Here’s the hands-on BlackBerry Passport video you’ve been clamoring for [Updated]

So how about it, prospective smartphone buyers? Are you still clamoring for the BlackBerry Passport? If so then you’ll definitely want to check out a new video flagged by CrackBerry that was produced by U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse that gives us a nice little hands-on demonstration of BlackBerry’s upcoming smartphone that will go head-to-head with the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4 this September.

FROM EARLIER: BlackBerry: Consumers are ‘clamoring’ for our new square smartphone.

In the video, Carphone Warehouse shows off some of the Passport’s outside-the-box features such as the new touch-sensitive physical keyboard that essentially doubles as a giant trackball that will let you scroll up and down on pages just by running your fingers over its keys. Carphone Warehouse also praises the Passport’s wide square display, which it points out is terrific for everyone who loves reading and editing spreadsheets on their smartphones. In other words, it looks like the Passport will be a tool, not a toy, that can be used for real work.
The video also shows off the new BlackBerry Assistant feature, which for the first time gives BlackBerry users the same kind of voice-enabled personal assistant that’s long been enjoyed by iPhone fans with Siri and by Android fans with Google Now.

UPDATE: Well, that’s annoying — the video has now been taken private, likely because it showed off key features on a device that hasn’t officially been released yet. If we find another version of the video saved elsewhere, we’ll be sure to post it below.

UPDATE 2: We knew you wouldn’t let us down, Russian YouTube users! Check out a new copy of the video below:




Source : bgr.com

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Typo BlackBerry-esque iPhone keyboard draws lawsuit

Remember that BlackBerry keyboard-looking case for the iPhone that popped up at the tail end of 2013? Looks like BlackBerry saw it too, and they weren't too happy about how similar it looked to their own handset models. The Typo iPhone keyboard is the subject of a brand new California court case which suggests the accessory is a "blatant" copy of BlackBerry's own designs.

While we'll leave the chatter about BlackBerry's current financial situation and sales to the SlashGear BlackBerry tag portal for your perusal, today's lawsuit isn't really about the cash. Instead it's about BlackBerry's protection of their own patent rights, the likes of which they have plenty of, to be sure.

    "This is a blatant infringement against BlackBerry's iconic keyboard, and we will vigorously protect our intellectual property against any company that attempts to copy our unique design. From the beginning, BlackBerry has always focused on offering an exceptional typing experience that combines a great design with ergonomic excellence.

    We are flattered by the desire to graft our keyboard onto other smartphones, but we will not tolerate such activity without fair compensation for using our intellectual property and our technological innovations." - Steve Zipperstein, BlackBerry's General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer

How this will affect the appearance of Typo Products at CES 2014, we can't be sure. This is their headline product, after all, using the following introduction for their Digital Experience appearance during the conference:

    "Introducing what people all over the world are already calling a total game changer..the first ever physical keyboard for an iPhone..the Typo Keyboard." - Typo Products

Stay tuned and we shall see! This company was founded by founded by entrepreneur Laurence Hallier and TV host and media personality Ryan Seacrest, certainly nothing to scoff at lightly!





VIA: Engadget, BlackBerry

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LG Enact Android slider keeps Verizon in the QWERTY business

It’s not as if the LG Enact was the last device on the planet to offer a full physical keyboard with Android software – though the most recent entry with Verizon was the BlackBerry Q10. This LG device brings a sliding front panel that reveals a full QWERTY keyboard much in the same way that the Motorola DROID 4 did back in February of 2012. There’s also a near-identical device by the name of LG Mach that was released earlier this year – not that you’d need to know that if you’re sticking with Verizon.

This device works with many of the LG-made software innovations that’ve appeared on higher-end Android devices from the manufacturer over the past several months. You’ll be working with QSlide 2.0, meaning you can have two apps open at once, and QuickMemo – a note-taking service that also works over screenshots. LG has also added what’s called Q Translator, able to use this device’s camera to scan and translate text in 44 different languages.

On its back, the LG Enact works with a 5 megapixel camera able to record 1080p HD video, while a front-facing VGA camera works with LG’s “Cheese Shutter” – saying, “Cheese” takes a photo. You’ve got other software features for the camera added by LG like HDR, Panorama, VR Panorama, Beauty Shot, and Continuous Shot.

Up front the LG Enact features a 4-inch WVGA display at 800 x 400 pixels with a Corning Gorilla Glass pane to protect it. The slide-out keyboard features 5 rows of keys and dedicated keys for Google Search as well as Write & Share. Inside you’ll find a 2460mAh battery that should easily keep your usage time up to a full day.

This device is launching with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus dual-core processor at 1.2GHz clock speed and you’ll be rolling with 8GB of internal storage. There is a microSD card slot – if you’re worried about the tiny built-in storage – that you can use to expand your space by another 64GB. LG Enact is available starting this week for $19.99 USD on a two-year contract.

VIA: Verizon

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