Blackberry 10 - The Dummies Guide

Yesterday night (11pm - Malaysia time) was the worldwide launch of Blackberry 10. The new Blackberry platform.

And there is SO much that's new about it. First of all - introducing two members of the Blackberry 10 family. The Z10 and the Q10.

Now here's what you need to know.

1. First of all. Research In Motion is now officially known as just - Blackberry. There is no more RIM. The tagline for the company is now 'One Brand, One Promise' to refocus its strategies.

2. The Blackberry 10 is a complete overhaul of the Blackberry operating system. Meaning, it won't function as what you know of the normal Blackberry that you may already own. It will be familiar - but a big change from what you had. So until you get to test drive a Blackberry 10 - don't compare it with what you know based on past Blackberry experiences.

3. The Blackberry Hub is now a key feature. Bringing together your email, text messages, BBMs, and various other notifications from social networking sites and the calendar - integrating it all with the execution of the newly introduced Blackberry Flow that means you will never really leave the screen.

4. There is no home button! It's all swipe motion. This brings on Blackberry Peek. Think of your Blackberry now as a book, you can flip to any page - without having to close the other. Hard to imagine? Watch a demo video online or try it out. It makes things so much easier.

5. Blackberry Time Shift. This has been one of the outstanding new features I've been waiting for. You take a photo, and someone blinks or smirks or whatever. You just click on their face - and go BACK or FORTH in time before you took the photo to choose the right 'face' that you want. On the spot editing, no need to take like five different pictures to get the perfect picture.

6. Blackberry Story Maker is amazingly a surprise. Didn't hear about it until the launch event last night. Basically, your Blackberry is built in with a movie maker! You can edit you photos, images, music together to make an instant movie.

7. Predictive text has always existed. BUT you NEED to see how it works on the Blackberry 10. Crazy! No phone does this.

8. There are variations in the two models of the Blackberry 10 family so far. 

First, the Blackberry Z10. It comes in two colours, both black - and white. I usually hate touchscreen devices because it can be so bloody hard to type. But the new Blackberry Flow, Peek coupled with the new capabilities of the predictive text function allow everything to be done - with just one thumb. Seriously. This is... yummy. The back is no longer cheap plastic. It is a durable rubberised soft grip feature that is really luxurious and gorgeous!

The Q10 offers a familiar look like the Blackberry 9900 but with a larger screen allowing the capabilities of Blackberry Flow and Blackberry Peek to make it more amazing.

9. BBM offers new features. Voice Call via BBM was introduced, and now - you have Video Calling available on your BBM service as well. Awesome demo was done at the launch, and it is definitely a bonus.

10. Screen Share is another feature that is pretty awesome. Imagine you want to show someone who's not by your side what's on your phone. Now that's possible via screen share, where the other user can be invited to take a peek at your phone to share pictures or more.

11. Blackberry Share allows you to partition your Z10 for both work and personal use making it physically impossible for the two sides to share data (such as photos). This will apply more for enterprise users.

12. How does the Blackberry 10 family stack up against competition?

BlackBerry Z10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III vs. iPhone 5 vs. Nokia Lumia 920

	BlackBerry Z10	Samsung Galaxy S III	iPhone 5	Nokia Lumia 920
Screen Size	4.2 inches	4.8 inches	4 inches	4.5 inches
Resolution	1,280 x 768	1,280 x 720	1,136 x 640	1,280 x 768
Weight	4.78 oz	4.7 oz	3.9 oz	6.5 oz
CPU	Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4	Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 (in the U.S.)	Dual-core Apple A6	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4
Storage	16 GB + microSD slot	16GB, 32GB or 64GB +microSD slot	16GB, 32GB or 64GB, no card slot	32GB, no card slot
Connectors	microUSB, micro HDMI	microUSB, HDMI adapter not included	Apple Lightning, HDMI adapter not included	microUSB, HDMI adapter not included
Operating System	BlackBerry 10	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	iOS 6	Windows Phone 8
Battery	305 hours standby, 10 hours talk time (3G)	790 hours standby, 11:40 hours talk time (3G)	225 hours standby, 8 hours talk time (3G)	300 hours standby, 10 hours talk time (3G)
Camera	8MP, LED flash, autofocus	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, optical image stabilization, autofocus, dual-LED flash
Networking	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
Price	$199 (estimated)	$199.99 + $35 carrier fee	$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB	$99.99

As you can see, battery life which everyone bitches about has been greatly increased. The Blackberry is one of the major challengers when it comes to that now. As is pretty much the whole hardware.

In fact, if we were to go by hardware alone - the Blackberry 10 is neck and neck with the Apple and Samsung challengers. Windows phones are pretty much paperweights right now.

And that's not taking into account the software. Blackberry 10's QNX technology is amazing, but again, with all the new functions and user interface, it has to be experienced to get an idea of what it's all about. I have had the chance to try to both the Alpha Developers A and B - the test units of the Blackberry 10 and I can see how amazing it is. Note, despite being a fan of Blackberry - I have tested the iPhone, HTC, Samsung and Nokia. So when I say amazing, I am saying it by comparison - NOT by just preference alone.

Now...

The magic question. The Blackberry 10 that everyone's talking about - which has seen the likes of Alicia Keys, Neil Gaiman and Robert Rodriguez join the Blackberry family to promote it.

14. When will the Blackberry 10 family come to Malaysia and how much will it cost?

Officially - Blackberry Malaysia have announced the grand launch of Blackberry 10 on 20 February. 

No price has officially been announced, or the actual date the phone will hit the shelves, but I believe it will be immediate after the Malaysian launch. 

The UK gets theirs today, some territories get it by 15 February while the US will get it by March. Why 'so long'? Easy. Telco and provider issues I guess.

At any rate. I'm getting mine. Expect to see my personal review of it in three weeks. My only dilemma now is - do I get it in black, or white.


PS - There are other functions like Remember. But honestly, it's just loaded with new stuff.

PPS - More than 70,000 to begin with but more apps are coming. Meanwhile Blackberry World has much more. 

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Amazing

The music industry can deal such a cruel blow to you with their brand of reality. Looks are so often, the measure of whether someone will make it in the business.

And yet, like this video, it proves that sometimes... having someone to believe in you is enough to guarantee a reversal of fortune. Better still... the loyalty of friendship, is something that will will make you more respected and loved.

Do watch this video. Sumpah sejak semalam aku tonton video ni, aku inspired gila babiks. These kind of stories give me faith and belief in human nature. Simply... amazing... in more ways that one.

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Nazmi oh Nazmi

Tuh dia. Kaki delete tweet dah minta maaf. Dia ni dah masuk episod kedua dah perangai dia nak tweet tak pikir.

Kali terakhir sibuk kata kena hack bagai. Kali ni dah kena carut mesti dia keluar alasan kena hack, dia cepat-cepat dalam masa beberapa jam terus delete. Yang terbaru... baru tadi, dia dah keluar lak statement mintak maap kat Aidil. Jangan salahkan katanya... siapa yang salahkan...

Ko gak yang kata dia bersekedudukan, sponsor minah ko gilakan tu. Gila lah bebudak skang ni.

Tu la... umur muda merantau feeling football superstar - SPM pun tak abih. Sibuk kejar kerjaya takpe, ni dok meroyan kat Twitter, pastu cepat-cepat delete pas mengaibkan orang. Pastu mintak maap gitu je. Sharifah Zohra betul lah perangai dia.

Ish ish ish...

Lain kali pikir dulu sebelum nak tweet.

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Berani buat, tanggung kena screencap

And here we go...pagi tadi online ada member tweetkan follow drama swasta Twitter yang tengah japan. Kisahnya, melibatkan Nazmi Faiz tengah meroyan online. Nak dekat 4 pagi ni nak meroyan apa agaknya. Ye lah... international timing katanya kan.

Hantar jauh-jauh main bola, rupanya ni keja...Ke kena 'hack' lagi pengakuan selepas ini. Pernah dah pun mamat ni meroyan, tiba-tiba mengaku Twitter kena hack. Alasan paling klise dan common today.

Anyway, here are the sequence of the tweets I screencapped.

Nak kata benar atau tidak ini kata-kata dia, aku tak berani nak komen. TAPI - one thing aku boleh cakap - kalau macam ni lah standard English bebudak kita, lain kali bagilah habis SPM bebetul dulu baru nak feeling berjalan. Bahasa tahap darjah lima camni...

Itulah... bak kata Usop Wilcha - "Itulah pentingnya English edukesyennnnn" *wat lambai-lambai tangan...


PS - Dah heret nama orang lain masuk, bersedialah ko Nazmi...

PPS - As of 9am tadi, semua tweets di atas telah dipadamkan berserta tiga empat tweet yang lain selepas itu...

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2013 - full steam ahead!

Sudah lama tinggalkan blog ni. Selama ni update pun malas. Well, bukan malas lah actually. Just apa masa aku ada terluang, terlalu mahal untuk nak melekat online saja. Nak online pun bukan macam dulu. Kalau dulu blog saja. Sekarang dengan Facebook, Twitter, Instagram bagai... pening siot nak update semua.

So where do I start with actually trying to make an effort to update my blog again that once documented my life proper.

So let's start with some thoughts in my head.

All these while, aku tak pernah merancang lebih jauh dalam hidup aku. Sejujurnya, semua aku lakukan ikut gerak hati. Apa aku rasa MUNGKIN yang terbaik bagi diri aku.

Not the most mature way to go about things.

Still, I haven't done too bad.

2012 however has taught me a lot of life lessons.

Let go of the petty bitterness of disappointments and frustrations past. No matter what you went through, or how unfair it was - get a grip and move on. And I've been trying to do that.

Also, while I've always been a spontaneous sort of person that has lived by making snap decisions - now I've decided to mature just a little bit and be more focused in achieving set goals.

My aim in life has never been to get rich.

You want to know what I think life is all about? Making a better living for my loved ones. My father, my mother, my sister - and my son.

Through that motivation, I've also been more focused into leaving a legacy. Think of it. Everything you've done or achieved... kalau esok kau di panggil kembali - will people even give a fuck that you ever existed? Will anyone remember?

That realization came saat pengkebumian arwah Yasmin Ahmad. People from all walks of life, came - not only to mourn her, but to celebrate her life. She had left such an amazing impact on the lives of so many, termasuk diri aku - that at the end of the day - no one will forget her.

I'll probably never achieve that - to be someone so full of love for other people... but the least I can do is try my best to live for a reason, a purpose - apart for just myself.

So in the later part of 2012 - I  have been laying the foundation of my path for the future (however long that may be). Life's too short to whine or complain alone. Affirmative action sometimes is the best.

I also have taken on more responsibilities to be more mature. Damn... nak umur 37 nih, walaupun jiwa dan semangat tetap macam budak belasan tahun, I can't keep living recklessly and just forget I do have responsibilities to execute. Dari dulu, I haven't been the sort nak wat paperwork, nak meeting orang corporate bagai. Well, guess what... I'm finally learning being creative is one thing. I've got to learn how to handle the business side of things more better.

Selama ni, kengkawan gelak aku. Kata aku Cina yang gagal... sebab tak pandai wat duit. Asyik nak wat percuma sebab nak bantu orang. Selama ni wat camtu, kena pijak kena hina kena amik kesempatan. No more. Time to work for myself and my loved ones, and those who deserve that helping hand. No more, no less.

My goal for 2013 is simple. I want to make more music. I want to get my studio built and develop more new talents. Not for money, but a balance between commercial appeal - and art - which can bring our music further in the eyes of the world.

Time spent with Yuna and Zee have been eye opening. Learning more from them makes me believe more in dreaming bigger. Nothing is impossible, if you don't set limitations.

Yerlah... nak mimpi je satu. Usaha pun kena sama gak nak capai apa dikehendaki kan? So praying that my plans slowly fall into place...

I see a revolution coming in Malaysian music. The new sounds of the future are playing today if you just listen close enough.

In 1 1/2 years, I'm happy a boy living in a 'surau', makan dalam RM3 sehari, cari makan sebagai penghibur jalanan - sudah mampu nak berdiri sama tinggi dengan orang dalam industri muzik Malaysia. Of course I'm talking about Amir Jahari.

Selepas Anugerah Juara Lagu, second single dia, Penghibur Jalanan pun dah mendapat sambutan hangat kat semua stesen radio. I'm proud semuanya menjadi. Our target was never to make money solely, cukuplah segala makan minum pun dah ok.

Yang pentingnya, nak ketengahkan seni... seni anak muda yang berusaha, walaupun serba kekurangan nak berlawan dengan industri ini yang memang money power tu penting. It's ok. Everyone has advantages, and disadvantages.

By the way, the picture above was taken by a friend. This was how it was supposed to look. Not bad kan? Cuma ye lah... bila TV production, camera angle, lighting memainkan peranan. Idea aku terlalu rumit nak ditunjukkan kot kat TV. Tapi at least kita mencuba sesuatu yang baru.

Lari topik. So after Amir, I have dreams to build more quality talents, and we'll see if it happens.

Minggu ni, dengan izinNya, I have a meeting that could just make or break my plans for the studio and art center I want to build to develop more young talents. Semuanya bergantung pada satu mesyuarat ini. Aku nervous gila sebenarnya sebab harapan terlalu tinggi untuk perancangan aku menjadi kenyataan.

At this point, aku dah temui ramai 'kawan' yang pentingkan duit, dan lupa niat asal mereka masuk ke dalam industri ni... sehingga berkiblatkan wang Ringgit. Tak apa... itu pilihan jalan masing-masing. Biarlah orang dengan cara masing-masing. Aku tetap dengan pendirian aku...

I am slightly disheartened at this point, but I look forward to a future with more colour, more music and more art.

Hopefully... my random musings in this entry will bear fruit in the near future.

At any rate, aku nak rajinkan dire balik kat sini juga. Hope I still have somebody... anybody reading...

Kalau tak ada pun... I guess it feels kind of nice to be venting, as I'm learning how not to bore people with my life anymore. Kadang-kadang diam adalah lebih bijak.


PS - I am SO lucky I've had amazing companies like Blackberry back me up all this while. Korang tau tak set untuk Anugerah Juara Lagu untuk Amir Jahari disponsor mereka? And all the performers, the vocalists, the band (including members of Go Gerila!) and the stompers in No Noise Percussion pun tolong gila babiks punya? Belum lagi keluarga Kasi Gegar Entertainment. Syukur seribu kali syukur ramai masih percaya in my dream...

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