BlackBerry PRIV’s first Android software update includes Camera, performance and reliability improvements

BlackBerry announced this morning that it’s pushing the first major software update to its new Android customers. The recently launched BlackBerry PRIV update weighs in at around 475MB and features a number of improvements as well as the regular security update promised by the company. Anyone who purchased their PRIV unlocked through ShopBlackberry will start to see the software update from today, while carrier-purchased PRIVs will receive the software from December 7th…

After downloading and installing the update, BlackBerry PRIV users should notice the camera is faster at taking pics and better at producing good images in low light. BlackBerry has also addressed issues with the general system performance to make it more responsive and more reliable, reducing instances of crashing or freezing.

• An improved camera: We’ve implemented a number of tweaks that improve the speed of our camera app, and re-tuned it for better low-light image quality.
• Better performance: We’ve also tweaked the PRIV’s software to improve overall system performance
• Improved stability: The update further includes a number of adjustments designed to improve device reliability and reduce instances of crashing and freezing.
• Enhanced security: Lastly, the release includes December’s security patches – rest easy knowing your device is protected against the latest Android security threats.

As well as announcing a software update, BlackBerry has announced that many of its pre-installed apps will be updated via the Play Store. The camera app will be updated with new filters, while the keyboard will get new languages and have emojis added to predictive typing. Hub and Contacts will be updated to include WhatsApp information and notifications and the company’s DTEK security software will give more notification options. The updated apps should hit the Play Store on December 14th.

If you’re wanting to test out some of BlackBerry’s custom Android software and apps, it is possible to download and flash some APIs on to your existing device. If you want to know how to do it, check out our tutorial from a few weeks ago.