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• BlackBerry 10.2.1 update starts to roll out on Verizon

BlackBerry 10.2.1 update starts to roll out on Verizon

Verizon customers sporting BlackBerry 10 powered handsets are starting to receive the update to BlackBerry 10.2.1. BlackBerry 10 handsets owned by customers of the nation's largest carrier include the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Q10. Some of the new features that come with the update include the Priority Hub,which will allow you to quickly receive  IMs, emails, notifications and calls. Wi-Fi Direct, available on the BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Q10, allows for peer-to-peer sharing of media and content similar to Bluetooth, but faster.

Other features will allow you to track your battery life better and view selected websites offline. Actionable notifications let you quickly respond to an email without having to open up a whole new page, and the update also brings an FM radio to the aforementioned BlackBerry 10 handsets. A quick settings feature will be added to your BlackBerry 10 device, along with improvements to the calendar UI. BBM Now lets you chat on BBM while watching a video and BBM Natural Sound delivers better audio quality for calls and videos on the messaging app. And with the update, you eill find an improved way to copy and paste.

The update is being sent out OTA in phases. Verizon says that it will take 15 to 20 minutes to download BlackBerry 10.2.1, which will require an additional 10 minutes to 15 minutes to install. During the latter, you will not be able to make or take phone calls. The size of the update is 350MB. You can check out the entire changelist and more by viewing the slideshow below. 

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• Home
 
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• BlackBerry 10.2.1 update starts to roll out on Verizon

BlackBerry 10.2.1 update starts to roll out on Verizon

Verizon customers sporting BlackBerry 10 powered handsets are starting to receive the update to BlackBerry 10.2.1. BlackBerry 10 handsets owned by customers of the nation's largest carrier include the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Q10. Some of the new features that come with the update include the Priority Hub,which will allow you to quickly receive  IMs, emails, notifications and calls. Wi-Fi Direct, available on the BlackBerry Z30 and BlackBerry Q10, allows for peer-to-peer sharing of media and content similar to Bluetooth, but faster.

Other features will allow you to track your battery life better and view selected websites offline. Actionable notifications let you quickly respond to an email without having to open up a whole new page, and the update also brings an FM radio to the aforementioned BlackBerry 10 handsets. A quick settings feature will be added to your BlackBerry 10 device, along with improvements to the calendar UI. BBM Now lets you chat on BBM while watching a video and BBM Natural Sound delivers better audio quality for calls and videos on the messaging app. And with the update, you eill find an improved way to copy and paste.

The update is being sent out OTA in phases. Verizon says that it will take 15 to 20 minutes to download BlackBerry 10.2.1, which will require an additional 10 minutes to 15 minutes to install. During the latter, you will not be able to make or take phone calls. The size of the update is 350MB. You can check out the entire changelist and more by viewing the slideshow below. 

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Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry

Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry brings new UI, night mode and more

 

Opera has updated Opera Mini for Java and BlackBerry to version 8, that brings a range of new features, including a new user interface, better private browsing, that was first introduced in Opera Mini 4.5, night mode for better reading in dark and lots more new features.

New features in Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry phones

• More modern and intuitive user interface
• New Night mode feature dims screen, using darker colors for dark environments. On keypad devices, shortcut # * enables it.
• Private browsing feature now turns dark to show that you are in private browsing mode.
• Improved Speed Dial start page with redesigned tiles, that are specified by the site author, instead of just a thumbnail of the page
• Data Usage page now appears as a new menu item. It can now toggle image loading and set image quality.
• Keypad devices can now navigate to the top of the page and continue up to reach the tab bar without going to menu.
• Page rendering is better
• Bug fixes and under the hood improvements.

Opera mini also supports BlackBerry phone that runs Java. Download Opera Mini Java phones by heading to m.opera.com from your mobile phone’s browser.

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Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry

Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry brings new UI, night mode and more

 

Opera has updated Opera Mini for Java and BlackBerry to version 8, that brings a range of new features, including a new user interface, better private browsing, that was first introduced in Opera Mini 4.5, night mode for better reading in dark and lots more new features.

New features in Opera Mini 8 for Java and BlackBerry phones

• More modern and intuitive user interface
• New Night mode feature dims screen, using darker colors for dark environments. On keypad devices, shortcut # * enables it.
• Private browsing feature now turns dark to show that you are in private browsing mode.
• Improved Speed Dial start page with redesigned tiles, that are specified by the site author, instead of just a thumbnail of the page
• Data Usage page now appears as a new menu item. It can now toggle image loading and set image quality.
• Keypad devices can now navigate to the top of the page and continue up to reach the tab bar without going to menu.
• Page rendering is better
• Bug fixes and under the hood improvements.

Opera mini also supports BlackBerry phone that runs Java. Download Opera Mini Java phones by heading to m.opera.com from your mobile phone’s browser.

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The BlackBerry Z30 review

The BlackBerry Z30 launches in time of crisis and will be looked upon as the savior, or end up as the one that witnessed the company's undoing. Market share has hit the fan, as RIM of old which stood for innovation and vision, has turned into the money-losing, job-cutting, CEO-swapping, rescue-deal-awaiting BlackBerry that we have now.
Yet, in the middle of all this, another flagship gets unleashed to hopefully help and turn around the shrinking market share and ease the pressure from all sorts of competition. The BB 10 OS was indeed a great comeback, especially from such a conservative company, but the Z10 failed to become the kick-starter many thought - hoped - it would be. It's now the BlackBerry Z30's turn but the company may have already lost the smartphone battle and now running in survival mode.

BlackBerry Z30 official pictures
The Z30 isn't BlackBerry's first smartphone to entirely break up with the old ways and go after the multimedia powerhouses of the competition. In fact, a five-incher must've been on the cards ever since the 4.2" Z10 appeared early this year. This sure looks like a steep increase in screen size but Blackberry must've been aware of the fact that they needed to catch up and do it fast. It's a 720p Super AMOLED display too, a second for the company after the Q10, but the first full-scale touchscreen.
The Z30 is powered by an upgraded Qualcomm chipset with a more recent GPU and has better battery backup than the preceding Z10. The latest version, 10.2, of the BB OS brings lockscreen notifications, a new instant preview and reply feature, new Priority Hub, updated system apps, USB host and more.
Here is the BlackBerry Z30 complete feature list.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, penta-band UMTS/HSPA, penta-band LTE
• 5.0" 16M-color 720p Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait, 2GB RAM, Adreno 320
• 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with face detection and Time Shift; LED flash, 2MP front facing camera
• Full HD (1080p) video recording at 30fps; 720p recording with front-facing camera
• 16GB storage, microSD card slot; built-in Dropbox and Box integration
• Ability to side-load and run Jelly-Bean-compatible apps
• Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot; Wi-Fi sync
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC
• Standard microUSB port, USB host, microHDMI
• 3.5mm audio jack
• GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS
• BlackBerry 10.2 OS
• Office document editor
• BlackBerry Hub with extensive social networking connectivity
• BBM with video chat and screen sharing

Main disadvantages

• Below-par screen resolution, the competition has 1080p displays
• The UI poses a steep learning curve
• Thick and heavy, not quite up to the usual high standard of design and finish
• BlackBerry Maps fall short of the competition
• Camera offers little control over image quality
• Audio quality degrades with headphones plugged in (as opposed to an external amp)

BlackBerry 10 is still a toddler compared to iOS and Android, but the others can certainly learn a trick or two. And you can't accuse BlackBerry of not trying either. Many popular apps missing at the premiere of the OS are now available in the BlackBerry World. Popular Android and iOS games are making their way to the platform too.
The ability to run Android apps isn't new to the BB 10 OS but the 10.2 version is finally beginning to make a difference. There's Jelly Bean compatibility now - and hardware acceleration is enabled, so the experience should be superior to simply running ICS apps through an emulator. BlackBerry has finally unleashed the BBM messenger on other platforms too and it's enjoying a good reception. Overall, the BlackBerry 10 OS looks fresh and compelling with innovative gestures and attractive design, but it will definitely get the job done too.

The BlackBerry Z30 at ours

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The BlackBerry Z30 review

The BlackBerry Z30 launches in time of crisis and will be looked upon as the savior, or end up as the one that witnessed the company's undoing. Market share has hit the fan, as RIM of old which stood for innovation and vision, has turned into the money-losing, job-cutting, CEO-swapping, rescue-deal-awaiting BlackBerry that we have now.
Yet, in the middle of all this, another flagship gets unleashed to hopefully help and turn around the shrinking market share and ease the pressure from all sorts of competition. The BB 10 OS was indeed a great comeback, especially from such a conservative company, but the Z10 failed to become the kick-starter many thought - hoped - it would be. It's now the BlackBerry Z30's turn but the company may have already lost the smartphone battle and now running in survival mode.

BlackBerry Z30 official pictures
The Z30 isn't BlackBerry's first smartphone to entirely break up with the old ways and go after the multimedia powerhouses of the competition. In fact, a five-incher must've been on the cards ever since the 4.2" Z10 appeared early this year. This sure looks like a steep increase in screen size but Blackberry must've been aware of the fact that they needed to catch up and do it fast. It's a 720p Super AMOLED display too, a second for the company after the Q10, but the first full-scale touchscreen.
The Z30 is powered by an upgraded Qualcomm chipset with a more recent GPU and has better battery backup than the preceding Z10. The latest version, 10.2, of the BB OS brings lockscreen notifications, a new instant preview and reply feature, new Priority Hub, updated system apps, USB host and more.
Here is the BlackBerry Z30 complete feature list.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, penta-band UMTS/HSPA, penta-band LTE
• 5.0" 16M-color 720p Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait, 2GB RAM, Adreno 320
• 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with face detection and Time Shift; LED flash, 2MP front facing camera
• Full HD (1080p) video recording at 30fps; 720p recording with front-facing camera
• 16GB storage, microSD card slot; built-in Dropbox and Box integration
• Ability to side-load and run Jelly-Bean-compatible apps
• Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot; Wi-Fi sync
• Bluetooth 4.0
• NFC
• Standard microUSB port, USB host, microHDMI
• 3.5mm audio jack
• GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS
• BlackBerry 10.2 OS
• Office document editor
• BlackBerry Hub with extensive social networking connectivity
• BBM with video chat and screen sharing

Main disadvantages

• Below-par screen resolution, the competition has 1080p displays
• The UI poses a steep learning curve
• Thick and heavy, not quite up to the usual high standard of design and finish
• BlackBerry Maps fall short of the competition
• Camera offers little control over image quality
• Audio quality degrades with headphones plugged in (as opposed to an external amp)

BlackBerry 10 is still a toddler compared to iOS and Android, but the others can certainly learn a trick or two. And you can't accuse BlackBerry of not trying either. Many popular apps missing at the premiere of the OS are now available in the BlackBerry World. Popular Android and iOS games are making their way to the platform too.
The ability to run Android apps isn't new to the BB 10 OS but the 10.2 version is finally beginning to make a difference. There's Jelly Bean compatibility now - and hardware acceleration is enabled, so the experience should be superior to simply running ICS apps through an emulator. BlackBerry has finally unleashed the BBM messenger on other platforms too and it's enjoying a good reception. Overall, the BlackBerry 10 OS looks fresh and compelling with innovative gestures and attractive design, but it will definitely get the job done too.

The BlackBerry Z30 at ours

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