Last BB I used was in 2009, but I always wanted to try the new versions as I'm bored of Android and iOS. I like to try different things. Is it too late to switch and not worth it nowadays?
Looking at a Passport...
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Last BB I used was in 2009, but I always wanted to try the new versions as I'm bored of Android and iOS. I like to try different things. Is it too late to switch and not worth it nowadays?
Looking at a Passport...
Just switched back to my Passport after 7 months using Blackberry Android. It's a pleasure to use still, if you accept the limitations. Provided you don't want to use much social media, mobile banking, or other proprietary apps, and your Web browsing requirements are not too taxing, $100 or so will get you one of the best phones ever built. Be careful buying second hand though, there are a few Passports about with the 'emergency calls only' syndrome, which appears to be an irreparable hardware failure.
Posted via CB10
...oh and on 1/1/2020, you may own a $100 paperweight. Not likely, but not impossible.
Posted via CB10
No. It's a great hobby phone. As long as you don't need it to be functional, ecosystem wise. For email, texting and phone calls it's great.
For apps, it really depends on Android solutions and it's stuck @ ART 4.3 but many apps now require minimum 4.4 or 5.0 to operate properly if even possible.
Don't pay more than you can afford for 12-18 months of enjoyment. BB10 goes EOL 12/31/2019 but things aren't being fixed now if they break early or expire. Read up on BBW for apps for instance.
If you want to be different, consider buying modern devices like Key2 or newest release from Android/IOS running latest beta software. Buying cheap and outdated isn't the same as buying new and different.
Even if BlackBerry 10 has been the best OS experience I've had and I'm still using my passport as my daily driver I can't advice nobody to move into BlackBerry 10. Still the best email experience but is that enough?
Posted via BlackBerry Passport
On the Passport install BEOL, an android Web browser developed by a user of CB....it works perfectly.
Posted via CB10
"For email, texting and phone calls it's great."
That sounds pretty functional ecosystem wise. Im not arguing the choice, but apps running off the core and their backup features are still superior to most androids. Far better reader writer man.
Posted via CB10
BB10 has the best communication experience I know - in particular email, texting. There used to be apps in the past that integrated directly with the hub (e.g., Whatsapp), but there are much fewer now.
But in the end, should I? I really like the square screen vs the candy bar of the Key.
But whatsapp, telegram, skype, tango would still work, right?
Many of those apps to my knowledge still work in their Android form. The main thing is that you'd have to load them via a secondary app store such as Aptoide or use Cobalt's method to get Google Play on your Passport. If you have specific concerns I'd be happy to test them for you on my Passport to confirm whether they work or not. Feel free to PM as needed.
Those only work by running the Android version and hoping for the best. Versions of Skype old enough to support BB10 were to have been deactivated except for a last minute extension from Microsoft (don't count on another one), so Skype Classic should install for now. Tango would need older versions since they increased the minimum requirement to Android 4.4 some time ago (the Passport can only support part of Android 4.3), Whatsapp has its own litany of workarounds around this forum, and Telegram should be the best performing of the lot (low bar, but still).
If your idea of trying different things is workaround after workaround, and assuming the Passport you pick up doesn't have its cellular radio die on you and enter emergency calls only mode (it happens with age), then sure, why not.
In a different thread, OP listed certain apps used via Android/IOS. OP also states hasn’t used BB since 2009-2010.