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BlackBerry Priv finally gets Android 6.0 Marshmallow update

Starting today, any Priv devices purchased from ShopBlackberry will ship with Marshmallow. Those on carrier models will have to wait until May 3.
Written by Natalie Gagliordi, Contributor
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BlackBerry's only Android device, the BlackBerry Priv, has finally received the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Starting today, any Priv devices purchased from ShopBlackberry will ship with Marshmallow. Those on carrier models will have to wait until May 3.

According to BlackBerry, the Marshmallow update will give Priv users improved mobile security via monitoring and control privacy with the DTEK app. In addition, Priv's S/MIME feature in the BlackBerry Hub now lets users digitally sign and encrypt emails for more secure communications.

The Priv camera app will also get some new features with the new update, such as slow-motion and 24fps video.

The update also gives the BlackBerry Keyboard a few tweaks, including more than 200 new emojis, new gestures, enhanced word prediction, and improved cursor control.

As for the battery, Marshmallow's Doze mode automatically puts the device into a sleep state to increase standby battery life. There's also automatic app standby, which keeps infrequently used apps from draining battery life.

The Priv is touted by BlackBerry CEO John Chen as the most secure Android phone on the market, but the title doesn't seem to be adding anything to Blackberry's bottom line.

The Canadian firm is still losing money following the collapse of its smartphone sales. During its recent Q4 earnings report, BlackBerry posted a net loss of $238 million.

Chen told investors that the company had sold 600,000 phones during the quarter, again missing Wall Street's expectations that it would sell between 850,000 and the 700,000 units.

Hands-on with the BlackBerry Priv: in pictures

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