[ This is an official Smartphone Round Robin post! Every day you reply to an official Round Robin blog post or forum thread on CrackBerry.com, you automatically gain an entry ballot for a chance to win a BlackBerry Bold, Spare Bold Battery, and Case Mate Second Skin! ]
Our G1-loving pal Casey Chan has now posted his final review of the BlackBerry Bold over at AndroidCentral.com. Earlier this week he posted his initial impressions video (which you can now watch above) which was pretty positive towards the BlackBerry Bold. In the spirit of the Round Robin, in his final review Casey gives the BlackBerry platform a little harder time...
I know it's being nitpicky and I might be at a loss here, but how do you get excited about the Blackberry OS? This current OS doesn't seem much different than last year's Curve (other than the facelift and better browser) and I just don't see the room for "potential" or how it can "grow". Sure, the Bold SPEEDS through tasks and is very, very efficient, but where is Blackberry headed?
From my brief use with Blackberry, and you can flame me in the comments if I'm wrong, but I didn't encounter any killer third party apps. There was nothing that I desperately needed to try, nothing amazingly innovative, and nothing to really challenge the platform to be better. In fact, it hardly felt like a platform at all. Anything notable that didn't come from RIM seemed like an imitation of something on another device.
OUCH. That stings Casey. What do you think CrackBerry Nation? Are we going to take that? Be sure to read Casey's full review and then post a comment. Leave it here if you want a chance to win a Bold or over at Android Central for a chance to win a G1 (which you could always sell and then buy yourself a Berry!).
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170 comments
Not for nothing, but the OS is how it is 'cause it works. Android is so young that there is going to be a time when you guys are going to hate the changes that have to happen to mature an OS.
Good Luck with that.
I would sure love boldl
I think although the remarks stung, they are pretty much true. I mean, the BB platform is pretty much perfected, and needs a major change up to be more innovative and to make room for further development. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Bold, but I would also love to see a 3rd party app that I couldn't live without. Come on RIM, time to step it up, the competition is getting pretty stiff out there!!
The Android is best left in StarWars...especially since it looks like they produced it in 1984
The OS simply works. That sums it up right there. When you need to get tasks done on your phone, the Blackberry is the standard.
Not everyone needs cool and innovative apps to be pleased. Some of us are boring and just like a device that is solid and a sure bet to get the job done efficiently. At least that's how it is for me.
Remember, quirky and cool don't always equal success. The G1 is okay, but for me and my tastes, it isn't user friendly enough. Then again, a touchscreen could never be for me.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion...but I will stay a crackberrier!!! =)
I kinda have to agree with Casey. While at this point I can't imagine life without my BB I can see where others see the platform heading in Palms direction.
I really like this Android guy. Wish he wasn't connected to such a crappy phone.
Few third party apps I use:
Jivetalk.. excellent, no complaints
Google Maps...
Garmin Mobile...
WeatherEye
Opera Mini (but I feel it's sooo much faster on Sony Ericsson for example)
I do feel a lack of 3rd party apps though...
Few third party apps I use:
Jivetalk.. excellent, no complaints
Google Maps...
Garmin Mobile...
WeatherEye
Opera Mini (but I feel it's sooo much faster on Sony Ericsson for example)
I do feel a lack of 3rd party apps though...
Sounds like jealousy to me...
I think the BB is the best OS. I think a few good apps is better then a ton of worthless apps. Jivetalk, SplashID, GoogleMaps are all good.
Not to mention the fact that the Bold's battery lasts more than a few hours... what's THAT all about???
Thats blackberry for you... its so simple its genius. It Does what ts supposed to and does it well without congesting useless shit on it.
Thats blackberry for you... its so simple its genius. It Does what ts supposed to and does it well without congesting useless shit on it.
wasnt logged in ^
I love my BB, and I think I will always have one.
third party apps?
oh, why dont you try windows mobile?
that's really killer
actually you never got quickluanch and tons of apps at the same time
loving the bold
Having come to BlackBerry from Palm-land, I'm tempted to agree. The BlackBerry OS is solid, and fast, and everything is organized well in a "there when you need it" kind of way, but the depth and quality of application support just aren't there. Everything is functional, but there's nothing that I love the way I loved DateBk4/5/6, ShadowPlan, yRPN -- even the memo-pad with the dedicated button and no "save" prompts was perfect. There are few great games, either, and you can't get anything for free. Lack of excitement I can understand. But hey, at least it works :)
I agree that although BB OS is pretty solid it lacks some innovation. I specially don't like G1 but I think the Android operating system is going to be huge since everything right know is moving to "the cloud" and who knows better the internet than Google. I think RIM should take notice and start working on developing a nice browser with a nice integration with the web and it's apps.
A google based touchscreen phone with a horible slide out or whatever you want to call it keyboard??? I'll take my Bold over a G-1 any day.
Blackberry Bold...Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
I never understand this .. what apps do you want to be excited? Apple runs plenty of ads showing apps and a good number of them are on Blackberry. I could careless about games .. I have a DS,Wii,360 etc for that.
My current favs:
Woldmate live (storm version)
SitorSquat
Xberry Live!
Blackberry411 (best lookup ever)
TeleNav (monthly cost but slick!)
Nobex Radio Companion
Documents to Go
AOL IM
Loopt
Facebook
MySpace
During the season I like the MLB.com app (RSN!)
What else do you need on a mobile device? I'd really like some feedback on what Blackberry lacks?
its tough givin a blackberry to people who r used to third party apps like g1 and iphone.. blackberrys dont have the best selections in dat department.. hopefully soon!!
give me a break...
This guy misses the crack... and only proves that he doesn't have a clue.
blackberry is the handset that goes and does in a variety of situations while the others are glorified toys.
Of course he doesn't get it. He had to stop playing with his toy and step up to the real workhorse. When he's ready to grow up blackberry will be waiting.
and when the workday is done, there's plenty to play with.
lcg...
I'm sure Santa is a Crackberry addict, what with having to keep up with all those naughty and nice list, toy production schedules and of course Mrs. Clause. Please St. Nick bring me a BB Bold for Christmas!
bold and the beautiful....love the screen, os, keyboard, everything about it......need it need it want it want it.....love it lol i want it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The screen on that bad boy just looks ridiculously awesome....that would be enough to make just buy one if I could. I'm not crazy about the theme it comes with, but bitching about a theme seems pointless. I really love how fast the Bold seems....very impressive.
Pretty good review of the Bold I think. However, it's hard to expect a non BB user to really understand the way of life of a BB user. Touch screens are cool, but their not for everyone. Let's not forget that the BB following was built on the qwerty keyboard and trackball. I would personally have the same trouble going to the Storm as the reviewer of the Bold did with using the trackball. To each his own but I am blackberry for life!
it's a good review, but the same could be said about the G1. and at least he admitted to being a bit nitpicky.
Although I am a crackberry addict, I do understand what he is saying. I carry an iPhone as well and constantly find myself going to google maps, yelp, and yp mobile to find businesses, restaurants, etc over the apps made for the blackberry. For some reason the yellow pages app on the the Bold never works and beyond 411 still does not function with gps, despite it being made to do so (didn't on the curve either for that matter).
So when it comes to apps, yes, the Bold does fall behind to other devices. But for everything phone and messaging wise, nothing touches the Bold. Nothing. That's why I feel the Bold coupled with the iPhone is the perfect package - each picks up where the other leaves off.
That was harsh!! Even though Blackberry is still selling better than G1
I still want a BOLD, PLEASE
I had a treo and it would do everything but bark. But the more complicated the OS, the more issues it has. The reason that I switched to Blackberries is because they seem to always work. For all the glory of the Iphone and G1 there are complications. I say a slow, steady, STABLE, growth, beats a run it to a new thing that has to be troubleshooted daily. ((Stable and new and usefull is always the holy grail))....I fell off the soap box...l8r.
I find this comment interesting because what it really says about the Blackberry "experience":
"There was nothing that I desperately needed to try, nothing amazingly innovative, and nothing to really challenge the platform to be better."
That captures the essence of the Blackberry for me, and I'm willing to bet for many users who have never even thought about it before: I just want a smartphone that works. Fetch my mail, contacts, calendar, notes, and tasks; top flight communications (good reception, clear audio at both ends, voice dialing), decent media players.
I've run on the bleeding edge with WinMobile devices and the iPhone, and frankly tired of the compromise in basic features (cut & paste anyone?). I don't want to challenge the platform, and I don't want it challenging me.
That's the ticket.
"I don't want to challenge the platform, and I don't want it challenging me."
While the iphone and G1 are innnovative platforms, they have a long way to go to reach the efficiency and reliability that Blackberry has been known for. I'm sure RIM is working on the next phase in their OS, but they know as well as anyone that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. They will once again astound us with their innovation when the time is right. RIM has never been a follower and will continue to lead while everyone else is still trying to gain their bearings.
I love my BOLD.
Great review, the blackberry OS could certainly be freshened up (no threaded messaging? cmon blackberry). The second RIM gets satisfied with status quo, they will become palm. I hope apple and android push RIM to get more aggressive with their OS in future updates
I'm sure no one for the other bogs is going to give a full on raving review of another device simply because the platform is something they are not used to and there will be things they don't like that people who use the platform on a routine basis have either learned to love or learned to live with.
They have a point with the OS having possibly run its course without a major revamp. I must admit I've only been a BB user for less than a month, and I like my BB Storm, but I would like a trackball and the expandability and evolution of an open source OS like android does pique my interest.
I think most people are in love with the idea of having new platforms to choose from. (People were in love with the idea of the Yugo too!) When it's all said and done, the BB platform will always be solid, true and as fresh as you want it to be. A BB user can make their device very unique or simply mainstream. These other platforms are like taking a vacation, it's nice to visit, but you don't want to live there!
I want a bold.. even though its not on my network.. :(
Everyone admits email is the thing BlackBerries do best.
that's a little harsh...but I suppose it's a somewhat valid point. Let's see how the BB app store equivalent turns out...
Yeah see I wasnt all too disappointed with the "lack" of 3rd party apps because I don't use my phone to entertain me. I use it for the sole purpose of productivity. No other device has ever kept me as organized and "in the loop" as my BB's.
Long Live Crackberry!!!
I love the Blackberry OS, at least it doesn't restart everytime i type 'reboot'
I had AT&T in high school, stupid me for switching to VZW for the shared minutes @ the time...Geez, I am an idiot...
I also prefer the blackberry system because of how stable and always working it is. I have never had a problem with my phone since i moved to blackberry but the only thing i need is a new bold!! As for the app situation, i don't need my phone to keep me busy, i keep busy because of what my phone does for me on the go. the last thing i want is to be counterproductive with more and more useless applications rather than the ones that most people can agree are important like the device being a phone first.
Eh, I still want one.
how can a os that works perfectly fine be the problem? when something works you don't change it. you don't fix what isn't broken. lastly seems the only reason you find fault with the bold simply for its lack of touchscreen. the only reason you really say that is cause you came from a device with a touch screen. the bb works just as great with or without a touchscreen. the touchscreen doesn't make scrolling through the webpage any easier than pressing the shortcuts.
I think Casey had a very valid point. As much as I love my Blackberry and while it works rather straight-forwardly as a smartphone should, you get the feeling the BBOS is just facelift upon facelift of the almost now-primitive OS from yesteryear.
I actually thought by now, RIM would have overhauled their OS completely with the Bold and all that came after it, but I can see their hesitance, as BB tied into so many secure corporate processes; you'd have to do a lot of work to ensure full backwards compatibility.
Why does RIM need to reinvent the wheel?
Who cares if the OS hasn't been revolutionized!? The hardware is the main thing that concerns me. With the Bold, its like you're holding a little laptop in your hand...a laptop that has GPS, a phone and a sexy leather back.
With the upgraded processor and onboard memory, this thing is literally a machine when it comes to getting stuff done...from what I've heard at least.
The software can be VERY easily improved and upgraded. Just think of how many improvements there have been from OS 4.2 to 4.5. Thats the best part of owning a BlackBerry, it takes a while for it to be totally obsolete cause you can keep on upgrading the software. My beloved Pearl has been great to me for 2 years now..but its time for an upgrade....BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BOLD!
Seems like the BBOS already does everything I need, not really sure what else needs to be in there. As far as the "killer app" goes, i think its the fact that its a Blackberry. Its the push E-mail and BBM, it just works no matter what. The e-mail is what drove me to Blackberry, BBM is just gravy (really good gravy that is.)
Not that I'm against Android, I'd like to see it live up to the "potential" it has. I just don't buy a device based on potential, but on what is there now.