Andreas' Blog

With BlackBerry Blend having met an arguably early demise, folks looking to use BBM on their desktop have been out of luck. That might soon change, though, as the latest BBM beta release for Android has a BBM Desktop mode. With BlackBerry Blend having met an arguably early demise, folks looking to use BBM on their desktop have been out of luck with no desktop application available. That will soon be changing, though, as the latest BBM beta release for Android has introduced a new way to bring BBM to your desktop. Read More » https://crackberry.com/bbm-desktop-now-thing-bbm-beta-users

Google launched a redesigned version of Google Calendar on the web today. The calendar looks way more modern with larger date icons, updated colors, and cleaner event boxes. It basically looks more like the mobile application. As for functionality, Google focuses on improvements for business users. Admins can now add details about conference rooms, so employees know how large they are, whether they're wheelchair accessible, and whether they have AV equipment. People can also link to spreadsheets, documents, and presentations in their calendar invites so attendees can open them directly from the "event detail" view. You can get an idea of that here: Google Google also incorporated a bunch of smaller changes that might be impactful if you're in your calendar a lot or often coordinate with other people. Users can now view multiple calendars on the "day" view, for easier comparison and booking. They can also hover over participants' names to...

It was discovered recently that the Netflix app was being listed as "incompatible" on the Google Play Store for those trying to access it through a rooted or unlocked Android smartphone. The app itself was working fine but those who didn't already have it on their rooted or unlocked device couldn't download it from the Google Play Store. Netflix has now confirmed that it's intentionally blocking rooted and unlocked Android devices from downloading its app. It a statement provided to AndroidPolice, Netflix has confirmed that it's intentionally blocking unlocked and rooted Android devices from downloading its app from the Google Play Store. "With our latest 5.0 release, we now fully rely on the Widevine DRM provided by Google; therefore, many devices that are not Google-certified or have been altered will no longer work with our latest app and those users will no longer see the Netflix app in the Play Store," it explains. It's interesting to ...

Microsoft Invites Mac Users to Preview Google Calendar Support in Outlook 2016 MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories  /  Tim Hardwick Microsoft has begun inviting Mac users to try its new Google Calendar and Contacts support in Outlook 2016 by downloading and installing the application from its preview site . Up until now, many of Outlook's more advanced email features have only been available to users with an Outlook.com , Office 365 or Exchange email address. This week's global rollout means anyone with a Gmail account can take advantage of several of Outlook's advanced features, including Focused Inbox and richer experiences for travel reservations and package deliveries. Previously only available to Microsoft's Office Insider Fast Community, the new updates support all the core actions and enable anyone to add, delete, and edit events in a Google Calendar through Outlook for Mac. All changes update between the desktop software and Gmail or...

If you know anything about Google's messaging strategy in the last few years, you know that it's been a bit of a mess. Allo, the consumer app, launched without the cross-platform features users expect. Text messaging on mobile is mired in inter-carrier warfare. And Hangouts has become a punchline. On two of those fronts, Google has been making progress. And today, in a bit of a surprise, Google has signaled that it finally decided Hangouts is supposed to be: a business communication tool to complement its consumer apps. We're now getting a glimpse of what that means — and if the early demo I saw is any indication, it might be time to stop making fun of Hangouts. That's because Hangouts is turning into a group chat system that looks a hell of a lot like Slack. Like Microsoft , Google is launching a Slackalike — and like Microsoft, it's betting that deep integration with the rest of its office suite is going to be catnip for IT managers and cost...

Netflix for Android now allows you to save TV shows and movies to your SD Card : Following up on their earlier release which added the ability to download TV shows and movies to watch offline, Netflix has now rolled out a new build of their Android app which allows you to store shows and movies on your SD Card. Following up on their earlier release which added the ability to download TV shows and movies to watch offline , Netflix has now rolled out a new build of their Android app which allows you to store shows and movies on your SD Card. Read More » (Via CrackBerry.com blogs )

Jide Technology's Remix OS, which forks Android so it can work on PC desktops and notebooks, has been migrated to Marshmallow with its latest update. Along with the Marshmallow upgrade, Jide stated the Remix OS has added support for over 12 more PCs with this new version, along with "system stability improved over previous versions" and improved user experience on multiple windows and other key features". Jide launched the first public alpha of Remix OS in early 2016 . Downloa Remix OS for free http://www.androidcentral.com/pc-based-remix-os-gets-migrated-android-marshmallow

You can now use Touch ID on your iPhone to sign in to your Google account : If there is one thing and only one thing that you take away from this site when it comes to online security, it should be this: enable 2-Step Verification (2FV) on every single account you have that supports it. People constantly moan and groan about how annoying it is to use password management software like 1Password and enhanced security features such as 2-Step Verification, also known as 2-Factor Authentication. Trust us when we tell you that the 10 to 15 extra seconds it takes to make use of either of those important security technologies could mean the difference between having your account hijacked and keeping all of your data secure. And now, a big change will cut the amount of time it takes many Google users to log in with 2FV in half. (more…) (Via BGR )

Apple Rumored to Be Debuting iMessage for Android at WWDC MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories  /  Juli Clover Apple is planning to announce an iMessage app for Android users at WWDC, according to a report from MacDailyNews citing sources "familiar with the company's thinking." Apple will announce that iMessage encrypted text messaging is coming to Android users at WWDC next Monday at WWDC 2016 , according to a source familiar with the company's thinking. [...] Apple is increasingly focused on services which means opening up certain avenues beyond its own iOS and OS X platforms, the source says. The company release Apple Music for Android last November. Google recently announced a new messaging app called "Allo," which will be available on both Android and iOS devices. Allo integrates with a user's phone number and includes features like a built-in Google assistant that offers up proactive suggestions, resizable message bubbles, emoji, st...

Google is making it a little simpler to find your missing Android phone The Verge  /  Chris Welch Google already lets Android users track their misplaced or stolen smartphones both through search and by  using the standalone Android Device Manager app . Today, the company is adding yet another path to checking exactly where your precious device is on a map — and it even works with iPhones this time. Well, sort of. Head to Google's My Account hub and you'll now see a new "Find your phone" option. Tap that, and you'll be able to make the phone ring at maximum volume, lock it (with a message and contact number on the lock screen), or locate its precise position using the Device Manager. Now all of this stuff applies strictly to Android; if you're on iOS, My Account will point you towards iCloud and Apple's Find My iPhone tracking. That's the right way to go, since Google can't take such control of Apple's devices. But it's good to see Go...

Google Confirms Android Apps Will Soon Be Arriving On Chrome OS Ubergizmo  /  Tyler Lee Last month thanks to a screenshot, it was hinted that Google could soon allow Android apps to run on Chrome OS . Then the other day according to the Google I/O 2016 schedule, there was more evidence to suggest that this would be coming . As it stands, Chrome OS could always run Android, but this was extremely limited as Google only worked with a handful of developers at that time to port their apps over. The good news is that you are a huge Google fan and use Chromebooks and Android devices, soon you will be able to run your favorite Android apps on your Chromebook, thanks to a recent announcement by Google at I/O 2016. This is thanks to the fact that to run Android on Chrome OS, it will no longer rely on Android Runtime for Chrome, which apparently makes it easier for developers. Speaking to Techcrunch, Chrome OS director of Product Kan Liu said, "But that wasn't a native implem...

Chrome OS is getting Android apps and the Play Store The Verge  /  Jacob Kastrenakes Android apps and the Play Store will soon work on Chrome OS. Though it wasn't mentioned on stage during I/O's kickoff keynote,  9to5Google spotted a  note on Google's website that mentions it'll be discussing how Chrome OS and Android will come together during a session for developers tomorrow. It's not completely clear how this integration will play out. The session notes suggest that apps may need to be tweaked in order to properly run on Chrome OS. But the implication is that most if not all apps will be capable of running whenever this change rolls out. There are no details on when the Play Store will arrive just yet, but it sounds like we could learn more tomorrow. A huge advantage for Chrome OS Word had it that Android and Chrome OS would begin merging this year, and this appears to be a key first step. Google has claimed that Chrome OS won't be going away a...

Google has today announced a new keyboard for iOS devices that directly integrates search functions. Called Gboard, the keyboard features a button on the upper left that lets you perform web searches, look for images or GIFs, or even search for emoji without ever leaving the keyboard. Results from web searches can be instantly pasted into a text box. The Verge's Casey Newton  exclusively reported that Google was working on such a keyboard for the iPhone back in March. In addition to the search functionality, Gboard also offers word tracing. Overall, it appears to be a blend of Google's best features from its keyboard and Google Now On Tap service on Android, but brought to the iPhone. You can download the new keyboard from the  App Store now. Google http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/12/11662616/google-gboard-keyboard-iphone-ios

BBM Video Chat Makes Its Way Onto iOS And Android : Looking to make video chats on your smartphone? There are plenty of apps that can do that, like LINE, Skype, FaceTime, and if the rumors are to be believed, it looks like WhatsApp could soon be gaining video calling features as well. However if you are a BBM user, you might be pleased to learn that the video chat feature is rolling out to both iOS and Android devices as we speak. This is according to a recent announcement by BlackBerry in which they announced that the feature is making its way to its iOS and Android versions of BBM. However note that the feature was previously available in beta for Android , but it looks like it has rolled out on a wider scale and will now include iOS devices. The feature is still in beta but we guess it works well enough where BlackBerry reckons it should be usable for the most part, although they do point out, “Please note we’re initially limiting availability because this is the first time we...

BBM for Android updated to include BBM video chat in beta CrackBerry.com blogs  /  Bla1ze While BlackBerry 10 customers have had the ability to BBM video chat between each other since the launch of BlackBerry 10, Android and iOS users have been left out of the loop, until now. A new Android version of BBM has now been released through Google Play, which brings BBM video chat between Android and iOS devices in US and Canada. While BlackBerry 10 customers have had the ability to BBM video chat between each other since the launch of BlackBerry 10, Android and iOS users have been left out of the loop, until now. A new version of BBM for Android has now been released through Google Play, which brings BBM video chat between Android and iOS devices in the US and Canada with a full rollout coming soon, according to BlackBerry . Read More » Original Article: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/crackberry/qBTB/~3/p7xjBx4CbiI/bbm-android-updated-include-bbm-video-beta

Gmail for Android rolls out Exchange support for all : In a win for unified inboxes everywhere, a fresh version of the Gmail app for Android is now rolling out with added support for Exchange accounts. Google announced the rollout on Twitter, while showing off Exchange support in action. After installing the update, you should be able to add any Exchange account to Gmail with just a couple of steps. Simply select "Add Account" from the settings menu, select "Exchange" as the account type and enter your information. For those unfamiliar, Microsoft's Exchange is a type of email server that remains a popular choice for businesses. Now that Gmail includes baked-in support, those who are tied to Exchange for their work communications will be able to easily keep an eye on their work and personal email within the same app. It should be noted that Exchange support appeared to be available on previous versions of the app on certain phones, but not others. Tod...

We have a sweet treat for PRIV users: Android 6.0 Marshmallow (M) is now available on ShopBlackBerry.com and is coming to all major carriers offering PRIV starting May 3. You'll be able to update to the latest version of Android, completely patched to include our coming May 2016 update, simply by downloading the software update on your PRIV (be sure to connect to Wi-Fi to avoid unnecessary data charges). PRIV is among an elite group of smartphones running Marshmallow, which was released in October 2015. As of April 4 , only 4.6% of Android smartphones were running it, though adoption is slowly climbing. PRIV's place as an early Marshmallow adopter, less than a month after we started beta testing it, makes perfect sense – we have been aggressive in rolling out Android security updates faster than most Android device manufacturers. Keeping with BlackBerry's focus on security, we've been able to not only leverage the enhanced privacy, security and usability features...

BlackBerry Pushes BlackBerry Priv April Update : It is April now and BlackBerry is starting to push out security enhancements to the BlackBerry Priv. The April update for BlackBerry Priv weighs in at about 20.9MB. There are currently no available changelogs but we will update again once they are available.   Unlock ANY BlackBerry ($6 for Legacy & $39 for BlackBerry 10)!!! @ Berry Review Unlocking Store Posted by Terrence T for © BerryReview | BlackBerry Pushes BlackBerry Priv April Update If you liked this article, you might find these interesting: How Will RIM Differentiate the 6 BlackBerry 10 Models? BlackBerry PlayBook Media Sync Caught On Video TimeBridge- Schedule Meetings With Other Busy People Seidios Rubberized Battery Door With Speaker Opening for Blackberry 8300/8310/8320 Watch BlackBerry’s Annual Shareholder Meeting Live NOW (Via BerryReview.com )