BlackBerry Debuts Z10, Q10 Smartphones
BlackBerry (which is not only the brand, but also the new name of RIM) announced two new smartphones, the Z10 and the Q10. Both devices run BlackBerry 10, its new mobile operating system. As Blackberry has said many times, the Z10 is an all-touch device and the Q10 is a QWERTY keyboard device.
The two devices share most specs and features, which include dual-core 1.5-GHz processors with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage. They each include an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture. The camera application includes a new feature called TimeShift, which lets users select from a range of photos to get the best one. The Z10 and Q10 also include user-facing 2-megapixel cameras that can record 720p HD video.
The devices will support NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS, but BlackBerry was quiet on what cellular networks the devices would support. Given the large number of carriers rolling out the new platform, it is safe to assume 4G support is included.
The Z10 has a 4.2-inch LCD screen with 1280 x 768 pixels, making it capable of displaying HD content. The Q10 has a physical QWERTY keyboard and a smaller touchscreen that has 720 x 720 pixels.
Both devices have BlackBerry 10, which is a completely revised operating system. It uses gesture-based actions to move from screen to screen and the BlackBerry Hub, which brings together all communications avenues into a single master inbox. The operating system has a new HTML5 browser, Story Maker for creating videos and business-friendly features such as BlackBerry Safeguard and Balance.
The new BlackBerry Messenger application for BB10 includes the same IM features as before, but is now able to conduct free two-way video chats and VoIP-based phone calls. The app can also be used to share screens between two BB10 devices.
As far as availability is concerned, the Z10 will be sold by all four major U.S. carriers, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless. Only Verizon has announced pricing; it will charge $199 for the Z10 with a new two-year contract. Neither device will be available in the United States until the middle of March, though they'll reach the United Kingdom on January 31 and Canada on February 1.
Source: Information Week
Write a comment below. No registration needed!
