Blackberry E-Mail

[Ardua]

Happy New Year to one and all. Can anybody tell me whether idnet.com (POP3) e-mail is compatible with Blackberry E-mail? I am toying with the idea of getting a Blackberry Storm 2. Many thanks.

[Rik]

Simon will be able to for sure, but I see no reason why it shouldn't.

[Simon]

Yes, I can say it definitely is, because I have a Storm 2, and it collects my IDNet email. Mine is unlocked, on O2.

[Ardua]

Simon

Thank you. I was also toying with getting an Iphone as I am a Mac user; however, I cannot justify the cost to myself neither mind Her who must be obeyed!

[Rik]

It's a shame, isn't it. 

[Simon]

Most of the time, I love the Storm, and for functionality, emails, etc, it works great.  I do sometimes have trouble typing on the 'clickable' screen, but I don't think it's any worse than any other touchscreen device for typing on.

[Gary]

Most of the time, I love the Storm, and for functionality, emails, etc, it works great.  I do sometimes have trouble typing on the 'clickable' screen, but I don't think it's any worse than any other touchscreen device for typing on.

does it have the touchscreen keypad in landscape mode as well Simon?

[Simon]

It does, Gary.

[Gary]

It does, Gary.

I find that helps on the iPhone, because the screen is quite big i can type with two thumbs, in portrait its more fiddly, depends on your fingers though I guess

[Simon]

I tend to use the 'compact' keyboard in Portrait mode, which is two letters to one key QWERTY.  I don't really find either one easier than the other, but I do find the clickable screen more 'definite' than a capacitive one, as it's less easy to click things by accident.

[Gary]

it's less easy to click things by accident.

So that's why you don't make spelling mistakes  Touch screens are easier if you can talk to them, when I do a google search I just say what I want, saves a lot of bother especially as a passenger in a car where all touch screens are hell, it works well unless you are sleepy and slur a bit, then you get very weird search results 

[Simon]

You want to see the typing mistakes on the HTC HD2 I've been trying, Gary. 

Oh, maybe this should be in Mobile Discussion?

[Rik]

And is...

[Sebby]

Happy New Year to one and all. Can anybody tell me whether idnet.com (POP3) e-mail is compatible with Blackberry E-mail? I am toying with the idea of getting a Blackberry Storm 2. Many thanks.

If you have a BlackBerry, your service plan will include BIS. You can setup any POP3 or IMAP account as push.

[Gary]

You want to see the typing mistakes on the HTC HD2 I've been trying, Gary. 

Oh, maybe this should be in Mobile Discussion?

Is that bad then Simon keyboard wise?

[Simon]

I think it's just a question of getting used to it, Gary, eg, on the BB, you can hold down a letter key to get upper case.  with the HD2, you can't, and it won't capitalize the start of a sentence on here either.

[Sebby]

See, that's the problem with so many phones. They may be technically advanced, but they're not good to use.

[Rik]

Unlike an iPhone, Seb? 

[Sebby]

Do I even need to say it?

[Rik]

 

[Simon]

I'm sure I'd find something wrong with it, Seb.  I haven't found a perfect phone yet.

[Rik]

That's assuming it didn't bounce off a wall first.

[Glenn]

The bounce test, is one of the more important tests.

[Simon]

Of course! 

[Rik]

 

[Gary]

I think it's just a question of getting used to it, Gary, eg, on the BB, you can hold down a letter key to get upper case.  with the HD2, you can't, and it won't capitalize the start of a sentence on here either.

That would annoy me Simon, I understand what you mean, I'm interested in this nexus one but having seen the UI on engadget, i was not impressed, also I noticed they had to tap more than once sometimes to get a response, and the google polar thingy wallpaper crashed lol, ad driven phones will come to us all (Apple will do the same) but I'm not sure android is mature enough yet, and only having 512mb to install apps on a phone with the ability to have 32GB of memory seems weird, also right now it would not sit with my music, so iPhone it is still, quite happy with what it does and how it does it. 

[Simon]

I'm actually quite torn at the moment, as I like parts of both the Storm and the HD2, but neither is perfect.

The HD2 is more customisable, being WM, but you need to make it work to your liking, whereas the BB just does the job.

The problem I have is that I am on the BB tariff with O2, therefore, using the HD2 as I usually would, will be incurring data charges.  If I come off the BB tariff, I don't think the emails and other stuff would work on it at all, so it's a bit of a dilemma at the moment.   I'm using the HD2 on WiFi, so getting a feel for it that way, but I'm not convinced I want to chuck in the BB just yet.

[Gary]

I'm actually quite torn at the moment, as I like parts of both the Storm and the HD2, but neither is perfect.

The HD2 is more customisable, being WM, but you need to make it work to your liking, whereas the BB just does the job.

The problem I have is that I am on the BB tariff with O2, therefore, using the HD2 as I usually would, will be incurring data charges.  If I come off the BB tariff, I don't think the emails and other stuff would work on it at all, so it's a bit of a dilemma at the moment.   I'm using the HD2 on WiFi, so getting a feel for it that way, but I'm not convinced I want to chuck in the BB just yet.

I think I would wait for android to come of age a bit more, the nexus looks good but has issues, basically being on the bleeding edge is just that, if your BB works keep it, or check out an iphone I know you are not keen, but I like mine, I am not a mac fanboi and if it was not any good I would say but so far its just worked and worked, typing is great in landscape and with multitouch you can hit multiple keys, something the new Nexus lacks oddly  I have seen a few reviews of Android being a bit buggy, the droid is and tends to freeze with some folks something I have not had yet, I not saying Apple is perfect but the OS has been out 3 years, so it just works well now. Or try the N900, Maemo is meant to be good. 

[Simon]

Yes, I keep looking at the N900.   

[Gary]

Yes, I keep looking at the N900.   

I would wait and see thing is every phone changes so much in weeks you can never keep up, the nexus looks cool but lacks loads of things the N900 looks great but is bulky, id stick with the BB

[Simon]

Can't be as bulky as the HD2!    Mind you, it is slim.  I've just had a software update on the BB, and the keyboard is much more accurate now (see, it wasn't just me!).  

[Rik]

We'll judge that when you next post from it.

[Simon]

[Sebby]

I'm sure I'd find something wrong with it, Seb.  I haven't found a perfect phone yet.

Get an iPhone.

[Steve]

Get an iPhone.

I think he likes the torment though.

[Rik]

Plus all that learning and then selling on. 

[Simon]

I won't buy an iPhone, because they are so overpriced.  Those that use them here are probably on contracts, but would you pay something like £700 for a phone?

[Rik]

I suppose, as in most things, it depends how badly you want it.

[Glenn]

I think the most expensive phone I have brought was £60 

[Rik]

Outright or on contract?

[Glenn]

Outright

[Rik]

Cheapskate.

[Steve]

Work has ordered a Blackberry for the missus aka dinosaur (can't wait for the entertainment) about 3 weeks ago. Its still not arrived . I said she should have got an iPhone as it would have found its own way.

[Simon]

Blackberries usually arrive in the autumn don't they? 

[Steve]

Blackberries usually arrive in the autumn don't they? 

That could leave her in a bit of a jam then!

[Rik]

Better than a pickle.

[Simon]

 

[Rik]

[Glenn]

Cheapskate.

If it makes a phone call, I'm happy, after all, what is a mobile phone meant to do?

[Rik]

Well, according to Seb...   

[Simon]

It runs my life! 

[Rik]

I have Sue for that...

[Glenn]

It runs my life! 

Don't be a slave to technology, let technology be your slave. 

[Simon]

Very fillisoflical, Glenn. 

[Steve]

Of course you can't use your iPhone whilst wearing gloves,so I wonder if "iPhone finger" this winter will become a medical term

All is not lost however http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/diy-touchscreen-gloves-are-as-simple-as-a-few-stitches/

[Glenn]

Or use these Steve http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=9881

[Lance]

I use speech control on the iphone when wearing gloves. Its by far and away the most accurate speach control system I'm come accross.

[Simon]

So, if you want to send a text, you can speak it?  A certain irony there. 

[Rik]

 

Reminds me of the days of 300 baud modems, where we'd happily type away to each other while spending more time on a phone call than a conversation would have entailed.

[Sebby]

I won't buy an iPhone, because they are so overpriced.  Those that use them here are probably on contracts, but would you pay something like £700 for a phone?

I definitely wouldn't pay £700, no. But it's unfair to call them over-priced. Something is not over-priced simply because it is expensive.

[Gary]

I definitely wouldn't pay £700, no. But it's unfair to call them over-priced. Something is not over-priced simply because it is expensive.

Yes they is, but people call them luxurys, or have to much cash and no sense   

[Gary]

So, if you want to send a text, you can speak it?  A certain irony there. 

Alot of new phones do that now Simon. Its easier in a car with a touch screen, it looks like I'm texting secret code when I type as a passenger in the car 

[Simon]

I know I haven't used one, but I simply can't see how the price can be justified.  The camera isn't brilliant and has no flash.  According to many reviews, call voice quality isn't outstanding, and 3G reception is patchy (dependant, of course, on signal strength).  Apparently, you can't transfer files via USB (I have a fairly large library of ringtones which follows me from phone to phone), and you still can't multitask.

I'd be happily corrected if any of the above is incorrect, as it's only what I have picked up from reviews.  I have to admit, the call voice quality could be better on the BlackBerry, and is indeed better than the BB on the HD2, but the HD2 simply isn't as user friendly as the BB, and it seems like you are running with two operating systems (WM6.5 with the HTC Sense overlay), which sometimes makes settings harder to find.

So, why is an iPhone worth seven hundred quid, or more, for the 32Gb version?  

[Gary]

I know I haven't used one, but I simply can't see how the price can be justified.  The camera isn't brilliant and has no flash.  According to many reviews, call voice quality isn't outstanding, and 3G reception is patchy (dependant, of course, on signal strength).  Apparently, you can't transfer files via USB (I have a fairly large library of ringtones which follows me from phone to phone), and you still can't multitask.

I'd be happily corrected if any of the above is incorrect, as it's only what I have picked up from reviews.  I have to admit, the call voice quality could be better on the BlackBerry, and is indeed better than the BB on the HD2, but the HD2 simply isn't as user friendly as the BB, and it seems like you are running with two operating systems (WM6.5 with the HTC Sense overlay), which sometimes makes settings harder to find.

So, why is an iPhone worth seven hundred quid, or more, for the 32Gb version? 

Call quality on mine is fine simon, as to multitask thats an odd one, I have apps with push notification so if im using safari and msn messenger leaves me a new post it comes up, I never used multitasking as such on any other phone, you tend to use an app and then use the phone, if you are using an app your phone obviously works its not an issue and its one that is a bit unfair I mean i can have my music playing and surf the web thats good enough for me, I dont need multiple apps open all using ram at the same time, not on a phone anyway. The camera is there for taking snaps and uploading to social sites of emailing to mates or mms, that's all you need, no it has no flash but I don't use it at night anyway, if you want to take great photos, use a camera, and that goes for any phone imho, You transfer files via iTunes, pictures, music video etc to folders you create. Its a phone designed around media and the itunes system, I have the whole of series 7 of family guy on my phone and I can plug it into my TV and watch it perfectly via the dock I have. My phone is unlocked (by O2) so I can use any 3G network, the 3G is no better on a blackberry on O2 as it is on the iPhone so that's not really relevant.

  I have an App for the Natwest so I can check my balance and grab a mini statement as and when I need it, and that was free, same for my Phone useage via the O2 app. I get my news from the Guardian app which is very good. Also where is this £700 figure coming from, you but it on payas you go from O2 for £549 for the 32Gb version then they will unlock it for free and you can use any sim you want in it you dont spend £700 on a sim free one, as there is no O2 customisation on the phone at all anyway, not even an O2 screen saver or wallpaper.

The OS is superb, the phone stays up for months without having to be rebooted, its easy to navigate, its very functional and well thought out, its a cut down version of the Mac OS really, the whole experience of having my music, podcasts, films and some amazing apps and an incredible interface is what makes it popular. It does make all other phones I have used to date so far seem clunky and buggy, my Phone just works, what more can you ask? Also there will be a refresh this summer, and it will more than likely be upgraded camera and flash, Apple wont sit and let the iPhone stagnate, so time will tell. But as a tool for what I use it for, I love it. As for ringtones no you cant use your library, but then I'm one of those odd sorts that has one for most things, one that sounds like a phone, and then individual ones for friends so I know if I want to answer or not.

There are full video editing suites for the iPhone which are amazing see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Khq0xo_tUg

As to photos, well here fis an example of what can be done with some of the apps to edit pics on the iphone and a flair for photography

http://1isenough.1kx1k.com/dominiquejost/

And this is a photo I took in the summer.

[Simon]

I can't argue with your user experience Gary.  The seven hundred quid is for a SIM free one from Play.com.  I didn't realise you could buy them cheaper from O2.

Might have another think about it, but will probably wait until it's upgraded again, given that I have two relatively new phones on the go at the moment.  Mind you, there's always eBay. 

[Gary]

I can't argue with your user experience Gary.  The seven hundred quid is for a SIM free one from Play.com.  I didn't realise you could buy them cheaper from O2.

Might have another think about it, but will probably wait until it's upgraded again, given that I have two relatively new phones on the go at the moment.  Mind you, there's always eBay. 

I have broken the but new phone habit, ill see what the refresh brings, then decide, Mazuma will give me £260 for my iPhone as is now

[Sebby]

So, why is an iPhone worth seven hundred quid, or more, for the 32Gb version? 

Use it, and you'll see. That's all I can say.

[Simon]

Can I borrow yours then? 

[Glenn]

You'll need a £700 deposit

[Rik]

I don't quite weight that much. (Though I wouldn't mind me worth my weight in gold right now...)

[Simon]

You're worth it. 

[Rik]

 

[Sebby]

Can I borrow yours then? 

I couldn't be without it...

[Rik]

We should organise a get-together and you could show us the benefits, Seb.

[Gary]

We should organise a get-together and you could show us the benefits, Seb.

Thats a new word for it 

[Sebby]