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BlackBerry kicks off Android Oreo beta program for the KEYone

by Cosmin Vasile / Jul 12, 2018, 5:59 PM

BlackBerry kicks off Android Oreo beta program for the KEYone

Now that the KEY2 has been made available for purchase in most meaningful markets for BlackBerry, the Canadian company is focusing some of its resources on bringing its other smartphone on par with today's standards software-wise.

The BlackBerry KEYone is still running Android Nougat, even though there are rumors about an incoming Oreo update for quite a while now. Apparently, Canadian carrier Rogers should have released the Android Oreo update to the BlackBerry KEYone late last month, but that didn't happen.

We now have more accurate information about what's happening with the Oreo update for the BlackBerry KEYone, as the Canadian company has just announced a beta program is now being put in place for those who want to test the update before it gets released.

This month, July, we are moving our beta testing effort to a new community hosted by beta program experts Centercode. We would love for you to continue beta testing early versions of apps and software with us in this new community. We're also happy to be starting an invitation-only beta program for Android Oreo on the BlackBerry KEYone. If you're a KEYone user, make sure to visit the new community and complete your profile to secure an invite.

Even though this is an invitation-only beta, it doesn't hurt to try and sign up for the beta on the Centercode website (source linked below). Obviously, the announcement suggests it will take some time before Android Oreo for BlackBerry KEYone arrives, so hang in there and try to enroll in the beta program if you don't mind testing the software before it's released.

BlackBerry KEYone

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source: BlackBerry via CrackBerry

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Display 4.5" 1080 x 1620 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 8 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Octa-core, 2000 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3505 mAh

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18 Comments

1. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

While it's nice that blackberry is finally rolling Oreo out to the KeyONE, I think they need to do better at getting the updates out in a timely manner. Android P is going to be out soon enough and I don't think the KeyONE will be seeing P due to the age of the KeyONE. At least you can count on getting the security updates for another year at least iirc. Just my thoughts on the matter.

posted on Jul 12, 2018, 6:23 PM 1

2. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

Lol, so much for those that were saying that the KEYᵒⁿᵉ wouldn’t ever get the Oreo update. Now the goalpost will be moved to “KEYᵒⁿᵉ won’t get Android P” it’s now proven that it will receive Oreo. This is great for KEYᵒⁿᵉ owners. In any event, it can be argued that it’s preferable that BlackBerry and BlackBerry Mobile take its time with providing full OS updates and do their due diligence with tests as opposed to being first with the full OS updates and having a plethora of issues due to poor QC. I much rather prefer that they stay on track with the monthly security updates, which are arguably more important than full OS updates. Since the KEYᵒⁿᵉ is part of Googles Android for Enterprise, the KEYᵒⁿᵉ is guaranteed 3 years of security updates. That means security updates for almost another two years, since the KEYᵒⁿᵉ has only been out for a little over a year.

posted on Jul 12, 2018, 10:23 PM 7

3. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3145; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Facts are so righteous! Preach on.

posted on Jul 13, 2018, 9:41 AM 1

6. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

Exactly, my dude. Thanks. But as you can see, the facts have triggered certain individuals, lol.

posted on Jul 13, 2018, 12:30 PM 1

7. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

Depends on the perspective.

posted on Jul 14, 2018, 7:51 AM 0

10. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

Once again, thanks for recognizing the truth. Others will claim “perspective” but facts are facts regardless of perspective.

posted on Jul 14, 2018, 9:04 AM 0

11. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

Like I said before, depends on the perspective despite what some people say.

posted on Jul 15, 2018, 11:19 PM 0

13. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

Facts don’t need perspective. But do continue to live in denial.

posted on Jul 16, 2018, 7:18 AM 0

15. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

I'm not living in denial at all, but do continue with the false narrative.

posted on Jul 18, 2018, 12:11 AM 0

17. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

Yes you are, but do continue to post fabrication as if it’s fact.

posted on Jul 18, 2018, 4:45 AM 0

4. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

This is just a beta test, a very limited beta test that isn't even open to anyone other than a selected few. Yes, this is a good gesture for Oreo getting released, but it is far behind with P coming around the corner. This also doesn't say when Oreo is going to come. It could be released at the end of the year for all we know. Some people are just going to be mean and go against what you say just because you said it even though what you said isn't that far away from the truth. It's nice to know that the KeyONE will get security updates for three years. This is something that is common with the Google line of phones where security updates are provided for three years.

posted on Jul 13, 2018, 9:54 AM 0

5. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

It’s extremely apparent that this is a beta test, as it says it’s a beta test. It’s open to anyone that’s in the beta program. That’s the right way to do controlled tests. You want to use a limited amount of people to do it. As I said, those that claimed the KEYᵒⁿᵉ would never get Oreo have now moved the goalpost to Android P since they have been proven wrong. Oreo will come to the KEYᵒⁿᵉ, and this is proof of that. Some people are just going to be bitter and spew venom about anything positive concerning BlackBerry/BlackBerry branded smartphones, and they admittedly attack BlackBerry because certain individuals prefer BlackBerry. It’s great that the KEYᵒⁿᵉ is getting 3 years of security updates, as they are arguably more important and more stable than full OS updates. Being first with full OS updates isn’t always a good thing. One only needs to look at the Google branded smartphones to see this.

posted on Jul 13, 2018, 12:29 PM 2

8. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

It's not hard to do a beta test when your audience isn't as big as others are. At least give people the option to join. Even Apple gives people the chance to try out beta builds of iOS. Surely BlackBerry wouldn't have a challenge at doing the same thing. Those that claim others have said the KeyONE won't receive Oreo wouldn't have a problem with providing links to said statements in order to verify that claim. Some people get so defensive and besides themselves that they think everything is about them. It's nothing personal at all. It's just opinions about tech, nothing more than that. I see that some people are going to be mean and try to attack other companies that have nothing to do with what's being discussed here at the moment.

posted on Jul 14, 2018, 8:20 AM 0

9. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

The size of the audience for beta testing doesn’t matter. Only the fact that such testing is being done to ensure the smoothest release possible when beta is over is what matters. But as usual, some people just have to throw shade on anything that’s positive from BlackBerry. The people that have claimed that KEYᵒⁿᵉ would never get Oreo are now having to walk back their statements on that and switch things up and move the goalpost. It’s hilarious to see them scrambling to do so. Some people get so triggered and offended whenever a positive BlackBerry article is put out, as if it’s personally about them. They feel that the whole world revolves around them when it actually doesn’t. Why they get so personal when it comes to inanimate tech being discussed on a tech blog is beyond me. I see that some people are going to continue to be triggered and spew venom and attack companies that other people prefer over what they think is best. They should just let people enjoy they like and go about their business, especially since they don’t own the devices to begin with.

posted on Jul 14, 2018, 9:03 AM 0

12. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

I'm not trying to throw shade on anything. I think some people are twisting my words around to something that's not what I was trying to say, unsurprisingly. Again, if someone claim others have said the KeyONE won't receive Oreo, then they won't a problem providing links to said claim in order to verify the truth of it. There's no goalpost being moved or anything of the sort. That's funny because I sometimes wonder if that person is talking about themselves because they are pretty much describing themselves by taking it personal just because someone posted something that they disagree with. Conjecture and mindless assumptions. I think some people should follow their own advice instead of being mean and complaining about something so insignificant. Again, it's not that big of a deal nor is it anything personal.

posted on Jul 15, 2018, 11:28 PM 0

14. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

You are throwing shade. No one needs to twist your words when they are literally right here for all to see. But unsurprisingly, you’re walking back your statements again. Again, you were one of those that claimed the KEYᵒⁿᵉ wouldn’t get Oreo, and now you have to walk your statement back. Now you’re moving the goalpost and saying that it won’t get Android P because you were proven wrong about Oreo. Pot, meet kettle. You don’t own any of the devices that you claim to own like a KEYᵒⁿᵉ. This is a fact. You would have posted a pic a long time ago to prove me wrong if you did. You should take your own advice and stop spewing venom on every BlackBerry article simply because I favor them. If it were insignificant and not personal to you, you wouldn’t be on your 10th account doing the exact same thing you’ve been doing since your first account.

posted on Jul 16, 2018, 7:28 AM 0

16. Venom

Posts: 3675; Member since: Dec 14, 2017

I'm not walking back my statements. That's just a failed excuse for you to get out of the fact that you were wrong about my comment in a recent article. You were wrong, end of discussion. And again I ask, if I said it, then you shouldn't have any problems with providing me with a link to said statements in order to verify that I said the KeyONE won't receive Oreo. Well for one thing, I don't have 10 accounts nor have I ever had 10 accounts. This is the only account I have ever had. I can't say the same thing for you though. It's like I said before, it's nothing personal. I don't have anything to prove to the likes of you.

posted on Jul 18, 2018, 1:03 AM 0

18. meanestgenius

Posts: 22191; Member since: May 28, 2014

You are walking your comments back. That’s something that you do pretty often around here, but you like to deny the obvious. You were wrong as usual, just accept it and move on. And again, we both know that you have said what you said about the KEYᵒⁿᵉ not receiving Oreo. If you didn’t, why would you even make a comment about it in your initial comment? For one thing, you do, and I’m not the only one that has noticed this. You can project your ways onto me all you want, but it’s glaringly obvious who you are. If it want personal, you wouldn’t be continuing to do what you do with your 10th account. I have nothing to prove, as I’ve already proven it.