Articles by Adam Zeis

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BBM gets another boost on the charts thanks to BBM Stickers

Posted by Adam Zeis on 3 Apr 2014 4:24 pm EDT

The first part of BBM's new monetization strategy looks to already be off to a good start. The latest update to BBM included BBM Stickers — essentially larger emoticons — that come in packs of 20 to 25. Some of the packs are free while others sell for $1.99. Currently there are only a few sets available, but BBM will look to add many more in the coming weeks. Forbes reports that already in...

166 Comments

Dropped beloved BlackBerry leads to UK girl getting stuck in a drain

Posted by Adam Zeis on 3 Apr 2014 3:33 pm EDT

Just how far would you go to get your BlackBerry back? At times many of us have left them behind in a cab or at a restaurant, or maybe even dropped it in the toilet. But has it ever been dropped somewhere that made you think twice about trying to get it back? Maybe 16-year-old Ella Birchenough should have thought about it a bit more after she dropped her BlackBerry in a storm drain. She...

416 Comments

The BBM team wants to hear your ideas for BBM Stickers

Posted by Adam Zeis on 3 Apr 2014 2:10 pm EDT

The new BBM Stickers are hot off the presses on BlackBerry, Android and iOS Currently there are only a few packs available for download, but we hope to see many more in the coming weeks. Many of you have been asking if there is any way to submit your own ideas for stickers, and rest assured, the BBM team is listening. On Twitter today, they put out a call to designers who have questions and/...

164 Comments

Low-end BlackBerry Kopi shown from all angles

Posted by Adam Zeis on 3 Apr 2014 11:42 am EDT

Low-end BlackBerry Kopi keyboard smartphone leaked

We've seen the BlackBerry Kopi more than a few times now, but only in some quick & dirty photos. Today a new batch has turned up however that shows off every angle of the unreleased Kopi. We get the best look that we've had thus far and who knows, they may just leave you actually wanting one. The Kopi is still floating around in the "who knows if or when it will be released" category,...

1496 Comments

Accessory Roundup - Enter to win a pair of Blue Tiger SoundTRAX headphones

Posted by Adam Zeis on 2 Apr 2014 1:47 pm EDT

I am all about having a solid set of headphones when I'm on the road. I don't travel often, but when I do I want to bury myself in some good tunes and go about my business. Alternatively, having a good pair of earbuds at the ready is key for me as well — be it listening to a podcast on my BlackBerry or maybe just some quick video editing when I'm out in public, I like to have a pair in my bag...

383 Comments

BBM 2.1 now available for BlackBerry, iPhone and Android devices

Posted by Adam Zeis on 1 Apr 2014 9:00 am EDT

As expected, the latest version of BBM will begin rolling out today across BlackBerry, iPhone and Android devices. BBM 2.1 brings with it BBM Stickers as well as some new features like pictures in multi-person chats and larger file transfers of up to 16MB. The stickers will be available in both free and paid packs through the integrated BBM Shop. Packs will contain between 20-25 stickers and...

44 Comments

Formula 1 Malaysia Grand Prix Recap

Posted by Adam Zeis on 1 Apr 2014 7:40 am EDT

Sitting in the pole spot in Malaysia for the second straight race, Lewis Hamilton had much higher hopes for even finishing the race this time. He has a 100% finish rate in Malaysia though, and once things got going it was clear he wasn't going to let that number change. Right from the start Lewis took a commanding lead and never looked back. His teammate Nico Rosberg held on strong in 2nd as...

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Want BBM Stickers right now? Here's how to get them

Posted by Adam Zeis on 31 Mar 2014 10:59 am EDT

The next update for BBM is right around the corner (as in days away). It will bring along some new features including sponsored BBM Channels content as well as BBM Stickers. If you just can't hold out for the official update to arrive though, a leaked version is available now that gives you plenty of sticker-loving fun. You'll have to sideload the leaked version on your device to use it. It...

294 Comments

Three new high-end BlackBerry devices on the horizon, BBM for desktops getting a 'serious look'

Posted by Adam Zeis on 28 Mar 2014 8:39 am EDT

In speaking with Reuters, BlackBerry CEO John Chen said that within the next 18 months, he plans to introduce high-end devices that cater to the "keyboard aficionados." BlackBerry has at least three different devices in the works and that "the focus is going to be very keyboard centric." We do know that the BlackBerry Q20 AKA the "BlackBerry Classic" is one new keyboard device that's on the...

167 Comments

Press Release: BlackBerry Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results for Fiscal 2014

Posted by Adam Zeis on 28 Mar 2014 7:05 am EDT

The report is in — BlackBerry has dropped their fourth quarter results. They're reporting a balance of $2.7B at the end of the quarter (compared to $3.2B last quarter), with an adjusted Q4 gross margin of 43%, up from 34% in the prior quarter. Approximately 3.4 million devices were sold to end users in the fourth quarter, of which around 2.3 million were BlackBerry 7 devices. You can tune...

186 Comments

CrackBerry Asks: Would you want a Dot View case for your BlackBerry?

Posted by Adam Zeis on 27 Mar 2014 4:56 pm EDT

Yesterday we saw all kinds of HTC One (M8) news floating around the web. Even though we're all BlackBerry lovers at heart, it's okay to sneak a look at the latest and greatest in the Android world. While I can't say that I'll be running out to pick one up anytime soon, I am a bit jealous of one thing — that Dot View case. The case itself is essentially just a standard folio with a bunch...

1731 Comments

Accessory Roundup - Enter to win an external charger for your device!

Posted by Adam Zeis on 27 Mar 2014 11:35 am EDT

One of my favorite accessories for all of my BlackBerry devices is a good spare or external battery. In the case of the BlackBerry Q10 or BlackBerry Z10, the battery charger bundle is both an external and spare battery. You can charge up a spare to use in the device, or simply plug in the microUSB to use it as an external charger. The tBlackBerry Z30 doesn't have this luxury however since...

377 Comments

BlackBerry CEO John Chen lays down the law for leakers

Posted by Adam Zeis on 26 Mar 2014 11:27 am EDT

Leaks are nothing new in the BlackBerry world — they've been around forever and are just part of the game. Sure, they've slowed down a lot in the last few years, but every now and then we'll see an unreleased device, image or OS show up with some juicy new info to feed the rumor mill. Until now, BlackBerry hasn't really made any public gestures against leaks or the leakers. CEO John Chen took...

85 Comments

Secure Work Space on iOS and Android gets FIPS 140-2 certified

Posted by Adam Zeis on 26 Mar 2014 8:16 am EDT

BlackBerry has kicked up the security not only on their own devices, but also on Android and iOS. They've announced today that Secure Work Space for iOS and Android is now Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certified. FIPS 140-2 is a huge certification when it comes to government spaces, and now security conscious organizations in US and Canada can safely deploy Secure Work...

245 Comments

BBM update coming soon across all platforms — Will bring BBM Stickers, sponsored channels, larger file size limit and more

Posted by Adam Zeis on 25 Mar 2014 12:00 pm EDT

A few weeks back, BlackBerry introduced BBM Stickers in beta form. Things have been moving along and the beta was very well received, so starting next week a new version of BBM will hit all platforms (BlackBerry, iOS and Android) that will include BBM Stickers, sponsored BBM Channels and other new features. The BBM team is going full-steam ahead to keep parity on all the platforms and to keep...

172 Comments

BlackBerry moves one step closer to shutting down Typo

Posted by Adam Zeis on 24 Mar 2014 9:47 am EDT

The battle between BlackBerry and the look alike iPhone accessory, Typo , has been going on for a few weeks now. BlackBerry is suing Typo and claims that their iPhone keyboard accessory infringes on multiple BlackBerry patents — and also looks a lot like the BlackBerry Q10 keyboard. Things in the case have been a bit back and forth with nothing showing a clear winner on either end. BlackBerry...

200 Comments

The White House begins testing Samsung and LG phones - or are they?

Posted by Adam Zeis on 21 Mar 2014 8:59 am EDT

According to the Wall Street Journal, The White House is starting to test devices other than BlackBerry — namely Samsung and LG. The tests are still in the early stages and any implementation is still "months away" however. Neither Samsung nor LG commented on the rumor, but a Defense Department spokesman said that The White House "is piloting and using a variety of mobile devices". President ...

1556 Comments

Accessory Roundup - Enter for your chance to win a new case for your BlackBerry!

Posted by Adam Zeis on 19 Mar 2014 12:23 pm EDT

We're back in the habit of spreading some accessory love to everyone, so today we're giving you the chance to outfit your BlackBerry with a brand new case from Shop CrackBerry. We've got plenty of awesome ones to cover your device no matter if you're kicking it on BB7 or rocking out with BB10. You can choose from the always popular OtterBox cases, the huge line of Seidio products or our...

450 Comments

BlackBerry Z30 now available from ShopBlackBerry in the U.S.

Posted by Adam Zeis on 19 Mar 2014 8:40 am EDT

Up until now Verizon has been the only U.S. carrier to offer up the BlackBerry Z30, but as of today, you can now buy an unlocked, SIM-free Z30 directly from ShopBlackBerry.com for $499. This Z30 is ready to roll with AT&T or T-Mobile and has 4G / 4G LTE bands. If you need to accessorize your new Z30, you know where to go! Purchase a BlackBerry Z30 from ShopBlackBerry Press Release...

210 Comments

Android Wear is just one of the reasons I want Google Play Services on BlackBerry 10

Posted by Adam Zeis on 18 Mar 2014 3:22 pm EDT

Today Google announced Android Wear , a new platform geared toward bringing Android to wearable devices like smartwatches. Big companies like LG and Motorola are already on board with new devices, and others are sure to follow in the coming months. It goes without saying that the Android Wear devices will work flawlessly with most — if not all — Android devices, however it's safe to say that...

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