Ad: Manage updates with the Download App

Why the BlackBerry Z10 is on sale in the U.K. first

Two days ago, the company formerly known as RIM pulled out all the stops at a super-swanky event in New York to launch two new phones that will either kill or cure the company.

Despite the global launch happening in the U.S., America will be the last in the first batch of countries to see the Z10, BlackBerry's first phone to ship with its new OS, BlackBerry 10. Americans have to wait until March to buy the touch-screen phone, but it became available to buy in the U.K. yesterday. That's six days ahead even of BlackBerry'… Read more

BlackBerry 10.1: What we want to see next

BlackBerry (formerly RIM) may have just lifted the lid on its completely overhauled BlackBerry 10 OS for mobile devices, but CNET has been testing the heck out of the OS and Z10 smartphone for over a week now. There are elements that we love and elements that we, frankly, think the smartphone-maker could have done better.

So, three of us who have spent time with the Z10 and its OS put our heads together to offer up a few suggestions that we'd like to see in BlackBerry's inevitable first OS update. And yes, we have more suggestions for … Read more

Why the Z10 and Q10 will not save BlackBerry

BlackBerry is betting its future on the Z10 and its new OS, but they won't be enough to prevent the company's inevitable demise.

By every standard, the BlackBerry Z10 is the best smartphone that BlackBerry (formerly RIM) has ever produced. It's a massive upgrade in terms of design, user experience and technology. I welcome the departure of the home button in favor of gestures. So let me first give credit where credit is due: BlackBerry has built a decent phone. The Q10 isn't bad either, if you're a die-hard fan of QWERTY keyboards.

Building decent … Read more

Samsung aims to hit BlackBerry where it hurts: Business users

Samsung Electronics has already landed a few blows against BlackBerry, and as far as the Korean electronics giant is concerned, it's only early rounds in this bout.

Samsung, which became the world's largest smartphone vendor more than a year ago, is ramping up its push to attract corporate users for its technology. It's putting its full might behind these efforts, and its newfound focus on business users (including this commercial bashing BlackBerry) should have BlackBerry worried.

While some business users will be clamoring for the Canadian company's BlackBerry 10-powered Z10 and Q10 smartphones, which were unveiled today, … Read more

Here's how the Z10, Q10 get BlackBerry back in the game

After years of anticipation, frustration, and delays, Research In Motion (now re-branded BlackBerry) finally lets BlackBerry 10 loose. So now what?

That's the question a lot of folks in the industry are asking now that BlackBerry is just days (or months, depending on the region) from competing in the market with its first legitimately new product in more than a year and a half. BlackBerry 10 offers a refreshingly slick and unique experience, and the two smartphones, the Z10 touchscreen BlackBerry and more traditional Bold-like Q10, look fairly competitive.

But whether they're enough to turn some heads and … Read more

Carriers throw support behind new BlackBerry 10 smartphones

Minutes after BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins introduced the two new BlackBerry smartphones, U.S. carriers began releasing statements to officially back the new devices.

Verizon was the first to announce it would sell the touchscreen BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 with QWERTY keyboard, going so far as to attach a price -- $199 on contract. Big Red also said it would exclusively sell the Z10 in white in addition to its all-black color.

AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile also came forward today, with Sprint committing to a 4G LTE BlackBerry Q10, and AT&T backing both. T-Mobile said in a statement … Read more

BlackBerry goes glam, enlists Alicia Keys

BlackBerry wants to be hip, and it's going to Alicia Keys for help.

The Canadian smartphone maker, which previously called itself Research In Motion, today named Keys as its global creative director. The position is one BlackBerry created to help "inspire the future" of the company.

Keys said she previously was a BlackBerry power user, but she left the platform after noticing sexier phones at the gym. For a while she had two phones, but Keys has now moved back to just a BlackBerry.

It's typical for companies to seek endorsements for their products, and some … Read more

Big-name BlackBerry 10 apps available now (or very soon)

It is no secret that RIM is gunning for its revamped BlackBerry OS to occupy third place among mobile platforms (behind iOS and Android). To this end, the struggling company -- in particular Alec Saunders, RIM VP of Developer Relations -- has been making a strong push to lure developers in droves. While we can't say yet whether the masses are buying in, we can say that, so far, BlackBerry 10 has a good head start in the app department.

Around 70,000 apps are reported to be available for BlackBerry 10 from the BlackBerry World store now. Of … Read more

BlackBerry Z10 review: RIM fans will love it; everyone else won't

Members of the BlackBerry Faithful, meet your new phone. The BlackBerry Z10 has everything you've been waiting for: a sleek, modern, and professional touch-screen body with an up-to-date OS to match and 4G LTE support. You'll revel in the virtual keyboard's ease and in BlackBerry Messenger's seamless voice chats. You'll crow about the Z10's Micro-HDMI port, and enjoy the 8-megapixel camera with its built-in editing tools.

In the most important ways, everything comes together: a lovely HD screen, a fast processor, a camera (with tricks!) that's good enough to stand alongside those of … Read more