Just got a blackberry few weeks ago..

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › Just got a blackberry few weeks ago..

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#185381 20-Nov-2015 14:02

It's a Q5, which while much cheaper isn't wildly different from the classic (classic has more storage, and the buttons, more premium materials).

Just wanted to say, BB10.3 is really good. Has all the gesture control of windows 10, only better (and what android tried badly at in lollipop) - the hub is fantastic, and even better, wifi syncing via link, and control of messaging and other functions via blend (you can text from your PC for example, or change settings) - well beyond android or windows.

The OS is responsive, you can sideload the play store and run 90% of android apps. The hard keys beat the heck out of the tiredsome touch screen typing (and for speed too I reckon). You can customize things a lot more in settings than android.

Put in down and it auto-sleeps, pick it up and it autowakes? Genius.

Honestly BB10.3 seems like a better OS.

Tap That - Great cheap tablets and tablet accessories. Windows and Android, NZ based

cdouble

91 posts

Master Geek

#1431769 20-Nov-2015 14:56

I have a Q5 too. I agree it's a great phone - especially for the price.

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1431776 20-Nov-2015 15:09

cdouble: I have a Q5 too. I agree it's a great phone - especially for the price.

It really is right now. Its basically the classic, minus a few things (storage being the most useful) - it still has that decent 2gb of ram - I got mine for $250 NZD, from a local supplier no less.

I was blown away by the sound quality listening to music. And the OS has been a joy. So glad I went BB, and Q5 right now is a great cheap way to get into it.

Tap That - Great cheap tablets and tablet accessories. Windows and Android, NZ based

Technofreak

6531 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1431999 20-Nov-2015 22:48

Sorry for hijacking the tread a little.

While I like a physical keyboard I'm not over keen on the format as used on the likes of the Q5. I have a Nokia E7 which I think has a good keyboard implementation. I know not all will agree.

I've been toying with the idea it would be nice to update from my my Nokia N9, trouble is I really like the Meego OS and nothing excites me in the iOS, Android or WP range of phones. I was keen on the Jolla phone but it doesn't properly support Sparks 3G frequencies. That leads me to thinking about a Blackberry, the Z30 has caught my eye.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the Z30?

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

zocster

1983 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1432068 21-Nov-2015 08:59

Technofreak: Sorry for hijacking the tread a little.

While I like a physical keyboard I'm not over keen on the format as used on the likes of the Q5. I have a Nokia E7 which I think has a good keyboard implementation. I know not all will agree.

I've been toying with the idea it would be nice to update from my my Nokia N9, trouble is I really like the Meego OS and nothing excites me in the iOS, Android or WP range of phones. I was keen on the Jolla phone but it doesn't properly support Sparks 3G frequencies. That leads me to thinking about a Blackberry, the Z30 has caught my eye.

Has anyone got any thoughts on the Z30?

For an all touch it is a solid phone, don't get a z10 battery will peev you off.

Other than that as OP stated, 10.3.2 is AWESOME out of the box. BlackBerry instead of ditching it and going Android. They should have fix up the basic apps, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and their main communications like WhatsApp, Viber. Fixing I mean put it on par with other platform.

Not everyone needs snapchat, they have other platform for that.

Andy Ghozali Geekzone Member	E: andy@ghozali.ru M: +64 21 395 458 A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
www.andy.mobi

Technofreak

6531 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1432129 21-Nov-2015 11:56

I don't need FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram. I don't need a plethora of apps

Things I use most are email, browser, calendar/organiser, world clock, music, camera, data sharing (WiFi hotspot) document reader and Maps with turn by turn nav. If I can have these I'd pretty well cover my needs. Skype or similar would be nice too.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

zocster

1983 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1432325 21-Nov-2015 16:56

skype you'd have to get off amazon app store, as they've left BB World. Maps, turn by turn hmmm, difficult to get the most up to date ones especially in Christchurch where building and new roads are coming in all the time ... there are ways to get sygic going on blackberry 10.

Andy Ghozali Geekzone Member	E: andy@ghozali.ru M: +64 21 395 458 A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
www.andy.mobi

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1432424 21-Nov-2015 20:59

Technofreak: I don't need FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram. I don't need a plethora of apps

Things I use most are email, browser, calendar/organiser, world clock, music, camera, data sharing (WiFi hotspot) document reader and Maps with turn by turn nav. If I can have these I'd pretty well cover my needs. Skype or similar would be nice too.

Most of that stuff is built in to BB10.

You can sideload android apps, by sideloading the google play store (go to crackberry, they have the instructions there, its pretty easy). Runs 90% of apps correctly. Unfortunately skype is one that doesn't quite run right - it does but it doesn't show your face via the camera for some reason.

There is however some BB video chat program, and probably others like VSEE may work.

Maps with turn by turn? Sure there is something that works. Might have to look around.

Hotspot? Easy. You can share drives, media stream, wifi sync, access the phone via wifi or bluetooth. BB is a very connected system.

Email works through BB hub - you can load multiple accounts in there, and its easy to set up.

Tap That - Great cheap tablets and tablet accessories. Windows and Android, NZ based

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Technofreak

6531 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1432431 21-Nov-2015 21:30

Dreal: Most of that stuff is built in to BB10.

You can sideload android apps, by sideloading the google play store (go to crackberry, they have the instructions there, its pretty easy). Runs 90% of apps correctly. Unfortunately skype is one that doesn't quite run right - it does but it doesn't show your face via the camera for some reason.

There is however some BB video chat program, and probably others like VSEE may work.

Maps with turn by turn? Sure there is something that works. Might have to look around.

Hotspot? Easy. You can share drives, media stream, wifi sync, access the phone via wifi or bluetooth. BB is a very connected system.

Email works through BB hub - you can load multiple accounts in there, and its easy to set up.

I don't use Skype on mobile all that often and not having a picture is not a major issue.

By "hotspot" I mean being able to share the phones data connection with another device like a tablet or laptop.

I suspect it's going to be hard to match the Here (Nokia) Maps and Here Drive apps that come pre installed on Nokias however I think there is now an Android version for Here so that may work.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1432449 21-Nov-2015 22:46

Yeah BB phones can create wi-fi hotspots.

Tap That - Great cheap tablets and tablet accessories. Windows and Android, NZ based

CalmStorm

36 posts

Geek

#1436653 28-Nov-2015 10:05

I've rejoined the BlackBerry ranks recently as well, having previously used a Z10, sold it last year, and re-purchased a Z10 again.

I was originally going to try for a Q10, but couldn't find a reasonably priced model that has both a pure English keyboard, and supports NZ/Aus/Euro LTE bands (SQN100-3). The bulk of SQN100-3s out there on eBay have a combination English-Arabic keyboard (despite their stock photos used for the ad) which looks rather crowded and I'm not sure if I'd like it.

Happy tapping away on a real physical keyboard!