Quad Core BlackBerry “Ontario” Spotted in Geekbench Benchmarks

It seems like someone at BlackBerry was a bit eager to see how their prototypes stack up to the competition. A couple forum members on CrackBerry spotted a Geekbench benchmark for an unannounced BlackBerry 10.3.0.92 device with a Quad Core Snapdragon prototype. The Ontario device is running an MSM8974 quad core Krait processor and reported to be 2.15Ghz even though the processors are natively 2.3Ghz . The device also has 2GB of RAM which is nice to see and the prototype is already on the 2nd revision.

Should be interesting to see where this fits into the BlackBerry portfolio.

Skype for BlackBerry 10 updated to improve video calling and messaging

Back in October Skype for BlackBerry 10 got a nice update that brought a new UI but since then the app hasn't any other updates. Now though, a new release is filtering through BlackBerry World that will hopefully improve the overall experience when using the app. As noted in the change log, the update addresses some bugs with video calling and messaging. Outside of that, Skype just noted 'other improvements' as being the biggest change. In any case, the update is live now in BlackBerry World.

Download Skype for BlackBerry 10

60% off SayIt for BlackBerry 10

 BKU Software has placed their highly popular BlackBerry application SayIt on sale for its one year anniversary on BlackBerry 10! If you have not already purchased SayIt now is your chance to pick it up at a savings of 60% off! SayIt is a voice recognition and assistant software that is in our opinion better they Apple’s Siri.

Download SayIt for BlackBerry 10

Vine App “Whine” Hits BlackBerry World for Free!

The BlackBerry community just received another awesome gem from a developer who stepped in to improve the platform. Vine has yet to release an official BlackBerry 10 app so Bojan Komljenovic stepped up with his own Vine client for BlackBerry 10 called Whine. It lets you record and upload your Vines from the app on top of viewing others. Best of all the app is free!

Check out Whine free in BlackBerry World.

Related articles

• How to install Vine on BlackBerry

BlackBerry Beta Zone app updated to v10.0.0.33

There's no need to go to BlackBerry World to download this one, just simply open the app and hit the update now button and you'll be off to the races. Now, we just need some new beta apps to test out.

Improvements:

• "My Discussions" feature lets you view a list of your active threads
• Basic Search functionality
• You can now "Like" individual posts
• "Go to Page" allows you to navigate to a specified page
• App remains on current page after posting/replying
• Survey navigation improvements

The BlackBerry Beta Zone app itself has now moved into v10.0.0.33 with a few changes, though most of them are focused on the community side of things and as such are improvements to for the official BlackBerry Beta Zone forums.

BBM for iPhone and Android updated with feature to Find Friends

There was never really a way to easily discover which friends and contacts are using BBM and quickly add them to your contacts. Until now.


The latest version of BBM adds the ability to find friends using BBM on Android and iOS by using your address book. This feature was in the leaked Gingerbread BBM leak for Android but this is not BBM v2.0 which is coming in a few weeks.

How to install an Android App on BlackBerry 10.2.1

BlackBerry 10.2.1 introduced the ability to install .APK files, which are the app files used in Android, directly to your phone. This throws the doors open to install a wide variety of Android apps on your BlackBerry 10 device, be it a Z10, Q10, Q5, Z30, or anything else. This used to be possible through a long, convoluted process, but it's much easier now. Basically, if you can't find an app in BlackBerry World, odds are there are other sources for your favorite app.


Step 1: Find your APK
We have a few sources you can count on.

Amazon App Store
1mobile Market
APK Train (website)
Snap APK Downloader​

Step 2: Get the APK file on your BlackBerry
You can get an Android APK install file on your BlackBerry by visiting the source in your BlackBerry browser (which is the easiest option), e-mailing yourself the file, or moving the file directly from your computer to your phone by plugging them together with a USB cable.

Step 3: Install the APK file from your BlackBerry
If you downloaded the APK from your browser, the Downloads window should have already popped up asking you where you want to save it and what the filename should be; just tap the file when it's done. If the download window isn't there, it's easy enough to get back up. Tap the overflow menu button in the bottom-right (three little dots), and tap Downloads.

If the file was moved to your phone in any other way, you can find it easily by tapping the magnifying glass icon from the home screen at the bottom in the middle and typing ".apk" in the search box at the top. Anything you've moved over should show up under the Documents and Files result. Just tap the one you want to install.

Your Android app should start installing after a short "Processing" indicator. Tap the Install button in the top right, and tap Accept on the pop-up window which informs you of the device permissions that are required for the app to run.



Extra information
The first time you install an .APK, you'll be prompted to turn off a safety setting which otherwise blocks installation of these files. The previous installation screen should return with a handy "Open" button replacing the "Install" button when it's done. At that point, the app will now show up alongside all of your other apps. Just swipe on the home screen from right to left a few times to find the icon and put it in whatever folder or home screen you like. Hold your finger on the icon for a moment to drag it around. Another thing you may want to do is hide the bar at the bottom of the screen. Just swipe down from the top when the app is open, and tap Hide bar.

Now, remember that there are no guarantees that these apps will function as advertised. BlackBerry does not run Android, it can just run Android apps. The Android app player in BlackBerry 10 is good, and should handle most of what you throw at it. Test things out and let us know what's working and what isn't in the comments! Having trouble installing something? You can ask for help in the comments too!

BlackBerry Community app today unites all BlackBerry's official blogs and forums in one app.

BlackBerry has launched the BlackBerry Community app today, uniting all their official blogs and forums in one app. From the BB Community app, you can read any of the official Inside BlackBerry Blogs:

• Inside BlackBerry
• Inside BlackBerry Help Blog
• Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog
• Inside BlackBerry Business Blog

Users can also access the BlackBerry Support Forums to read, write, reply, like and search forum posts. You can quickly view a list of the newest posts in the forum or the latest posts you have participated in. The app also allows you to view and subscribe to a list of BBM Channels curated by BlackBerry. Check out the link below to give it a try!

BlackBerry Community App in BlackBerry World

BackBerry OS 10.2.1; What's new?

BackBerry OS 10.2.1 is officially upon us — and that means loads of new features.
As of now there is no on-device walkthrough telling you of everything that's new after you do the update, so if you don't want to miss any new features you'll want to read about them so you don't miss out.
Check out the list below for the list of what's new in BlackBerry 10.2.1.
Keep in mind there may be a few more here and there, but these are all of the major ones for this update.
And be sure to hit up our master BlackBerry 10 change log for a full look of how things have changed since we first reviewed BlackBerry 10.

• Remote search of emails older than 60 days
• Bluetooth Sharing through Android Runtime
• Video Call has the new call screen 
• FM Radio (Only Q10, Q5, Z30.. Z10 does not support this)
• Wi-Fi Direct
• Miracast
• Share Screen
• Direct Install of APK Files on device through File Manager or Browser
• Media Volume displays at top of screen
• New incoming call screen 
• Update to Device Monitor app
• Update to Data Monitor app
• Clock App includes Accuweather information
• Flashlight app added (can be accessed from Quick Settings)
• Ability to arrange accounts in the Hub
• Pinch gesture in the Hub for quick access to specified messages
• Changes to battery icon
• Changes to charging icon
• Battery shows percentage in peek view
• Updates to native weather app
• New Quick Settings functionality for dropdown menu
• Updates to Media Player
• Added Picture Password 
• Speed Dial from homescreen (Q10)
• Added Contact Groups
• Custom contact profiles for email, SMS, BBM and phone calls
• Delete options from Hub (device and/or server)
• Airplane-Mode automatically turned on in Bedside Mode 
• Lockscreen previews open directly to application
• New native wallpapers added
• Next email toggle inside email messages
• Updated Twitter app
• BBM adds vibrate on ping and new emoticons
• White balance adjuster in display settings
• IBM notes traveler in accounts settings
• Wolfram Alpha commands
• Dropdown Menu now includes:
• Flashlight App Button (new app to 10.2.1.xxxx)
• Brightness Adjustment
• Location Toggle Switch
• Device Monitor App Button (new app to 10.2.1.xxxx)
• Tethering Toggle Switch
• Hotspot Toggle Switch
• NFC Toggle Switch
• Flight mode Toggle Switch (airplane mode)

Yes, that's quite a lot in 10.2.1. And if you're on a carrier that never even released 10.2.0 and are going straight to 10.2.1, there's even more (see change log link below). If you spot anything else that we haven't listed here, be sure to hit up the comments and let us know. Be sure to spread the word, and tell all of your BlackBerry 10 - using friends to get their updates on now!

BlackBerry hires former HTC exec Ron Louks to run devices division

BlackBerry hires former HTC exec Ron Louks to head devices division
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Has hired former HTC Corp. and Sony Ericsson executive Ron Louks to run its devices business, tasking him with reigniting demand for the company’s smartphones after years of market-share losses.
Louks will serve as president of devices and emerging solutions and report directly to Chief Executive Officer John Chen, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company said Monday in a statement. Louks most recently served as CEO of the OpenNMS Group, following stints as chief strategy officer of HTC America Inc. and chief technology officer of Sony Ericsson.
Chen, a former Sybase Inc. and SAP AG executive who took the reins at BlackBerry in November, has been shaking up management in a bid to turn around the struggling smartphone maker. In December, Chen appointed former SAP executives as BlackBerry’s new heads of enterprise services, corporate strategy and marketing.
“Ron will focus on BlackBerry’s long-term product road map, including hardware, software and design, as well as the company’s joint development efforts,” Chen said in Monday’s statement.