At the beginning of 2013 we had full overview Blackberry OS 10, which covered all aspects of this operating system in detail.

At that time, the quality of implementation of individual applications and system functions left much to be desired, the company was clearly in a hurry, and the OS was frankly raw, which could be encountered with constant use of phones on it. After two years and several intermediate versions, many children's sores have been removed, the system has become stable and the interface solutions have changed slightly, new features have appeared, for example, the function of working with phones from a PC or tablet, which is called Blend. The number of changes deserves to be discussed in a separate article, and it is also needed in order not to repeat itself in each of the reviews of devices on Blackberry OS 10.3.x.

Since Blackberry OS can be used both on fully touch devices and on models equipped with a physical QWERTY keyboard, Blackberry Passport (OS version 10.3.1.747) was chosen to describe the OS.

Interface, gestures - how to control a smartphone

When you first turn on any device on the BB10, you will be prompted to view small tips that will teach you how to operate your smartphone.

Gestures look like this: from the bottom of the screen up - minimize the current application and go to the screen with everyone running programs where they will be presented as thumbnails. The multitasking is such that it only supports up to eight applications in memory, but standard applications can run in the background. Even if you delete all applications from memory, the latter will be displayed as translucent tiles, this is done to show what you were working with. This option can be disabled in the menu, but in my opinion it is convenient.

An important tip - you can unlock the screen without even turning it on, just swipe up from the bottom.

From the screen with thumbnails of applications that are running, you can close them. By moving from right to left, you open the main menu, it is represented by a matrix of 4x5 icons. As new programs are added, the number of screens increases, icons are located on them. You can sort icons in the same way as in Android / iOS, long press to enter editing mode and you can move application icons around the screen. Non-system applications are displayed with a trash can icon, by clicking on it, they can be deleted from memory. By moving the icon of one application to another, you will create a folder.

The ideology of the system is very simple, understandable and resembles that in other operating systems, with the exception of how the context menus look and where they are located. In most programs context menu presented at the top of the screen, you have to pull the edge. In contrast to version 10, a lot of work has been done on the bugs, the standard applications are made clear, and it is obvious how to work with them. For example, all modes of operation are immediately visible in the calculator, there is no need to enter the context menu. This is a big plus for the system, all the roughness has been removed.

The main screen has a ruler with tips which screens are present - you can click on their icons to quickly jump to them. The leftmost screen is always the BB Hub, which brings together all your mail accounts, social media accounts, BBM. You can see notifications, mail and so on in one place. You can also get here using the up and right gesture.

If you revive the smartphone using the power key, you will see a screen that displays icons of notifications from the BB Hub, the time, as well as a list of events for the current day, missed events. Everything is pretty simple and straightforward. Pulling the screen down, you will see an orange clock, you can set it as a screensaver (they are not constantly on the screen, but they will be visible when you wake up).

On the main screen, you can pull the screen down, then two rows of 6 icons will appear for fast switching functions (there is also a second screen) - alarm clock, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, notifications, screen rotation lock, settings and others. You can change the location of the icons, their order, which dramatically increases the value of this menu, you customize it to your preferences.

In order to make it easier to work in applications, a line with action icons has been added for them, the default action always takes the central place. In the message list, for example, this is the "Write a message" icon. This action is called Signature Action, it changes depending on the menu and function, but there is complete predictability - that is, there is no confusion, and you get exactly what you expect from the phone. In 10.3, most of the application's options were hidden in the menu, which is called up by moving across the screen from left to right. It perfectly complements the context menu (moving from top to bottom).

In general, speaking about how the interface works, I note that it has become clear, logical, and no roughness is observed.

On-Screen Keyboard - Smart Touch Recognition

The history of Blackberry is directly related to the QWERTY keyboard, and its physical absence in touchscreen phones has turned into a kind of flaw, as users do not see the difference between the company's phones and iPhone / Android smartphones. On the latter, you can install dozens of different keyboards of varying degrees of complexity and convenience. The Blackberry 10 tried to eliminate this shortcoming and offer a virtual keyboard that will be as convenient as possible.

Many companies can draw on the screen a keyboard with the correct layout and a convenient arrangement of keys. Blackberry has made a good option, but the difference in the system is not in the external display. Each user has an individual typing style, touch time, pressure, speed. In BB10, the system analyzes your typing style and adapts to it, it happens very quickly. Sounds like a marketing gimmick, but it works in practice, which makes the keyboard more comfortable.

Another point is related to the word guessing system. As you type, different words appear between the rows of keys (for any language). The more likely you are to use a word, the closer it will be to your fingers, the most likely word will appear on the space bar. You just have to send the word up with a gesture, and it will appear in the input line. Other companies have no analogues; to some extent, SwiftKey on Android provides similar functionality. A very interesting and nice feature that really makes the keyboard on the BB10 unique and very functional. You can get used to this typesetting in a matter of minutes, then your text input speed becomes cosmic. You can erase a word simply by swiping from right to left on the keyboard - convenient.

The horizontal keyboard is not available in all applications (for example, BBM does not have one, since the messenger has only a vertical orientation). Where this keyboard is, it covers most of the screen, only the input line is visible.

Switching on-screen keyboard one click is now possible, which is convenient and similar to most platforms.

At the moment, no alternative keyboards for BB10 no, they are unlikely to appear in the future, this is not Android. Other ways to enter text are voice dictation. But its quality is noticeably inferior to both Google Voice and Apple's service. A tribute to fashion, which is implemented at an intermediate level (Russian language is supported).

File System - File Manager

BB10 has its own file manager that shows the folder structure and also lets you display folders in connected services like Dropbox. Let me remind you that Blackberry is struggling with the lack of applications and is using all the means for this. The Playbook added the ability to run some Android apps, although there weren't many. Exactly the same approach was applied here, but this leads to very bad consequences.

There is a Misc folder in the file manager where you can find the Android folder and further - full copy all your media files (you can open them, for example, start a video). Moreover, the Music folder has two options - Music, music. This is clearly done for compatibility with Android software. But the problem is that any of the files in this folder can be deleted! And he will disappear everywhere. Many people may think of the files in these folders as duplicates and try to delete them. The consequences will be sad, they will delete all their information.

Why it was impossible to close this folder from deletion, viewing, and so on, is completely unclear to me. Moreover, the search inside the file manager does not display files from this folder, which is logical. But why show it then? Again, someone missed and just forgot to get it right.

Blackberry Hub - Mail, Social Media, BBM

In the settings, you can specify all accounts of social networks, mail, set up BBM. It has become a common occurrence when a manufacturer offers to specify your data in one place and then transfers it to applications.

The Blackberry Hub contains information from all connected accounts, it is presented in a general list. It's nice that you don't have to switch between different applications and respond immediately, you don't need to think about which application will send the response. At the level of an idea, everything is fine here, only individual applications fail, for example, twitter.

You can search for information from different sources, filter it by folder, and so on. In the general list, you can select messages from different sources and immediately delete them. The Hub device is such that it is convenient for those who communicate a lot and do not want to miss calls to their person. Convenient thing. But most importantly, you can edit the list of services that are presented in the hub, which increases its value.

Perhaps, you can write whole treatises about mail on Blackberry, after all, the guys ate more than one dog on this. The mail implementation is excellent, the maximum number of chips is supported, there is html in the body of letters, selective image loading, the ability to add events to the calendar, notify people, and so on. The flexibility of mail is maximum, which is why many people love Blackberry. If your work is directly related to mail, then Blackberry devices offer very rich opportunities in this aspect. On other operating systems, you can approach Blackberry in this vein, but hardly surpass it.

Each mailbox displays not only the list of messages, but also the events recorded in the calendar (just drag the list down, they will be at the top).

Working with attachments is also not difficult, you can open them, select text and immediately insert them into letters. No excitement, but as a tool, Blackberry mail is excellent.

A few words about Blackberry Messenger. For those who have a social circle using it, this is a great suggestion (all existing and popular services have copied it, for example, WhatsApp). It all depends solely on whether you use such services.

With SMS / MMS everything is extremely simple, and no explanation is required.

For social networks, third-party applications developed specifically for Blackberry are used. As a rule, these are simplified versions. official clients, which have a small set of features, lag far behind versions on other OS.

Blackberry Blend - work on a PC or tablet with a phone

The unique Blackberry Blend feature allows you to turn your computer or tablet into a remote terminal for working with your phone, that is, to give a large screen on which it is more convenient to work with data.

So, you can connect to a PC or tablet via USB, Wi-Fi, cellular network, and then on the big screen you will have access to mail, calendar, BBM messages, SMS, contacts and multimedia files. Make your edits and they are immediately sent to your phone. You can copy photos to your computer.

Only one can connect to the phone at a time. external device... You enter the pin-code, more precisely, confirm it on the screen and you can start working. Whether it's BBM, messages or mail. In fact, before you all the contents of your phone in a very convenient and accessible form. For example, I connected Blend to a computer (MacBook) and also iPad tablet, and was happy to work with mail without taking out the phone.

Blend on iPad:

Blend on PC:

Many people may have a quite natural question: why do you need a second device if you already have a phone. I will answer it like this: firstly, on the phone you can configure closed accounts for example, corporate, which you do not install on other devices. Secondly, from a security point of view, the protection on the Blackberry is higher than that of the same iPad, and data is not transmitted to other devices, they are temporarily shown on the screen, this is also a plus. Finally, in terms of convenience, the phone becomes the entry point for all mail, which makes sense. You can answer from him, but use a full keyboard on the computer, which is extremely convenient. It was this feature that became a priority for me in Classic, and I literally got hooked on it. However, check out the video that explains how Blend works.

Phone book, contacts

All contacts can be imported from Gmail, Outlook or another service, then the choice, as usual, is yours. Sort by first name, last name or company. When making a new contact on your phone, you can immediately select a ringtone and a separate ringtone for messages (listen immediately). The maximum number of fields, which you will not surprise anyone with today. But in general, The address book makes a very good impression. You can choose the sources of your contacts, which gives you some flexibility.

When viewing a contact, you see not only information about him, but also activity on social networks, as well as all correspondence with him on a separate tab (SMS, mail, and so on). A very curious option was also buried in the settings - a cloud from RIM (namely from RIM). Contact data is transmitted to the company's servers, and then additional information is searched on the Internet, and you see the final result in the contact's bookmarks. It sounds curious, but I never managed to test how it works in practice - my contacts, apparently, are not very popular, and BB could not find them.

By default, you can make certain contacts to favorites, they will be displayed at the top of the list. Search for a contact by name can be in any language, a quick jump bar by the first letter in two languages.

When dialing numbers, you have the usual menu, at the same time, the call lists are ordinary, here you can add numbers speed dial(not to be confused with the favorites in the phone book).

Calendar

The app is nicely rendered and can merge calendars from various sources (Gmail, Outlook, Exchange, and so on). Traditionally, the performance is per day, week, month. Events from mail are automatically recorded in records. Vertical screen orientation only. The application has no serious shortcomings, it fulfills its functions to the fullest.

Applications for work - office files

Blackberry was originally aimed at business users, so there have always been many interesting finds in regards to applications. In BB10, the applications known from the previous version of the OS have been reworked, and new ones have been added. Let's start with the simplest - the calculator has a tip calculation mode, as well as a currency converter.

Remember application is an advanced notepad that allows you not only to write down text, but add almost any files to it, set tags. The main thing is that this application perfectly syncs with Evernote and shows all your notes both there and from there. I recommend the program from the bottom of my heart, it is useful.

Programs for accessing BOX, Dropbox only ask you for a password, as well as a number of settings. Then the corresponding folders are built into the system, and your photos are uploaded to the service. Everything is extremely simple and works like a clock.

Print to Go - install the program of the same name on your computer, and you will see an icon in the "Printers" section. Any document can be sent for printing, it will appear electronically on your smartphone. A fairly convenient and easy way to share documents, save them to yourself. On the other hand, if you use Evernote, Dropbox, then you will not need this program. It duplicates the functions that they offer.

Docs to Go is an editor and reader for MS Office files. Supported Word, Excel (both creating and editing files), MS PowerPoint (only reading and editing, you cannot create files, which is logical and correct). I did not conduct any format compatibility tests, but the program read all the files I work with and allowed editing, there should be no problems.

The system is also preinstalled with Adobe Reader, it allows you to read pdf files.

Browser

The browser is built on the WebKit engine, and in tests it is one of the fastest mobile browsers... The pluses also include the fact that compatibility with HTML5 is also maximum, which does not play a big role yet.

The browser interface is simple and straightforward, double tap and scaling of the picture to the width of the screen are supported (fitting the text, but the font size does not change, which is a minus). From additional options worth noting "Read" (Reader), the browser just removes the site design and leaves you the text. It is very convenient. Site bookmarks can be placed in the main menu. There is auto-completion of the address line, saving passwords, and so on. Nice browser that raises no questions.

Blackberry World Store - Apps, Music & Movies

One of the main problems for Blackberry in recent years has been the lack of significant developers creating their programs for the platform. This problem has not been solved, despite the saturation of the branded store with applications, there are still few of them.

Since Blackberry OS 10.3.1, phones are pre-installed with Amazon App Store, you can download other Android app stores as well. Support for such applications is partial, not all of them work, and the geometry of the screen is such that it can be scaled up to three options. Support for Android apps is more of a crutch, they don't work very fast, but they work. You can even play certain games. But in general, it is impossible to say that this is a full-fledged smartphone, like any Android device. The choice of applications in the Blackberry brand store is noticeably smaller, but everything basic is present in it.

Navigation

When BB 10 was released, the Maps application was not just austere, it lacked cartography for a large number of countries around the world, including Russia. Now these shortcomings have been corrected, it is possible to lay routes, search for points on the map (both in Russian and in the transliteration of names). The cards do not make such a depressing impression as before, there is some progress. They are much inferior in detail and relevance. Google maps, but quite workable. In principle, no one bothers you to use the same maps from Google on BB10.

Traditionally, a compass is implemented as a separate application.

Blackberry Assistant

Voice control from Blackberry has matured a lot, now you can not only create alarms, calendar entries, but also launch applications, send messages, mail, search for contacts. A very wide range of possibilities, there is a history of operations and search. It also works in Russian, but here everything is still far from ideal. Of course, Blackberry lags behind Android in terms of voice functions for many years, but in version 10.3.x the quality of voice functions has improved, you can use them if you want. In some ways, this application is better than the same Cortana from Microsoft.

Multimedia - images, music and video

From the point of view of working with images, BB10 borrowed the ideology of iOS - all the images fall into a common feed, which is divided by month. It doesn't matter that these may be screenshots and photographs, there is no division, everything is in bulk. This is frustrating since there is an Android example where images are separated by type. There is a built-in image editor, it is quite simple, but functional.

In terms of multimedia, BB10, in theory, performs on a par with Android (versions from manufacturers, where a large set of codecs are added, they are not in a pure OS). So, the following audio codecs are supported: AAC, AMR, AWB, FLAC, M4A, MKA, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA. For videos, the list is as follows: 3GP, 3GP2, ASF, AVI, F4V, M4V, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPEG4, WMV.

Synchronization software - Blackberry Link

When connected to a PC, the device with BB10 shows only the memory card as removable memory, the built-in memory is not available. The drivers can be installed along with the Link synchronization program, it allows you to copy files, music, and the like. Regular program, which, by and large, is not needed.

Conclusions and conclusions

In two years, the Blackberry 10 operating system has changed a lot. There were no revolutionary changes, but all the existing functions were made convenient, worked on the UI, added unique chips, for example, Blackberry Blend, the analogues of which other companies do not have or are much worse. For devices with physical QWERTY keyboards, there is a convenient integration of shortcuts, work with touch screen became logical. In short, the BB10 feels like a mature and polished product, the exact opposite of what we saw two years ago. This does not mean at all that there are no small roughness in it, but the question is that they are small and do not affect the general perception of the system.

I really liked that Blackberry did a lot of work on the convenience of the Hub, for mail it became possible to send letters both in HTML and in the usual format, to switch from one display option to another. There are many little chips that make the email experience unique, and the appearance of these chips is the merit of those who ask for them, that is ordinary users... Two years ago, I could not recommend Blackberry devices for work, as their overall functionality and stability were at a low level. Today it is not very different from other systems, but the implementation of mail is much stronger. So BB10 is worth checking out if you are looking for a mail system and you know you are actively texting. In order to understand whether such devices are suitable for you, I advise you to look at the reviews:

I also want to note that at the moment BB10 is already of interest not only for fans of this brand, but also for ordinary consumers, the initial problems of the system were fixed in new version OS.

Today we have five versions of the BlackBerry 10.3 operating system available. The most recent of them, OS 10.3.0.1052, can be called a pre-release version, so we will try, based on it, as well as those that appeared earlier, to imagine what awaits us in the fall, and at the same time we will follow the development of BlackBerry OS 10.3 in comparison with the first leaks.

Initial setup

Changes meet us immediately. This is the modified interface of the application responsible for initial setup... There are no technical changes yet, mostly cosmetic.

And this immediately allows you to understand how large-scale changes in the design of the new OS will be. Multi-colored rectangles in muted colors without the slightest hint of relief, effects or frames. No rounded corners. Straight font. Forgive me BlackBerry fans - this is not good. If iOS dilutes this not even laconic, but radically minimalist interface with parallax and icons of menu items, and Android with a play of shadows, due to which it seems that one element protrudes over another, then BlackBerry can now be compared with the Volgograd steppe in winter - there is nothing , for which the eye could catch. Of course, BlackBerry OS 10.3 can be called poetically - White Silence (from Jack London approx.), But I hope that by September the situation will change and this will not have to be done.

Common interface

The first innovation that catches your eye is a blank screen. Just a blank screen - the screen on which the ActiveFrame should be does not disappear from the interface when the last minimized application is closed. You can admire the beautiful wallpaper on which the current date watermark is applied. As the creators say: “we returned to Blackberry Home screen to make you feel at home. " And to emphasize this, the former icon in the form of 4 rectangles, schematically representing Active Frame, was replaced by the icon of the house.

On the one hand, this is a kind of nod to the traditions of the 2000s and the history of RIM product interfaces in particular, giving rise to critics to shout that BlackBerry is stuck in the past. On the other hand ... It never happened that sometimes you see a friend's very beautiful wallpaper on the iPhone - and you want to see them better, and the damn icons get in the way?

It should be noted that here the designers were able to please everyone - and made the Home screen switchable. The "Display wallpaper" rocker in the "Screen settings" section of the settings is responsible for this.

Second, application icons do not have fields around them - “you asked - we listened!”.

Third, there are now five vertical rows of icons in Z10, six in Z3 and Z30, and five horizontal rows in Q10 and Q5.

Fourth, the icons are now new.

Fifth - new default wallpaper. New wallpapers seem to me personally - darkish and gloomy, and new icons - bright and unpretentious - contrast with them very much. Straight down to Hemingway: "His gaiety clashed with the severity of war, like a moth ... and a tank."

Active Frame got hold of several useful features... First, you can now swap application windows by dragging them with your fingers and arranging them in order of priority. The second is to restore applications when the smartphone is restarted. However, here it should be noted - it does not restore the application to the same place where it was when it was turned off - for example open tabs browser, or BBM chats. It will simply restart the application, but you don't have to look for it in the menu to do this, you just need to click on the translucent outline of the application minimized in Active Frame.

The bottom bar in all applications is now built around the "Main button". She is responsible for the most requested function in this annex, and on the left and right sides of it - " additional buttons"- minor functions. At first, the author took this innovation coldly - the eye, accustomed to a strict, laconic interface, irritated the bright circle of a large size in the middle. But oddly enough, this particular interface element is perfect, it cannot be removed or made different. And you understand this only when you are deprived of it (the author personally acutely felt its lack only after returning to OS10.2.1).

Also, the user can, at will, disable the signatures of the icons in the lower bar, thus gaining a little space on the display.

Instant access to quick settings. The user can now access the curtain quick settings from any application without minimizing it. To do this, swipe with two fingers from the top edge of the display to the center. On the one hand, this is good - no need to minimize the application before turning on WI-FI or turning off notification sounds. On the other hand, such a gesture is inconvenient - in any case, you have to either intercept the device higher in order to make this swipe with two thumbs, or do it with the fingers of one hand - for example, the index and ring fingers, which the overwhelming majority of people have of different lengths. When working on the go or with one hand, the combination of "swipe from bottom to top" plus "swipe from top to bottom" will be faster than "intercept the phone / release the other hand" plus "double swipe from above".

In general, the entire design of the system has changed dramatically - now it is white for Z10 and Z3 (in the case of Q10 / Q5 and Z30 - black) and all elements are drawn with thin black lines. And in all applications the system "main button - auxiliary" is applied. All small elements are bright and flat.

The cosmetic changes also affected the browser, maps, BlackBerry World, BlackBerry Messenger, music player and other applications.

Is such a solution beautiful? Partly yes, partly no. The icons look fun and cute. White background and subtle elements create a feeling of light, spaciousness, lightness. But flat white square pop-up windows - without any frames, edging, relief, look at least underpainted. It's as if the designers have left these elements for now and moved on to something more important. And after a while they will return and bring everything to mind. In the meantime - "White Silence".

Functional

We can say that a gift for BlackBerry users who are so accustomed to security - the ability to display on the smartphone lock screen not all messages (or subject email), but only the sender. Now your spouse will not be discouraged by the message “Pupsik, I miss” from “Ivan Ilyich Diesel”.

Now you can set different images for the lock screen and desktop.

Also, now from the factory in BlackBerry phones there is a pre-installed Amazon android-applications store, which is designed to compensate for the lack of some very important applications in BlackBerry World.

A new feature of the smartphone is the so-called "Enhanced Interaction". Now you can lock your smartphone by simply placing it face down on the table. Unlocking also occurs automatically when the phone is taken from a flat surface (moreover, it does not have to lie with the display down, the function also works when the display is in the initial position). And most importantly, the mute function is available to you. incoming call flip the display down.

BlackBerry Blend is a new software from BlackBerry that allows you to access phone functions - BBM, mail, SMS, calendar and file manager from your computer, laptop and tablet, including your iPad. Including it is expected that third party developers will allow you to embed your applications in the BlackBerry Blend, such as Dropbox.

Data counter. Now you can set the amount of traffic allocated to you by the operator and the day of data update, thanks to which your smartphone will warn you about approaching a predetermined threshold (for example, 85%) and about complete exhaustion of traffic.

Meeting Mode. From now on, the user can configure the calendar in such a way that he puts the phone in a predetermined notification profile in those moments when there is an event entry in the calendar. Actually a bit of a controversial feature as it works for all calendar events. It would be much more logical and more convenient if it was possible to set a record for each event individually.

Also, the calendar is overgrown with the "Agenda of the week" function - you can display all the events for the coming week.

Camera

The interface and the camera algorithm have changed a bit. Now she can shoot 720p footage at 60 frames per second. From the functions available panoramic and burst shooting, Time Shift, timer, HDR-mode.

In 10.3, they refused to take a photo by clicking on the display - now this action only sets focus. Removal is done with the volume keys, or at the bottom of the screen with the central button with the camera image. Also, now the camera does not have a choice of video / photo mode - video recording is started by the right secondary key, and also stops. While recording a video, the user can take a photo. The left secondary changes the camera - now you don't have to go into the menu for this, it is very convenient for those who like to take a “selfie”.

Hub

Hub has received big changes, both in terms of functionality and externally. Externally, it is now executed in the style of the entire OS, with the philosophy of the "center button". In OS 10.3, the main background is white, but in OS 10.3.1, developers will add an option in which users themselves can set the color between white and black.

The Speed ​​Triage function is quite interesting. It allows you to set two keys to choose from, which appear directly on a letter (or message) in the hub and allow you to quickly perform one of two actions with an element.

Also, the disappearing bottom bar in many applications (Hub, images, music player) allows you to expand the working area at least a little. At the same time, the central button is available to the user, and the buttons that call up the options menu and the navigation menu.

The algorithm for working with mail and messages has been significantly redesigned. Remote search for IMAP mailboxes will allow you to access your mail messages even if the messages are not stored on your BlackBerry. Also, the new Hub allows you to save sent letters in specific folders in a specific mailbox and delete source text when replying to a message Email... When working with attachments, you can now download all attachments with one button, without selecting each separately. In case you started typing a letter, and then got distracted and forgot about it, the Hub will save the draft and return to the standard form after 30 minutes of waiting.

Remember

The standard application has now added functionality - tasks have appeared in it. That is, these are some things, or actions that need to be performed by a certain time or a certain day. Tasks can be marked with a tick, or removed. It works great, and the only question I personally have about this innovation is why we didn't see it on a phone positioned for business before ?!

IntelligentAssistant

This is a new assistant that helps you navigate the wilds of the new OS and the Internet. You can enter queries from the keyboard, give commands by voice, or choose one of the most common actions you perform.

There is also a menu where you can explore all the subtleties and types of requests that are available to you. Unfortunately, the assistant cannot speak Russian yet. Only English, American, German, Italian, Spanish and French are subject to him.

Music player

In comparison with the earlier versions of BlackBerry OS 10.3 we already know, the player has got an equalizer. Unfortunately, not graphical with flexible settings, but only in the form of preset parameters, but at least something.

Android Runtime

BlackBerry is slowly but surely moving towards integrating Android more closely into its operating system. More and more rights and access have virtual machine, and more and more settings are available to the user. For example, setting rights. Unfortunately, the settings rocker is not yet available for us (possibly with OS 10.3.1), but the mere fact of their presence allows us to hope for new opportunities in terms of increasing the security of using the so-called "ports" without losing functionality.

Also, it is very interesting now that notifications sent by android applications are processed.

BlackBerry Software Logging Tool

Another one new function available to the user in the settings menu. This tool is designed to save device logs that you can send to BlackBerry to help diagnose and troubleshoot problems with your smartphone.

In it, the user can set what data he will send to BlackBerry, and where copies of the transferred data will be stored - on a memory card or in the phone's memory.

Summary

With the development of the BlackBerry OS 10.3 functionality, it is no longer just an operating system, it turns into an assistant at work, who begins to slowly guess your actions and offer exactly those options, or exactly those functions that you need at the moment. It's nice when you pick up the phone from the table - and it turns on the display for you and immediately prepares to enter the password. It's nice that there are "tasks" in the regular Remember. It's nice that the system is becoming more economical. Now there are no icons that occupy the entire screen, now they are more compact and use the display space more reasonably.

The system becomes faster, smoother. It processes commands more accurately, opens applications faster. Thanks to the pre-installed Amazone Store, there can now be more of these applications.

Yes, there are costs. Yes, not everyone will like the new design. Yes, the changed algorithm of work in some applications will make you swear at first. But as the saying goes - "Moscow was not built right away," so with BlackBerry 10 OS.

In general, BlackBerry 10 is like a mirror BlackBerry stories... Having only appeared in 2013 in OS 10.0, she is like a rickety baby in Sparta - a priori was written off by many and it seemed just right to throw her into the abyss. OS 10.1 is a struggle for survival, so that the BlackBerry brand does not completely disappear into oblivion. OS 10.2 has already begun to delight us so much that they said about it "now it looks like a real OS", and some even declared it the best operating system (Indian magazine Digit). It was a phoenix, at the moment when it rises from the ashes and is reborn to life. And now OS 10.3. She has already stopped fighting for the presence of "vital functions" and began to "grow fat" - the OS has already begun to appear that do not affect performance, but pleasant little things that make work not so much possible, but simply pleasant.

Editor - Artyom Vernigora

What can be out of the box

You can watch the unpacking process and reviews, and, the first review of BlackBerry OS 10 -, and now we will talk about what a simple user will face. Having bought a new BlackBerry, the user does not receive latest version BB OS. Of course, most smartphones will receive updates the first time they turn on after the box. So I, having removed the protective films from the BlackBerry Z10, first of all got into software updates. The current version was 10.1.xxx and the current version was 10.2.xxx. It was not possible to update by air. I have installed BlackBerry Link(application for synchronization with PC / Mac) and tried to update through it, but there was also a message stating that there were no updates available.

There is nothing to be done - I went to Google. After some time, it turned out that if in the usual way it is not possible to update, then you need an MTS SIM card. The fact is that although smartphones are not locked under a specific operator, only one supports branded BlackBerry Services in Ukraine. Accordingly, to update, you need to be connected to the MTS network. After that, I went to the nearest store and got a Sim-card. And so it turned out to be updated.

Another way to update the OS was described on the Web. By using third party program you can trick your smartphone into updating the software, but they also warn you that you can be left without a camera, for example. Of course, as a result of such manipulations, it will not fall out, but it will not start. And other problems can arise. So it's better to pay $ 1 for an operator card than to harm the device and get unnecessary problems, albeit software ones.

Life with buttons on your smartphone

It is hard to argue that any user experience should be based on habit. Of course, for the first couple of hours it is inconvenient to type on a new smartphone with a physical keyboard, especially if last phone with the keys you had four years ago. So before declaring that some thing is inconvenient, first it is advisable to study this thing in practice. BlackBerry engineers and designers know a lot about keyboard devices. To master and get used to it is a matter of the day. Although, to be honest, the first attempts to type the text resembled the first experience of ice skating.

A great reason to practice typing is the first setting of the device, when you need to log in to all accounts. A big plus is blind typing, when you only need to monitor the appearance of letters and there is no need to aim at the virtual buttons. But it also has a small minus - you and others will hear the button presses. For example, you read Twitter at night (well, you can't sleep, it happens), you see something unfamiliar and google about this topic. And when you start typing, you can prevent your spouse by clicking the keyboard. And with virtual keyboards, everything is quiet. True, this does not happen and often does not happen in order to create a problem out of it. I just lost the habit of “clicks”, and one of the first actions with a new smartphone is always turning off the sounds of pressing buttons.

I used to think that such keyboards are inconvenient, but after using this for a while, I realized my mistake.

Typing on such a device is quite acceptable and in some respects better than others. But it seems to me that it takes less time to tap than to press. Accordingly, in terms of typing speed, virtual keyboards are still slightly better. But even according to this criterion, it cannot be stated unequivocally - everything depends on the habit. In addition, on the physical keyboard, the buttons are slightly larger than the virtual ones, they are still easier to hit.

No matter how convenient this keyboard is, I personally am more impressed by the virtual one, because it allows more efficient use of the space on the device case. With the keyboard, the display is smaller and cannot be hidden when not needed. Well, and, perhaps, it is worth noting that each user is neat in his own way, and for some it is only a matter of time before the keyboard gets clogged and, possibly, problems begin with it. Be that as it may, this is a purely personal choice of everyone, it is impossible to say unequivocally that such a keyboard will suit 99.9% of users, but among its own kind it is clearly the best.

Apps and Android apps on BlackBerry

With the release of BlackBerry OS 10, the manufacturer promised that the missing applications in BlackBerry World will no longer be a problem, because Android applications can be installed on the new devices of the Canadian company. It was this point that interested me most of all when the Z10 and Q10 came to our office again. In general, this opportunity is not very advertised, but it is there. To install, you need the .apk file of the application, which you need to upload to your smartphone and start the installation. I used the first service I got on Google to get a file from Play Market... I searched for the files themselves on the computer, after which I just tossed the ones I needed in Dropbox and launched them on my smartphone. You can do it differently, but at that moment it was more convenient for me.

But first, a few words about BlackBerry World. There, as it was sad, it remained. Some of the popular apps available are simply Android versions hosted on the BB store. So, for example, an application of the popular social network"Vkontakte" after a day of use gave me a window asking me to update and turned off. And there were no updates in the store. I didn't bother to figure it out and took the version from Google play... In general, I did not find a lot of useful things in my native app store. Several popular games, a couple of handy applications. All the most interesting had to be searched in the Google store.

The installation process for third-party software is very simple.

You find the .apk and run it. By clicking on the large "Install" button and confirming in the dialog box access to the application, for example, to the camera (if necessary), you are waiting for the end of the installation. Everything. Fast and convenient. At first sight. In practice, updates will not arrive, and how to find out about them is also not clear. If there are 10-15 such applications, then not everything is so bad. But if you are a very active user different software and you have more than a hundred applications, then after a month of dancing with constant pumping of applications, you can, to put it mildly, get tired.

With the installation figured out, now about the work. Working applications of the phone, mail, calendar, reminders, BlackBerry Hub - everything is fast and ok. But when it comes to third-party software, things are a little more complicated. For example, the Twitter client, Carbon, works, in principle, fine, but if you switched to look at the incoming letter, and then return to Carbon through multitasking, wait until it starts again. This is not always the case, and I never caught the logic of what was happening. By the way, Carbon starts 10 seconds. I really want everything to start quickly, but in practice you just waste time waiting. The same problems occur with all unadapted software.

Another point is games. After trying to launch Dead Trigger 2 (from Google Play, of course), I got an error while downloading and that's it. There is Real Racing 3 in BB World, but it also looks like an early version of the game from Google Play. You can ride, but the graphics are not the most intense, and FPS sometimes drops, jerks and other troubles begin. Android version of RR3 could not download everything required files... Minor games like Cut The Rope: Time Travel are doing quite well, but there are also FPS drops. In other words, BlackBerry will not suit game lovers, as expected. This is definitely the wrong OS. But initially it was assumed that these are smartphones for business and communication, but not for games. There are tons of other devices for games, and this smartphone must perform other functions.

As a result, the feeling from the work of the "ported" applications is ambiguous. On the one hand, there are a number of small (read: undemanding) applications that work just fine. On the other hand, constant reloading of applications when switching to multitasking and the inability to launch individual applications (games, for example, or the same Chrome) leaves a slight feeling of anxiety before launching something new. What if something else won't work. Updates that need to be done by reinstalling applications and searching for updated.apk will become a separate problem. Maybe, of course, I just don't see another way, but this is the only option that was available to me. On the other hand, the Canadians still implemented the opportunity to launch something from Google Play, thereby making the working environment of their smartphones more attractive. Instagram works (not a funny and almost irrelevant joke).

How is it to use a BlackBerry?

Cool! Say what you like, but these smartphones have something.

First of all, this is not a dungeon. There is originality in these devices. Due to the low prevalence of the devices of the Canadian manufacturer, you can often hear “Wow! You have a BlackBerry! Cool!". And believe me, this should happen often with users of these smartphones. In any case, my acquaintances (and not so much) people asked me again and asked about the smartphone like this 10 times.

The hardware of the Z10 and Q10 is quite good. The devices have excellent displays, speakers, all these conversational things, cameras, there are 16 GB drives and slots for memory cards. All functions that require a quick response (dialing, messages, mail, etc.) can be quickly executed. Drawing of the interface and smoothness of animations occurs without problems. And small slowdowns of third-party applications are usually not so critical in Everyday life... Although I will not hide, when Carbon opened for 10 seconds, I unwittingly asked the smartphone to do it faster. Video from the Web also does not start immediately, you have to wait a little.

In general, I will not languish for a long time - everything that is not related to third-party software is implemented well enough for daily use. Even if there are hiccups, you can live with them. You just need to get used to the long launch of some (not all) applications. If the user previously had some kind of inexpensive Android or iPhone 4, then it will hardly seem to him that BlackBerry is thinking. But the user, spoiled by the flagship speeds of competitors, will notice that not everything happens with lightning speed.

Which of the two BBs is more interesting?

Personally, I liked the Z10 better, although I will not hide my enthusiasm for the Q10. I got a very interesting experience working with a physical keyboard. And honestly, if I needed a smartphone with such a keyboard, I would take the Q10. Otherwise, you should pay attention to the size of the display in the Q10. The 3.1-inch diagonal with a resolution of 720 x 720 pixels looks quite normal, but, for example, on Instagram, one photo will completely cover the display. Let it be a trifle, but not very pleasant, and in general nowadays it is more convenient to use a larger display - many programs are adapted to work with a larger diagonal. I repeat, if a person often types text from a smartphone and needs a physical keyboard, then the size of the display can be set aside, because this display will be quite enough for active correspondence by mail on the road.

On the other hand, the Z10 looks more like most smartphones. Its design looks austere without feeling cheap. If you remember, at the start of sales in Ukraine, the price of this device was at the level of the first delivery new iPhones... Now things have changed dramatically, and you can become the owner of such a thing for only $ 300. The button version is $ 100 more expensive. As you can see, the price is quite loyal. For the same money, you can buy a mediocre Android smartphone, which will launch applications from Google Play a little faster, but will surely lose in assembly, design and, in some cases, will have a not so pleasant interface.

Specifications BlackBerry Q10:

• Dimensions: 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4mm.
• Weight: 139 g.
• Processor: Dual-core, TI OMAP 4470 (SQN100-1), or Qualcomm's MSM8960 (SQN100-2, SQN100-3, SQN100-4).
• Graphics: PowerVR SGX 544
• Display: AMOLED, 3 ″, 720 x 720, 328 ppi.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Battery: Li-Ion battery 2100 mAh.

Specifications BlackBerry Z10:

• Dimensions: 130 x 65 x 9mm.
• Weight: 137.5 g.
• Operating system: Blackberry OS 10.
• Processor: 2-core Qualcomm S4 MSM8960, 1.5 GHz.
• Graphics: Adreno 225
• Display: TFT, 4.2 ″, 1280 x 768, 355 ppi.
• Memory: 16 GB flash + microSD (up to 32 GB).
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Camera: 8 MP, 1080p video recording.
• Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
• Interface connectors: 3.5mm headphone jack, MicroUSB, MiniHDMI.
• Battery: Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery.

Conclusions and personal impressions

I really enjoyed my time with the BlackBerry. I liked that, having spent no more time than with any other test smartphone, I was able to quickly set up all the services I needed and start using the device. It is worth noting that not every Android just takes and connects to iCloud, pulling out calendars, contacts and mail from there. Not every Android just connects to this mail. And I do not know why this is so. But BlackBerry does it without any problems. The design, subjectively, is just excellent for both models. Problems with the most important software (Instagram ...) have already been resolved. By the way, you can install maps from Google Play and use Yandex maps in our countries, which are probably one of the best solutions at the moment. But if that matters, BlackBerry World has Navitel.

The main question is: "Should I take such a smartphone for myself?" For games, no. Well, such smartphones will not be enough for avid game lovers! For communication, work and the Internet - very even a good option... For the average user, BlackBerry OS 10 will be quite a comfortable system. But, most likely, such users will still need a more advanced user who will show everything and help them master.

During the use of BlackBerry, I wanted to focus on the work of the software. After all, it is this aspect that is of great concern to users now. If they can't perform their tasks on a smartphone, then neither design, nor brand, nor any kind of magic can make the user experience successful. So now, with support for Android applications, BlackBerry has really become cooler. For businessmen, students and any managers, there is everything you need here. Evernote, office apps, navigation, mail, web, calendars, and reminders all work. The main services that I can't live without run on BlackBerry. Adding a cool enough design to that, you get a totally sane device for everyday use. And ending the title, I will say: "I liked BlackBerry even more than a year ago."

There is only one caveat: in order to enjoy BlackBerry, you need to love BlackBerry. You must genuinely like this brand. Otherwise, you should look elsewhere.

Experiences on myself: BlackBerry OS 10 a year later - video

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If you follow our news carefully, then you probably already know what BlackBerry announced today, and the most impatient ones probably already managed to install it using autoloaders.

And although we have already transferred our fleet of devices to BlackBerry 10.3.2, I still would not recommend that you rush. Yes, the BlackBerry 10.3.2 operating system works absolutely stable on BlackBerry Passport. But if you upgrade to BlackBerry 10.3.2, you will not be able to roll back in case you run into any problems, so I still advise you to think carefully about all the pros and cons of this solution!

So BlackBerry 10.3.2, which everyone was waiting for with the release of the new one, is already here, does this mean that BlackBerry has accelerated the development cycle? Most likely no. It is more likely that the company decided to abandon global updates, and instead release updates more often, but without such significant changes as with the release of BlackBerry 10.3.1, indirectly, this confirms that the beta testing of BlackBerry 10.3.2 has not been completed , and soon the program participants will receive a new version.

BlackBerry Hub

From the list of attachments, you can now open the email associated with this attachment, making it easier for you to reply to messages.

Now you can clear the list of recent contacts to turn off the suggestion of these contacts as recipients when you compose a message.

Calendar

The Calendar app has probably received the most changes: the Appointment Mode feature has been improved. When adding a new event, you can select the calendars, as well as the type and duration of calendar events, choose to set the Meeting Mode, during this event or not.

When you have scheduled a meeting, you can now see when that meeting will take place in other time zones.

Increase / decrease dates based on how busy the user is during the working day.

New calendar design with vertical layout

Camera

The camera application has received improvements in the quality of photos taken in low light conditions, in addition to this, the autofocus performance has noticeably improved.
The face recognition function has also been improved. How the camera works can be seen in the video below.

In my opinion, the autofocus speed has become much higher.

BlackBerry Assistant

In the new version, you can set the timer, pause it, resume or stop the timer using the BlackBerry Assistant app.

Unfortunately, BlackBerry Assistant never learned Russian.

Gesture control

For me, as a BlackBerry Passport user, one of the most interesting innovations in BlackBerry 10.3.2 is enhanced support for the touch keyboard.

Now, using keyboard swipes, you can flip through desktops and enter the BlackBerry Hub.

In addition, in addition to scrolling sites in the BlackBerry browser, there is a pinch-to-zoom zoom function on the keyboard.

Another new gesture, for all BlackBerry smartphones, if you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold your finger in place, the date will be displayed at the top of the screen.

File transfer

The new version of BlackBerry 10.3.2 received support for the MTP mode, which allows you to quickly transfer media files between your computer and device using a USB connection.

BlackBerry Browser

The BlackBerry browser has received support for voice playback in the page reading mode. This function allows you to enable reading a web page aloud, but the use of this function, while of course remains controversial, is geared towards voice reproduction of pages in English, if the text is in Russian, then the program has a terrible accent, as if an Englishwoman tried to read the text who has been learning Russian for a couple of months.

In addition, the BlackBerry browser has been updated to improve protection against known malware and phishing attacks.

Protected View Mode:

If you have other open tabs, you can return to them at the same time using Protected View.

BlackBerry Protect

One of the main reasons why BlackBerry 10.3.2 blocked rollback to previous versions, this is the new BlackBerry Protect, with anti-theft protection, which is included by default in the new version of the operating system.

A person who does not know your BlackBerry ID will not be able to perform the following actions with the phone:

Turn off BlackBerry Protect.

Delete data on the device using the security function under Settings -> Security & Privacy.

Configure the device for use after cleaning the device using the autoloader and entering the password by mistake within 10 times.

When BlackBerry Protect is enabled, if someone tries to activate a device with a different BlackBerry ID, the device will become unusable.

You can turn off this anti-theft feature by turning off BlackBerry Protect on your device. To turn off BlackBerry Protect, you must enter your BlackBerry ID password.

BlackBerry Blend

It is rather strange that the latest version of the operating system contains the pre-installed version of BlackBerry Blend 1.1, but despite this, it refuses to work with the BlackBerry Blend 1.1 installed on the computer.

Ultimately, for BlackBerry Blend to work on BlackBerry 10.3.2, I had to install BlackBerry Blend 1.2 from my smartphone and BlackBerry Blend 1.2 from beta.webapps.blackberry.com to my computer.

Therefore, if you plan to upgrade to BlackBerry 10.3.2 on your work phone and are going to use BlackBerry Blend, then you will have to use a VPN to update the BlackBerry Blend on your smartphone.

It is very likely that in the near future the capabilities of the BlackBerry Blend will be expanded by connecting additional applications.

Android application support

Despite the fact that support Android applications, on BlackBerry 10.3.2 has been improved, applications open almost instantly and work much more stable, the environment Android runtime applications, remained the same - 4.3 and on the BlackBerry Passport, can still use only two processor cores - this of course negates all the potential capabilities of the device.

In addition, BlackBerry 10.3.2 received a pre-installed Amazon store.

But my joy from this was short-lived, I was not able to buy a couple of TV series, due to the fact that, unlike the Amazon Appstore, in the Amazon store, cards issued by Russian banks are invalid.

For corporate users:

S / MIME support for ActiveSync

S / MIME support for ActiveSync - Import your S / MIME certificate into the certificate store and manage secure email settings in the BlackBerry Hub
Next Generation Enterprise Connectivity - Performance Enhancements and Firewall Access Protocol (requires BES 12.2)

Phone calls

If your organization supports multiple phone lines, you can make calls and send text messages using different phone numbers... Different phone lines can help you and your organization distinguish personal use and using the device for work.

BlackBerry World for Work

The new enterprise app store, BlackBerry World for Work, is now available for download in BlackBerry World through the BlackBerry World’s Volume Purchase Program (VPP).

One of the most important events last days was that the BlackBerry development team presented a new operating system BlackBerry 10.3 OS SDK. All BlackBerry lovers can read about it in our review.

This overview first of all lists for smartphone owners the features that will be added in the BlackBerry10.3 OS SDK update. This is new user interface, home screen, BlackBerry Hub, calendar and more.

All BlackBerry 10s will run on the new OS after its official launch and release.

New user interface

Signature Action: Panel quick access at the bottom of the screen has been improved towards minimalism and the removal of unnecessary details. The most used feature of the phone is located in the center of the bezel and is highlighted in blue in order to focus attention on it. Less significant applications frame the main to provide the most functionality of the main screen. Main function is static for each application / screen and does not disappear from the screen. Application developers should take advantage of this feature and apply this trick in their applications.

New icons: While the SDK did not include icons from the new 10.3 OS version, it took a fresh, fresh approach. We have listened to all your opinions in order to make the icons look attractive. I am happy to inform you that we have made them completely different than before; we changed them beyond recognition.

Home screen

Bottomless folders: now you can add more applications to one folder. For those of you who have many folders and want to put them together. Just click on a folder and move it to another, and the apps will automatically merge into one folder.

Blank home screen: One of the innovations for the home screen is that a "grid of running applications" has been added to it, which is visible even after the last used application is closed. Less confusion, more end-user experience. Plus it's a great way to show off the wallpaper on your desktop! In BlackBerry OS 10.3, a two-finger swipe has been added.

Quick access to the settings menu: now you can access the settings menu with just a two-finger swipe. In the settings menu, you can exit any application by swiping two fingers across the screen from top to bottom. You ask: "Why exactly two fingers and not one?" The developers made this decision because the swipe finger is already used in the functionality of the system. However, for this feature to be feasible, all third-party applications need to be rewritten from scratch. The developers ask you not to worry, from the home screen you can always go to the settings just by swiping with one finger.

More apps on screen: You probably noticed that the screenshots of the new OS had a few more icons than the previous ones. The BlackBerry Z3, Z10 and Z30 now have an additional set of applications. For Q5 or Q10 QWERTY models, one vertical column will be added.

BlackBerry A button has been added on the email screen to quickly download all email attachments to your phone. This is very useful when you plan to be in places with no internet, say, on an airplane and want all attachments to be available to you offline.

Deleting the text of the original letter: Now, when replying to a message, you can delete all the text of the original message.

Remote IMAP lookup: Even if you have deleted emails from your smartphone inbox, they are still available for viewing and downloading. To use this feature, you need to sync your account with the service.

Storing sent messages: This function allows you to save sent messages in folders you have created yourself. The BlackBerry Hub will shut down, automatically saving all content, and return to default settings after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Calendar and reminders

Weekly plan: The developers received a lot of comments asking them to add an "infinite" view of the plan. They have taken certain steps in this direction and added the ability to view the plan for the week. The weeks are located at the top of the screen, while you can see the general summary for the current week at the bottom.

Tasks in the Calendar: a minor addition that allows you to create a new task directly in the calendar and, of course, see other tasks added to the calendar. Tasks created in Reminders will automatically appear in the Calendar.

Meeting mode: Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your phone was too active in an important meeting when it shouldn't have been? For such situations, the developers have added a small option that will allow you to save face in front of your colleagues. If you have any meeting scheduled, you can simply write the date and time into the Calendar, and at this time the "meeting mode" will automatically turn on, and the phone will not bother you.

Reminders Update: Think about yourself if you consider yourself to be people who organize themselves with tasks or notes? In any case, the developers have made the "reminder" much easier to use for those who cannot imagine their existence without a clear organization of their affairs. Tasks and notes are tab-delimited, and you, as a device user, can set some as the default.

Other

Camera: The redesigned user interface makes it easier to take pictures, switch between cameras and modes.

Landscape display: When viewing a picture in file manager BlackBerry OS 10.3 now has the ability to view in landscape, just like in the Gallery.

Rearranging the list of settings: In OS BlackBerry 10.3, it became possible to rearrange the list of settings and rearrange the items you use most to the beginning.

Screenshots of the new OS

Output

It should be noted that this is only a beta version of the update from the developers. Perhaps in final version there will be some changes. In addition, we have talked about only a few changes in the "shell" of the OS. These are just flowers - the berries are yet to come!