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Dear BlackBerry,
A lot of questions have been raised on this topic. You sent us pictures of this virtual keyboard taking half of the screen. The people don't really like it. And if people on this forum (BlackBerry crazy top fans) don't like it. It could be a problem for regular fan and for regular user.
People want a phone they can buy and be happy with. They certainly also don't want to increase the phone buy to return ratio. But if they have to, they will return it.
People are still convinced that the z30 could be a better phone to choose. But next door at Apple or Samsung. There is no choosing between the new iPhone 6 and any older device. Or S5 and older... no choice should be given. We don't want to see "I will stick to my z30".
How many people use everyday the on-screen virtual keyboard on the Q10. If that is more than 10% of the users. Go ahead and release the Passport. It's a bit different on the q10 as they don't need to. But it won't be easy to do so even if they wanted to.
We know however it is late to call the manufacturer as of now to change the keyboard layout (add new keys) as it will require to change the frames. But if massive production hasn't started, it's still time to remove those large letters and try and fit letters and symbols on keys.
Last thing. How would we add "alt" and "sym"? Not too hard. Well since the keyboard is touch. We can enable "alt" with a gesture on the left side of the keyboard and "sym" with another one on the right side of the keyboard. If people cannot do gestures then give them the option to enable ONE (1) layer only of virtual keys.....
But this is probably too late for a release in September. No problem we will wait another month if you can recall the units made and do a hardware update. (swap current keyboard with keyboard with symbols) and also in the software.
EDIT: I need to add this. People are arguing too much without understanding what is the issue here.
Apparently people don't understand that pictures can tell a lot about how to use something.
When you are in a text field or a document (whenever you have to type) one layer of keys will always be present.
This is the one....
Now you see that shift key at the bottom left of the screen? Yeah if you want to write in Caps. You need to hit that key (double hit to cap lock). And you can keep typing on the keyboard to type in caps.
Now if you want special characters. Hit that virtual key on the bottom right. The "@ 123" key.
Now once you type on that "@ 123" key.... abracadabra....
No more space on the screen. Pretty much half of the screen is taken. You can type all these symbols (first three row) by hitting the corresponding key on the keyboard.
And if you need more characters, you will hit that two dots (blue/gray) key on the virtual keyboard, or swipe down on the on-screen keyboard as it is is BB10 OS (lots of people don't know and use this), (or maybe passport will let you swipe down on the actual physical keyboard)
And then if you want to dismiss the screen virtual keyboard you need to hit that button, arrow pointing down at the top right and then you get back to this.
If only we could use fact that the keys are large to add the special characters on bottom right and bottom left of each individual keys (yes smaller prints). Make one green and the other maybe blue. And then since we can't add buttons now, let's use some swipe gestures on physical keyboard when we want to type blue keys (special characters) or green keys (more special charaters),....
Or maybe just add two more keys?? "Alt" and "sym"... where "alt" types the lower left symbols and "sym" the lower right symbols on each individual key?
Then no more huge on-screen keyboard on top of the existing keyboard..... we will be good with just that one layers maybe? or maybe nothing at all. :-)
Go # Team Big Screen ONLY for ever
A bit like that.... :-)
Posted via CB10Last edited by CeCoQ; 06-30-14 at 09:19 AM. Reason: Explanations on how the keyboard works
06-29-14 08:44 AM - 1) To each their own, I guess you don't like it and that's fine. When I was upgrading to the Z10, I thought it was too big and so did my friend. He is now using the Z30 without any issues. My other friend moved from an iPhone to the Z10, and though she had some issues using the gestures, she learnt. Same way, people will learn. If you buy the Passport, you will learn, if you don't, you never even have to bother with it at all.
2) The device hasn't even come out in the market yet. Once it is out, you will have the same group of people claiming that they had held the device and it did nothing for them. Well, good for them. The Q10, also being a hardware device is a purchase of choice for people who want keyboard devices. Get it, use it, and if you still don't like it, sell it on eBay. Don't hate the on-screen keyboard till you've actually seen what it can do.
3) Hardware decisions are probably one of the first ones to be made, software can always be tweaked later on to match the H/W. Remember, just like you are displeased with what is being offered right now, someone else might dislike the version you are suggesting. It will truly be a remarkable day when users can go into a shop, pickup the model of the phone that they had designed at home, with the specific OS they wish. Until that day, I think we should just suck it up and get what's being offered
LP&HG06-29-14 09:39 AM
Dear BlackBerry! There's still time to fix the Passport keyboard.
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