{"id":5499,"date":"2016-02-26T19:37:28","date_gmt":"2016-02-26T19:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/\/?p=5499"},"modified":"2016-02-26T19:37:28","modified_gmt":"2016-02-26T19:37:28","slug":"technology-one-week-with-a-blackberry-bold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2016\/02\/26\/technology-one-week-with-a-blackberry-bold\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology: One Week with a BlackBerry Bold"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

I have a suspicion that everyone reading knew how this would end. They knew I wouldn\u2019t be happy and they watched as I spent my hard-earned money buying a device released the same year as the 4th Generation iPhone (my favorite model by the way). I celebrated unboxing the Blackberry and setting it up. I was proud to hit the Verizon Wireless store and was actually surprised that 2 employees lamented that they \u201cmissed their Blackberry, especially the keyboard\u201d. I missed the keyboard as well.<\/p>\n

When I spent $58 on eBay for a new in box Blackberry Bold 9930<\/a>, \u00a0there was this emotional rush. I owned a Blackberry in the past and I setup hundreds of them when working in IT. Blackberry Enterprise Server was amazing and I think still is if you\u2019re running MS Exchange. It\u2019s a very powerful platform for 2006. The first mistake I made was buying a BlackBerry OS 7 devices. BB10 is the latest and greatest but let\u2019s talk about the OS issues later.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/a><\/p>\n

For a phone that arrived on the scene at the same time as the iPhone 3GS was in stores, it was ahead of its time. The iPhone 4 leapfrogged it by having the same metal all-around band, thin body, beautiful retina screen and glass on the front AND back of the phone. Blackberry on the other hand was the same in all ways minus the glass, plus the keyboard and it was missing a \u201cretina\u201d display. It did however have a removable battery, it has a track-ball (solid, not moving) and the camera was decent for its time. I actually thought when I ordered this, it was the Bold that did not have a touchscreen and that the gorgeous leather backing that I had tried in stores in 2009. Nope, this was the plastic back touch screen version which I have learned now actually affected the battery life quite a bit. If it wasn\u2019t for the OS 7 incompatibilities, I may have returned this and bought an original Bold instead.<\/p>\n

Now that I compare the 8703e that I loved to the Blackberry Bold, you can see how I was so wrong about the capabilities of both devices being on par.<\/a><\/p>\n

The battery life however was on par with modern smartphones which was a loss in my book. I planned on plugging the Blackberry in once a week like I did on my 8703e<\/a> phone that I had in 2007. The Blackberry of yesteryear basically could run for 3-4 days straight with constant use. The enclosure was thick, all plastic, with big buttons and the side wheel. The holster was a required accessory as it had a magnet in it so you felt a buzz or saw the flashing red light and you\u2019d grab the Blackberry and it would open to the email you just received. It was glance-compatible like the Apple Watch is today. If you spend too long looking at the email, it\u2019s marked as read. If you glance and re-holster, the email will remain unread. With BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server), email was instant, oh man it was so fast. The UI was quick, it had a weak web browser (blown away a year later by iOS 1.0\u2019s \u201centire web\u201d browser) but it\u2019s the device I miss because of all of the features I listed above.<\/p>\n

The problem is, technology progressed and sadly, Blackberry tried to as well. For their sake, it makes a lot of sense but for someone who\u2019s goal is to find a simply phone that lasts all week with a physical keyboard and email, it wasn\u2019t the solution I was seeking.<\/p>\n

I honestly thought Blackberry OS 7 would be just like the version I had 3 years before the BB Bold shipped. I thought it would be fast without any app support and have really fast email, plain-text only with this awesome battery life. The problem was, it didn\u2019t have any of those things. The Blackberry Bold was trying to compete with the iPhone juggernaut so it had an App World, a camera, a touch-screen UI and yes, it had a real web browser. But the problem with all of this is those things were outdated now that technology has moved beyond it.<\/p>\n

If the Blackberry Bold had a WAP browser, it would be fully usable. Fast, scrollable with the thumbwheel and the text I required would be there. Reading NYTimes.com would be fantastic but nope, BB7 has a browser that is now outdated by web standards and thus cripples under every single website I visited. The apps, long deserted with API calls to Foursquare for example that are no longer supported so you\u2019re stuck in this world where it\u2019s \u201cmodern\u201d yet left behind.<\/p>\n

\u2014-<\/p>\n

Before I continue, note I\u2019m talking about a phone released 5years ago. Obviously I don\u2019t think RIM as a company is awful but the experience of using a Bold in 2016 is not good. Big surprise, right?<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

The nail in the coffin was email. It\u2019s the killer-app and I learned 2 days into my Bold experience that 2-way IMAP sync doesn\u2019t work. If I read, forward, reply to an email in Exchange or my personal IMAP server, the changes aren\u2019t synced to my Blackberry or to my desktop. I could sync with BlackBerry Desktop via a USB cable but only in Windows 10 because BB7 doesn\u2019t work with El Capitan anymore but that\u2019s just not something I\u2019m used to.<\/p>\n

I also could not get any of my contacts onto the phone. BB7 doesn\u2019t natively support LDAP, iCloud or Exchange. You have to load contacts via a USB cable in BlackBerry Desktop but BBDesktop doesn\u2019t work in El Capitan so I had to move all of my contacts over to Windows 10 that\u2019s installed on my MacBook Pro virtually. This finally worked and while I found a few contacts sync apps that would allow me to sync my BB via OwnCloud (a dropbox \/ iCloud open source clone I run on my server), the apps I found that did this no longer worked despite being available in Blackberry App World.<\/p>\n

It turns out BB10 does support 2-way sync. BB10 also has a supported Foursquare and Google Voice and a modern browser based on WebKit and it\u2019s because of that, I\u2019m highly considering going BlackBerry Classic this Fall once I\u2019m allowed to upgrade my iPhone 6S to a new phone.<\/p>\n

The thing is, I still believe in Blackberry and the real physical keyboard and that they provide a phone that doesn\u2019t even have a camera because I don\u2019t use it anyway. I made the mistake of thinking the Bold would work for me and I believe it would be on par with the 2007 BlackBerry I had back when I was doing IT work. It wasn\u2019t, it was basically equivalent to using an iPhone 4 in 2016 which would have been just as painful believe me.<\/p>\n

One thing I can give the Blackberry credit for is it was a VERY fast operating system. Everything was instant and the UI was well designed. I really loved using it and setting it up and making phone calls. The keyboard was probably too small form thumbs but the Classic keyboard is actually larger so I might be really happy with that. Despite the small keyboard, the screen itself was acceptable, the hand-feel and pocket-feel was unreal. I no longer had to take the phone out of my pocket when sitting down at a restaurant like I do the tall candy bar style phones we have today. I did miss TouchID but there\u2019s nothing else I really craved about iOS. Another advantage was the Bold does support aftermarket high-capacity batteries which would have helped my charge-once-a-day complaint where the iPhone doesn\u2019t have this possibility.<\/p>\n

I look forward to trying out the Blackberry Classic or Q10 at some point this year. I\u2019ve returned the Blackberry Bold to the seller for a full refund which was really kind of them. It was a fun run, this isn\u2019t the last you\u2019ll hear of Blackberry try-outs on this blog. RIM, if you\u2019re reading, I\u2019d love to try a Blackberry Classic for two weeks. I\u2019ll even pay the Verizon bill. I’m still a Blackberry fan and I still think the Bold design-wise holds its own in today’s world.<\/p>\n

Note: my\u00a0employer conducts business with Apple and RIM (Blackberry). Opinions here are my own as a technologist who is always trying different products. They are not opinions of my employer or any colleagues.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are a few unboxing photos for your pleasure:<\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blackberry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I have a suspicion that everyone reading knew how this would end. They knew I wouldn\u2019t be happy…\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2016-03-17T01:58:48Z","apple_news_api_id":"c32a1c48-321c-48c4-a3f9-1160872fd793","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2016-03-17T01:58:48Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AwyocSDIcSMSj-RFghy_Xkw","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_custom_appearance":"","csco_disable_excerpt_posts_layout":false,"csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-technology","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb3IC4-1qH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6079,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2016\/08\/15\/linked-in-senate-blackberry-era-officially-over\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":0},"title":"Linked: “In Senate, Blackberry Era Officially Over”","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"August 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"via Bomble (whatever that is): The reign of the Blackberry lasted a good decade or more in Congress, early on due to the advanced nature of the devices and obsession with email checking. Even when the iPhone and Androids came about, the Blackberry still kept the throne for awhile because\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Linked"","block_context":{"text":"Linked","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/linked\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5243,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2015\/11\/11\/linked-blackberry-priv-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":1},"title":"Linked: “BlackBerry Priv Review”","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"November 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"via WSJ: Let\u2019s be real, though. If you\u2019re eyeing this phone, you\u2019re after its secret weapon, a four-row physical keyboard that slides out firmly from under the screen, trundle-bed style. Typing on real keys with a phablet-sized 5.4-inch screen towering over them is odd at first, but once I found\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Linked"","block_context":{"text":"Linked","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/linked\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5422,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2016\/01\/30\/i-bought-a-blackberry\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":2},"title":"I Bought a Blackberry","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"January 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I honestly wish there was some way I could convey my excitement to you all. I love Blackberry and I can\u2019t wait to make this my only phone. Not kidding. I\u2019m stoked.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Screen Shot 2016 01 30 at 12 05 54 AM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Screen_Shot_2016-01-30_at_12_05_54_AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7757,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2014\/07\/08\/review-crooked-stave-blackberry-dark-origins\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":3},"title":"\u2605 Review: Crooked Stave Blackberry Dark Origins","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"July 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 3.3 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0AROMA\u00a07\/10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0APPEARANCE\u00a03\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TASTE\u00a05\/10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PALATE\u00a03\/5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0OVERALL15\/20 AdamJackson\u00a0(2343)\u00a0- Enfield, New Hampshire, USA - JUN 28, 2014\u00a0 Dark with a slight purple hue. 3 finger head. Fluffy and fades to a thin line. Nose is kind of strange. Not very jammy a touch of grape skins but an overwhelming fecal aroma. Taste is good.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crooked Stave Blackberry Dark Origins","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5495\/14561850745_4d439a8d0d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3327,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2016\/03\/11\/review-trillium-blackberry-soak\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":4},"title":"\u2605 Review: Trillium Blackberry Soak","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"March 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Overall 3.7\/5 AROMA 8\/10 APPEARANCE 5\/5 TASTE 6\/10 PALATE 3\/5 OVERALL 15\/20 AdamChandler (4089) - Enfield, New Hampshire, USA - FEB 20, 2016 Thanks Clark for sharing this 750ML bottle. A - This is a beautiful blood red color with a small head that fades slowly. S - The aroma\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Trillium Blackberry Soak","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1594\/24544309604_54948c4efc_z.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2731,"url":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/2011\/07\/18\/question-mark\/","url_meta":{"origin":5499,"position":5},"title":"\u2605 Question Mark?","author":"Adam Chandler","date":"July 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"BoyGeniusReport: RIM to discontinue Wi-Fi BlackBerry PlayBook? In a note to investors Monday afternoon, RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Mike Abramsky reiterated an OTR Global report that Research In Motion is possibly planning to stop production of the BlackBerry PlayBook\u2019s Wi-Fi model. A) Don't ask your readers if RIM will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Linked"","block_context":{"text":"Linked","link":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/category\/linked\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5499\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adamchandler.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}