BlackBerry Rolls Out First Update for Z10 and BB10

BlackBerry has now started staging and rolling out the first major update for the Z10 following the launch of the smartphone last month in Europe and Canada. The update pushes the software version on the phone to 10.0.10.85 and features the following fixes, improvements and changes:

• 3rd Party App Performance
  We’ve improved performance for 3rd party applications, so developers can build apps that run fast and smooth for you. With this update, you might want to keep an eye out for some fresh new app launches in March, like WhatsApp.

• Phone, Calendar, and Contacts
  Among the top improvements and features are fixes for Gmail calendars on BlackBerry 10. You’ll also find improvements in the BlackBerry Hub for logging calls log and how conversations are handled. We’ve also made general improvements to importing contacts from online sources.

• Camera
  We’ve optimized the camera for better photos in low-light situations. You’ll love the difference this makes for photos where you don’t use a flash – like the Time Shift Camera feature.

• Browser and Media
  With more and more of you using the gorgeous screen on the BlackBerry Z10 to consume online videos and media, we’ve made a number of improvements to the software in the way the browser handles video playback to provide a fantastic experience.
• Battery Life
  The software team has included a number of battery life optimizations with over 60 battery saving improvements since launch to keep you moving. These combined improvements are designed so that you see improvements in battery life and heavy users especially should see a longer average usage per charge cycle.

The list of improvements and changes follows the amount of critical judgment placed upon the platform and the Z10 itself, as the phone was met with mixed reviews, owing to its highly praised hardware and software touches, though the camera performance in particular was judged rather harshly compared to current Android and iPhone flagships. The rest of the changes also reflect the amount of criticism for the initial release of BB10, something that will no doubt be improved as the platform is given more time to mature and grow as the userbase expands.

Currently, the US launch of BB10 and the Z10 is slated for later this month across multiple carriers, with T-Mobile USA expected to be the first to launch its version of the Z10 after internal testing revealed that the software and hardware was more stable than expected after initial testing. Further carrier releases are expected well into April and May.