BBM For Android & IOS Announced

If there’s one thing that BlackBerry can be proud of, it’s the BBM messaging service. I think that everyone can say that for the majority – if not all – of the BlackBerry users they know, BBM was the thing that clinched the deal. Of course, we have heard of BBM outages happening, with users feeling like they’ve been cut off from the rest of the world. Never mind that they can only use BBM with the handful of other BlackBerry users in their circle.

This situation is about to change, though, as BlackBerry has just announced that it is going to release BBM for Android and iOS come summer. This season is always an exciting one for many reasons, but for users of BBM who may have been wanting to expand their circles to non-BlackBerry friends, this summer is really something to look forward to.

According to BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, “It’s time to bring BBM to a greater audience, no matter what mobile device they carry.” He also gives assurance that BBM for Android and iOS will not be merely crippled copycat versions. He adds, “We’re starting with messaging and groups, but we’ll bring voice, screen share, and of course, channels later on.”

Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that BlackBerry has to rely on Apple and Google’s approval. Without that stamp, BBM for Android and iOS might just be a flop. Or might not even happen. If it does happen, users who want to connect via BBM will be able to do so by downloading the free app.

On another note, this development brings up an interesting idea: “Every major mobile competitor makes apps for iOS.” Google makes apps for iOS (How do we live without Google Maps?). Microsoft also has apps for iOS. Nokia has Here Maps. That may not be every competitor, but it does give you something to think about.


In any case, how do you feel about BBM for Android and iOS? Are you even thinking about using it on top – or in lieu – of WhatsApp (which is on BB10, by the way), Viber, etc.?

Is BBM For Android & IOS A Hit?

About six months ago, BBM for Android and iOS was announced. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: BBM is the one thing that BlackBerry can be totally proud of. Outages notwithstanding. Of course, we know just how limited you can be with using BBM, as BlackBerry phones are not exactly the most popular units out there, but with the app finally available for the two other mobile platforms, BBM just might get a boost. And, if the numbers released by BlackBerry are accurate, they might just have a hit on their hands.





According to BlackBerry, BBM for Android and iOS was downloaded over 10 million times in merely 24 hours. Just as quickly, the free app topped the App Store’s charts, although the American Play Store seems more difficult for BBM.

Even the harshest BlackBerry critic has to give them a thumbs up for those numbers, yes?

Going past the impressive download numbers, though, BBM for Android and iOS still has to live up to its competition. The messaging niche is a crowded one, and while BBM has been around for many years, it has its work cut out for it, especially in the iOS and Android realms.

This is where issues do crop up as the cross-platform app is nothing like the original BBM. Naturally, it fits the latest BlackBerry OS, BB10, and early users have been free in mentioning how confusing the interface can be.

BBM for Android and iOS does retain its core features, some of which are not available in the popular messaging apps today. Remember how you can “ping” or “buzz” the person you are chatting with on Yahoo Messenger, for example? The original BBM had this, and this feature remains in the cross-platform version.


On the downside – which seems to outweigh the positives – BBM for Android and iOS has no video sharing and other fun features like Stickers. You can’t make voice calls. You can’t share contacts or calendar events either. Rumor has it that video and voice calls are coming in the next months, though.

The verdict

While it may be too early to give a verdict, initial impressions don’t bode well for BBM. Aside from the download numbers, there might not be much to keep BBM for Android and iOS to keep going.

The IPad Dilemma: IPad Air Or IPad Mini Retina?

Apple has done it again. While critics have been criticizing, and fanboys have been staunchly defending, Apple showed everyone that they still have some breath left in them. More than a few gasps, in fact. For a while there, the consensus was that it was unlikely that the iPad Mini will have a Retina screen this year. Speculators were proven wrong, and they have something else to drool over: the iPad Air.




Instead of having to look forward to only the iPad Mini Retina, we now have the excruciating task of choosing between the iPad Air and the iPad Mini Retina.

The iPad Air

The successor to the current full-sized iPad is a very tempting device indeed. Not only is it only 7.5 mm thin (the previous one is 9.4 mm), but it also only weighs one freaking pound. That’s .33 pounds lighter than the iPad 2, about .43 pounds lighter than the iPad 3, and about .45 pounds lighter than the iPad 4!

And if you think that the physical downsizing cripples the iPad Air in terms of performance, think again. This baby has the A7 64-bit processor. It’s twice as fast. It has new Wi-Fi technology. And how do a 5-megapixel back camera (with HD video), improved FaceTime camera, and dual-mics sound?

As for the battery life, the iPad Air is still supposed to last you 10 hours.

You can choose from silver/white and black/space gray.

The price is where it will hurt most, with the Wi-Fi-only model starting at $499 and the cellular model at $629.

The iPad Mini Retina





Going to the smaller and even lighter side of the spectrum, we have the iPad Mini Retina, which I have been yearning for ever since the first iPad Mini came out. The almost 8-inch tablet now has that resolutionary display, making sure that it really is every inch an iPad! 2048 x 1536 resolution. 326 pixels per inch. My eyes are going to be so happy!

It can hold its own in terms of performance as well, with Apple going with the A7 chip. No more glitches when playing Infinity Blade (1, 2, or 3) or Injustice!

And, at 0.73 pounds, the iPad Mini Retina is the perfect tablet for people who don’t want to lug a rather heavy bag along.

What’s the catch? 

Unfortunately, the iPad Mini Retina is rather pricey, starting at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. It goes up to $829 for the 128GB Wi-Fi+Cellular model! Now compare that to the $299 tag for the non-resolutionary iPad Mini (16GB)…

The Verdict

It all boils down to the balance between pricing and preferences. The iPad Air is not so heavy, but the difference can be felt if you are on the road a lot. The price, well, we already expect to pay a premium for Apple products, don’t we? Personally, I am probably going for the lighter option – it’s still $100 cheaper than the iPad Air anyway.


How about you? Which of the new iPads do you think is the better buy?