The Z10 is BlackBerry’s new flagship smartphone, featuring a raft of improved hardware and a new operating system, BlackBerry 10.

In terms of hardware, the Z10 is powered by a 1.5-gigahertz Qualcomm MSM8960 dual-core processor paired with two gigabytes of mobile DDR2 SDRAM, an internal bank of 16 gigabytes of flash memory and a large 3.8-volt lithium-ion battery. This core feature set is bolstered by the inclusion of an eight-megapixel rear-facing camera, a two-megapixel forward-facing camera and a 10.7-centimetre (4.2-inch), 1,280 x 768-pixel touchscreen – the latter coated with a layer of hardened, scratch-resistant glass.

The BlackBerry 10 OS is a proprietary variant based on QNX – a Unix-like embedded operating system – which allows for the integration of features such as
multitouch gestures, advanced multitasking operations, screen-shared video calls and voice control of the device. Indeed, the 10 OS is heavily optimised for multitouch gestures and is based around a piece of software called BlackBerry Hub, a content and connectivity aggregator that displays a lot of key data in list form.

In terms of connectivity, the Z10 is installed with an NFC (near-field communication) antenna built in to the backplate and has support for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The Z10 is compatible – dependent on model – with network connections up to 4G LTE.

Technology

Inside the BlackBerry Z10

Learn what technology is packed into this new BlackBerry handset
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Warm air above the fire is lighter than the surrounding air so it rises; the swirling pillar of lifting air above the fire is called a thermal column. This tornado-like structure is responsible for a firestorm’s power. Under the right weather conditions, air can rise inside the column at eye-watering speeds of 270 kilometres (170 miles) per hour!

Cooler air gusts into the space left behind by the ascending air, causing violent winds that merge fires together into a single intense entity. They also blow in oxygen, wood and other flammable material that serve to fuel and intensify the blaze.

Turbulent air spiralling around the thermal column can spawn fire tornadoes and throw out sparks. These can set light to trees and houses tens of metres away, increasing the conflagration’s range.

Environment

How firestorms change the weather

Firestorms can release as much energy as a lightning storm on a hot summer’s afternoon
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