BlackBerry Hub+ apps get feature that BlackBerry phones can't use

The whole smartphone world has been hit with Dark mode fever. Both Google and Apple added system-wide Dark mode to their mobile operating systems and Google has been adding the feature to all of its core apps. Who would have thought a year ago that Android users would have Dark mode options for Gmail, the Play Store, and even Google Assistant? And now BlackBerry is joining the Dark mode club.

First, a little information for those not familiar with Dark mode. Instead of the traditional white background with black text, Dark mode reverses the color scheme to present a dark gray, blue or black background with white text. In the dark, whether outside or in a room with the lights off, Dark mode can save a user or an innocent bystander (or spouse) from eye strain or a melting retina. And on phones sporting OLED panels, Dark mode using a black background can save battery life. That's because OLED panels create the color black by turning off the pixels in the appropriate areas. Pixels that are turned off do not consume battery power.

The BlackBerry Hub+ apps available for free to those with an Android-powered BlackBerry phone, or require a paid subscription for other Android users following a free trial period (more on that below), are getting updates that add Dark mode. For example, according to CrackBerry, on Android 10 the BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox will follow the system-wide setting. If you have your Android 10 device toggled on for Dark mode, the BlackBerry Hub+ Inbox app will follow suit. If the Dark mode setting is toggled off, the app will be in Light mode. Those with an Android 9 phone will have Dark mode enabled on the app when the phone's battery saver is turned on.

This exact functionality will also appear on BlackBerry Hub+ Contacts, BlackBerry Hub+ Calendar, BlackBerry Hub+ Tasks, and BlackBerry Hub+ Notes. The sad thing is that BlackBerry KEY2 and KEY2 LE users will probably not get Android 10 and might not get Android 9.

Non-BlackBerry Android users can grab a 30-day trial of the BlackBerry Hub+ suite after which they can continue to use the apps for free as long as they don't mind the ads. However, after the 30 days, those not paying the 99 cents a month for a subscription will lose access to Contacts, Tasks, Device Search, Notes, and Launcher.