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BlackBerry will shutter its app store on December 31st, 2019
While there's little doubt that BlackBerry's in-house mobile platforms are finished (the last BB10 device shipped over 2 years ago), it's now giving holdouts some not-so-subtle hints that it's time to move on. The company has announced that it's shutting down BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry OS services over the next couple of years. The closures will start with relatively little-used services like the BlackBerry Travel site (February 2018) and Playbook video calling (March 2018), but it will culminate with the shutdown of the BlackBerry World app store on December 31st, 2019. When 2020 rolls around, your Classic or Passport won't have an official avenue for downloading software.
Flipboard arrives for BlackBerry 10, but you can't use it yet (update: counterfeit app)
Bored, BlackBerry toters? Flipboard is now on BlackBerry World to save your commute, but wait: there's a rather big catch. It'll only work with BlackBerry 10.2 OS (since it's an Android port), and that version isn't out yet, unless you're okay with a leaked copy. If so, you'll be able to use its magazine-style interface to share on up to 12 social networks, save stories for later perusing, curate your own editions (with help from your friends) and more. There are also customized versions for 15 countries, including the UK, Australia and Canada. If and when you get the right OS, you can grab it at the source and starting maxing out on content -- including this very tech site. Update: It turns out the app -- while a fully-functioning Android version -- was in fact a counterfeit, according to N4BB. That means an illegitimate company managed to slip the version past BlackBerry World gatekeepers, and Flipboard had nothing to do with it. That seems like a rather large oversight on BlackBerry's part, considering the stature of such an app, but it's now been pulled from the store. If you managed to grab it, it goes without saying that it's not a good idea to install it on your device.
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.
BlackBerry Travel for BB 10 launches, lets users track price changes and flight status
Though the road to BlackBerry 10 was long, it doesn't appear the company's taking the same tack with its app strategy. Today, the BlackBerry World store gains yet another native app: BlackBerry Travel. While the application's nothing new for Waterloo, it has been updated to take advantage of BB 10, giving users the ability to log in seamlessly with their BlackBerry ID, share flight and trip status to social networks (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, BBM) and monitor price changes for hotel bookings. As with all new BB 10 apps, it's set to rollout to BlackBerry World within 24 hours. So, if you don't see it yet, relax -- it's on the way.
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?
BlackBerry gets help from Trend Micro in the fight against malware
In the race to the starting line, BlackBerry pulled out all the stops in order to deliver an app library that's 70,000 strong, but now the firm's looking to Trend Micro in an effort to keep malicious software at bay. Specifically, the phone maker will begin scanning all current and future BlackBerry World apps with the Trend Micro Mobile Application Reputation Service, a cloud-based solution that'll exist alongside BlackBerry's current security measures. In addition to scanning the code of an app, the service will watch for fishy behavior such as excess battery drain and abnormal resource consumption. Alongside this announcement, BlackBerry also hinted about a service from Trend Micro that scans URLs, emails and files for potential threats. It's currently unclear whether implementation of this service would require some form of software update, but given the privacy implications at play, it'll be interesting to learn whether end users can disable the feature. Power to the people, right?
BlackBerry 10 app roundup: Social, games, news and more
Beyond the several standard applications unveiled today for BlackBerry 10, RIM's got a much, much longer list of standouts from the BlackBerry World store to share. The New York Times, ESPN, and BBC are just a few of the biggies on the list, as well as a flock of Angry Birds heading up the gaming charge. Head past the break for a taste of those 70,000 apps RIM's touting. (Update January 31st: BlackBerry just sent out a press release with even more app commitments. We've added a link to that release in More Coverage below.)
BlackBerry World storefront goes live with music, TV shows and movies
Heads up, content lovers: you can now get your fix over at BlackBerry World, which has been updated with music, movies and TV shows for your perusal. As expected, prices are in line with industry norms, ranging from $8 to $12 for albums, and between $0.99 and $1.49 for individual tracks. Meanwhile, television episodes can be had for $1.99 a pop -- perfect if you happened to miss the awkward season premiere of Archer -- and there's variable pricing for movies, depending on whether you rent or buy. You'll find previews of all music tracks, but movies are limited to the trailers and TV shows lack free samples. Nonetheless, if you're feeling bold and live within one of the supported regions, take a moment to check out the overhauled BlackBerry World. It's certainly a nice appetizer of what's to come.
BlackBerry World music and video offerings detailed, next day downloads for TV
We're just a few short days away from the official debut of BlackBerry 10 -- RIM's effort to remain relevant in a market it helped pioneer. With the move to a next-gen platform, it also became clear that media would need to be added to marketplace offerings. When it launches, the revamped BlackBerry World will feature DRM-free music, as well as TV shows and movies available for purchase or rent. While prices aren't set in stone, you can expect them to to fall in line with industry norms. Best of all, most movies should be available the same day as their DVD release and TV shows the day after airing. And, lest you think RIM was going to half-ass the content part of the equation with nothing more than a few CTV and Japandroids offerings (we'd get tired of watching Degrassi: TNG eventually), the slew of partners is pretty impressive. Record labels signed on include 4AD, Matador, Warner and Sony and will be available in 18 countries at launch, while the BBC, Fox, CBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and Warner Bros. are among those offering TV shows in the US, UK and Canada. For a complete list of partners and countries check out the PR after the break.
RIM lowers minimum app prices on BlackBerry World
BlackBerry-toting penny-pinchers have cause to rejoice, as RIM is introducing lower price tiers in BlackBerry World, starting with the British Pound and Euro. New price tags have yet to take hold across the board, but the the UK will see their lowest level fall from £1.00 to £0.75 (around $1.20). When it comes to the Euro, prices will vary by country, and we spotted apps as low as €0.75 ($1) on Spain's version of the shop. According to RIM, the tweak takes currency exchange rates and VAT requirements into account, and is an effort to gain a competitive edge and catch the eyes of consumers. It's certainly a far cry from how things used to be.
RIM notes 'remarkable' number of app submissions, extends $10,000 incentive deadline
After unveiling its new BlackBerry World app hub (music and video still incoming), its dev blog has now announced that RIM will be extending its Built for BlackBerry scheme. Intended to draw in even more native apps for its new mobile platform, the final cut-off date has now been moved from January 21st to February 18th. Talking to German paper, Die Welt, CEO Thorsten Heins recently backed up claims that BlackBerry's new OS would launch with 70,000 apps, although we all know that quality trumps quantity -- something that RIM aims to address. If devs submit an app that makes over $1,000 but less than $10,000, the Waterloo phonemaker will fork out the difference -- app authors can also submit their programs for approval without charge. If you're hungry for some app-based paychecks, check on the detailed criteria at our second source link.
RIM renames App World to BlackBerry World, opens reg for $10k guarantee and offers a QWERTY dev unit
There's no question that RIM knows how key attracting as much developer support as possible will be to its upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform, and that's where its focus seems to be at the BlackBerry Jam Asia event in Bangkok. CrackBerry's live blog notes that RIM has announced a new name for its store, going from BlackBerry App World to just BlackBerry World (likely due to its dedicated sections for music, movies and TV shows) as well as a number of regional partners pledging support for the platform like Baidu, Kantana and Fox Sports. Another feature shown off at the event was the ability of its keyboard handle multiple languages and prediction within a single conversation. It also celebrated the success of a recent port-a-thon event, continuing to tout the ease with which devs can bring their projects from iOS and Android to BlackBerry 10. The SDK gold release is scheduled for December 11th with all the APIs necessary, and developers can register for that $10,000 Built For BlackBerry incentive guarantee starting today ahead of the January 21st deadline. While you're signing up for that, BlackBerry app makers who want to try out the new hotness on a device with a physical keyboard should sign up for a Dev Alpha C unit. After passing out 7,500 Dev Alpha units since May, its promising these to the top 1,500 people who sign up, have submitted two apps or more and are ranked by score based on certain other developer activities. Also, those original 7,500 can sign up to swap their Dev Alpha for Limited Edition BlackBerry 10 hardware after launch. Counting 60 million active BBM customers in Asia and claiming it's both the largest and fastest growing segment there we expect to see continued focus from RIM there, as of now we're only a couple months away from finding out how the world reacts to BlackBerry 10.
PSA: Pacemaker DJ app for BlackBerry PlayBook drops into the mix today
What started as hardware, back in 2008, has since been superseded by advances tablet-tech. Logical then that the team behind Pacemaker has remixed the idea for 2012. We've already had a sneaky peek at the PlayBook app, but that was back in beta-land. Today, it launches proper. The official unveiling will be at Barcelona's Sonar festival, but if you didn't get a ticket (or even if you did) you can get your hands on it today from BlackBerry App World for $19. A little more than Cut the Rope, sure, but small change compared to the original hardware's $850 price tag.
BlackBerry 10 to get video editor, screen sharing according to forum leak
The BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha we wrapped our mitts around last week didn't tell us much about RIM's big QNX-based OS update (being loaded with PlayBook OS 2.0 and all), but Crackberry forum user Biggulpseh seemingly has the deets that the folks in Waterloo weren't ready to reveal. So-called internal documents reportedly detail a tilt-sensitive lock screen that pushes notifications to the user based on the device's movement (called "cinnamon toast"), a screen-sharing ability to ramp up the productivity of video calls and a robust video editor resulting from RIM's acquisition of JayCut last year. Biggulpseh says the images come from a "trusted source," and are part of a document that outlines upcoming features for the benefit of the firm's employees. Ready to dive in and let your imagination run wild? Hit the source links below, just don't forget your saliferous spices.
RIM CEO: 4G PlayBook coming this year
Again, not exactly a bombshell here, but a day after the 4G version of RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook was "confirmed" over a hearty breakfast at BlackBerry World, the company's CEO let it be known that the tablet is, in fact, on the way. According to Thorsten Heins at a press event this morning, the 4G PlayBook is due out before year's end. While he didn't specifically mention LTE, the executive prefaced that statement by saying that his company admittedly has a glaring lack of LTE devices. Should we put two and two together? Interpret it how you will.
RIM: another limited-edition developer device coming later this year
Before wrapping things up at the BlackBerry 10 Jam keynote, Alex Saunders lobbed out a whale of a tidbit: the Dev Alpha may be joined by another, "very limited-edition" version of a BlackBerry 10 device much closer to the platform's official launch. According to the VP, developers who have received the Dev Alpha will be able to trade up to the new version at an unspecified time. With Alex accentuating the fact that there would be an incredibly limited number of these devices available, we imagine we'll see some extra strings attached to this offering, but no specifics have been revealed so far. Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.
RIM offers developers $10,000 incentive for certified apps
At BlackBerry World 2012, RIM is bumping up the stakes for its developers by putting more money where its mouth is, announcing a $10,000 guarantee to get potential coders excited to hop onto Team BlackBerry. If you get your app certified on App World and don't earn ten grand in the first year, RIM will cut you a check for the difference. Of course, incentive programs are nothing new in today's increasingly competitive development world -- Research in Motion has offered free phones and PlayBooks in the past, and Microsoft is known for throwing cash at big-name developers to beckon them to Windows Phone, for instance. The guarantee, however, is certainly a unique approach to entice new devs to BlackBerry 10. As these programs often do, there is one catch: to qualify, you'll need to not only earn quality certification, you'll also have to generate $1,000 on your own accord. All of this is part of a $100 million investment in its new ecosystem, and should help spark some developer interest in the lead-up to Waterloo's upcoming platform refresh. If you think you've got what it takes, start thinking up those million-dollar ideas right now. Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.
RIM: Don't worry, BlackBerry 10 devices with keyboards are on their way
Those decrying the death of the BlackBerry keyboard can officially put their mourning on hold. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins addressed the matter during today's keynote -- but just in case the QWERTY-inclined weren't quite convinced by the sentiment, a spokesperson for the Canadian smartphone maker has brought some reinforcement, telling Phone Scoop that, while early BlackBerry 10 devices will be focused on the virtual, physical keyboards will also be making their way into the mobile OS's ecosystem. Now we can all type a collective sigh of relief.
BlackBerry gets its game on at BBW, scores Jetpack Joyride and Sonic
One of the things BlackBerry has never really had going for it, is a deep games catalog. Now, that isn't about to change in one fell swoop, but things are about to get a lot better at BlackBerry World 2012. RIM's head of gaming, Anders Jeppsson, took to twitter to let the world know about the impressive pile of titles heading to the PlayBook and BlackBerry 10. The biggest names are certainly Jetpack Joyride, from Halfbrick (the studio behind Fruit Ninja), and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. Other games in the pipeline include Galaxy on Fire 2 and Star Marine, while Tomb Raider fans can get down with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light starting today. Keep an ear out for more to hit during this week's BBW.
RIM shows off BlackBerry 10 touch keyboard with gesture support
What's the best thing about the BlackBerry platform? Most would say it's the keyboard, which continues to be world-class in the company's most recent handsets, like the Bold 9900. One of the big questions on the fans of the BB faithful in the new operating system was how the company could re-create that magic on a touchscreen. Well, Thorsten Heins just showed us how on-stage at BlackBerry World, showing off a new, smart touch keyboard that is said to adapt to your touches. It has elements of predictive text, like many other keyboards, but it also relies heavily on gestures. For example, to get to numbers and special characters, just swipe upward from below and the keyboard layout changes. You can swipe up and down to cycle through these layouts and, like SwiftKey, swipe left to delete whole words. It doesn't exactly blow many of those aftermarket Android options out of the water but it certainly looks like it could be among one of the best stock keyboards out there.