[buckshot_88]

(My long winded love and let go letter aha)

I have and will always be a solid BB supporter!

Use one at least parts of every year and always talk it up when people bash it. And yes...it happens a lot. Being in my late 20's its like you have some sort of hideous condition when you bust out a BB (God forbid something has physical buttons these days...I mean, computers dont have physical keyboards!! OR wait...nvm). But owning a phone has become sor to f a popularity contest. What you use defines some sort of social status sadly. But it makes sense, as everything in life kinda goes this way. Clothes, cars, houses etc.

I recently came to the conclusion no matter how much I like the Classic or Passport (had both, even the SE). It's time has come. Especially apparent for the Passport. Not because they cant do the job, but the majority of apps and companies who create all these wonderful things that make owning a phone so productive, havent allowed BB to join the dance (BB 10 OS that is). Deeming and rendering the hardware irrelevant. Not because it is, but because they want it to be.

Its sad because the Passport , specs wise, is a complete beaut. It got to the point where I was like...wow, how sad is it that I have this beautiful high res screen, well constructed phone with pretty beefy specs (for a phone from 2014/2015) and yet with each passing month its being rendered into a paper weight. A very purrdy one I might add (: hah

Yes, I love the physical keyboard. No matter what, its always going to be better (for me*). Was BB10 a good OS. Heck yes! So much potential...but again, what good is potential if no one is there to build upon it. And thats what has come. Slowly apps are dropping like flies. Simple tasks like uninstalling amazon apps have become difficult ( I know there are work arounds...but again, something so simple now needs a "work around"). But thats just it...simple things are becoming, well not so simple. I cant even get a phone case for the phone anywhere in stores...now that was weird aha.

What do you use your phone for you ask? Granted, I'm not a huge app guy. But the purpose of a cellular device has changed over the years. Do we need all these fancy instas and whatsapps and dating or social applications. No. But does a car need a backup camera, or heated seats or automatic windows? Over time things that were maybe luxury become the standard. And a cell phone follows that same mode. All these other phones do everything the BB does (just without the swicked keyboard-possibly not the security and speed at which it receives the emails granted).

Do I need or actually use games or crazy apps. Very very rarely. But heck, if I do decide I wanna start posting photos or using payapl, when 90 percent of phones out there can do that without having to mod things, I sorta get why BB is taking the route they are taking now with android. Is it wrong that you turn on the AC in the car when its hot? I would be looking sideways if someone was being snarky because they like how it is without it in their old Hyundai.

I will continue to support the company. I'm glad they are still going to make devices for the time being. Sad that it will be outsourced, but hopefully quality doesn't flounder too much. BUT I now am all for the android OS with BB housing. Its time. I will always enjoy what could have been with BB10. But fact of the matter is, I need to stop pretending that having these extras is a bad thing. Things change. Life evolves. I think I shall go with it. I'm just happy BB is still gonna have some quirks of their own in these phones, like the hub and even still with physical keyboards. THANK YOUU

And with that! Here's to the BB MERCURY!! I'll have my eyes set to when that releases. Very excited for that (:

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

And with that! Here's to the BB MERCURY!! I'll have my eyes set to when that releases. Very excited for that (:

BB Mercury.... is going to be a very long wait. Per Marty the DTEK60 is the last phone BlackBerry will release, and so far they don't have a partner in place outside of Indonesia.

Many didn't want to give up on BB10 and the now legacy devices... but a some point you have to use what works for you.

[bb624]

Good post!! Absolutely love my Passport and BB10 but maybe it's time to try the Dtek60....I will miss my physical keyboard!!!

[ray689]

BB Mercury.... is going to be a very long wait. Per Marty the DTEK60 is the last phone BlackBerry will release, and so far they don't have a partner in place outside of Indonesia.

Many didn't want to give up on BB10 and the now legacy devices... but a some point you have to use what works for you.

Picking and choosing quotes for your agenda again hey?
He also did say "this is absolutely not the last BlackBerry phone and " i will be very surprised if we don't have a PKB device".

As for no other partners willing to licence, I'm not sure if he said that or if you are just making that up.

[Critical Observer]

I'm training myself to dual-wield an iPhone 5s for WhatsApp/???/??? purposes; it's tiny and runs iOS 10 like a boss. Oh, and the touchscreen-only operation sucks major balls but I installed Swiftkey on it and swiping away on WhatsApp now is somewhat less painful than poking my own eyes out with a rusty fork, so I guess it will do.

Disclaimer: I happened to have a spare 5s for reasons and I'm glad I did, I can't imagine spending hundreds of moneys on a WhatsApping device.

Posted via CB10

[hjc73734]

Hanging on but anxiously waiting for Mercury. The weakest link is the browser for me now. more and more pages are not loading properly

[KLR200468]

Really want to see the Mercury specs

[Patrick Pierobon]

i was the same way. the passport and BB10 was fluid, super fast and the hub was incredible. however with social media being a major aspect nowadays it was time to move on. The priv is what I ended up with and over the last few months with the constant updates it has become a great device. I'm ok with the android system and have gotten used to its layout and ways of doing things. Love supporting BB and hopefully they do come back. I may look into the mercury when it comes out as I like the physical keyboard. I prefer it to be highend spec but I doubt it. Here's to hoping.

[nimra]

I understand...but do not agree as for me

I will stick with my Q10, PP and Classic till they die...

Social media is nothing to me, to socialise I love texting (will miss whatsapp) and calling...

If BlackBerry brings out another phone with PKB I might look at it...and I think they would be crazy to not do that with such featured keyboard...!!!

Posted via CB10

[buckshot_88]

Totally understand (: Like I said, I'm not an app person either really. I just got to the point where I realized I was giving up everything just for a physical keyboard. Its just nice to know if I need to do something, my phones capable of handling it without question. Which is pretty much the majority of smartphones out there. I mean, at the end of the day a smartphone is a smartphone for this very reasons. Its capabilities.

Everyone can do as they please though, defintiely. I just am feeling the whole thing that made the phone a pretty decent phone in the first place, slip away. So for myself, its time to evolve with the company. Grow, rather than get left behind scrambling to find workarounds to make something work that clearly has been pushed aside. Of course if the phone does everything you need it too, you're golden (:

[hoppysfavorite]

You have to do what is right for you. If BB10 isn't doing it for you, it's time to move on. Personally, I have a long history with phones that are under appreciated by the world at large (S60v5, Symbian 3/Anna/Belle, Meego Harmattan), so I feel the BB10 situation is more of the same.

I switched over to Android for a while, and I didn't feel as if the skies had opened and my life was made infinitely easier. What did happen was I got tired of the same stale devices with all of the same hardware and software tricks. Choosing a new phone was just a matter of choosing a brand, because the phones are all the same.

As much as people use their phones now, one needs to be happy with what they use. If you aren't fully satisfied, move on to something that will make you happy. For me, two months in with my Passport and I haven't been this happy since I unboxed my first N9.

[FallStaff]

PayPal works geat on BBM!!! Now if only people would switch to BBM!!!

Posted via CB10

[Griffin2012]

The Passport is a few years old and is largely unsupported by BlackBerry. I have an iPhone and a Passport for different reasons. I have a lot of Apple products and I enjoy the interconnectivity of those devices. My Passport is still better than iPhone in many ways, all of which you as users know and appreciate. Bb10 still works for my specific needs and there is nothing that Apple has made that can replace my Passport.
Hopefully, the Mercury becomes a real device and we will have a device that will fill the void.

[Voja Markovic]

I honestly don't understand how social media can take people to leave BlackBerry for android od ios. I used many phones from bold 9000, 9900,classic, iphone and samsung to todays passport. My opinion is even if they dump all social media on os10 I still have the best phone out with a great hub and music player with fantastic stereo speakers.
It's all individual but as someone who checked everything on the market I know what to do.
Cheers

Posted via CB10

[javiergomezserrano]

I came to BBOS 10 months ago, that's the Best decision I made, was an android user but that OS is so bad, unstable, laggy...
Enjoyed android 4.4.4 but when Lollipop came out was the disaster. Have all the Apps that I need here in BBOS, and I will be here until my Passport dies.

Posted via my Passport!

[sjohnvivian]

Great post! It would be nice if the BlackBerry Mercury comes out in the near future. That seems like a really great device in the works and wouldn't suffer some of these limitations.

I still hold out hope for a Passport 2, same design as the SE, but with Android and maybe some small enhancements to make it even better. Typing on the Passport's keyboard is a dream!

[hjc73734]

I hang on to my passport for blend. Wish they port it to android.

Posted via the CrackBerry App for Android

[buckshot_88]

Great post! It would be nice if the BlackBerry Mercury comes out in the near future. That seems like a really great device in the works and wouldn't suffer some of these limitations.

I still hold out hope for a Passport 2, same design as the SE, but with Android and maybe some small enhancements to make it even better. Typing on the Passport's keyboard is a dream!

I think that would be a dream come true for most. I for one thought I wouldnt like the passports keyboard in comparison to a bold or q10. But man was I suprised in a great way!!

Sadly i think the day of the passport is over. I keep reading things in regards to android not wanting to mod apps to work with the 1:1 screen aspect ratio...But I can only hope if* the Mercury comes out, that it will do the passport justice.

[LegB4Wicket]

Sadly I agree with the author of this thread. I love my Passport, but I'm afraid it is beginning to give up the ghost.

My battery is not lasting as long as it did a few months ago and many of the apps I downloaded no longer work, are buggy, or do not have all the features one would find on the iP*one or Android versions.

I love the form of the Passport, the BB10 operating system, and the Hub; however, the end is nigh.

I've ordered a DTEK60. While it won't hold a candle to a fully function Passport, it represents what I require in a modern smartphone.

To me, the Passport will be a Jaguar E-Type - passion and yes, unmatched design. The DTEK60 is the new Jaguar XE - a thoroughly modern car that should run everyday and is packed with the latest gizmos and safety features. 10 years from now, people will still lust after the E-Type while the XE will be just another used car.

Posted via CB10

[buckshot_88]

Love the car reference ! But yea, Im hoping the DTEK60 can turn out to be a success. They really havent had a true phone out yet to be that for them.

[hjc73734]

Yeah the SE is such an elegant design. When you hold it, the quality is in the details. I wish I could get another brand new one just to have around.

I'm thinking $250 $199 from shopBB and I might pull the trigger on a collector example for myself.

[samtronswt]

As excited as I am for a mercury to be released, if the photos posted are what it looks like I'll deeply miss having the wide-screen for browsing

[prplhze2000]

I have an iPad for all the other stuff. It's become more of a workhorse than previous BlackBerry s.

Posted via CB10