Native Skype App For BlackBerry 10 Could Be On Its Way

Native Skype App For BlackBerry 10 Could Be On Its WayEarlier this year it was revealed that Skype would be making its way onto BlackBerry 10 devices, which is good news especially since the BlackBerry 10 platform could use more big name apps. However the downside is that the app, at that time, turned out to be a port of the Android version of Skype. While there is nothing wrong with ports, the fact of the matter is that they are not optimized for the BlackBerry 10 platform, meaning that it is not as integrated and smooth as it could be compared to a native app, but we guess given that BlackBerry 10 users have no other choice, it will have to do.

The good news is that if you’re a heavy Skype user on the BlackBerry 10, you might be pleased to learn that a native BlackBerry 10 Skype app could be on its way. This is according to a tweet by Brian Zubert, the Manager of Developer Relations at BlackBerry, who in his tweet wrote, “Nice update today to the @Skype #BlackBerry app. Huge improvement, but still looking forward to the full on native app! Might be 10.2 only!” Given his status and role at BlackBerry, presumably what he said was not made in mistake, although the downside is the the app might only be for OS 10.2, so if your carrier has yet to roll out the 10.2 update for your BlackBerry 10 device, you could be out of luck.

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    BlackBerry Removes Queue For BBM For iOS And Android

    BlackBerry Removes Queue For BBM For iOS And AndroidBBM for iOS and Android is without doubt a success, given that the app saw 10 million downloads in a 24-hour period. However like we mentioned last time, the 10 million downloads might not necessarily mean 10 million active iOS and Android BBM users since there was a queue that one would have to place themselves in to start using the service. Presumably this was put into place to help take the load off BlackBerry’s servers from the influx of iOS and Android users. Well the good news is that if you have yet to download BBM for iOS and Android, you’re in luck because BlackBerry has since announced that the queue to use the app has since been removed and now everyone can download and start using the app right away.

    It is surprising that BBM for iOS and Android turned out to be such a hit. After all sales of the company’s hardware is anything but a commercial success, so we guess there are some aspects and services of BlackBerry that users out there on other platforms can appreciate, but perhaps not as an entire package. There has been talk about BlackBerry possibly spinning off BBM into a separate company and given the success of its app (we’ll have to see if the momentum can continue), perhaps it would make sense that BlackBerry would dedicate themselves to it.

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    Nikon D600 Marked As Discontinued

    Nikon D600 Marked As DiscontinuedBack in 2012, Nikon announced the D600 DSLR camera but it looks like a little over a year later, the camera manufacturer has decided to discontinue the device. This is according to a listing on B&H which states that the camera has since been discontinued by the manufacturer, meaning that photographers who are thinking about getting their hands on the device will no longer be able to. Of course there will still be some stock left and should be available through a variety of retailers, although like we said since it has been discontinued, whatever stock is left is pretty much all there is. Photographers who wish to get their hands on the Nikon D600 will probably have to act quickly just in case their local retailers run out stock.

    The reason for the discontinuation of the D600 is due to the release of the Nikon D610 which was announced earlier this month. The innards of the D610 is expected to be similar to the D600, although the changes made were to its shutter mechanism which was reportedly improved, and quiet, continuous shooting options, higher FPS rate, and improved white balance. Given that the camera’s release is in October, we guess it makes sense for Nikon to discontinue the Nikon D600 lest it ends up competing with the newer model or confuses customers.

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    Alleged Canon EOS 7D MK II Spec Sheet Leaked

    Alleged Canon EOS 7D MK II Spec Sheet LeakedThe Canon EOS 7D MK II camera has been rumored for some time now, although at this point in time there has been nothing to suggest that Canon will be announcing the device in the near future, but thanks to a recently leaked spec sheet, it seems that the specs of Canon EOS 7D MK II have been revealed. The alleged spec sheet does corroborate what we have heard in the past, but given that the device has yet to be officially confirmed, take it with a grain of salt for now. So what can photographers look forward to in the EOS 7D MK II?

    Well for starters the camera is rumored to sport either a 20MP or 24MP sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF. It seems that Canon has yet to finalize on a sensor which is why it is a toss up between either sensor for now. It will also feature an AF system similar to the EOS 5D MK III with 61-points, a high frame rate between 10-12fps, high-grade weather sealing, a Dual DIGIC V+ processor, WiFi and GPS connectivity, and will be priced around $2,000. It will also apparently offer “very good” ISO performance along with “innovative” video features and is rumored for a possible announced in March 2014. Like we said this is hardly the official spec list so take it with a grain of salt for now, but photographers what do you guys think? Are these specs a worthy of an EOS 7D successor?

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    AT&T’s Lumia 1520 Opts For PMA Wireless Charging

    AT&Ts Lumia 1520 Opts For PMA Wireless ChargingWhen the Nokia Lumia 1520 for AT&T was leaked, it revealed that the device would come with what was presumed at that time, a Qi-standard wireless charger built into the device. Unfortunately it was revealed later that not only did AT&T’s Lumia 1020 come with only 16GB of default storage, but it also dropped the built-in Qi-standard wireless charging feature. The good news is that if you wanted wireless charging, you still have that option albeit in the form of a wireless charging shell that is from PMA (Power Matters Alliance), which is essentially the Qi standard rival. This has since been confirmed by Don Mooers, the Director of Device Product Marketing at AT&T.

    “In an effort to move toward making this a reality for consumers worldwide, we’ve placed our support for the public ecosystem roll out led by Power Matters Alliance (PMA). The PMA continues to expand membership and is building a strong ecosystem for wireless charging. The PMA solution is already installed at leading coffee shops, airports, stadiums, restaurants, gyms and more, which enables customers to wirelessly charge their phone while on the go.” AT&T did state that they are working to get PMA embedded into hardware in the future, but for now wireless charging for the Lumia 1520 will be a separate accessory.

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    Nokia Russia Offers Free Photography Lessons For Lumia 1020 Customers

    The Nokia Lumia 1020 is probably one of Nokia’s best camera phones to date and so far based on what we have heard, it is comparable, if not better, than the top smartphones out there like the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. In any case what’s the point of having such a great camera on a smartphone if you don’t know how to use it, right? Well it looks like Nokia is attempting to right the wrong because over in Russia, it seems that Nokia Russia is offering their Lumia 1020 customers free photography lessons that will hopefully improve their photography skills, allowing to fully take advantage of the Lumia 1020’s camera.

    The photography lessons are conducted online and will be held with Russian photography school, fotoshkola.net that is worth around $40. The tutorials will be delivered by famed Russian photographer, Vladimir Kotov, and students will also be expected to work on homework assignments and have their photos reviewed by a team. For Russian Lumia 1020 owner if you guys want to take advantage of this promotion, all you’d have to do is install the Fotoshkola app on your device, in which you will receive a PIN that allows you to redeem the lessons for free. This offer is valid until the 14th of January 2014. Pretty awesome idea we reckon; who else would love to see Nokia offer this to other Lumia users around the world?

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    NSA Denies Reports That Obama Was Briefed On Angela Merkel Surveillance In 2010

    The National Security Agency is denying reports that President Barack Obama has been aware of surveillance of German Chancellor Angela Merkel since 2010.

    Earlier on Sunday, German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Obama was briefed on the operation against Merkel by NSA Director Keith Alexander in 2010, according to U.S. intelligence sources. NSA Spokeswoman Vanee Vines released a statement Sunday afternoon saying the report was false.

    “Gen. Alexander did not discuss with President Obama in 2010 an alleged foreign intelligence operation involving German Chancellor Merkel, nor has he ever discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Merkel,” Vines said in the statement. “News reports claiming otherwise are not true.”

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    Broncos Top Redskins 45-21: Peyton Manning Overcomes Interceptions As Broncos Surge Late

    DENVER — DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning overcame four turnovers and Denver scored the last 38 points Sunday in a come-from-behind 45-21 victory over former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his new team, the Washington Redskins.

    Manning finished with 354 yards and four touchdown passes to offset his three interceptions and lost fumble.

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    A Doomed Comet Hurtling Toward the Sun

    A Doomed Comet Hurtling Toward the Sun

    The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), launched in 1995, stares mostly at . . . yeah. The sun. But when its instruments are trying to image other things near the sun, all that light gets kind of overwhelming. So sometimes instruments on the SOHO just block the sun out and turn their attention to other things. Like this sungrazer comet.

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    Weekly Roundup: Surface 2 review, McLaren P1 ‘hypercar,’ Google’s Project Shield and more!

    You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click …