Mereja

Author: Donny H.

  • BlackBerry World Wednesday – New Apps and Games for BlackBerry 10

    It’s been quite the week for BlackBerry 10, with the new BlackBerry Z10 launching in new places and on new carriers around the world. We recently announced that in just seven weeks since launch, we’ve got over 100,000 apps available for you to check out in the BlackBerry World storefront. For the past few weeks we’ve been listing out the latest and greatest apps and games to become available in a series we call BlackBerry World Wednesday.

    If you just picked up your BlackBerry Z10 this week, be sure to check out these posts from weeks past and the list below. My personal favorite addition is Let’s Golf 3 – it’s putting me in the perfect mood for spring and helping me pass the time until I can hit the links for real.

    Gaming

    Music & Photo

    News & Magazines

    Lifestyle & Entertainment

    Sports

    Stay tuned for next week, we’ve got big announcements from MLB.com At Bat 2013, Bejeweled 2, Plants vs. Zombies, Game of Life and Oxygen Live.

    In case you missed it, earlier this week we announced that there will be even more entertainment content coming to the BlackBerry World storefront, where you can purchase music, movies and television shows. Check out the full press release on the new TV Content providers that are launching on BlackBerry 10.

    Have you been using any cool apps for BlackBerry 10 that we haven’t featured? Be sure to tip us in the comments and share your favorite apps.

  • BlackBerry 10 Global Availability Tracker

    BlackBerry COO, Kristian Tear speaks at the BlackBerry 10 launch in Mexico

    Since January 30th we’ve launched BlackBerry 10 in a number of regions all around the world. One of the top questions I’m getting online is “When can I get my hands on a shiny new BlackBerry 10 device?” Well – if you haven’t already, your first step should be to register here for the latest updates in your region. Your next step is to keep reading!

    To help keep you looped in, I’ve decided to compile a list of where and when you can purchase your very own BlackBerry 10 smartphone. With more and more markets launching each week, I’ll be sure to update you with new information, as it becomes available. As soon as we confirm dates with our carriers and are ready to announce them you’ll be able to find them here. We can’t wait to welcome new BlackBerry 10 owners from around the world.

    BlackBerry 10 is available for purchase in the following countries:

    As of March 26, 2013 the complete list now includes:

    The rollout is continuing with a number of other countries planning to release the BlackBerry Z10 in the near future. Stay tuned for future launch dates in regions around the world.

    Have you picked up your BlackBerry 10 smartphone? Share your favorite features with us in the comments below.

  • BlackBerry 10 Now Available in the US – The BlackBerry Experience

    You’ve been asking for it and it has arrived. The BlackBerry Z10 is now available for purchase in the U.S. We were on hand at the BlackBerry Experience event in New York City to capture all the action and excitement. We then headed downtown to witness the first official BlackBerry Z10 being sold on American soil at midnight on March 22, 2013.

    Here’s Manny, an eager fan who “just had to be the first” to get his hands on the new BlackBerry Z10 in the United States. He was met with cheers from the crowd as he held up his newly activated device.

    Just up the street, and a few hours earlier in Times Square, we celebrated the launch with fans, retailers, partners and a few surprise musical acts. Folks got a chance to go hands-on with the BlackBerry Z10 and were treated to performances from Janelle Monae, Young the Giant and DJ Ztrip & friends Questlove and Ludacris. It was truly a special evening for all.

    As BlackBerry 10 continues to roll out in markets across the globe, stay tuned to the Inside BlackBerry Blog to know when BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be coming to a region near you. Have you picked up your BlackBerry Z10 yet? Share your experience with the community in the comments below.

  • Wall Street Journal App for BlackBerry 10 Available Now

    Proud owners of the new BlackBerry Z10 can now get on the go access to the Wall Street Journal’s award winning coverage on the go. The Wall Street Journal App for BlackBerry 10 is available for download in the BlackBerry World storefront. Readers will enjoy News, Opinion, Marketplace, Greater New York and more.

    Beth Buehler, Head of Business Development for Dow Jones & Company, said in a statement: “The debut of The Wall Street Journal’s app for BlackBerry 10 is the latest evolution in our ‘WSJ Everywhere’ digital strategy to meet new audiences through new digital platforms.” The global reach of the BlackBerry platform allows us to continue expanding upon our own international growth, particularly in Asia, Europe and South America.”

    As a blogger, I’m always looking for some of the best ways to get my news fix, and the Wall Street Journal app for BlackBerry 10 looks fantastic. Here’s just some of what subscribers can look forward to:

    • Articles from Today’s Paper
    • Updated news from Business, Tech, Life and Culture and more throughout the day
    • Article sharing via email, Facebook and Twitter
    • Photos of the day, video-on-demand and podcasts

    This time the news follows you. Download the WSJ app on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone for award-winning content anytime, anywhere. BlackBerry 10 launched with more than 70,000 apps and we’re continuing to bring new apps to BlackBerry World every day. Already have your hands on a BlackBerry Z10? Let us know some of your favorite apps in the comments below.

  • Amazon Kindle Now Available for BlackBerry 10

    Amazon Kindle for BlackBerry 10

    Millions of books are now available on BlackBerry 10 via the World’s most popular e-reading platform – Amazon Kindle. This got me thinking – what do you call a bookworm for the digital age? Morris. Geek humor aside, this is one app launch that we’re particularly excited for.

    I love to read and I’m thrilled that I can now carry all my books with me in the palm of my hand with my BlackBerry Z10. I can buy a book once and can read it anywhere. Plus with technology like Whispersync my bookmarks, notes and highlights sync across my account. The app also supports newspapers and magazines.

    On top of that, here are some other features that make Kindle on BlackBerry 10 so handy:

    • Personalize – Adjust the text size, change the screen’s brightness, choose your background color, and read in either portrait or landscape mode.
    • Look Up Words – Tap and hold any word in a book to view the word’s definition with the built-in dictionary or use the Google or Wikipedia links to get more information.
    • Sample Books Before Buying – Easily shop for ebooks and read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy.
    • Bi-Lingual – Kindle is available in English and French.

    The Amazon Kindle app for BlackBerry 10 is available in the BlackBerry World storefront as a free download. Let us know what ebook you’ll be curling up with tonight in the comments.


    Please note the app may take up to 24 hours to appear in the BlackBerry World Storefront.

    Still haven’t figured out the Book Worm joke?

  • BlackBerry 10 U.S. Availability

    We’re here in New York City getting ready to launch BlackBerry 10 in the United States. Tonight we’re celebrating the launch at the BlackBerry Experience event, where we have some amazing acts lined up. Last week, we held a contest on Twitter asking you for your favorite BlackBerry features and stories. Winners have been contacted and we’re all set to party!  Be sure to stay tuned to Inside BlackBerry for full coverage.

    The BlackBerry Z10 will arrive in the United States over the coming days. See below for details on carrier availability.


    AT&T

    • Presales began on March 12th; reserve your device on the pre-registration page today!
    • Devices will be available for purchase (in stores and online) on March 22nd

    Verizon

    • Presales began on March 14th; go ahead and preorder your BlackBerry Z10 from Verizon now!
    • Devices will be available for purchase (in stores and online) on March 28th

    T-Mobile

    Thanks to everyone for sharing your BlackBerry 10 enthusiasm and excitement. We can’t wait to hear what you all think about the BlackBerry Z10.

  • BlackBerry Travel Now Available on BlackBerry 10

    A few weeks back we took a look at some of our favorite, or most anticipated apps for BlackBerry 10 and Melanie M. mentioned that she can’t wait to get BlackBerry Travel on her new BlackBerry Z10. Good news for her (and everybody else who’s picked one up) BlackBerry Travel is now available for BlackBerry 10.

    If you’ve been using previous generations of BlackBerry Travel, you’ll know that it is definitely a must have for travelers. I’ve written a few times in the past about how the app makes your life easier while on the go. You can plan, book, manage, and share their travel arrangements with friends, colleagues and on social and professional networks while on the go.

    bb10travel

    BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10 includes all of the great features that make travel simple for BlackBerry customers including: Automatic Trip Scanning, Travel Notification in BlackBerry Hub, Hotel and Car Rental Booking, Itinerary Management, Social Sharing, Search Flights, and Time-Saving Tools. On top of that there are also some new features added as well.

    Check them out here:

    • Trip Status Sharing – It’s now even easier to post your trip updates on BBM, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. With Trip Status Sharing, you can keep your friends and colleagues up-to-date on your travel adventures immediately as they unfold.
    • Flight Status Sharing – BlackBerry Travel has always kept you up-to-date with real-time flight statuses and with BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10, you can share this information with your colleagues, friends and social networks. If your flight is delayed, cancelled or changed terminals, you can easily and quickly inform others and make sure they know when and where to pick you up from the airport.
    • Price Alerts, Change Offers and Upgrades – The new Price Alert service with BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10 helps ensure you’re always getting the best hotel deal. It will put your mind at ease and automatically notify you if there’s a better price for the hotel room you booked, a comparable hotel for a cheaper price, or if there’s a much better hotel for slightly more. In many cases, you can cancel your original booking without penalty and re-book the better deal through BlackBerry Travel.
    • BlackBerry ID – With BlackBerry ID, you’ll never have to login to BlackBerry Travel again. You’ll have instant access to all of its features as soon as you launch the app. Even on your first time using BlackBerry Travel, BlackBerry ID will automatically fill in the registration form for you.

    If that’s got you excited, you’re not alone – and better yet it’s available as a free download on the BlackBerry World storefront. Planning any trips in the near future? Be sure to share the excitement with us in the comments, and if you’ve got any tips for using BlackBerry Travel, we’d love to hear your story.

    Please note the app may take up to 24 hours to appear in the BlackBerry World Storefront.

  • BlackBerry 10 Now Offers More Than 100,000 Applications

    Application catalog grows by more than 30,000 apps in seven weeks

    BlackBerry App World is now BlackBerry World

    Since launching BlackBerry 10 back on January 30th we’ve seen a lot of great momentum from our customers, our fan base and, of course, developers. The developer journey, however, goes far beyond the launch date. Because of the amazing dedication from our community, and global developer BlackBerry Jam series we were able to launch with over 70,000 apps. Today we’re happy to announce that in just seven weeks since launch that number has grown by 30,000. The application catalogue for BlackBerry 10 has reached 100,000, and there are an increasing number of top brands coming onboard as well.

    Today, Amazon Kindle, OpenTable and The Wall Street Journal are available to BlackBerry 10 customers and in the coming weeks CNN, The Daily Show Headlines, eBay, eMusic, Maxim, MLB at Bat, MTV News, Pageonce, PGA, Rdio, Skype, Soundhound and Viber will be available for download or purchase.

    And our BlackBerry World Wednesday series has already covered some of these amazing titles that are available right in the BlackBerry World storefront for BlackBerry 10: 8tracks, Angry Birds Star Wars, ATP World Tour Live, BBC Top Gear News, Bloomberg Anywhere, CBS Sports, Delta Air Lines, F1 2013 Timing App CP, Facebook, Foursquare, Jetpack Joyride, Keek, LinkedIn, Navita Translator, Need for Speed, NHL GameCenter, N.O.V.A. 3, The New York Times, PressReader, Slacker, Songza, Twitter, UFC, USA TODAY, Waze, WhatsApp, and Zara.

    Here’s what Martyn Mallick, Vice President, Global Alliances at BlackBerry had to say of the announcement:

    “The response to the BlackBerry 10 platform and applications has been outstanding. Customers are thrilled with the applications already available, and the catalog just keeps growing, now with more than 100,000 apps,” said Martyn Mallick, Vice President, Global Alliances at BlackBerry. “Top brands and application providers are joining us every day and are seeing the benefits of being early supporters of the new platform. We constantly hear from developers that the BlackBerry 10 tools are easy to build with and that we provide opportunities for app differentiation that they do not see on other platforms.”

    Read the full press release here and if you haven’t checked out the BlackBerry World storefront for BlackBerry 10 – head over and see these great apps for yourself. Let us know what your favorite apps are in the comments.

  • BlackBerry 10 Tech Reviews

    blackberry-10-reviews

    Back in January, before we introduced BlackBerry 10 to the world, I wrote a blog post about Five Reasons to Tune in for BlackBerry 10. I had been writing so much about BlackBerry 10 that I wanted to show you that I wasn’t alone, and that tech bloggers and media were already posting positive BlackBerry 10 reviews. Well, it’s time for an update. Now that more tech bloggers and media have a BlackBerry 10 device in their hands, I wanted to recap some of their great feedback on our new device and updated OS.

    Here are some snippets from the tech blogosphere on BlackBerry 10 features:

    1. “There’s no question here that BlackBerry knows just how important app selection is the future of its company, and as such, has been working overtime to make developers a key focus, with a hundred or so members of its evangelist team.” – Engadget.com

    2. “I spend much of my time on my smartphone and tablet devices writing emails, IMs and texts, which means as accurate as I try to be when I’m typing, I probably make more mistakes than I would like to admit. The keyboard on the BlackBerry Z10 is one of the major highlights of the device as the more I typed with the keyboard, the better it was at predicting text that I was in the process of writing.” – Ubergizmo.com

    3. “I am really excited by the message hub in (BlackBerry) 10, I think there are some serious innovations there that any power smartphone user would find really beneficial.” – Blogs.CIO.com

    4. “BlackBerry, the company formerly known as Research in Motion, has made [a] reinvention, resurrecting the …BlackBerry platform in its new BlackBerry 10 OS and the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone that runs it. Now shipping in the United States, the BlackBerry Z10 is a good smartphone, one worthy of consideration for both personal and business use.” – Reviews.Techworld.com

    5. “The BlackBerry Z10 is an otherworldly treat, a combination of blood, sweat and gears combined into a user-friendly smartphone that is fast, accessible and brimming with a heady catalyst of ideas. Here’s a BlackBerry you can finally be proud to own…This phone is more than specs, it evokes a feeling of joy.” – Gearburn.com

    6. “The benefit of the [Time Shift Camera] is to eliminate group photos that are spoiled because one person blinked or had a goofy expression. Just zoom in on [someone’s] face, rewind a second to where his eyes are open and his tongue isn’t hanging out, and you have the perfect family photo. In my review of the Z10 , I found the feature, made possible by the phone’s dual-core processor and BlackBerry 10 software, to work as promised.” – Mashable.com

    The reviews keep coming. Tell us what you think of the BlackBerry Z10 in the comments below.

  • BlackBerry and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team kick off the season in Australia

    BlackBerry is kicking off the Formula One™ season in style as the Official Mobile Computing Partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Over the last few days, the team has been on the track practicing, meeting with the press, and of course using their new BlackBerry Z10 smartphones. They’re also celebrating the launch of BlackBerry 10 in Australia. The timing couldn’t be better! Check out this video to get your motor revving:

    [ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

    On top of the marketing initiatives, we’re also focused on the technical side. We will be working very closely with the team to integrate our technology with the car, the drivers and the crew as they ‘Keep Moving’ throughout the season.

    Those of you who read the Inside BlackBerry Blog know that I’m completely obsessed with all things automotive and I’m a huge fan of motor sports, so “excited” doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about this partnership. You’ll be able to follow all the BlackBerry Racing action at BlackBerry.com/racing, where you’ll find a photo stream, race schedule, and exclusive footage for fans.

    Are you checking out the race this week? Be sure to root for BlackBerry and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team and wish them luck in the comments below.

  • The BlackBerry House: Hands-On Time with the BlackBerry Z10 in Austin, Texas [VIDEO]

    The team has been in Austin, Texas at the BlackBerry House to showcase the new BlackBerry Z10 and some amazing musical acts. We’ve had some exciting announcements from our carrier partners in the US this week with a few major pre-sale and in-store availability dates being announced (not to mention a BlackBerry partner purchasing one million BlackBerry Z10 smartphones). The reactions from people getting their hands on the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone for the first time have been amazing. But don’t just take my word for it – check out this video to get a feel for all the action:

    [ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

    blackberry-house-live

    We’ve also had an amazing crew of bands come by to play the house this week and still many more to come. If you’re in Austin, Texas, be sure to check out the schedule on theBlackBerryHouse.com – and if you’re in the United States, be sure to pre-order your BlackBerry Z10 today and pick one up in stores March 28.

  • BlackBerry Partner Purchases One Million BlackBerry 10 Smartphones

    There’s no doubt that excitement about BlackBerry 10 has been mounting. Those who already have a BlackBerry Z10 in their hands have given us hugely positive feedback. Well, our partners are hearing this loud and clear, and I’m happy to let you know that we recently received our largest ever single purchase order in BlackBerry’s history.

    “An order for one million devices is a tremendous vote of confidence in BlackBerry 10,” said Rick Costanzo, EVP Global Sales, BlackBerry. “Consumers are ready for a new user experience, and BlackBerry 10 delivers. With strong partner support, coupled with this truly re-invented new platform, we have a powerful recipe for success.”

    BlackBerry unveiled the new BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones on January 30th. BlackBerry Z10 is now available for purchase in a number of markets around the world and will be available in the United States starting this month.

  • WhatsApp Now Available on BlackBerry 10

    Yes, Team BlackBerry, WhatsApp Messenger has arrived in the BlackBerry World storefront for BlackBerry 10 devices, and we couldn’t be more excited! WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, so there is no additional cost to message and stay in touch with your friends as long as you stay within your data limits!

    WhatsApp provides a fantastic experience that leverages the true multi-tasking capabilities of BlackBerry 10. WhatsApp Messenger for BlackBerry 10 gives you an awesome messaging experience, and it looks and feels stunning. Here’s what you can expect from the app:

    • Instant push notifications to alert you when you receive messages- even when the screen is locked.
    • Full integration into BlackBerry Contacts, with automatic contact scanning to help you build out your contact list and get started right away.

    When we launched BlackBerry 10 on January 30th, Martyn Mallick, VP Global Alliances and Business Development at BlackBerry confirmed onstage that WhatsApp was committed to the platform. Here’s what he had to say about the official launch of WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10

    “BlackBerry has always been about bringing people together in a way that is fast, reliable and impactful. WhatsApp is a highly anticipated mobile messaging app that connects users to their contacts on several platforms, and we are pleased to work with WhatsApp to bring their service to our customers.”

    WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton also had this to say about building for BlackBerry 10 and bringing WhatsApp into BlackBerry World today.

    “BlackBerry has been a great platform for WhatsApp for many years. Delivering WhatsApp on BlackBerry 10 devices is in line with our goals of ensuring that our customers around the world can continue to communicate with the most important people in their lives.”

    You can download WhatsApp Messenger in BlackBerry World starting today!

    Have you been using WhatsApp for years, or are you a new customer? Either way try out the app and let us know your favorite features in the comments below.

    WhatsApp Messenger is available for download in BlackBerry World — please note that it may take up to 24 hoursto appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.

  • BlackBerry World Wednesday: New Apps and Games for BlackBerry 10

    It’s that time of the week again – Happy BlackBerry World Wednesday! As new BlackBerry 10 apps roll on into the BlackBerry World storefront, we want to keep you in the loop. There are definitely some amazing apps to check out. Just like last week, we’ve listed them out in categories.

    Be sure to check out great new apps and games and let us know what you think in the comments below. You can find them in the BlackBerry World store this week

    Lifestyle & Utilities:

    Gaming:

    Video & TV:

    Social:

    Business & Finance:

    News & Magazines:

    Latest App News: Wall Street Journal and Amazon Shopping Coming to BlackBerry World This Month!

  • BlackBerry Messenger adds BBM Voice support to BlackBerry OS 5 devices

    Ah, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) — the much-adored service that keeps the BlackBerry community connected. It changed the way BlackBerry customers communicate through instant messaging, shared groups and calendars, not to mention BBM Voice Chat and, on BlackBerry 10, BBM Video. Today, I’m happy to announce that an update has been made to BBM that adds BBM Voice support to BlackBerry OS 5 devices, so that even more of you can enjoy free voice calls over Wi-Fi via BBM.

    For those of you who aren’t familiar with BBM Voice check out this quick video of how it works:

    [ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

    So, who’s excited? Old pros who’ve already been using BBM Voice for a while, be sure to welcome BlackBerry OS 5 users to the fold, and share your tips below in the comments.

    BBM 7.0.1 is available for download in BlackBerry World — please note that it may take up to 24 hours to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.

  • BlackBerry Introduces: BlackBerry Fan of the Month, March 2013

    BlackBerry Fan of the Month, March 2013

    February has come and gone. With a new month upon us, and spring inching closer, it’s time to crown a new BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM)!

    As a self-proclaimed “superfan of all things BlackBerry”, our March FOTM is no stranger to #TeamBlackBerry. He’s active on our Twitter and Facebook pages where his BlackBerry expertise is so legendary that he’s known as “The Guru” and “The King”. When he’s not lending a helping hand to the BlackBerry fam, you can find him hard at work running his courier business or volunteering to helm dragon boats (SO COOL!). We were also seriously impressed when we learned that he’s a retired athlete who won a bronze medal in flatwater sprint kayaking during the World Championships!

    At the end of the day, though, this rock star FOTM is really just a family man. He loves spending time with his wife (who’s also a proud member of #TeamBlackBerry), and enjoys taking pictures of his two kids with his BlackBerry Z10 (especially now that he can use Time Shift to fix those blinking eyes!).

    So with that, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to our March FOTM. #TeamBlackBerry, meet Gino (@eugenbaban):

    1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

      2. I’ve been on #TeamBlackBerry since 2008. I have had many mobile phone makes and models since around 1997 or so but once I bought my first BlackBerry in 2008 it was game over for all other makes, when you find something that fits perfectly you just know it :)

    2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

      3. I started with a BlackBerry Curve 8320 followed by the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Storm 2, BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9900 and now the BlackBerry Z10. However, being the BlackBerry geek that I am, I’ve also bought: BlackBerry 7230, BlackBerry 8707V (quite a rare model, first 3G BlackBerry) BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry 8820, BlackBerry 8310, BlackBerry Pearl 3G and of course, a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. I would love to see a “retro” BlackBerry model in the shape of the BlackBerry 7230 but with modern internals :)

    3. How many BBM contacts do you currently have?

      4. I have 37 BBM contacts but I treat it like a private club, you have to be special to get in ;)

    4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

      5. The smiley face and I use it a lot.

    5. What is the best BBM you ever received?

      6. I get a best BBM every day when my wife sends me a kiss emoticon

    6. Gino, if you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? How do you think your BlackBerry would respond?

      7. I would say “how you doing” and I would probably get a giggle in return :)

    7. Gino, we know the community refers to you as ‘The Guru and ‘The King’. How does that make you feel?

      8. I didn’t know that, you’re making me blush :)

    8. Gino, we know you love to take #BlackBerryPhotos, hence your Twitter name. What is the best BlackBerry photo you have ever taken?

      9. I love taking photos with my BlackBerry mostly because it’s always in my hand :) , ultimate quality is not as important for me but capturing that special moment, whether it’s the kids doing something funny or particular time and place in nature etc., I always keep an eye out for the next inspiration moment. The new BlackBerry Z10 is amazing in this respect, it has all the tools I need out of the box: Time Shift for group photos, Burst for those action shots, Built in Editing software if you’re feeling arty and the incredible Story Maker for fun sharing.

    9. What did you think about the launch of BlackBerry 10? Did any announcement in particular stand out?

      10. It was an amazing experience watching the start of a brand new mobile platform with so much potential. What stood out for me was the name change from Research In Motion to BlackBerry, a brand name taking over the company name and it makes perfect sense :)

    10. And finally, we just have to ask: Are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fans of the Month?

      11. Fame or infamy, Bring it on :)

    Be sure to check out the other awesome members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM) club:

    January – Brian (@newshutr)
    February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
    March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
    April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
    May – Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
    June – JT (@jt_teran)
    July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
    August – Mike (@flash0p)
    September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
    October – Guido (@FuriousGuido)
    November – Ange (@Afl2277)
    December – Zalman (@Zalman5K)
    January 2013 – Arisham (@arisham2003)
    February 2013 – Julie and Andrew

    Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our April FOTM could be YOU!

  • Twitter and LinkedIn Apps Updated for BlackBerry 10

    Twitter on BlackBerry 10

    BlackBerry Z10 users, get your thumbs warmed up for a social media app treat! Based on your feedback, we’ve updated versions of our Twitter and LinkedIn apps for BlackBerry 10, adding some features that you’ve been asking for. Twitter users will enjoy an enhanced tweeting experience, while the LinkedIn update provides helpful business tools that allow you to keep connected to your professional networks.

    * Please note it could take up to 24 hours for the apps to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.

    What’s new in Twitter v10.0.1:

    • Doing more on the Compose Tweet Screen – An enhanced Compose Tweet Screen allows you to take a new photo or add an existing one, add your location, and offers a shortcut for “@”.
    • Composing Direct Messages – It’s now easier for you to compose a Direct Message – you can do it right from the “Me” tab within the app. Viewing Direct Messages from your contacts is also available in the BlackBerry Hub.
    • Edit Profile – You can now edit your profile picture, header, and details from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
    • Conversation view – You’ll see full conversation history when clicking on a Tweet.
    • Improved Image Viewing – You can now view pic.twitter.com full screen images, as well as pinch to zoom and pan images from the Tweet details. Also, you can view full screen profile pictures from other Twitter users.
    • Deleting Tweets – You are now able to delete your own tweets from any screen where their tweet is displayed. It’s as simple as holding down on a tweet and selecting the trash icon.
    • Block and Report as Spam – Block and report users as spam.
    • Enhanced Menu – Do more from the timeline, with new options to “Quote Tweet” after selecting “Retweet” as well as “Open Tweet” to view the tweet details page.

    LinkedIn on BlackBerry 10

    What’s new in LinkedIn v10.0.1:

    • LinkedIn Messages – Allows you to quickly message your connections from their profile page.
    • Enhanced Job Search tools – You now have access to view, search and save jobs that are ‘Recommended’ for you.
    • LinkedIn Today – Choose the LinkedIn news that matters the most by filtering the news by Industries you are interested in.
    • Better Image Viewing – Full-screen viewing of LinkedIn profiles for an enhanced visual experience.

    So, to recap: Twitter v10.0.1 offers a variety of updates that gives you more options while you tweet, including an enriched Compose Tweet Screen, better Image Viewing and an enhanced Edit Profile feature. LinkedIn v10.0.1 allows you to keep closely connected to your LinkedIn networks through new features with Messaging, Job Search and Image Viewing.

    Twitter v10.0.1 and LinkedIn v10.0.1 are available as free downloads in the BlackBerry World storefront. (Again, please note that it could take up to 24 hours for the apps to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.) Try them both out and let us know what you think in the comments below.

  • BlackBerry World Wednesday – New BlackBerry 10 Apps and Games

    BlackBerry World Wednesday

    In the past, Wednesdays have been dedicated to our favorite apps and games. The tradition continues this week with the latest BlackBerry 10 app launches from the past week. There are so many to mention so we’ve broken them out into categories.

    My personal favorites from the list are Pacemaker for BlackBerry Z10 and Tetris (yeah, I’m an old school gamer). Many parents around the BlackBerry office have also let me know that Where’s My Perry? is a hit for kids young and old.

    Without further ado, check out the latest BlackBerry Z10 apps in BlackBerry World this week:

    Sports & Entertainment:

    Published Media

    Music & Audio:

    Gaming:

    Business & Productivity:

    We’ve got even more app news on the way for next week, so be sure to stay tuned to the Inside BlackBerry Blog – and for more BlackBerry 10 apps, games music and video content, head to the BlackBerry World storefront. Let us know which ones you’re going to pick up in the comments below.

  • Better Balance Equals Better BYOD Living

    BlackBerry Balance and BYOD

    Does your company allow you to use your personal smartphone for work? If so, that’s great! A good Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, program can be your best friend. It allows you to carry a single mobile device for all your company and personal messaging. Plus, since this is your personal smartphone, you can keep your social media apps, photos, videos, and more in the palm of your hand. My buddy Luke writes about BYOD programs and our tool called BlackBerry Balance on the Inside BlackBerry for Business Blog, and I’d like to talk about how companies and employees can get the most out of this type of program. Check out the video below for how it works.

    [ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

    As employees, we reap the benefits of a BYOD program, but don’t often see the potential shortcomings. For instance, what happens to your personal data when you leave your job? Obviously the “work data” on the device is what’s important to your company, but for the sake of security, your company may wipe the entire device upon your departure.

    This is where BlackBerry Balance really shines. Your work data and personal data are kept separate, right down to the DNA of the BlackBerry 10 device. If you move on in your career or lose your device, BlackBerry Balance allows you to wipe or erase one set of data without affecting the other set. Your sales charts and cat memes stay in separate buckets, just like nature intended. How’s that for work/life balance?

    How will you use this technology? Shout out in the comments below!

  • Be Bold and Vote: How Do You Choose Your BBM Avatar?

    bbm-avatar

    The modern BlackBerry device user is faced with a very difficult decision: selecting the perfect photo to become their BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) avatar. Sure, it seems easy. The Time Shift Camera on the BlackBerry Z10 is perfect for grabbing that perfect new selfie. For those of you who aren’t shutterbugs, there’s always that family member who constantly sends you awkward photos from the last get-together, and the Facebook app is your gateway to even more options. With all these options, why is choosing one photo so hard?

    I toyed with the idea of uploading a photo of myself for quite some time. On the one hand, it would allow my friends to feel like they could really connect with me, since they would see my face as they typed. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure if a solo shot looked self-aggrandizing. So, I scanned through my contact list to see what avatars my friends, family and colleagues chose. The results were fairly consistent – roughly the same number of professional headshots, fun party photos, images of children and loved ones, and cool products/gadgets that people wanted to buy.

    But what is the message you want to convey with your avatar? Of course, it’s not just an image you’re uploading; it’s a way to set the stage for your conversations. Team BlackBerry, tell us: how did you choose your BBM Avatar?

    * Image has been altered to remove BBM screen names