Help Me Convert from Blackberry to Android

[Valdar]

I REALLY want to make the conversion from blackberry to android. I've tried twice: with a Cliq and with the t-mobile G2, but I always end up returning and going back to my bold 9700. With the Mytouch Slide coming out, I want to give it another go. Here are the issues I run into. Can someone help me address them all?

1. On a blackberry I just hit "c" and it takes me to compose an e-mail message and determines which account to use based on what I last used for the recipient. So all my work contacts default to my work address WITHOUT having to select my work e-mail. Just "c", type contact partial name, select, and start typing e-mail

2. Can't link my google apps account (maybe this has been fixed by now?)

3. Can't transfer purchases between accounts

4. Battery usage is really really bad. I get 2 full days of heavy usage out of my phone (about 2000 minutes of talk per month + music + maps) - the other android phones lasted barely 12 hours

5. No blackberry travel - worldmate has no gold version on android

6. No one handed text messaging for incognito texts

7. Cannot search my non-gmail accounts (corporate exchange)

8. Want to view ONLY unread messages in all my accounts

9. Central place to view and search all messages, e-mail, voicemail, texts, corporate e-mail

10. Only stores 30 days of e-mail, blackberry lets me store an unlimited amount until it runs out of memory - very useful on airplanes without internet access

11. Extension dialing - android cannot handle extensions with an "x" in them - the default for outlook

12. Contact search takes 4 clicks to get to, blackberry you just hit "a"

13. Keyboard doesn't pop up by default on text field, so it takes two clicks to pull up (contact search is a good example)

14. Cannot turn off GSM radio only, must put into airplane mode. You cannot only have WiFi calling on - terrible for itnernational travel

15. No international e-mail service to save on data charges

16. ShortCutMe for blackberry - I can get to every function I need within 2 buttons presses. I can even macro user input so that complex program startups can be taken down to a single click.

That's the list, if someone can help me conquer these, I can definitely make the switch the android. Otherwise I have to wait for the bold 9900.

Thanks for ANY help on these.

 

[Stuntman]

I assume your Blackberry has the standard BB keyboard. If you are trying to compare shortcut keys on a BB with dozens of keys with an Android phone with 4 buttons, you're going to find that there is a mismatch right there. There are Android phones with a similar form factor as a Blackberry. I'm not sure how the short cut keys compare a I have not used one.

1. On a blackberry I just hit "c" and it takes me to compose an e-mail message and determines which account to use based on what I last used for the recipient. So all my work contacts default to my work address WITHOUT having to select my work e-mail. Just "c", type contact partial name, select, and start typing e-mail

This appears to be from the email app within an email you are reading. There is no "c" key on most Android phones. What do you expect? A spot on the screen dedicated to a new email?

2. Can't link my google apps account (maybe this has been fixed by now?)

Link it to what? I have one google account for apps, emails, etc.

3. Can't transfer purchases between accounts

Use one account.

4. Battery usage is really really bad. I get 2 full days of heavy usage out of my phone (about 2000 minutes of talk per month + music + maps) - the other android phones lasted barely 12 hours

Same for me. My BB doesn't have to be charged for a full week. My Android is charged every day.

5. No blackberry travel - worldmate has no gold version on android

Not sure what this app is. If you explain what it does, perhaps someone can suggest a similar app. If you want to use that specific app and the app developer doesn't make an Android version, there is nothing much we can do.

6. No one handed text messaging for incognito texts

I've seen people who are proficient in typing on a touch screen keyboard with one hand. You'll just have to practice. Not sure what incognito texts are.

7. Cannot search my non-gmail accounts (corporate exchange)

8. Want to view ONLY unread messages in all my accounts

9. Central place to view and search all messages, e-mail, voicemail, texts, corporate e-mail

10. Only stores 30 days of e-mail, blackberry lets me store an unlimited amount until it runs out of memory - very useful on airplanes without internet access

There are a number of other mail apps available. I'm not familiar with them. Perhaps someone can suggest one that has these features.

I'm not aware of the 30-day limitation.

13. Keyboard doesn't pop up by default on text field, so it takes two clicks to pull up (contact search is a good example)

I find the virtual keyboard always pops up whenever you change focus to a text entry field. It's annoying to me since I use a Desire Z that has a physical keyboard.

16. ShortCutMe for blackberry - I can get to every function I need within 2 buttons presses. I can even macro user input so that complex program startups can be taken down to a single click.

I know phones with physical keyboards allow you to program shortcut keys. I can do it on my Desire Z, but I don't since most of the time I do not have the keyboard open except if I'm actually entering a message.

A lot of what you like on the Blackberry is non-standard on an Android phone because of the different form factor. Most Android phones are full screen touch screens, so it is asking a lot when your BB keyboard outnumbers the keys on most Androids.

Why are you considering converting to Android? Why not just stick with your Blackberry?

 

[Stuntman]

Most of what you want to do appears to be messaging. I find that the messaging capabilities are very good on Blackberrys. If that is most important for you, perhaps it is best you stick with your Blackberry.

 

[Valdar]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I would like to switch because of the improved speed and no lag in working with the phone. I often get an hourglass on my blackberry because it's doing something and I have to wait for it to finish. Can get annoying when you want to get an e-mail out quickly before the plane takes off. Plus a front facing camera would be great for skype since I use it a lot while traveling.

Perhaps android isn't built for the business traveler yet, but I hope it gets there. Or I hope that RIM actually starts delivering on new hardware in a timely manner - not once every two years.

I looked around for an android phone in a blackberry form factor, but t-mobile doesn't offer it anymore.

I've also tried apps to fill the gaps in what I want, but it didn't work so well.

And by incognito texting I meant without looking at the phone. So if I'm in a meeting I can write an e-mail or a text under the table or in my pocket.

Thanks again for responding - I think I'll hold off on Android until it's matured a little more and has more "efficiency oriented" apps and enhancements.

 

[Valdar]

Most of what you want to do appears to be messaging. I find that the messaging capabilities are very good on Blackberrys. If that is most important for you, perhaps it is best you stick with your Blackberry.

I think you're right. I've tried to move away so many times (iPhone, Windows Phone, Android) and always come back because of the speed of messaging and travel capabilities.

I guess Angry Birds will have to wait. ;-)

 

[Stuntman]

I would like to switch because of the improved speed and no lag in working with the phone. I often get an hourglass on my blackberry because it's doing something and I have to wait for it to finish. Can get annoying when you want to get an e-mail out quickly before the plane takes off. Plus a front facing camera would be great for skype since I use it a lot while traveling.

All that speed and efficiency you say you get from keyboard short cuts appear to be lost due to the lag.

Perhaps android isn't built for the business traveler yet, but I hope it gets there. Or I hope that RIM actually starts delivering on new hardware in a timely manner - not once every two years.

Different phones have different strengths. RIM gets criticised for their shortcomings, but they do have their strengths. I use one at work and I cannot imagine using my Android for work or my Blackberry for personal use.

I looked around for an android phone in a blackberry form factor, but t-mobile doesn't offer it anymore.

That's unfortunate. I know the HTC Status is one such Android phone with a BB form factor. I believe it is AT&T. I'm not sure if AT&T phones work on T-Mobile. Maybe they will work once they become AT&T&T. You can try unlocking the phone, but you have to make sure the frequency bands are compatible.

And by incognito texting I meant without looking at the phone. So if I'm in a meeting I can write an e-mail or a text under the table or in my pocket.

Oh. That's quite an interesting skill you have if you can text with the phone in your pocket. As you may be well aware, you need to have some tactile feedback from a physical keyboard. To expect to do this on a touch screen phone is too much.

Thanks again for responding - I think I'll hold off on Android until it's matured a little more and has more "efficiency oriented" apps and enhancements.

Or you can wait for new Blackberrys. I believe there is supposed to be a big announcement about a bunch of new phones any day now.

 

[Stuntman]

I think you're right. I've tried to move away so many times (iPhone, Windows Phone, Android) and always come back because of the speed of messaging and travel capabilities.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. No phone is perfect, but you seem to have found that Blackberrys work quite well for you.

I guess Angry Birds will have to wait. ;-)

You'll be giving up a lot for Angry Birds. Yeah it's fun, but there are other games on the Blackberry that are just as good at wasting your time.

The Blackberry Playbook is supposed to be able to run Android apps. Perhaps you will be able to run Angry Birds on your Blackberry soon.

 

[varungnath]

Even i am a hardcore BlackBerry user. Recently bought an LGP500. It sure is tough getting used to it, one main reason being a complete different OS interface.
But its just a matter of sometime. You sure will get used to it! The shortcuts would not matter once you become real familiar with the OS. Also just go through the android tips and tricks forum. Should help you!

 

[Omar Days]

If I was you I'd get the bold 9900. Seems a great phone if you're into bb's

 

[takeshi]

For quite a few items you'll need to adjust your expectations. You're not on a BB anymore. In some cases, Android just handles things differently and either you adjust or stick with a BB. Most of your concerns seem to be more app concerns than Android or device concerns IMO.

Battery usage is really really bad. I get 2 full days of heavy usage out of my phone (about 2000 minutes of talk per month + music + maps) - the other android phones lasted barely 12 hours

It's really impossible to assist with no information. Try referring to other battery life threads and read up on strategies to improve battery life. Your specific usage plays a major role in battery life. If you use power-intensive features then you'll quickly use up your battery. Use your battery info screen and/or apps to analyze your usage and adjust. Everyone needs to do this.

Cannot search my non-gmail accounts (corporate exchange)

Searching on what, specifically? What app(s) have you tried? There are plenty of non-stock Exchange clients that you should look into.

Central place to view and search all messages, e-mail, voicemail, texts, corporate e-mail

That's going to be difficult. You had this on the BB because you could only use the stock email/messaging app. The BB can do this because RIM provides the messaging app and it is specifically designed to handle everything in a universal inbox. You can't choose to use a different email app or a different messaging app or a different VM app. Even if you could, you'd break the universal inbox. It's not like that with Android. It's difficult for an app to guarantee access to message stores for any email/messaging/VM apps that you might have installed on your device.

Want to view ONLY unread messages in all my accounts

This is an app concern, not a device issue. You need to find apps that offer what you're looking for. Touchdown will show unread message but it's Exchange only. I'm sure other email apps offer this feature but, again, finding an app that can show ALL unread email, texts, etc will be difficult if at all possible.

Central place to view and search all messages, e-mail, voicemail, texts, corporate e-mail

See above.

Only stores 30 days of e-mail, blackberry lets me store an unlimited amount until it runs out of memory - very useful on airplanes without internet access

Again, you need to find an email app that offers what you're looking for.

Extension dialing - android cannot handle extensions with an "x" in them - the default for outlook

You'll have to change it. I don't recall what Android's standard is off the top of my head but it has been discussed before.

No international e-mail service to save on data charges

You're not on a BB. There's no service. If you need international data then you address that with your carrier. If you have data coverage you'll have email. You don't need "international email service'.

Can't link my google apps account (maybe this has been fixed by now?)

Link it to what? I have one google account for apps, emails, etc.

Google Apps as in http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/...a-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google apps

Most of what you want to do appears to be messaging. I find that the messaging capabilities are very good on Blackberrys. If that is most important for you, perhaps it is best you stick with your Blackberry.

That's an oversimplified assessment. The OP may be better suited for BB's if the OP expects Android to exactly mimic BB but "BB's are best for email" is parroted far too much everywhere. Best is always highly subjective. I had BB's on BES for years and I do not prefer them over Android with ActiveSync. BB's always push-and-reconcile. ActiveSync offers true sync.

Perhaps android isn't built for the business traveler yet, but I hope it gets there.

"Business" is extremely vague and doesn't really mean anything. Android may not fit your requirements but don't assume that you represent all business users. There are plenty of business users that find Android meets their needs. There are also plenty that find that other options meet their needs.

Different phones have different strengths.

^ This. Every decision is a compromise. Nothing is ever all benefit. Certain compromises just suit certain people better than others.

I've also tried apps to fill the gaps in what I want, but it didn't work so well.

I'd suspect that you haven't looked hard enough or maybe effectively enough. If we overhaul your list so we can separate out everything that is actually an app question and get more specifics on what exactly you're looking for you might stand a better chance of finding apps that are good fit for you. It would also help us if you could tell us what apps you've already tried and what you did like as well as what you didn't like.

 

[John Redcorn]

We have blackberrys at work now and I have to say I really don't like a single thing about using it.

Supporting them on the other hand, that's another story. It's like a dream. We used to have an activesync server with mostly winmo phones connecting some iphones too and even one old palm 650! This was a signiificant PITA, i can only imagine from all the thread titles about activesync and android here and on other boards it would have turned into a giant PITA if we hadn't switched to BES + BB devices-only and people started bringing androids in to me.

With the BB if it messes up, reactivate it. If it messes up bad, wipe it and reactivate it. That's like literally the only things I have to know.

BTW, HTC sense on winmo was one of the worst decisions ever made in mobile phone history. We had way too many of those here and talking about this is bringing back memories of them.

 

[gadzooks]

My first smartphone was a BlackBerry and I thought I'd died & gone to heaven. For about three months.

Device resource limitations and memory leaking wore thin over time. I'd forgotten all about the hourglass thing until reading your post.

With my Android devices, I'm able to do a couple things on your list. Work e-mail is Google Apps and I have that account configured and syncing on my devices. And I can disable cell data (and use WiFi only) on my devices.

Battery life has been comparable, but closer to 24 hours than 48 on both BB and Android.

Each mobile operating environment (Apple, Google, RIM, ...) does some things like no other. For me, advantages of Android devices (screaming hardware, customization potential, ...) outweigh disadvantages; for others, not so much.

About that travel app for which there's no Android version, we had to wait for AB too. Given trending (growth of Android), I picture developers scrambling. I might write vendor and ask where Android is on their roadmap.