BlackBerry

Early BlackBerry 10 developers get limited-edition, red Z10

BlackBerry is extending a bit of a thank you to BlackBerry 10 developers who have created apps for its platform.

In a blog post, BlackBerry announced today that it will hand out 12,000 limited edition BlackBerry Z10 units to developers. Unlike the black versions of the Z10 shown off last week, the limited edition models will come in red.

The BlackBerry Z10 comes with a 4.2-inch touch screen and runs the company's latest operating system, BlackBerry 10. In a research note, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said that Z10 sales have so far been "solid" in Canada and the U.K., … Read more

BlackBerry taps Trend Micro to scan apps for malware

BlackBerry is counting on Trend Micro to help ensure the security of its third-party apps.

Like other app store owners, BlackBerry already scans apps for malware to protect BlackBerry World customers. But the company will add Trend Micro's Mobile Application Reputation Service to take that protection a few steps further.

Both current and new apps submitted to BlackBerry World will be scanned by Trend Micro's cloud-based service to hunt for malware.

"BlackBerry is working with Trend Micro to implement a more robust approach for addressing privacy and security concerns related to third-party applications," Adrian Stone, director … Read more

BlackBerry Z10 off to 'solid start' in U.K., Canada -- analyst

The BlackBerry Z10 is off to a good start in several countries around the world, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek claims in a research note obtained by CNET.

"Our initial checks indicate that sales in the U.K. are off to a strong start," Misek wrote in his note to investors. "Some stores had lineups out front with widespread sell outs of the White Z10 and limited stock of the Black Z10. Also, our checks indicate that preorders in the UAE and Canada have had a solid start."

The U.K. seems to be BlackBerry's best market. … Read more

Friday Poll: Will the Z10 save BlackBerry?

The release of the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone will be remembered as either a breath of new life for the company or a last gasp as it fell into irrelevance. By all accounts, the Z10 is a tremendous step forward in design and hardware over previous BlackBerrys, but it's coming at a time when the smartphone market is crowded with established contenders with massive app stores already in place.

CNET contributor Ben Parr says that the Z10 and its keyboard-wielding buddy Q10 face a major deficit on the app front. He argues that iOS and Android have an insurmountable lead in the app race, meaning the Z10 will never attract the new customers BlackBerry needs to grow and survive.… Read more

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