How to capture Time Shift images on your BlackBerry Z10

The BlackBerry Z10 is a top-notch smartphone which has some interesting and unique features. Among them is RIM’s Time Shift photography function, which allows the device to capture a number of images from which the user can select the best one.

It isn’t a terribly difficult function to make use of, but if you’re having issues getting started with it then read through this short guide and you’ll be snapping perfect images in no time!

• Grab your BlackBerry Z10
• Select the ‘Camera’ icon from your home screen
• Choose the ‘Camera’ icon once again, this time from within the camera app
• Ensure the ‘Time Shift’ icon is selected
• Take your photo and hold the camera as still as possible until the image is displayed
• Now simply use the slider at the bottom of the screen to choose the optimum image
• If you don’t like any of them select the ‘Trash’ icon to ditch them all
• Or just choose the one you like and hit ‘Tick’ to save!

How to send a file using NFC on your BlackBerry Z10

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a handy technology which allows you to send and receive data without going through the annoyance of ‘pairing’ your device with another. You can send and receive images, contact cards or even pay for a sandwich in the supermarket just by touching your device to another.

If you’re keen to start using NFC but aren’t quite sure how, then you can kick-off your experience by learning how to send a file using the tech – and here’s how:

• Grab your BlackBerry Z10
• Navigate to the file you want to send, this can an individual item or a group
• Tap the ‘Share’ icon
• Select ‘NFC’
• Bring your device up to another compatible device, back to back
• When prompted, hit ‘Send’
• Your file(s) will send quickly and easily

How to get a smile in every photo with your BlackBerry Z10

We briefly touched upon using Time Shift to ensure you capture a great image every time in an earlier guide, and this time we’re focussing (no pun intended) on another key feature of RIM’s photographic app – the ability to swap out people’s faces in an image until you have a good one for every subject you’re photographing.

It really couldn’t be easier, but if you need a shove in the right direction then read on…and then get snapping!

• As detailed in our previous guide, grab your BlackBerry Z10, ensure Time Shift is on and take your images
• Select the best image with the slider at the bottom of the screen
• Next, tap the face that you want to swap-out
• Using the dial, choose the one you want from the available expressions
• Tap anywhere on the display
• Hit the ‘Tick’ to save!

How to use tabbed browsing on your BlackBerry Q5

The BlackBerry Q5 is the mid-range follow-up to the BlackBerry 10 powered BlackBerry Q10 and features the same web browsing functionality as the QWERTY flagship.

BlackBerry 10's native browser features tabbed browsing that allows multiple web pages to be open at once. These can then be quickly flitted in and out of or closed down from within the browser's side menu. Here's how you do it:

1. Wake the device with an upward swipe from the bottom of the display
2. Open the browser by tapping the 'Browser' icon from the apps screen

3. Enter the web address or search term into the search bar at the bottom of the screen and hit 'Return' to navigate to that page
4. Tap the 'Tabs' icon in the bottom right hand side of the browser interface

5. Tap 'New Tab'
6. Enter the web address or search term for the site you want to visit into the search bar at the bottom of the screen and hit the 'Return' key. This will open up a new web page.

7. The number of open tabs will be displayed in the 'Tabs' icon in the bottom right hand side of the screen. To switch between open tabs, hit the 'Tabs' icon and then select the tab you want to open from the list by tapping on it.

How to use BlackBerry Hub on your BlackBerry Q5

The BlackBerry Q5 is powered by BlackBerry 10 and as such, brings access to the BlackBerry Hub - a handy feature that groups together all your interactions from connected accounts in one easy to reach place.

• BlackBerry Q5 Review: Lacking in 'key' areas?

To access BlackBerry Hub:

1. Wake the device up with an upward swipe from the bottom of the display
2. Swipe from the left of the screen to access the BlackBerry Hub

3. Here you will be able to access notifications from connected accounts including social networks, as well as text messages, and emails
4. To access specific options for individual notifications tap and hold over the message's title

5. Swipe down the right hand side of the screen to expand the available options

6. To minimise the Hub menu, swipe from the right of the screen until only the icons are visible

How to set up an email signature in BlackBerry Hub on the BlackBerry Q5

Much like the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10, the BlackBerry Q5 has BlackBerry Hub baked in. This useful feature groups together all notifications from connected accounts and lets you send emails then and there.

• BlackBerry Q5 Review: Lacking in 'key' areas?

Here's how to set up an email signature:

1. Wake the device up with an upward swipe from the bottom of the display
2. Swipe left to access the BlackBerry Hub

3. Tap the 'Action' tab
4. Tap 'Settings' and then tap 'Email Accounts'

5. Select an email account and then set 'Auto Signature' to 'On'
6. Enter into the text field the signature you want to appear on all the emails you send 

7. Tap back to save your changes

Once you've completed those steps, the signature you've chosen will appear on every email you send from that account. If you have multiple email accounts connected to the device, you can follow the same steps to set up a signature for those too. If at any point you want to change the siganture you've entered, just go back in an enter a new one. As a default, the email signature is set to 'Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone' and this will be displayed if Auto signature is set to 'On'.