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BlackBerry Z10 prices slashed across the board: $99 at Verizon and AT&T, $49 on Amazon
Looking for an excuse to try out BlackBerry's latest flagship? Here's one: now it's cheap. Folks willing to sign up for a usual two year agreement can score the BlackBerry Z10 for $99 at both AT&T and Verizon or a mere $49 at Amazon. The price drop is most likely designed to spur sales in the wake of the Canadian company's $84 million loss last quarter. "Now is the right time to adjust the price," a BlackBerry spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal. "It's part of life cycle management to tier the pricing for current devices to make room for the next ones." In other words, BlackBerry needs to move its existing stock before it can sell the public on a second-generation device. Either way, the Z10 is a steal at $49 -- unless you're in one of the regions that's simply giving them away.
BlackBerry reportedly loses execs responsible for social apps, BB10 Hub
BlackBerry has had trouble retaining executives as of late, and its situation may not be getting much better when the Wall Street Journal claims that two software overseers recently left the company. T.A. McCann (pictured at left), a VP who oversaw BBM and social networking apps, reportedly said goodbye two weeks ago. Marc Gingras (right), who masterminded the BlackBerry 10 Hub and came with the Tungle.me acquisition, supposedly quit in "recent weeks." BlackBerry hasn't commented on the rumored exits, although the Journal believes that both McCann and Gingras left voluntarily. If real, the departures aren't coming at a good time -- BlackBerry is in rough financial straits, and it needs executives willing to turn the ship around. [Gingras image credit: Kris Krüg, Flickr]
Sony's Crackle arrives on BlackBerry 10, reminds us to not watch Bad Boys II
Slowly, but steadily, BlackBerry's building its BB10 app catalog with some major gets. Today, that burgeoning list grows by a very important one with the addition of Sony's Crackle. The free, ad-based streaming video service, which culls together content from Sony's various TV and film studios, is available to download now from BlackBerry World. It's also compatible with the Q10's teeny, 3.1-inch screen, so if you hate your good eyesight, you can devote an hour or two to reliving the opus that is Bad Boys II. Sure, popular apps like Instagram, Hulu Plus and Netflix have yet to make their way over to BB10, but you can't fault the Waterloo-based outfit for getting users what it can. Even if that means bringing them Bad Boys II.
Flixster for BlackBerry 10 adds UltraViolet movie streaming
BlackBerry 10 users have had Flixster's app as a movie guide since January, but they haven't had the chance to watch their discoveries on the BlackBerry itself. Thankfully, Flixster has provided that missing piece of the puzzle today by adding UltraViolet support (not pictured here). As with Android and iOS, anyone with a BB10 device can now stream videos saved in their UV locker. The upgrade brings regular Flixster accounts, too -- members can mark the movies they want to see and review them afterward. Between these two major additions, the new Flixster app is easily worth an update at the source link.
BlackBerry OS 10.2 leak reveals actionable notifications, WiFi Direct and more
BlackBerry 10 users rejoice! The awesome folks over at the CrackBerry forums have leaked a few screenshots of BlackBerry's upcoming OS 10.2 (build 10.2.0.483, to be exact) which reveal a bunch of new features, including actionable notifications and WiFi Direct. With the former, you'll be able to pull down on notifications and respond to them (as shown above). This OS version will also provide a way to mute notifications or view them on the lock screen. WiFi Direct, which was hinted at during BlackBerry Live, is now confirmed with this build. It enables simple peer-to-peer wireless connectivity between various devices like phones, tablets, printers and TVs. This update also include a new native Evernote app, settings app and app manager. Find out more at the source link below.
BlackBerry shipped just 2.7 million BB 10 handsets last quarter (updated)
BlackBerry got off to a roaring start with with the Z10, which shipped a million devices in its first three weeks on the market and led many to predict there'd be at least 3 million shipped this quarter (the first full quarter of Z10 availability). That turned out not to be the case, as the company said during an earnings call for Q1 2014 that it managed to get just 2.7 million BlackBerry 10 OS handsets out the door, despite the Q10 having joined the Z10 on shelves for a good part of that period. Those figures make up just 40 percent of its handset numbers, meaning most of the 6.8 million phones it shipped consisted of cheaper last-gen products. They refused to break those numbers down between the Q10 and Z10, so that's all we have to go on at this point -- but taken with its announcement of an $84 million loss, it's far from encouraging. Update: Apologies, folks. Our original headline said 2.7 million were sold, whereas in fact the figure indicates shipping numbers. The post itself is unchanged and accurate. For reference, BlackBerry's actual sales to end users lagged behind shipments by around 30 percent when they revealed the previous set of figures back in March.
BlackBerry 10 not coming to BlackBerry PlayBook tablets
If you were hoping your BlackBerry PlayBook would get a taste of BlackBerry 10, think twice. Despite earlier plans, Thorsten Heins just revealed that the newer OS isn't coming to his company's tablet due to "performance and user experience" concerns. The executive didn't discuss the long-term future of the PlayBook, but it's clear that the current model is at the end of the road. When the company's earnings are back in the red, devoting attention to a long-struggling device isn't likely to be high on the priority list.
Facebook update for BlackBerry 10 brings photo album controls
BlackBerry 10 users haven't had much control over their Facebook photo uploads -- a big problem when they're trying to organize their pictures later on. Thankfully, they can be a little more restrained as of the Facebook 10.2 update. The revision lets socialites both create albums on-device and upload directly to particular albums. After the fact, they can tag existing shots and toggle just which images they see. If you're the sort whose Q10 or Z10 doubles as a primary camera, you'll want to grab the update at the source link.
BlackBerry Q5 stops by the FCC with AT&T-friendly 3G
When we were introduced to BlackBerry's Q5, a lower-end QWERTY handset running BB10 OS, we were told it was aimed at emerging markets and heard of no plans to bring it to the US. While that still could be the case, a device with the identifier RFS121LW and an appearance matching that of the Q5 has been given the all-clear by the FCC. Now, this might be just a roaming application (when devices not sold in the US get approved for use there), but it's important to note that the 3G radio inside this phone is compatible with AT&T's network (850 / 1900MHz). We can't guarantee the image above isn't a generic outline BlackBerry's used to show the position of the label, nor can we totally be certain you'll ever be able to purchase a Q5 from the US carrier. Well, at least not until the Q10 launch buzz dies down, anyway.
Splashtop 2 brings its remote desktop talents to BlackBerry 10
Unless you're willing to poke around in leaked software, there's been no way so far to access your desktop computer via that shiny new BlackBerry 10 device -- until now. Splashtop 2 has just arrived on the platform to fill that hole, and a quick tryout on our Z10 confirms that it works just as well as on other devices to give you a remote wormhole to your Mac or PC. You'll be able to seamlessly access your desktop apps and files, watch videos and even play 3D games hosted from your home machine -- though we'd wouldn't count on a great experience for the latter. You can download and use it on your home network for free, but remote usage will run you $1.99 per month or $16.99 per year -- still quite a bargain for the terminally tethered.
BlackBerry Q10 available for pre-order on Verizon, $200 with a two-year contract
For those of you who wouldn't touch a tactile screen if we gave you one, Verizon's just put a smartphone up for pre-order that might be preferable: the Blackberry Q10. Big Red will carry the regular black model and has exclusive dibs on the dapper white Q10 we saw earlier, both of which are on pre-order for $200 with a two-year activation, or $600 sans commitment. On top of real QWERTY chiclets, you'll get a 3.1-inch, 720 x 720 Super AMOLED touch display, dual-core Qualcomm CPU, 2GB of RAM and Blackberry 10.0. As a bonus, Verizon's estimated ship date of June 6th might even line up nicely with the imminent arrival of a certain new version of the OS, too.
BlackBerry 10.2 OS update brings emojis, level 1 notifications plus alarm features
You might still be getting your thumbs around that Q10, or the waiting for that BlackBerry 10.1 update, but already some future tidbits for the platform have come to light. Michael Clewley, product manager at the firm, let slip that version 10.2 of the OS brings with it support for standard unicode emojis, multiple alarms and level 1 notifications (for email). With the 10.2 SDK said to be coming in June, you can expect the update to follow later in the year. Weren't sure what to do with BlackBerry Channels, yet? If you had added Clewley's (PIN C00014277) you'd have got the reveal straight from the man himself.
LinkedIn and Twitter updates for BlackBerry 10 focus on search
BlackBerry isn't done with improving the BlackBerry 10 editions of LinkedIn and Twitter -- not by a long shot. The company has once more upgraded the two social apps, this time with an emphasis on search. LinkedIn now lets users import contacts to find people they already know; in Twitter, meanwhile, universal search now shows photos, profiles and tweets on a single page. There's more than just these two upgrades, of course. LinkedIn reveals more about companies and carries a slew of minor UI tweaks, while Twitter keeps content fresher with automatic caching. If the new versions are tempting, they're waiting at the source links for Q10 and Z10 owners alike.
BlackBerry R10 leaks again with reported specs, hints at a budget Q10
Our initial look at the BlackBerry R10 quickly suggested that the smartphone would be a budget alternative to the Q10, but it wasn't clear just what we'd lose by penny-pinching. If DGtle is on the ball with its newly claimed specs, though, we won't sacrifice as much as we thought. Along with offering more photos of the R10, the site believes that the handset will have the same 3.1-inch screen size and 2GB of RAM as its QWERTY sibling. Instead, the sacrifices would mostly affect media hounds: the R10 reportedly steps down to a 5-megapixel camera in addition to previously hinted cutbacks in storage (to 8GB) and battery (to 1,800mAh). We may learn the full truth soon enough -- while there's no guarantees anything will happen, next week's BlackBerry Live conference is a prime opportunity for an unveiling.
PSA: BlackBerry Q10 on sale in Canada, but only in Toronto (update: other cities too)
Today marks one of the symbolically more important launches in the BlackBerry universe: the Q10, the first keyboard-equipped BB10 phone, is at last available on the company's Canadian home turf. As promised, customers with Bell, Rogers and Telus (as well as their Virgin Mobile, Fido and Koodo sub-brands) can snap up what's arguably the true Waterloo flagship for about $199 on a 3-year contract, or between $625 to $700 contract-free. Shoppers are largely buying the same phone no matter the carrier, although Rogers is hoping to lure the undecided with both LTE on an extra frequency as well as access to the white model. Just be prepared for a slightly longer wait if you plan to buy one in person -- BlackBerry warns that it's limiting Q10 supply to the Greater Toronto Area for the first day or two to accommodate demand high demand in Canada's financial capital. Update: Although BlackBerry was emphasizing Toronto, readers in other cities have mentioned getting early access. We'd still call ahead if you're set on grabbing a Q10 at retail, however.
WhatsApp comes to BlackBerry Q10, expands its BB10 footprint
After becoming available on the Z10 just last month, it was only natural for WhatsApp to eventually expand its horizons within BlackBerry 10. And with the Q10 finally nearing its time to take off around the globe, what better time to make the renowned messaging app also compatible with the latest in physical QWERTY keys from the Waterloo-based company. As usual, it won't cost you a dime to get WhatsApp installed on that BlackBerry Q10 of yours, however a yearly fee of about $1 will be due if you're planning on using it for longer than the first twelve months. Either way, it's up for download now, so pay the source link below a visit if you're one of the lucky few to have RIM's BlackBerry's new jewel in your possession a little earlier than others.
Skype launches BlackBerry 10 preview, but only for Q10 owners at first (update: official)
For all the hullabaloo about Skype coming to BlackBerry 10, there wasn't much to show at the Z10's launch beyond a logo. We've got more to work with today -- sort of. A preview version of Skype has indeed popped up in BlackBerry World with voice, video and instant messaging like we've seen on other platforms. However, no one in the general public can actually use it yet: the app requires BlackBerry 10.1, which won't reach the market until the Q10 ships to Brits and Canucks. That leaves Americans and Z10 owners in the lurch for a few weeks, although they can at least see the light at the end of the VoIP tunnel. Update: We've added the official press release after the break.
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.