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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.
Phones4U taking BlackBerry Q10 pre-orders, giving away PlayBooks to first 300 customers (update)
Know what's better than a shiny new BlackBerry Q10? A BlackBerry Q10 with a 64GB PlayBook thrown in for free, and Phones4U is the place to get it. To be clear, the UK retailer has begun taking pre-orders for the BB10 handset with a hardware keyboard today, and the first 300 folks to pledge their money will get one of BlackBerry's 7-inch slates for free along with it. As for the Q10's cost, it's £36 a month on contract or £549.95 SIM-free, with the black model expected to arrive by the end of April and the alabaster version coming in the weeks after. Update: Should you miss out on the Phones4U deal (or just don't want a PlayBook), you can head on over to the Carphone Warehouse to place your pre-order and get a free Bluetooth speaker to pair with your Q10 instead.
Mobile Miscellany: week of March 25th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, an unknown T-Mobile handset with Snapdragon 800 internals lit up the benchmarks, Sony was foiled at the lock screen and Rogers made 44 new promises without saying much at all. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of March 25th, 2013.
BlackBerry Q10 prototype caught in the wild with a rubberized back
When we put our mitts on the official BlackBerry Q10 design in January, it carried a "glass weave" back that was meant to convey a premium feel, not to mention give Bold 9900 series owners a sense of continuity. The crew at Genk have snagged a pre-production example that teases what could have been. Their black device has the same grippy, rubberized back as the Z10, suggesting that BlackBerry was at least experimenting with using the same extra-practical (if less refined) material up until the unveiling. What else do we learn? While we wouldn't want to judge the user experience from a prototype, the look reminds us that there should be a 2,100mAh battery inside -- a big boost over the Z10's 1,800mAh pack, especially when there's a smaller screen involved. If only we didn't have to wait until later in spring to try the finished product.
BlackBerry Q10 with physical keyboard given May-June release window for US
If you thought March was far away, be prepared to thumb your calendar to an even further date for the BlackBerry Q10. According to AP, CEO Thorsten Heins has said that the physical keyboard iteration of BlackBerry's new OS will arrive around 8-10 weeks after the Z10 makes its eventual appearance on American shores. Heins added that release dates would vary between the major carriers, but the company maintains that the Q10 will arrive in other markets (likely including parts of Europe) some time in April. Guess we'll hold onto our aging Bold until then.
Editorial: BlackBerry 10, the waiting and the damage done
I've never been a BlackBerry user. But I've seriously considered one at a few points over the years, and I've been genuinely curious to see how the first BlackBerry 10 device fares. Last week's launch event didn't sell me on one, but I'm still curious to try it. Unfortunately for BlackBerry, née RIM, the event also served to again highlight some of the problems that have plagued the company in recent years. You'll get different opinions about when those problems really started, but you can directly trace last week's launch event back to one date almost three years ago: April 9th, 2010. That's when RIM announced it was buying QNX Software Systems, the company whose operating system would ultimately provide the basis for BlackBerry 10 (and the PlayBook before it). At the time, the acquisition didn't signal a massive shift for RIM -- it mostly talked up things like in-car infotainment systems and "intelligent peripherals."
BlackBerry reveals new Dev Alpha C handset with physical keyboard
Today BlackBerry unveiled an update to its SDK and debuted the QWERTY-sporting Dev Alpha C handset at its Jam event in Amsterdam to help coders build apps for BB devices with physical keyboards. It also announced the WebWorks SDK, which will support apps for the recently launched Blackberry Q10 handset. The software kit will let physical keyboards work "just as if (input) came from the virtual keyboard on a BlackBerry Z10" touchscreen device, according to the blog, letting devs create applications for both with "very little effort." The new handset will join BlackBerry's Dev Alpha B model for touchscreen smartphones and the freshly announced red Special Edition Z10. Want more info? See the sources below.
BlackBerry Q10 flashes pearly whites in brief debut
A previously unseen BlackBerry Q10 in alluring white made a blink-or-you'll-miss-it appearance at last night's BlackBerry 10 Experience event in New York. Crackberry was on hand to snap a few photos before the 3.1-inch, dual-processor toting device went back into the pocket of BlackBerry CMO Frank Boulben. The color certainly lends it a heaping dose of James Bond-esque elegance, to our eyes -- as for our other thoughts on the physical-key toting handset, check our recent hands-on.
The Daily Roundup for 01.30.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
BlackBerry Bold vs BlackBerry Q10: fight!
BlackBerry's rich history of tactile keyboards continues in its Q10, a tiny device with a 3.1-inch Super AMOLED screen and ... well, a full keyboard. We've already gone hands-on with the device, and you'll get to do the same come April, but we couldn't help wondering: how does it stack up against its spiritual forebear, the BlackBerry Bold? We snapped a handful of comparison shots to answer just that question, which you can see for yourself in the gallery below.
BlackBerry sticking with 4.2- and 3.1-inch screen sizes, resolutions for next wave of BB10 devices
If you're expecting to see future BlackBerry devices with larger (or smaller) screen sizes, Thorsten Heins has got a bucket of ice water ready to throw over your dreams. At the BlackBerry 10 launch event, he confirmed that the next set of smartphones would stick to the same screen sizes and resolutions that we've seen in the Z10 and Q10. The company wants to avoid fragmenting its ecosystem and, as such, will stick to having two hardware strands -- one with a 4.2-inch, 1,280 x 768 display and the other with a 3.1-inch, 720 x 720 screen. When questioned about when we'd see follow-ups to both BlackBerry 10 handsets, Heins said that the company was looking at product cycles of between 12 and 15 months, but wouldn't be drawn on specifics.
BlackBerry Q10 hands-on
Forget the all-touch Z10 for a moment. This here is RIM's BlackBerry's other BB 10 device -- the BlackBerry Q10. As you can tell from its alphanumeric moniker, that single letter is a nod towards the handset's physical leanings. That's right, it's a hybrid touch / physical QWERTY model and one that diehard BlackBerry fans won't only be more familiar with, but potentially more willing to embrace with open palms. With a 720 x 720 Super AMOLED 3.1-inch display, the Q10's screen is slightly larger than its touch-hybrid predecessor, the Bold 9930, and sports a much tighter pixel density of 328ppi (BlackBerry claims the display is 360ppi, which doesn't jibe with our math). The screen itself is plenty bright and contrasty with incredible viewing angles. We didn't notice any of the telltale blue-tinge typical of AMOLED implementations, but the overtly blue lighting around us might have helped mask those shortcomings. The steel band around the middle and "glass weave" backplate actually gave the device a pleasantly premium feel in our hands. It was solid, well-shaped and smooth to the touch without being plasticky. The 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and 2GB of RAM keep the device humming along quite smoothly. It reacted almost instantaneously to input with no hiccups. The smaller screen size did make touch input seem a little less natural, but the ability to just start typing and search or perform actions (such as sending an email) more than made up for the slightly cramped confines. The 10.3mm-thick body does feel slightly chunky when compared to its all-touch sibling the Z10, and downright brick-like next to a svelte beauty like the Galaxy S III, but its short stout shape will fit in your pocket and palm with equal ease. At 139g, it does pack some heft, but we dont see that as a bad thing. The phone feels like it means business -- something we can't say for some of its plasticky Android competitors. For more, check out the gallery below and the video after the break.
BlackBerry 10 arrives Feb 5th in Canada, tomorrow in the UK, US carriers revealed
If you like what you've seen so far from RIM BlackBerry's big launch event today, then you might want to know when you can get it. Those in the US might have hoped the rumors weren't true, but indeed, you will have to wait until March before you can get your hands on BlackBerry 10. Though when it does land, customers of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint (only Q10 confirmed) and T-Mobile (Z10 confirmed) will all be able to get onboard. BlackBerry's giving its home turf a little bit of a head start with a February 5th release date and Bell, Rogers, Koodo, Telus and Virgin Mobile confirmed as carrying. But -- as had already been hinted at -- it's the UK that gets the goods first, with the Z10 and Q10 both available starting tomorrow on all the major carriers. US pricing will depend on each operator, but expect to pay around $200.
BlackBerry Q10 official with keyboard, 3.1-inch display (update: may hit US in April)
BlackBerry (formerly RIM) has just unveiled the BlackBerry 10 device that, let's face it, many of the faithful really want: the keyboard-equipped Q10. It mates the QWERTY hardware input that BlackBerry fans have known and loved while including a 3.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Yes, it will have LTE, and there's already confirmed plans from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and Canadian providers to carry it -- though there's no firm release date or pricing. Check our hands-on with the Q10 for early impressions. Update: During a post-event Q&A, Thorsten Heins said that we could likely expect the Q10 to reach the US sometime in April.
Pentax shows NERV, flashes Japan-only Evangelion-flavored Q10s
We've seen Neon Genesis Evangelion-branded devices for quite awhile now, and as a testament to the garish-hued series' longevity, Pentax has announced a special edition, show-themed Q10 series of its own. It'll release a mere 1,500 of the models in Evangelion heroine shades, starting with the Eva-01 model shown above at a price of 59,800 Yen ($660 or so). Besides showing your love for '90s anime, that sum will get you a 12.4-megapixel, mirrorless interchangeable shooter capable of Full HD video, while filling out the already-bounteous Q10 color choices from the hue-loving outfit. Stateside fans of the show will likely be disappointed though -- it'll only be sold in Japan, starting in April. Check the source to see the other colors.
Pentax offers 100 different custom color options for its Q10 mirrorless camera
If Pentax's Q10 ILC piqued your interest when we got to play with it back in September, then perhaps the choice of 100 different paint jobs might push you to a purchase. Alongside several new cameras at CES 2013, the camera-maker will start to offer custom ordering for the mirrorless unit, with a choice of colors for both the grip and body. And the options? They include pink, white, black, red, turquoise, gold, green, magenta, orange and brown -- and Pentax will be offering them all direct from its Q10 studio site, which you can find at the source.
Pentax launches Q10 interchangeable lens camera, K-5 II and K-5 IIs flagship DSLRs
It's not every day that a camera company launches two major models the same day, but Pentax has done just that with the Q10 mirrorless interchangeable and the K-5 II / IIs cameras. The Q10 joins its equally tiny stablemate, the Q, to round out its line of mini-sensored, playing-card-sized cams that still let you change lenses. The new model boasts the same bokeh control and effects dial of the original Q, but adds a new grip and several color options, like the now-ubiquitous red shown above. Other features include a K-mount lens adapter, an included 15-45mm zoom telephoto, improved AF performance, full HD video recording, anti-shake technology, 5 fps continuous shooting capability and a pop-up flash. The new mini-shooter will go on sale in October at around $600 with the kit lens. If you have bigger (and deeper) pockets for something more sporty, Pentax has also announced its top K-5 II and K-5 IIs models to replace the popular K5, which has been around since 2010. The weather- and cold-resistant, dustproof DSLRs retain the same 16.2-megapixel resolution of their predecessor, but Pentax claims the new SAFOX X AF sensor has improved sensitivity in low-light conditions and improved auto-focus. The K-5 IIs eschews the anti-aliasing filter found on its sibling, but is otherwise the same, with a 3-inch, 925k LCD, 7fps burst mode, magnesium alloy / stainless steel body and RAW data retrieve function. These models will also appear in October and dent your wallet to the tune of $1,200 and $1,350 for the K-5 II and IIs, respectively. All that might address some of the AF and light sensitivity beefs we heard before, but we'll have wait for the next round of reviews to find out.
MyRacer's Q10 is the PMP with a funky little dial
Functionally, MyRacer has yet to really knock our socks off. But, its lineup of PMPs has always featured some lovely design cues, and the Q10 is perhaps the nicest yet. It has some subtly '70s styling and that cheeky volume knob with an illuminated red surround that would probably result in you getting an earful whenever sliding it into a back pocket. As you'd expect it has all the major audio and video formats covered (including DivX, Xvid, MP3, AAC, and WMA) and also includes an FM tuner, transmitter, and a voice recorder. There's 8GB of storage behind the 3-inch, 400 x 240 touchscreen and a microSD slot for expansion. No word on price, but we're unlikely to see this one Stateside anyway, so enjoy these fine pictures and see if you can spot the snail. %Gallery-75409%[Via PMP Today]
Motorola to unveil a slew of new handsets at CTIA?
It's been a rough couple months for Motorola's handset division -- rumors of a sale, two high-profile executive departures, layoffs, and that pathetic showing at Mobile World Congress -- but today it looks like the company might have some tricks left up its sleeve for CTIA. We're not sure where it came from, but this supposed marketing video popped up on YouTube with shots of several new handsets, all of which jive with rumors we've heard about Moto's upcoming devices, like the Linux-based Ming 2 and the 5 megapixel cameraphone developed with Kodak (pictured above). Other notables are a Q variant running Windows Mobile 6.1 and an odd new music slider that could be the ROKR E10. Of course, none of this is official (and Moto did release a hype-laden video just before MWC only to fall totally flat), but we'd be lying if we said we weren't hoping to see Moto try and come back around at CTIA -- we'll see what happens. Video after the break.[Via Unwired View]
