News Update On BlackBerry Handset : BlackBerry's New Android Slider Gets An Unofficial Close-Up In Nnew Leaked Images

The Blackberry 'Venice' has been teased for quite some time with a lucky few Mobile World Congress attendees getting a first glimpse of the device in early 2015. While we have previously seen a few images and renders of the device, the newly leaked images are probably the clearest and most detailed to date.

BlackBerry has experimented with this type of design before. The upcoming slider looks modern, polished and is reminiscent of Dell's long-forgotten Windows Phone 7 handset, the 'Venue Pro'. If BlackBerry's previous devices are any indication, the 'Venice' should be a solid piece of hardware.

The 'Venice' will be a flagship device for BlackBerry, with specs rumored to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, Quad-HD display, 18MP camera and 5MP front-facing camera. The device will be a monumental release for BlackBerry, mainly due to it not running the company's own Blackberry OS. Instead, the device will be running Google's Android OS.

Currently, there is no official word from BlackBerry regarding the 'Venice'. The device is expected to be released sometime before the end of the year, with some reports indicating that it may arrive in November.

Posted by Unknown Sunday, August 30, 2015

News BlackBerry Android SmartPhone Leak : Leaked Render Shows Off The Android Powered BlackBerry Venice

A leaked render of BlackBerry's upcoming "Venice" slider phone shows the device running Lollipop, instead of BlackBerry's own BlackBerry 10 OS. There have been rumors that BlackBerry was working on an Android powered device, but until now we had no idea just how that would look. One of the most notable things about the render that surfaced is the apparent inclusion of Google Apps on the device. This would mean that BlackBerry worked with Google to have the device pass Google's Compatibility Test Suite, instead of just forking an Android version that didn't include the services.

The BlackBerry Venice is rumored to launch this fall, and is apparently heading to AT&T — a long time partner — in the U.S. BlackBerry has been known for its keyboard hardware, but many didn't like the software. With so many great third-party keyboard options already available for Android, is there even a need for a physical keyboard device these days? Either way, it shouldn't be all that long before we find out what BlackBerry has up its sleeve.

Posted by Unknown Sunday, July 05, 2015

News BlackBerry Update : BlackBerry Passport And Classic Available From AT&T On 20 February

Summary:The two latest BlackBerry devices will finally be launching on a US wireless carrier this week. The BlackBerry Passport for AT&T has a unique element in its form factor.

The BlackBerry Passport, see my full review, was released almost six months ago and is now finally coming to a US carrier.

While you have been able to purchase SIM-unlocked Passport to use on T-Mobile and AT&T for the past several months, many US consumers prefer to purchase directly from their carrier using various subsidy options. AT&T is the only US carrier currently offering the two latest BlackBerry models, available starting on 20 February.

AT&T BlackBerry Passport:

This particular BlackBerry Passport model is a bit unique compared to the current black, red, and white one you can purchase directly from BlackBerry. The AT&T model has rounded edges and extra space below the keyboard.

Everything else about this model is the same as the current Passport, including a 4.5 inch square display, BB OS 10.3.1, full QWERTY hardware keyboard, 3GB RAM, microSD card slot, 13 megapixel camera, and 3,450 mAh battery for extended use.

The BlackBerry Passport will be available starting 20 February for $0 down on an AT&T Next plan at $21.67 per month with AT&T Next 24, $27.09 with AT&T Next 18, or $32.50 per month with AT&T Next 12. You can also get the smartphone for $199.99 with a two-year agreement or at no annual commitment for $649.99. The unlocked Passport normally retails for $699.

AT&T BlackBerry Classic:

The BlackBerry Classic appeals to the more traditional BlackBerry user with a touch-sensitive optical trackpad, compact QWERTY, capacitive buttons, and familiar form factor. The AT&T model has the same design as the unlocked version available from BlackBerry.

Specifications of the BlackBerry Classic include a 3.5 inch touch display, 8 megapixel camera, 16GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, microSD card slot, and 2,515 mAh battery.

You can purchase the BlackBerry Classic for $0 down on an AT&T Next plan at $14 per month with AT&T Next 24, $17.50 per month with Next 18, or $21 per month with AT&T Next 12. You can also get the smartphone for $49.99 with a two-year agreement or at no annual commitment for $419.99. The unlocked Classic sells for $449.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Great News : WhatsApp Will Be Accessible Through PCs, Now, Access WhatsApp On Desktops

Aiming to expand its userbase, popular messaging app WhatsApp has unveiled its web browser version that allows users to access it on their personal computers.

With over 600 million users globally, WhatsApp till now was available only on smartphones across operating systems Android, iOS, Windows and BlackBerry. 

"Today, for the first time, millions of you will have the ability to use WhatsApp on your web browser," WhatsApp said in its blog.

The web client is an extension of the user's phone with the web browser mirroring conversations and messages from the user's mobile device, it added.

"This means all of your messages still live on your phone," it said.

To connect the web browser to WhatsApp client, users need to open 'web.Whatsapp.Com' in Google Chrome browser and scan the QR code inside of WhatsApp.

"Your phone needs to stay connected to the internet for our web client to work, and please make sure to install the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone," it said.

Currently, the service is available only for Android devices as Apple platform has certain limitations.

WhatsApp's user base in India has grown to 70 million active-users, accounting for over a 10th of its global users.

Bought over by social networking giant Facebook last year in a blockbuster USD 19-billion deal, WhatsApp is very popular in markets like India and Brazil.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, January 22, 2015

News Updates : Blackberry Classic Chosses Come Back To basics

Neighbours Envy, Owners Pride! My reference is not to the popular Onida TV advertisement of the 80s; I am talking about those BlackBerry-wielding business executives who are always in a tearing hurry to get a job done quickly. Most people who own this QWERTY keyboard phone—essentially to stay in touch with their clients and offices—are addicted to it and the ease and convenience of the Bla

ckBerry makes those who do not have one—envious. For those new to the mobile world, let me point out that Research In Motion (RIM) pioneered the concept of on-your-hip email back in the late 90s with its first BlackBerry phone. But competition soon followed and RIM has steadily lost market share to Apple’s iPhone and devices using Google’s Android technology.

Cut to present. BlackBerry’s fight to stay relevant has gained momentum in the past few months. Its long-awaited Classic device is here, a smartphone it hopes will help it win back market share and woo those still using older versions of its physical keyboard devices. The Canadian mobile technology company says that the new device, which bears striking similarities to its once wildly popular Bold and Curve handsets, boasts a larger screen, longer battery life, an expanded app library with access to offerings from Amazon’s App store, and a browser three times faster than the one on its legacy devices. Its retails for R31,990.

I have been using a test-unit of the Classic since the beginning of this year and take my word it’s a stylish phone, built to last. I can say this with confidence as I have been a prolific user of the Bold 9900 and Q10 device. Compared to both these phones, the Classic is a significant improvement. It upgrades the Bold 9900 experience with three times faster browser, 60% more screen space, 50% longer battery life and greater variety of apps through BlackBerry World and the Amazon Appstore.

Most important, BlackBerry has heeded to the suggestions of its die-hard fans and brought back the command bar functionality that helped make its legacy phones easy to navigate. It might be recalled that when the company initially introduced its new BlackBerry 10 operating system and devices early in 2012 it put more emphasis on touchscreens, alienating many fans of its physical keyboard. Those who moved to the new physical keyboard phones that BlackBerry launched later were unhappy that command keys such as the Menu, Back, Send and End buttons, along with the trackpad had been dropped.

Out of the box, the Classic feels great in your hands and is built to last. The back and sides also provide a reassuring grip in the hand. It has a new metal band, around the edge and sealed back, which means the battery is not removable. The phone offers a form factor optimised for power communicators with a 3.5-inch touch screen display, 294 dpi HD resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for greater durability. In fact, I found the Classic’s screen to be much sharper than the Q10 or the Bold, and text and images appear crisp enough for most uses. The nano SIM card slot and microSD card slot for adding more storage are in the side of the phone. The lower part of the phone has three holes, one for the micro USB cable for charging and syncing the smartphone, one for its decent-sounding speaker, and the other for a microphone.

The Classic offers a large battery capacity and battery optimisation software. With upto 22 hours of battery power, you can be confident that the Classic will be ready to deliver results when you need it. The device is built with durable materials mixed with top-of-the-line technology. This includes a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB of device storage (expandable by up to 128 GB via uSD), and a 2 megapixel front and megapixel rear-facing camera with enhanced optics and upgraded imaging sensors.

The keyboard is the real star here. The QWERTY keyboard has stood the test of time as the iconic BlackBerry feature that users know and trust. Crafted for optimal speed and accuracy, the Classic’s QWERTY keyboard gives users the control and confidence to communicate quickly and clearly using one hand with a trackpad and classic navigation keys. In real usage, I could easily detect that the BlackBerry 10 web browser is amazingly fast and beautiful. It means that a user can access his/her favourite online content as it was meant to be seen, faster than ever before and with unlimited browser tabs.

The Classic comes preloaded with the BlackBerry 10.3.1 operating system, offering a fresh look that incorporates updated icons and an instant action bar so that each user’s most commonly accessed functions are in the centre of their screen. With this new operating system, users gain access to powerful features such as BlackBerry Blend. Essentially, this brings messaging and content that is on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet. This blending of the PC and mobile world ensures that you will get instant message notifications, and are able to read and respond to your work and personal email, BBM and text messages, as well as access your documents, calendar, contacts and media in real time on whatever device you are on, powered by your BlackBerry.

Then, there’s BlackBerry’s first digital assistant which can be used with voice and text commands to help users manage work and personal email, contacts, calendar and other native BlackBerry 10 applications. BlackBerry Assistant intelligently determines how to respond to you based on how you interact with it—if you type, it responds silently, if you speak, it speaks back and if you activate over Bluetooth, it speaks back with additional context because it assumes you might not have access to the screen.

Overall, the Classic is a solidly-built phone with the best physical keyboard. BlackBerry has truly returned to its roots.

SPECIFICATIONS :

• Dimensions: 131 x 72.4 x 10.2 mm
• Display: 3.5 inch square touch display
• Processor: Qualcomm MSM 8960
• 1.5 GHz
• Operating system: BlackBerry 10 OS
• Navigation: 35 key Backlit keyboard
• Memory: 2 GB RAM, 16 GB Flash
• Camera: 8 MP (rear); 2 MP front camera
• Weight: 178g
• Estimated street price: R31,990

Posted by Unknown Thursday, January 22, 2015