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LillyFoxBlogs picks a point on Priv….thoughts from BB10 diehard I have drawn many Parallels between my life and BlackBerry over the last few years..... both our health has suffered, both our fortunes have fluctuated ,both of us are fighting like hell to to stick around.  

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BlackBerry is an Experience that goes beyond the code

BlackBerry is an Experience that goes beyond the code

Three months ago I wrote an article titled “The curious androidification of BB10″, I probably had something to say back then lol. There has been much speculation on rumors of a BlackBerry device that will run on the Android operating system and that launch this year.   Much about this is based on rumors and partial or inaccurate information and un named sources…..etc…. almost in every case media…

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Jim Balsillie is irrelevant to BlackBerry 2015

Jim Balsillie is irrelevant to BlackBerry 2015

  Recently former BlackBerry Co CEO, Jim Balsillie chose to open up about the end of his term with BlackBerry while dishing some dirt…..not particularly making himself look too brilliant in the process. Some of what he had to say seems in-accurate at best……ignorant possibly.  I think it’s safe to say we all know what happened way back when……and we’ve moved on..

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Well why do I use BlackBerry?

Well why do I use BlackBerry?

Every time a competing platform has an event I tend to bite my tongue…..well sorta, twitter doesn’t count….. but even then I try to keep my manners and avoid un-lady like behavior….i said try right?   Rather than bash the other platformers (evil Lilly wants to though) good Lilly prefers to focus on what makes me stay with BlackBerry.   (more…)

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BlackBerry Passport Hybrid keyboard a superior choice for those who demand the best

#BlackBerry

The BlackBerry Passport is equipped with a hybrid touch sensitive physical keyboard and is by far the most advanced and innovative design I have ever had the pleasure of using.   Many folks out there in bizzaro land (those who don't use BlackBerry) are content in using archaic inaccurate sub par virtual keyboards. I however do not hate myself and therefore choose excellence.   The hybrid design of the Passport keyboard seamlessly fuses physical and virtual capabilities in a low profile yet highly functional three row configuration with a virtual fourth row intuitively available as needed.

 There is no question and one cannot argue the fact that BlackBerry has always been known for the highest quality and most functional physical keyboards  on the market.   True many folks do like all touch devices and as a result BlackBerry created the most delicious and intelligently accurate virtual keyboards out there that all of us love on our gorgeous all touch BlackBerry 10 devices.   As a BlackBerry super fan I have personally always preferred Physical keys that is until I was seduced by the Z10 followed by the Z30. My love however was still split between the virtual and physical keyboard world's as I also greedily used my Q10 and Q5 devices.   everything changed when Passport entered my life at the end of last summer. In one device I found keyboard heaven the perfect balance of virtual and physical functionality.       There is a certain dexterity to physical keys that simply can not be emulated virtually on a touch screen and in retrospect prior to the Passport there were gesture based limitations to Physical keys (albeit a minor issue on trackpad equipt devices).   The touch sensitive capabilities of the Passport Keys eliminates that issue and creates a superior typing experience as well as a built in command and control center unparalleled on any other device.     What I mean by C&C is that they keys are not just for typing but also serve a secondary roll that allows you to interact with apps and Web pages or any other function that requires scrolling.    "So what Lilly!" you may argue..... but the last time you scrolled through your social feeds that have live links how many times have you accidentally hit one and invoked the browser having to annoyingly navigate back to your feed?.   Well the Passport keyboard eliminates that sloppy mess of an issue as you silly fingers never have to touch the screen.   Another sweet feature is landscape mode that allows the, yes square screen rotate 90 degrees so that you can enjoy the greater breadth of the keys and longer scroll swipes when navigating web pages, lists or social feeds.

    Some of the most delicious features of the BlackBerry virtual keyboards found on the all touch models such as flick typing and swipe to delete are also found extremely well implemented ‎on the hybrid keyboard of the Passport. The Keys are broken up into three zones for flick typing. Word suggestions appear left right and center and one simply swipes up on the keyboard below the word you want to flick it into place on whatever document or text area you are working on. Alternately like the Q series devices you can also choose to select the word on the touch screen directly if you so wish.  As for swipe to delete it works the same, don't like the word you just wrote? Simply swipe your finger or thumb left across the keyboard and your word is deleted.     Fine cursor control is another fantastically implemented feature on the Passport.   Double tapping on the surface of the keys without actually pressing anything invokes the text edit bubble (double tap again to dismiss it). To select text simply navigate the text bubble to a word sliding your thumb across and around the keys just like on a laptop trackpad, press the virtual shift key on the left of your screen then slide your thumb left to right across the physical keys to highlight the word.  The accuracy of this function is just incredible.    As with all keyboards on any device we have letters and numbers and symbols.   Switching between them on the Passport is as easy as @123.....literally.   To invoke the virtual numeric and common symbol keyboard you can either press the @123 key on your virtual fourth row of keys on the right side of your screen or simply swipe down on the physical keys to display it and again to access the auxiliary symbol keys.....one more swipe down and the virtual keyboard is dismissed.   Often I use the swipe down feature to access what I need and depending on where my thumb is on the keyboard will either swipe down to dismiss or hit the @123 key. All of this is designed for high efficiency in tying and editing while increasing the over all user experience of the individual operating the device.

For me, a woman who is on her devices 24/7 whether for social,business or blogging purposes it is imperative that I have the best all around keyboard available to me at all times.   For so long BlackBerry has provided me with the best of the best and with the Passport it has taken my writing and texting to a new level of productivity and enjoyability that I never expected to want or need because it always seems as though the company has reached nirvana in mobile excellence..... but then they put out a new device, I drool.... then use it and then attain an even higher level of efficient perfection.  

  Learning the ways of the Passport keyboard was not at all difficult..... unless you still have trouble pealing a banana you too can learn what typing perfection is.   With the hybrid nature of the Passport keyboard you trade off nothing.... in fact it is quite the opposite especially if you use a non BlackBerry device. The Passport keyboard married the Best features of any virtual and physical keyboard creating the superior choice for those who demand the best!

Author: LillyFox @lillyfoxblogs

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Daring to be different as Mobile conformity reaches 86.3%

#BlackBerry 

   It's quite obvious that I am a BlackBerry Fan, user, and dedicated champion of the BB10 mobile platform.    For me BlackBerry is the perfect balance of efficiency,multitasking and communications excellence.   I choose this platform not out of blind loyalty and nor do I choose it because everyone else does.   I choose BlackBerry as an informed individual who constantly challenges the technology I use to perform all of my daily tasks to the highest degree and standards.   I do not choose what's popular for popularity sake because often when something becomes so popular it begins to lack substance in my opinion.   

The mobile landscape today is dominated by a single yet highly fractured Mobile platform call android.   This platform is filled with fantastic ideas however often implemented in the least efficient and cumbersome  manner.    I like to describe this platform as a lethargic pig with lipstick on in an attempt to portray beauty.... in the end it's still a lethargic pig.    I am not anti android. This opinion of mine has formed over the years as I have used tablets and devices throughout its existence.    Never have I found it to compare to my primary platform which has been BlackBerry as it has met my needs effectively and efficiently for quite over a decade now.   

     I often want to like android, I keep buying tablets of various brand hoping it will be some how different...the Brand I choose has android capabilities though I use it as last resort....sure there are a few tricks these silly android devices can do.....but that has never ever been enough to manage my life properly.    I am not either ignorant of the other two major platforms, one I despise for its closed and limiting ecosystem and it's manipulative and rather dishonest marketing while the other is simply irritating to use.

    Android, now lays claim to roughly 86.3% of the world's consumer mobile market.   This is not because its superiority in quality and efficient performance but rather to its highly competative hardware makers who do not need to continually develop the platform as that is taken care of by the world's biggest information gathering company, Google.   Manufacturers flood the market with cheep devices running essentially free software and market share rises daily. What's most surprising however is that consumers are all to happy to conform to this single ho hum platform. 

      Today most mobile devices look and operate the same. Individuality has been reduced to the case one covers their device in.   Though not all folks choose Android it has become the ultimate symbol in mobile conformity.   It seems to me that folks have accepted what they have been given and march to the dull drone of the masters who feed them malware and read their emails daily.    In today's world, mobile security is one of the most important fronts however few consumers take notice, rather they live in ignorant bliss.....that is unless the android bug bites....even then....they continue at times to conform. 

     I may stand for a single mobile platform, and I may be biased but I must say this 86.3% figure disturbs me.   It says so much about humanity all be it in a microcosmic way.  Is the human race by nature really so willing to look and act the same?   Are there not free thinkers, non conformist? Those who dare to be different?..... there are but we seem to be a minority.   What has happened to intelligent well informed consumers who do not accept marketing as fact but rather choose their purchases based on real life experience and critical comparison.   Do folks choose what's best for them or do they choose what they are told is best for them?

    BlackBerry is right for me, this does not mean it's right for all. I however choose it because I have compared it constantly to the competition through out the years and have yet to waiver in my belief that this platform is best suited to my needs.    I find it hard to believe that this same process has been completed by the majority that now conform to their mobile android masters.   With such wide spread dominance, competition and choice withers away.   The hipster brand hangs in there because folks still believe the marketing machine that created it. The other has an open window to survive as a result of its mother companies huge fortune while  BlackBerry remaines as the last bastion of non conformity......which is ironic since it is designed with enterprise as its target market....then again, on the other hand.... it is the creativity and big thinkers of business that ultimately bring progress to the economy and to consumers and get things done...so in that way maybe not so ironic. 

     BlackBerry remains truly innovative and offers real form factor choice, BlackBerry users can not be categorized by any one type of device .   The manufacturer still listens to the needs of its customers while consistently working to improve user friendliness and security and effectiveness as both a work and play platform.    The choices made by the current management have reversed it's previously questionable future and again it rises even in the face of a massive clone army who has assimilated much of the world.

    Yes, we are talking phones here. Yes I know I may be reading too deep or I'm slightly too mobile centric...... but looking at human history we often find such similar examples of complacency and as a well read fan of history, I can say such complacency never leads to positive outcomes.   As much as I shake my head at the 86.3%.... I do also know that humanity often wakes up in time and after some or much suffering a renaissance or revolution wipes away masters and opens the door for free thought once again..... in my humble opinion...at least in the microcosm of the mobile world....the rebellion has begun.... lead by a Canadian brand that refused to fade into the night. 

      Author:

  LillyFox @LillyFoxBlogs LFBB10.com 

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