Hasta La Gadget!

Earlier today we reported that a sketch of what is supposedly the Blackberry 10 R-series was leaked, but unfortunately the sketch wasn’t much to go on. Now the good news is that if a budget Blackberry 10 device sounds like your cup of tea, new photos have emerged (via BBOS), this time alleging to be the photos of the Blackberry 10 R-series “Curve”. We’re not sure if the “Curve” name will stick, but considering that Blackberry uses the Curve lineup for its more affordable phones, with the Bold being its more high-end products, we wouldn’t be surprised if they continued the trend. In terms of design there’s not much to shout about, although the keys on the R-series do look a bit nicer to type on compared to the Blackberry 7 Curve smartphones, but then again it’s all a matter of preference. What do you guys think? Any takers?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: HTC M4 Might Be HTC First Sans Facebook Home, Nokia Windows 8 Tablet Could Be Real,

Blackberry’s Z10 has finally made its way to the United States, one of Blackberry’s most important markets. It’s still a bit too soon to evaluate just how well the device is doing, however, judging from the customer reviews, the device is doing well. However, where exactly does that leave Blackberry’s OS 7 devices? It looks like the company has decided to bring the devices to several emerging markets.

Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins states that the company will be launching its Blackberry 7 devices in emerging markets, more specifically to the countries who have always been loyal to Blackbery’s products. While Apple and Samsung are the major players in the bigger markets, Blackberry is still one of the top players in the emerging markets, like Nigeria, where its devices top those of other companies.

After bringing Blackberry 7 devices to those markets, Heins says that the company will also be launching lower-end Blackberry 10 devices as well. Heins states, “We’re not excluding those markets from Blackberry 10 because of us wanting to sell Blackberry 7.” Blackberry plans on bringing a wide-variety of low to mid-ranged devices “that covers the entry-level market”. He states that the company needs to appeal to all the markets in order to turn a profit.

Along with releasing these lower-end devices, Heins states that the company is also working on developing a variety of new services and features that they can monetize. The new features will tie in mainly with Blackberry Messenger. One of the new features, BBM Money, will allow users to transfer money to each other through the app. Blackberry plans on developing its portfolio even further this year, which we sort of have an idea of thanks to the leaked Blackberry Roadmap. The Blackberry Z10 is a phenomenal device, and once more people get to see that, Blackberry may be able to pull off a successful comeback. Check out our Blackberry Z10 review to see if its the device for you.

[via CBC]

Blackberry 7 devices will head to emerging markets is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s finally time to take a peek at BlackBerry 10‘s first big smartphone presentation here in the United States with the Verizon iteration of the BlackBerry Z10. This device is an all-touch smartphone – that feature a given on most other mobile operating systems, but a relatively new concept for BlackBerry – and works with Verizon’s rather speedy 4G LTE network. What we’re looking at here on day 1 are just the basics: what’s different from the international edition?

In our original BlackBerry Z10 Review, Chris Davies spoke about both the hardware and the software in great detail. Lucky for you, not a whole lot has changed since that device was ready for action nearly 2 months ago. Here with the Verizon version we’ve only got the addition of big red’s 4G LTE connectivity compatibility and a couple of Verizon account apps.

With My Verizon Mobile and Backup Plus Contacts you’ll now have the ability to work with your Verizon bill and monitor the data you’ve used during the month. You’ll be able to back up your contact list with Verizon as often as you’d like. And that’s it.

This version of the BlackBerry Z10 uses the same 2 megapixel camera on the front, the same 8 megapixel camera on the back with LED flash, and the same processor under the hood. Inside you’ll find the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, the same that exists in every version of the Z10 that exists thus far – this same processor is used in such phones as the Samsung Galaxy S III (USA edition), the Motorola DROID RAZR HD, and the HTC One X (USA edition). You’ll also find the first, most updated, and only version of BlackBerry 10 mobile OS on the market.

Up front you’ve got a lovely 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 pixel LCD display, complete with the third-densest pixel arrangement on the market. While the HTC One wins at the moment with 468 Pixels Per Inch, and the HTC DROID DNA is in second (with the Xperia Z and GALAXY S 4) with 441 PPI, the BlackBerry Z10 stands alone as holding the only display on the market with 355 PPI. Of course at that level of density, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between the lot with the naked eye, but it’s always fun to compare!

Have a peek at our hands-on photos above and below, keep your eye tuned to our BlackBerry Z10 tag portal for more information on this device and see the timeline below for our adventures with BlackBerry 10 up to and including this week!

Verizon BlackBerry Z10 hands-on and unboxing is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you were worried that you’d never get your hands on a BlackBerry 10 smartphone because the first touchscreen device was too expensive – bucker up! Today BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins has made an almost offhand comment about the future of the inexpensive BlackBerry 10 handset – a device he’d previously all but dismissed as a possibility. Today during an earnings call that had rather mixed news for the company, a “midrange BlackBerry 10″ smart device was confirmed.

If you’re all about the least-expensive of this notoriously business-oriented smartphone lineup, it looks like you’ll be waiting until mid-year. According to Heins, “various markets” will be getting a so-called “midrange” BlackBerry 10 device, while up until then the world will be working with the two top-tier devices we’ve seen thus far. Heins added that the company was looking forward to [this midrange release] because [BlackBerry] knowss that there’s a big demand even in the midrange.”

“We know there’s a big demand [for BlackBerry 10] even in the midrange.”

This announcement has this lesser BlackBerry device pinned for right around September – that’s not halfway through the year, you might say, but Heins wasn’t talking about the normal year, he referred instead to the fiscal year. BlackBerry’s fiscal year just ended with this particular earnings call, the next starting presently.

This midrange machine’s existence will quite likely hinge on the success of the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10, both of which are hitting the market either immediately or rather soon. Have a peek at the rest of the earnings call results in our BlackBerry earnings wrap-up and hit the timeline below for more BlackBerry 10 hands-on magic!

CEO changes mind on inexpensive BlackBerry 10 handsets is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When BlackBerry officially launched its BlackBerry 10 platform along with its BlackBerry Z10 & Q10, the company’s VP of global alliances and business development Martyn Mallick stated 40% of all BlackBerry 10 applications were ports of Android applications. After nearly two months of BlackBerry 10 being available, Mallick is now saying that number has been cut in half to 20%.

Mallick spoke with AllThingsD recently on why exactly BlackBerry decided to choose to port Android applications rather than have its developers build BlackBerry 10 optimized apps from the start. “We give [developers] a very nice on-ramp to get onto the platform.” Mallick said. “Our users deserve to have great content. If [porting Android apps] is the fastest way we can get some of that content, that’s great.” (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Dreamfone Runs Firefox OS, Windows Phone Outsells iOS And BlackBerry OS In Several Markets,