A major software update for BB 10 smartphones is being rolled out by the BlackBerry. The 10.3.1 update is available for the phones Z10, Q5, Q10, Z30, Z3, Porsche Design P’9983, and the Passport.
BlackBerry 10 OS 10.3.1 provides users with the ability to use BlackBerry World app store and the Amazon Appstore. The open access to both the app stores acts as a link to variety of Android applications, which were earlier unavailable on the BlackBerry platform. The update installs a new software that allow users to access the new BlackBerry Blend feature, which enables users to receive message notifications, read and respond to personal and work email, text and other messages, while accessing files, calendars, contacts or any other media, on any device one is using. The new feature works across Microsoft’s Windows platform, Apple’s Mac OS, and also on the tablets powered by Google’s Android software.
With this latest update, BlackBerry has re-introduced the keyboard shortcuts such as pressing key “T” when using the BlackBerry Hub, in order to reach to the top of your Inbox or press key “B” to reach directly to the bottom of the inbox. Users can also press “A” to launch Address Book, “N” to launch BBM, “O” to launch Settings. The software update will also introduce the BlackBerry’s Digital Assistant, which can be used with voice or text command in order to help the users to manage email, contacts, calendar and other applications.
Adding more action to the update, BlackBerry has also introduced a new option, ‘Meeting Mode’ to its Calendar, which will automatically set the phone to quiet mode whenever the user is in a meeting then turns on the notifications as soon as the meeting gets over. The BB10 users will be receiving a notification in the BlackBerry Hub whenever the software is ‘ready for download'. If the automatic software download is enabled, then they will be notified in the BlackBerry Hub that the software is ‘downloading'. BlackBerry is also affirming on the enhanced power saving features with the BlackBerry 10.3.1 update, which can extend the phone’s battery life by up to 15 percent.
