so go ahead and grab it at the source below or download it direct from your Z10.
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.
T-Mobile to begin selling BlackBerry Z10 to business customers March 11th for $249.99 (update)
The BlackBerry Z10 is finally ready to ship out to customers in the US, as T-Mobile has officially announced that it is selling Canada's pride and joy starting Monday for $250, but only to business customers initially. Deliveries of the device will arrive on doorsteps (or in office mailrooms, perhaps) by the end of the week. As for the rest of the T-Mobile customers anxious to get their hands on the first BB10 handset, we still haven't received any word. News of the launch date was reported by Reuters, and we reached out to T-Mobile to confirm pricing and availability and received the following statement (update: T-Mo sent an updated statement confirming a pre-order date): The BlackBerry Z10 will be available for pre-order for business customers starting on March 11 for $249.99 on a two-year Classic plan. Please note that pricing can be impacted by volume discounts and other factors, making the device even more cost effective. The consumer retail availability date and pricing will be shared at a later date.
Thorsten Heins: BlackBerry won't sell sub-$50 phones
Squint and you'll find a few neat parallels between BlackBerry and Nokia. Both are fallen giants which are staking their livelihoods on a nascent OS, while the former is a Canadian run by a European, and vice-versa. The one point where the pair's philosophies differ, however, is on the low-end market. While Nokia strove to embrace low-end phones like the Asha and the 105. Thorsten Heins has said he has no interest in producing budget phones for the developing world. At a question and answer session at the company's Waterloo HQ, the CEO was quoted as saying "You will not see us getting into the 50-, 60-buck phone segment. This is not BlackBerry." The move might alienate those who thought the Z10's elevated price in places like India was a bit excessive -- but at least Stephen Elop's got something for every wallet size.
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.
Twitter, LinkedIn apps updated for BlackBerry 10, now function like the real deal
Two new app updates are currently on deck for owners of BlackBerry's Z10 aimed at enhancing the native Twitter and LinkedIn experience. And by "enhance," we mean achieve parity with app iterations on rival mobile OS platforms. With the newly tweaked Twitter for BB10, users will have the option to add or take photos while creating a tweet, delete messages, send direct messages from the 'Me' tab, report users as spam and browse conversations in a threaded view. So basically, the new version of Twitter for BB 10 is now fully baked. LinkedIn is also getting a minor overhaul, now letting users view and search for "Recommended" jobs, filter news by industry, message contacts from their profile pages and view images in full-screen. The updates should hit the BlackBerry World store within 24 hours, so practice some patience. Your Z10 just got that much more useful.
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.
AllThingsD: No native BlackBerry 10 Instagram app in sight
The mobile OS that needs more big name apps to tether their wagons to insure a boost in user adoption is less one key photography app. According to AllThingsD, there is no native Instagram app in development for BB10 handsets -- at least for the foreseeable future. Quoting sources close to the popular social / photo filtering app, the report goes on to say that future development is also uncertain. Of course, the outfit is working on an Android port that will be usable on BlackBerry's latest, but with significant compromises to user experience to come as the cost of admission. The new operating system did secure native support from Facebook, Foursquare, LinkedIn and Twitter at launch.
Back to BlackBerry: a power user's perspective
Thirty days is just a tiny fraction of the two-year commitment you sign when buying discounted phones in the US -- one-twenty-fourth of the actual time you're stuck with the device before switching phones. For a reviewer like me, however, it's actually about twice as long as I typically spend with any given device as my daily driver. I'm halfway through my monthlong BlackBerry 10 experiment, which means this is the point at which I'm usually ready to move on to something new. Strangely, I'm not feeling the same about the Z10 -- at least, not as much as I had expected. While I became accustomed to the user interface during the first week, my experiences during the second week were even more smooth and natural than before. That's great news as I prepare for my upcoming trip to Spain to cover Mobile World Congress (I leave tonight), since my habits as a power user will be amplified during my weeklong venture to the other side of the Atlantic. Phone-wise, what would normally be a minor frustration at home can become an emergency in other countries, so I spent this week putting the Z10 to the test. I wanted to make sure it's prepared for the rough and taxing journey the two of us will face in Barcelona. Venture across the break and I'll fill you in on some of the things I discovered.
Another World now available on BB10, several other classics on the way
Eric Chahi's seminal game work, Another World, is now available on BlackBerry 10 devices (so ... uh, those of you with a Z10, though it also works on PlayBook). And not just any version, but the 20th Anniversary Edition, which adds updated graphics, a remastered soundtrack, and some gesture controls. The game's one of several titles that publisher DotEmu is bringing to BB10, including notoriously difficult shooter R-Type. "Another World 20th Anniversary is our first title on Blackberry. It's currently available on Playbook and Z10, and in the upcoming weeks on Q10," DotEmu CEO Xavier Liard tells us. As for the future? "Of course we are considering bringing all our Android games to BB10, but the next game to be most likely released would be R-Type." Given that DotEmu also publishes Neo-Geo titles on Android, it's not a surprise that the company is also considering bringing those titles over, though there's nothing to announce just yet. "We can't say yet if it will be on BB10 or not as it is SNK Playmore decision," CTO Romain Tisserand says. With Another World priced at $5 -- a dollar more than its iOS version -- we expect similar pricing across the board. But then again, we always hope it'll be less expensive to re-buy 20-year-old games. The price of nostalgia, eh?
Back to BlackBerry: a whole new UI world
Editor's note: This is not a review. If you haven't taken the opportunity to read through our review of the BlackBerry Z10 and the BB10 operating system, now is the perfect time to do so. As I progress through my 30-day BlackBerry trial, I'm writing most of my thoughts with the assumption that you have a basic understanding of BlackBerry's new devices and platform. If you were to ask me what the most significant changes are in BlackBerry 10, I'd likely go into detail about the user interface, gestures, the Hub and the ecosystem. It's an amazing improvement over previous BlackBerry devices in most cases. It's not too difficult to learn, either: just three days into my 30-day trial, I found myself unsuccessfully swiping up on a friend's Android phone to turn it on. But now that I've had the chance to set up all of my accounts, do some hardcore messaging and play around with the device, what are some of my thoughts about those major differences? Join me after the break and learn some of the best and worst things I discovered so far.
BlackBerry Z10 goes under the knife, reveals innards similar to Galaxy S III LTE
BlackBerry Z10 devices have only been out in the wild for roughly a week, but the folks at UBM TechInsights have already forced one of the handset's open to figure out just what parts make it tick. Prying the device apart revealed the expected Snapdragon S4 Plus and three other parts from Qualcomm accompanied by Samsung-made RAM and storage. What stands out most to the dismantlers, however, is that the Z10 packs many of the same components in Samsung's Galaxy family of devices, particularly those of the LTE-toting GS3. It's not the most scrutinizing tear down, but you can hit the bordering source link for the entire parts list and full set of images.
Solavei becomes first US carrier to ship BlackBerry Z10, charges $999 for the privilege
We're pretty sure you've heard of the BlackBerry Z10 by now, but have you heard of Solavei? Let us jog your memory: Solavei is a virtual operator (MVNO) here in the US which rides atop T-Mobile's GSM / EDGE / UMTS / HSPA+ network and offers unlimited voice, SMS and data for $49 a month, contract free. The company further sweetens the deal with discounts when you sign up friends. As for the Z10, you probably know that it's already on sale in the UK and Canada but isn't supposed to land on US carriers until mid-March. Well scratch that, because starting today Solavei is teaming up with GSM Nation to bring Blackberry's flagship to its customers. We've confirmed with Solavei that pricing for the handset is a hefty $999 (unsubsidized, clearly). The company currently offers the ATIV S for $605, the Galaxy S III for $575, the Nexus 4 for $405 and the Ascend P1 for $391, to name a few. It also welcomes unlocked phones. Full PR after the break.
Skype's BlackBerry 10 app still on its way, will be an Android port (update)
We've been told that nearly 40 percent of all BlackBerry 10 apps in BB World are Android ports, but what about some of the big-name apps boasted on stage at the launch event last week? In its latest blog post, Skype revealed its dirty secret: the service is "working closely with BlackBerry to ensure the Skype for Android app runs great in the BlackBerry 10 environment." Indeed, one of the most anticipated programs announced on January 30th -- which we're told should be available soon -- is a repackaged Android port; this leaves us a little skeptical of its performance, though we'll save final judgment for when it's finally ready to download. Let's just say we're hoping that Runtime adds Jelly Bean support sooner rather than later. Update: Well, it took a couple days, but Skype rep finally got back to us with some clarification on this matter: "You are correct that the Skype app coming to BlackBerry 10 is our very popular Skype for Android app. We are excited that BlackBerry is enabling Android apps like Skype for Android run great on BB10, and are fully supporting the Android runtime environment and Android tools for BlackBerry 10. This allows us to leverage our existing Skype for Android! Development efforts to quickly have the latest version of our app (Skype for Android 3.1) ready for BlackBerry 10. We are closely collaborating with BlackBerry to ensure the app runs well and that BlackBerry 10 users will have a great Skype experience. To that end, we are working closely with BlackBerry to open up some of the integration points available to native apps in the OS so that they can also be used by the Skype application and we expect the app will allow Skype users to see notifications, to start the app from the Hub, and to see their Skype contacts in the native phone book."
