Day 3:
So far, I've used 'having my email on my phone' a handful of times. I was glad it was there. I could get used to it being there.
LOVE the voicemail. I think they call it "Visual Voicemail". When I hit the voicemail icon, it brings up all of my messages email style. I can then select the messages I want to listen to in the order of importance, or interest. If there's someone I needed to hear from, I can go right to their message. I don't have to listen to all messages in the order they were received skipping/saving each one till I get to the one I really needed. Awesome.
Internet. It's not the real Internet. At least that's the way it seems. I keep getting the mobile version of websites, which means it's a dumbed down, feature stripped version of what I really wanted. Not overly impressed with having the Internet on my phone yet. Tried to use it once to find documentation on something I was working on. Was very cumbersome.
Youtube. REALLY not the real version. I use Youtube a lot to listen to music/watch music videos. I type in the name/song I want to listen to, and I get totaly different videos to watch. Normaly, I get the 'official video' or the artists official youtube page. Not on the Iphone. It seems like I get what would be the last 50 entries on the list my PC brings up. So I get versions of the song some idiot covered and put up, or a decent sounding copy of the song with some home made gay video a fan made. You don't get the videos that have millions of views. Top viewed video on the Iphone is like 72k or something. I don't like that. I want the real Youtube.
Have yet to put a single mp3 on it though. No time to play with it like that yet.
Have yet to download a single app for it. Again, no time.
Being a business owner, it's VERY handy having my email with me. If it was just for personal use, I'd probably skip it. Have yet to view a personal email on my phone. Business related, more times than I thought I would.
So, after 3 days, I'm leaning heavily towards keeping email on my phone. So, now I have to figure out if having it on an Iphone is the way to go. Iphone is $30/month. Blackberry would be $15/month. So, now I need to figure out if the other stuff (apps/Ipod/Visual voicemail/etc) are worth $15/month.
I'll wait to hear from Gordon how the Blackberry handles mp3s and voicemail. I can only assume it does an awesome job of handling email. Maybe better than the Iphone.
Oh, last thing that was super cool. I wanted some pizza. Used the Internet to search for the location and phone number. I found it pretty quickly (thankfully, the pizza place didn't have a mobile version of their site, so I got what I was used to). It the upper right corner of the page was the address and phone number. I thought it would be easy, and neat, if I would be able to select the phone number and paste it into the dialing field for the phone. When I tapped the phone number (not a hot link or anything) the phone immidately opened a little window with the phone number in it with a "Call now?" button on it. AWESOME! That feature's probably been in one of their commercials, or on all smart phones, but I didn't remember it at the time. But, that was cool.
Iphone
I like email on my Blackberry. But it's email, there's only so much special you can put into that, so I'd imagine it's pretty equivalent to the iPhone email, as long as the iPhone email isn't badly designed or something.
I don't use the default Blackberry voicemail service, because it's nothing special. Instead I signed up for Google Voice and use that. Google Voice is the best voicemail system ever. Essentially when I get a call that goes to voicemail, it emails me a text transcription of the call (including a link to the audio, which is good because the transcriptions are often crap at this point, but they're still tweaking that). Plus I have it set up so that different contacts go to different email addresses, depending on how much or when I would want to know that person called. You can also set up different greetings for your contact groups, so family that call get one greeting, friends another, coworkers still another, and I have a special one for when I call it that just says "Speak". Because I call it often to leave myself a note about something I need to do, which then transcribes and emails to work and home for later reference.
But that's not a Blackberry thing, it's a Google Voice thing.
Blackberry is fine, but I'd much prefer an iPhone. IF they made it in a clamshell style, which they don't, which is why I have Blackberry.
Edited By TPRJones on 1249133352
I don't use the default Blackberry voicemail service, because it's nothing special. Instead I signed up for Google Voice and use that. Google Voice is the best voicemail system ever. Essentially when I get a call that goes to voicemail, it emails me a text transcription of the call (including a link to the audio, which is good because the transcriptions are often crap at this point, but they're still tweaking that). Plus I have it set up so that different contacts go to different email addresses, depending on how much or when I would want to know that person called. You can also set up different greetings for your contact groups, so family that call get one greeting, friends another, coworkers still another, and I have a special one for when I call it that just says "Speak". Because I call it often to leave myself a note about something I need to do, which then transcribes and emails to work and home for later reference.
But that's not a Blackberry thing, it's a Google Voice thing.
Blackberry is fine, but I'd much prefer an iPhone. IF they made it in a clamshell style, which they don't, which is why I have Blackberry.
Edited By TPRJones on 1249133352
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Speaking of Google Voice, looks like Apple pulled it from the iPhone.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story....-iPhone
http://apple.slashdot.org/story....-iPhone
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
The Electronic Frontier Foundation says that they are working to make it so you can jail break your iphones legally and then be able to use google voice or other non apple apps. The copyright office will run in October I believe and the EFF says they are very confident that the office will rule in their favor.
I'm getting used to my iphone. Finding cool things and really anoyingly stupid things.
Cool things:
Email. I like having my email with me. I switched over to IMAP from pop3 and have my own IMAP server running. Now, my laptop, desktop and phone all have the same messages/folders/etc. I move a message from my inbox into a folder on my iphone, and I can watch it move on my desktop. That's cool. Only having the message headers available and no net coverage (in a building or something with no signal) might be an issue at some point. I let you know when (not if) it happens.
It's an ipod!! I've never had one. It's cool.
Voice mail. See above.
GPS. It's not bad. Definately not a replacement for a Tom Tom, but gets the job done in a pinch. It locates your position really fast. Normally in about 15 seconds. My Tom Tom varries from 30 seconds to 7 minutes. The iphone's GPS doesn't have very many features. At least not that I've found yet. I've used it a few times when I just needed a little help and didn't feel like firing up the Tom Tom and it's worked well for that. Wouldn't depend on it as my only GPS though.
Usability. I like how well the screen works. Getting used to hitting tiny things with my fingers. I still miss, but not as often. Things I want are easy to get to and stuff.
Bad things:
Bluetooth support SUCKS fucking donkey. It only supports headsets and one other things. You can't bluetooth a picture to another phone or anything. In fact, I doesn't even show other phones. Other phones see it, but can't connect. After a quick search, it's a common, unhappy complaint of all iphone users. Dismal bluetooth support. Fuck you Apple.
Apps. I have yet to find a good one. I'm only downloading the free ones. . . but even the lite versions of nonfree apps aren't any fun. Sucks that you can't try before you buy.
Camera needs a flash.
Not being able to do mutiple things at once. I wish I could check on an email without shutting down the web browser. It would be cool if I could just flip to the 'email page' and then back to the browser. Kind of like you can flip through albums on the ipod. Backing out, drilling down through my email folders, then backing out and getting back into the browser can be cumbersome.
Over all, I do like it though.
Cool things:
Email. I like having my email with me. I switched over to IMAP from pop3 and have my own IMAP server running. Now, my laptop, desktop and phone all have the same messages/folders/etc. I move a message from my inbox into a folder on my iphone, and I can watch it move on my desktop. That's cool. Only having the message headers available and no net coverage (in a building or something with no signal) might be an issue at some point. I let you know when (not if) it happens.
It's an ipod!! I've never had one. It's cool.
Voice mail. See above.
GPS. It's not bad. Definately not a replacement for a Tom Tom, but gets the job done in a pinch. It locates your position really fast. Normally in about 15 seconds. My Tom Tom varries from 30 seconds to 7 minutes. The iphone's GPS doesn't have very many features. At least not that I've found yet. I've used it a few times when I just needed a little help and didn't feel like firing up the Tom Tom and it's worked well for that. Wouldn't depend on it as my only GPS though.
Usability. I like how well the screen works. Getting used to hitting tiny things with my fingers. I still miss, but not as often. Things I want are easy to get to and stuff.
Bad things:
Bluetooth support SUCKS fucking donkey. It only supports headsets and one other things. You can't bluetooth a picture to another phone or anything. In fact, I doesn't even show other phones. Other phones see it, but can't connect. After a quick search, it's a common, unhappy complaint of all iphone users. Dismal bluetooth support. Fuck you Apple.
Apps. I have yet to find a good one. I'm only downloading the free ones. . . but even the lite versions of nonfree apps aren't any fun. Sucks that you can't try before you buy.
Camera needs a flash.
Not being able to do mutiple things at once. I wish I could check on an email without shutting down the web browser. It would be cool if I could just flip to the 'email page' and then back to the browser. Kind of like you can flip through albums on the ipod. Backing out, drilling down through my email folders, then backing out and getting back into the browser can be cumbersome.
Over all, I do like it though.
Full email and data. I even put my personal email account on the phone the other day cuz I liked having my business one there so much.Cakedaddy wrote:Is this just a data option for browsing on your phone, or a full email/data plan?TheCatt wrote:My phone internet is $15/month on Sprint.
It's not me, it's someone else.
I've used BBs since November 2007. I've had a Pearl, currently use a Bold, and have worked on numerous 8820s and Curves.
I loved the Pearl. It's the smallest BB, and one of the smaller overall phones on the market. The biggest drawback was that it didn't have a full keyboard.
The 8820 was big and bulky and has been dropped by BB.
Everyone in my company with a Curve loves them. There are two different Curves now, but I don't know what the difference is...maybe 3G?
As for the Bold, I'm growing to hate it. There's a "Standby/Mute" button on top that broke on my first Bold and I had to exchange it. That button broke in month #2. On my new Bold that same button broke in month #1. The button is important to save on battery life and it locks your keyboard. Also on my latest one, the volume has disappeared. I used to hear my phone throughout my house, but I played a song while sitting on my porch the other day rocking one of my kids to sleep and had to literally hold the phone to my ear to hear it at max volume. I used to hear that ringer while the phone was in my pocket, while I was blaring music in my car. The last thing I'm hating is the reception. I don't remember the Pearl's reception, but the Bold's SUCKS. Literally moving an inch can send you from 3 bars to SOS status.
In terms of reception, nothing touched the Motorolla Razor (original model). For smartphones, I found the Blackjack II's reception to be quite impressive.
I'm debating switching to an iPhone just to try it out.
Onto your stuff:
That's actually just a copy of what VoIP systems have been doing for quite some time now. It is cool as hell though.
The BB Bold is pretty much the same, but has 3-4 different browsers installed. On the pages that pop up their "mobile" versions, look for a link that'll take you to the full version of the page. They should all have it. The mobile versions suck ass.
This is a trend I'm not really understanding. Everyone I know that uses their phone for MP3s always have phones with dead batteries. Why would anyone who NEEDS (that's the key word) to carry a phone around use that phone as an MP3 player and eat up battery life? Until batteries take that great next step in evolution, I just don't see this as practical. (Again, I'm speaking about people who actually need their phone and email.)
Full disclosure: I have two songs on my phone, "Still Alive" which I put on there on a lark once, and the Steelers fight song. Both were used as ringtones.
On a related note, can you access the battery on the iPhone or is it like other Apple devices?
I actually was talking to my AT&T rep the other day and this topic came up. She says the BB handles email much better than the iPhone. She has the choices of phones she can carry and she uses the new BB Curve.
I also want to note that both devices can connect directly to an Exchange server, BUT if I remember correctly, the BB (at least in Nov 2007) needed Exchange to be version 7. No idea about the iPhone requirements.
I can't speak for all smartphones, but the BBs have this feature as well.
Off topic, but there's a pretty good program that'll type in Word (or whatever) for you called Dragon something. Our Executive Administrative Assistant uses it. The voice recognition abilities of it are impressive. There's also a freeware program whose name I have forgotten that will read you any sort of document.
Totally off subject, but I saw an article last night saying the latest Zune was an iPod killer. Although, I'd bet it's not long before we see a Zune phone.
I think GPS depends more on the carrier than the device. I've used Verizon's and AT&T's and both are useable, but nothing special.
The BB, all models, does allow for this and it's great. I can follow a game live in my browser, switch to anything else, and then come right back into the browser where I left off.
Overall, BBs aren't bad, but they lack flash, are a touch on the unfriendly side, and their reception sucks. (Although, I think the Pearl wasn't bad.)
I loved the Pearl. It's the smallest BB, and one of the smaller overall phones on the market. The biggest drawback was that it didn't have a full keyboard.
The 8820 was big and bulky and has been dropped by BB.
Everyone in my company with a Curve loves them. There are two different Curves now, but I don't know what the difference is...maybe 3G?
As for the Bold, I'm growing to hate it. There's a "Standby/Mute" button on top that broke on my first Bold and I had to exchange it. That button broke in month #2. On my new Bold that same button broke in month #1. The button is important to save on battery life and it locks your keyboard. Also on my latest one, the volume has disappeared. I used to hear my phone throughout my house, but I played a song while sitting on my porch the other day rocking one of my kids to sleep and had to literally hold the phone to my ear to hear it at max volume. I used to hear that ringer while the phone was in my pocket, while I was blaring music in my car. The last thing I'm hating is the reception. I don't remember the Pearl's reception, but the Bold's SUCKS. Literally moving an inch can send you from 3 bars to SOS status.
In terms of reception, nothing touched the Motorolla Razor (original model). For smartphones, I found the Blackjack II's reception to be quite impressive.
I'm debating switching to an iPhone just to try it out.
Onto your stuff:
LOVE the voicemail. I think they call it "Visual Voicemail".
That's actually just a copy of what VoIP systems have been doing for quite some time now. It is cool as hell though.
Internet. It's not the real Internet. At least that's the way it seems. I keep getting the mobile version of websites, which means it's a dumbed down, feature stripped version of what I really wanted. Not overly impressed with having the Internet on my phone yet. Tried to use it once to find documentation on something I was working on. Was very cumbersome.
The BB Bold is pretty much the same, but has 3-4 different browsers installed. On the pages that pop up their "mobile" versions, look for a link that'll take you to the full version of the page. They should all have it. The mobile versions suck ass.
Have yet to put a single mp3 on it though. No time to play with it like that yet.
This is a trend I'm not really understanding. Everyone I know that uses their phone for MP3s always have phones with dead batteries. Why would anyone who NEEDS (that's the key word) to carry a phone around use that phone as an MP3 player and eat up battery life? Until batteries take that great next step in evolution, I just don't see this as practical. (Again, I'm speaking about people who actually need their phone and email.)
Full disclosure: I have two songs on my phone, "Still Alive" which I put on there on a lark once, and the Steelers fight song. Both were used as ringtones.
On a related note, can you access the battery on the iPhone or is it like other Apple devices?
I'll wait to hear from Gordon how the Blackberry handles mp3s and voicemail. I can only assume it does an awesome job of handling email. Maybe better than the Iphone.
I actually was talking to my AT&T rep the other day and this topic came up. She says the BB handles email much better than the iPhone. She has the choices of phones she can carry and she uses the new BB Curve.
I also want to note that both devices can connect directly to an Exchange server, BUT if I remember correctly, the BB (at least in Nov 2007) needed Exchange to be version 7. No idea about the iPhone requirements.
Oh, last thing that was super cool. I wanted some pizza. Used the Internet to search for the location and phone number. I found it pretty quickly (thankfully, the pizza place didn't have a mobile version of their site, so I got what I was used to). It the upper right corner of the page was the address and phone number. I thought it would be easy, and neat, if I would be able to select the phone number and paste it into the dialing field for the phone. When I tapped the phone number (not a hot link or anything) the phone immidately opened a little window with the phone number in it with a "Call now?" button on it. AWESOME! That feature's probably been in one of their commercials, or on all smart phones, but I didn't remember it at the time. But, that was cool.
I can't speak for all smartphones, but the BBs have this feature as well.
I don't use the default Blackberry voicemail service, because it's nothing special. Instead I signed up for Google Voice and use that. Google Voice is the best voicemail system ever. Essentially when I get a call that goes to voicemail, it emails me a text transcription of the call (including a link to the audio, which is good because the transcriptions are often crap at this point, but they're still tweaking that). Plus I have it set up so that different contacts go to different email addresses, depending on how much or when I would want to know that person called. You can also set up different greetings for your contact groups, so family that call get one greeting, friends another, coworkers still another, and I have a special one for when I call it that just says "Speak". Because I call it often to leave myself a note about something I need to do, which then transcribes and emails to work and home for later reference.
Off topic, but there's a pretty good program that'll type in Word (or whatever) for you called Dragon something. Our Executive Administrative Assistant uses it. The voice recognition abilities of it are impressive. There's also a freeware program whose name I have forgotten that will read you any sort of document.
It's an ipod!! I've never had one. It's cool.
Totally off subject, but I saw an article last night saying the latest Zune was an iPod killer. Although, I'd bet it's not long before we see a Zune phone.
GPS.
I think GPS depends more on the carrier than the device. I've used Verizon's and AT&T's and both are useable, but nothing special.
Not being able to do mutiple things at once.
The BB, all models, does allow for this and it's great. I can follow a game live in my browser, switch to anything else, and then come right back into the browser where I left off.
Overall, BBs aren't bad, but they lack flash, are a touch on the unfriendly side, and their reception sucks. (Although, I think the Pearl wasn't bad.)
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
I have no complaints about reception, and I just got back from a week in Kentucky. Never had a problem with signal except for when I was 300 feet underground.Leisher wrote:I actually was talking to my AT&T rep the other day and this topic came up. She says the BB handles email much better than the iPhone. She has the choices of phones she can carry and she uses the new BB Curve.I'll wait to hear from Gordon how the Blackberry handles mp3s and voicemail. I can only assume it does an awesome job of handling email. Maybe better than the Iphone.
I also want to note that both devices can connect directly to an Exchange server, BUT if I remember correctly, the BB (at least in Nov 2007) needed Exchange to be version 7. No idea about the iPhone requirements.
Have yet to put a single mp3 on it though. No time to play with it like that yet.
This is a trend I'm not really understanding. Everyone I know that uses their phone for MP3s always have phones with dead batteries. Why would anyone who NEEDS (that's the key word) to carry a phone around use that phone as an MP3 player and eat up battery life? Until batteries take that great next step in evolution, I just don't see this as practical. (Again, I'm speaking about people who actually need their phone and email.)
Full disclosure: I have two songs on my phone, "Still Alive" which I put on there on a lark once, and the Steelers fight song. Both were used as ringtones.
On a related note, can you access the battery on the iPhone or is it like other Apple devices?
As long as I am using the headphones, I have no problem with playing mp3's (or internet radio) and not draining the battery of my BB Tour. I can mow the yard for 2 hours and still read full battery life. The reason it was imortant to me to have this function in a smart phone was because I hate doubling up on these kind of technological things. Didn't want to spend $150 on a BB and still have to spend another $70 on a dedicated mp3 player.
email: no complaints. It has built-in "apps" to cover most major email services, so it was a very simple thing to tell it to monitor my gmail account, which all of my person email routes through, anyway. Messages that I read on my BB appear as already "read" in my personal email client when I DL it. I saw lots of other email functionality, nut I haven't had need to look in to it yet.
Also, my $30/month supposedly covers full data and email, unlimited. HAven't yet hit any barriers.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Also, my $30/month supposedly covers full data and email, unlimited. HAven't yet hit any barriers.
Thanks for reminding me. The "unlimited" is bullshit. I have no idea how they can legally say that, but there IS a limit. That limit is lower than you might think. If I remember correctly, the limit for aircards is 50MB/month.
No joke.
P.S. That isn't just an AT&T thing either.
Edited By Leisher on 1250087577
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
One of my users just sent this to me. Pretty timely...
Blackberry’s 26 Advantages over iPhone
We all have numerous good reasons to love our iPhone. It revolutionized the handheld business with its AppStore and ease of use interface. Apple (AAPL) will continue to gain ground, and further innovations to its iPhone product portfolio could accelerate its growth even further. The synergies with the Mac computers and the Apple Stores themselves, are real and material.
The advantages of the iPhone are mostly immediately visible. Its differentiating characteristics are extroverted, shouting them right into your face. For the casual observer, these iPhone advantages are very compelling when comparing it to its main rival to date, the Blackberry. However, Blackberry also has numerous advantages, almost all of which are “behind the scenes” and therefore often beyond the comprehension or attention span of most consumers to fully analyze before a purchase decision is made.
One is tempted to draw a political analogy – the flamboyant candidate with the eloquent rhetoric, versus the “boring” candidate focusing on the substance of the intellectual argument. The analogy fails in part as far as the iPhone is concerned, because its “superficial” advantages are real. However, the analogy holds as far as the Blackberry is concerned, because its advantages require a more serious intellectual analysis by the consumer in order to be fully appreciated. For this reason, it is possible that Research In Motion (RIMM) is underestimated as a force in the consumer market as well as the stock market.
Seeing as we already know the strong advantages of the iPhone, ranging from the class-leading AppStore to its beautiful and easy-to-use interface, it is about time that someone lists the advantages of the Blackberry when compared to the iPhone. Below are the top 26:
1. Blackberry can be used on almost every carrier in the world (over 475 of them). In the US, the iPhone is available on AT&T (T) only.
2. Blackberry is available in five form factors – small keyboard, large keyboard, no keyboard, flip phone, and candy-bar.
3. Most Blackberries have keyboards, so you can actually type fast and with no errors. Helps while driving, walking, carrying something in your other hand – all the time. iPhone: well…
4. Blackberry uses standardized (=inexpensive and available everywhere in the world) MicroUSB connector for synchronization/charging. iPhone has a much larger proprietary 30-pin connector.
5. Some carriers such as Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) offer unlimited international Blackberry data roaming for $40/month or less. iPhone does not. This could save you literally tens of thousands of dollars when you are abroad.
6. If your Blackberry is on T-Mobile USA, it also offers unlimited WiFi calling from anywhere in the world. This is with your existing number – in and out – so no new special number, procedure, etc. iPhone cannot do this (because it is only on AT&T; only T-Mobile USA offers this), and it can save you well over $100 per day when you’re abroad. Think $1 per minute savings, and you’re on the phone two hours per day. That’s $120/day.
7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.
8. Blackberry has removable and expandable battery. iPhone is fixed.
9. Blackberry allows programs to multitask. iPhone has limited multitasking.
10. The newest Blackberry screen resolution is 480x360. iPhone is 480x320.
11. Blackberry allows communicating peer-to-peer via PIN identifier, circumventing the email system. No such iPhone equivalent.
12. Skype (EBAY) on the Blackberry? Yes, from anywhere to anywhere. Skype on iPhone? Only if you’re on WiFi.
13. Sling on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Sling on iPhone? $30.
14. Google (GOOG) Voice on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Google Voice on iPhone? Verboten.
15. Blackberry can be synchronized to multiple computers simultaneously, if you have multiple computers.
16. Multiple Blackberries can receive the same email feeds simultaneously, if you have multiple Blackberries.
17. Blackberry can sort the address book entries by company name, so you can scroll down a long list of names you don’t remember, but you just want to see who works for which company. Aside from sorting, the iPhone can take several seconds to search your address book, particularly if you have several thousand address book entries.
18. Blackberry isn’t slowed down by having, say, 10,000 or 100,000 address book entries. Try using an iPhone with 10,000 address book entries.
19. All major instant messengers are available on Blackberry.
20. Blackberry is available with multiple browsers from multiple suppliers. iPhone is available only with its standard Safari browser.
21. Blackberry synchronizes with iTunes – and every other media management program.
22. Blackberry models with 480 pixel resolution and WiFi offer PrimeTime2Go, an $8/month TV service that works as a DVR.
23. Blackberry fits as many emails in the inbox as there is memory available (typically many tens of thousands). iPhone is limited to 200 emails. Yes, iPhone has a remote look-up capability, but that doesn’t do you any good when you’re on an airplane or are otherwise out of coverage.
24. Price: Unlimited iPhone voice/data service, including unlimited SMS, is $150/month. Blackberry can be had for much less. For example, unlimited Blackberry service is offered on Sprint for $100/month, T-Mobile USA $125/month, MetroPCS $50/month, although AT&T/Verizon match the iPhone at $150/month.
25. Prepaid “no contract” flexibility: The AT&T web site says the iPhone is sold with a 2-year contract only, although once upon a time it offered a “contract-free” iPhone if you paid close to $899 up-front for the iPhone itself. In contrast, you can get prepaid no-contract Blackberry service on any old or new T-Mobile USA Blackberry handset for $65/month (600 minutes, unlimited Blackberry/Internet, but no SMS), or you can get truly unlimited-everything prepaid $50/month service from MetroPCS, if its handset selection and coverage areas are acceptable to you. That’s ONE THIRD the cost of the iPhone, and there is no contract.
26. Blackberry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. In contrast, iPhone has security vulnerabilities. Please see this document for details as to why the Blackberry is the only platform approved for use in our national security agencies. It compares against the iPhone and Microsoft Mobile platforms (.pdf).
Some of those points were big enough to talk me out of an iPhone for business.
Blackberry’s 26 Advantages over iPhone
We all have numerous good reasons to love our iPhone. It revolutionized the handheld business with its AppStore and ease of use interface. Apple (AAPL) will continue to gain ground, and further innovations to its iPhone product portfolio could accelerate its growth even further. The synergies with the Mac computers and the Apple Stores themselves, are real and material.
The advantages of the iPhone are mostly immediately visible. Its differentiating characteristics are extroverted, shouting them right into your face. For the casual observer, these iPhone advantages are very compelling when comparing it to its main rival to date, the Blackberry. However, Blackberry also has numerous advantages, almost all of which are “behind the scenes” and therefore often beyond the comprehension or attention span of most consumers to fully analyze before a purchase decision is made.
One is tempted to draw a political analogy – the flamboyant candidate with the eloquent rhetoric, versus the “boring” candidate focusing on the substance of the intellectual argument. The analogy fails in part as far as the iPhone is concerned, because its “superficial” advantages are real. However, the analogy holds as far as the Blackberry is concerned, because its advantages require a more serious intellectual analysis by the consumer in order to be fully appreciated. For this reason, it is possible that Research In Motion (RIMM) is underestimated as a force in the consumer market as well as the stock market.
Seeing as we already know the strong advantages of the iPhone, ranging from the class-leading AppStore to its beautiful and easy-to-use interface, it is about time that someone lists the advantages of the Blackberry when compared to the iPhone. Below are the top 26:
1. Blackberry can be used on almost every carrier in the world (over 475 of them). In the US, the iPhone is available on AT&T (T) only.
2. Blackberry is available in five form factors – small keyboard, large keyboard, no keyboard, flip phone, and candy-bar.
3. Most Blackberries have keyboards, so you can actually type fast and with no errors. Helps while driving, walking, carrying something in your other hand – all the time. iPhone: well…
4. Blackberry uses standardized (=inexpensive and available everywhere in the world) MicroUSB connector for synchronization/charging. iPhone has a much larger proprietary 30-pin connector.
5. Some carriers such as Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) offer unlimited international Blackberry data roaming for $40/month or less. iPhone does not. This could save you literally tens of thousands of dollars when you are abroad.
6. If your Blackberry is on T-Mobile USA, it also offers unlimited WiFi calling from anywhere in the world. This is with your existing number – in and out – so no new special number, procedure, etc. iPhone cannot do this (because it is only on AT&T; only T-Mobile USA offers this), and it can save you well over $100 per day when you’re abroad. Think $1 per minute savings, and you’re on the phone two hours per day. That’s $120/day.
7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.
8. Blackberry has removable and expandable battery. iPhone is fixed.
9. Blackberry allows programs to multitask. iPhone has limited multitasking.
10. The newest Blackberry screen resolution is 480x360. iPhone is 480x320.
11. Blackberry allows communicating peer-to-peer via PIN identifier, circumventing the email system. No such iPhone equivalent.
12. Skype (EBAY) on the Blackberry? Yes, from anywhere to anywhere. Skype on iPhone? Only if you’re on WiFi.
13. Sling on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Sling on iPhone? $30.
14. Google (GOOG) Voice on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Google Voice on iPhone? Verboten.
15. Blackberry can be synchronized to multiple computers simultaneously, if you have multiple computers.
16. Multiple Blackberries can receive the same email feeds simultaneously, if you have multiple Blackberries.
17. Blackberry can sort the address book entries by company name, so you can scroll down a long list of names you don’t remember, but you just want to see who works for which company. Aside from sorting, the iPhone can take several seconds to search your address book, particularly if you have several thousand address book entries.
18. Blackberry isn’t slowed down by having, say, 10,000 or 100,000 address book entries. Try using an iPhone with 10,000 address book entries.
19. All major instant messengers are available on Blackberry.
20. Blackberry is available with multiple browsers from multiple suppliers. iPhone is available only with its standard Safari browser.
21. Blackberry synchronizes with iTunes – and every other media management program.
22. Blackberry models with 480 pixel resolution and WiFi offer PrimeTime2Go, an $8/month TV service that works as a DVR.
23. Blackberry fits as many emails in the inbox as there is memory available (typically many tens of thousands). iPhone is limited to 200 emails. Yes, iPhone has a remote look-up capability, but that doesn’t do you any good when you’re on an airplane or are otherwise out of coverage.
24. Price: Unlimited iPhone voice/data service, including unlimited SMS, is $150/month. Blackberry can be had for much less. For example, unlimited Blackberry service is offered on Sprint for $100/month, T-Mobile USA $125/month, MetroPCS $50/month, although AT&T/Verizon match the iPhone at $150/month.
25. Prepaid “no contract” flexibility: The AT&T web site says the iPhone is sold with a 2-year contract only, although once upon a time it offered a “contract-free” iPhone if you paid close to $899 up-front for the iPhone itself. In contrast, you can get prepaid no-contract Blackberry service on any old or new T-Mobile USA Blackberry handset for $65/month (600 minutes, unlimited Blackberry/Internet, but no SMS), or you can get truly unlimited-everything prepaid $50/month service from MetroPCS, if its handset selection and coverage areas are acceptable to you. That’s ONE THIRD the cost of the iPhone, and there is no contract.
26. Blackberry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. In contrast, iPhone has security vulnerabilities. Please see this document for details as to why the Blackberry is the only platform approved for use in our national security agencies. It compares against the iPhone and Microsoft Mobile platforms (.pdf).
Some of those points were big enough to talk me out of an iPhone for business.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
I think you mean 5GB/month, since I just bought an aircard, and it was the same limit on all carriers, which is about 166MB/day.Leisher wrote:Thanks for reminding me. The "unlimited" is bullshit. I have no idea how they can legally say that, but there IS a limit. That limit is lower than you might think. If I remember correctly, the limit for aircards is 50MB/month.Also, my $30/month supposedly covers full data and email, unlimited. HAven't yet hit any barriers.
No joke.
P.S. That isn't just an AT&T thing either.
It's not me, it's someone else.
I think you mean 5GB/month, since I just bought an aircard, and it was the same limit on all carriers, which is about 166MB/day.
No I don't. Perhaps things have changed recently, but I've been involved in a long discussion about data limits with AT&T because of overage charges.
(I've just emailed my rep to find out if they've changed or if I had the numbers wrong.)
Either way, it's still a LIMIT. I don't care if someone thinks it's unreachable, the fact that it exists means the plans should not be called "Unlimited".
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
AT&T got back to me and I was wrong on two counts, but still sort of right.
The limit is 5GB/month domestically. International plans have a limit of 20 MB a month. That's where we've had problems.
P.S. This was posted via my Blackberry.
Edited By Leisher on 1250096060
The limit is 5GB/month domestically. International plans have a limit of 20 MB a month. That's where we've had problems.
P.S. This was posted via my Blackberry.
Edited By Leisher on 1250096060
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
Points 4, 7 and 8 are valid with me, but not deal breakers. I don't travel abroad, I don't have 10k contacts or emails. I don't use multiple carriers, etc.
I do wish it used a standard USB cable, had a removable battery and a memory card slot. I'm surprised they didn't bash it for it's lack of bluetooth support. Unless the BB's sucks too.
As far as multitasking. . . I was a bit quick to judgement. Upon further use, I do find that I can switch between browser and email without losing my place. Learning how to do things and how to do it on the iphone helps. It's not perfect, but not as bad as I originally thought.
More cons though:
I wish I could create email folders on the iphone. It sees new folders I create on the PC, but I can't create on the iphone. Have to wait till I get home to create them.
I wish I could close/collapse folders. I have alot of folders. So, I'm having to scroll more and more as I create them. Collapsing them would clean things up quite a bit.
A new plus:
Finally found a game worth playing. Pocket Tanks. The free version is feature packed with MANY hours of replay in it. It's my new time killer. Simple to play (pick the angle/power and hit fire). But there are a handful of terrains you can pick from (flat, hills, valleys, etc) and 25 different ammo types to use. Reminds me of "Worms", which is $5 and might be the first game I actually buy.
I do wish it used a standard USB cable, had a removable battery and a memory card slot. I'm surprised they didn't bash it for it's lack of bluetooth support. Unless the BB's sucks too.
As far as multitasking. . . I was a bit quick to judgement. Upon further use, I do find that I can switch between browser and email without losing my place. Learning how to do things and how to do it on the iphone helps. It's not perfect, but not as bad as I originally thought.
More cons though:
I wish I could create email folders on the iphone. It sees new folders I create on the PC, but I can't create on the iphone. Have to wait till I get home to create them.
I wish I could close/collapse folders. I have alot of folders. So, I'm having to scroll more and more as I create them. Collapsing them would clean things up quite a bit.
A new plus:
Finally found a game worth playing. Pocket Tanks. The free version is feature packed with MANY hours of replay in it. It's my new time killer. Simple to play (pick the angle/power and hit fire). But there are a handful of terrains you can pick from (flat, hills, valleys, etc) and 25 different ammo types to use. Reminds me of "Worms", which is $5 and might be the first game I actually buy.
#6: Ah, yes! I totally forgot about this! I use my phone a lot, but officially last month I only used 6 minutes of talk time and very little of my data plan. That's because everything it does through wifi doesn't count towards your totals at all (and isn't even tracked). When I'm at work it's on wifi. When I'm at home I'm on wifi. When I'm at the library or Kroger's or IHOP or McDonald's or Whataburger it's on wifi. There's wifi all over the darn place, and I use the heck out of that.Leisher wrote:6. If your Blackberry is on T-Mobile USA, it also offers unlimited WiFi calling from anywhere in the world.
7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.
8. Blackberry has removable and expandable battery. iPhone is fixed.
9. Blackberry allows programs to multitask. iPhone has limited multitasking.
19. All major instant messengers are available on Blackberry.
#7: Seriously? There's no port for a microSD card or anything like that on the iPhone? What the hell? Was it also carved from granite by cavemen? That's the most ignorant thing about the iPhone I've heard so far, and while I was previously somewhat interested this alone is enough to flip me from interest to contempt.
#8: And this would be the second most ignorant thing I've learned today about the iPhone. I bought four extra batteries for my BlackBerry (at $5 each). I've got a charged extra battery at home, one at work, one in my car, and one in my laptop case. I never plug in my phone; I swap batteries every two or three days and toss the dead one into my charger overnight. I can't imagine being forced to regularly tether a mobile device for power. That completely defeats the whole purpose of having a device be mobile.
#9: We have a new winner for most idiotic. Hell, the Commodore Amiga could multitask. Is the iPhone less powerful than a personal computer from almost 20 years ago?
#19: I recommend BeeJive, it can handle just about all of them and is pretty well designed.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"