14 DAY TRIAL // BlackBerry has just introduced a new application for Android smartphone users, available on the Play Store. Privacy Shade addresses a problem that any smartphone user has, people peeking at your phone while you reply to messages or emails.
The application allows you to selectively choose to obscure any piece of information that’s displayed on the phone’s screen, so that people standing next to you can’t peek and read personal messages. Privacy Shade lets you read emails, messages and personal content, without worrying about snoopers.
Privacy Shade was designed for use in public places, allowing you to obscure parts of the screen that you’re not actively viewing, while still providing functionality for those sections. The app also comes with a feature for adjusting the level of transparency for the obscured area.
Available for smartphones running Android 5.0 and up
BlackBerry’s Privacy Shade supports quick settings on Android Nougat, so that you would get fast access to the application. BlackBerry smartphone users with a Convenience Key can assign a BlackBerry Privacy Shade to the Key, so that they would get instant access to the app.
Privacy Shade will work on BlackBerry Priv, BlackBerry DTEK50, DTEK60 and the newly announced BlackBerry KEYone. The app is also expected to work on BlackBerry Aurora.
A while back, BlackBerry gradually started transitioning from a hardware-based company to focusing exclusively on software and security solutions. The company has now contracted partners to design and develop BlackBerry smartphones to be sold in all corners of the world.
Meanwhile, the company recently announced its plans to open up secure messaging tech BBM Enterprise to iOS and Android developers, who would build apps and create more revenue for the company. The platform offers secure hosted cloud service for developers to create messaging, voice and video applications, while BlackBerry continues to offer support for its proprietary apps.