Would you like to be able to change the font color of your replies from navy to something else?

At least yet. By default, the font color when replying to emails on BlackBerry 10 is navy -- not black. No, you cannot change it. Many people, myself included, will find that super annoying. Why is this way? It seems BlackBerry took a page out of the Outlook book on this one. We did find it cool at first because it gave us an easy way to know who was replying from a BlackBerry Z10, but now we're pretty much over it and just want to change it back to black -- but we can't. You can change the font size and color on a per-email basis, but unfortunately there is no option to change the default, and that's just dumb. I guess it's not bad by comparison since on some phones (we're looking at you Windows Phone 8!!) you can't even change the font size of emails. The more personalization options the better, and being able to change the color of your default font in email replies is something we'd love to see in BlackBerry 10.

What do you think - do you like the navy color for replying to emails or would you rather be able to change it to something else by default?  

  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. 

  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. 

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.

  How often do you check your Blackberry? 

We get it, you're an addict. How much is too much though? I find myself checking my BlackBerry pretty much any time I get bored ... or have down time ... or think about it ... or ... well yeah. At times I wish I could disconnect and not want need to check my phone, but that's another challenge for another time. Some days I'll only pick up my phone when I have an LED or audible alert, other days I constantly pick it up, hit a button to put the screen on and check whatever I can - Facebook, Twitter, email - in whatever time I have. I don't know why I do, but I do. I hope to find something new that wasn't on there when I checked it five minutes earlier.

What we want to know is how often you check your device. Do you wait for an alert? Just keep it in your hand and check whenever you're free? Pick the option in the poll above that best fits you, then let us know in the comments why what you do works.  

  What do you do with your BlackBerry when you're out and not actually using it? 

When I'm out and about with my BlackBerry, I find more often than not I'm holding onto it. Much like my security blanket, I like knowing it's there and ready when I need it. No matter if I'm actually using it or not, it's in the clutch of my hand and never far away. Granted it's not the most socially acceptable thing to do, but I'm an addict so that's just how it is.

Of course there are times I'll put in on the table or somewhere else close to me, but I don't really pocket my BlackBerry at all. I'm sure many of you have your own quirks about what you do with your device - be it holding onto it, putting it in your pocket or purse, or using a holster. What we want to know is what exactly you do with your BlackBerry when you're out somewhere socially (friends house, bar, club, restaurant etc.) and not actually using it. Let us know in the poll above (pick the option that best fits you) and then sound off in the comments.

  Do you turn off your BlackBerry at night or leave it on? 

Heading to bed at night, one of the last things most of us do is check our phone. I typically read over my emails and Twitter feed one last time, plug in my phone to charge and then pass out. More and more though I feel like I want to turn my device off at night. I have a bedside mode profile set so I only hear phone calls and texts (in case of emergencies), but I feel like I want to be disconnected when I'm sleeping. Other such iDevices don't have the benefit of a bedside mode - so it's either all or nothing when it comes to sounds at night - but thankfully we have plenty of options. 

So what do you do? Do you turn off your BlackBerry at night or leave it on? Let us know in the poll above!

We're heading to Orlando for BlackBerry World 2012 in just a few days and we have high hopes that we'll see some great BlackBerry 10 goodies. We already know that developers who attend BlackBerry 10 Jam will walk away with a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device to play with, but we're not sure what else we'll find out. If we're lucky we may see BlackBerry 10 in action and find out some more details.

While we don't really know too much about BlackBerry 10 phones, we all have our own notions of what we'd like to see for them. We want to know what you, the CrackBerry Nation, would like to see in BlackBerry 10 devices (personally I want a sweet form factor, awesome battery life and a great browsing experience).  So jump into the forums (don't just leave a comment here) and let us know a few things you'd like to see -- be it hardware, software, accessories or whatever -- in BlackBerry 10!

Discuss more in the CrackBerry Forums

Would you want a BlackBerry 10 device without a removable battery?

I came across this post from our good friend Al Sacco yesterday, and it got me thinking a bit. BlackBerry 10 is heading our way soon and there are lots of questions left unanswered. In just a few days, eager developers will get their hands on the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha prototype device during BlackBerry Jam, and while we've been reassured it's not a final production unit by any means, it will give some sense of what is in store for BlackBerry 10.

One thing I love about my BlackBerry is that it has a removable battery. I like that I can charge up 2 or 3 spares when I'm on the go (at BlackBerry World for example) and easily swap out a new one instead of having to plug in to charge. I know many of you feel the same, but with devices like the iPhone, Droid 4, HTC One X and plenty of others heading the way of non-removable batteries, it leaves us wondering if BlackBerry 10 will do the same? BlackBerry 10 devices will be modeled after the BlackBerry PlayBook which itself has no removable battery.

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<a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/6122338/" mce_href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/6122338/">How important is sideloading apps on your PlayBook to you?</a>

*Update from Kevin: I reached out to RIM to get further clarification on RIM's future plans for sideloading. RIM clarified that they have not officially announced their longterm sideloading strategy as of yet, and for now it is at it always was. That said, they are going to look at ways of reducing piracy which may or may not include changing the ability to sideload apps. As a first step, RIM did say they are going to introduce a feature in an upcoming release of the PlayBook OS that will encrypt apps so they can only be run by the user who purchased the app. *

As we now know, RIM plans to remove the ability to side load applications in an upcoming update to the BlackBerry PlayBook. While I have already outlined why they may be doing this, and shared some opinions, we want to know from a calm, cool, and collected CrackBerry Nation how you feel about this. Now that you have had some time to soak in the news, read the benefits, and think of how it may negatively affect you, let's hear it. Are you happy, sad, mad, glad, or does this not impact you in the least?