BlackBerry’s next major BlackBerry 10 OS update, version 10.3.1 is here, with users getting access to BlackBerry Blend and Assistant along with the introduction of two separate app stores, namely BlackBerry World and the Amazon Appstore.
BlackBerry Blend will bring notifications, email and media from a BlackBerry device to Android, iOS, and Windows-based tablets and PCs
Over the following weeks, Canadian owners of BlackBerry 10 devices, including the Passport, Z30, Z3, Z10, Q10, and Q5, as well as the Porsche Design P’9983 and P’9982 smartphones will also see improvements to the Hub, stock apps, and battery usage enhancements.
Owners of the Passport and Classic will not see major changes since they already had access to 10.3 and 10.3.1 respectively.
The BlackBerry Assistant
BlackBerry Blend brings messaging and content that is on a BlackBerry smartphone onto a computer or tablet, including instant message notifications, emails, documents, calendars, contacts and media in real time. The company has made it compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS and Android platforms.
Meanwhile, BlackBerry Assistant will bring devices up to speed with Android, iPhone and Windows Phones by allowing for voice and text commands, and Amazon’s app store, which offers Android’s more casual and gaming apps (as opposed to BlackBerry World’s business apps) is available to devices other than the Passport for the first time.
Amazon Appstore running on a BlackBerry 10 device
Lastly, BlackBerry is upping productivity speeds by implementing quick actions in the Hub and keyboard shortcuts on the Q5, Q10, Passport and the Porsche Design P’9983.