Smartphone users who own a BlackBerry handset running on BlackBerry 10 are poised to receive the next software update that brings with it a number of remarkable improvements to the BlackBerry platform.
The Canadian smartphone maker announced in an official blog post that BlackBerry 10.3.2 is coming to all BlackBerry 10 devices "over the coming weeks." This is accompanied by BlackBerry Blend 1.2, which brings an updated user interface for people who interact with their messages and phone content via their PC.
The updated BlackBerry Blend also makes it easier to respond to messages by now allowing users to reply directly from the notification pop-up. Also, it now includes spellcheck, a feature valuable to professionals who are responding to business messages and emails.
As for BlackBerry 10.3.2, it now includes BlackBerry Protect, a security feature akin to Find My iPhone for iOS and Device Protection for Android Lollipop. With BlackBerry Protect, users can track the location of their lost device, play a sound, display instructions for anyone who finds it on how to return it to the owner, lock it or wipe it free of its contents if needed.
The update also includes camera enhancements, such as better low-light performance in auto-mode, improved face detection and reduced blur caused by movement. BlackBerry Calendar also receives a number of new features, including meeting mode, which lets users specify which calendar events are meetings and automatically putting the phone in silent mode when the event starts. Users will also see a comeback of the popular month view, where dates shrink or grow depending on the amount of events scheduled for that day to give users an idea of how busy they would be.
For users in the U.S. who are not yet using the newest BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Classic, the update brings the most significant changes with the inclusion of BlackBerry Blend, BlackBerry Assistant and a battery saving feature. They will also see a revamped action bar with refreshed icons and BlackBerry Hub improvements.
Lastly, the update also includes support for the Amazon Appstore, where users can download Android apps compatible with BlackBerry 10. It's not the Google Play Store carrying more than a million apps, but the Amazon Appstore has plenty of the most popular apps most users will ever use.
BlackBerry 10.3.2 is still subject to carrier approval. Once the carriers approve the software update, it will automatically start downloading in user devices if automatic software downloads are activated.
Photo: Maurizio Pesce | Flickr
