We have just received our much anticipated BlackBerry Priv and so far it seems to be a really nice device,Up till now there has been much talk about its price and I tend to agree it is a little costly but after the wait people have jumped right in and paid a premium price for the first Android from BlackBerry..This is a new direction for BlackBerry who are struggling at the moment when it comes to handset sales,With a slider and keyboard to boot this device sticks out in the crowd and offers users something new,will it keep current BlackBerry fans under its belt and convert those back who have moved on? The keyboard is not like the amazing Passport but reminds me of old and is one of BlackBerry’s well known features,is this enough to keep them afloat?
Main attributes to the Priv are as follows.
Shoots 4K– 200GB of storage – 32GB on board storage. Up to 52 shortcuts can be applied and get full use of the keyboard,although its seems a bit crammed you quickly adapt to it,then of course you can use the virtual keyboard their own native keyboard is excellent and you can always switch to swiftkey too,you have choice…
IMAGE GALLERY
Dual curved screen – Something Samsung brought to the table but its nice,its unique and make the device its own,the device feels comfortable in hand too.
Keyboard
Small it maybe but you get used to it quickly,not quite the same as old though,those who have owned the passport or classic will feel a tad hard done by.But as i said its quick to adapt too and already I am finding myself using it more,Much better than THIS
Battery Life
3410mAh sounds good on the tin but its going to get you a day,given the few days we have used it the battery life is improving and about 4hrs screen on time,with a Marshmallow update due in 2016 this will fix many niggles,so they need to move on that…Again fast charging is present so this can be forgiven..
Speaker
Its big and loud,not like the HTC boom but good nonetheless,great audio clarity,however when headphones are used via the 3,5mm jack sound is poor,its low..This can be addressed by a software update,Yes BlackBerry listen up….We like our music loud..When using headphones via bluetooth or USB OTG the sound is also great though,but for wired fans this 3.5mm volume issue needs addressing…
Build Quality
Top notch it has to be said,with a grippy back holding the Priv is nice,it wont slip from hand,it feels solid as a whole,even when opened the slider mechanism feels solid and the device feels solid yet better balanced.
The cons
Price,touching €800,It could have had marshmallow on board instead of lollipop, Availability and its unlikely we will see this in Ireland on a network..
Take a look at the image gallery and unboxing below and if you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments or get me on the Twitter machine and we will answer you there..
One usual complaint from people who own more than one mobile device is that normally they need to carry two cell phone numbers.
Something that all of us dream in the ability to have the same number across multiple device’s , why? Well, maybe we use a Samsung for work because of the OS but we prefer to shoot photos with our Lumia phones for example.
Now that could actually be possible thanks to the folks at AT&T and their new feature NumberSync a new service that aims to share ONE Phone Number and Data Plan across all your mobile devices.
Using their wireless network alongside the pre-existing methods for sharing data plans across devices, AT&T will enable you “basic phone” functions to all your other accessories like tablets or 2-in-1‘s
And it doesn’t need to be connected through Bluetooth or anything you don’t even need to carry your phone, (it doesn’t even have to be turned on!!)
This feature is not manufacturer nor OS restricted they only need to “enable” this ability on the devices in order to work.
Something that happens a lot is forgetting our phones everywhere, now imagine you’re running out of home with your bag and in the middle of the road realize you left your phone out and you need to do and important call, this feature will let you use your tablet (assuming you have one on your bag) to make the call and even send and received messages. Cool isn’t it?
In case you’re wondering about prices, NumberSync will be completely free (the feature, you’ll need to pay you mobile plan).
According to AT&T the first compatible device will be available “Soon” with more coming over the holidays season. They plan to make this feature “the norm” to future connected devices.
What do you think of this? Do you like the idea of using your same phone number on all your gadgets?
Samsung have today announced a keyboard attachment which is reminiscent of BlackBerry and Nokia E-Series,why for such a big phone sporting a huge screen with a more than capable keyboard is anyone’s guess but some seem to think its for those who miss Blackberry and trying to get some of the Blackberry pie… Will many people buy the keyboard, I dont think so to be honest but nonetheless is an option for buyers that prefer that physical touch… Perhaps it is better than it looks..Many people today still do miss the physical keyboard or either hate it so its a good move I guess from Samsung covering all angles especially current BlackBerry users ..
BlackBerry have yet to officially unveil the much rumored Venice device but here is what we are looking at comparing the two side by side…. Thinking ahead Samsung ??
No price has been quoted for this piece of hardware,its expected to go on sale same time as the Note 5 hits stores.. The keyboard just snaps onto the Note 5 so its a simple process to connect both together..
What do you think of this and would price sway you toward a purchase ???
Our latest case from Noreve has arrived and its for the BlackBerry Classic which has yet not reached our shores but can be imported,same applies to the BlackBerry Leap and the Powerhouse Passport which even surprised me,this device has a battery you just cant kill in a day which is saying something..
Onto the case itself which is a flip case and of course made from quality leather and comes packed in a nice box and pouch.presentation always has been great with Noreve cases and so has quality as seen below the box is the typical red colour and inside will be the case and the pouch for storage so when the case is not in use it will be kept dirt and dust free…
Onto the case in general starting from top and bottom..
First off its got a nice feel in the hand and also grippy to hold which is good the BlackBerry Classic is not cheap but the build quality is quite tough and the case does protect it all round but when open you may be unlucky on how it lands but the inside of the case does overlap the screen so you should be fine..The top has a clip which closes tight and access to the power key headphone socket and mic. Also on top there is cut outs for the earpiece and the notification LED so when closed you can still see notifications.
The bottom provides access for the USB port and speaker grille and both front and back are joined here with a single flap of leather and its quite a seamless affair with no bulky joints..Also present is the Noreve logo on the bottom right hand side slightly raised from the case itself,this is not a problem but may catch in things depending on pocket etc..
The back of the case is rather a plain affair as most cases would be due to placement of speakers etc,all we have is the camera and flash at our disposal here and that’s all there is too it,front and back of the case are quite plain in general here but there is a nice look to it making up for that. When opened with no product inside we can see the Noreve logo embedded into the case top and bottom and there is that lovely smell of fresh leather to boot..
On the left and right sides we are offered ample space to access the volume keys and ports for Sim card and Micro SD slots,whilst shut volume keys are not really easy to touch but there is no need but the important sim tray and sd slots are easy to access,the device is almost fully covered here offering great protection all round and should see you safe if dropped..
Overall the case is quite nice and fitting it feels good in hand an not much bulk is added compared to what is on offer and it looks well to giving it that business look the case comes with all the features required to make it a non invasive experience on your points of need with all ports and buttons at hand with nothing obscured..
There is several styles of case to get for the classic and you can custom build your case too which is a bonus,check out the details below and do tell if you have a case of plan to purchase one in the near future..
CHARACTERISTICS
– Elegant case conceived in top quality handcrafted leather
– Hand-crafted manufacturing quality
– Easy-to-close case without non-magnetic closure nor snap closure
– Slim and padded design
– Protects the device in an optimal manner
– All sides protective case
– Access to basic functions (multiple openings on the leather)
– Camera lens & flash access
– Headphones and headset jack access
– Charging and synchronization cable access
– Beautiful interior lining embossed with the Noreve logo
You can buy the case starting from €55 and custom build from the options provided,this gives real fans a choice to build something for themselves , check out more at Noreve
LastPass which is a password manager is now free for new users on smartphones and tablets and it is quite a handy tool to have and if you do not have it now is your chance to avail of it FREE.. on iOS , Android , Windows Phone and BlackBerry World . LastPass makes things simple for your online life by remembering your passwords for you. With LastPass to manage your logins, it’s easy to have a strong, unique password for every online account and improve your online security.
In a blog post Lastpass state
“We’re excited to announce that new users can get started with LastPass for free, on any device, including mobile devices! You can then upgrade to LastPass Premium to enjoy unlimited sync across all your devices.”
Current free and Premium users can continue using LastPass without any changes, while new LastPass users can choose where they want to get started for free. If you’ve just signed up for LastPass from your smartphone or tablet, and therefore started a Premium trial of the app, the trial will be cancelled and you’ll be able to continue with a free account on that device and any other device of the same type.
There is a new model to look at too…
LastPass Free
Enjoy LastPass for free on unlimited desktops OR unlimited smartphones OR unlimited tablets – wherever you get started. The same awesome password manager features are available to help you manage your logins and apps, organize your digital life, and improve your security online. Learn more.
LastPass Premium: $12 / year
LastPass Premium is built around convenience and always having your passwords with you, on the go. To get the most out of your password manager, go Premium for unlimited sync across all devices. With Premium, you have access to a Shared Folder to conveniently share passwords with others. Also, add another layer of protection with Premium multifactor options, and get priority customer support. Learn more.
LastPass Enterprise: $24 / year / user
LastPass Enterprise solves the password and Access Management problem for teams big and small. We offer a centralized, cost-effective and secure platform combining robust password vaulting tools and cloud Single Sign-On. With a unified Admin Console, AD integration, automated provisioning, and Shared Folders with customized permissions, LastPass Enterprise has all the tools your team needs to manage employee access and enforce a meaningful password security policy. Learn more.
We have had our BlackBerry Classic for some time now and its time to talk about it and we felt the device faired out,going back to its classic design language its certainly more solid and has better looks and performs well all round its solid in hand and ideal for one handed use,pros and cons like any other device are present so lets look some more.
If you missed the unboxing take a look here first and have a look at the device.
Build Quality.
Overall i liked the build quality,with metal trimming around the entire device it gives it a good look and it looks tough just like the Passport,the trim looks well and gives the classic a premium look,the backing of the classic is also quite nice with a grippy cover it makes the phone much less easier to drop,although it fits perfectly fine in one hand it may be slightly to big for some,that was not the case for me as one handed use was how i used the phone.Check out the images below for a tour of the device and as you can see the quality is quite good all round.The keys are solid with good travel,non catchy and the sim and sd trays too are solid.
The Camera
Not bad but with the small screen you are hampered to some extent,there is a panoramic option though which you would probably be more inclined to use if you are any way a photo enthusiast,( I aint one really but do take pictures)the camera itself is 8MP with auto focus and sports a flash too and there some settings to play around with and HDR,this worked well also on the Leap and the passport…whilst it does take great photos as mentioned the smaller screen may be an issue for some folk..With a 2MP on front its also adequate so for any selfie fanatics you can relax.
The keyboard and navi keys
I was never a fan of qwerty keyboards until i tried the Nokia E71 to be honest and after the E72 i think was the last time to use such on a daily basis until the Passport came along and that keyboard was a joy to use,you knew you where hitting the right keys all the time even though it was cumbersome at times it worked a treat,the same applies to the keyboard on the classic although probably a bit too small my my shovel hands,the problem here is it takes up space and leaves you with a small screen but the keyboard is simple to use,the navi keys and trackpad are quite tactile and the trackpad helps out on the screen when viewing pages as you will need to navigate some more due to the screen size,they may look tight and clustered but to use they are quite good.
Display.
Ok the screen is small its 3.5 inches so you are limited as to viewing options here without having to navigate the screen but thankfully the navikey helps out here and as mentioned its tactile so zooming through pages etc is quite fine but you will notice this compared to larger screened devices on the market,.Outdoor visibility was quite good but viewing angles poor..
Sound
Dual speakers… No that even fooled me to begin with although aesthetically they look great one is actually a mic ,a trick we have seen many a time on other devices across the board,similar to the huge outer speaker grille and a tiny speaker underneath.the device packs great sound once its on a flat surface,if its in your pocket it will get muffled due to the placement of the speaker down the bottom,music sounds crisp and clear and the music player is also good,on watching you tube etc again sound reproductions proves the same and this department..The stock earbuds as in most cases with any mobile these days are kinda poor but if you have your own personal ones to use yes the sound is good when plugged in you should also note.
The OS
Same as the Passport 10.3.1 its reliable and works fine although there is a newer version rolling out as we speak,its been rather good overall with some frequent freezing issues which can be expected on any OS the lack of native apps is the main problem here which applies to window phone but thankfully we can sideload the playstore and get plenty of missing apps there some may render oddly on the device due to its size,a similar issue which applied to the passport so if you are an apps kind you should be fine once you use the playstore,my daily apps that I use worked fine although trying some others did not but what do you expect,there is enough apps to keep the average user who is not app centric happy. BlackBerry hub and blend are great features,Everything else is pretty much the same as discussed before on the Passport and works fine…
Browsing
Fine,the odd page freeze or render issue,this might bother some and screen estate is not huge so remember 3.5 inch is small compared to todays standards which is now 5 inches and up for most users but the classic i targeted at a certain market but 3.5 is small folks…
Connectivity
It comes with NFC which was amiss in the Leap,although NFC is still slow to start here those of us who have it use it well most of us and we also have peripherals to use alongside which is handy.Bluetooth 4.0 LTE ,Wi-Fi/Direct micro USB and we can also use it as a mobile hotspot. If you have Miracast for example this will also work with the Classic.
Battery
2,515mAh – Again its good like any Blackberry easily a day of medium – heavy use,if you are not so tough or reliant on media etc two days is no problem if its just for calls emails some social media and quick browsing.
Overall thoughts
I think they played safe here with an below today’s standard internals,its like a mini mini of the passport curved that will suit the business user,i cant see it attracting new customers but rather the current BlackBerry Classic junkie,the camera is quite it does everything it says on the tin for its intended market and thats it,for me its too small but I like it due to the the navi keys and trackpad,using a device this small one handed is a joy I must say even though i am custom to a bigger phone I could use this with ease ,it did take a few days to get used to it but once I got over the size it was nice to use,its been years since I used this form factor and it brought back memories of a love/hate relationship of QWERTY handsets because you will love it and hate it..Same applied to the Passport with its odd shape but that’s in a league of its own and will remain there for some time its a powerhouse with a funky design,the classic is for classic fans,one which i was not but it has a place with me now and its a good effort from BlackBerry that could of been a little better in terms of specs.
We have had the Blackberry Leap and the Passport and now its time for the more standard form its the BlackBerry Classic that’s just arrived at techbuzz headquarters. Typical with its language design lets take a look..
Today we shall unbox the Classics and take a look at it too and enjoy the image gallery and video below,any questions just fire away and stay tuned for more in the coming fortnight whist we take the Classic on a test run and see how it performs..
The Classic brings home some welcome favourites if you are coming from older versions with the trackpad button,also we have and phone call key,menu key,back and end keys which are all physical,these work well alongside the qwerty keyboard,again physical..
Top features of the BlackBerry Classic that drive productivity, communications and collaboration include:
BlackBerry® Keyboard & Trackpad – The QWERTY keyboard has stood the test of time as the iconic BlackBerry feature that users know and trust. Crafted for optimal speed and accuracy, the BlackBerry Classic’s QWERTY keyboard gives users the control and confidence to communicate quickly and clearly using one hand with a trackpad and classic navigation keys.
BlackBerry® Browser – The BlackBerry 10 web browser is amazingly fast and astoundingly beautiful. That’s why HTML5TEST.com rates it amongst the top mobile browsers for web fidelity.* Access your favorite online content as it was meant to be seen, faster than ever before and with unlimited browser tabs.
Screen & Battery – The BlackBerry Classic offers a form factor optimized for power communicators with a 3.5-inch touch screen display, 294 dpi HD resolution and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 for greater durability. The BlackBerry Classic also offers a large battery capacity and state-of-the-art battery optimization software. With up to 22 hours of battery power, you can be confident that BlackBerry Classic will be ready to deliver results when you need it.**
Premium Components – The device is built with durable materials mixed with top-of-the-line technology. This includes a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of device storage (expandable by up to 128GB via uSD), and a 2MP front- and 8MP rear-facing camera with enhanced optics and upgraded imaging sensors.
BlackBerry® 10 OS 10.3.1 – The BlackBerry Classic comes preloaded with the BlackBerry 10.3.1 operating system, offering a fresh look that incorporates updated icons and an instant action bar so that each user’s most commonly accessed functions are in the center of their screen. With this new operating system, users gain access to powerful features, including:
Having used the BlackBerry leap for some two weeks now its been yet another surprise on how BlackBerry have changed over the last year or two,once a hater of the devices i have changed my mind and the OS has also improved too which is quite good offering lots to its consumers and after using the BlackBerry Passport for a few months it really is a credit to the company despite its funny shape,the Passport is a powerhouse and if size is not an issue you should try it,But we are here today to talk about the next model up which is a 5 inch touch screen not shaped weirdly and not sporting a physical keyboard does it perform well all around,well lets find out.
Unboxing and walkaround
Design
Typical candybar,solid feels good in hand and robust its a perfect sized device,perhaps a tad too small for me but i could happily live with it,this is just my opinion i am far suited to bigger devices. At 144 x 72.8 x 9.5 mm (5.67 x 2.87 x 0.37 in) and weighing 170g you will notice it,even in pocket which is a good thing,it’s slightly thicker than some devices but its good and the rounded edges on the back flow nicely and the device fits well in hand,it’s hard to drop it too the backing feels grippy,it picks up dirt but can be easily cleaned off.
The Keyboard
Having used the passport as my main device i hardly used anything else to be honest,i got to like the physical keyboard,something which i have not used in many years in fact,though i was looking forward to going back to the virtual set-up and the keyboard on the Leap reminded me of the one that’s presently on Lumia devices which alone are good but this keyboard is also excellent and has many features present and again i found myself typing fast in no time from coming from the one on the passport.
The Camera
Quite impressive it must be said so photo fans can relax since mobile photography is a big thing with the camera on board it takes pretty decent photos with many settings to toy around with too,even as a point and shoot it takes nice pictures and to the untrained not fussy eyes this does a good job.
The camera is just 8MP 3264 x 2448 pixels, autofocus and LED flash doesn’t mean it can perform,it does and the more you tamper with the settings the better it gets,it’s also got a HDR feature which pops up to remind you it’s there and again it works well.Also on board is panorama mode,time shift and burst mode,this is quite a common feature nowadays.
These are taken under normal conditions which is the ideal situation to be using the camera,in low light we have the flash to help out and pictures turn out fine ,depending on conditions some photos may look noisy and flat,this again is not a device aimed at camera fans but for its price it does the job quite well so you have a decent snapper should you need it,personally i aint a camera happy guy but it done the job when needed,recording too is also quite good autofocus works quite well,sometimes to well and often locked on target especially with just taking photos so its quite responsive.
APPS.
Lets not waste time really here,native apps are not reaping but we have a choice to add the play store if you like,one good thing here apps i used all worked well on the Leap as opposed to the passport and that was just the screen design which made some render rather odd and pointless on screen,all my apps on android i use worked fine on the leap so again its an option for users to consider,BB10 has improved but we are missing some apps similar to windows phone which i also use and can feel the pain to some extent,the maps are just ok and there is several other apps missing but again the play store can help out with alternatives.With the Blackberry world,Amazon app store and the play store you will be covered.
Display
Its got a 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 (720p) LCD display,its good for its price but not great either ,sunlight legibility is not great this is expected for the screen and its price it would be unfair not to say plenty of others have the same problem even high end phones like the HTC ONE M9 this beat it,viewing angles also shabby but not bad im not one to pay much attention to detail here but at times when i want to read my device outdoors i expect to but this is a common problem all round regardless.
Battery
Its good,easily get the average user through a day,nothing like the passport but good even for my standards,im a heavy user and mostly carry two phones but with my main sim here in this it done the job well better than expected in fact,with 2,800mAh under the hood it can take a pounding,with me spending much time browsing,checking mails and social media i never had to worry about looking for a charger during my time and for me that is a very good thing,we are more battery concious nowadays than before and find ourselves needing back up or to be close to a charger,this is something you do not need to worry about on the Leap.
BlackBerry Blend is on board the leap,seamlessly brings messaging and content that’s on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet. Send and receive messages and access your files in real time, from whatever device you’re on.
Home-screen and accessibility.
As before with the passport we just have our static screen with icons,you can of course make folders which is useful,the drop down menu offers us plenty of settings to access so to move around the device is simple which is nice,there is many settings on the phone too giving a great level of customisation.Swiping to the left will bring you to additional apps you have stored and swiping to the right takes you to the blackberry hub which is simply great.
Browsing,Music – Media
Stock browser seemed fine depending on connection but again you can work around this at times but to be fair i could partly blame my Wi-Fi here,on 4G it was fast,this was also similar on the passport,overall it served well though and things looked good on the Leap Pages rendered quite quickly and viewing was on par with other devices at the price point,the speaker which is placed on the bottom is not bad but depending on where you let it sit sound will get muffled,aside that its loud .Listening to music is also quite good and with a decent pair of headphones you will not be disappointed overall for media.
Conclusion.
BlackBerry here in Ireland is pretty much a no go area for our providers which is a shame,it once was huge here but since the Z10 things went downhill with little or no option to buy it here in stores leaving business and enterprise fans annoyed who prefer Blackberry,this device is aimed at the younger generation but offers more than one might think,one thing that lacks is NFC again this is no big deal in Ireland but its catching on with the like of wireless charging,I think between the Leap and the Passport blackberry have turned a corner,having said that BlackBerry is now a niche but if they continue to dish out good devices they have a chance to re claim their stake. On a personal level i think the device is well priced and it offers pretty much the same as any other device in the price range alongside the added security.
The BlackBerry Leap costs just £199 sim free which is not bad and can be bought HERE or other leading online sellers.For the price its worth it..
The BlackBerry Leap has just landed with techbuzz and the 5 inch slate so far looks and feels good to use,coming from the passport i look forward to testing out the Leap due to its size and not sporting a physical keyboard,having said that the Passport has been a surprise shock as to how good the device is,the Leap comes with the latest OS of course which is 10.3.1. With 16GB of on board storage and expandable up to 128GB via sd there is also plenty of memory.
Sporting a 5 inch HD screen its vibrant,pixel density is 294 ppi 720 x 1280 We have an 8MP auto focus camera and flash with 1080p recording, A 2MP front facing camera with 720p ,The battery is a 2800 mAh non removable,this should give the average user a full days use,we shall find out more over the coming days just how good it is…
Unboxing and walkaround
Security to keep Private Matters Private
Best-in-class BlackBerry Keyboard
BlackBerry Hub
Battery that powers through a full day
More ways to access apps
The power of BlackBerry on your computer and tablet
