A new BlackBerry in 2017 is an event that defies all common sense. Once the darling of investment bankers, Beyoncé, Barack Obama and BBM-crazy teenagers, most of the world has well and truly moved on.
That the new BlackBerry KeyOne’s main selling point is a physical keyboard is even more baffling; having to tap out a message with two thumbs is akin to going to a shop to buy a CD while most of us have moved on to streaming or digital downloads.
It’s not just the keyboard; as smartphones get smoother and larger, the KeyOne’s contrary spirit is quite something. Rather than the massive jaw-dropping display of the Samsung Galaxy S8, the KeyOne’s 4.5-inch Full HD screen is tiny by comparison, with solid if unexceptional visuals.
And rather than the polished lines of the iPhone 7; this is an unapologetically bulky smartphone with a solid, professional feel that isn’t concerned with the preening pretensions of this year’s super models.
But I have to admit: awkwardly tapping out an email on the KeyOne inspired a reaction from a smartphone I hadn’t had in years: joy. It reminded me of that momentous day 10 years ago when my long-suffering manager finally caved, and gave me my BlackBerry Curve, the first smartphone that I and many others called our own, and of the amazing world it unlocked for me and millions of others.
BlackBerry’s glory days are now long gone. My Curve was soon replaced by my first iPhone, and like pretty much everyone else, I never looked back. But walk around any public space in the UAE and you’ll see that BlackBerry lives on, and is beloved by a small but dedicated band of followers.
The KeyOne is a phone for those who, unlike me, unashamedly love their old BlackBerrys. Its unapologetically retro keyboard is unlikely to win back the majority of users that have grown used to a touchscreen. But for those that still love physically typing out that email of WhatsApp message, and are hooked on those old familiar BlackBerry tones, it’s an old-fashioned delight.
Q&A: John Everington reveals more about the BlackBerry KeyOne
Wait a minute. I thought that BlackBerry had stopped making smartphones?
It has; the BlackBerry KeyOne isn’t a BlackBerry phone, it’s a TCL phone.
Please explain.
BlackBerry stopped making phones in September. In December, however, the company signed an agreement with TCL of China for use of the BlackBerry brand. So the BlackBerry KeyOne is actually a TCL phone, rather than a BlackBerry.
I’m confused. It looks like a BlackBerry, sounds like a BlackBerry, and it has that lovely physical keyboard that reminds me of my old BlackBerry Curve
And that, at the end of the day, is what’s important. It doesn’t really matter if TCL made it; it still gives you that BlackBerry experience.
Is it the same keyboard as my BlackBerry Curve?
No. There are some significant improvements, like the ability to use the keyboard as trackpad, like on the BlackBerry Priv. Most impressive, however, is the ability to assign shortcuts to virtually all of the keys, available via a long press. F will bring up Facebook, I will bring up Instagram, H will bring up the help function and so on. Very simple, but very useful.
Is all other BlackBerry functionality there as well?
Sure is. BBM is present and correct, as is BlackBerry Hub, the BlackBerry intelligent keyboard, as well as the Dtek security suite that ensures you get timely Android security patches.
And how about the colours? Does it come in ...
It comes in black. Just black. If you want rose gold, buy an iPhone.
jeverington@thenational.ae
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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