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Living with the BlackBerry Priv hooked me on its keyboard
When my colleague Dan reviewed the BlackBerry Priv, he was understandably cool about it. You're paying a steeper-than-average price ($699-plus in the US) for a phone whose selling point is its slide-out keyboard. That's a big gamble when there are more affordable touch-only phones that are also more powerful. But what's it like if you take that plunge? I've spent several weeks living with a Priv to find out. All its stand-out features and quirks are still there, but I've found myself gradually drawn in by that keyboard -- enough so that my opinion of the phone has changed for good.
BlackBerry is leaving Pakistan over demands for backdoor access
BlackBerry has announced it's formally shutting down shop in Pakistan over demands from the country's Telecommunications Authority that backdoor access be granted to the company's encrypted services. Back in July, local carriers were ordered to shut off BlackBerry Enterprise Service from the end of November, because "security reasons." While the order has been pushed back to the end of the year, Pakistan's government isn't budging, leaving BlackBerry no other option but to abandon the country. As the company explains, "remaining in Pakistan would have meant forfeiting our commitment to protect our users' privacy. That is a compromise we are not willing to make."
BlackBerry's second Android phone might look like this
BlackBerry is reportedly working on another Android phone after the Priv, and CrackBerry has gotten its hands on renders of what it could look like. The publication calls it "codename Vienna," and if these images do indeed depict its final form, then the device is dropping the Priv's slide-out keyboard for BB's typical candybar form, with a large screen and a textured body. This could just be an early design, though, and the phone might end up looking like something else entirely. Nothing's certain at this point other than what BlackBerry has confirmed: it's developing a range of new products, so expect to see more devices fresh out of the company formerly known as RIM. [Image credit: CrackBerry]
The mobile world's walls are crumbling
Ponder the photo you see above for a moment. Yes, that's Apple Music running on a BlackBerry phone powered by Android -- products from three mobile rivals working in harmony. The very concept of this would have been outlandish just a year ago, let alone a few years earlier when these companies were at each other's throats. This is the best sign yet that some of the walls in mobile tech are finally tumbling down. Companies are realizing that they sometimes have to play nicely with each other if they want to succeed... and that's good for everyone.
BlackBerry's Android phone is coming to Verizon, too
You won't have to jump to AT&T or get an unlocked phone just to give the BlackBerry Priv a try in the States. Verizon has teased that BlackBerry's first Android smartphone is "coming soon," and it's taking sign-ups if you want to know just when the slider will be available on its network. There's no mention of a release date or pricing, but AT&T is selling the Priv for $250 on a 2-year contract, or $25 per month on a similarly lengthy installment plan. We'd expect something comparable with Big Red.
Recommended Reading: The gadgets and cocktails of James Bond
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The (James) Bond Index Bloomberg Business With the latest installment in the Bond collection debuting this weekend, Bloomberg Business offers a guide to the drinks, gadgets, clothes and one-liners of the secret agent. The interactive piece is not only a handy reference tool, but it's rather fun to scroll through, too. It's certainly a must-read for the Bond trivia nerds.
BlackBerry Priv review: Android alone can't save the company
Sports fans often say that their team could pull itself out of a losing streak if only it'd play that exciting but untested, kid who's usually consigned to the bench. Gadgets fans sing a similar hymn about BlackBerry, opining that it would have remained relevant if it'd adopted Android to run on its phones. Now, several years too late, we're going to see what the long-deposed world champion can do with the world's most popular operating system. The result is the Priv, a premium Android smartphone-cum-hail-Mary that's offering two things other companies can't: Privilege and Privacy. It's also packing a slide-out physical keyboard, a 5.4-inch curved display and, naturally, the company's famous security software. But the device has something else that we've not seen in a BlackBerry phone since the launch of the Q10: the expectation that the device might actually be worth buying.
BlackBerry can bypass carriers to deliver Android security fixes
Multiple Android phone makers are promising monthly security updates, but there's a big gotcha: they typically have to get approval from carriers, which means you'll wait weeks before those updates arrive. BlackBerry won't be making that compromise with the Priv, however. It's not only planning to deliver monthly security updates, but won't always have to go through carriers to do it -- the company claims it can "directly patch" every Priv model, even if it's locked to a specific network. The smartphone maker will work with its partners on pushing fixes when it can, but it'll skip the queue and deliver an out-of-cycle patch if there's a major vulnerability.
AT&T will be the first US carrier to offer Blackberry's Priv
AT&T will begin carrying the Blackberry Priv on November 6th, the company announced on Monday. The phone, which runs Android's Lollipop OS and features a slide-out physical keyboard, will be available that Friday in both AT&T retail outlets and the company's website. Specs for the Priv leaked late last month, though the price listed there has since been corrected to an even $700 if you buy it unlocked.
BlackBerry's Priv will cost you $699
BlackBerry has opened-up pre-orders for its first ever Android smartphone, the curved-screen slider that's better known as the Priv. The move comes just a day after the spec list was leaked on the company's site, although the price that was included in the listing turned out to be a red herring. In fact, American BlackBerry fans will be able to pre-order the device for $699 starting from today, with delivery expected on November 6th. Canadians, meanwhile, can plonk down $899 CDN to get the device in their home country, while UK users are expected to stump-up £559 ($857) for the same deal.
BlackBerry might have leaked the Priv's specs and release date (update: confirmed)
BlackBerry's been drip-feeding data about its first Android phone for the last few weeks, but it looks as if someone's spilled the rest of the beans a little bit early. An eagle-eyed member of the Crackberry forums found a page on the firm's website that shared the spec list and price for the US and Canadian version of the device. If accurate, then we know that the Priv is packing a fair bit of power beneath the hood, but has a listed price of $749. There's no indication if that figure is for the US or Canada -- but the page does reference the (GSM) handset not working on American CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint. You'll also spot that the device is marked for release on November 16th, so we won't have long to find out if all of this is true or not.
BlackBerry reveals the lengths it went to make Android 'secure'
BlackBerry's reputation for security is so strong that its devices are frequently used by world leaders as their go-to smartphone of choice. With the forthcoming Priv, the firm has had to try and bring its brand-name security to Android, an operating system with a less-than stellar history when it comes to security and privacy. In order to reassure customers that the Priv has all of the benefits you'll find on its BB10 handsets, Alex Manea, BlackBerry's director of security, has opened up on the measures it took to make Android secure.
BlackBerry could quit hardware as early as next year
At a panel interview at Code/Mobile, BlackBerry CEO John Chen has said that the company might quit the hardware business if it isn't profitable by next year. He said that he "never says never" to shutting down its device business and could perhaps focus entirely on providing security services to other platforms. Indeed, BlackBerry's Enterprise Servers are already compatible with both Android and iOS, so it wouldn't be a significant pivot. That said, Chen is bullish on trying to make the hardware business work. On stage, he showed off the new BlackBerry Priv, which isn't only the firm's first ever Android product, but also BlackBerry's first ever device that uses an operating system that isn't its own.
BBM app lands on Apple Watch before WhatsApp
Apps are continuing to trickle into Apple's wearable, with recent standouts including Airbnb, Google and...BlackBerry? The company once called RIM has announced Apple Watch support for its messaging service, BBM. When reading the product description on the iTunes store, you find that the companion app will allow you to share photos and voice notes, see when people are responding to your messages, and even offer groundbreaking features like delivered and read receipts. There isn't a wide variety of alternatives available on the Apple Watch at the moment -- with WhatsApp and Facebook messanger still missing from the app store -- but maybe there's a reason for that. What's your PIN? Let's discuss this some more through our wearables. [Thanks, Sterling Jordan!]
BlackBerry's CEO isn't sure how to use BlackBerry's Android phone
BlackBerry CEO John Chen may be immensely proud of his company's upcoming Android-powered Priv smartphone, but he still has a few things to learn about using it. In an on-camera demo of the Priv for BNN, it's apparent that the exec hasn't used Android much -- he talks about how it "runs Google," and has trouble launching basics like Chrome. Not exactly putting your best foot forward, BlackBerry. It's hard not to sympathize a bit with Chen, since he's likely been using BlackBerry 10 devices for a while. With that said, SlashGear raises a valid concern about what this goof-ridden clip means for long-time users. Moving to Android is a big help for newcomers and people who'd left BlackBerry for greener pastures, but it might alienate loyal fans who've never tried another company's platform.
BlackBerry confirms 'Priv' Android phone will launch this year
BlackBerry confirmed that rumors of its first Android device, called Priv, are accurate. In the company's latest earnings report, CEO John Chen said that the smartphone "combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform." It'll arrive by the end of 2015 "in major markets in-store and online," and Blackberry will reveal other details like specs and price within the next few weeks. So far, rumors indicate that it'll have a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge-like curved screen, QWERTY keyboard slider and 18-megapixel camera. Despite the company's turn toward Android, Chen said it "remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 OS," and will release version 10.3.3 in March, 2016.
BlackBerry's Android phone will be known as the 'Priv'
BlackBerry's upcoming Android phone has been called "Venice" for quite some time, but that's apparently nothing but a moniker meant to be shed and replaced by its real model name. According to Evleaks and N4BB, it will be released as the BlackBerry Priv, presumably due to its privacy features. Evleaks also revealed a new stock photo of the phone, which you can see below the fold. Don't expect to see anything new, though: it's still a QWERTY slider with a curved screen and an 18-megapixel camera. Hopefully, we'll find out more about it and its release date soon. If the device turns out to have killer features, then it doesn't matter what it's called: after all, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
BlackBerry bids farewell to its hardware past by acquiring Good
If you had any lingering doubts that BlackBerry's days as a hardware-first company are over, they've just been eliminated. BlackBerry has acquired Good Technology for $425 million, giving it one of the better-known names involved in making smartphones work-friendly. The crew in Waterloo isn't shy about the reasons behind its move, either. Good is well-known for helping corporations and governments keep tabs on non-BlackBerry platforms, especially iOS. While BlackBerry already has some tools for this, the deal both improves its weak points and gives it a foot in the door at places where Good may be the only way to secure Android or iOS gear -- the firm has certifications that even BlackBerry lacks.
BlackBerry's Android-powered Venice phone surfaces in the wild
BlackBerry's Android-based Venice smartphone isn't just a figment of someone's imagination... at least, if you believe Vietnamese resident Ba Minh Duc. He claims to have photos of the slider in action, complete with its hideaway QWERTY keyboard, 18-megapixel camera and curvy screen. This isn't quite the phone you remember from 3D renders (or the once-teased BlackBerry 10 version), though. BlackBerry appears to have moved the power button to the side, and the body isn't as slender in person as the renders would suggest. This is undoubtedly a work in progress, and it won't be surprising if the Venice design changes more between now and release. Still, this is exciting stuff if you've been yearning for a phone that melds BlackBerry's hardware and services with Android's customization and wider app selection.
ICYMI: Massive Minesweeper, Android 4 BlackBerry and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-935334{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-935334, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-935334{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-935334").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It, I've replaced Kerry Davis in a sinister plot to take over the show while she's on vacation drinking Angry Orchard by the lake. In actual news, we celebrated Windows 95's 20th birthday with a throwback to "The Rachel" in a promo video for Microsoft's famed OS, starring Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry. In related, albeit more panic-inducing news, someone's made a giant game of Minesweeper to drive you bat shit crazy. A Brazilian vlogger gave us a glimpse of the world's most popular operating system on one of the world's least popular phones. And, finally, someone with a whole lot of time on his hands came up with the ultimate way to sink your battle ship. If you come across any interesting videos, we'd love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd. And if you just want to heap praise on your handsome guest host, feel free to hit me up @mr_trout.
