Blackberry Venice, the next Android QWERTY - BlackBerry Priv

http://crackberry.com/blackberry-venice-slider-spotted-once-again-some-clearer-images
Anyone going to switch to this device? My Relay has been loyal to me for the last 4 years, but I think it's about time to get a new QWERTY.

I would if it wasn't so freaking huge!

That thing looks exactly like the S6 Edge with the keyboard closed. I'm intrigued, but I'm typically not one to drop the coin on a flagship phone.

I was thinking about getting this before I knew it had android. Now, I'm definitely getting it! Probably the last android qwerty ever if it flops.

hey

i think im gonna get this one ...

I cannot wait. I just hope it is real, because the company said they would not ditch their Blackberry OS because it is more secure than Android.
I will switch to this phone right the second they accept pre-orders if it is really qwerty Android.

You know they've done good when the phone makes you think about it 3 times or more. I like the Venice and I think it will have its fair share of success (Sammy Fan) :good:

Blackberry does not do preorders , once they set a release date , it will be out.

As someone writing this on my Photon Q, I am really really excited about a phone for once! I hope it will have good battery life or a removable one at least. I use my arrow keys like crazy so I'm glad to see the touch sensitive keyboard!

For sure it's a very interesting device, I want one at least for a drivetest I hope for a reasonable thinness and weight, with a battery of 2800mAh at least.
BTW, anyone has any idea about the weight?
New video:
http://m.crackberry.com/blackberrys-android-powered-venice-caught-hands-video

Looks like a really great phone, would've strongly considered it if I didn't already upgrade.

Still remember the good old days with my Motorola milestone 1 and love the idea of having a hardware keyboard again! If the bat is big enough/the phone lasts long enough i will definitly jump in this!
Looking forward for an European launch!
Cheers

it's really tempting. i love the combo of slider + curved display + nearly stock android but i need to see battery and camera tests before going for it cuz Blackberry has never been big in the camera department and battery was good only in non-touchscreen devices

I'm getting this phone for sure. I'm sure it will be locked down like fort Knox but I don't care. I'm ready to move on from 2012 galaxy relay.

mikedemoda said:
it's really tempting. i love the combo of slider + curved display + nearly stock android but i need to see battery and camera tests before going for it cuz Blackberry has never been big in the camera department and battery was good only in non-touchscreen devices
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Not sure what you mean by good battery only in non-touchscreen devices. My Z30 routinely lasts two days without a charge overnight easily.

Looks great. I prefer tactile keyboards instead of on-screen ones, so I'm always on the lookout for stuff like this.
I have a DROID-4, and I love it (and its keyboard) dearly, but can't deny that it's an old device that is not even supported anymore.
The Blackberry Priv / Venice will definitely be in my wishlist. I usually hate portrait-style keyboards, but for some reason it looks good on this phone. Watched a hands-on video of it, looks pretty sweet, and the specs are that of a flagship phone. I don't think we'll get a NEW Android QWERTY phone from other manufacturers anyway.

This thing looks HUGE (which is great!) so the portrait keyboard layout shouldn't be too hard to adjust to. G4 tier specs are still an upgrade over the Note 4. Only things we don't know about it are
-battery size/ life
-price
-fast charging/ wireless charging
-Fingerpring scanner on keyboard? (space bar maybe)

Pretty sure it will NOT have a fingerprint reader in the keyboard. The Priv has a capacitive sensitive keyboard like the Passport (which is used for scrolling and gestures), so I somewhat doubt it will have space for fingerprint hardware.

I currently have Motorola Droid Turbo, and I'm not going to lie I love my phone so much even though it is not new still have the latest specifications and amazing battery life even better than any phone released in the past days.
However, qwerty keyboard are magical to me so I have to have the Blackberry Priv. But do you think guys it will be updated on time and have got support? Or will it be ditched? And what would happen if Blackberry didn't sell enough from it? Would they discontinue it or even sell out the company? Haha
I hope it would be reasonably priced to be able to match the new Nexus devices.

Related

[Q] What you think about Hp Pre 3 ?

Pre 3 seems great, the keyboard looks solid, screen is gorilla glass, 3.6" is way better than 3.1" curved pebble shape means it will feel great in hand and while 1250 mAH seems low this is a 2nd gen snapdragon so it does require lower power to operate.
what you think its chances of success ?
masker said:
Pre 3 seems great, the keyboard looks solid, screen is gorilla glass, 3.6" is way better than 3.1" curved pebble shape means it will feel great in hand and while 1250 mAH seems low this is a 2nd gen snapdragon so it does require lower power to operate.
what you think its chances of success ?
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I would buy it.. but it should've come out last year
I am waiting for it. I'm currently using a Pre-, have used other phones but keep coming back to webOS
I kind of want to jump from a nexus one to a pre3; however, it needs to have T-mobile 3g. :/
i'm currently on the Evo and debating between getting the Xoom(Wi-Fi Only) or the Pre3 and the Touchpad. Just waiting for some more details
hakuchi18v said:
I would buy it.. but it should've come out last year
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The processor its using wasn't out last year.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
contradude said:
The processor its using wasn't out last year.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
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No, but i meant the phone in general, even with a decent processor from last year... The overall phone being released early last year or even in the middle it would've been good for HP.. My opinion
I just ordered an unlocked GSM Pre2 for use on AT&T (freebie, zip, zero, nada). Why? Because it's free, and because I can deal with it until something better than the Pre3 hits the market.
Even though I actually *WORK* for HP, I don't have a whole lot of faith in the Pre3's chances at success...Now, if HP can manage to get a BETTER mobile device out by Q4 '11/Q1 '12, then there may be hope.
Notably missing from Pre3: 4G (at least HSPA+ support on GSM, or some sort of LTE on other carriers). It's shameful for a new phone to launch in Summer '11, and it's NOT 4G. *EFFING SHAMEFUL*
I personally would also prefer a landscape slider, but that's only because I've never had a Palm, and have had two Touch Pros (TP1, and TP2) for the last two years. I've gotten used to the larger keyboards. If they do it, I WILL buy it. Plain and simple.
BTW - I watched the Feb 9 event. I was excited waiting for the Pre3 to blow my socks off, only to be underwhelmed. I DO really like the TouchPad, which is the one thing I wasn't expecting to get excited about. Go figure.
Honestly, I have tried a Pre...for 30 days. I liked it, but it wasn't tempting enough for me to switch from Nexus One to it. I received a Pre2 from a good friend (who got two for free), and I have used it extensively for about a month now.
However, I still use my Optimus 7 (WP7 device) for daily use, and despite all of WP7's shortcomings, I would not recommend Pre2 over a WP7 device.
Pre3 could have been a success if and only if HP delivered like Apple; Introduce the product, then release it within one month.
Of course, mobile landscape is FAR from being decided. Android's rise was surprising in 2010. WP7 might pull off something similar (now with Nokia on board as well), and you never know, HP might just sell a lot of WebOS devices. However, Pre3 is not going to be a great success. WebOS, since HP will put it in EVERYTHING, will be a success and an appealing platform for developers, but not so much when it comes to smartphones.
Hi,
I have Pre and will buy Pre 3. I had few Android phones (HTC Desire, SE X10 and Moto Milestone (Droid in US) and Windows mobile (SE X1 and TP2) and i must say that Android doesn't come nowhere near the effortless usability of WebOS out-of-the-box and with few apps.
I am using it for managing tasks, calendars, contacts and notes (private and business with Exchange) and I must say it is working without any problems. Unlike Androids, especially with Exchange. I am not a FB or Twitter user so I won't comment on that.
I don't need mega screens (I had them and I would trade it for physical keyboard any time) or black slabs since I want the phone to be pocketable. I actually really like the Pre's form factor, small and convenient. And Pre 3 will have better build quality, higher resolution, better keyboard, better screen and faster speed. It will also feature new WebOS - the OS that I like most.
I tried the WP7 and frankly, I don't want to go to old Palm OS functionality (single tasking) just for the sake of looks, which I also get tired with fast (I have been testing the Omnia 7 for two weeks and returned it back). MS can pull it off but I think that in this incarnation it is just not worth it. Beside i have the same restrictions on the marketplace as I do with Palm on both Android and WP7 (only free apps, no paid ones).
So, yes, I will buy it when the time comes. My wife already put a reservation on my Pre which she also prefers over her current SE X8.
Marijan
If Sprint sells it, I will probably buy it. I love Web OS and it's multitasking capabilities, just can't stand that small screen with no flash 10.1
I'm super excited about it. I just got a pre- to play with because my G2 won't sync with my work Exchange calendar and I need to send it off for repair. I'm so impressed by the pre- I might sell the G2 when it gets back. There's only 2 things I don't like about the pre- hardware, and pre3 addresses both those things. Processor speed is the first, which I can forgive because it's a 2009 phone. Resolution is the second, although I like the 3.1 inch size. My G2's screen looks much better because of the higher res, but I wish the phone wasn't so big and it's battery life is terrible which I think the screen is a large contributor to battery drain.
Pre3 is looking like the perfect phone for me
auTONYmous said:
Notably missing from Pre3: 4G (at least HSPA+ support on GSM, or some sort of LTE on other carriers). It's shameful for a new phone to launch in Summer '11, and it's NOT 4G. *EFFING SHAMEFUL*
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I hope this doesn't offend you, but you sound like a spoilt brat. 4G isn't available everywhere yet. Some countries don't have it at all. I'm sure it's very nice, but for many it's not "notably missing", it's an unnecessary (unusable even) luxury.
auTONYmous said:
I personally would also prefer a landscape slider, but that's only because I've never had a Palm, and have had two Touch Pros (TP1, and TP2) for the last two years. I've gotten used to the larger keyboards. If they do it, I WILL buy it. Plain and simple.
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I just got a pre- to use while my G2 is being repaired. I agree with you that large landscape keyboards are awesome, but I wouldn't dismiss the smaller portrait keyboard if I were you. I think the pre- keyboard is just as good as the G2's. I was quite surprised actually because it looks so small. I think it's the fact that I don't have to turn my phone that makes up for it's size.
Shouldn't this be in the General section, rather than Software Development?
Had a Pre- from launch day and *loved* it. However, it kept breaking and O2 refused to repair it any longer and gave me a Galaxy S. Lovely handset but I miss WebOS. I can't wait for the Pre3 to hit the UK and I'll buy on launch day. However, they're shooting themselves in the foot be announcing it without a release date. Specs look great by today's standard, but it needs to hit soon. Maybe launch with the Touchpad and do an offer on buying both? I'd be all over that like a rash!
WebOS is SOOOO superior to Android and iOS its beyond belief. I just have little faith in HP's ability to execute!
LDJ said:
Had a Pre- from launch day and *loved* it. However, it kept breaking and O2 refused to repair it any longer and gave me a Galaxy S. Lovely handset but I miss WebOS. I can't wait for the Pre3 to hit the UK and I'll buy on launch day. However, they're shooting themselves in the foot be announcing it without a release date. Specs look great by today's standard, but it needs to hit soon. Maybe launch with the Touchpad and do an offer on buying both? I'd be all over that like a rash!
WebOS is SOOOO superior to Android and iOS its beyond belief. I just have little faith in HP's ability to execute!
Click to expand...
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oh god...eeww lmao
Can't say anything about Pre3's chances of success but when it's out I'll be replacing my Pre+ with one. I've used all the major mobile OS's (except BB) and WebOS is the one that I feel most comfortable on. After using iOS and WP7 and Android I kept coming back to my Pre+. Once you've used WebOS, Android feels clunky and iOS feels like a toy. I've been using WebOS as my everyday OS for 9 months now and occasionally I switch to my HD2 (running either Android or WP7) and I just hate it! Sure Android's come a long way since I got my HTC Hero GSM, (then switched to Moto Milestone) but there's just too many keypresses involved to get stuff done! It's how I felt about Symbian S60 (used it for 5 years before switching to Android) and now WebOS makes me feel that way about Android!
The only things that have been bugging me about my Pre+ is the lack of some apps I like to use on iOS/Android and the low screen res. The Pre3 resolves my screen woes with that 3.6" 800x480 screen (which I know will make the OS even more beautiful) and the apps, well hopefully as time goes by and HP pushes WebOS onto millions of devices that will solve itself.
Another thing is the portrait keyboard, landscape keyboards just don't do it for me. The Pre keyboard is a love or hate item. I love it, and if what the early reviewers are saying about how good the Pre3 keyboard is then bring it on!
What do people here think the battery life will be like on this device?
personally I will be jumping from samsung epic to pre 3
webos is best for my usage and needs
Ive used a pre - and plussed one able to oc to 1.2. I also created over 20 patches (some of you might know who I am) so I do love WebOs. I love the elegance of WebOs but until there are real apps (really how many twitter apps do we need) Ill have to wait. The pre3 looks great but if it suffers from the slow app opening syndrome like the Pre-,+, and 2. i will definitely have to pass. Maybe by pre4 hp will get their **** together.

Samsung Galaxy S2 Anyone?

What are your thoughts on the Samsung galaxy S2. Gonna be available for ATT soon .
Why is this in the Nexus One forum?
cymru said:
Why is this in the Nexus One forum?
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The S2 is one of the first devices that's made me think about upgrading from my N1.
question is why is it here. it doesnt help any fellow n1 users
too big, tried it already in a phone store here in Korea. It is VERY light tho, my first thought when holding the phone was, "why did they removed the battery off the phone?", then i pop out the cover and found the battery was there!!! phone is extremely light!!!!!! I was afraid of dropping it when using. 4.3" is too big for my hand, i think 4" is the perfect size for any phone.
Everything is fast and smooth, what else do you expect from a dual core 1.2ghz A9 chip? screen is beautiful, put the nexus 1 screen to dust even at max brightness.
already a thread on this topic in this forum. just search it out and find all the info you need there.
Some of us N1 users like state of the art technology. Wanted to know what other N1 users thought of it. Some are on the lookout for something better . Love the N1, but too many lockups and rom bugs, battery life is poor, screen resolution has been improved on S2 as well as scratch resistant glass. It's something I'm considering for speed, quality and performance. Use my phone daily as a PC/PDA.
But if this was asked in say... the Samsung G II area, then you could get proper opinions from more people who ACTUALLY OWN THE DEVICE.
I'm not interested in Samsung 2 thread opinions! Wanted to ask N1 users. Last I looked it was my post
haha fair enough.
Anyway, i agree with some others, it runs really nicely, but just a wee bit too big for the hand and also i'd prefer the phone to be aluminium and heavier than plasticy and light
Big_O said:
I'm not interested in Samsung 2 thread opinions! Wanted to ask N1 users. Last I looked it was my post
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That's why I'm saying a huge thread in this nexus one forum already exists about the galaxy s2, and u will prob find every piece of info already posted.
I'm switching from my N1 to a SGS2. Currently waiting for it to ship from Handtec. It's the first Android phone since the N1 that really appealed to me.
I´m going to retire my beloved N1 as soon as I can get the S2 from my provider (should be in a week or two) I played with a S2 of a college (who bought it of contract) and I deem it worth to upgrade.
if it had qhd and nfc it would be the ultimate device
i hear it will come with nfc in some markets tho..
samsung always have the latest tech, mhl, samoled2, usb3, bluetooth 3?
well either way to answer this i would just get both phones there is no doubt
Had it for a bit now. You get used to the size pretty fast, before long the N1 seems small. I'm pretty big and I find devices too thin nowdays so I got a case that made it thicker on purpose. Did the same with the N1. If the S2 has any killer feature it would have to be the hardware acceleration in 2D. This really stands out in the browser where pages are rendered with desktop speed and zooming and such have a fluidity that are unmatched with any device I have seen. All lot of the attributes of this phone are pretty obvious. It is much more powerful and that can be seen throughout the gui while in operation and performing any task. This is pretty much a no brainer considering you are comparing what is now a year and a half old device to one which was just introduced. It should not be taken as a knock against the N1 as I am impressed with how well it holds up in comparison, it is no slouch on the latest nightly.
Specific things I do not like about the sgs2.... Hate having the power button on the side. I have turned the phone off several times accidentally and then had to reboot when I went to use it. I do not like having the single hard button surrounded by the two cap buttons arrangement. It kinda screws with the flow of doing stuff on the phone. Touch, touch, touch, oops, should have PUSHED the home button, push, touch, touch, PUSH. Just doesnt seem right to me. Plus while I never actually used the search softkey to search I did use the longpress to access quick settings and now of course used or not that button simply isnt there. I would have greatly prefered a standard 4 button arrangement. The build quality is lower than the N1. It is not what I perceive as terrible like my wifes captivate but the materials and feel of the phone in hand are a step down from the N1. Since both are cased all I really see is the case and screen either way so this one doesnt bother me but its there.
The pluses of the sgs2 are mostly obvious. Being newer and possessed of the latest greatest it is a more powerful device in every way. Again its good to keep in mind that I am comparing to a generationally older phone here and it should not be taken as a knock against the N1 but there it is. The screen is stellar and touch is very accurate. Side by side with cupertinos best the colors appear more saturated but it falls behind slightly in rendering fine text. Overall we both rated it a push while we both rated the extra real estate as a huge bonus. This screen is really good and can stand up to the best out there IMO. Touchwiz is surprisingly not horrible. I have gone back and forth between ADW, LP and TW and ended up actually keeping TW but with most of the "wiz" removed. The built in exchange support is better than the N1.
Overall I'm glad I did it. The N1 is the first device I ever owned where I actively liked it. I still have it, normally I would have put it up for sale the minute the new phone successfully booted. I still load nightlies. The bottom line though is in the pro/con department the sgs2 brings more to the table.

I have to say this is the best phone I've ever owned.

Obviously relative to the time I loved my 3210 and 3310 but you cannot say they're better phones than what we have today. I thought I wasn't going to buy this because of the screen protector thing, however I needed a new phone because I sold my Windows Phone as that OS is just plain bad. I ended up going for this phone in the end because I hate big phones and it finally felt like Android got its iPhone... a normal sized flagship. I've avoided the mini versions in the past as they're always the poor peoples phone, for some reason OEMs see smaller phones as this? However this phone really makes no compromises.
I love the size, love the speed, love the fact Sony don't do a Touchwiz, the construction is so solid and nice, the camera is great, the screen is great etc. It is such an amazing phone to fit in this size, which next to my iPhone 5c it is barely any bigger. What has amazed me though is I'm getting 4 days on a single charge, I'm not a heavy user, I used to get 2 days on my HTC One, but my Windows Phone only lasted a day and this one is thrashing them all. I'm currently on 70% at 1 day 19 hours, those battery saver things built in really work.
I have to wonder if wanting higher and higher resolution screens is worthwhile, I don't miss the 1080p screen of my HTC One, I didn't miss it with my Windows Phone which was 720p, I don't miss it with this one either. I use my iPhone (which I own because IOS has the best games) and that is even lower res and I just don't care it looks good enough. I don't miss not having 460ppi or whatever the HTC One was, I cannot see a pixel on the screen of this phone or my iPhone, I don't look at my phone with a magnifying glass.
My only gripe is I wish they used the bottom bit for capacitative touch buttons.
Really great phone I'd recommend it to any one, maybe people can pick faults with it, I dunno I can pick faults with every phone I've ever used, at some point you just have to accept there is no perfect phone. The HTC One went on about the front stereo speakers, only they weren't great quality, weren't loud after the updates that toned them down because they would crackle at high volumes, the camera sucked, it was impossible to repair. The 1020, the camera was over rated, it would take 4 seconds between shots, have lots of noise, the battery would barely last a day, Windows Phone sucked. I could go on and on but I think so far the Z1 Compact is the best all rounder I've owned and definitely the best normal sized phoned that you can actually fit in your pocket comfortably.
I have to agree, love this phone so far. Before buying the phone, I was a little apprehensive due to various complaints on this forum about touchscreen, slow to wake, etc. But after 9 days without a reboot, I have yet to experience any bugs. Performance is lightning fast, Sony 4.3 ROM is very stable, and the size is almost perfect (would prefer even smaller, but I don't expect anything smaller with similar performance anytime soon).
Venekor said:
My only gripe is I wish they used the bottom bit for capacitative touch buttons..
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^^^^ THIS! There is plenty of room on the bottom bezel for the buttons, and that would get more usable screen area back. But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise superb phone.
I've not got bugs on 4.3, I just don't get why people want to be on the latest version all the time, I've been on Kitkat with my HTC One and never noticed a difference...
I like the apps that keep the on screen buttons but make them opaque and get rid of the black bar, it means you don't really notice them and you feel like you're getting the whole screen. I still don't get why there is a big unused Bezel there, maybe that didn't have the space and it is a tight fit in there?
The other thing I don't get is you can easily remove the back cover and it is a bit like a Galaxy phone in there, the internals are covered by plastic, you can get the battery out quite easily and it is easy to repair. They should have just made it into a battery cover instead of giving them impression the battery cannot be replaced.
Still it is nice that you can open it up so easily.
I agree...best phone I ve ever used
Sure is best!. I have 4.4.2 rom now and it rox
Send from my Z1C using tapatalk
First of all sorry on my english
Bezel on the end of phone is probably place where you holding hands when you play games or watching movies
a title?
sorry for my poor English
I like its size and the appearance and no shrinkage to Z1.
Im worry that few people choose this phone here(they often appreciate big ones)and it appears few roms. My last phone was Moto me525 defy, it could use dozens of roms.
Finally I would complain that the forum here is not so friendly as in my country.
11 numbers! are needed, I was used none or 6 numbers when you submit frequently.
Love the dimensions and specs of this phone as well.
But I am still not a fan of Android coming from Nokia's Meego Harmattan.
If the Sailfish OS port ever comes (bug free), this would be my perfect phone.
I completely agree. I came from a Find 5, which is nice in its own right, and this phone is just ridiculously good. I left it stock for about 5 minutes before rooting and unlocking, and have not looked back. I have had no issues thus far with KK (the slightly modded version from munjeni), and the performance / battery and build quality is superb. I haven't messed with BT or camera much yet, but getting a few little things like the softkeys out of the way is about all I needed to make this my perfect phone.
:good:
Venekor said:
I've not got bugs on 4.3, I just don't get why people want to be on the latest version all the time, I've been on Kitkat with my HTC One and never noticed a difference...
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Google does not leave an update/work for nothing uh... If you do not see the differences, is that your usage is too basic to see (e.g., UI improvements...).
Btw, I always used Xperia smartphones and this is the best phone I've ever owned too!
couldn't agree anymore with you! this is my favorite phone too, and i just love it! all other "mini" smartphones either need a large batteri or have little internal memory or something else. this phone is a beast and have it all!
I agree 100% that this is the best phone I have to date. For a compact phone, the specs alone was a winner and has proven to be in it's performance. It's by no means a mini when it comes to resources. Superb processing and battery power and proprietary Sony battery usage software which I don't even have to use, lol.
I appreciate that Sony doesn't have to be out there marketing wise like Samsung and elegantly meet and surpass their performance. Water proof, dust proof, no biggie full LTE support no limitations except maybe finger print reader (like they even use it). I have owned Samsung s2 to s4, even their minis. Ironically I loved the s2
I am soo happy I have jumped ship and look forward to continued Sony development.
sllik said:
Love the dimensions and specs of this phone as well.
But I am still not a fan of Android coming from Nokia's Meego Harmattan.
If the Sailfish OS port ever comes (bug free), this would be my perfect phone.
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yes sailfish os on the z1c would it make perfect.

Can BlackBerry revive the qwerty?

I miss my BlackBerry keyboard. Does anyone think that BlackBerry can bring the qwerty back, or is it doomed?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Borderpatrol1987 said:
I miss my BlackBerry keyboard. Does anyone think that BlackBerry can bring the qwerty back, or is it doomed?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
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All I know is that I'm buying this phone the very first day that I can. I'm still rocking a Droid 4. It's sooo ****ty and old and broken, and I just recently dropped it and cracked the screen. I thought my love affair with QWERTY phones was over, and was even looking at that Galaxy keyboard case thingy, until I heard rumors about this last month. Now I'm news.googling blackberry venice everyday for more information.... really ****in' excited to care about having a smartphone again
I hope it sells well and shows other companies that there is definitely a market out there for QWERTY phones. From what seems to be general knowledge, manufacturers killed QWERTY phones primarily due to the increased costs associated with repairs and such of the keyboard, and NOT due to lack of public desire!
Oh I hope so. I have been saying for years as Blackberry started to lose marketshare to Android and iPhone that they need to adopt Android so they could pick up the people who wanted hardware keyboards. Looks like they can put that to the test finally.
Now, if it does take off, I'd like to see Motorola bring back the Droid/Milestone based on the X line... unlocked, and sliding landscape.
Seems like it's too narrow to hold comfortably and type with two thumbs, no number row, etc.. They really should have slid landscape style like droid 4, even droid 4 keyboard looks bigger than this venice keyboard, yet venice overall looks bigger. If they'd done that, I think it would revive qwerty, the way it is, I'd say maybe helps, maybe hurts. Still want to hold it in my hands for myself and decide tho.
enigma9o7 said:
Seems like it's too narrow to hold comfortably and type with two thumbs, no number row, etc.. They really should have slid landscape style like droid 4, even droid 4 keyboard looks bigger than this venice keyboard, yet venice overall looks bigger. If they'd done that, I think it would revive qwerty, the way it is, I'd say maybe helps, maybe hurts. Still want to hold it in my hands for myself and decide tho.
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I was never a fan of the landscape qwertys. I always found them to awkward to use. I prefer portrait.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
I'm still rocking my Galaxy Relay on CM11. It's exciting to finally have a reason to get a new phone! And yes, I really do think this could revive the QWERTY phone. One major problem with previously released QWERTY phones is that none of them were true flagships. Relay is still one of the best out there, but stacked against the s3 (which came out at the same time), it was clearer an inferior device (only 480p screen, lesser camera). This will be the first time in a long time that a keyboarded phone is not just a compromise and is a full-fledged flagship. I think competitive pricing is key here. $499 would sell a lot of these.
Also, on the subject of landscape vs portrait keyboard, I have always used landscape, but I'm keeping an open mind with this one. Most landscape QWERTYs were super small anyway, so with the Priv's size might actually be as big as the landscape keyboards we're already used to.
Zer0.exe said:
I'm still rocking my Galaxy Relay on CM11. It's exciting to finally have a reason to get a new phone! And yes, I really do think this could revive the QWERTY phone. One major problem with previously released QWERTY phones is that none of them were true flagships. Relay is still one of the best out there, but stacked against the s3 (which came out at the same time), it was clearer an inferior device (only 480p screen, lesser camera). This will be the first time in a long time that a keyboarded phone is not just a compromise and is a full-fledged flagship. I think competitive pricing is key here. $499 would sell a lot of these.
Also, on the subject of landscape vs portrait keyboard, I have always used landscape, but I'm keeping an open mind with this one. Most landscape QWERTYs were super small anyway, so with the Priv's size might actually be as big as the landscape keyboards we're already used to.
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Your right about the price. If they try to go premium flagship, it will never sell. Why buy from a has-been when I can go with a hot name. If they undercut everyone on price, it will sell in droves.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
http://www.androidauthority.com/blackberry-ceo-john-chen-showcases-blackberry-priv-644712/ Welp, one thing was confirmed by John Chen and that's that the keyboard CAN in fact be used as not just a scroll wheel but a full blown mouse/ pointer! Certainly makes up for the lack of stylus for precision selection. Hype!
P.S. I find it adorable that Mr. Chen still didn't quite know how to use Android. Practice makes perfect, Mr. Chen!
I'd rather have a BB Classic. This seems gimmicky IMO. It won't sell well. BB fans love blackberries, not wannabe androids. I LOVE BB but since my curve 8900, I haven't felt the phone is productive enough to match my needs. Its sad really... I'd much rather own BB than Android
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Thoughts after trying it.

I've been waiting for a good slider for a long time and the Priv was pretty much it. Sadly, it's not to be. I went to the store yesterday to try it out. Within seconds I realized this phone wasn't for me. The keyboard is tiny. It is usable but very small, I typed 3 sentences and my thumbs started hurting. 10 minutes after I was done typing the thumbs continued to hurt. I realized this is for the diehard blackberry users, not for us who've been using sliders with a bigger, more comfortable keyboard.
I understand with every new keyboard there's a learning curve. Hell, even between laptops there's a learning curve, but with this phone there may be way too much, and long messages will be pretty uncomfortable.
The other issue is the actual placement of the keyboard. The phone is too big and heavy. This is essentially the same size as the Blue Angel, just not as heavy. However that keyboard was, for some reason, easier to use than this one. Being that the BA was thicker, it had good grip. The Priv doesn't. I felt it was going to slide out of my hands, which added to the stress of holding it, which added to the uncomfortable typing. All in all I played with it for a good 20 minutes, and I just am not convinced. I may have to bite the bullet and get a non keyboard phone...
devis said:
I've been waiting for a good slider for a long time and the Priv was pretty much it. Sadly, it's not to be. I went to the store yesterday to try it out. Within seconds I realized this phone wasn't for me. The keyboard is tiny. It is usable but very small, I typed 3 sentences and my thumbs started hurting. 10 minutes after I was done typing the thumbs continued to hurt. I realized this is for the diehard blackberry users, not for us who've been using sliders with a bigger, more comfortable keyboard.
I understand with every new keyboard there's a learning curve. Hell, even between laptops there's a learning curve, but with this phone there may be way too much, and long messages will be pretty uncomfortable.
The other issue is the actual placement of the keyboard. The phone is too big and heavy. This is essentially the same size as the Blue Angel, just not as heavy. However that keyboard was, for some reason, easier to use than this one. Being that the BA was thicker, it had good grip. The Priv doesn't. I felt it was going to slide out of my hands, which added to the stress of holding it, which added to the uncomfortable typing. All in all I played with it for a good 20 minutes, and I just am not convinced. I may have to bite the bullet and get a non keyboard phone...
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Click to collapse
I moved away from a BlackBerry with a physical keyboard a few years ago, and then had to use one with a physical keyboard again, it usually makes ones thumbs hurt since on a screen you're tapping, on a physical keyboard you tap the button, but have to press down as well.
I'm interested in actually feeling what the Priv feels like, I don't think I'll be able to get it in my country for another month or so, but I thought the Priv might be heavy, BlackBerry phones usually feel heavier.
I have the phone and it's great so far. Yes typing on keyboard may seem tiresome and slow but once you get used to it, u will ove the fact that u have the whole screen estate to type long emails chats etc. The phone build quality is pretty good too and slim bezels considering front speakers.
varun.gid said:
I have the phone and it's great so far. Yes typing on keyboard may seem tiresome and slow but once you get used to it, u will ove the fact that u have the whole screen estate to type long emails chats etc. The phone build quality is pretty good too and slim bezels considering front speakers.
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Don't forget you can set keys as short cuts and the keyboard is capacitative so can be used like a limited track pad. Unique features for productivity.
And, of course, you do not even have to use the physical keyboard.
Im not sure how the Priv could be seen as slippery. I've played with a couple now, and also own a Z30 with the same back material. The glass weave is an extremely grippy material. I can hold my Z30 at probably a 60 or 75 degree angle with only three fingers flat on the back
Damn, it's been a while I'm waiting for it, I loved my htc desire Z (2009).
But no manufacturer tried to do a physical keyboard since then...
But what the hell BB?!?
Most providers will sell it almost at the same price as an iphone 6s.
Even the note 5 is half cheaper!
BB was know for replaceable battery and FM radio, which was I small difference compared to others. Anddd they get rid of it .
What's their marketing goal?
BB have hard time : Lets sell it at way higher price than most of flash ship phones, remove some nice features and let the rooting difficult.
( I believe rooting not necessary equal to security flaws )
oVeRdOsE. said:
Damn, it's been a while I'm waiting for it, I loved my htc desire Z (2009).
But no manufacturer tried to do a physical keyboard since then...
But what the hell BB?!?
Most providers will sell it almost at the same price as an iphone 6s.
Even the note 5 is half cheaper!
BB was know for replaceable battery and FM radio, which was I small difference compared to others. Anddd they get rid of it .
What's their marketing goal?
BB have hard time : Lets sell it at way higher price than most of flash ship phones, remove some nice features and let the rooting difficult.
( I believe rooting not necessary equal to security flaws )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola Photon Q (XT897) 5 row keyboard slider - last best qwerty phone FYI.
I also have 2x G2's/DZ's, and the original G1/Dream.
The Photon Q design with the side (landscape) slider 5 row (similar to the G1) is probably the best layout, just needs to be built again with update specs.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Free mobile app
varun.gid said:
I have the phone and it's great so far. Yes typing on keyboard may seem tiresome and slow but once you get used to it, u will ove the fact that u have the whole screen estate to type long emails chats etc. The phone build quality is pretty good too and slim bezels considering front speakers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue I had when I tried it out at the store was that i didn't think i could get used to it. I've used sliders for nearly 10 years now, and never had an issue getting used to a physical keyboard, including the BB 7390 or the 8200 which i used myself or the other models which I supported in my job. This one just doesn't seem to do it... and i was so looking forward to having an high specs phone. Oh well...
The other issue is that ATT wants a 35 dollar restocking fee if I return it, and since this phone is nowhere else but ATT, I just don't feel I should shell out 35 dollars so that i can try it out for 2 weeks.
devis said:
The issue I had when I tried it out at the store was that i didn't think i could get used to it. I've used sliders for nearly 10 years now, and never had an issue getting used to a physical keyboard, including the BB 7390 or the 8200 which i used myself or the other models which I supported in my job. This one just doesn't seem to do it... and i was so looking forward to having an high specs phone. Oh well...
The other issue is that ATT wants a 35 dollar restocking fee if I return it, and since this phone is nowhere else but ATT, I just don't feel I should shell out 35 dollars so that i can try it out for 2 weeks.
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Click to collapse
You can always buy the unlocked version for a whopping $700 and return it, free of charge.
Since the keyboard looks mediocre at best, and that's the only reason I want this phone, I'll pass.
I'm getting the unlocked model and will use it on T-Mobile. I'm sure the keyboard leaves much to be desired but I'm sure this will be the " last of the Mohicans " as far as keyboard sliders go. Especially if it flops. It's been said marshmallow will come to the priv. So the only other chance could possibly be project Ara, but I haven't heard anything about that in quite some time.
I'm not surprised, to be honest at the price point there are far better Android devices out there. And I know may BB users are convinced it'll be a game changer but I'm not.
The starting price is insanez and the build quality isn't anything particularly good.
Ok phone, but not for me. On screen keyboards are so good now that they are even much better and faster than real physical BlackBerry keyboard. Maybe if they got into Android few years earlier. How can they move on if they can't let go?
I've had mine for two days.... it runs REALLY hot. Just browsing, it gets warm instantly. Battery life is great when you're not actually using the thing. I lost something like 2 percent overnight. But as soon as you pick it up and start using it, it heats up a lot. I've been running android on my s5 for years so I know I don't have anything particularly nasty running in the background. I had a little reddit browse for half an hour in bed after waking up, and the battery went from 99 down to 85 in that short time.
The keyboard is good, but it lags. If you double type a letter, it doesn't keep up. Typing google gives me 'gole' sometimes, for example. Also, you can type from the home screen to universal search. However, because the process isn't killed upon exit, i search for 'google' the first time, and then later in the day i'm after 'spotify'. The problem is, the new search is 'googlespotify' which obviously brings up nothing.
There's also movement in the screen when the slider is closed, i can tap on the left half and feel the whole screen move.
Overall I think it could be a great phone but the software is very slow, and just very inefficient. Lags all over the place, and the physical keybaord just can't be missing inputs like that. I've got a few days left to decide if I can make it work. If not I will return it. It's too much money to be 'sort of happy'
Dejan92 said:
Ok phone, but not for me. On screen keyboards are so good now that they are even much better and faster than real physical BlackBerry keyboard.
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Better than a blackberry keyboard? Maybe. Better than my Samsung Relay keyboard? Not a chance. I find it rare to see a touch keyboard user able to walk and type without looking at their screen. I do it flawlessly on my 5-row relay keyboard.
Picked this lovely device up last night, and have been putting it through its paces. Thus far, here is my analysis of things, which hopefully will answer some concerns users have had.
The heat/battery issue: I believe the causes here are largely related to apps, though reception may also be a factor. As noted in another thread, the core system apps in the phone do not immediately inform you that they require updating, and you will only know to update them by accessing the app's page on the Play Store. I've seen this with other Android 5.0 devices, though, so I suspect it might not be unique to the Priv. Once I updated all the core BB apps, the phone was significantly more stable and have had less heat and drain issues on that front.
I mention reception, as there appears to be a flaw with LTE reception. Whether it is hardware or software, I'm not certain, though I have a hard time believing it would be software, but when running the phone on LTE, I am lucky to get more than 1 bar of service anywhere in the city of Toronto, which has excellent coverage. My former device, the LG F3Q, was able to get 5 bars of LTE practically everywhere in the city, and most certainly did at my office. Right now, my Priv is seeing 0~1 bars of LTE coverage at the office. Forcing the phone to 4G/HSPA+ helps things a bit, I get 3-4 bars, but that's not really a solution. On crackberry, a lot of users are reporting the same problems with reception, so it appears to be a device-wide problem, and I'm certain BB will address it however they need to.
So, between those two factors, I believe that is the source of the heat/battery drain.
In terms of build quality otherwise, the phone is quite excellent. I don't understand the upset about the keyboard, I find it very excellent, and it's certainly more finger-friendly than pre-10 BB devices, which is all that I've used.
My only complaints on the build quality are somewhat minor nitpicks, such as placement of the power/volume buttons (I'd have preferred them reversed), the placement of the 3.5" jack (why the bottom?! even the holster case doesn't account for the placement!), and the size of the camera bezel. It sticks out so far that I'm slightly paranoid to set the device down on flat surfaces.
All-in-all, for me, this device is as close to perfection as I could have ever hoped in a device. Once the antenna problem is resolved (which I can't see not being resolved, otherwise it'll be a massive failure for the company), I'll be extremely satisfied. It may not be the device for everyone, but it is the device for me.
TPMJB said:
Better than a blackberry keyboard? Maybe. Better than my Samsung Relay keyboard? Not a chance. I find it rare to see a touch keyboard user able to walk and type without looking at their screen. I do it flawlessly on my 5-row relay keyboard.
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Well yeah, i was thinking about typing when you looking at keyboard... Typing without looking at screen will never be flawless. :fingers-crossed:
Dejan92 said:
Well yeah, i was thinking about typing when you looking at keyboard... Typing without looking at screen will never be flawless. :fingers-crossed:
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I've known people who claim they can do it, but I haven't seen it. I'm frequently on the go. I walk and text all the time. Walking and texting is such a problem that the last company I worked for would escort you off the campus for attempting it.
Meanwhile I'm looking straight ahead while doing it and don't understand it at all lol
schmandroid said:
Motorola Photon Q (XT897) 5 row keyboard slider - last best qwerty phone FYI.
I also have 2x G2's/DZ's, and the original G1/Dream.
The Photon Q design with the side (landscape) slider 5 row (similar to the G1) is probably the best layout, just needs to be built again with update specs.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
The moto wasn't a flagship. Development was dead even at the beginning. Most north america carrier don't sell it or even advertise it.
So, imho, that wasn't the ''last good'' physic keyboard device.
The desire Z had pretty impressive performances when rooted. 800mzh stock, and 1.8ghz stable OC.
oVeRdOsE. said:
The moto wasn't a flagship. Development was dead even at the beginning. Most north america carrier don't sell it or even advertise it.
So, imho, that wasn't the ''last good'' physic keyboard device.
The desire Z had pretty impressive performances when rooted. 800mzh stock, and 1.8ghz stable OC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DZ had a 4 row keyboard, unlike the G1, which had a 5 row, so I consider that a step backwards.
The Priv also has a 4 row, so entering numerical data will require holding or double tapping a function key mid sentence.
Photon Q has 5 row.
Whether it is/was sold at a convenient store to you is irrelevant - with a sim mod, it is usable everywhere around the world. I guess you've missed out.
Compared to the G2/DZ, the PQ is a much more powerful & up to date device - if it wasn't, I wouldn't be using it.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Free mobile app

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