Does anyone have experience with both BBSmart Email Viewer and Empower HTML Mail Viewer? I was going to purchase Empower HTML Mail Viewer, and when I clicked the link to purchase on device, a screen came up offering both products. I looked at the mobihand.com website to compare the two, and I don't see much difference, other than one is $24.99 and the other is $9.99. Thanks for your help!

There was quite a lengthy comparison thread a few months ago...might provide some feeback for you:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/afte...sons-here.html

Thanks - this is helpful. They seem to be pretty similar. What I don't understand is why mobihand.com tries to sell me both programs! There is an option to remove either of them from the shopping cart, but still . . .

I have tried both and decided to buy Empower. They both do the same thing but Empower seems to be faster. It's also $9.99. I'm very happy with my purchase. I should have found this program long ago.

Empower just came out with a Pro version and since you already have the standard version, your can upgrade for a small fee. Its well worth the upgrade

I agree. I am waiting for my upgrade info so I can register the Pro version. The e-mail pops right up so quickly. Very nice application.

yep, i am still waiting for email also.

I think smart view is the best more custmizable and seems to be faster than empower but thats just me.

My two cents...I have BBSmart, wife has Empower Pro, used both on my Pearl.

The three areas I'll comment on are:

Speed: Empower Pro - Has the edge...loads and allows you to begin reading quicker.

Email formatting: BBSmart - Formatting of emails is better, though Empower Pro does look good as well. (Subjective, I know, but my wife agrees w/me on this, so I know it's true. )

Graphics handling: Empower Pro - Allows loading graphics in-line while you are reading the email...you don't have to wait for them to load in groups as w/BBSmart

There are other difference in features & functions, but in daily use the areas above are the ones that have the biggest impact on me (and I suspect on most folks).

If I was going to purchase again (I bought BBSmart a few weeks ago before the new Empower Pro was available) I'd likely go w/Empower. I don't like how it formats the emails as much as BBSmart, but the speed and in-line graphics loading make Empower an overall superior experience to me. My wife bought Empower Pro last night for her Pearl, and is very happy with it.

The price of both can seem a bit steep, but if you're getting HTML email on your BB (and who isn't these days?!) they make reading those emails a completely different and much improved experience.

I prefer Empower, but the best decision is made by trialling both products, and choosing for yourself.

What I would REALLY prefer is for BlackBerry to finally deal with the reality that HTML mail exists, and their customers deserve to have the option of receiving it without it first being mutilated by BlackBerry's servers.

I dunno. I kinda like the way the blackberry does this right now. I don't mind a 3rd party app. It let's me decide if I want HTML or not. There is something to be said for a fast system that cuts through all the bull in our email boxes these days.

Why is everyone trying to send me HTML in the first place? Virtually all of it is spam. It's a mobile device after all. I'm honestly not looking for a full blown computer. I'm looking for pretty much what the BB does now. Present things in a mobile way.

A little HTML is useful for quoting text in different colors, etc. But I think HTML mail just serves the spammers more than anything else. I like the way this software shows me links, and cleans up the mess of a BB parsed email. But I like it as an add on. I know it sounds crazy, but there it is.

What I would really like to see is someone come out with more specific mobile interfaces for the world wide web. Like being able to go to forums and see the list of posts much the way we see email headers in the blackberry now. So it's fast, efficient, and very simply to use on a mobile device. WAP sites, even this one, could be much more tailed to blackberry use directly from the BlackBerry. With so many mobile devices in use, I'm kind of shocked that all we have is the basic WAP stuff. Surely we can do better there. Menus on the phone with options like, reply, quote, etc. so that interacting with a mobile site is a lot like using a software app on the mobile device.

-Alex

i have paid for and used both, Empower Pro is my choice, i like BBSmart a lot, but the new version of Empower just edges it for me.

However don't lose sight of the fact that they are both fantastic pieces of software, and both are worthwhile additions to any BB.

This is EXACTly what I've been whining about to RIM for some time now. I'd almost expect them to give us native HTML email support simply to shut me up. How about including it in a future OS release? Have the option to receive HTML email off by default but ready for the user to turn it on if he so chooses.

amen Rambo amen! Let us make the choice!

Empower pro has the edge now but I expect BBSmart will be releasing an upgrade soon. They are both good and the competition benefits the end user.

I use BBSmart and trialed Empower back in October.... then BBSmart edged it out for me with the formatting. Now Empower looks real solid and much improved. I am sure that BBSmart will be sending a new version down the line soon, so I will wait and see that before jumping over to Empower.
But they are both great apps and fill a HUGE void I think!