BlackBerry opens its Priv kimono just a little wider

Unique?

'The Priv is unique in that nobody else is pitching a security-hardened Android at businesses that boasts top-end consumer specs.'

Presumably some words in that have precise definitions in order to make that true.Does Knox and SEAndroid not count as security hardening? Or are Samsung phones not 'pitched at Business'.

I'm going to guess they are using a definition of security hardening which describes something that no-one else thinks is worth doing.

Until you can select which permissions to grant apps rather than all or nothing Android handsets aren't secure. I've heard that is coming but why wasn't it there from the start?

No removable battery either. Still don't see a good upgrade for my Q10.

If they're offering 2 maintainence patches next year, does this mean they already know about gapping security holes but want to let the Indian security services access first?

Can BB really harden Android?

With BB10 and its predecessors they had control of the whole OS. With the best will in the world no one outside of Google can be truly said to understand android. Given that BB are on really dodgy ground claiming it to be as secure* as their previous devices.

* For given values of secure. ie completely penetrated if the authorities mandate their own boxen being plugged into the infrastructure someplace, but probably still more secure than vanilla Android/iOS.

"BlackBerry has pledged two more maintenance releases of BB10, to its security-conscious business customers, next year"

...and then presumably my trusty Z10 will be left to fade into obcurity?

On the upside

at least the Passport will drop to a price I can justify paying.

Im actually really looking forward to this

Being an Android fan, and a fan of physical keyboards, I wish I wasn't just six months into a new 2 year contract right now. I'd snap this phone up in an instant! I would say it's exactly what I want.

Although, I have to admit a bit of shock at Blackberry releasing something people actually want these days.. still haven't quite got over that..

*dons flame proof suit*

Remember the Venue Pro?

I used to have a dell phone like that.*

It was a pain in the ass to type on. If they've gone to all the trouble of including a little sliding keyboard - which I'm all for! - why not make it open in the more useful direction? Or have they gone the current route of making the thing so enormous that if they did that you wouldn't be able to reach anything in the TGV YHB columns with your thumbs?

*Back before they ruined Windows Phone :(

Building a security-hardened Android..

.. is a bit like building a firewall using Windows, which has once on Usenet been likened to building a prison out of merengue.

The result may be interesting. But I can't see it being secure.