Got the new Blackberry Z10 last Friday. I was one of the last holdouts. I was waiting for the new Q10 to come out but this hunk of junk called the Torch decided to start looking at gravesites. The enemy doesn't always cooperate. Having said that, the Z10 is a pretty cool phone. Here is my totally unprofessional unexpert review based on using it for a weekend.
1. Play with the phone before you slap that otterbox on it. The entire OS is based on swipes. The otterbox covers up a little of the bezel you need to start the swipe but you adjust to it. No problem for me now. However, Get familiar with the phone and how it works for a day or two before you place it in the tomb of Otter.
2. Hub is really cool. Once you figure it out, the swipes and gestures make sense and flow together. Its nice being able to go back and forth between different apps and websites while not completely leaving them. The Hub combines your calls, FB messages, tweets, emails, and texts into one list. Considering how many I get, it helps. The phone imitates the old HP Touchpad WebOS cascades and lets you "peek" at the list before you open one up. You just slide main screen a little to one side and "peek". You remove finger, the screen moves back over.
3. Browser is really fast. Go to html5test.com to see how fast your phone browser is. Z scored a 485 out of 500 when I tested it. ALlows you to place book marked websites on the home screen of the Z itself. Gives you an option to support flash or turn it off.
4. HDMI jack. This might be interesting down the road. Run video or video apps from your phone into a tv. Kangaroo pointed out that HDMI jack means it can handle much more data if used properly.
5. I don't have to have every app under the sun. I was able to get most of the apps I use: Facebook, Twitter, Tunein Radio, Dropbox, Kindle, Docs to go, Wall Street Journal, Apollo (Pandora client), Slacker Radio, and Whatsapp. Skype is on the way. Iheartradio would be nice but I can live without it. There are no Instagram or Pininterest apps. It remains to be seen if the chick apps will make it to the Z. There is no netflix but I don't watch videos on a phone as that is why I have a tablet. It would be nice to have some more news apps but the browser is so good the bookmarked websites are not a bad substitute. As for Instagram, the camera offers many of the same features so you can perform similar functions on the Z.
6. Typing. I held on to the POS torch because I REALLY prefer physical keyboards. I was shocked at this touchscreen keyboard and how easy it is to use. Much easier than the 3GS I tried a couple of years ago. I hated the iphone keyboard but this one is much easier. I like the predictive text and the fact it adapts to you. The keys are larger and more spaced out. On day 4, the keyboard is now applying what it has learned from my bad habits and making the typing easier. Fewer errors and I wasn't as frustrated. I'd heard it was that good but didn't believe it. I was wrong.
7. Blackberry link. You can sync your itunes and other items without hooking up with a USB cable by using wifi. Nice.
8. Battery life is not bad. Supposed to get better once I go through a few cycles.
9. Video and camera. Have not used the video but the camera is pretty nice. You can edit photos similar to Instagram and give them that "aged" look.
Overall, the Z is a good phone and after a few days, I'm flying through the various apps and screens. The phone is larger than an iphone but smaller than a Galaxy.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Took the plunge and got the Z10.
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7 comments:
I purchased a Z10 the day it came out in the AT&T store moving from the Blackberry Torch. It is quite a curve but I am slowly learning and that includes the problem with the Otter Box. One drawback of the Z10 is that it doesn't use BIS causing minor delays on getting your emails to your phone. But overall I think I'm going to like it.
Thanks for the review. I've been hanging on to my Blackberry Curve despite frequent ridicule from my friends because I like the keyboard. I use very few apps, but need something that makes it easy to respond to emails and write notes that are sometimes rather lengthy.
I don't fool with sports cars. Muscle & trucks all the way.
Am I the only person left who doesn't own a cell phone of any sort?
1:21 Apparently you are. Think about your lowly status in life during your next trip to the outhouse :-)
Am I the only person left who doesn't own a cell phone of any sort?
Yes....and you are my hero!
Roman movies, non story on hemp, Kingfish's new phone, flowers weat of Jackson.....Donner Kay has gotta be lovin' this. No news for days.
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