Review: BlackBerry Z30

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Feeling very much like the product the Z10 should have been, BlackBerry's new flagship Z30 isn't just the largest BlackBerry device we've seen and used but also the most refined in terms of software enhancements and user experience with BlackBerry OS 10.2.

The BlackBerry Z30, which sells outright for $700 but will be sold through various carrier plans, has a 5-inch AMOLED screen, it is a farily large smartphone verging on the popular supersized-smartphone category which some have decided to call 'phablets.' It is an elegant device, one that seems to be an amalgam of the Z10's monolithic look and feel plus the Q10's woven glass composite backplate. It feels like a polished stone in the hand with the various lines elegantly tapering at the edges.

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BBM for iOS and Android launching this Friday?

BlackBerry has been in the press a lot today and for all the right reasons. For one, they've finally announced the much-leaked BlackBerry Z30; though no official price points or release dates have been given. But, that's not the most important news to talk about at the water cooler: as per CrackBerry, we finally have a purported launch date for the cross-platform version of BBM.

This Friday September 20th, 2013 is apparently d-day - how casually convenient. This means, for all of you who have pre-ordered the new iPhone 5s, you can launch iOS7 and reload all those lost friends from BBM past. Below is the unofficial rollout schedule sent over to CB:

- Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: Android version published on Google Play
- Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: BBM.com goes live
- Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: CRM messages sent out to pre-registrants
- Friday, Sept 20th, 7am EST: Follow-up CRM message sent after App Store deployment
- Saturday, Sept 21st: BBM on iOS becomes available 12:01am EST in local time zones

Of course, until it actually happens, this could just be a sick joke. In fairness, it does align with BlackBerry's original 'before end of summer' promise..... Fall begins Friday at midnight.

Stay tuned.

Arpera: Visually stunning messaging app

Calling itself the “most beautiful messaging app in the world” might seem like a stretch but there is no denying that Arpera is a looker of an app.

The uncomplicated app has what you would come to expect from a messaging app: private messaging, private group messaging, and even open group or public chat room-like rooms. You can use emoticons, share photos, location, as well as audio and video messages in your chats. It works on both Android and iOS devices.

Microsoft's Lync: A game changing messaging powerhouse for businesses and individuals

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Make no mistake about it, Microsoft has huge plans for Lync, their integrated and multifunctional messaging and social media communications framework. The Microsoft Lync Conference Canada, which is taking place now in downtown Toronto, explored the various features and capabilities of the Lync software, its merging with Skype as well as the future of instant messaging, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and even video conferencing for businesses and consumers.

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