BlackBerry was a juggernaut back before the iPhone and Android stole the spotlight, but has since fallen from grace. The company’s products still have a loyal fan following, especially among users who still crave the amazing physical keyboards that are the trademarks of BlackBerry devices. But the lack of apps on the default app store (the Amazon App Store might have come too late for some) have driven users to iPhones and Android devices.
BlackBerry might just be able win them back. For a while now, we’ve heard rumours of a phone in the making, codenamed Venice, which purportedly ran Android instead of BB10. Now, with a pretty detailed leaked video, it appears that the rumours were true. The phone is rumoured to feature a 5.4 inch quad HD display and is said to be powered by the Snapdragon 808, the same chip which powers the LG G4 and the Moto X Style/Pure. The phone is also said to have 3 GB of RAM on board – and the display slides out to reveal BlackBerry’s trademark keyboard.
So, if BlackBerry is truly going the Android way, what can we expect? With dozens of manufacturers fighting for the top spot, it’s easy to get lost in the mix unless you have something truly unique to bring to the party. And BlackBerry just might have some tricks up their sleeve.
That Keyboard!
Fans of the BlackBerry brand, who’ve had to leave the platform, might be interested in picking up the Venice, just so they can use the keyboard again. Make no mistake, I’m not hyping this keyboard, there are truly devout fans of the physical keyboard out there who have just not been able to adjust to apps such as SwiftKey and Fleksy.
Enterprise and Security?
Back in July, BlackBerry struck a deal with Google to make Android enterprise ready. BlackBerry added support for Android Lollipop to BES12 (BlackBerry Enterprise Server), integrated with Google Play for Work. This deal could mean that the upcoming Venice could be perfect for enterprise users – all of BlackBerry’s famed security along with Google’s huge app library.
While entering an already overcrowded market may seem like the wrong move, BlackBerry just might pull it off. Leaked videos show what appears to be mostly stock Android Lollipop with some BlackBerry tweaks thrown in – basically Motorola’s modus operandi. What we did see in the videos are BlackBerry’s famed Hub and its Universal Search, two features users will probably like. All the right elements are in place and personally, I can’t wait to check it out!
What do you think about the latest video of the BlackBerry “Venice?” Would you use an Android device with a physical keyboard? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
Last Updated on November 27, 2018.
