Comments on: The challenge for BlackBerry http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 22:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: signsofrain http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1645779 signsofrain Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1645779 I can see the headlines now: "Thousands poisoned by high-tech nail polish contaminated with heavy metals. China implicated." I can see the headlines now: “Thousands poisoned by high-tech nail polish contaminated with heavy metals. China implicated.”

]]> By: Sasha K-S http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1645199 Sasha K-S Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1645199 Please fix the link, so we can all see what a complete and utter douchebag this guy is. A phone that just launched last week has less apps available than iPhone? You don't say... Please fix the link, so we can all see what a complete and utter douchebag this guy is.

A phone that just launched last week has less apps available than iPhone? You don’t say…

]]> By: Christopher Houser http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1645146 Christopher Houser Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1645146 Sadly, the art of QWERTY keyboards is becoming lost. I just got a replacement for my old phone and the keys have less travel and less tactile feedback than they did before. Keys should be damn clicky, so you know by feel when you hit it. Even on those little thumb keyboards I should never find myself looking at where my thumbs are located, or checking to see if a key registered. I should be able to type full sentences with my eyes closed. What happened to that? Sadly, the art of QWERTY keyboards is becoming lost. I just got a replacement for my old phone and the keys have less travel and less tactile feedback than they did before. Keys should be damn clicky, so you know by feel when you hit it. Even on those little thumb keyboards I should never find myself looking at where my thumbs are located, or checking to see if a key registered. I should be able to type full sentences with my eyes closed.

What happened to that?

]]> By: Daniel Ewing http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1644565 Daniel Ewing Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1644565 Maybe 6 months ago Brian Lam's round up of LED light bulbs erroneously included a CFL he labeled as an LED.  It was clear that whatever 'research' he had done for the piece didn't really involve purchasing or using any of the bulbs.  His name will forever stick in my head as a hack reviewer, and a lazy compiler of information. Lam might know a lot of things, but as someone who quite confidently thinks (and claims) he knows more than he does, he's not to be trusted for an honest review of anything. Maybe 6 months ago Brian Lam’s round up of LED light bulbs erroneously included a CFL he labeled as an LED.  It was clear that whatever ‘research’ he had done for the piece didn’t really involve purchasing or using any of the bulbs.  His name will forever stick in my head as a hack reviewer, and a lazy compiler of information.
Lam might know a lot of things, but as someone who quite confidently thinks (and claims) he knows more than he does, he’s not to be trusted for an honest review of anything.

]]> By: Missy Pants http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1644348 Missy Pants Sat, 02 Feb 2013 04:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1644348 OMG million dollar idea! Capacitive nailpolish! OMG million dollar idea! Capacitive nailpolish!

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1644317 Paul Renault Sat, 02 Feb 2013 03:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1644317  Amen here too.  I so miss my BB keyboard.  I have the same experience you had.  The friggin' spellchecker on my company-issued iPhone drives me crazy - especially when I have to reply in French.  I've tried using the iPhone with the spellchecker off, but it's impossible, because I make so many typing mistakes without (I have large hands, big fingers). I have to type a lot of part numbers, composed of letters and numbers.  Also, I like using punctuation - which is a pain to do on the on-screen KB.   Amen here too.  I so miss my BB keyboard.  I have the same experience you had. 

The friggin’ spellchecker on my company-issued iPhone drives me crazy – especially when I have to reply in French.  I’ve tried using the iPhone with the spellchecker off, but it’s impossible, because I make so many typing mistakes without (I have large hands, big fingers).

I have to type a lot of part numbers, composed of letters and numbers.  Also, I like using punctuation – which is a pain to do on the on-screen KB. 

]]> By: khangt1 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1644149 khangt1 Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1644149 There's an updated post where Brian *does* go into detail here: http://thewirecutter.com/2013/01/new-blackberry-new-blackberry/ There’s an updated post where Brian *does* go into detail here: http://thewirecutter.com/2013/01/new-blackberry-new-blackberry/

]]> By: vonbobo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643995 vonbobo Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643995 I miss my keyboard very much so (I'm a slider fan). Swype like inputs and voice to text are surprisingly good, but still not quite there yet. My current phone is sans physical keyboard, simply because the current slider models are under powered (for me) or running manufacturer crapware that I detest. I could have made one particular model work, but it was just as much of a brick as my 3 year old phone. Perhaps a bluetooth keyboard that snaps onto the back of a phone would be interesting? I think the biggest problem is low sales for physical keyboard phones, combined with compromising many of the other key features of a phone- dimensions, weight, screen size, etc. I miss my keyboard very much so (I’m a slider fan). Swype like inputs and voice to text are surprisingly good, but still not quite there yet.

My current phone is sans physical keyboard, simply because the current slider models are under powered (for me) or running manufacturer crapware that I detest.

I could have made one particular model work, but it was just as much of a brick as my 3 year old phone. Perhaps a bluetooth keyboard that snaps onto the back of a phone would be interesting?

I think the biggest problem is low sales for physical keyboard phones, combined with compromising many of the other key features of a phone- dimensions, weight, screen size, etc.

]]> By: technogeekagain http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643969 technogeekagain Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643969 Blackberry and Palm are the only ones which got the core PDA functions -- calendar, contacts, notepad and phone -- absolutely right and integrated. If that's what you want, iPhone simply can't do it due to the high firewalls between applications, and even finding *isolated* implementations which are as streamlined as the Blackberry or Palm is an uphill battle. And some of us do enter enough text that thumb typing -- without relying on iPhone-style autocorrect and all its embarassing flaws -- is a significant improvement. Again, that's the business users. And Blackberry pulled ahead when they started offering business-level security. Maybe Android can be configured to this level of functionality. iPhone can't, and as it's architected never will. (Yes, I'm still using a Palm Treo. It does what I need well. I'd _like_ to do all the fancy newer stuff, but I'm not about to upgrade until it *IS* an upgrade across the board.) Blackberry and Palm are the only ones which got the core PDA functions — calendar, contacts, notepad and phone — absolutely right and integrated. If that’s what you want, iPhone simply can’t do it due to the high firewalls between applications, and even finding *isolated* implementations which are as streamlined as the Blackberry or Palm is an uphill battle.

And some of us do enter enough text that thumb typing — without relying on iPhone-style autocorrect and all its embarassing flaws — is a significant improvement. Again, that’s the business users.

And Blackberry pulled ahead when they started offering business-level security.

Maybe Android can be configured to this level of functionality. iPhone can’t, and as it’s architected never will.

(Yes, I’m still using a Palm Treo. It does what I need well. I’d _like_ to do all the fancy newer stuff, but I’m not about to upgrade until it *IS* an upgrade across the board.)

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643937 Matthew Petty Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643937 Or get capacitittititive nails. Metallic polish? Or get capacitittititive nails. Metallic polish?

]]> By: madopal http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643938 madopal Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643938 Amen.  And that's the thing with Blackberry.  I had an original Crackberry pager around the Dot Bomb era, and when you could thumb type with those things...it was almost better than sex.   No touch screen ever has approached that level of input.  They're just too imprecise and lack any real feedback.  And the newer phone keyboards got it all wrong.  They scrunched the keys so close together that it was impossible to only hit one key.  Someone should go back and study that keyboard the next time they think about doing a phone keyboard.  If there's no space between the keys, and no way to hold it so you can thumb type, it's pointless. Amen.  And that’s the thing with Blackberry.  I had an original Crackberry pager around the Dot Bomb era, and when you could thumb type with those things…it was almost better than sex.  

No touch screen ever has approached that level of input.  They’re just too imprecise and lack any real feedback.  And the newer phone keyboards got it all wrong.  They scrunched the keys so close together that it was impossible to only hit one key.  Someone should go back and study that keyboard the next time they think about doing a phone keyboard.  If there’s no space between the keys, and no way to hold it so you can thumb type, it’s pointless.

]]> By: imag http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643918 imag Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643918 Keyboards are excellent input devices for the written word.  Touchscreens are not.  When I switched to a touchscreen phone, my ability to communicate was reduced.  Instead of being able to easily draft professional email messages at over 40 WPM, I was time-limited to 1-3 line responses.  Almost everyone I know who has switched has admitted that their ability and willingness to draft content has vastly reduced. And for this, the tradeoff is more screen real estate to watch movies, etc.  I really don't get it.  I can't believe people who have had keyboards are so blase about losing them. Keyboards are excellent input devices for the written word.  Touchscreens are not.  When I switched to a touchscreen phone, my ability to communicate was reduced.  Instead of being able to easily draft professional email messages at over 40 WPM, I was time-limited to 1-3 line responses.  Almost everyone I know who has switched has admitted that their ability and willingness to draft content has vastly reduced.

And for this, the tradeoff is more screen real estate to watch movies, etc.  I really don’t get it.  I can’t believe people who have had keyboards are so blase about losing them.

]]> By: Jorpho http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643915 Jorpho Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643915  Though "New Blackberry? Ew, Blackberry" would be a compelling article title.  Though “New Blackberry? Ew, Blackberry” would be a compelling article title.

]]> By: Quiche de Resistance http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643908 Quiche de Resistance Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643908 Yeah, nobody ever bought an iPhone because they "have emotional and cultural reasons to love" it. Yeah, nobody ever bought an iPhone because they “have emotional and cultural reasons to love” it.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643868 C W Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643868 Right, resistive screens were a much poorer technology, a $5 stylus (or keeping the thumbnails trimmed down more) would do her far better if she were to stick with touchscreens. Right, resistive screens were a much poorer technology, a $5 stylus (or keeping the thumbnails trimmed down more) would do her far better if she were to stick with touchscreens.

]]> By: Nell Anvoid http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643867 Nell Anvoid Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643867 Funny...that's how I feel about iPhone loyalists. The difference is that BlackBerry fans tend not to be as mindlessly snide. Just saying... Funny…that’s how I feel about iPhone loyalists. The difference is that BlackBerry fans tend not to be as mindlessly snide.

Just saying…

]]> By: Michael Langford http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643843 Michael Langford Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643843 Fingernails are something I hear over and over and over again.  Apple needs to release a non-toxic clear coat nail polish that is electrically conductive. I am not at all kidding here. Fingernails are something I hear over and over and over again. 

Apple needs to release a non-toxic clear coat nail polish that is electrically conductive. I am not at all kidding here.

]]> By: signsofrain http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643830 signsofrain Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643830 Ladies with long fingernails just need something with a resistive instead of a capacitive touchscreen. All the old Palm devices had resistive touch sensing,  you could tap things on the screen with the tip of your nail. Or you could always get a capacitive touchscreen-compatible stylus. Ladies with long fingernails just need something with a resistive instead of a capacitive touchscreen. All the old Palm devices had resistive touch sensing,  you could tap things on the screen with the tip of your nail.

Or you could always get a capacitive touchscreen-compatible stylus.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643831 C W Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643831 Drag queens tend to use the same iPhones and Androids that the rest of society use. Drag queens tend to use the same iPhones and Androids that the rest of society use.

]]> By: noahd http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643816 noahd Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643816 All of you dude-centric gadget geeks should at least try to realize that touch screens will not work (easily) for you if you’re a woman with long fingernails...or a drag queen...not that there’s anything wrong with that! All of you dude-centric gadget geeks should at least try to realize that touch screens will not work (easily) for you if you’re a woman with long fingernails…or a drag queen…not that there’s anything wrong with that!

]]> By: dpiekny http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643811 dpiekny Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643811 url error - should be /new-blackberry-new-blackberry url error – should be /new-blackberry-new-blackberry

]]> By: Jack Holmes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643813 Jack Holmes Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643813 This is why I hate TheWirecutter as a tech blog. Say what you will about The Verge supposedly having an Apple bias, but at least they review things before dismissing them out of hand. It bothers me that this site has gained as much traction as it has. This is why I hate TheWirecutter as a tech blog. Say what you will about The Verge supposedly having an Apple bias, but at least they review things before dismissing them out of hand. It bothers me that this site has gained as much traction as it has.

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643802 Rob Beschizza Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643802 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oy6DwHAi70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oy6DwHAi70

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643800 Brainspore Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643800 It's the perfect mobile device for updating your Friendster page! It’s the perfect mobile device for updating your Friendster page!

]]> By: glatt1 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643799 glatt1 Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643799 I want Blackberry and RIM to do well.  They didn't "invent" the smartphone, but they really did bring them into the mainstream.  I had two Blackberries before I got my iPhone.  Consumers are better off when there is competition.   For all those reasons, I want Blackberry to do well.  But I have an iPhone because they are better and there are way more good apps available for them. (I haven't tried the new Blackberry.) I want Blackberry and RIM to do well.  They didn’t “invent” the smartphone, but they really did bring them into the mainstream.  I had two Blackberries before I got my iPhone.  Consumers are better off when there is competition.   For all those reasons, I want Blackberry to do well.  But I have an iPhone because they are better and there are way more good apps available for them. (I haven’t tried the new Blackberry.)

]]> By: dmatos http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643798 dmatos Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643798 TL;DR: "I haven't used the phone.  I haven't seen it.  I don't like Blackberries at all.  But I'm upset that everyone's talking about it, and not reading my reviews of iPhones and Android phones.  In order to get more pageviews, I'll write a review of the new Blackberries with so little information that I have to quote a tweet about a review in order to fill up the screenspace." TL;DR:

“I haven’t used the phone.  I haven’t seen it.  I don’t like Blackberries at all.  But I’m upset that everyone’s talking about it, and not reading my reviews of iPhones and Android phones.  In order to get more pageviews, I’ll write a review of the new Blackberries with so little information that I have to quote a tweet about a review in order to fill up the screenspace.”

]]> By: sfnate http://boingboing.net/2013/02/01/the-challenge-for-blackberry.html#comment-1643797 sfnate Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=210161#comment-1643797 The article has already been scrubbed from memory: "Sorry, we couldn't find that page!" The article has already been scrubbed from memory: “Sorry, we couldn’t find that page!”

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