I’m excited about the new BlackBerry 10 devices and I hope you are too. Definitely one of my favorite features and one we’ve highlighted often is the “peek” functionality to view emails, your calendar, or other apps.

To give you a better idea of how the “peek” functionality of BlackBerry 10 devices can help make it easier for you to get things done, I wanted to share a typical situation we often face: coordinating hangout time with a group of friends.

Usually you begin by opening your email, or BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) creating a new appointment, returning to the email “home” screen to check your email, clicking through to return to the appointment, finishing creating the appointment, and then sending it to your friends. If you also have to look up their contact information, that’s even another step.

I’ve found this is all way easier on a BlackBerry 10 device with peek functionality; you have the ability to “peek” back into your calendar while creating the appointment, as well as the ability to “peek” back to your contacts without leaving the appointment screen.

This is just one example, but I love being able to peek between games, the web browser, email and Maps. It’s all about making life a little easier and letting you keep moving.

How do you or will you use peek on your BlackBerry Z10 or BlackBerry Q10? Let us know.

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Now that we’ve taken a quick look at some of the more advanced features of the hub,I wanted to go a step further and tell you its similarities and differences compared to the unified inbox technology offered on current BlackBerry devices.

• Unified Inbox versus BlackBerry Hub: Similarities – If you are currently using your device’s unified inbox as your base of operations on BlackBerry OS 6 devices and up, I have great news: BlackBerry Hub is still the messaging and communications center for new BlackBerry 10 smartphones, and it’s available in real time.

• Unified Inbox versus BlackBerry Hub: Differences – When Thorsten Heins said “BlackBerry Hub is not just a unified inbox,” he wasn’t kidding. By using BlackBerry Flow to layer open emails, attachments, or BlackBerry apps over the top of the Hub, you can quickly “peek” back as needed to view all the apps you’re currently using. It’s as much about the accessibility of your data as it is the integration of your data.

The bottom line is that unified inbox works, and works well. However, the goal of BlackBerry 10 is to help keep BlackBerry smartphone users moving forward. It’s an exciting time.

Speaking of excitement, share yours in the comments along with any questions or concerns.

Every BlackBerry 10 detail, update, and feature, as soon as it’s released: BlackBerry.com/BlackBerry10. Test out BlackBerry 10 features hands-on, watch exclusive video interviews with the minds behind BlackBerry 10, and receive product and carrier updates straight to your inbox. Sign up today!

I caught up with Vivek just moments after he left the stage to get a feel for the energy and reactions from the audience. Check out footage from his live demo and my exclusive Inside BlackBerry interview in the videos below:

Live BlackBerry 10 Demo on Stage at BlackBerry Jam Americas Keynote

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Exclusive Backstage Interview on BlackBerry 10

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

To explore it a bit more through a brief demo, I caught up with BlackBerry 10 expert Michael Clewley for an interview:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

There’s also a new BlackBerry App World for work as part of the BlackBerry ® Balance ™ technology in BlackBerry 10, which makes it easy for organizations to deploy and recommend apps for their employees. More on that feature with Luke over at the Inside BlackBerry for Business Blog.

Excited to get using the new BlackBerry App World? Let us know in the comments.

*Music and video store access may by limited in some regions.

For this video, we used the latest developer hardware prototype model, the BlackBerry Dev Alpha B, to demonstrate concepts we’re working on for BlackBerry 10. This device is not representative of final hardware.

Whether checking in on your conversations in the new BlackBerry Hub or cycling between open apps, BlackBerry 10 is designed to enhance your busy life, not slow you down. It is designed to keep you moving. I met up with the product team to get an exclusive demo — check out this video to get the scoop on the BlackBerry 10 experience, the new BlackBerry Hub and it all comes together with Flow.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Like what you see? Be sure to share this video and, of course, tell us what you think in the comments.

For this video, we used the latest developer hardware prototype model, the BlackBerry Dev Alpha B, to demonstrate concepts we’re working on for BlackBerry 10. This device is not representative of final hardware.