Author: sarah Published: May 22nd, 2013
The Blackberry Z10 will be getting keyboard shortcuts just like the Q10.
In an interview with Omio at Blackberry Live 2013, Blackberry’s Vice President, User Experience, Don Lindsay, said, “One of the challenges I gave to the design team is, what’s the equivalent to a short cut on a touch display.
“Things like peek are allowing us to actually find and discover new ways to deliver the equivalent value of a shortcut, but through an entirely touch interface.
“This is an area that we are going to continue to expand the gesture language to find more short cuts, more ways to actually achieve tasks in a faster and simpler ways – using just touch.
“With physical keyboards, we’ve always supported shortcuts, that has been in place with BlackBerry for many many years.
“In BlackBerry 10.1, on the physical keyboard, in the contextual menu, we now show the keyboard shortcuts.
“Now the challenge is: how do we do the same thing, but with gestures.”
Omio asked “if there could be a combination of gestures, which could act as a keyboard shortcut?”
He said, “One of our guiding principles in the creation of BlackBerry 10 was one handed operation.
“One handed operation has led to decisions such as the placement of the top most item [in the BlackBerry Hub], by default, is in reach of my thumb.
“That fulfils our principle of one handed operation.
“Our design [rules] goes a little bit further than that, it actually says: we must deliver great one handed operation, but it can be more powerful with two hands.
“This is an acknowledgement of, are there ways in which we can interact with two thumbs or two fingers, that can be faster – than just a single finger [or thumb].”
Omio then asked “what short cuts from the Q10 keyboard could be taken across to the full touch screen BlackBerry Z10?”
He answered, “We’re at the point now where we’re trying to see, first of all, what needs to be recreated.
“One of the request we often get is the ability to scroll a list to the top, quickly.
“With our physical keyboards, we have ‘T’, which is a keyboard shortcut for the top, and ‘B’ for bottom.
“The team is now looking at, is there an equivalent to the command to go to the top of the list.
“They’re looking at, is there an intuitive gesture, to get to the top.
“The common ones on the Q10 are F for forward a mail; R for reply.
“Those are the higher priority candidates for us to see, can we do better in this space.
“If we can deliver that kind of efficiency, BlackBerry users will appreciate it.”
Excited your Blackberry Z10 will be getting Q10 keyboard shortcuts? Let us know through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: BB10, Blackberry, Blackberry 10, Blackberry Q10, Blackberry Z10, Don Lindsay, keyboard shortcuts, Q10, Z10
Category Phone News |
Author: sarah Published: May 14th, 2013
Aside from the Blackberry Q10 and Z10, the Canadian phone maker has now unveiled the Q5. It has also revealed the new smartphone’s specs and features.
On the official Blackberry blog, Blackberry talks about “the evolution of the classic BlackBerry Keyboard.”
It says, “The BlackBerry Q5 features a classic BlackBerry Keyboard with discrete keys that has been re-engineered and elegantly designed to help you type fast, accurately and with the least amount of effort. Plus with Instant Action shortcuts you can type to perform tasks faster. The BlackBerry Q5 smartphone gives you the best of both worlds – a classic QWERTY keyboard for optimized communications and a 3.1” touchscreen for all the rest.”
The Q5 allows users to “create the perfect shot with BlackBerry Time Shift mode and Story Maker.”
It says, “Create the picture perfect shot with BlackBerry Time Shift mode, then create and share your story, weaving together your photos, videos and music into a movie with BlackBerry Story Maker.”
The handset allows users to “share and be seen with BBM Video with Screen Share.”
It says, “Instantly switch your BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) chat to a BBM Video conversation and catch up face-to-face. You can even share your screen, whether it’s a photo, a page in the browser, an idea, or a view from your camera.”
Another feature will allow users to “stay close to what’s important to you with BlackBerry Hub.”
It says, “With BlackBerry Hub, all of your messages and social conversations are only one swipe away. There’s no need to stop what you’re doing. Simply peek into the BlackBerry Hub from anywhere with a swipe to effortlessly flow in and out of your messages and conversations.”
Lastly, it says “BlackBerry World delivers a rich, thriving app and content ecosystem.”
It adds, “Discovering and sharing great apps and content is easier than ever with recommendations based on similar purchases, and access to more than 100,000 apps on the BlackBerry World storefront.”
Can’t wait to get your hands on the Blackberry Q5? Let us know through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: BB10, Blackberry, Blackberry 10, Blackberry Q5, Q5
Category Phone News |
Author: nadine Published: March 20th, 2013
The UK government is one of Blackberry’s biggest clients, which is why the Canadian phone maker suffered a huge blow when CESG (Communications-Electronics Security Group) allegedly did not give Blackberry 10 (BB10) a secure clearance rating, saying that the software is “not secure enough for essential work”. This meant that the Z10 was not fit to be used by people in higher places.
Initially Blackberry said, “We are continuing to work closely with CESG on the approval of BlackBerry 10 and we’re confident that BlackBerry 10 will only strengthen our position as the mobile solution of choice for the UK government.”
Blackberry responded in statement saying, “Media reports alleging that BlackBerry 10 has been ‘rejected’ for U.K. government use are both false and misleading. BlackBerry has a long-established relationship with CESG and we remain the only mobile solution approved for use at ‘Restricted’ when configured in accordance with CESG guidelines.
“This level of approval only comes following a process which is rigorous and absolutely necessary given the highly confidential nature of the communications being transmitted. The current re-structuring of this approval process, due to the Government Protective Marking Scheme review and the new CESG Commercial Product Assurance scheme has an impact on the timeline for BlackBerry 10 to receive a similar level of approval.
“The U.S. government’s FIPS 140-2 certification of BlackBerry 10 and the selection of BlackBerry 10 by the German Procurement Office and Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) underline how our new platform continues to set the standard for government communications.”
Do you think Blackberry 10 is secure? Let us know what you think through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: BB10, Blackberry, Blackberry 10, CESG, Communications-Electronics Security Group, UK
Category OS News |
