Back to iPhone 3G

[dtmfjunkie]

I've been a blackberry user since 1997, more than 10 years. I switched to the iPhone 3G last month, it was my gadget fix until the Bold was released. On Friday I switched back to a new Bold, however, I spent all day yesterday trying to find apps that I was using on iPhone. This made me realize that what I really need to be using is the iPhone.

Apps like Twinkle, Omnifocus...and the browser, how can you compare. When I'm not sending emails on the blackberrry, I'm browsing, and the browser just sucks on the Bold, it's just too slow! Yes, there are alternatives and work arounds like Shozu, but that's really what they are, workarounds to the fact that new developers are exponentially flocking to the iPhone platform.

As for email integration, I use Exchange Push on the iPhone, no need for BES and it's seamless integration with Exchange Server -- and also super fast!

The bottom line is applications, the email and keyboard argument is slowing disappearing. Typing on the v2 of iPhone software is great, the auto-correction is almost perfect, and at times makes typing faster on the iPhone (remember 10 years of iPhone experience here). Once Apple releases notification service for applications, look out.

If Blackberry wants to survive, the only answer will be an Application Store type application with a lot of FREE and good applications.

...just my two cents.

[TroyDBrown]

*** Moved to Rants and Raves ***

[NJBlackBerry]

Just wondering - is battery life not an issue? It's a killer for me...

[Dawg]

how about cut copy and paste, or running multiple apps at the same time?

[NJBlackBerry]

Here's my list of apps from the App Store:
- iPipes (the old pipes game from Windows)
- Roulette
- Facebook
- Bloomberg
- NY Times
- Phone Saber (killer app, if you know what I mean)
- Currency translator
- Weatherbug
- Sol Free
- Google

I must be missing the place where the great applications are. None of these are crucial..

[dasunst3r]

10 years of iPhone experience? Did you have a time machine, by any chance? :P

[dtmfjunkie]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Just wondering - is battery life not an issue? It's a killer for me...

I hate to say it, but the Bold battery in 3G is not that great. I was getting a day with Wifi and 3G, which is pretty much the same as the iPhone.

As for copy/paste, yes, that is definitely a missing feature -- but I'm sure it will be addressed.

There are definitely better things with the blackberry, I'm not debating that.

My point is that most developers will lean toward wherever they will hit the most potential. Right now, the iPhone has the inertia - and the best applications, whether functional or not, are being developed for the iPhone.

Maybe what the Blackberry needs is a site like iphonexe

where people can see the potential of applications available. Most on this forum are "advanced" blackberry users and are able to find the applications they need, the common user will not. And hence adoption rates of the blackberries for consumers will just keep decreasing as the ease of finding and installing application becomes easier and better on platforms like iPhone and upcoming Android.

The other thing I find is that most blackberry application sites like blackberrycool, crackberry, etc. are in for the advertising and commission money, they don't promote free applications as much as they do paid ones.

[DacyJ]

Wirelessly posted (By Super Blackberry)

So what are you doing with the Bold?

[ezrunner]

nice dacy

[dtmfjunkie]

Wirelessly posted

Went back to best buy for refund.

[Johnny909]

Yes, this was an interesting read. I do not have an iphone or bold, have curve, and I do not spend time out on the internet. So most of the things you discussed aren't real relevant to me, but all was very interesting. Good stuff.

[cl2ysta1]

i have a curve, and this is my first smartphone if you will. I am totally unimpressed with the browser and dont use it very often. The main reason that I got this phone was for internet capabilites and it cannot even show picture attachments, and the webpages always come up lookking HORRIBLE.

[NJBlackBerry]

Originally Posted by dtmfjunkie

My point is that most developers will lean toward wherever they will hit the most potential. Right now, the iPhone has the inertia - and the best applications, whether functional or not, are being developed for the iPhone.

I guess my point was you can have all the useless, stupid applications (PhoneSaber) in the world generating buzz (and no profits) and it really doesn't make the iPhone any better..

Web browser - great.
Attachment viewing - great.
E-mail - fair.
Battery life - beating a dead horse.

Cut and Paste (and no tasks) are not overly important. Both can be added with software releases (rumored that 2.1 will have C&P)

The e-mail functionality should be better. If you have more than one Inbox, getting from one to the other is way too cumbersome.

It reminds me of a 5810...

[ArgonNJ]

Originally Posted by cl2ysta1

i have a curve, and this is my first smartphone if you will. I am totally unimpressed with the browser and dont use it very often. The main reason that I got this phone was for internet capabilites and it cannot even show picture attachments, and the webpages always come up lookking HORRIBLE.

There is no comparison to the iphone browser. Its the single most thing that I miss.

[holden]

Originally Posted by ArgonNJ

There is no comparison to the iphone browser. Its the single most thing that I miss.

You guys got time to browse? Dang.... I must be working too hard. Email and phone run it for me...

[n3kuh]

I'd understand why you'd want an iphone.

YouTube - iPhone vs BlackBerry Bold

I mean in 3G the browsing is faster by a couple of seconds. But eventually RIM will come out with a new OS to match or make it's browsing a bit faster. Good luck with your iPhone and typing on it. That's the one thing I hate most.

BB4LYFE xD

[ptukhar]

Originally Posted by n3kuh

I'd understand why you'd want an iphone.

YouTube - iPhone vs BlackBerry Bold

I mean in 3G the browsing is faster by a couple of seconds. But eventually RIM will come out with a new OS to match or make it's browsing a bit faster. Good luck with your iPhone and typing on it. That's the one thing I hate most.

BB4LYFE xD

Same here I had a Curve and then a 3G iphone and then back to my trusty curve... Typing on the iphone blows majors chunks and not to mention the lag in SMS texting...... Don;t get me wrong, the iphone is amazing for browsing, but as a phone, not so good in my opinion... And to really use it to it full potential one has to jailbreak it...

[ArgonNJ]

Originally Posted by n3kuh

I'd understand why you'd want an iphone.

YouTube - iPhone vs BlackBerry Bold

I mean in 3G the browsing is faster by a couple of seconds. But eventually RIM will come out with a new OS to match or make it's browsing a bit faster. Good luck with your iPhone and typing on it. That's the one thing I hate most.

BB4LYFE xD

You missed the point. Sure the iphone is a bit faster in 3G, but that's not why is superior. The whole experience is better. Better scrolling, zooming, rendering, you name it. Even though RIM is improving, its not quite as easy using the track ball as it is with the touch screen. I'm very curious how RIM's browser will work with their upcoming Storm device. As for now, though, the iphone beats everything when it come to browsing.

[NJBlackBerry]

And yet, in our internal pilot here, it has been a VERY mixed experience. Very few have given up their BBs; and several have put the iPhones in their desk. Can't get to internal web sites. BATTERY LIFE.

[rjw3000]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Here's my list of apps from the App Store:
- iPipes (the old pipes game from Windows)
- Roulette
- Facebook
- Bloomberg
- NY Times
- Phone Saber (killer app, if you know what I mean)
- Currency translator
- Weatherbug
- Sol Free
- Google

I must be missing the place where the great applications are. None of these are crucial..

Just curious, did you pay for any of those? And for the original poster, have you bought any apps?

Nothing is more overhyped than this app store IMO, except maybe the phone itself. I listen to a podcast called Cranky Geeks and they will have on guests who are iPhone users. Inevitably they get to talking up the app store after talking about a useless app they have and the host always asks if they've bought anything. They always say no. But they have loads of free apps installed, mostly of the mindless, useless variety.

[rjw3000]

If I was RIM, I would just use the webkit browser and it would make the only really good argument for having the iPhone over BB pretty much nil.

[NJBlackBerry]

Why would I pay for something I don't need?
App Store is overhyped by the fanboys (lemmings).

[juwaack68]

Interesting read.

Glad you found the device that you like. Personally I think the iPhone is a toy. I've had one for a few weeks, and have been using it side by side with my BB.

The web browsing is good (if you can get a decent signal or wifi connection - which I could not over the weekend), but that's about it.

[audit]

Originally Posted by dtmfjunkie

I've been a blackberry user since 1997, more than 10 years.

Originally Posted by dasunst3r

10 years of iPhone experience? Did you have a time machine, by any chance? :P

Looks to me like the OP said 10 years of Blackberry Experience.

[ezrunner]

I believe you are correct Audit

[test54]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Why would I pay for something I don't need?

lol, my genius quote of the day. You must be real fun at parties & vacations.
But really, the app store has basically fun apps and the very specific apps that are aimed at a very small segment. I would say that the selection is getting much better as time goes on. The idea of the app store is the hyped idea and you don't need to be a lemming to see that it has been a success, just look at Tmo - Google - and the others to come that are getting in on opening their own app stores. It just makes sense.

I currently have both models and am deciding whether to keep the 3G or go back to the old one.

[NJBlackBerry]

Last week in Business Week they gave the Pros and Cons of the iPhone.

Typical cons - battery, cut and paste, tasks/notes, etc.
Pros - the App store

It's only a success if people BUY the applications. I'm sorry. I don't think thousands of people loading Facebook makes it a success..

[test54]

plenty of developers making money - plenty of press on that the last month or so.

[rjw3000]

Originally Posted by test54

lol, my genius quote of the day. You must be real fun at parties & vacations.
But really, the app store has basically fun apps and the very specific apps that are aimed at a very small segment. I would say that the selection is getting much better as time goes on. The idea of the app store is the hyped idea and you don't need to be a lemming to see that it has been a success, just look at Tmo - Google - and the others to come that are getting in on opening their own app stores. It just makes sense.

I currently have both models and am deciding whether to keep the 3G or go back to the old one.

Facebook is a success, but does it make money? I don't know why companies nowadays always jump at things thinking they are missing out on the next big thing, I haven't seen anything to make me think an app store is going to be huge for anybody, unless they consider freebies and cheaply priced games a success.

[NJBlackBerry]

They've forgotten the Internet Bubble.

[test54]

More App Store sales figures - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
after the first month.

People are making money and the app are getting better. I honestly do not see it as anything but a success.
rjw, I agree with your facebook statement but they they (founders) are making money and to me thats a success. Far different than the bubble days where venture funds simply kept coming yet there were no profits.

[NJBlackBerry]

That's what is great about open discource - we can disagree and no one gets hurt

It's like how the iPhone 3G costs less than the original iPhone. Lower the price, but increase the monthly fee. Two years later, you've paid more. Smoke and mirrors.

I believe NOTHING that is said about Apple sales, pricing, or the App Store. Smoke and mirrors.

Now, where is my Phone Saber. Shoot; forgot to charge the iPhone this morning.

[Johnny909]

Yes, one MEGA store for all Blackberry/RIM apps --- and, an up-to-date interface and indexing system. I would go there, and perhaps buy something, or at least check out the freebies, hahahahaha
Later dude

[NJBlackBerry]

Free Themes
Free Ringtones
Free Dumb

[jletendre]

I have to agree with NJB ..

In the enterprise (over 3000 mobile device users here) we had a lot of demand and bought 20 iphones (10 from last year, 10 3G) and passed them around to the power users. Half have been returned for all the noted issues and the others mostly use it as a web browsing / music device not really the best way to spend the company budget but executives can get away with that.

The apps that make money are mostly consumer based, which is the market for the Iphone .. it's got a long way to go to be anything in the enterprise.

[test54]

most people in here seems to think that apple is going after enterprise. Yes they did add exchange and some other features to make it more appealing to that crowd but it has always been a consumer device. To expect that the app store would be focused on enterprise would be crazy imo. They will sell to whomever wants the device but as everyone knows it is excellent at media and browsing, two very consumer activities.
Now adding tons of games will only enhance that for many.

NJB I agree that you cannot trust sales numbers from apple any more than from any other company really. However if it was a failure then others would not be investing resources into opening competitors.

I agree also that good open discourse is always nice.

[DallasFlier]

Originally Posted by dtmfjunkie

the best applications, whether functional or not, are being developed for the iPhone.

ROFLMAO! Now there's a fun statement from an iPhone supporter if I ever heard one! The best non-functional applications out there, huh?

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

I guess my point was you can have all the useless, stupid applications (PhoneSaber) in the world generating buzz (and no profits) and it really doesn't make the iPhone any better..

Yep!

And to paraphrase, "its the phone, stupid!" The basic PHONE reception and therefore its functionality and usability SUCKS in comparison to modern BB's. If you could care less about your cellphone being a PHONE first, then I guess no problem. But for me the number one app on my BlackBerry is STILL the PHONE, and will be for the foreseeable future!

[test54]

I guess we all have our opinions, phone works great for me on both models. no issues.

[Dawg]

Originally Posted by DallasFlier

And to paraphrase, "its the phone, stupid!" The basic PHONE reception and therefore its functionality and usability SUCKS in comparison to modern BB's. If you could care less about your cellphone being a PHONE first, then I guess no problem. But for me the number one app on my BlackBerry is STILL the PHONE, and will be for the foreseeable future!

Agree 100% if the phone dont work what use is it?

[DallasFlier]

Originally Posted by test54

I guess we all have our opinions, phone works great for me on both models. no issues.

I'm honestly glad its working well for you, but its not just my opinion. Surely you've read the widespread complaints about reception though.

I haven't yet been around someone with one of the new 3g models, but as I've mentioned here before, had 3 separate occasions on the road with colleagues, where I had perfectly usable reception on my 8310 (AT&T) at times and in places where their reception was so poor they were unable to place a call. Since we were both on the same carrier, the ONLY variable was in the phones themselves, and the BlackBerry was clearly the superior performer, by a lot.

I imagine in good reception areas you'll have no issues at all, but in the marginal areas, there are obviously places where marginal spells "usable" for the BlackBerry and "unusable" for the iPhone. Had I not been beside the colleagues with my BlackBerry, I'm sure the assumption in all three cases would have simply been "bad coverage" instead of "bad phone" so its quite likely that the marginal reception issues are actually under-reported.