blackberry

How to securely erase a BlackBerry 10 device

Let's face it: BlackBerry 10 isn't going to be for everyone. There are going to be people who have purchased a Z10 only to find out it's not the device for them, and some people might find that they prefer the Q10, which launches soon.

As such, you're going to want to securely wipe all of your information from the device. With just a few taps you'll be able to secure your data, ensuring it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

Before wiping your device, it's a good idea to use BlackBerry Link … Read more

The BlackBerry Q10 blends the best of old and new

Say hello to the BlackBerry Q10, which offers a larger and more spacious QWERTY keyboard and a fresh infusion of the BlackBerry 10.1 operating system. It builds on the greatness of past BlackBerry messaging machines, yet blends this with modern smartphone software powerful enough to run multiple apps at once without skipping a beat. It also surfs Web sites like a champ and has a battery that goes the distance. Of course, the BlackBerry ecosystem lacks a wide app selection, but the Q10's hybrid approach should satisfy traditional BlackBerry addicts who crave a practical upgrade. Exact pricing and … Read more

Track down a lost BlackBerry 10 device with BlackBerry Protect

One of the first things you should do on your brand-new BlackBerry 10 device after going through the initial setup process is to enable BlackBerry Protect. The free service offered by BlackBerry will allow you to locate a lost or stolen BlackBerry 10 device.

To enable the free service, go to Settings and tap on BlackBerry Protect.

The service will be turned off by default, but only requires you to slide the switch to the right to enable it. You'll need to be signed into your BlackBerry ID on the device. If you need a BlackBerry ID, you can … Read more

Always On: Best of Season 3

Well, folks, it's about that time again. That time when we head out into the world to get our hands on today's hottest gadgets and to explore the promising technologies of the future. And, of course, we'll keep an eye out for some clever ways to destroy those hottest gadgets, too. But, in the meantime, we've mustered up our favorite segments of Season 3 to make the wait for Season 4 less grueling.

First up, we head back to Mount Shasta Ski Park to watch Molly rev a snowmobile over the poor Kindle Fire, Nokia Lumia 920, … Read more

The 404 1,250: Where we bet our bottom dollar (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Former 404 guest and Internet Archivist releases Web's largest collection of historical software.

- Judge holds himself in contempt for cell phone going off in court.

- NY Philharmonic phone disruption: A cell-phone etiquette reminder.

- Here's a 90-year-old granny freaking out over Oculus Rift.… Read more

Add a Web shortcut to the BlackBerry 10 home screen

Adding a shortcut to your favorite Web site is a convenient way to quickly access information while on the go. The ability to add home-screen shortcuts isn't a new feature by any means -- smartphones have had this capability for quite some time -- but it's still good to see it present in BlackBerry 10.

To add a shortcut to your favorite Web site on a BlackBerry 10 device, launch the browser and navigate to the Web site you'd like to add. Once the page has loaded, tap on the menu icon and select "Add to … 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

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

Google lobbies against patent privateering

Google has banded together with BlackBerry, EarthLink, and Red Hat in an effort to expose the deleterious, industrywide consequences of patent privateering, or the practice of companies outsourcing patent enforcement to independent legal-happy entities with no technologies of their own.

The Mountain View, Calif., company, in conjunction with the others, submitted its comments -- more like grave concerns -- on the practice in a note to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. The companies assert that patent transfers to patent assertion entities (PAEs), aka patent trolls, undermine patent peace, and Google et al are pushing the government … Read more