Is the QNX a good thing or should they just change it to BlackBerry?

When BlackBerry acquired QNX way back in April of 2010, the speculation was all about BlackBerry (RIM at the time) nudging into in-car infotainment. QNX was all about in-car goodness at the time, but as we've seen over the last three years, they are much, much more.

We've seen pieces of QNX all over. At full-form inside the awesome QNX Porsche and new QNX Bentley, and of course the BlackBerry PlayBook. QNX has moved on to more than just cars, even though it may not be obvious at first glance. 

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BBM is going cross-platform this summer - do you think it's a good idea?

Last week at BlackBerry Live is was announced that BBM will finally be going cross-platform this summer. Android and iOS users will soon be able to get in on the best messaging service around and easily keep in touch with their BlackBerry friends. At first it will just be straight-up messaging, but soon to follow will be full features like BBM Voice and BBM Video.

We've seen arguments both for and against cross-platform over the years. Some argue that it's a bad move for BlackBerry, while others think it's a great move for many reasons. Whatever your stance, it's going to happen in just a few months, so only time will tell.

Nearly two years ago we asked you if BBM needed to go cross-platform. Out of all the votes, an amazing 71% of you said that yes, BBM should indeed be available to everyone. Only around 25% said it was a bad idea, while almost 4% were undecided. 

Now that it's been announced for real we want to know your thoughts again. BBM is going cross platform soon - we can't change that. What we want to know is if you think cross-platform BBM is a good idea or not? Let us know in the poll below then sound off in the comments.

Do you think BBM should go cross-platform?

 

So here's the deal. Since the Z10 has been released, I have used several different Z10 units (probably 7 or 8... I lost count) across four different carriers, and I have never once experienced a random reboot on my Z10. The same goes for all of the members of the CrackBerry editorial team - there have been very few mentions of the phone randomly rebooting for no reason.

However, if you jump into CrackBerry's crazy busy BlackBerry Z10 forums, you will find a LOT of discussion around owners experiencing their Z10 randomly restarting, either during the day, or during the night while it's on the charger. For some, it seems to be a once per week thing. For others, it's happening daily. It felt like the reboot issue has most-often been reported by users on Verizon - to be certain, the reports in the forums do seem disproportionately high for Verizon Z10 owners compared to other carriers, but as you dive through the forum threads it is an issue that is definitely reported by at least some users across carriers around the globe.

Have you experienced randoom reboots on your BlackBerry Z10?

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The BlackBerry Q5 was announced today during BlackBerry Live 2013. The new device is scheduled for a release "later this summer" and will feature the classic BlackBerry design with a physical QWERTY keyboard (with the Curve style keys).

Unlike the Z10 and Q10 which are available in only black or white, the new BlackBerry Q5 will be available at launch in not only black and white, but also red and pink. A very cool move by BlackBerry that should give prospective Q5 buyers plenty of options (and make for a tough decision).

What we want to know is what color of Q5 strikes your fancy the most. Even if you don't plan to buy a Q5, feel free to vote in the poll below and let us know what color is your favorite.

What color BlackBerry Q5 is your favorite?

 

BlackBerry Link is new but is it good?

Before the release of BlackBerry 10 we learned early on BlackBerry would also be revamping their desktop offerings and replacing BlackBerry Desktop Software. The new app was to be called BlackBerry Link and would come with a revamped UI and was meant to be more user friendly than the aging BlackBerry Desktop Software solution, as well it was built to offer some additional features like remote desktop.

When it arrived folks were quick to notice it lacking some of the more advanced options that were previously offered. Advanced options that made the experience a whole lot better and for some, were essential to their usage of BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry Desktop Software was by no means perfect. It was horrendously slow at times and was often hit or miss on just what exactly it was doing but it had things people liked and used all the time.

To its credit, BlackBerry has updated BlackBerry Link several times now and has promised that a lot of the missing features will return. Number one on that list is the USB sync with Outlook for contacts and calendar appointments, which has caused a lot of folks some grief with it currently being missing. Still, like BlackBerry Desktop Software, it's often times slow and makes you wonder if it's doing what it's actually saying it's doing. Honestly, I avoid using it and I don't seem to be the only one.

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With the BlackBerry Q10 hitting store shelves in Canada, there was plenty of excitement around here. The CrackBerry forums were busy with a lot of folks letting everyone else know they had indeed picked up their BlackBerry Q10. For some though, there was a little bit of frustration as not all retailers were able to provide the long awaited device today. A report from the Canadian Press stated the launch was only happening in Toronto and while that report wasn't entirely accurate, it wasn't entirely false either.

A lot of BlackBerry Q10 devices did end up at retailers across Canada and many made their way to doorsteps and eventually in the hands of those who had placed preorders. Aside from those retailers that had devices on hand, shipping notifications for a lot of folks went out as well, with the arrival date being within the next day or two and retailers expecting further shipments into next week or sooner.  So, with all that being said we have to ask...

Did you get your BlackBerry Q10 today?

The BlackBerry Q10 is getting closer and closer. Already a load of carriers have announced pre-orders for the full-QWERTY device, but we still don't have an official release date. We expect it to be available in the UK and Canada in just a few weeks and in other markets shortly after.

The Q10 is the first BlackBerry 10 device with a physical keyboard and one that many are looking forward to. Long-time BlackBerry users don't want to give up their physical keyboard and that's where the Q10 fits in. While the BlackBerry Z10 is an amazing device, the Q10 looks to capture BlackBerry fans that just aren't ready for a full-touch device.

What we want to know is if you're planning on switching to a new BlackBerry Q10, and if so, what device are you coming from?

Will you be switching to a BlackBerry Q10?

Leave your vote in the poll above then drop a comment below letting us know why you're excited about the Q10!

I have been an on and off fan when it comes to cases on my devices. With my BlackBerry Bold 9900 I went through quite a few before I just went totally caseless. I feel that after a while when the device isn't as new, I'm fine with showing off its natural beauty and not so much worried about dropping it. 

On my BlackBerry Z10 I've gone through the same process. I've tried everything from the OtterBox Defender to the Poetic Atmosphere to the Mobi Products Hard Shell. At the moment I'm working with a simple Phantom Skinz Chromatic in CrackBerry orange, but I fear that too may be coming off in a day or two. 

The Z10 has a great design and a great feel - covering it up with a case takes away from that - and for me it's worth the risk of dropping it and having it banged up (I've dropped it twice already with minimal damage). Granted this is just my opinion, but I know many others who are in the same boat.

So we're curious to know just how many of you use a case on your Z10 and how many just go naked. Let us know in the poll below then give us your reasons for what you do in the comments. 

Of course if you do go the case route, you know where to find them.

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One big item on my short list of gripes for BlackBerry 10 is the lack of alarm settings. On most devices I've used you have the option to set more than one alarm rather than just the one that is allowed on BlackBerry 10. I keep an odd schedule some days, so being able to set multiple alarms is a key feature to me - something that can't be achieved right now on BlackBerry 10 without a third-party app (or using the calendar).

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One of the great things about having a physical keyboard on your BlackBerry is the ability to use keyboard shortcuts for quick navigation. Having my BlackBerry Z10 now I must say that I do miss keyboard shortcuts, but I'll totally deal with it. That being said - I still can't wait to get my hands on a BlackBerry Q10.

From jumping into apps to quickly scrolling to the top of a page, the BBOS has a slew of "get around quick" shortcuts to help get things done. Some are well known and used often, others .. not so much.

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How would you feel about Instagram for BlackBerry 10 being an Android port?

The Instagram for BlackBerry 10 saga continues... earlier today AllThingsD posted a story titled Native Instagram App is Not Coming to BlackBerry 10. Not suprisingly, this stirred things up on twitter and in CrackBerry's forums.

Sources close to Instagram told AllThingsD's John Paczkowski and Mike Isaac that a native version of the photo-sharing application is not headed to BlackBerry 10 anytime soon (apparently maybe never). They go on to say that when Instagram initially comes to BlackBerry 10, it will be via an Android port, assuming it's up to quality and Facebook and Instagram give it a thumbs up and sign off on it. So are they right?

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Watch the Super Bowl ad here!

BlackBerry's oft-teased BlackBerry Z10 ad for the Super Bowl just aired, and we're generally pretty happy with it. The ad was definitely more imaginative than Samsung's marginally funny, overbudgeted 2-minute spot, but what did you guys think? Did this need to be more punchy, like what we saw from these guys? Or was BlackBerry smart to be punching their wait with another month still left before American retail availability? Vote on the poll and hit up the comments and let us know what you think!

What did you think of BlackBerry's Super Bowl commercial

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Hey Americans, how are you dealing w/ having to wait a little longer for BlackBerry 10?

Good morning America! It's been a BUSY 24 hours for the CrackBerry team. This morning I'm trying to catch up on some of the reading and reactions to all of yesterday's BlackBerry 10 news.

Strolling through CrackBerry, it's clear a LOT of BlackBerry fans in the USA are ticked about having to wait a little bit longer for BlackBerry 10. It's understandable. You can buy the BlackBerry Z10 TODAY in the UK. Next week in Canada. But it will be March before carriers in the USA begin rolling it out.

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Hey CrackBerry Nation, time for quick a survey! If you're a regular BlackBerry Messenger user, and especially if you have been putting BBM Voice to use on BBM 7, this is a survey you definitely have to take. The BBM Team at BlackBerry reached out to us with the questions in the survey. They're looking for feedback from CrackBerry readers and members, so this is your chance to help them out directly. If you're a BBM user and not using BBM voice, you can still take the survey. It's for all BBM users.

In addition to the survey, we've set up a thread in the CrackBerry forums where you can provide further feedback on BBM Voice. A member of the BBM team will be participating on thread, answering questions. Be sure to hit up the links below. Thanks for participating! 

Take the BBM Voice Survey
Give your BBM Voice feedback to the BBM Team in the forums  

  What type of case would you like to see included with your BlackBerry 10 phone?

Reading over the rules from the BlackBerry fan event contest, I noticed that the winners get a free case with their device as part of the prize. While it doesn't say just what kind of case it is, we do know that there should be quite a few available for BlackBerry 10 phones at the start including the "Flip Shell" and "Transform Shell". In years past RIM has included mostly leather holsters or pocket pouches with phones out of the box and a simple neoprene sleeve with the BlackBerry PlayBook. I'm curious to see if they will continue that tradition with BlackBerry 10 by including some sort of case with the device. It could be something simple like a shell or maybe even a flip case -- who knows. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to find out. 

What type of case would you want to see included with your BlackBerry 10 phone? Let us know in the poll above what you'd most like to see when you crack open your BlackBerry 10 box. 

Your BlackBerry Z10 color?

Earlier this year at BlackBerry World, I bumped into Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins during the opening reception party and we met for the first time. We chatted for about ten minutes on a variety of topics, and as we were about to part ways I begged one thing from him. 

I begged Thorsten to make sure when the first BlackBerry 10 phone comes to market, that it's available in both black and white from launch. I expressed my frustration that how over my many years of loving BlackBerry Smartphones that it's always been painful to have to wait for months before a model becomes available in white. 

It's been a while since I've thought about color choices -- I just want BlackBerry 10 to come to market already -- but with the newly-leaked image above reporting that the L-Series BB10 phone will hit the market as the BlackBerry Z10 and will be available in both black and white, I'm thinking color choices again.

Based on recent photos and videos that have hit the webz, I have to say the BlackBerry Z10 in BLACK is looking mighty, mighty hot. But white. Ahh, how I love BlackBerry Smartphones in white. What to do. I'm torn. So it's time to vote. If you had to pick just ONE color to have a BlackBerry Z10 in, what would it be? Black? Or white? VOTE! 

 

We're only three weeks away from 2013, so it's time to open up the voting on our year-end CrackBerry Readers' Choice awards. With a new CEO at the helm, 2012 was a year of big change and lots of coding at Research In Motion. As for CrackBerry Nation, it was a year of waiting, but the end is now in sight with only 50 sleeps to go until BlackBerry 10 is officially unveiled. 

We've setup this year's questions to reflect this state. Be sure to hit the survey link at the bottom of this post and submit your picks for the year. And if you're an active member of the site, be sure to also jump into the forums to vote on our CrackBerry Community Awards, which recognize outstanding members of the community.

Voting ends December 21st, and we'll be announcing the winners here on the blogs between Christmas and New Year's.

Submit your picks for CrackBerry Readers' Choice Awards 

  Should RIM offer unlocked devices for purchase?

As BlackBerry users we've always been into finding the best devices for personal use - regardless of carrier - and unlocking them if need be. I can only think of maybe one or two devices that I've actually bought from a carrier and not had to unlock. Apple has offered up the iPhone unlocked in a generic, GSM version from retailers, but RIM has never really gone that route.

We're curious to know just what the demand for unlocked devices would be. By this we mean buying a device all-out that is unlocked for use with any compatible carrier (ie. use the same device on Rogers or AT&T). This would keep you from having to get locked down with a contract and also allow you to easily swap carriers when traveling without having to get the device unlocked. Granted, the unlocked models would come at a premium price, but for some users it may be well worth it.

So what do you think? Should RIM offer unlocked BlackBerry 10 devices? Let us know in the poll above then sound off in the comments! 

 
Do you use PIN to PIN messaging on your BlackBerry?

PIN messaging is one of those features that has been in the BlackBerry OS forever yet not many people know of it and/or use it. Esentially PIN to PIN messaging is like SMS, only you send to another users BlackBerry PIN. Persoanlly I never really understood the need since we have BBM, SMS, email and the like, but I do know some BB users that still use it for one reason or another. With the way things are going with BBM and BBID, it looks like PIN messaging may be on the way out as we work towards BlackBerry 10. BBID pull in everything and ties to your email address, so PIN messaging might be one of the things we start to see less of in the future.

So what say you - do you use PIN messaging on your BlackBerry? Yay or Nay? Never heard of it? Let us know in the poll above then hit up the comments for discussion, 

  How often do you use NFC on your BlackBerry?

I'm a big fan of NFC on my BlackBerry Bold 9900. I used it quite often for various tasks and it really does come in handy. Being able to just tap my device on a tag and have it perform a function is pretty awesome when you think about it. Knowing that I'll be able to continue using NFC on my BlackBerry 10 device as well makes me love it that much more.

For me, it's a bunch of NFC tags stuck all over the place or my BlackBerry Music Gateway, but for others it may be tags around the office, unlocking a door, transfering files or plenty of other uses. What we want to know is just how often do you use NFC? Are you a daily user like I am? Do you use it a few times a week? Not at all? Pick the choice that best fits you in the poll above, then leave a comment letting us know how you use NFC on your BlackBerry. 

  Do you want/use FM radio on your BlackBerry? 

Sitting through the last two weeks and examing my "hurricane gadgets" (yes, I still have no power), it got me thinking about which I use most and which have the most purpose. One of the things I've stood by is a little AM/FM radio I've had for years. There is a local station here in New Jersey that has kept us extremely well informed throughout the last two weeks, and I'm thankful that I had my radio to keep me in touch. 

What would be better than having a portable radio in an emergency? Having one built into my BlackBerry. Unfortunately the Bold 9900 doesn't have an FM radio feature, but devices like the Curve 9310, 9320 and 9360 all have the option built in. Plug in your headset and you get FM radio action right on your phone. While I never thought I'd used it before, I actually wish I had it during this ordeal.

What we want to know is this: If you have a device with FM radio, do you use it? If not, is it something you want for your device? Pick the option in the poll above that best fits then head to the comments and let us know your reasons. 

  Which notification do you check first? 

Today's question comes right out of the CrackBerry forums, and I'm really curious to see just how it pans out. Hypothetical situation (well, maybe not for some of you). You get notifications for multiple things at the same time - SMS, BBM, voicemail, Facebook, Twitter and email ... which do you check first? If you're like me you most certainly have a pecking order for checking notifications. Personally, I'd go voicemail, SMS, email, Twitter and Facebook. I very rarely get voicemail so that's why it takes the number one spot.

We want to know what you would check first. Is SMS top priority? Facebook? Twitter? So if ALL of the notifications above came in at the same time, which one you would check first in most cases. Then hit the comments and let us know your full checking order.

Discuss more in the forums 

Do you let your kids use your phone or tablet?

My daughter is nearing five months now, and on an endless fit of screaming/crying over the weekend, I finally got her quiet with a video on my phone. On the same car trip, I didn't hear a peep from my son who found plenty of games and movies on my PlayBook to keep him occupied. 

Way back when we didn't have the luxury insane amounts of electronics as kids. We were stuck with a few decent TV shows, some color books and maybe a Viewmaster. Now, kids everywhere are spoiled rotten with the plethora of devices to keep them occupied. I do find that having a tablet around "for the kids" is a great thing. We actually have an extra PlayBook just for them so I don't have to worry about my own being dropped, chewed on or ending up in the toilet. 

Our question today is this: Do you let your kids use your phone or tablet? I don't really lend out my phone to anyone - including my kids (and that will hold especially true with BlackBerry 10). Do you let them use it whenever they want? Do they have their own? Is your phone hands-off? Pick the option in the poll above that best suits you, then leave a comment below letting us know why. 

Image Credit 

Should BBM broadcast messages be removed from BlackBerry 10?

Broadcast messages on BBM. Some people love them, some people hate them. Some people use them, some people abuse them.

Kevin spent some time switch his devices around and ended up using BBM on the BlackBerry Dev Alpha. Before he made the switch though, he sent out a broadcast BBM asking folks to reply if they wanted to remain on his BBM list.

That use case is great and acceptable but not everyone uses broadcast messages that way. Often times it's just another way to spam a ton of users or just annoy everyone on your BBM list. So alas, we have to ask. Keep them in BlackBerry 10 or drop them? Sound off.

Are you embarrassed by your BlackBerry?

* Update: The results are still pouring in, but I'd say we're at a level of being statistically significant now. And it appears about 1 in 5 BlackBerry users are admitting to feel a little embarassed by their BlackBerry. Keep in mind this poll is on CrackBerry - meaning we could see it bump even higher among the more mainstream base. Even if it not, 1 / 5 is still too high in my opinion, and it only means one thing... RIM has got to get BlackBerry 10 to market asap and tie it to some awesome marketing. In the meantime, be sure to check out our pal Al Sacco's post on CIO he just put up, talking about Why Using a BlackBerry Can Still Be "Cool". *

Here's a poll I never thought I'd be putting up on CrackBerry, but after an article yesterday by the New York Times titled the BlackBerry As Black Sheep (with a post url of blackberry-becomes-a-source-of-shame-for-users), I felt compelled to.

Nicole Perlroth wrote the story for NYT, quoting a sales rep by the name of Ms. Crosby who told Perlroth that she was ashamed of her BlackBerry and that she quit pulling it out at cocktail parties and has resorted to hiding her BlackBerry under her iPad at business meetings.

Personally, what I find shameful here is the article Perlroth wrote, surveying all of 2 people and posting it as representative of BlackBerry users everywhere. Looking at the 100+ comments left to her post, it appears many others agree with my sentiment as they too are tearing into the article.

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  How much internal storage is enough? 

The BlackBerry PlayBook was really the first time we saw a BlackBerry model with different storage sizes. Before that, the internal storage was the same for a device series and only with the addition of a memory card could memory be added. With BlackBerry 10 however, there is a chance we'll see different internal storage sizes like the PlayBook - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. This would give you the option to choose your base storage size depending on your needs, so if you're a media junkie you can go all out, or if you just want the basics you can choose that route as well. While this isn't confirmed yet, it's a good possibility we'll see the BB10 devices in various models/sizes.

Our question today is this - how much internal storage is "enough" for you? 8GB? 16GB? 64GB? It all depends on what you store on your device as far as media, documents and apps, but what do you think is a good number? Let us know in the poll above how much is enough and sound off in the comments with your reasons why. 

L: Old App Icons; R: Current App Icons Which BlackBerry 10 application icon style do you prefer?

With Research In Motion providing sneaks peaks of the BlackBerry 10 as they near the 2013 launch, it has been interesting to observe the evolution of the operating system's user interface. There most definitely have been changes from the first BlackBerry 10 preview build to the much further along BlackBerry 10 software we experienced at BlackBerry Jam last month. We summarized these changes in our Dev Alpha 2 hands-on.

I'm mainly loving these changes, including the relocation of the BlackBerry Hub from the right side of the homescreen to the left, which makes for a much more natural motion for right-handed folks (I'm hoping at somepoint a setting gets built in so lefties can flip it). But one change that I'm actually less fond of is the new look of app icons on the homescreen.

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  Do you think the BlackBerry App World name should be changed for BlackBerry 10? 

BlackBerry App World has been the go-to store on BlackBerry for apps and games for over three years now. As we move forward to BlackBerry 10, things get even better as App World will introduce both movies and music into the mix as well. Previously we were offered with various music and movie options, however they were split from App World, making for a poor user experience. In BlackBerry 10, the redesigned store will have apps, games, movies and music all in one place - making for a great experience, all tying into one BlackBerry ID.

With the new additions, the BlackBerry App World name doesn't quite seem to fit anymore. It's hard to imagine that RIM will change it up since the name and brand are so strong at this point, but do you think that it should be renamed for BlackBerry 10? Maybe just BlackBerry World? BlackBerry All Store? BlackBerry Media World?

Let us know in the poll above what you think, then drop a comment telling us know why you chose what you did. Thanks @pelletium!

  How important is it to have Angry Birds on BlackBerry 10 at launch?

Yesterday Rovio once again dropped a huge announcement. Angry Birds Star Wars will be hitting the world in about a months time on November 8th, destined to take over phones and tablets everywhere. While there was the obvious note of iOS and Android, there was nothing said about the BlackBerry PlayBook. We know that it took quite a while to see the original Angry Birds first come to the PlayBook, but in the case of Angry Birds Space, the gap wasn't too long between launch and the time we saw it available for download. While it's doubtful that we'll see Angry Birds Star Wars hit the PlayBook on November 8th, we're hopeful that we'll see it on BlackBerry 10 devices and going ahead from there, titles like this will include BB10 in their launch. 

Our question today is this: How important is it to have Angry Birds on BlackBerry 10? We're kind of singling out one title here as it could apply to any "big name" games/apps, but there is no denying it's a pretty mainstream game at this point. Let us know what you think in the poll above, then sound off in the comments. Keep reading to check out the teaser video.

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  Do you let other people use your BlackBerry? 

Yes, this is kind of a random question, but I really want to know if I'm along in not letting people use my phone. If you didn't already know, I twlight behing a bar twice a week, and I constantly have customers asking if they can use my phone for a "quick call". My answer is always no, but often times my guilty-conscience gets the best of me and I'll give in. While I do have certain people (my wife, family etc) that I'll allow to use my phone, I really try to keep a handle on it and not lend it out to just anyone.

Back in the good ol' days when phones were just for calling I was more prone to let other people use it, but now that people can get on the web, check out your photos, play a game or whatever -- it's a bit more shady to just hand it over. I know that when I get my hands on a BlackBerry 10 phone I'll most certainly not let it out of my sight, let alone have someone "borrow" it. 

So do you let other people use your BlackBerry? Let us know in the poll above, then sound off in the comments!