1. Really exceptional device - hardware, build quality
2. I see what people have been saying about the space bar, but it does take some getting used to - you have to hit it in the middle to get a more softer hit.
3. Love the OS changes in 10.3 with email, hub etc.
4. Love the keyboard gestures - it is nice to have combined capability for swipe and hard keys (scrolling has not been a success for me because it is very inconsistent)
5. Love the real-estate. It is really nice to read web pages, articles, documents.
Cons:
There are minor issues, but I'll focus on the only main issue I have- APPS
With apps, I really feel like BB10 has taken two steps back with this device. My initial expectation was that the app gap would be closed significantly, but that is completely NOT the case. Reason I say this is because even though android apps run better in general with this OS, most of the apps I USED to run, don't run on the Passport. It is very hit and miss with apps.
I gave up on Amazon appstore and moved to Snap.
However many apps have constant problems:
Bloomberg app is downright ugly and finicky - was very impressive on BB10 -now I can't even get that back because even BBworld loads the Android port.
Stocks app works, but is very aesthetically challenged.
NFL Now does not scale - video is squished - zoom out/in does not work
Had to sideload Kindle (there's enough ranting on this in the forums), though it works
Despicable Me crashes - uninstalled and re-installed did not work - stuck on loading
Team Stream works but is very clunky - does not look good - looks like a 1998 web page
Other apps fail BB guardian scanning, so I wouldn't load them.
I think overall, I underestimated how much apps would NOT fit well in the form factor for the Passport.
I understand this device is ahead of its time, but for now the app experience is actually worse than I had on my z10, q10, and z30.
----
Since I use this primarily for communication, I'm definitely happy to have it. It is awesome for all business stuff that I do on a daily basis. I just wish I could have my Sports and Finance apps as an enjoyable experience on this device - I could easily live without any games.
Anyway, it's been a long day of playing with this device, felt the need to summarize my thoughts.
Amazon Kindle from BlackBerry world isn't available for the Passport. It isn't available from Amazon appstore either... wth? The one from Snap works great though..
BeBuzz - not useable. Ringtones often don't fire.
Blaq - bad formatting of timeline.
Tapatalk - not available (yet?)
Some local parking apps don't work at all.
All of the mentioned worked fine on Q and Z devices under 10.2.
Big issue?
It's always going to be hit or miss with app experience and significantly dependant on what you need and like.
My main staples are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram...all have been working fine. Especially Twitter, looks very nice on the PP.
Other apps I need and would have never kept the PP had they not been available are the Parking Meter app for my city, banking app, and wifi printing app. All work very well.
I loaded Snap and it certainly is better than the Amazon App store or Aptoide.
I ordered my passport for what it does, I don't care about all apps, I have the core that I need such as twitter, skype,bewearher pro, navita translator, candy crushand timmyme after that I use the phone for emails and work related and that my friends is what's all about.
The single biggest issue is what is going on with the Amazon app store. Instead of getting access to all the apps, we are selectively being shut out of core apps. There is still no official explanation for this.
Waze for instance is one of the latest apps to disappear. It's still in Amazon App Store, but blocked from BlackBerry.
Have you tried swiping down from the top and pressing the magnifying glass icon on the right hand side? Might help some apps that are not sizing the right way.
I am not a big app person myself. Most everything I have tried that I had on my Z30 seems to work well on my Passport. Flipboard and News360 are two droid apps I use often and they work fine. The Amex app worked but asked for Google services at every open. I have moved to using mobile webs sites for things like Amex Amazon and Best Buy. The mobile sites work great on the Passport and seem to be as fast or faster than the apps and just as functional. However I know this isn't an option for a lot of issues.
I have a number of daily apps that I'm not sure are going to be supported on the Passport.. None the less, I took the plunge and I'm awaiting the delivery of mine.. If all fails in the app department I can always give the Passport to my wife (uses no apps) and I'll keep my Zed30..
1. Really exceptional device - hardware, build quality
2. I see what people have been saying about the space bar, but it does take some getting used to - you have to hit it in the middle to get a more softer hit.
3. Love the OS changes in 10.3 with email, hub etc.
4. Love the keyboard gestures - it is nice to have combined capability for swipe and hard keys (scrolling has not been a success for me because it is very inconsistent)
5. Love the real-estate. It is really nice to read web pages, articles, documents.
Cons:
There are minor issues, but I'll focus on the only main issue I have- APPS
With apps, I really feel like BB10 has taken two steps back with this device. My initial expectation was that the app gap would be closed significantly, but that is completely NOT the case. Reason I say this is because even though android apps run better in general with this OS, most of the apps I USED to run, don't run on the Passport. It is very hit and miss with apps.
I gave up on Amazon appstore and moved to Snap.
However many apps have constant problems:
Bloomberg app is downright ugly and finicky - was very impressive on BB10 -now I can't even get that back because even BBworld loads the Android port.
Stocks app works, but is very aesthetically challenged.
NFL Now does not scale - video is squished - zoom out/in does not work
Had to sideload Kindle (there's enough ranting on this in the forums), though it works
Despicable Me crashes - uninstalled and re-installed did not work - stuck on loading
Team Stream works but is very clunky - does not look good - looks like a 1998 web page
Other apps fail BB guardian scanning, so I wouldn't load them.
I think overall, I underestimated how much apps would NOT fit well in the form factor for the Passport.
I understand this device is ahead of its time, but for now the app experience is actually worse than I had on my z10, q10, and z30.
----
Since I use this primarily for communication, I'm definitely happy to have it. It is awesome for all business stuff that I do on a daily basis. I just wish I could have my Sports and Finance apps as an enjoyable experience on this device - I could easily live without any games.
Anyway, it's been a long day of playing with this device, felt the need to summarize my thoughts.
Initially i thought the same. However today i received a much anticipated update for amazon store. A million times better now with endless apps!!!
I can confirm that. Twittly looks & works better than Blaq on the Passport at the moment. Time for a change?
Posted via CB10
Wow Twittly seems to scroll up to the latest tweet in the timeline, unlike Blaq which shows me where I left it...so I won't know how far to scroll down in order not to miss a tweet. Maybe I was premature in giving up on Blaq, I think this feature is essential.
This man speaks the truth... the App situation on the Passport is truly pathetic at the moment. Even with the Amazon App store I find many of the apps I thought I would have out of the box access to are not available. Netflix is now gone from the Amazon Store, Instagram was never actually available, same with Kindle. And, BB World is in dismal shape, many Apps are unavailable for the Passport or have yet to be updated from their Q10 formatting. The Weather Network, Bloomberg, Cineplex, Flixster to name a few. This doesn't even get into the games. Plants vs zombies, dead space, and mass effect are currently unavailable from BB World on the Passport. I only see Plants vs zombies on Amazon and I don't really feel like buying it again. (to answer an earlier post)
Now, please don't get me wrong, I didn't get a Passport for apps and games. If that's what I was really after I probably wouldn't be using a Blackberry at all. But, I kinda did expect the situation to be a little better then it currently is. Going from a Z10 to a Passport is taking a giant leap forward with the device and one step back with the apps.