If you’ve been eyeing the BlackBerry Priv, don’t miss the company’s Reddit Ask Me Anything on December 3. The company is hosting an AMA session on the r/Android subreddit at 2 p.m. EST.
The responses to users’ questions will come from BlackBerry’s Security Director Alex Manea, Director of Software Michael Clewley, and Customer Support Community Manager Ty Williams.
BlackBerry is placing all its bets on the Priv and its future Android devices. CEO John Chen said in a Fox Business News interview that the company will be unveiling a “range of products” after the Priv’s release. The BlackBerry Priv received mostly positive reviews — we gave it a 3.5 out of 5 — but it also has its drawbacks. If you’ve been itching to get your hands on a phone with a physical keyboard, it’s probably your best bet.
The device got the first of its monthly security updates on December 2, which also improved software and camera performance. In an effort to boost customer faith in its products, BlackBerry is taking a rare approach from other manufacturers with updates, even promising carrier updates to arrive a week after the company’s official update.
The company is still pushing its security suite on Android, making it its primary selling point over other Android devices. The Priv comes with the company’s new DTEK security app, which acts as a color-coded privacy meter on the phone’s current status. DTEK also monitors permissions, much in the same way Android 6.0 Marshmallow does. It checks if apps take pictures or videos without the user’s knowledge, turn on the microphone, send a text message, access contacts, or access the device’s location. The Priv currently runs Android 5.1.1.
If the slide-out keyboards aren’t appealing, there’s always the rumored BlackBerry Vienna, which looks as though it will have an always-present physical keyboard. Of course, that one hasn’t arrived just yet.
In the meantime, check out the AMA Reddit — There are sure to be many juicy tidbits hidden in the thread. We’ll also update you with everything we learn from the AMA tomorrow.
