blacks

BlackBerry store tops 100,000 apps, up 30,000 in 7 weeks

BlackBerry's app store now has more than 100,000 apps, just in time for the launch of its BlackBerry Z10 smartphone.

The Canadian smartphone maker said developers have created more than 30,000 new apps over the past seven weeks since it unveiled its new operating system and devices.

Today, BlackBerry 10 customers can download Amazon Kindle, OpenTable, and The Wall Street Journal. CNN, The Daily Show, eBay, eMusic, Maxim, MLB at Bat, MTV News, Pageonce, PGA, Rdio, Skype, Soundhound, and Viber will be available in the coming weeks.

"The response to the BlackBerry 10 platform and applications … Read more

'Star Trek' inspires BlackBerry founder to launch quantum fund

BlackBerry co-founder and former CEO Mike Lazaridis has veered from mobile devices and set his sights on quantum technology.

This technology is so fascinating to him that he and fellow BlackBerry co-founder Doug Fregin have launched a $100 million investment fund, called Quantum Valley Investments, to work on commercial applications for breakthroughs in quantum science, according to the Wall Street Journal.

But, what exactly are breakthroughs in quantum science?

According to Lazaridis, one need look no further than Star Trek.

"There's this buzz around the world that this quantum information science is starting to bear fruit," Lazaridis … Read more

BlackBerry 10 erroneously reported as not secure enough by U.K.

Updated at 3:30 p.m. PT This article, originally headlined "BlackBerry 10 deemed not secure enough by U.K.," previously reported the U.K.'s Computer Experts Security Group had determined that the new operating system did not meet its standards. At the time of its publication, the CESG was unavailable for comment, so the article relied on the reporting of The Guardian. We have since learned that report was inaccurate. We have received comment from the CESG that indicates BlackBerry 10 has not yet undergone required testing. We have included the group's statement in this … Read more

T-Mobile changing the contract game

CNET Update will pay you Tuesday for a smartphone today:

Google Reader is shutting down in July, and its demise can impact citizens who have Internet access restricted by their government. The Change.org petition to keep Google Reader has about 12 percent of its signatures from people living in countries that have Internet censorship. People in Kazakhstan and China have left comments urging Google to keep the Reader tool because it's the best way to access banned websites and uncensored news.

Also featured in Tuesday's news roundup:

- Next week, T-Mobile is expected to announce a new way to pay for smartphones … Read more

BlackBerry's Heins: Apple's iOS is a little long in the tooth

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins thinks it's about time Apple starts innovating again.

Speaking to the Australian Financial Review in an interview published today, Heins acknowledged that Apple "did a fantastic job in bringing touch devices to market [and] they did a fantastic job with the user interface," but he thinks the company might have become too complacent.

"History repeats itself again I guess ... the rate of innovation is so high in our industry that if you don't innovate at that speed you can be replaced pretty quickly," Heins told AFR. "The user interface … Read more

Hottest tech products (winter 2013)

I don't know why I make this job harder than it needs to be. Every week I wrack my brain trying to think of a topic that will tap into the collective CNET zeitgeist. Sometimes I hit it just right, and sometimes I get nothing. But I could save myself a lot of trouble.

Without fail, the most popular Top 5 videos we produce here are the "Hottest Product" roundups. I think you guys get a voyeuristic kick out of knowing what everyone else is looking at.

Well, who am I to deprive you? This time around … Read more

BlackBerry plans Z10 launch event

BlackBerry issued invitations this morning for a March 21 event in New York to launch its new Z10 smartphone and BlackBerry 10 OS.

That timing would place the event the day before the Z10 is scheduled to land in AT&T stores and be available to the carrier's customers. AT&T, which started preorders this week, is the first U.S. carrier to release the device, which runs on the new BlackBerry 10 OS.

With promised performances by Janelle Monae, Young the Giant, and DJ Z-Trip, the event should be more party than press conference. BlackBerry Global … Read more

Revived BlackBerry still needs to prove itself in U.S.

BlackBerry has built up a nice head of steam. The question is whether it can keep the momentum going.

So far, there's been a lot to like about the BlackBerry Z10's launch. Early consumer sales have been stronger than expected; retailers have acknowledged strong demand; and BlackBerry said an "established partner" placed an order for 1 million units -- the largest order in the company's history.

All of this is fuel for BlackBerry's turnaround ambitions. The company hopes its next-generation BlackBerry 10 platform, led by the Z10, gives existing BlackBerry users a reason to … Read more

WhatsApp now available on BlackBerry 10

WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10 is now available in BlackBerry World, which means droves of new users will get the ability to send and receive messages without having to pay for SMS.

In WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10, users get the ability to exchange messages with other users, no matter what platform they may be on, all through a carrier data connection or Wi-Fi connection. The app also offers instant push notifications for incoming messages and full integration with BlackBerry contacts.

While Android and iOS users might be scoffing at the news, the addition of another platform should, in fact, affect them, … Read more