BlackBerry Curve 9360 Review

BlackBerry is on the offensive -- having only just spawned three new mobiles that use its new BlackBerry 7 operating system, it's got a fourth lined up already. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is a slim phone with a full Qwerty keypad, aimed directly at the younger market.

The phone is an impressive 11mm thick and comes with the same keyboard as others in the Curve range, meaning more lozenge keys that sit separate from one another. The phone still has the same optical trackpad as all the others in the range.

The side of the phone has a helpful little camera button, which we’re always pleased to see – it might not be much used as the trackpad is best for landscape shots, but it’s an easy way to fire up the camera.

However, the screen is certainly a step up from others in the Curve range, with an HVGA resolution on the 2.4-inch display good enough for 246dpi – not the sharpest on the market, but certainly among the best for a phone in this price bracket.

The 800MHz offering is slick enough, and although we’ve yet to learn the amount of RAM packed in, is unlikely to be more than the Bold 9780 – owners of that model should feel hard done by in not getting access to the new OS.

Anyway, BB OS 7 means the same swipable home screens for looking at rows of your application icons, grouped together in various arrangements to help you find those you’re looking for. You can only seem to set the app drawer to show three rows or none – nothing in between, which may irritate some.

Well, it’s both good and bad news: the browser is a lot better, but it can be really slow indeed. Loading up the likes of MobileMegaMall.com saw the on-screen pointer freeze, pictures take a while to display and general sluggishness, even over Wi-Fi.

The messaging capabilities of the device are still as sparking as ever. We love the integration throughout BB OS 7, allowing you to easily flick between BBM, email and SMS at will, along with decent Facebook and Twitter integration.

The keyboard is high quality, if a little compact compared to the Bold range – but that’s nothing new. We were up to speed quickly, although one handed operation isn’t the easiest thing to achieve in the world.

Here’s some more good news – the media section of the phone seems pretty impressive, even with the slightly lower-resolution screen. Flicking through music tracks was easy (although navigating with the optical trackpad was a bit hit and miss at times) and we could find our favourite track swiftly.

Video looks good and loads quickly – we’re sure you’ll work out that this isn’t a phone for the movie marathon-loving clientele, but it’s more than acceptable for YouTube and some TV shows if you’ve got the eyesight to stand up to the squinting.

The Social Feed is an impressive widget – it’s certainly not new, but it’s been tarted up for BB OS 7 and will be winning feature on the Curve 9360 in our opinion, as you can check out Twitter, Facebook, RSS and podcasts in one long list, or separate them out to view individually.

We're really fond of the design of the Curve 9360, because it's very slim, and impressively light as well. We suspect if RIM is able to keep the price low, this phone could be a big hit with young people looking to upgrade their BlackBerrys.

But there's not much here to tempt Android fans to switch, as Google's operating system offers a better app selection and touchscreens too.


BlackBerry Curve 9370 Preview

RIM just padded its phone line-up with new BlackBerry Curve handsets. The Curve line is the cheaper of all BlackBerry phones and with the release of the new handsets, it is expected that the Curve will retain its position in the BlackBerry hierarchy.

BlackBerry Curve 9370: Identical Appearance with Curve 9360 & 9350

RIM recently released new Bold and Torch handsets and now, it’s the Curve’s turn to get a refresh.  The new BlackBerry Curve 9370, 9360 and 9350 handsets are identical in appearance and only differ in the networks supported — the 9730 is supports GSM / CDMA, the 9360 supports GSM / UMTS, and the 9350 is CDMA-only.

The Curve has gotten much thinner, now only measuring 11mm (0.43 inch).   The new Curve runs on BlackBerry 7 OS and will pack an 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, a 2.44-inch HVGA+ (480×360 pixel) display, a five megapixel EDoF camera (with LED flash and VGA video recording), Bluetooth, WiFi b/g/n with UMA, GPS / aGPS and NFC.

It will have 512MB of built-in storage (it’s 1GB on the Curve 8370) but it’s expandable up to 32GB via microSD. The handset wil be powered by a 1000mAh battery.


BlackBerry Ghost in the works with 4000mAh battery and more

A BlackBerry Ghost? That's what Evan Blass said on his Twitter account and while the BlackBerry series is trying to keep up with the smartphone industry, this Ghost model could be IT. Why? Maybe the fact that the rumoured phone might carry a 4000mAh battery which everyone needs.

Evan further revealed that the Ghost will be the 'first Berry to feature what has become the "modern look" for smartphones'. In other words, it will have thin bezels and at least an 18:9 aspect ratio from the display. A dual camera setup should also make an appearance, with the secondary camera acting as a bokeh effect specializer or an optical zoomer. Then finally, the 4000mAh battery that we mentioned is the highlight. There could be two variants too which are the standard Ghost and Ghost Pro that should be the premium model, this one is probably based on memory capacity.

One more Ghost tidbit: it's got a 4,000mAh battery, which would be one of the largest in a flagship-class device.

While that sounds great and all, there's one bad news about this. The Ghost series is actually manufactured by Optiemus, one of BlackBerry's licensees in India and that could mean that this phone is made for India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh since the company covers those areas.

Still, it's good to be optimistic and keep our hopes up. Anyway, the BlackBerry Key 2 is coming soon to Malaysia so stay tuned for our coverage at TechNave.com.


BlackBerry Iintroduces the most secure cloud-based communications platform for developers

Today, BlackBerry Limited has introduced their BBM Enterprise SDK (software development kit) that will enable developers to integrate secure messaging, voice and video capabilities into applications and services. Available worldwide this month, here are the things you need to know about their new SDK.

With more than 80 security certifications and approvals to date – more than any other mobile vendor – BBM Enterprise SDK leverages this expertise to provide the highest-level of security for messages, voice, and video for iOS and Android.

Examples of capabilities being provided to developers include:

Benefits of using BBM Enterprise SDK include:

There are already more than 4000 third-party enterprise applications using BlackBerry’s existing ecosystem of developers on the BlackBerry Development Platform, the company has a pipeline of partners ready to use the BBM Enterprise SDK when it becomes available, which support various industries such as healthcare, law enforcement, and financial services. To know more about the product, simply visit their website to check it out.


BlackBerry KEY2 LE coming soon based on FCC listing

We could see another variation of the BlackBerry KEY 2 which is the BlackBerry KEY 2 LE. However, it is not clear whether the LE stands for Lite Edition or Limited Edition. There was rumours circulating around the internet stating that there could be a budget friendly blackberry device in development with presumably 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

We could expect to see the BlackBerry KEY 2 LE make its debute during IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany. As always with all rumours like these, take every bit of information with a grain of salt and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like these.


BlackBerry KEYone officially announced with QWERTY keyboard, 4.5-inch display and 3505 mAh battery

TCL and BlackBerry have officially announced their BlackBerry KEYone smartphone. Formerly codenamed Mercury, the KEYone packs an energy efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixel resolution display, 12MP camera, 3505 mAh battery and QWERTY keyboard with a fingerprint scanner built into the space bar key tech specs in a 9.4mm thin body. Despite the small display it is quite heavy at 180g but this is perhaps due to the metal frame.

The KEYone will come with Android 7.1 Nougat and BlackBerry's DTEK security app along with the BlackBerry Hub communication feature. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details but BlackBerry are offering it at $550 (~RM2442) in the US starting from April. If it does come here, we expect distributor Brightstar to bring it in for a bit more than the US asking price.


BlackBerry Key2 now available in BrightStar and Shopee for RM2599

Today, the BlackBerry Key2 has arrived in Malaysia for a recommended retail price of RM2599. This is the successor of the KeyOne last year and it packs a mid-range tier tech-specs, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor with 6GB of RAM and we are only getting the 64GB storage variant. The display is also small at 4.5-inch but its resolution is up to 1080p. The battery has also improved significantly at 3500mAh and has Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

This time around, the new BlackBerry Key2 features a Speed Key which acts as a universal shortcut key that allows users to instantly access to certain apps, contacts and functions. It can go up to 52 shortcuts and that’s super convenient. To add on to that, it’s also BlackBerry's first phone to have a set of dual rear cameras. This will allow the phone to capture images in Portrait Mode and Optical Superzoom. Of course, a BlackBerry phone is not complete without a security function. It’s preloaded with DTEK app that manages your phone privacy, as well as providing a new Proactive Health check feature that scans and provide feedback on potential threats.

The backview of the phone, still the same look

Front view, yes there is a market for this, ok guys?

The qwerty keyboard is said to be 20% bigger than the previous one

Here's how the right side of the phone looks like, nothing on the left

The BlackBerry Key2 is now available through BrightStar Distribution Sdn Bhd and Shopee. Those who purchase it on Shopee on 12 July 2018 from 9 AM onwards will get a Shocking Sale at RM2499 + a free Bluetooth headset worth RM109. Below is the complete tech-specs list:

Stay tuned for more BlackBerry news at TechNave.com


BlackBerry KeyOne arrives in Malaysia. Available for pre-order at DirectD for RM2688.

You heard it right, BlackBerry fans. The BlackBerry KeyOne has arrived in Malaysia for a hefty price of RM2688.

Only available for pre-order at DirectD, the BlackBerry KeyOne sees the return of their trademark physical keyboard into our Malaysian market. Pre-order customers will also be gifted a set of JBL T450BT wireless headset and will most likely receive their ordered devices by the end of May.

You can pre-order the KeyOne by clicking here. Only a black colour model is available.

Other than the mentioned physical QWERTY keyboard, the specs are no pushovers and are actually quite impressive. They can be referred to by the following:

The Snapdragon 625 is no flagship processor, but based on certain reports it handles multi-tasking pretty well along with the 3GB RAM.

With that said, go check the phone out at DirectD today and don’t forget to stay tuned to TechNave.com for the latest promotions and tech news.


BlackBerry KeyOne unboxing and hands-on video

The BlackBerry KeyOne is slated for RM2688 at DirectD and it's also available in Brightstar Malaysia. It houses mid-range tech-specs with Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 4.5-inch display, 12MP camera, a 3505 mAh battery and QWERTY keyboard with a fingerprint scanner built into the space bar. Without further ado, check out our unboxing and hands-on video below!


BlackBerry Kopi spotted with BlackBerry Q5

One of the main problems BlackBerry has in the consumer market is that they have no device or BlackBerry smartphone to target the lower-end and entry-level market. Fans have had high hopes for practically every rumoured BlackBerry device said to be coming out soon, but it seems that one of the more affordable BlackBerry devices from the Foxconn deal could be coming soon bearing the name BlackBerry Kopi. Recently pictured side by side with the BlackBerry Q5 the device is nearly identical, except perhaps for a silver frame and textured backside rather than the standard all black matte. Unfortunately, there are only pictures, with no details or tech specs or even pricing. Rumours say the BlackBerry Kopi could be priced at RM818 though. BlackBerry have said that they will try to include 4G LTE support for any BlackBerry so we assume that the BlackBerry Kopi can do the same. No Malaysia release dates just yet but rumours say we could see the BlackBerry Kopi after Q2 of 2014.


The Samsung Galaxy Note series has traditionally been the performance workhorses of the Samsung Galaxy stable and while it pioneered big sized phablets, it is just as well known for its ability to do work on the go. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is no different and this time around we tried it out for 1 week with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 as my only computer.

Ok, first off, it is important to know what I use my computer for just so you have a point of comparison if you’re looking to do something along the same lines. As Editor-in-Chief for TechNave.com, I write articles and reviews, make and edit videos, cover news and events (so I also take and edit pictures), edit the work of the writers here, communicate with brands and my team (emails and social media), manage event scheduling and whatever else that is needed in running TechNave.com.

You can turn your smartphone into a PC with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and new Samsung Dex

I play games to relax and occasionally I watch video clips that might interest me. To be completely honest, this isn’t the first time I’ve used a phone as my computer, in fact I have been using a phone as my main computer for the past couple of months and once you get used to it, going back to a normal PC is surprisingly hard.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 lets you connect to a HDMI display via their Samsung Desktop Experience or Dex which is a virtual desktop separate from the normal phone desktop. This time, all you need is a compatible HDMI to USB Type C cable (if you want to be safe, buy Samsung’s) but to get more ports you can get the adaptor, the Dex pad or Dex Docking Station.

The basic setup is just a HDMI display or monitor, a HDMI to USB Type C cable and a Samsung Galaxy Note 9

These let you charge the Note 9 at the same time and you can also hook up a USB flash drive, mouse or keyboard, but we used a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard with no issues. You could probably also use a wireless charger and a HDMI to USB Type C cable but since the phone gets super hot during wireless charging we wouldn’t recommend this.

We used a non-standard HDMI to USB Type C cable and a non-Samsung USB Type C hub with USB Type C port, HDMI port and USB 3.0 port + HDMI to HDMI cable with nearly no issues. Charging with the adaptor did not result in any increase in heat or anything like that, so it should be safe to do so. Initial loading took some time, but starting up afterwards was nearly instantaneous.

Samsung Dex stands for Desktop Experience

The only issues we found was that if we used the hub, we had to plug in the power (using the bundled Galaxy Note 9 cable and charger) for the Note 9 to detect it and go into Dex mode, else it will just go into screen mirror mode. Also, we had to use a full HD monitor that can be adjusted as using a basic native HD (720p) monitor or HDTV will result in the desktop being displayed in the middle with black space above and below that you may have to adjust manually.

If you plan to go completely mobile, then we’d suggest a foldable or smaller bluetooth keyboard and a good stand. Thankfully, the Galaxy Note 9 desktop can go into landscape mode like most tablets, while the split screen and pop-up windows also let you multi-task with no issues.

While the overall look is more or less the same as when it first came out, the Dex interface has been overhauled with a larger App drawer that pops up to cover the entire screen when you press the Home button. Testing it on Microsoft Word and Google Docs results in great documents and smooth transitions. It also retains what you were working on even if you suddenly disconnect.

In Dex, the interface is a lot more responsive and accurate, so that when you click on the buttons and other areas they work smoothly. The number of apps that you can open at one time has also increased (about 20 at one time) and most apps work just fine now with wider Dex optimized mode although some windows don’t have the standard minimize, fullscreen and exit icons (most of them still work though). There is also now a helpful Help icon with reasonably useful help topics.

Capture, made and rendered using the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Cyberlink PowerDirector

Picture editing with Picsart Photo Studio is a blast as the window is wide Dex optimized but as mentioned previously, the top bar with the minimize, fullscreen and exit icons are blacked out. However, everything else works just fine so I could do my usual photo editing, resizing and so forth with no issues. Video editing on the other hand was a bit of a chore, perhaps because my app of choice, CyberLink’s PowerDirector is stuck in the smallest sized Dex window (so it hasn’t been optimized yet) but it works just fine.

Going mobile, to be honest, you can actually write one whole article using the S-Pen stylus, but I found that it was faster and more accurate to use my two thumbs to type out the post (of course, using a Bluetooth keyboard is a whole lot faster). Instead, the S-Pen offered a bit more precision and control for photo editing or when reviewing content from my writers as I could underline or circle or draw a lot better with the S-Pen than with my sausage sized fingers.

Most apps like Picsart Photo Studio has a wider optimized Dex mode

Using the Galaxy Note 9 and Dex mode was mostly an excellent experience as videos played smoothly and the bluetooth speaker worked well even with the bluetooth keyboard and mouse activated, something that not all phones can handle. With this setup we turned our unintelligent HDTV into a YouTube playing smart TV for some family movie time.

Games also played well, but this is for games that you could tap or click like VainGlory and so forth. For games with multiple controls like PUBG Mobile or even Hungry Dragon it isn’t possible to play well with just a single mouse.

You can still play most games but controls might be an issue

We did like that somehow Samsung managed to automatically map the AWSD keyboard keys for PUBG Mobile movement, but with no way to map the mouse for movement and targeting without clicking and holding, game play with the keyboard and mouse becomes tedious.

However, Vainglory is one of the few games where the mouse and keyboard work just fine though, so it is a good sign that Samsung are making this a feature for all games eventually. Gaming on mobile was super smooth and excellent as usual.

Vainglory is how all games and apps will eventually look like on the Samsung Dex and Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Overall, we can honestly say that the Samsung Dex on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is currently the most full-featured virtual desktop experience you can get yet. If you’re looking to turn your phone into your PC desktop and do work on the go, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a very good option you should definitely look into.

You may have to get some extra peripherals like a bluetooth keyboard and mouse or if you’re the kind who still uses USB flash drives then you’re probably better off getting the Dex Pad or Dex station or a hub but these shouldn’t cost much more than a few hundred ringgit (even the most basic branded separate desktop PC is likely to cost you about RM900 and above). Have you tried using your Galaxy Note 9 as a PC for a week yet? Give it a go and stay tuned to TechNave.com for all your latest tech articles, news and reviews.


11street Malaysia launches their Shop The World campaign, free shipping for global brands and more

11street Malaysia (www.11street.my) has just announced their Shop The World campaign designed to bring Malaysian consumers internationally branded products from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and USA minus the expensive shipping fees. On top of free shipping fees, Malaysians will also enjoy up to 99% discounts and RM1million worth of petrol vouchers (RM10 for every RM100 spent. The campaign starts from 11 March 2017 until 18 April 2017.

The campaign will include global ecommerce partners such as 11street Korea, UiTOX from Taiwan and WorldFront from Australia. Other global brands joining the campaign include Coleman, Laneige, MamyPoko, MSI, Philips AVENT and Primer Group who bring labels such as Flossy, Jansport, Native and Outdoor Products to Malaysian online shoppers with exclusive offers.


6G technology allegedly being worked on by China Telecom and ZTE

Based on a statement by abacusnews.com, it seems that China Telecom, as well as ZTE, could already be working on 6G technology right now which is expected to be commercialized somewhere around 2030. This early start into 6G is likely due to the fact that China wants to have a head start on the competition and have a stronger position in the telecommunications market.

While not much is known in regards to the improvements 6G comes with, we do know that the new network could support a peak data rate of up to 1 terabit per second. With all that said, what are your thoughts on China starting on 6G development early? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


BlackBerry Leap available in Malaysia for exclusive RM1089 pre-order at 11street.my

The new BlackBerry Leap touchscreen smartphone is now available in Malaysia. This comes courtesy of 11street.my who are offering the smartphone on pre-order at RM1089. It will also come with a number of freebies which include an RM150 11street.my shopping coupon for every confirmed pre-order purchase and a free leather pocket worth RM95 and BlackBerry cap for the first 100 pre-order buyers. The next 100 only get the BlackBerry cap. Shipping starts from 19 May 2015 with other retailers offering the BlackBerry Leap from 20 May 2015. The BlackBerry Leap brings 4G LTE connectivity, a 5-inch edge-to-edge HD display and BlackBerry's secure BlackBerry 10.3.1 OS platform for users who want a smartphone that is more secure. Here's what 11street and BlackBerry had to say about it:

“As online shopping is fast becoming a part of everyday life for Malaysians, we are well aware that many business executives and professionals are looking for a user-friendly, secure mobile device, which allows them to shop online at anytime, anywhere – all while safeguarding the privacy of their personal data. Partnering with BlackBerry here in Malaysia to offer consumers a mobile device equipped with high security features underscores our commitment to providing customers a safer online shopping experience.” Hoseok Kim, CEO, 11street

“We are excited to be working with 11Street and our other partners to bring BlackBerry Leap to Malaysia. It is a smartphone we believe will resonate well with our Malaysian customers. The latest addition to our BlackBerry 10 portfolio was built specifically for professionals who see their smartphone as a powerful and durable productivity tool, which also safeguards sensitive communications at all times.” Cameron Vernest, Managing Director for Malaysia at BlackBerry.


BlackBerry Motion revealed with 4000mAh and IP67 rating for ~RM1918

During the weekend, the BlackBerry Motion was leaked online showing that it could be the company's first KEYone series to remove the physical keyboard. But it's now official, the BlackBerry Motion was recently revealed in Dubai and not only the physical keyboard is gone, but it's also the first to pack the largest battery (4000mAh) and an IP67 water and dust resistant rating. Below is official tech-specs:

So is there anything special about the phone? Well, it has a Quick Charge 3.0 which can charge up to 50% in just 40 minutes (not bad lah). The fingerprint scanner stays on the new home button design and the OS is upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo next year.

Plus, like all BlackBerry smartphones, the Motion device has some security features too such as the Locker. The Locker offers users to store their document and photos inside the internal storage with a PIN code or fingerprint lock. There's also a Convenience Key that works more than a shortcut key because it allows users to actually customize four different profile pages for Home, Car, Office and User.

So what of its availability and price? For now, it's only available in UAE and Saudi Arabia, followed by selected global markets in the coming weeks. The price in UAE is Dh 1699 (~RM1958) while Saudi Arabia is slated for 1699 Riyal (~RM1918).

Would you like this phone to come to Malaysia? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more BlackBerry news.


BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 services will officially shut down after 4 January 2022

The BlackBerry used to be one of the best phones back in the early 2000s but unfortunately, the brand has fallen too far from the tree. On its website, it has officially updated that all BlackBerry OS support will end after January 2022.

The update was officially posted last week but on a silent note. Not only will BlackBerry OS support will end but as will BlackBerry 10. With that, basic features such as networking calling, activating cellular data, sending SMS and emergency calls will stop functioning. Keep in mind that BlackBerry phones that run on Android won't be affected.

Below is the official transcript of shutting the BlackBerry service down:

As a reminder, the legacy services for BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier versions, will no longer be available after January 4, 2022. As of this date, devices running these legacy services and software through either carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer reliably function, including for data, phone calls, SMS and 9-1-1 functionality.

Do you have fond memories of using a BlackBerry phone? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


BlackBerry PRIV pre-order on 11street.my at RM3388 reveals Malaysia pricing of RM3559

BlackBerry's latest BlackBerry PRIV looks like it has arrived in Malaysia, this time on pre-order at 11street.my. The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop powered PRIV packs in a physical QWERTY keyboard that slides out along with tech specs that include an octa-core Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (expandable memory up to 2TB).

The screen is a 5.4-inch display with quad HD pixel resolution and it also has an 18MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a dual-LED flash while a 2MP front camera and 3140 mAh battery completes the tech specs list. Personally, we're not sure if the pricing is low enough for BlackBerry to stay profitable but if you're interested, it is available from today to 14 December 2015. Shipping starts on 17 December 2015.


BlackBerry Passport officially announced

After months of teasing and leaks the square like BlackBerry Passport smartphone has been officially announced. Priced at RM2399, key features and tech specs of the Passport include a 4.5-inch screen with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution and a QWERTY keyboard with integrated trackpad capabilities. This means that while you can use the high resolution touchscreen, you won't have to as the trackpad lets you do so with ease. The integrated trackpad is quite innovative as you can just run your finger across the QWERTY keys, swype style to use the trackpad. Set for a release here in Malaysia from 10 October 2014 to 31 October 2014 under Celcom, the Passport will be available for everybody from 1 November 2014. Celcom is expected to start their postpaid plan bundles from RM638. Tech specs are very good with the full BlackBerry Passport tech spec list as follows:

The BlackBerry Assistant is a voice activated personal assistant much like Siri, Cortana and Google Now, while the BlackBerry Blend is a feature which lets you see and use your BlackBerry on other devices such as your PC or tablet. The BlackBerry Passport offers compatiblity with Android apps to go with existing apps.


BlackBerry PlayBook 2012 Specs & Rumors

BlackBerry Playbook 2012 rumors will be release by Q2 2012. The BlackBerry Playbook 2012 price in Malaysia is yet to be annouce.


BlackBerry PlayBook Review

The BlackBerry PlayBook isn't just the third major tablet platform to launch, or the first one to deeply poke at figuring out why 7-inch tablets should exist—it's literally the future of BlackBerry, since the QNX-based OS is going to be the gooey software heart of BlackBerry phones in the next year or so. This is not a bad thing.

The BlackBerry PlayBook feels good in your hands, thanks to a soft-touch backside. RIM’s slate is a hair thinner than the original Samsung Galaxy Tab but is an ounce and a half heavier (14.9 vs 13.4 ounces). Still, you can easily slip the PlayBook in a purse or jacket pocket, something you can’t do with the iPad 2.BlackBerry Playbook - Display:

Sporting one of the better screens we’ve seen on a tablet, the 7-inch LCD on the PlayBook has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. Colors really popped, text looked sharp, and viewing angles are wider than the muddier Motorola Xoom.

Don’t let the small speaker grilles on the front of the PlayBook fool you. This tablet produced booming audio when we streamed Florence + The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” with the Slacker app. At least for smaller rooms, you won’t need a speaker dock.

The home screen of the PlayBook looks a lot like HP’s webOS, but we’re not complaining. The center of the home screen gets populated with thumbnail views of apps as they’re opened. You can then swipe through this carousel and tap on the app you want, or press the little X below the thumbnail to close it.

The front side of the PlayBook has an enlarged bezel that surrounds the 7-inch display, which is there for performing various gestures. For example, you can get back to the home screen at any time by swiping up from the bottom of the frame. You can also swipe sideways to switch between open apps. The software is even smart enough to automatically pause video playback.BlackBerry Playbook - Wireless file sharing:

When connected to your PC via USB, you can either drag and drop files to the PlayBook or use RIM’s BlackBerry Desktop Software. You can also wirelessly sync files by turning on the PlayBook’s Wi-Fi Sharing feature under options. We got this to work, but only after enabling the Network Sharing feature on our Windows laptop. Also keep in mind that the PlayBook doesn’t sync automatically over Wi-Fi (like doubleTwist for Android). You have to manually transfer files in this mode.BlackBerry Playbook - Keyboard:

As you might expect, the keyboard on the PlayBook is fast and accurate. We could really fly with our thumbs when using the device in portrait mode. We also like the reassuring clicking sound, whose volume you can adjust. You don’t get haptic feedback, but we can live without it.

BlackBerry Playbook - Multitasking power:

With a 1-GHz dual-core processor from TI (the OMAP4430) and 1GB of RAM under the hood, the PlayBook certainly has the specs to stand toe-to-toe with the iPad 2 and other tablets. We streamed a 1080p video to a 32-inch TV while surfing the Web on the PlayBook at the same time without seeing any lag. Swiping from app to app was also fairly smooth, though the accelerometer took longer than we’d like to switch the display’s orientation when flipping the device around.BlackBerry Playbook - Web browser does Flash:

While the PlayBook’s browser lagged behind the iPad 2 when loading pages, the Web surfing experience is more robust because RIM’s slate supports tabs and Flash. Even Hulu works, at least for now. We first watched The Daily Show on Hulu, and playback looked smooth at full screen. However, Flash-heavy pages often mistook swipes for taps, which made navigation difficult. BlackBerry Playbook - Cameras & Video:

We don’t expect a lot out of tablet cameras, but the PlayBook captured some of the best-looking videos we’ve seen yet. Using the rear-facing camera (5-MP), we recorded a detailed and stutter-free 1080p clip of New York City traffic. The footage looked crisp both on the PlayBook’s screen and on a 32-inch HDTV. Still shots we took with the back camera looked fine, but the PlayBook was slow to fire, and the camera lacks a flash. In either mode photo or video mode, you can switch from the back to the front (3-megapixel) camera, which can also handle 1080p video. It’s too bad the PlayBook doesn’t feature video chat software yet, because it delivered a very bright picture.BlackBerry Playbook - Buggy software:

Unfortunately, we found the PlayBook to be flaky, with some applications randomly closing (like the browser). More than a few times we had to reset the PlayBook because it froze up, and at one point it refused to connect to different Wi-Fi networks. We hope and assume the device will get more stable as software updates roll out.BlackBerry Playbook - Requires BlackBerry phone to get BlackBerry Mail:

Imagine if you had to thether your iPhone to your iPad to use the email app. That sums up BlackBerry Bridge, which allows BlackBerry phone owners (OS 5.0 and up) to connect via Bluetooth to access BlackBerry email, calendar, contacts, tasks, memos, and BlackBerry Messenger. When your BlackBerry phone isn’t tethered to the tablet, all of these apps — and the data they contain — disappear. Security-minded IT types might appreciate this approach, but most consumers will be left scratching their heads.BlackBerry Playbook - Lackluster apps:

RIM says that more than 3,000 apps have been submitted so far to BlackBerry App World, and there are some pretty heavy hitting developers and publishers backing the platform. We had a blast playing the bundled EA’s "Need for Speed Undercover," using the PlayBook as a steering wheel to tear around city streets. We also like the included Documents to Go for viewing and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Other “apps,” however, are just shortcuts to Web pages, such as Twitter and Facebook. The third-party apps we tried fell flat. Take "iRok2," a "Rock Band" clone that’s just a repackaged version of the browser-based game.

RIM's phone lineup isn't exactly known for its long battery life. I'm happy to report that this isn't the case with the PlayBook. In fact, I actually got through an entire three days without plugging it into the wall even once. And it's not like I left the thing alone during those three days. I actually used it an awful lot, with intense sessions of Tetris included. Unfortunately, this fantastic battery life comes at a cost: the PlayBook charges incredibly slowly. Again, this is unfortunate, because that magnetic charger isn't included with the PlayBook. A simple microUSB charger is, though, which makes the process even slower than it needs to be.

In a lot of ways, the PlayBook is more polished and usable in its beta state than the Motorola Xoom, and it's straight-up the best seven-inch tablet out there (though in the tango between between portability and size, I think 10 inches is still the best). At the same time, I don't think anyone should buy it right now—BlackBerry user or otherwise—for at least a few months, to see if the platform has enough legs to carry itself to where it needs to be. If the apps do arrive to fill in the gaps, then the PlayBook is totally going to be a tablet to check out. The foundation is solid—I can't wait to see the first phones running this software—it just needs some stuff built on top of it before you can decide whether or not you should move in.


BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9982 officially announced for RM7600+

BlackBerry has officially announced the Porsche Design P'9982. While you may think that this is just a rebadged BlackBerry Z10 (and the tech specs are the same) the P'9982 is actually made with premium materials which include an Italian leather backside and a stainless steel frame. Each device has it's own BBM Pin number for extra exclusivity. The use of premium materials means that the P'9982 is actually thicker by 0.5mm and heavier by 2.5g compared to the Z10 it is based on. Tech specs remain the same though and include a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 4.2-inch display with 1280 x 768 pixel resolutions, 1800 mAh battery, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera nad support for 4G LTE. The user interface has been customized as well for the price of 1500 pounds (RM7600+). It can be bought through the Harrods and Porsche Design online Store but for more information go check out the main site. Check out the video below for a smartphone most of us would be too worried to use below:


BlackBerry Q10 coming to Malaysia end of April 2013

For those of you who thought the BlackBerry Z10 was a betrayal of everything that BlackBerry stood for, then rejoice, BlackBerry Malaysia may be launching the BlackBerry Q10 very soon. In an email image, BlackBerry Malaysia asked to set 30 April 2013 as a date that may be important for BlackBerry and made it even more obvious by adding the image of a BlackBerry Q10 next to the date (see the image above for yourself).While the BlackBerry Q10 retains the traditional physical QWERTY keyboard most BlackBerry products and devices are known for it will also feature a 3.1-inch touchscreen to go with BB10. [Source]


BlackBerry Q10 with 4G LTE Coming to Malaysia

Recently, we reported on the upcoming BlackBerry Q10 that may come to Malaysia this 30 April 2013. Searching through the SIRIM database reveals that it will most likely be the 4G LTE version. This version is labeled as the SQN100-3 (RFN81UW) and should be coming under Brightstar Distribution Sdn Bhd.

Unlike the BlackBerry Z10 which doesn't support LTE at all, the BlackBerry Q10 supports both the 1800MHz and 2600MHz spectrum bands for LTE. Other information in the SIRIM database also includes the fact that it has NFC support but for more details we'll have to wait and see this 30 April 2013.


6G technology is already within Samsung's plan

In this competitive technological world, most smartphone brands and telco are already gearing up for 5G connectivity. And then...there's always this one guy who's ahead of the pack. Not to say it has already happened, but Samsung is looking beyond 5G. Yes, it's 6G.

Of course, this will take a few more years after 5G becomes stable, but Samsung just wanted to let everyone know that their current telecommunications research team will likely move on to that stage after the 5G launch. They are a part of the Advanced Communications Research Center (quite new, we heard) which is under the Samsung Research company, as the main research and development centre in Seoul. Fun fact, they are also working on artificial intelligence and robotics.

Another fun fact, a 6G network's transmission speed is about a 100x more than 5G. In other words, the milliseconds is reduced to microseconds. Samsung is not alone in this, like the USA, China and the European Union are also working on 6G connectivity but there are no verified sources to confirm that. Stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


BlackBerry Q5 Breaks into Midrange Malaysia Market at RM1299

BlackBerry devices have always been at a premium price, which could explain why they don't sell very well, especially for the midrange user. The newly released BlackBerry Q5 changes all that by not only offering a midrange device but also offering it at a retail price of RM1299. At this pricing, it is just a little bit more than the Samsung Galaxy Grand but do the tech specs match up as well? Check out the tech specs for the BlackBerry Q5 below:

While it maintains BlackBerry's iconic full QWERTY keyboard (which feels as good as before), it's plastic-like build and 1.2GHz dual-core processor makes it feel a bit less premium than it's other BlackBerry siblings. It does offer a good number of premium features though like LTE, 2GB of RAM and rather large 2180 mAh battery. There are a lot of other much more affordable full QWERTY devices on the market, but many of them don't offer these features, much less an IPS display. The lack of apps does make it a bit harder to use but it has been proven that the Q5 can even handle racing games without any issues. The Telcos will offer the BlackBerry Q5 on 15 July 2013 at the aforementioned RM1299 price (or probably lower). Check out the BlackBerry Q5 videos below:


BlackBerry Q5 Coming to Malaysia in July

Quite a lot of people opted for the BlackBerry Q10 as opposed to the touch-screen BlackBerry Z10 mainly because it stayed true to the BlackBerry design, and it had a physical QWERTY keyboard. However, many of those people were quite shocked by the BlackBerry Q10's rather high price. With that in mind the company has released the BlackBerry Q10's little brother, the BlackBerry Q5. Recently announced at the BlackBerry Live 2013 in Florida, the BlackBerry Q5 as it is officially known, seems to have been the previously leaked BlackBerry device formerly known as the R10. As such, it looks exactly like the R10 images, right down to the 3.1-inch touchscreen to the almost separate feeling QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, BlackBerry did not reveal any other tech specs about the BlackBerry Q5 except that it would be released for certain emerging market in the Asia Pacific (this should also include Malaysia). While no definite release dates have been given, most are expecting the BlackBerry Q5 to reach us in July 2013. The BlackBerry Q5 should at least offer the BlackBerry 10.1 OS but we're not so sure that it may also include LTE support as well. Initial response to the BlackBerry Q5, or R10 as it was previously known has been mixed, with some users liking it and others disliking it outright but it should offer a less expensive BlackBerry alternative.[Source]


BlackBerry R10 Leaked Again : Images and Tech Specs

A bit lower than the BlackBerry Q10, the BlackBerry R10 is the company's upcoming midrange smartphone. From leaked images it looks to be about the same size and shape as the Q10 but has some slightly lower-end tech specs. These tech specs include:

Leaked images show that the R10 will come in white, black and red and while it will offer the full QWERTY keyboard like the Q10 it will be offered at a more affordable price. You can also check out the leaked video below regarding the R10's gesture controls:


BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review

While Blackberry has an unrivalled cabinet of QWERTY smartphones, it’s had a hard time shaking off its businessy rep. The Storm and Storm 2 were its first attempts at providing an alternative to the iPhone, but still felt like a CEO awkwardly wearing a party hat and schmoozing with the company freshers.The Torch, though, is a different beast. It’s the Canadian company’s first slider phone, combines a full QWERTY keyboard with a 3.2in capacitive touchscreen and brings a fresh new Blackberry 6.0 operating system.BlackBerry Torch 9800 - Design & Build:

Stowing a QWERTY keyboard beneath the touchscreen deck means the Torch is quite a bulky unit. Girth aside, the slide action is smooth, satisfyingly heavy and, like the rest of the device, as solid as they come. That button panel, like the rest of the design, won’t surprise anyone who’s seen a BlackBerry before.Front of house duties are taken care of by a responsive 3.2in capacitive touchscreen. This has a disappointingly low 480x360 resolution and an average onscreen keyboard, though there's the slide-out QWERTY for heavy duty typing. This is a tad more cramped than previous incarnations, but if you’re used to those BB keys your thumbs will quickly feel at home.BlackBerry Torch 9800 - Camera:

On the back, there’s a tactile, rubberised battery cover above which sit a decent 5MP cam and LED flash. A dedicated shutter button turns the cam on, then the one-touch settings mean getting good results is a doddle. The pinch-to-zoom pic browser is also slick and simple.

In a world of 1GHz powerhouse smartphones, the Torch’s 624MHz processor is a bit weedy. It zips along happily enough most of the time, but there are moments when it struggles to keep up with itself and that shiny new BlackBerry 6 OS. That said, every other smartphone will envy the Torch’s battery life, which can see out two days in moderate use.BlackBerry Torch 9800 - OS:

But what of that new OS? Well, while the layout of the new homepage won’t surprise anyone with recent Blackberrys, there are plenty of new features under the surface. The Android-esque notifications and slide-out icon screens are new. The latter can be filtered by category with a sideways swipe, while changing from a full screen layover to a select few icons is totally intuitive. Everything is where you expect it to be, and if it’s not the universal search is among the best we’ve seen.BlackBerry Torch 9800 - Browsing:

BlackBerry hasn’t had a happy history with web browsing, but this time around there’s a freshly-minted Webkit browser that’s finally caught up with the mobile web. Tabbed browsing, simple homepage icon bookmarking and decent rendering are all present and correct, though it can be slow to load, probably owing to the last-gen processor rather than the software.

BlackBerry 6’s media player won’t win any prizes for originality, but why fix what isn't broken? There's a Cover Flow-style music browser, tesselated picture library (you can also swipe through images on the touchscreen) and a stacked video library with screenshots. BlackBerry’s desktop software is on hand for syncing (limited to music if you use a Mac), but it’s almost as easy to drag-and-drop files.BlackBerry Torch 9800 - Social:

Blackberry also has its own version of Social Hub, Friend Stream and Timescape called Social Feeds. This helpfully pulls updates from social media services to a single message box. Its ace card is the ability to integrate your BlackBerry Messenger account, but if you’re not into piling all your messages into one place, the Torch comes with dedicated Facebook and Twitter apps installed. Easy, effective and the end of your productive life if you can’t ignore the BB’s blinking red light.

The phone’s call quality is pretty decent, and the other side was able to hear us clearly. However, it should be noted that the phone we used – and with the recent problems, would see a different experience as what we had and what other carriers used. (I also did experience some slowness in retrieving data, especially when getting applications – I eventually was forced to use my WiFi network).

Battery life is alright, with the phone lasting nearly two days with some use before needing a recharge, and between three to four days when we just left it there sucking in data from RSS feeds and the social networking sites we put in the phone.

This greatly improved OS and solid if bulky build make the Torch one of the best Blackberrys we’ve seen, and the best if you want its renowned messaging power served with a healthy side of multimedia smarts. But ultimately the last-gen processor, low-res screen and comparative dearth of apps cost it that fifth star.


BlackBerry Torch 9810 Preview

In 2010, Research In Motion claimed that the its Blackberry Torch 9800 was the "Best Blackberry ever", but it looks like that could soon be about to change. Enter the "Blackberry Torch 2 9810", RIM's next-gen slider smartphone with bumped up specs.

Doubling the 624MHz CPU of the original Torch to 1.2GHz, the second-gen Torch is rumored to pack twice as much muscle under the hood. This will power its 3.2-inch 640 x 480 VGA touchscreen, which is coupled with a slide out QWERTY keypad. To make the most of its physical keys, it will also arrive equipped with Facebook and Twitter integration, a dedicated email client and Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

Rumored to run Blackberry OS 6.1, the Torch 2 will arrive with integrated NFC smarts, enhanced 3D graphics, a revamped interface and improved multitasking. RIM's latest OS will also pack with support for WiFi tethering, enabling the handset to sync up to 5 connected devices to its 3G speeds.

BlackBerry Torch 9810 - Camera & Multimedia:

Although yet to be announced, the Blackberry Torch 2 is also expected to launch with a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash, a front facing webcam, a built-in media player and HSDPA and WiFi speeds for browsing the web.

BlackBerry Torch 9810 - Battery & Memory:

Other specs include 8GB of internal storage expandable to 32GB, a 1300mAh battery and 14.6mm thickness. Once available, the handset will also be available in Silver.

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 looks like a powerful mobile, but the sliding Qwerty keyboard makes the phone quite bulky. Unless you really want both a physical keyboard and a large touchscreen, other BlackBerry phones could suit you better.


BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review

RIM has launched five new BlackBerry smartphones but the BlackBerry Torch 9850 is the only one that is a new design for RIM.

The Torch 9850 (launching in the US as a CDMA model known as the 9860) is a pure touchscreen device with a 3.7in (480x800-pixel) screen – the largest on a BlackBerry device to date. The 253dpi display, 5Mp camera and 720p video camera are powered by a 1.2GHz processor and 768MB of RAM. Primed with 4GB of internal memory, the Torch 9850’s memory will be expandable by up to 32GB via a microSD card. The handset has Wi-Fi and HSPA+ connectivity and runs BB7 – the brand-new version of the BlackBerry smartphone OS. It also comes with a digital compass, Bluetooth and GPRS connectivity.

First impressions are good. We like the slimline looks of this phone which, unlike the new Bold, is compact and fits easily in the hand. It weighs a fairly average 135g and, while it inevitably looks like almost any other black-clad touchscreen phone, it’s also an unusually slim 11.5mm thick and a relatively narrow 62mm.

The bright 3.7in screen supports 16.7 million colours but, as with so many touchscreens, is rather prone to glare. We were pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness of the Torch 9850’s screen. Previous touchscreens handsets that RIM have not been especially receptive. Apps were fast to load and we encountered no problems having several running at once. We also like the fact that you can resume where you left off, whether that’s a tweet, a Facebook update or a certain point in a game.

Ever since the introduction of BB6, web browsing has been a smooth experience on BlackBerry handsets. On BB7 it looks set to be better still. This, says RIM, provides 40 percent faster browsing and page loads than BB6.

As with other current BlackBerry smartphones, the Torch 9850 has a tiny optical trackpad for speedy navigation. We were pleased to find RIM hadn’t forsaken this in favour of all the buttons being embedded touchscreen ones. The BlackBerry menu button, call, back and power buttons are also all present. Onscreen, you can have a taskbar menu at the bottom showing your most-frequently accessed apps. These Favourites can be easily customised.

New features to the BlackBerry line-up include NFC (near field communications) and augmented reality. The augmented reality function is provided by Wikitude – the same service as is found on the LG Optimus 3D. Launch the Wikitude app on the Torch 9850 and you’ll see a screen full of location-based apps such as Gowalla, Twitter, Flickr and Panoramio. Choose which of these you wish to deliver details to your handset in order to build up a picture of the activities, images and services in the immediate vicinity. Unsurprisingly, BBM Chat is one of the suggested options to include.

With a fast, HTML5-based browser, plenty of processor power and a highly responsive touchscreen, this the first BlackBerry touch-phone that really looks like delivering. While it's good to see new, more powerful versions of the Qwerty and touchscreen Torch and the Bold, the Torch 9850 looks like becoming the best of the new BlackBerry brigade.


BlackBerry Torch 9860 Preview

The BlackBerry Torch 9860, otherwise known as the 'Monaco/Monza/Touch', is annouced to be the fully-touchscreen follow-up to the BlackBerry Storm 2.

The Torch 9860 will have the highest-resolution screen in a BlackBerry today according to the early specs, which'll measure in at 3.7-inches with a 840 x 480 WVGA resolution. This'll be coupled with RIM's traditional optical trackpad, which nests in between four raised physical keys (Call, Menu, Back, End Call). It may not sport a full QWERTY keypad, but it'll still come boasting email support, Facebook and Twitter access, and RIM's much-loved IM service, otherwise known as BlackBerry Messenger.

Under the hood, the BlackBerry Torch 9860 will rock a 1.2GHz processor, coupled with the latest version of RIM's BlackBerry OS. With BB OS 7 onboard, it'll come "a fluid touch-screen experience" alongside as well as a needed-boost to the built-in browser, minor tweaks to the UI, HTML5 support and voice-activated search. There's also a new feature dubbed BlackBerry Balance, for separating business content from personal apps and features.

Media-wise, the BlackBerry Torch 9860 will purportedly arrive sporting a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, complete with 720p HD video recording. This'll be coupled with a built in media player, pre-loaded widgets, and access to the BlackBerry App World.

BlackBerry Touch 9860 - Other Features:Other specifications include HSDPA and WiFi connectivity, Personal Hotspot functionality, NFC integration, and 4GB internal storage expandable to 32GB via microSD.


BlackBerry Z10 Malaysia Round-up - Prices from Celcom, Digi, Maxis and U-Mobile

With the 8th of April the BlackBerry Z10 is now officially available for our major telcos in Malaysia. This includes Celcom from RM1188, DiGi from RM899, Maxis from RM1088 and U-Mobile from RM1268.Celcom's BlackBerry Z10 offerings go for their First Prime, Premier and Elite plans along with their mPro plans. Check out the table below for all the details:

At DiGi, the BlackBerry Z10 is the lowest at RM899 when you sign up for their DG Smart Plan 148 under a 24 month contract. The BlackBerry Z10 is still available for the lower-end Smart Plan 58 and 88 subscriptions at RM1889 but also come with RM10 to RM20 monthly rebates. Check the table below for DiGi details:

At Maxis, the BlackBerry Z10 is going for RM1088 under their BBMore148 plan with a 24-month contract and under the condition that you are an existing Maxis Blackberry customer. You also have to pay an advance fee of RM750 unless you've been subscribing for more than a year or are a Maxis One Club member. Check out the table below for the Maxis details:

Finally, at U-mobile, the BlackBerry Z10 is available from RM1268, under their U Premium plan with a 24 months contract but this is limited to the first 100 units only. The full U Mobile details are listed in the table below:

We also have more Telco plans for Celcom, DiGi, Maxis and U Mobile but if you need more detailed information regarding the offered plans above do go to the Celcom site, DiGi site, Maxis site and U Mobile site.


BlackBerry Z10-like Porsche Design P'9982 video appears

Back in August 2013, a couple of images leaked for the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982 which appeared to be a BlackBerry Z10 with Porsche Design elements. Recently, the smartphone has surfaced again, this time in a hands-on video. In this video it doesn't reveal much in terms of tech specs or features but if it is Z10 based, it would probably use the same hardware of a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.2-inch display and 1800 mAh battery. At the time of writing, the Z10 is currently priced at RM1899 so a BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982 model could go for just a bit more than this and not the RM6000 or so it was initially expected to cost. No specific Malaysia release dates were available but it should be within the region soon. Check out the video for your self below:


BlackBerry Z3 and Q20 officially announced

BlackBerry has announced two new smartphones under their deal with Foxconn at the MWC 2014. These include the BlackBerry Z3 which is a touchscreen smartphone and the BlackBerry Q20 which offers a more traditional BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard. Tech specs for the BlackBerry Z3 include a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, a 5MP rear camera, a 1.1MP front camera, FM Radio and a 5-inch touchscreen with 960 x 540 pixel resolution. The Z3 is expected to be priced at $200 with an initial release in Indonesia for April 2014. The BlackBerry Q20 on the other hand will have a 3.5-inch touchscreen, Menu, Back, Send and End buttons and a trackpad along with the aforementioned full QWERTY keyboard. Here's what John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO of BlackBerry had to say about the BlackBerry Q20:

"In my first 90 days on the job, I consistently heard from our ardent BlackBerry customers that the hard buttons and trackpad are an essential part of the BlackBerry QWERTY experience, that made their BlackBerry smartphone their go-to productivity tool. I want these customers to know that we heard them, and this new smartphone will be for them. Today, we’re delighted to announce the new BlackBerry Q20 smartphone, which is designed to give you the distinct experience that every BlackBerry QWERTY loyalist and high-productivity business customer absolutely loves. With the BlackBerry Q20 smartphone, you’ll get the familiar hard buttons and trackpad that you want, along with the best email service, the best keyboard experience and the best battery life possible."


6GB + 64GB ASUS ZenFone 5Z launched in India from ~RM1767, coming to Malaysia for below RM2K?

ASUS India recently launched their Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 packing ASUS ZenFone 5Z at 29999 INR (~RM1767) for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage version, 32999 INR (~RM1944) for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage version and 36999 INR (~RM2179) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version. Considering that Malaysia is within the same region, it makes sense to assume that the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage ZenFone 5Z will be priced for below RM2K as well.

Featuring an identical design with the ASUS ZenFone 5 ZE620KL, the ZenFone 5Z will also have a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with a notch, 12MP dual pixel + 8MP wide angle rear cameras, 8MP front camera, 3300 mAh battery and AI-driven features. It will be made available in meteor silver and midnight blue.

We think that there will only be 2 variations for the ZenFone 5Z in Malaysia though, so it would likely be the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage versions. However, even if you intend to get the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage version, it is still the lowest priced Snapdragon 845 equipped smartphone in the market so best to get your money ready as it could go in seconds.

There are no exact Malaysia release dates or price details or release dates just yet but we're thinking it could be announced in late July or early August 2018. It would be great if we could also see them released early but we expect ASUS Malaysia to do flash sales with discounts for each version like they are doing for the ZenFone Max Pro M1 so you might have to expect some delay. Stay tuned to TechNave.com and we'll keep you updated.


BlackBerry Z30 appears on new video

The BlackBerry Z30 remains the company's last big device to appear and may or may not be the saviour that BlackBerry are hoping it will be. The BlackBerry Z30 or formerly known as the Aristo recently made an appearance in a video, showing it off complete with what appears to be a kevlar backside. The video indicates that we may soon see the BlackBerry Z30 being announced or launched soon. Other tech specs and features for the Z30 include:

While we admit that the Z30 looks nice in the video below, the Z30 looks to be releasing at a time when so many other rumoured flagship smartphones are coming. Unless they somehow beat everyone else to the punch and have a super early Malaysia release date and elsewhere or very sweet pricing, then it could mean another dead-end for BlackBerry.


BlackBerry Z30 officially announced in Malaysia for RM1998

BlackBerry Malaysia recently announced their newest flagship BlackBerry device with the BlackBerry Z30. Formerly known as both the A10 and the Aristo, this 5-inch display smartphone features the same touchscreen interface as the BlackBerry Z10 and gesture control scheme in the newest update to the BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10.2. While it doesn't really pack many tech spec surprises, the Z30 does do one thing that BlackBerry has never done before, which is to offer a flagship device like the BlackBerry Z30 at just RM1998. Other tech specs available on the BlackBerry Z30 include:

While the tech specs aren't really as impressive as they should be compared to other flagship smartphone devices, these are probably the highest specs for any BlackBerry device so far. The design and build quality is certainly solid and rugged feeling with it's Kevlar like backplate, but it isn't the slimmest new smartphone we've seen. As mentioned earlier, the BlackBerry Z30 will retail at RM1998 and has a Malaysia release date on 5 October 2013. After this date, Celcom has exclusive rights for the next 14 days but they will have a number of freebies and combos such as Alicia Keys concert tickets and free BlackBerry Z10s for subscribers during that period as well, which we will cover in a separate report. Check out the official video below:


BlackBerry aiming to make its comeback in mobile phone market

Render by Concept Creator via LetsGoDigital

It seems like BlackBerry is gearing up for its comeback pretty soon. The company hinted at this last year when it became part of Onward Mobility, which is a mobile security company from the US. Now, the company starting to reach out again to build public interest.

According to a new report, Onward Mobility could be ready to develop new 5G smartphones this year. Interestingly, the company's announcement isn't an actual product launch. Instead, it has started a "Pre-Commitment Program" to engage with users and gauge the level of interest for its smartphones.

Those who subscribe to this mailing list will get dibs on updates about the company's new products and details on their features. Also, they can influence the development of features and functionality in upcoming BlackBerry devices. Finally, they will get to pre-order and receive new smartphones ahead of the general public. But like last year's announcement, this one promises much but doesn't offer any detail on products.

Onward Mobility could still be gauging how much it should invest into smartphones, as it is a highly competitive market. So the question becomes: Can BlackBerry make a successful comeback? Let us know what you think on that topic, and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about this.


BlackBerry announces DTEK60 for RM2388 in Malaysia with high-end security features

As of 16 November 2016, BlackBerry has released their second DTEK device in the series - the DTEK60 in Malaysia for RM2388 (inclusive of GST). It's available exclusively in BrightStar Malaysia and below is the official specifications:

Besides that, BlackBerry also continues their tradition of state-of-the-art software and security solutions. Below is another list of security and productivity features that the smartphone possesses:

For more information on DTEK60, kindly visit BlackBerry.com/DTEK60 and stay tuned for more BlackBerry news at Technave.com.


BlackBerry announces its next major mobile software licensing agreement with Optiemus in India

Today, BlackBerry Limited has announced its next major agreement to license BlackBerry software and service, by signing a long-term licensing agreement with leading Indian telecom enterprise, Optiemus Infracom Ltd which is for the production of secure BlackBerry Android handsets in more global markets including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Following BlackBerry‘s recent global licensing agreement with TCL Communication and PT BlackBerry Merah Putih in Indonesia, BlackBerry has now achieved full global coverage for licensees in all markets to manufacture BlackBerry-branded devices, proving the company is delivering on its licensing strategy and accelerating its transition to be a leading security software and services company.

Under the terms of the agreement, BlackBerry will license its security software and services suite, as well as related brand assets to Optiemus Infracom Ltd. The partner will design, manufacture, sell, promote and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded mobile devices that offer the full BlackBerry experience, including the trusted BlackBerry for Android secure software, in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. But perhaps more importantly, the agreement between BlackBerry and Optiemus Infracom Ltd also supports the Indian Government’s “Make in India” initiative, which aims to create local manufacturing and job opportunities.

BlackBerry will continue to control and develop its security and software solutions and maintain trusted BlackBerry security software, including regular Android security updates to the platform. To read more about the news, head over to their news blog for the full coverage.


BlackBery Passport gets dropped, thrown and dropped some more

The BlackBerry Passport not only looks unique, it is also extremely tough and durable, something which has been put to the test by quite a few tech sites out there. In the next two videos we see the Passport get thrown about, dropped on the road and survive it all. The second video goes even further and sees just how much you need to do before the Passport dies. As it turns out, you'll need to do quite a lot before you actually damage it's 4.5-inch screen with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution and a QWERTY keyboard with integrated trackpad capabilities. The BlackBerry Passport is currently available for RM2399 but has limited stocks even here in Malaysia. Check out the drop test videos below to see if it's the tough enough:


BlackShark 3 5G could come with 5000mAh battery and 65W fast-charging

Not long after the turn of the new year, there was news that Black Shark would unveil a new device with longer battery life. That rumour felt quite plausible, considering that gaming phones need to last long for people who binge games. Now there is a strong hint that the Black Shark 3 would have a large 5000mAh battery and 65W fast-charging.

In a recent Weibo post, Black Shark's CEO Lou Yuzhou had a poll asking which combination would best fit 5G gaming devices. It was clearly the CEO's not-so-subtle attempt at bragging, so naturally many believe that the option with the biggest numbers was the right answer. In other words, the Black Shark 3 is likely going to be a 5G device with 65W fast-charger. It would be capable of fully charging the 5000mAh battery in 38 minutes, lasting for more than 800 full charge cycles.

"A: 65W+5000mAh, 38 minutes to 100% charge, charge cycle > 800"

Previously, there were also rumours suggesting that the Black Shark 3 could come with up to 16GB of RAM, as well as a 2K display with 120Hz refresh rate. Since it's going to be a flagship gaming device, we're fairly confident that it would also be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, though there's no confirmation on that yet.

Black Shark is really going all out to make this a powerful gaming phone. But will this device ever come to Malaysia? And if it does, will this be the gaming smartphone you buy for 2020? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news like this.


Blackberry DTEK50 is now open for preorders in Malaysia for RM 1339

If you are looking for something a bit more secure to own and have as a smartphone, the new Blackberry DTEK50 is your ticket to a more secure mobile experience – and it is now available for preorder in Malaysia only RM 1339.

As a recap, underneath the familiar looking body is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 eight-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage with microSD that supports up to 2TB, 13-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture lens, a front 8-megapixel camera with a f/2.2 aperture lens, which drives the 5.2-inch Full HD screen.

You can head on to 11Street to preorder the phone right now for only RM 1339. Stay tuned to TechNave as we bring more news on the Blackberry DTEK50.


Blackberry DTEK50 may be heading to Malaysia soon

We have covered the international announcement of the Blackberry DTEK50 right here, and if the news online is correct, the ‘the world’s most secure Android smartphone’ is set to be launched soon in Malaysia as well.

Lowyat.net discovered an entry in the SIRIM database that hints of the imminent arrival of the second Blackberry smartphone to the Malaysian market. Under Brightstar Distribution Sdn Bhd, the entry hints that the smartphone has received official SIRIM certification, and it may be hitting the local market real soon.

As a recap, underneath the familiar looking body (hint: it's the Alcatel Idol 4) is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 eight-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage with microSD that supports up to 2TB, 13-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture lens, a front 8-megapixel camera with a f/2.2 aperture lens, which drives the 5.2-inch Full HD screen.

No pricing indication for the DTEK50 as of today, so stay tuned to TechNave as we bring up to date information on the latest Blackberry smartphone.


Blackberry DTEK50 now official for RM 1217

The Blackberry Hamburg now officially has a name. It is the Blackberry DTEK50, and the company is touting it as ‘the world’s most secure Android smartphone’.

Underneath the familiar looking body (hint: it's the Alcatel Idol 4) is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 eight-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage with microSD that supports up to 2TB, 13-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture lens, a front 8-megapixel camera with a f/2.2 aperture lens, which drives the 5.2-inch Full HD screen.

The battery is only around 2610mAh, but we may see good battery life thanks to the lower spec processor, plus it supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0. There’s a physical Convenience Key on the right side of the handset that can be used to launch your favorite app or mute the device when on an active call. It’s running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box. Plus they have included their DTEK security suite on the new device that will help you monitor your security rating.

If you are interested to get ‘the world’s most secure Android smartphone’, prepare to cough up USD 299 (~RM 1217) for the privilege. No news of Malaysia availability as of yet – so stay tuned to TechNave for more news on the DTEK50.


6GB of RAM, new BOE OLED displays and more could be featured on the iPhone 12 series

Today, @AppleInsider just reported some new juicy iPhone 12 series rumours on Twitter. According to the source, it is reported that the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max could sport 6GB of RAM and a bunch of other tech specs revealed below. 6GB is a normal number figure on Android, but let's not forget it operates differently on iOS.

To back up that rumour, other notable leaksters like @jon_prosser and @L0vetodream are also supporting the fact that the pro variants are getting the 6GB of RAM. Besides the possibility of having an iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, Apple could also be releasing an iPhone 12 and 12 Max variant. This news is tallying with the previous rumours of the company going into a new direction and should this be true, we are speculating that perhaps we won't see an iPhone SE 3 because of the iPhone 12.

On the other hand, @AppleInsider also made a table spec leak of all the four iPhones. The ones that caught our attention is the BOE OLED Super Retina display and in case you're wondering, BOE is a Chinese electronic company that manufactures LCD, OLED and flexible displays. It's also noted that there won't be a 64GB storage option anymore, as well as bringing over a LiDAR sensor (usually seen on the iPad Pro) to the pro variants.

In terms of price, it could very well start at $649 (~RM2773) and up to $1399 (~RM5978). Since all these are speculations, we suggest you take this news with a grain of salt and wait until the official news in September. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.


Blackberry DTEK60 Review – Securing your Android experience

Having a secure smartphone is important currently – especially when your whole personal life is contained in something that you slip into your pocket, it is vital that the content of that device is secure from prying eyes and snooping ears. However, many users out there are lax in making sure their phones are secure. Sure, there are biometric protection systems, but is anyone else taking the next step?

Blackberry is. The name that is synonymous with secure communications recently announced that they are focusing into developing secure software for the Android marketplace, and the new DTEK60 is a great indication that whatever they are doing, they should continue doing so. Find out more about this in our Blackberry DTEK60 review below.

You can’t blame blackberry from getting out of the device manufacturing business. When the industry is somewhat ahead of you in terms of design and manufacturing, it is best to quit when you are (somewhat) ahead. The Priv was a great phone, but by focusing on just software and engaging their partner TCL for manufacturing, they have made a phone that can be labelled as high-end, without breaking too much sweat.

The DTEK60 combines the knowhow of two companies – and overall it is an impressive collab. Design wise the phone is based on a phone already in the world market – the TCL iDol 4S, but there are many Blackberry-esque features that makes it stand out from the rest.

Take the Action Button for example. Users can use this button to launch anything they have their mind set to – well, at least the app they have set it to. From launching the camera, a particular app or even just locking the phone – it can be assigned to be executed with this button. The biggest downside of this button is that it is not the power button. There are so many instances where we mistakenly pressed it thinking it was the power button for the system. Even worse, the button can’t wake the phone up from sleep.

The rest of the phone is quite barren – you get the volume button situated just above the Action Button, and the power button on the other side of the phone. On top you get an Audio Jack (yay!) and at the bottom, in an offset position, is the USB Type-C port for charging and data transfers.

21-megapixel camera and fingerprint sensor

Lastly, there is a fingerprint sensor at the back of the phone, just under the 21-megapixel camera hump at the back. It is the first Blackberry to have a fingerprint sensor, so it has that extra layer of protection, on top of the Android experience you will get with each unit.

The tech specs of the Blackberry DTEK60 are as follows:

As you can see, the phone has enough grunt to process just about anything that you can imagine under the sun. The Snapdragon 820 is a flagship-tier processor, which means that the phone will be able to run the majority of apps on the Play Store with ease. Not only that, the 4GB of RAM is more than enough to keep all your apps running in the background, without the phone complaining that it is running out of space.

The Blackberry Hub is back, and we are happy with the inclusion of the software in the DTEK60. It combines all your content into a single hub that you can access for a centralised overview of your life for the day. With a single swipe of the easy-to-access widget, your daily itinerary is shown in a simple-to-digest form in an overlay. Definitely useful if you have multiple things to take care off, as all of your information is easily reachable at the touch of the button. Oh, the Blackberry Hub also consolidates your social media feeds as well so you get all your notifications in a central window. The annoying part about this is that you will get double the notification if you are logged into both the Hub and the originating app – but to some that is a good thing.

What makes this phone different when compared with other Androids out there is the secure experience that Blackberry is promoting with their devices. One of the component that is the DTEK software, which is a part of the name of the phone. What the software gives the user is complete control of the software that is running on the phone. Users can effectively control every aspect of the apps – especially the permissions that the apps get while running on the phone. It is extensive yes, but if users are open to customization it is a very powerful tool to have.

Thanks to the Snapdragon 820, the DTEK60 performs well above par. Just about every app that you throw to the phone runs without problems. The 4GB of RAM certainly helps in the long run for running apps as you will not run out of memory as fast as one can expect with a lesser phone. You will feel the flagship feel when you hold this phone in the hand.

The battery life on this phone is excellent. You can easily get a full day’s use with every single charge of the 3000mAh battery, and if you need to top it up, the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 function will fill up the battery fast. How fast? We tried it from the moment it complains it is at critical level (somewhere about 5%) and we managed to charge up to 40% in about 20 minutes with the included charger in the box. That is impressive. We have yet to try it with third party USB Type-C cables and charger, so your mileage may vary.

What makes this phone stands out a bit from the rest is the inclusion of stereo speakers that works facing the front or the rear. The speaker on the DTEK60 is loud enough that it can fill a moderate sized room at half volume with ease. Even at high volumes the sound generated by this speaker set is good – only at the highest settings that you will hear some breaks in the audio quality. This will be a great phone for offsite Skype calls, thanks to the quality of the audio.

The camera quality on the DTEK60 we feel is slightly above average. Like most cameras, it takes good images in natural light, with the f/2.0 lens giving good depth of field when needed.

Even during scenes with low light, the camera performs adequately. It will not win the best lowlight shooter, but what it offers is more than enough for most users – regardless if they are normal consumers or even from the enterprise space.

We love the camera interface that Blackberry has included in the package. It is extensive enough that even the manual users will be happy with the selection of options, while it is simple enough that casual users can straight snap a shot after launching the camera app without any fuss.

Mid-day shots looks goodIndoor artifical lights as wellSimple to use camera means snapshots is a breezeThere are over exposed areas here, but generally good imageDoesn't it look yummy?Even low-light is great with this camera

Talking about launching the app, users can either link the action button to launch the camera, or just double tap the power button for fast access to the camera. The volume rocker meanwhile can be reassigned to be the shutter button as well.

When the news that Blackberry was stepping out of the smartphone game came, the industry was both relieved and saddened, as the Blackberry name has a great deal of respect even by its competitors. The tie-up with TCL is a great thing as Blackberry can now focus on their software development, while at the same time still creating good smartphones through its partner. The DTEK60 is a great example of a fruitful collab happening at the right time and for the right reasons.

The phone’s nearest competitors are actually flagship smartphones – phones like the Samsung Galaxy S7, Huawei P9 and even some mid-priced phones such as the OnePlus 3, and not forgetting – the darling of many corporations out there, the Apple iPhone 7. However, none of these phones have the pedigree of a Blackberry, and the secure android that is offered by the Canadian company. So, if you are looking for a secure and safe smartphone, look no further than the Blackberry DTEK60.


Blackberry Evolve and Evolve X to be announced on 2 August 2018

Based on a small teaser video, the Blackberry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X will be unveiled on 2 August 2018. Unlike the previous Blackberry KEY2 smartphones, the Evolve models will not feature a physical QWERTY keyboard and instead have a near bezel-less 18:9 fully touch screen display. The Blackberry Evolve mentioned will target the indian and Asian Market while in other markets it will be called the Blackberry Ghost and Ghost X.

The phone will also feature a duo camera setup in the rear with improved low light capabilities and a large 4000mAh non-removable battery. Other than that, there is no other information on the pricing of the device as well as when it will be available in the Malaysian market. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like these.


Blackberry KEYone now available for pre-order in Germany

Pre-orders for the BlackBerry KEYone is now open in Germany thru a local retailer, Media Markt. It is listed for €599 (about RM2828) on its website and will begin shipping from May 4.

We had earlier reported that it was listed on an Indian retailer’s website for INR 39,999 (about RM2666) but there was no mention of shipping date.

As a recap, The KEYone sports a 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixel resolution display, packs an energy efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor that is paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Obviously, it also features BlackBerry’s signature QWERTY keyboard with a fingerprint scanner built into the space bar key. There’s a 12MP rear camera while the selfie shooter is 8MP. All packed into a 9.4mm thin body that still manages to squeeze in a 3505mAh battery.


Blackberry Priv & DTEK50 first phones to receive QuadRooter vulnerability patch

If you haven’t heard about it yet, there is a new vulnerability that is affecting about a billion phones around the world running Android and with Qualcomm chips. Now Blackberry has stepped forward to be the first manufacturer to actively patch against the exploit, making them the first to be safe against QuadRooter.

The update should roll out over-the-air in the next few days to all handsets out there. Units purchased straight from BlackBerry will get it first, then followed by those devices sold through carriers. The official patch is set to be released with Google’s September security patch, but Blackberry can’t wait, and have released theirs earlier.

Bravo to Blackberry for the quick action for the patch. We hope more companies are more reactive to the needs of their user’s security on their devices as well. Looking forward to see the Blackberry DTEK50 on TechNave soon as well.


Blackberry announces the DTEK60 globally for RM 2069

After launching their first non-in-house smartphone the DTEK50, Blackberry has now announced their latest member of the DTEK family – the DTEK60. This is their third Android phone, with the Priv as the first model in the series.

For specs, the phone is quite loaded. It has a 5.5-inch Quad HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage, along with a microSD card slot that can support up to 2TB of additional storage. It also comes with a 21-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, along with a 3,000mAh battery. It comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

Also a first for a Blackberry – a fingerprint sensor, which ties into the company’s emphasis of the security features on the DTEK60. They said that the phone’s Bootloader uses multi-stage verification to ensure that the Android OS hasn’t been tampered with, in order to protect business data against hackers rooting the device. They have also harden Android to make things more difficult for attackers, protect all data stored on the DTEK60 with FIPS 140-2 encryption, and offer the DTEK app to monitor and fix privacy violations.

We may see it in Malaysia pretty soon, and it has a sticker price of USD 499 (~RM 2069) right now in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands. Stay tuned to TechNave to learn more about the Blackberry DTEK60.


Blackberry announces the world's most secure smartphone - Blackberry DTEK50 in Malaysia for RM1339

BlackBerry Limited, has announced Blackberry DTEK50 is now available in Malaysia shore for RM1339 (inclusive of GST) through all leading retail store partners of BrightStar Malaysia. One special highlight of the phone is that it combines all unique security, privacy and productivity with the full Android experience in an all-touch design, below is the official specifications.

“With an increase in cybercrime on smartphones, people need to recognize that the private details of their lives – where they live, their bank info, pictures of their kids – are at risk on their personal device. You wouldn’t leave the doors of your house unlocked at night. Having a smartphone that doesn’t take your privacy seriously is the equivalent,” said David Kleidermacher, Chief Security Officer, BlackBerry. “It’s equally important for businesses to protect their sensitive data from cyberattacks at all points of their mobile environment – from the device to the network and servers.”

DTEK50 was designed to address the security and privacy needs of today’s uncompromising Android users. With BlackBerry’s unique built-in hardware security, DTEK50 encrypts all users’ information, including business critical data and personal data such as pictures, videos and contacts. Malware protection is also built-in along with back-up, wipe and restore capabilities.

“We take our customers’ privacy seriously. That’s why we’re proud to have all the security and privacy functionality that is built in our newest Android smartphone. DTEK50 merges the unique security and connectivity features BlackBerry is known for with the rich Android ecosystem,” said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Mobility Solutions, BlackBerry. “DTEK50 adds to BlackBerry’s lineup of secure smartphones, providing choices to our customers with different price points on both BlackBerry 10 and Android platforms.”

For more information on the DTEK50, visit either of the links below to get started:


Blackberry announces their exit from the smartphone design business

After going through many different models throughout the years, Blackberry, the phone company from Waterloo, Canada has decided that they will not be designing anymore smartphones in the future.

This doesn't mean that they are exiting the business altogether. Their future phones will instead be outsourced to third party companies. The best example right now is the Blackberry DTEK50 and the upcoming DTEK60, both created by TCL.

Blackberry seems to be focusing on creating software platforms now, instead of integrating them into their own device ecosystem. Is this a good move by Blackberry? We shall see, as the future comes around the bend.


Blackberry unveils a super secured tablet in partnership with IBM and Samsung

This Saturday, Blackberry announced a new secured tablet in the market called the Blackberry SecuTablet. The device will come with encrypted apps and software and will be targeted at customers such as corporations and governments. This is not the first time Blackberry has released a tablet in the market, as it had unveiled the Blackberry Playbook back in 2011. However, the device didn't see much success and was eventually scrapped. Now, the Canadian company is back in the tablet industry but this time, it is not alone. Blackberry has joined hands with Samsung and IBM to develop the SecuTablet. The device is based on Samsung's Galaxy Tab S 10.5 (so it looks and feels exactly the same) and is developed by Blackberry's sister unit, Secusmart. Samsung is involved in the development of hardware while IBM takes care of separating the work apps from the personal ones in a secure environment. The announcement of the SecuTablet is in line with the company's recent efforts to expand its base with business and government customers. In fact, its Secusmart encryption technology is already used by the Canadian and German government agencies. All the secured features of the tablet will take its price to $2350 (RM8701). It is highly unlikely that the SecuTablet will get a Malaysia release anytime soon unless of course the Malaysian Government deecides to go BlackBerry.


BlizzCon 2019: Everything about Diablo IV, Overwatch 2 and WoW: Shadowlands announcement

While many gamers may frown upon Blizzard's actions on a certain Hearthstone progamer, the company may have redeemed themselves (sort of) by announcing three big triple-A titles at BlizzCon 2019 - the long-awaited Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, and World of WarCraft: Shadowlands expansion. Without further ado, here's everything you need to know.

One might think how will the franchise continue after the defeat of Diablo (again) and Malthael, as well as the Black Soulstone destruction. Well, Blizzard revealed that the aftermath left Sanctuary living in dark times. From the trailer, the new evil is none other than Lilith who happens to be the daughter of Mephisto. As always, the trailer is gorgeous.

Diablo IV will continue to be an ARPG game that veterans came to love with familiar classes such as the Barbarian, Sorceress, and the return of the Druid class from Diablo II. From the gameplay, it retains similar features from Diablo III but more flexibility in running and jumping around the environment. In total, there will be five classes which the other two aren't revealed yet.

Overwatch returns with a new look where the characters get a new makeover. Nothing too drastic with just minimal changes here and there, but perhaps the most important one is that Blizzard is planning to include new co-op missions with up to four players and Hero Missions can be replayed. There is also a new Team vs Team map called Push, where the team may take control of a robot and the one that pushes it the furthest wins the game.

In addition, Overwatch 1 players may transfer their accomplishments and loots collections over to the new sequel, this includes all the skins, player icons, sprays, emotes and many more. You can also definitely expect more maps and heroes to be added into the game.

If you've been following the lore of WarCraft, the latest trailer shows us Sylvanas Windrunner arriving at the Frozen Throne and defeated Bolvar Fordragon, Jailer of the Damned in an epic one-on-one cinematic fight. After that, she tore the Lich King helmet apart and opened a veil between the living and the dead.

In the new expansion, WoW players will get to explore a new continent called the Shadowlands (duh) as well as new zones called Revendreth, Ardenweald, Maldraxxus and Bastion. It seems that the theme in this expansion is life and death, where players can choose whichever "covenant" class to gain new abilities and skills. Of course, there are also new dungeons and raids for the hardcore guilds, such as the Tower of the Damned.

Shadowlands is now available for pre-purchase in-game and through the Blizzard Shop, BUT what do you folks think? We are pretty excited about Diablo IV the most. For more information, you can watch the free livestream here and stay tuned for more BlizzCon news at TechNave.com.


Blizzard announces Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls expansion set

Games maker Blizzard recently announced the expansion set called "Reaper of Souls" for the Diablo 3 game. Like the previous expansion set you can expect a new boss (and a couple of sub bosses perhaps) along with a new playable character class. This time around players get to meet up with Malthael, the angel of death who stole the black Soulstone containing the soul of Diablo. The new expansion set will take place in Westmarch and let you take a whack at Maltheal and his various minions. As mentioned earlier, you also get a new playable character class called the Crusader.

Early sneak peeks at the character show that the Crusader is quite similar to the Paladin but is perhaps more of a mid-range melee fighter. Skills shown off early on include a shield bash move and a skill called Falling Sword with effects similar to the Paladin's Fist of the Heavens skill. To top it all off, Blizzard are raising the level cap to 70 along with new endgame options, a new artisan called Mystic and a hopefully improved "Loot 2.0" looting system. Paragon systems no longer have level caps, however, apart from this information, we still don't know the expansion set's actual release date. It was shown off at Gamescom though. Check out the cool trailer and gameplay video below:


6nm MediaTek Dimensity 8050 chipset announced for midrangers

The MediaTek Dimensity 8050 chipset has been officially announced. Built on a 6nm fabrication process, the chipset utilizes 4 Cortex-A78 cores and 4 Cortex-A55 cores. The Cortex-A78 cores actually consist of 1 3Ghz Super Core and 3 2.6Ghz Performance Cores for that jump in performance when you need it.

Designed to support up to 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 3.1 storage and coming with a 5G modem, the chipset also comes with an ARM Mali-G77 9 core GPU. Other tech specs include support for 4K video capture and up to 200MP cameras. The chipset also supports a display of up to 2520 x 1080 pixels with a max refresh rate of 168Hz.

So far, the only phone to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8050 is the TECNO CAMON 20 Premiere upper-end midranger, but we expect other such devices to use it soon too. If you don’t need to record in 8K or use LPDDR5X RAM then it seems like a pretty good chipset, but what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave.com


Blizzard announces early access and open beta weekend for Diablo IV

Are you a fan of the Diablo series? For your info, Blizzard plans to launch Diablo IV on 6 June 2023. But like many games, the company will be allowing selected gamers to test the game and collect feedback from them. Now, the early access and open beta dates have been confirmed.

Earlier today, Blizzard announced that the open beta for Diablo IV will be held from 24 to 26 March 2023. The open beta will give you limited access to the game, allowing you to play the campaign's prologue and Act 1. You'll also be able to level your character to Level 25 but probably won't get to keep the character after the open beta.

Diablo IV's Open Beta is coming soon.Early Access: 3/17 - 3/19Open Beta: 3/24 - 3/26Pre-purchase for Early Access to the Open Beta.Details: https://t.co/9GG3wjpBrm pic.twitter.com/bE3iV6zzxZ

Those who have pre-purchased Diablo IV digitally can also get early access to this beta version from 17 to 19 March 2023. You'll have to go to diablo.com/beta and use the beta code to redeem early access. Besides that, Blizzard will be hosting a developer update on 28 February 2023. If you want more details of the game's systems and the open beta, make sure to check out the live stream.

So, are you planning to or have already purchased Diablo IV? What class would you start with? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to TechNave for more updates about the game.


Blizzard is giving World of Warcraft players an extra 100% EXP till 20 April 2020

Some of you may be itching to get back into World of Warcraft (WoW) now that you have so much free time, right? Great news for you, as Blizzard has announced that it's giving players 100% increase in EXP from now till 20 April 2020. Just what you'd need to power level a new character or two!

According to the official announcement, the double EXP will be available as a permanent buff called "Winds of Wisdom". It essentially increases experience points by 100% for those playing the Starter Edition, as well as Battle for Azeroth and Legion expansions for WoW. In case you didn't know, the Starter Edition is basically like a free version of WoW, where all characters created are limited to level 20.

If you are making a return to the game and need a boost to catch up, there's no better time than now. Also, there are 7 post-apocalyptic and 8 mobile games we think you could play during the Movement Control Order. But with that said, what are you doing to keep yourself occupied? Let us know on our Facebook page and stay tuned to TechNave.com for more news.


Blizzard to reveal details of its Warcraft mobile game this May

After announcing a Warcraft mobile game is currently in the works earlier this year, Blizzard has further teased fans with a potential reveal date for the mobile exclusive. In a blog post today by John Hight, Blizzard’s General Manager for Warcraft, it is revealed that the company will be telling more about the game this May.

The Warcraft mobile game, which was announced in Blizzard’s 2021 fourth quarter financial report last month is poised to become the first game in the Warcraft franchise designed from the ground up for mobile. Not much information has been shared by Blizzard since, with Hight’s blog post today only teasing about a potential reveal date.

Speaking of the blog post, its contents are actually more about World of Warcraft and Hearthstone, two of the most popular titles by Blizzard. However, the blog post’s ‘Save the Date - The Future of Warcraft’ does allude to a potential Blizzard event that would share in-depth information on the company’s future titles, including the Warcraft mobile game.

Furthermore, the final sub-heading and content of the blog post dealt specifically with the mobile exclusive. Hight asserted that Blizzard is currently preparing to get the first game in the Warcraft Universe designed for mobile into fans’ hands and that Blizzard will be ‘telling more about it in May’.

So, what will Blizzard actually reveal this May? The only way to find out is for us to wait some two months until that day arrives.

Are you excited for the Warcraft mobile game? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page and for the latest tech news such as this, make sure you stay tuned to TechNave!