But, that was diverting from BlackBerry roots: you see, a real BlackBerry uses a QWERTY keyboard.

And this is it: the BlackBerry Q10. It’s supposed to compete with the likes of Samsung, Apple, and HTC. So, the question is: can it? And if so, should you buy it?

Price as Reviewed: $199 at Verizon Wireless, on new 2-year contract

Specs

There’s no doubt this is a modern smartphone. A 3.1-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 720 making it perfectly square, doubles as your touchscreen on the Q10. The display is OLED tech, with 330 pixels-per-inch gracing your eyeballs. A Cortex-A9 1.5GHz dual-core processor from Texas Instruments is the brain, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage (microSD expandable to 64GB), an 8 megapixel shooter on the back with 1080p HD video plus LED, a 2MP front-facing capable of 720p HD, and the usual NFC/Bluetooth 4.0/WiFi 802.11 b/c/g/a/LTE/GPS connections, a 2,100 mAh battery, and finally a micro-USB, micro-HDMI and 3.5mm headset ports.

Design

“The BlackBerry Q10′s design is like a fine tuxedo versus a suit. I’d take the suit.” BlackBerry had the brains to makes sure that the Q10 is actually a fantastic representation of what a modern QWERTY smartphone should look like in a sea of slates. It has excellent build quality, a removable battery cover with access to the micro-SIM so that unlocked global usage is possible, extremely well-defined edges that aren’t sharp, and fits perfectly into the palm of just about any user. While this is great and all, I sometimes feel out of place when comparing it to the full-slate devices, even BlackBerry’s own Z10.

It would be a lie if I said the Q10 isn’t a great looking smartphone. Maybe keyboards aren’t your thing anymore, but it’s an excellent build. Serious props to the designers and engineers who could make it happen.

OK, now back to reality.

An important factor with BlackBerries that most people don’t realize is their weight. Typically, the mix of materials (sometimes faux leather, plastic, metal, etc.) creates a heavy device, despite it leaving a small footprint next to a larger, fullscreen smartphone. The Q10 manages to beat the stigma of BlackBerry device being thick or bulky: it’s svelte, smooth, and lightweight, at a mere 139 g (4.90 oz).

Otherwise, the rest of the Q10 is pretty normal: the keys all have just about enough spacing to make them comfortable enough to switch around with on-the-fly, while being slightly lowered to the rest of the body, so they’re not raised too high. The micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports are just what you’d expect and work for projecting images to a monitor or projector, or just charging and transferring data. On the top, you’re graced by the power/sleep button, and on the right, the usual BlackBerry-esque volume up/down and customization function button.

All very textbook BlackBerry design, but tuned to a different market, pretty much.

Using It

When I left the wonderful agents at Verizon Wireless in Grand Central during a crazy storm, I was thinking about one thing, and one thing only: how would I survive? No, not the storm. Simply using the BlackBerry as my main device, deviating from a Galaxy S 4 or iOS device that I felt so comfortable with. First thing: setup my email. Now, I have (or had, rather) a Gmail account with two-step verification and encountered some problems.

First of all, in order to properly sync your email, contacts, and calendar, you shouldn’t have two-step verification enabled it seems, otherwise you’ll never get past a log-in error screen. So, in order to use BlackBerry 10.1′s famous enterprise security features and integration, I had to disable some of my own. How this isn’t ironic, I don’t know. But it’s not a major problem, but if it is, then a workaround is probably evident to an expert BlackBerry user, unlike myself.

Going back to the main idea of using the BlackBerry Q10: the lack of apps. As much as the built-in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and productivity apps will entertain you, a limited number of games, and small screen size coming from someone having used massive PC gaming rigs, Ultrabooks, high-res tablets, and even Google Glass, you start to feel cramped in that 3.1-inch square OLED screen. So, besides document editing and shooting photos, you will eventually get bored.  No Spotify, no Rdio, and no Google Play All Access for you — unless you load those through the web browser, of course.

But then, it’s important to remember that BlackBerry smartphones, no matter how modernized or accessible they become to fit in with the rest of the smartphone ecosystem, they remain business devices. Developers for the BlackBerry 10 platform seem to recognize that, and with the mix of BlackBerry’s app catalog being very immature, kind of makes the Q10 a device that is mostly just geared towards normal things.

All criticism aside, BlackBerry 10.1 is filled with smooth animations and great gestures. As the BlackBerry rep advised me when demoing the Q10, “It’s a gesture-based smartphone”. So for example, instead of pressing the power button to wake it from sleep, a simply swipe upward from above the keyboard resumes the device. Swiping all the way to the left delivers you to the BlackBerry hub, where all notifications of calls, messages, emails, tweets, and anything that rings or vibrates will show up. I really like that; it almost advises you to make certain that important messages are answered or read.

Another feature native to BB 10 is the ability to universally search or send messages by typing the first letter of what app you want to use.That’s nifty and all, but unless you’re a die-hard keyboard fan, you’ll accomplish that faster by just using the screen.

Of course, being unable to recognize that I opened the email on my desktop and also mark it as read on the Q10 without manually doing so would have been great, but oh well. For the most part, the BlackBerry 10.x OS is refined, free of bugs, and very smooth.

Those are all pros, but considering that they should be a given no matter what, kind of nullifies the qualities of the operating system in the first place. Remember, you’ll be without most of the apps you know! That isn’t very productive in hindsight now, is it?

Cameras

Easy, tiger. Using the volume rocker, you can take shots using the front or back cameras without even touching the screen. It’s a nice touch and complements the Q10′s small size. Images are high-res technically, but sometimes lack clarity in decent lighting conditions; the same applies to the video. The front-facing is a little less so, but still livable. There is almost zero shutter lag after a second of autofocus, which is great as well.

BlackBerry Q10 Camera Shots

Verizon’s 4G LTE/Calls

No qualms here, either. Verizon’s reliability, especially for a BlackBerry is usually top notch in most areas of the United States. In Manhattan and Brooklyn I wasn’t experiencing any issues with LTE data via the web browser (which has excellent rendering of pages, by the way) or phone calls. Per usual, BlackBerry smartphones are great at making phone calls, as long as the network is up to par. Considering that both are more than adequate, crisp sounding calls were frequent. The speaker is also pretty good, too.

Conclusion

Score: 7/10

The BlackBerry Q10 is many things: productive, sleek, professional. But it also lack a defining app ecosystem, popular appeal beyond the government and enterprise users, and the ability to full take on rival handsets like the iPhone 5 or a Samsung Galaxy S4. but if productivity is your thing, need a corporate device, and it has to be a BlackBerry, then you’re in luck. The Q10 is for you. Otherwise, if you don’t fill the very specific requirements, then you’re better off with the competition.

Pros:

• Excellent build quality
• That keyboard, dude
• It’s lightweight
• Convenient battery life

Cons:

• App library is very small
• Gesture-based functions require some learning curve
• Not good for anything else than productivity apps

By planting one of Icreon’s own inside of a company, he/she is properly introduced to the dynamics of whatever business that resources are being put into. From restaurants to website software, Icreon Labs has a pretty great grasp on it all.

In my phone interview with Devanshi Garg, their COO, we talk about the company’s various projects, plans to adapt to future projects and upcoming technologies, and probably the most trivial, competition from other firms in the city. Check it all out below!

*Updated to reflect name change.

But if you really want to get nitty and gritty with it, it turns out that Huawei is missing one important feature: 4G. There will be models with LTE capability launched in October, but why wait? Otherwise, a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 8GB of storage (with microSD). 8 megapixel back-facing camera and 5MP front-facing, and a (small) 2,000 mAh battery round off the hardware. Software-wise, there’s Android 4.2.2, with of course, some sort of proprietary design interface that aims to improve the stock version of Android.

Sure thing, Huawei. A launch is expected in at least 100 countries between July and the fourth quarter.

Press release after the break.

Elegant and edgy, the new HUAWEI Ascend P6 is the world’s slimmest smartphone
At 6.18mm slim, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 is impossibly beautiful and always intuitive

London, United Kingdom, June 18, 2013: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveiled the HUAWEI Ascend P6, the world’s slimmest smartphone measuring 6.18mm. The smartphone features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and a sleek metallic body. With its 4.7-inch high definition in-cell display, industry-leading 5MP front-facing camera, and outstanding software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 is the embodiment of elegance with an edge.

“The HUAWEI Ascend P6 is a star among smartphones with its industry-leading design, high-quality camera, and intuitive user interface, Huawei’s proprietary Emotion UI,” said Richard Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Building on the success of our Ascend P series of fashion smartphones, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 provides unsurpassed technology and a design that is simply stunning.”

HUAWEI Ascend P6 is ultra slim at 6.18mm and weighs just about 120g. While it is small enough to slip into the tiniest of pockets or clutch bags, the stylish HUAWEI Ascend P6 is designed to be seen and coveted! It features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.2.2 operating system, 2000mAh battery, 4.7-inch HD in-cell LCD screen technology, and ‘MagicTouch’ for enhanced screen responsiveness even when wearing gloves.

As the flagship smartphone of the Huawei Ascend P series, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 embodies a cutting edge design for the fashion conscious. The smartphone’s brushed metallic look with a naturally curved base is both elegant and intuitive. Impossibly beautiful, the Ascend P6 balances fashionable features and user-friendly functions.

Perfect for ‘selfies’, the HUAWEI Ascend P6′s industry-leading 5MP front-facing camera and auto facial-enhancing capabilities create model-gorgeous shots you’ll want to share. Its 8MP rear-facing BSI camera with F2.0 aperture and 4cm macro view also enables 1080P full HD video recording and playback. With Huawei’s proprietary IMAGESmart software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 turns even the most novice photographer into a professional, with contrast and color enhancement, auto scene recognition, object tracing focus, and instant facial beauty support.

The HUAWEI Ascend P6 is even more intuitive and able to be customized with Huawei’s Emotion UI. Inspired by people, for device users worldwide, Huawei has gathered input from over 5 million consumers to help us optimize the latest version of Emotion UI. The proprietary user interface includes updates to Uni-Home including enhanced security, Huawei’s Me Widget, MagicTouch, and SmartReading. New to Huawei’s Emotion UI are the panoramic shoot and facial recognition photography functions.

Huawei’s unique Automated Discontinuous Reception (ADRX) and Quick Power Control (QPC) battery optimization and power saving technology improves performance by more than 30%, compared with smartphone batteries of equal size. With its multi-screen AirSharing capability, you can connect to a range of devices to boost your productivity at work or play by easily sharing documents or enhance your gaming experience with minimal lag time.
The HUAWEI Ascend P6 is available in black, white and pink with matching color cases. It will begin shipping to China from June and to Western Europe from July through Vodafone, Telefonica, Orange, H3G, O2, Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk, Media Markt & Saturn, TIM and online via Amazon and CDiscount with other markets to follow.

Specifically, in parks and beaches around New York City, AT&T with the help of Goal Zero will bring solar-powered smartphone charger stations. Location-wise, they’ll be deployed at Fort Green Park on June 18th, then Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island, Riverside Park, the Rockaways, Summerstage in Central Park, Randall’s Island, Governor’s Island, Union Square, and Hudson River Park over the next few weeks. Each solar-powered pole, designed locally by Pensa, sports six USB connections: for iPhones and iPads, there’s 30-pin and Lightning plugs, Android and Windows Phone users can hook up to micro-USB, and everyone else can use their own cable with one of three typical USB connectors.

Each station has three 15-watt solar panels, a 168 watt-hour battery, and is 12.5 feet tall, so six different devices can be charged without exposure to the sun. Of course, to completely fill up your phone can take some time, but 5-15 minutes of charge could be everything that lets you get past 6PM on that wonderful device you always use with impunity.

Via: NYT

Time to see if this works out.

Via: Adobe

To add context, JK Shin went on to say that, “As operators seek to provide more data-centric mobile services, I think this will become mainstream 4G technology globally in the coming years”. However, when asked when and what carriers the LTE-Advanced Galaxy S 4 would make a debut on, his reply was a refusal.

Via:  Reuters

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