Top 5 Features of BlackBerry PRIV

BlackBerry Philippines has just introduced the PRIV and before it becomes available in the local market next week, let’s take a look at some of the top features of this Android-loaded, keyboard-touting smartphone.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. We just wanted to give you guys a rundown on the top features of the phone that we think are its main selling points for anyone looking for such capabilities. Keep in mind that the features below are all BlackBerry’s claims and we still have yet to prove how well they work in real life situations during our full review.

With that, let’s get started!

BlackBerry Hub

Previously a BlackBerry 10 exclusive, the BlackBerry Hub lets you view all your communications in one glance. This includes SMS, emails, social media, calendar, or call logs. With this feature alone, it will minimize the time spent on opening different apps just to check for new notifications.

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Users can also arrange and organize all their files inside the Hub. Since the entries come from different apps, you can create new folders and, for example, segregate your work entries from your friends list. You can also mute an entry and schedule it when to unmute: whether by time, place (home or work), or whenever you’re connected to a certain Wi-Fi connection. These are just some of the things that you can do using the BlackBerry Hub.

Touch-enabled physical keyboard

You probably know by now that PRIV allows for two kinds of typing: on-screen and a sliding physical keyboard. Although it’s nice that there’s this option, it doesn’t end there. This physical keyboard also acts as a touch-sensitive trackpad so you could swipe on its keys to scroll the screen up and down, flicking predictive text onto the screen, and using it as a cursor for making selections.

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This makes it possible to control and navigate through the device while the keyboard is out.

Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera

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The company also took imaging seriously for the PRIV. It’s been equipped with an 18-megapixel Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera that integrates technologies commonly seen in DSLR cameras.

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What the PRIV aims to provide is professional-grade photos by being equipped with settings and features like control for exposure, Phase Detection Auto Focus, Optical Image Stabilization, and dual-tone flashes.

Display

Sporting a 5.4-inch display, the screen itself is a looker with the edges curving outward on both sides.  It is also reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 which protects it from unwanted scratches and even against impacts.

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Resolution-wise, it’s packed with 2560 x 1440 that results to an eye-watering 540ppi. Together with its OLED panel, the display as a whole aims to not only make the PRIV solely for business use but also for entertainment.

DTEK by BlackBerry

With all the cyber hacking happening  these days, it pays to have extra security on the device that you use the most — your smartphone. The company claims that all data stored inside the phone is protected and encrypted by default using a combination of software and hardware.

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As a way to monitor your device, the PRIV has a proprietary DTEK software that shows what apps are accessing the microphone, camera, location, and personal information. In one glance, it displays the overall security rating of the handset as well as all its securty features.

That rounds up our short list and stay tuned as we work on the full review of the device. In the meantime, check out our first impressions here.

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BlackBerry PRIV first impressions

BlackBerry Philippines, yesterday, introduced its latest smartphone that run on Android’s platform — the PRIV. It boasts a QHD display that curves on both sides, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, and data encryption that promises utmost privacy on whatever you use the handset for. Here are our first impressions on the device.

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With a 5.4-inch display, the PRIV’s size feels just right on the hand when you navigate using its touchscreen display but becomes taller once you slide its physical keyboard out. It actually brings back the feeling of using a Nokia 7650, if you ask us.

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The keys are squeezed tightly together which we think is going to take some getting used to — in addition to the fact that we haven’t used a physical keyboard on a handset for quite a while now. Additionally, the company made sliding the QWERTY keyboard up and down feel natural on the device so that’s a good thing.

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The back panel is made of what appears to be a carbon fiber of sorts, with a slight rubbery feel to it. This makes the device almost stick to your hands due to the grip it adds when it comes in contact to the palm or other surfaces. This is a good move in our book since we’re tired of dropping smartphones when they accidentally slip out of pockets.

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We see the company’s logo proudly sitting at the center.

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Its QHD display also doesn’t disappoint — images are vibrant and sharp, while brightness is sufficient. Overall, we would say that the BlackBerry PRIV could go toe-to-toe with other flagships in terms of display quality.

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Overall, the device feels solid on the hands, but is a bit heavy to hold. It also feels premium enough to somehow justify its steep Php45K price, but do keep in mind that its physique is just half the story as BlackBerry also poured in a great deal of effort in integrating BlackBerry’s security features into Android’s ecosystem.

With that said, the PRIV has command gestures that aren’t present in other Android devices. Some of it include swiping from the bottom and quickly accessing BB Hub, swiping from the right edge of the screen to show shortcuts to apps. and using the keyboard as a trackpad to scroll up and down and navigate through the menu (as shown in our hands-on video) or while browsing the Internet.

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People who have never had a BlackBerry device (like me) might be alienated at first with the handset’s UI, but its integration makes sense in a way that users will, in no time, get used to it. We’ve only fiddled with it for a short while and we already got the hang of pulling the “hidden” shortcuts from different sides of the screen.

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So far, we see the BlackBerry PRIV as a handset with potential for BB loyalists who want access to Google’s wide selection of apps. We weren’t able to test just how secure the device is, but as per the company’s claims, they look pretty serious in keeping your sensitive data to yourself. We will make a full review as soon as BlackBerry sends a demo unit.

Meanwhile, below is our quick hands-on with the device during its launch:

BlackBerry PRIV specs:
5.4-inch dual-curved QHD AMOLED display @ 2560 x 1440 pixels, 540ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chipset
Adreno 418
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
18MP Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera with OIS, PDAF (phase-detection autofocus), and 6-element f/2.2 aperture lens
2MP front camera with large 1.75um pixel and f2.8 aperture
3410mAh battery
Qi wireless charging
Android 5.1.1
Price: Php45,000

The post BlackBerry PRIV first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Android-powered BlackBerry PRIV launches in PH

BlackBerry Philippines today launches its new Android-powered handset that has a touchscreen display yet also has a hidden physical keyboard that slides out whenever you need it. This is the BlackBerry PRIV.

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BlackBerry PRIV specs:
5.4-inch dual-curved QHD AMOLED display @ 2560 x 1440 pixels, 540ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chipset
Adreno 418
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
18MP Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera with OIS, PDAF (phase-detection autofocus), and 6-element f/2.2 aperture lens
2MP front camera with large 1.75um pixel and f2.8 aperture
3410mAh battery
Qi wireless charging
Android 5.1.1

The BlackBerry PRIV is priced locally at Php 45,000 and will be available by mid December. Stay tuned for our hands-on experience with the device in just a bit.

The post Android-powered BlackBerry PRIV launches in PH appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

BlackBerry PRIV to arrive in PH early December

The awaited BlackBerry PRIV smartphone running on Android and sporting a physical QWERTY sliding keyboard is on its way to the Philippines.

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BlackBerry PRIV specs:
5.43-inch dual-curved QHD display @ 2560 x 1440 resolution
Plastic AMOLED panel with Gorilla Glass 4
High Brightness Mode
Snapdragon 808 processor
3GB RAM
32GB internal storage
18MP Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera with OIS, PDAF (phase-detection autofocus), and 6-element f/2.2 aperture lens
2MP front camera with large 1.75um pixel and f2.8 aperture
3410mAh battery
Android 5.1.1

According to the invite that we received, the local launch will be on December 3, 2015, which is exactly one week away. Stay tuned for the local price of the device.

The post BlackBerry PRIV to arrive in PH early December appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Official BlackBerry PRIV page goes online, reveals more specs

Accidentally, BlackBerry was reported to make its official page for PRIV live online and revealed more specs for this awaited Android hybrid.

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BlackBerry PRIV revealed specs:
5.43-inch dual-curved QHD display @ 2560 x 1440 resolution
Plastic AMOLED panel with Gorilla Glass 4
High Brightness Mode
Snapdragon 808
3GB RAM
18MP Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera with OIS, PDAF (phase-detection autofocus), and 6-element f/2.2 aperture lens
2MP front camera with large 1.75um pixel and f2.8 aperture
3410mAh battery

BlackBerry has previously announced some of its specs like the QHD display, Schneider-Kreuznach shooter, and battery capacity but it’s just now that we get these detailed specs.

According to the report, the PRIV might have a price tag of $750 (approx. Php35K) for an unlocked device, but it still isn’t set to stone. It’s expected to see a mid-November release, so stay tuned for the final details.

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