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BlackBerry to ask for probe into report on Z10 returns

BlackBerry plans to ask U.S. and Canadian regulators to probe a report about high return rates for the company's flagship Z10 smartphone, calling the comments "false and misleading."

The Canadian company said that within the next several days, it will formally ask the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission to review a report from research and investment firm Detwiler Fenton that claims there have been "unusually high" return rates for the recently released device.

BlackBerry Chief Legal Officer Steve Zipperstein said in a statement:

These materially false and misleading … Read more

BlackBerry is the phone people want least, survey says

Me, I'd never buy Birkenstocks.

"I am a prehistoric intellectual" is just not a message I want to send.

Everyone has their peculiar aversions to certain brands, people, and practices. So, in an interesting psychological twist, Raymond James' research arm decided to ask people which cell phones were, to them, the least attractive.

Yes, which cell phones would you rather shave your head bald, pierce both eyebrows and one bottom cheek, and walk through a freezing garden naked than buy?

I am grateful to AllThingsD for not having an aversion to this survey, one which offered severe … Read more

BlackBerry denies abnormally high return rate for Z10 phone

No, BlackBerry Z10 sales aren't falling off a cliff.

BlackBerry shares took a hit today after a few analysts criticized the tepid launch of the Z10 phone in the U.S., with one analyst claiming that the return rate was higher than the sales rate. Another said sales have dropped significantly at carrier stores.

BlackBerry, however, denied the claim, calling it "absolutely false." The company said the return rates in the U.S. and around the world have been in line or better than its internal expectations, as well as consistent with the return rates for other … Read more

Use either volume button as a shutter release on BlackBerry 10

One of the smaller features I have appreciated in the iPhone's camera app has been the volume up key acting as a shutter release. Instead of tapping on a digital button, pressing the volume up key will snap a pic.

When I first launched the Camera app on the BlackBerry Z10, I instinctively pressed the volume up button and to my surprise it snapped a pic. The normal method for taking a picture on BlackBerry 10 requires you to tap anywhere on the screen. But with either volume key acting as a shutter release, you can avoid tapping on … Read more

BlackBerry Q10 coming to Canada April 30

Loyal BlackBerry keyboard addicts may not have long to wait. Reportedly, a leaked memo from Canadian carrier Rogers pins the launch date for BlackBerry's Q10 phone as April 30. … Read more

App market soars with 13.4 billion downloads in Q1 2013

As people around the world become increasingly more reliant on their mobile devices, the app market continues to grow. New research from market analyst firm Canalys shows that the top four app stores hit 13.4 billion downloads worldwide in the first quarter of 2013. This is an 11 percent increase over all of 2012 combined.

"Apps have had a huge impact on the way consumers use mobile devices, what they value, and what they expect from smart phones and tablets," Canalys chief analyst for analytics Adam Daum said in a statement. "They are now central to … Read more

How to edit an e-mail signature on BlackBerry 10

One of the first things I do after setting up a new device is to change the default e-mail signature. The default signature on new devices is usually a free advertisement for your carrier, device manufacturer, or both.

The default signature on a BlackBerry 10 device is "Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone."

See what I mean? Free advertising.

Shortly after setting up my Z10 I sought out to change the e-mail signature. I looked in the Accounts section of the Settings app to no avail. I dug through other sections in the Settings app, even went into … Read more

How to set up your BlackBerry Z10

Before you begin setting up your brand-new BlackBerry Z10, make sure you have a few minutes to spare and a speedy Wi-Fi connection available. Part of the setup process for BlackBerry 10 is ensuring that your new device is running the latest version of the new operating system.

The first time I ran through the setup process on my Z10, the update came in at several hundred MBs, with the latest update (as seen in the video) coming in at just 2MB. Of course your experience will likely vary depending on your location and wireless carrier.

If you don't … Read more

How to take a screenshot in BlackBerry 10

BlackBerry recently launched its BlackBerry 10 platform with the Z10, with the keyboard-equipped Q10 on the horizon. While the new operating system does come with the ability to share your screen with fellow BBM users, not everyone has a BlackBerry 10 device. In those situations, taking and sharing a screenshot is the best way to show off your home screen layout, or perhaps troubleshoot an issue with another user.

To take a screenshot on your BlackBerry 10 device, you simply need to press and hold both the volume up and volume down keys at the same time for a few … Read more