Audio Profiles, Exceptions, etc.

[Tax_JD_LLM]

Removed...

[recon493]

It frightens me that no one has replied to this post. I believe the hard core business user of the BB devices truly enjoyed the "exceptions" features of the older OS. This is so important to me that I am teeter tottering on not purchasing a 9900 next week and going to android. I do not want to but the reality is that I have stuck with BB due in part to their WONDERFUL "profiles" options. If RIM turned their newest phones to a more simplistic "teenager" type phone then they just stepped backwards and became on par with the competitors.

I have no answers other than grab the bolds and "torches" and riot RIM HQ.

Is there a way to use a hybrid OS with OS 7? Where the old style sms and profiles could be used? Could a person downgrade OS7 to 4.6? Would you lose touch screen functionality by doing so? I could exist with 4.6 forever but my 9000 trackball is going out and it would be nice to have a faster cpu(insert the 9900).

[Tax_JD_LLM]

Removed...

[Klotar]

The day you made your initial post, I was all set to reply; but after doing some research -- had found that you were absolutely right -- I could not make a "proper" exception to do in OS7 what it used to do in 4.x versions.

Your workaround is brilliant, thanks for the follow-up post.

As a side note, I do have a "silent" ringtone myself but use it for something else and it didn't occur to me to use it for what you need. Currently I don't have quite the same high need as you do for exceptions so I did not give it much thought. Anyways (in case someone is interested), I use silent ringtones to [externally] "stitch together" short ringtones and make longer ones out of them. For example, let's say I like a ringtone that is a simple beep. Making it beep 3 times natively still makes for a short ringtone overall, so I take the beep file (so yes, I use extracted ringtones) and extend it with short silences in between; e.g. beep silent beep silent beep silent [etc.] to obtain the desired length. Woops, sorry for the derail.

Having a ringtone option of "none" would help also, I'd think; as currently you have to pick one and set it silent, which doesn't quite do the trick.

[mystic84]

I'd also like to have the "exceptions" option. I actually need it. Who knows why so a simple and good option isn't available for the 9900 device... Heck.

[Tax_JD_LLM]

To Klotar and mystic84, thank you.

To Kevin, Blaze, Adam, Chris, Craig, etc. (I'm sure I can't name all of you...), I would be interested in hearing from you on this matter---whether via a reply in this thread or a PM.

I have not yet downloaded OS 7.1 (am a 9930 user with VZW in a corporate environment and, thus, stuck waiting for the official upgarde to roll down), but I doubt that any additional functionality was added in this area. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong on this point.

In my opinion, one key differentiator for BlackBerry over other platforms has been the level of customization available for alert profiles -- sounds, vibrations, and LED alerts. Given the facts that the new PlayBook (10" variant, if the rumors are true) and BB10 superphones will roll out after iPad 3 (rumored to be March-ish) and iPhone 5 (rumored to be June-ish), hammering home key differentiatiors in the fall/winter launch of BB10 will be essential. With the (overdue) release of BlackBerry Balance should come a thoroughly rethought approach to real-world applciations of custom profiles.

If iOS 5.1 and iPhone 5 bring the needed level of customization to notifications, Apple will have further eroded what few barriers remain in terms of corporate adoption of iPhones (full disclosure--I also have an iPhone 4S). I think we can all agree that their marketing campaign on such an advancement will leave most non-tech savvy people thinking that Apple has created a whole new approach to business communication. Worse yet, many existing corporate BlackBerry users would likely drop their BBs in favor of iPhones thinking that only an iPhone has that capability--as many users never bother to explore the rich settings and options that BlackBerry OS has always provided and, if we're being honest, RIM has done little to help this with their weak U.S. marketing campaigns.

To employees and management of RIM -- in the event that any of you are reading this -- I would be happy to discuss and or beta test new approaches to the profile system in hopes of getting a coherent and industry leading solution developed in time for the BB10 release this fall. Feel free to contact me via PM.