Less than a month since it started a beta program for the Marshmallow update for the Priv, BlackBerry has started rolling out the final update to certain variants of the handset. Starting from today, all Priv units purchased from ShopBlackBerry.com will receive the update, with major carrier variants receiving the update beginning May 3.
With Marshmallow, BlackBerry is trying to fix many shortcomings of the Priv, and is adding new functionality to its suite of apps as well. The updated BlackBerry Hub in Marshmallow is capable of displaying notifications from more of your favorite social media websites: Skype, Slack, Instagram and Pinterest. The updated BlackBerry launcher now makes it possible to better organise your home screen into Recent, Personal and Work sections, and you finally have the ability to set a default home screen as well.
Thanks to Doze and App Standby, BlackBerry says the Priv should last longer on a single charge. The update also adds SD card encryption to the Priv, allowing you to encrypt the microSD card that you are using on the phone for enhanced security.
BlackBerry is also taking this opportunity to improve the camera experience on the Priv. It has added the options to record “Cinematic quality videos” at 24fps in 4K, 1080p, and 720p resolution. Additionally, it is also adding the option to record videos in slow-motion in up to 120fps with this update. Right now, the audio recording is disabled in this mode, but BlackBerry plans on enabling it with a future update.
Lastly, and perhaps most impressive, is the fact that the Marshmallow update will also include the May 2016 Android Security Level patch. The update also brings in a plethora of other improvements that you can read about here.
Do you own a BlackBerry Priv? If yes, how happy are you with the phone?