10 million BBM downloads in 24 hours

Blackberry says its new app that opens up the proprietary BBM messaging platform to Android and Apple users was downloaded 10 million times in just over its first 24 hours of availability.

The free app was launched Monday morning.

Using it, people with Android and iOS can exchange messages with friends and colleagues using the BBM system. The system notifies users when each message has been read and indicates when someone is in the process of responding. Files and photos can also be shared over BBM.

There are around 60 million active monthly users of BBM.

The launch of BBM on Android and iOS is about more than just making it easy for people to message Blackberry users.

“We intend to be the leading private social network for everyone who needs the immediate communication and collaboration of instant messaging combined with the privacy, control and reliability delivered through BBM,” said Andrew Bocking, Blackberry’s executive vice president for BBM, in a statement.

But to do that, Blackberry is up against stiff competition from companies like Yahoo, AOL, and Google, which have operated open instant messaging networks for years. It will not only have to convince people of their need for a new platform and to download the app, but it will also have to get people used to exchanging a BBM “PIN,” an alphanumeric code each user has that identifies them, instead of their email address.

BlackBerry Outselling Motorola And HTC

With BlackBerry’s declining popularity and with reports of the company recently announcing an operating loss, many have assumed that the Canadian company is on the way to its grave unless someone comes and bails them out. While it might seem that way on the surface, perhaps BlackBerry’s demise and troubles might be greatly exaggerated, at least that’s what a recent report by the Yankee Group seems to suggest. According to the recently published report, it basically tallies up the second quarter results from both Motorola and HTC and based on that report, it was found that despite BlackBerry’s troubles, they were still outselling both these two companies despite the recent BlackBerry Z10 inventory write-down.

For example HTC had recently announced their own operating loss of $101 million, a first of the Taiwanese company in a long time, while Motorola’s own operating loss was reported at $208 million. It was also found that BlackBerry had managed to reach the one million mark of Z10 units sold in the first quarter, versus Nokia who only managed to reach that mark with one of their Lumia devices after it had been on the market for a year. While this report certainly does not negate the problems that BlackBerry is currently facing, it does add some perspective to the entire proceedings.

Meaning of Blinking LED code on the BlackBerry

Have you ever experienced the LED blinking, then you can not startup your Blackberry. Consider the meaning of blinking code below:

1 1 Not a bootrom error: The OS is resetting During init!

3 11 No OS Loaded (* Tip: The reload MFI)

5101 Bad OS CRC

Missing OS CRC 7111

11 OS 1011 Trailer Missing

Not Signed OS 13 1101

Invalid Signature 15 OS 1111 (* Tip: verify failure by loading the software and let sit with no battery for approximately one hour, if it boots up it’s fine, if it comes back with another bootrom Error, try replacing the flash)

21 10101 Unknown Flash Manufacturer

23 10111 Flash initialization problem (* Tip: try replacing flash)

27 11011 Flash Erase Failure (* Tip: try replacing flash)

29 11101 Flash Operation Out Of Range

31 11111 Bad Bootrom CRC (* Tip: try replacing flash) 43 101 011 USB Driver Error

45 101101 No Bootrom CRC

47 101111 Flash Write Failure (* Tip: try replacing flash)

53 110101 Invalid Memory Configuration Table

55 110111 Password Not Initiated

59 111011 RAM initialization problem (* Tip: try replacing flash)

61 111101 Cache No Pages Free

63 111111 Cache Invalid Page Type

Random Number 85 1010101 Failure

Failure OSStore 87 1010111

91 1011011 Security Init Failure

93 1011101 NAND failure

95 1011111 General assert failure

107 1101011 GPIO failure

109 1101101 runtime library failure

111 1101111 Exception: undefined isntruction

117 1110101 Exception: SWI

119 1110111 Exception: Prefetch Abor

123 1111011 Exception: Data Abort

125 1111101 Exception: Reserved

127 1111111 Exception: IRQ

171 10101011 Exception: FIQ

BlackBerry Named One of World's Top 100 Most Innovative Organizations of 2013

BlackBerry got some rare positive recognition. Thomson Reuters recognized the smartphone pioneer as one of the world's top 100 most innovative organizations of 2013.

It is BlackBerry's first appearance on the list. BlackBerry is the only Canadian company on the third-annual list, next to 45 US companies. According to Thomson Reuters, BlackBerry's innovation was "driven by a 38 percent surge in patent filings between 2010 and 2011, and 17 percent growth in patent filings between 2011 and 2012."

"Now in its third year, the Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators study provides further evidence that innovative organizations—those that secure global patent protection for their intellectual property, continue to push the envelope with new technologies and invest more in R&D—are those that outperform the S&P 500 on virtually every measure of business success," noted David Brown, managing director, Thomson Reuters IP Solutions.

"These are the companies that are driving growth, creating jobs and pioneering new products and services; we are honored to recognize their efforts through this annual program," he added.

The 100 organizations in the 2013 study outperformed the S&P 500 for the third consecutive year. This year's winners also outspent the S&P 500 by 8.8 percent on R&D; collectively they invested $223 billion in their research and development efforts.

Next 250 Approved Built for BlackBerry Developers get a Limited Edition BlackBerry Z10: I could get my second one!

BlackBerry today re-launched its Built for BlackBerry program to provide developers with a more simple and clear path to achieving Built for BlackBerry status, a designation that tells consumers that a BlackBerry app delivers the signature BlackBerry 10 experience.

The revitalised Built for BlackBerry program is part of an effort to ensure that BlackBerry World contains the applications that customers want with the best customer experience. The program will ensure that an increasing percentage of apps in the store provide seamless performance and an integrated experience with BlackBerry 10 features such as the Hub or BBM.

BlackBerry is also focused on being the strongest platform business partner for developers. The new Built for BlackBerry program works to increase discoverability, a key hurdle for app and business success. In fact, in the week when featured on the Carousel, measured against the time not featured, Built for BlackBerry apps have increased daily downloads by an average of 230%.

Built for BlackBerry apps will now have more regular placement on BlackBerry World carousels and microbanners, as well as a new top Built for BlackBerry list that customers can easily find and search. Built for BlackBerry apps will also have an exclusive results area in app searches.

The program also includes a refreshed criteria checklist that clarifies the requirements for developers and a new submission process that enables a faster path to be part of Built for BlackBerry:

What does this mean for BlackBerry 10 customers?

• Built for BlackBerry is a simple way to find and explore apps that take advantage of the BlackBerry 10 platform.

What does this mean for developers?

• Increased exposure and discoverability of their app
• A noted designation that can be leveraged in app promotion
• Opportunities to be featured in BlackBerry app promotions

What is the BlackBerry 10 signature app experience?

• The BlackBerry 10 signature app experience requires vendors to follow the BlackBerry 10 guidelines to deliver a familiar experience to customers, i.e. swipe back to exit an app, swipe down for application menu with settings, swipe up for action menu, use of context menus, etc, without unnecessarily complicating BlackBerry app development.

How does a developer build for the signature BlackBerry 10 experience? 

• It is simple to implement the BlackBerry 10 experience into apps – both for native, HTML5 and AIR apps
• Native – Cascades auto implements these controls for the developer
• HTML5 – BlackBerry provides a bootstrap template for developer Phonegap or HTML5 app projects to use
• AIR – The BlackBerry Experience framework allows developers to easily create a BlackBerry 10 UI

Find out more details on the revamped Built for BlackBerry program at http://developer.blackberry.com/builtforblackberry/

BlackBerry previews cloud-based mobile enterprise solution: BOYD

A super easy-to-use cloud service for managing mobile users, apps and devices.

Key features at a glance:

As simple and fast to set up as a web email account Full device and app management for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices Define individual and group email, app, connectivity and security settings within the simple to use admin console Publish apps to catalogs on users’ devices Identify and take action on devices that break pre-defined policies Self-service user portal will save time and support cost

A super easy-to-use cloud service for managing mobile users, apps and devices.

Key features at a glance:

As simple and fast to set up as a web email account Full device and app management for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices Define individual and group email, app, connectivity and security settings within the simple to use admin console Publish apps to catalogs on users’ devices Identify and take action on devices that break pre-defined policies Self-service user portal will save time and support cost

New Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé sports QNX-powered infotainment system

All-digital instrument cluster and head unit based on QNX CAR Platform

Did you ever lay your eyes on something and say, “Now, that is what I want for Christmas”? Well, I just said it — in response to a set of wheels. But holy turbochargers, what wheels! Not to mention everything else.

If you’re wondering what fueled this sudden rush of automotive desire, here’s a glimpse:



And here’s a bird’s-eye view: 



And here’s a peak at the oh-so-gorgeous interior:


All images copyright Daimler AG

Mercedes-Benz took the wraps off this car, the new Concept S-Class Coupé, earlier this week. And just a few minutes ago, QNX and Mercedes revealed that the car’s infotainment system is based on the QNX CAR Platform. 

This isn’t the first time QNX and Mercedes-Benz have worked together. Besides providing the OS for various Mercedes infotainment systems, the QNX automotive team has worked with Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America since the early 2000s, providing the group with advanced technologies for the specification and prototyping of next-generation vehicle electronics. The infotainment system in the Concept S-Class Coupé is the latest — and arguably coolest — product of this long collaboration.

The Concept S-Class Coupé also packs a serious power plant: a 449 hp Biturbo V8 with peak torque of 516 lb-ft. And it offers driver-assistance technologies that are, quite literally, forward looking. Here is a sampling of what's inside:

• Two 12.3-inch displays
• Touchscreen showing four world clocks
• Stereo camera offering 3D view of the area in front of the car
• "6DVision" to detect the position and movement of objects in front of the car
• Variety of assistance systems to monitor surrounding traffic