[razor1973]

I use both a Windows Phone and an Android device as my daily drivers. I have been trying to give BB10 a genuine try and recently purchased a Z30 I use on the AT&T network. The main drawback I found is the lack of native apps for the platform (even when compared to Windows Phone), but the fact that I could run almost any Android application on it was a huge factor in my decision. However, I feel this was a half-baked solution by BB (I almost said RIM) in order to get this functionality out earlier. Either that or I am doing something very wrong.

The purpose of my thread is to list the main problems I have with the Android solution on BB10 in hopes of having you guys --the experts-- tell me what I am doing wrong or missing or a workaround or way of achieving the same result.

(A) Applications are very slow to open and, in most cases, to operate. Something you need to open quickly, like Shazam, could take a whole 6-10 seconds from the moment you press the icon till the point where you can start tagging a song.

(B) Notifications from an app don't appear like notifications from a BB native app in the Hub. You just get one clickable box saying "You have notifications from X application" that you need to click and it simply opens the application (in the notifications screen, if I remember correctly).

(C) I still don't get how Android apps are integrated into BB World. Or if they're even there. Say I install the eBay Android app from 1Mobile. What should I see when I search for the eBay app on BB World? That it's already installed or a completely different eBay? If different and I install it, does it overwrite the Android one or do I end up with two different eBay apps? I think I have seen both things happen, which is why it's so confusing to me. When I search in BB World, do I only get BB native apps or also Android apps? How can I tell them apart before installing? As you can see, my confusion on this point is major.

(D) This is probably my biggest gripe. I have installed Android apps from 3 different markets (1Mobile, Aptoide and um... forgot the name of the other one, but that one I got rid of in a day). Whenever several app updates are available through one of these markets and you choose to update all, this takes forever and many times needs to be restarted, as the process simply ends after an app or two. What's worse is the fact that you need to press Update and, in most cases, accept permissions app by app, which means you need to wait until app one is updated in order to press Update and Accept on the second and then wait again for the third and so on. In some cases, I have spent 1 hour just looking at my phone and pressing Update and Accept in order to update all apps. This is very time-consuming and frustrating. Plus if you happen to go to another app in the middle, the dialog will pop up and force you to press Update and Accept before you can continue your work.

(E) This isn't really caused by the BB10 implementation of Android, but the result of it. When you have several Android markets, different latest versions will appear in them. Like one may not see the latest eBay version, but the other won't see the latest Vine. Or I may have the latest Amazon App Store version directly from the Amazon site, but 1Market and Aptoide will both show me an "update" which is actually like 7 versions lower.

Please take this post for what it is. I am asking for help and advise, not bashing BB10. I hope none of you spends $300 on a device in order to bash it. I certainly don't. I really want to make the Z30 work for me, but I'm at a point where I may have to decide to not install any Android app, meaning I couldn't use the Z30 as my daily driver because of the lack of native apps.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

[Shane8750]

Well I use Snap to install android updates, never have an issue. Also you're issue with mass updating is that BB10 has it's own android installer that allows one install at a time, which requires user interaction every time.

As for shazam, first time opening is slow for me as well, but once the app is in cache, it opens instantly with a slight flicker refresh of the app.

Another note, does android even have option to view individual notifications per app? On my tablet, it's always saying something is there per app notification, but you must open app to view message.

And with different versions on different app markets, it all depends what version the app market is pushing, that's why i mainly use google play store through snap, since i have paid apps i download on my BB10 devices as well, and google is usually first market dev's update to.

[Anthony Roberts5]

I use both a Windows Phone and an Android device as my daily drivers. I have been trying to give BB10 a genuine try and recently purchased a Z30 I use on the AT&T network. The main drawback I found is the lack of native apps for the platform (even when compared to Windows Phone), but the fact that I could run almost any Android application on it was a huge factor in my decision. However, I feel this was a half-baked solution by BB (I almost said RIM) in order to get this functionality out earlier. Either that or I am doing something very wrong.

The purpose of my thread is to list the main problems I have with the Android solution on BB10 in hopes of having you guys --the experts-- tell me what I am doing wrong or missing or a workaround or way of achieving the same result.

(A) Applications are very slow to open and, in most cases, to operate. Something you need to open quickly, like Shazam, could take a whole 6-10 seconds from the moment you press the icon till the point where you can start tagging a song.

(B) Notifications from an app don't appear like notifications from a BB native app in the Hub. You just get one clickable box saying "You have notifications from X application" that you need to click and it simply opens the application (in the notifications screen, if I remember correctly).

(C) I still don't get how Android apps are integrated into BB World. Or if they're even there. Say I install the eBay Android app from 1Mobile. What should I see when I search for the eBay app on BB World? That it's already installed or a completely different eBay? If different and I install it, does it overwrite the Android one or do I end up with two different eBay apps? I think I have seen both things happen, which is why it's so confusing to me. When I search in BB World, do I only get BB native apps or also Android apps? How can I tell them apart before installing? As you can see, my confusion on this point is major.

(D) This is probably my biggest gripe. I have installed Android apps from 3 different markets (1Mobile, Aptoide and um... forgot the name of the other one, but that one I got rid of in a day). Whenever several app updates are available through one of these markets and you choose to update all, this takes forever and many times needs to be restarted, as the process simply ends after an app or two. What's worse is the fact that you need to press Update and, in most cases, accept permissions app by app, which means you need to wait until app one is updated in order to press Update and Accept on the second and then wait again for the third and so on. In some cases, I have spent 1 hour just looking at my phone and pressing Update and Accept in order to update all apps. This is very time-consuming and frustrating. Plus if you happen to go to another app in the middle, the dialog will pop up and force you to press Update and Accept before you can continue your work.

(E) This isn't really caused by the BB10 implementation of Android, but the result of it. When you have several Android markets, different latest versions will appear in them. Like one may not see the latest eBay version, but the other won't see the latest Vine. Or I may have the latest Amazon App Store version directly from the Amazon site, but 1Market and Aptoide will both show me an "update" which is actually like 7 versions lower.

Please take this post for what it is. I am asking for help and advise, not bashing BB10. I hope none of you spends $300 on a device in order to bash it. I certainly don't. I really want to make the Z30 work for me, but I'm at a point where I may have to decide to not install any Android app, meaning I couldn't use the Z30 as my daily driver because of the lack of native apps.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

I can assure you that 10.3.1 the android runtime has improved also a lot more apps are showing in the HUB now so it is getting better.....

[serbanescu]

(E) This isn't really caused by the BB10 implementation of Android, but the result of it. When you have several Android markets, different latest versions will appear in them. Like one may not see the latest eBay version, but the other won't see the latest Vine. Or I may have the latest Amazon App Store version directly from the Amazon site, but 1Market and Aptoide will both show me an "update" which is actually like 7 versions lower.

Why not settle yourself for a single version for each app?

My opinion is that the cost of dealing with multiple app versions simultaneously far exceeds the benefit of having access to the latest version of each app.

[brookie229]

I use both a Windows Phone and an Android device as my daily drivers. I have been trying to give BB10 a genuine try and recently purchased a Z30 I use on the AT&T network. The main drawback I found is the lack of native apps for the platform (even when compared to Windows Phone), but the fact that I could run almost any Android application on it was a huge factor in my decision. However, I feel this was a half-baked solution by BB (I almost said RIM) in order to get this functionality out earlier. Either that or I am doing something very wrong.

The purpose of my thread is to list the main problems I have with the Android solution on BB10 in hopes of having you guys --the experts-- tell me what I am doing wrong or missing or a workaround or way of achieving the same result.

(A) Applications are very slow to open and, in most cases, to operate. Something you need to open quickly, like Shazam, could take a whole 6-10 seconds from the moment you press the icon till the point where you can start tagging a song.

(B) Notifications from an app don't appear like notifications from a BB native app in the Hub. You just get one clickable box saying "You have notifications from X application" that you need to click and it simply opens the application (in the notifications screen, if I remember correctly).

(C) I still don't get how Android apps are integrated into BB World. Or if they're even there. Say I install the eBay Android app from 1Mobile. What should I see when I search for the eBay app on BB World? That it's already installed or a completely different eBay? If different and I install it, does it overwrite the Android one or do I end up with two different eBay apps? I think I have seen both things happen, which is why it's so confusing to me. When I search in BB World, do I only get BB native apps or also Android apps? How can I tell them apart before installing? As you can see, my confusion on this point is major.

(D) This is probably my biggest gripe. I have installed Android apps from 3 different markets (1Mobile, Aptoide and um... forgot the name of the other one, but that one I got rid of in a day). Whenever several app updates are available through one of these markets and you choose to update all, this takes forever and many times needs to be restarted, as the process simply ends after an app or two. What's worse is the fact that you need to press Update and, in most cases, accept permissions app by app, which means you need to wait until app one is updated in order to press Update and Accept on the second and then wait again for the third and so on. In some cases, I have spent 1 hour just looking at my phone and pressing Update and Accept in order to update all apps. This is very time-consuming and frustrating. Plus if you happen to go to another app in the middle, the dialog will pop up and force you to press Update and Accept before you can continue your work.

(E) This isn't really caused by the BB10 implementation of Android, but the result of it. When you have several Android markets, different latest versions will appear in them. Like one may not see the latest eBay version, but the other won't see the latest Vine. Or I may have the latest Amazon App Store version directly from the Amazon site, but 1Market and Aptoide will both show me an "update" which is actually like 7 versions lower.

Please take this post for what it is. I am asking for help and advise, not bashing BB10. I hope none of you spends $300 on a device in order to bash it. I certainly don't. I really want to make the Z30 work for me, but I'm at a point where I may have to decide to not install any Android app, meaning I couldn't use the Z30 as my daily driver because of the lack of native apps.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

A. Not sure which OS you have in your z30 but I can tell you that in the 10.3.1 OS, android app performance is vastly improved over 10.2.1

B. see above-again 10.3.1 improves notifications of MANY apps but maybe not all.

C. You will end up with 2 ebay apps if you download and install from BBW and 1mobile. Nothing is overwritten from 1 store to the other. The way I look at it: First always check BBW and use the native app if available (I like and use BBW's Ebay app). If BBW app is NOT available or you have tried that version and you don't like it, delete it and find and test an android version from an android store. Android apps are NOT integrated with BBW (altho there are android ported apps in BBW but we consider them exclusive to BBW).

D. The update process for android apps from these stores is more time-consuming and complicated because your device is a BB and wants to protect you from malware/crap (supposedly). That is why in 10.3.1 there is an "app checker" after the app download but before the actual installation. There is no need to have a lot of android app stores on your device. My advice is install the 10.3.1 leak (there is a brand new leak today, search this forum), get rid of all your other android stores and install ONLY Snap. For all your required apps use BBW first, then the newly installed Amazon appstore second, and finally if those two stores do not have what you want go to Snap and use apps from there. Your experience will be so much better if you use those steps. IMHO.

E. Use BBW---Amazon Appstore---Snap (Google Play) and get rid of all others. Just because an update is showing doesn't mean you have to use it. If your app works well just ignore the update.

Remember 10.3.1 update will be THE KEY to solving 95% of your problems.

Hope this helps!

[KMorganBbry]

Your biggest issue could be caused by where you are getting your droid apps from.

I get my apps from the Snap app, Amazon app store, and from the patched google play store that Blaze fixed.

I havent had any of the issues you mention.

If the BlackBerry version of the ebay app does what you need, then just use that one and dont install the droid version. But there are also droid apps that have more functionality than BlackBerry versions...(like the Bank of America app). Once you find out which version works better, stick with just that one version.


Posted via my Z10 running 10.3.1.1016 quite seamlessly on AT&T

[razor1973]

Ah, I completely forgot to mention two very important points: First, I have been using the leaked 10.3.1.1154. Not sure how much will change in today's 10.3.1.1949, but will definitely install it as soon as I get home. Two, I also have used the Amazon App Store and Snap. I experienced the same issues with the Amazon App Store and Snap is definitely... er, snappier, but I found no Update All button and you have to, one by one, hit Download, wait for the downloads to complete and, once downloaded, one by one, click Open Installer, Update, Accept. Still very, very time consuming, but at least the app doesn't hang. If I had an Update All button, I'd definitely uninstall all other stores.

But it's this one by one approach and wait for one to finish in order to be able to update the next what really bugs me. Regardless of why BB does it, it's much more streamlined in all other mobile platforms. You hit Update All, the store somehow determines and prompts you to accept permissions for all selected apps at the beginning and then downloads and installs one after another while you go on your merry way.

I didn't see in any of your replies whether BB World has Android apps or only BB native apps or how to tell them apart. Is what I find in BB World only native apps? What does "made for BlackBerry" mean exactly? Is that their way of telling me it's a BB native app?

Thank you all for your feedback!

[ChrisLeNeve]

I use both a Windows Phone and an Android device as my daily drivers. I have been trying to give BB10 a genuine try and recently purchased a Z30 I use on the AT&T network. The main drawback I found is the lack of native apps for the platform (even when compared to Windows Phone), but the fact that I could run almost any Android application on it was a huge factor in my decision. However, I feel this was a half-baked solution by BB (I almost said RIM) in order to get this functionality out earlier. Either that or I am doing something very wrong.

The purpose of my thread is to list the main problems I have with the Android solution on BB10 in hopes of having you guys --the experts-- tell me what I am doing wrong or missing or a workaround or way of achieving the same result.

(A) Applications are very slow to open and, in most cases, to operate. Something you need to open quickly, like Shazam, could take a whole 6-10 seconds from the moment you press the icon till the point where you can start tagging a song.

(B) Notifications from an app don't appear like notifications from a BB native app in the Hub. You just get one clickable box saying "You have notifications from X application" that you need to click and it simply opens the application (in the notifications screen, if I remember correctly).

(C) I still don't get how Android apps are integrated into BB World. Or if they're even there. Say I install the eBay Android app from 1Mobile. What should I see when I search for the eBay app on BB World? That it's already installed or a completely different eBay? If different and I install it, does it overwrite the Android one or do I end up with two different eBay apps? I think I have seen both things happen, which is why it's so confusing to me. When I search in BB World, do I only get BB native apps or also Android apps? How can I tell them apart before installing? As you can see, my confusion on this point is major.

(D) This is probably my biggest gripe. I have installed Android apps from 3 different markets (1Mobile, Aptoide and um... forgot the name of the other one, but that one I got rid of in a day). Whenever several app updates are available through one of these markets and you choose to update all, this takes forever and many times needs to be restarted, as the process simply ends after an app or two. What's worse is the fact that you need to press Update and, in most cases, accept permissions app by app, which means you need to wait until app one is updated in order to press Update and Accept on the second and then wait again for the third and so on. In some cases, I have spent 1 hour just looking at my phone and pressing Update and Accept in order to update all apps. This is very time-consuming and frustrating. Plus if you happen to go to another app in the middle, the dialog will pop up and force you to press Update and Accept before you can continue your work.

(E) This isn't really caused by the BB10 implementation of Android, but the result of it. When you have several Android markets, different latest versions will appear in them. Like one may not see the latest eBay version, but the other won't see the latest Vine. Or I may have the latest Amazon App Store version directly from the Amazon site, but 1Market and Aptoide will both show me an "update" which is actually like 7 versions lower.

Please take this post for what it is. I am asking for help and advise, not bashing BB10. I hope none of you spends $300 on a device in order to bash it. I certainly don't. I really want to make the Z30 work for me, but I'm at a point where I may have to decide to not install any Android app, meaning I couldn't use the Z30 as my daily driver because of the lack of native apps.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Hi, I bought a Q10 about a month ago and have had plenty of time to install apps. From what I've experienced :
A) Android applications ARE slow to open. Some are rather quick, some painfully slow. I haven't noticed many to be slow to operate (the worst one being the Amazon app store which will soon come preloaded on the device). Mostly, I have found Android apps to be slow to open but to work very well after that. But OS 10.3 coming in February will make all that drastically faster, so don't worry too much.
B) This is not a huge issue for me. It may be the case for some applications (esp. app worlds, I believe) but I have found Android notifications to be quite well integrated into the hub. Skype messages for instance appear directly in the hub.
C) If you install the eBay app from two different app worlds, you will mostly end up with two different ones on your device. I believe Android would work the same way if you installed the same app from two different worlds. So just test both and take whichever one works best. This isn't a huge issue for me, personally. As for native BB apps, you can tell them in the BB world by the "Made for BlackBerry" sign. Yes, that's not a whole lot of them, but it's getting better.
D) I have effectively found app updates to be slow and kind of painful for apps installed from the Amazon App Store. As for apps installed from the BlackBerry world/Snap/any other, you aren't even notified if there's an update (this is my experience, correct me if I'm wrong). Once again, it's not a huge issue for me, for some reason. Probably because I don't really install updates very often.
E) Cf answer C - I think it would work the same on Android, simply because they are two different apks, and probably one is less official than the other.

[ChrisLeNeve]

This is my experience on 10.2.1, and it's only supposed to be better on 10.3. If I were you I would downgrade to the latest official version and hang on for the official 10.3. Hell, it's only 2 months away.

EDIT : Why my second post appeared before my first, I may never know...

[razor1973]

EDIT : Why my second post appeared before my first, I may never know...

There's actually no first post.

EDIT: Never mind. I see it now. Thanks.

[razor1973]

Can you guys confirm that if you have 10 Android app updates waiting in Snap (and by waiting I mean you actually opened Snap and checked for updates, since it doesn't auto-update or even notify you of updates), you have to click Download on all of them, one by one, wait for the downloads to finish and then, one by one, click Open Installer, wait for that to open, select Update, then Accept and wait for the app to finish installing before repeating the process 9 more times? Is there a faster way to do this?

[brookie229]

Can you guys confirm that if you have 10 Android app updates waiting in Snap (and by waiting I mean you actually opened Snap and checked for updates, since it doesn't auto-update or even notify you of updates), you have to click Download on all of them, one by one, wait for the downloads to finish and then, one by one, click Open Installer, wait for that to open, select Update, then Accept and wait for the app to finish installing before repeating the process 9 more times? Is there a faster way to do this?

I can confirm to you that you MUST do each one separately and wait for each to install because as I said before the installer runs a check (Blackberry Gaurdian as it is called) to make sure it is safe to install. Really, I don't consider this to be much of a hassle, but it may be for some people, I guess. I like the fact that BB takes the time to check these apps out first. Also, I believe that a new version of Snap is in the works (version 3, I think) which may or may not address some of your concerns.

[razor1973]

The applications should be checked when they're submitted to BB World. It makes absolutely no sense to check each app every single time someone installs it. It's the same exact app that was checked seconds before with the previous installer.

[razor1973]

OK, so it does sound like the Android solution in BB10 is half-baked at best. I hope they do a better job with the next major version, provided there's one. Thank you all for your feedback and have a wonderful new year ahead!

[shaybaaz khan]

How to download snap... on my BlackBerry z10 10.2.1?


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[Notcho]

Google Play Store Sucks?


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