BlackBerry is set to roll out its first major software update for BlackBerry 10 since the new operating system debuted earlier this year, reports suggest.

According to sources familiar with developments, BlackBerry is preparing version 10.1 of its revamped mobile OS, which will purportedly ship with the soon-to-drop QWERTY keyboard-equipped BlackBerry Q10.

Among the improvements it’s mooted to bring include faster camera shutter and superior low-light snapping courtesy of High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. It’s also said to pack new features, such as mnemonic phone dialling, keyboard shortcuts (for the BlackBerry Z10), Word Prediction, and Type N Go, which comprise various commands for universal search.

Elsewhere, the update purportedly packs enhancements to BlackBerry Balance, including separation of work and personal accounts in the BlackBerry Hub, ‘Dark Theme’ support for several native features and applications, Smart Card Reader 2.0 compatibility and an improved version of BlackBerry Link to enable connection between BlackBerry 10 and a PC for easier transfer of files.

BlackBerry Z10 users are expected to receive the platform bump via an over-the-air update. Alas, an ETA for the rollout is as-yet under wraps. Rest assured, we’ll bring you this as soon as we know.

Via:

Phone Arena

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The BlackBerry Q10 has raced to record sales in Selfridges stores, it has been claimed, in what some are claiming is a sign that the QWERTY keyboard still has a place in a smartphone world dominated by touchscreens.

According to the high-end retailer, unprecedented demand for the Q10 since Friday April 26th in its London, Birmingham and Manchester stores means the handset is now Selfridges’ fastest-selling consumer electronics product ever.

The phone, which was exclusively on sale at Selfridges, purportedly sold out entirely within two hours.

Rob Orr, Managing Director of BlackBerry UK and Ireland, said: “The BlackBerry Q10 represents the next chapter in the BlackBerry 10 story and we are delighted that it has been so well received.

“This initial success at Selfridges highlights the strong consumer demand for a high-end physical keyboard smartphone.”

So. The Q10 is an unqualified success, then? Hmm. Not just yet. Early sales can be a pretty unreliable indicator of a phone’s fortunes. And given that the phone was solely on sale in Selfridges, it’s not terribly surprising that the handset sold out.

That said, we can see the Q10 being BlackBerry’s most successful kit for some time. If only because its physical keyboard means it’s guaranteed a good level of pick-up from the company’s core of enterprise users, as well as the kids who have stuck with BBM over rival messaging services on other platforms

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Vodafone has reduced the upfront cost of the BlackBerry Z10 and is now offering the handset free on its range of pay-monthly tariffs.

Customers who pick up a Z10 on a two-year contract with Vodafone from £33 per month will be entitled to a free phone, along with monthly allowances of up to 600 any network minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data.

Available in black and white, the Z10’s USPs include a 4.2-inch display with a retina-popping 355 ppi density, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and an eight-megapixel primary camera.

It is also powered by the all-new BlackBerry 10 operating system, which has been completely rebuilt from scratch and brings a host of new features such as BlackBerry Hub, which unifies all your incoming missives and notifications in one place, and a new and improved BlackBerry Messenger that now lets you make both voice and video calls.

Vodafone has also dropped the monthly tariff for the ageing but still hugely popular iPhone 4, which is currently free from £21 per month, down from £29 previously.

This gets you the same allowances as the Z10 tariff detailed above, however the offer is for a limited time only, so you’ll have to move fast before the price goes back up.

Keep ‘em peeled as we bring you more price cut announcements in the days and weeks to come.

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