I switched from a BlackBerry Z10 and can I get some help with my Nexus 4?

[theHip]

Switched from BlackBerry Z10 and would like some help...

So, I just switched to a Nexus 4 for free while I wait out the rest of my contract and would really appreciate some help with Android (I'm running the latest Lollipop on Bell network if that helps.

1) Notification System... I'm not finding it too useful to me. Weather it's email or text or whatever, the notifications for that app will completely disappear when I open the app, even if I don't read all of the messages. Sometimes I don't have time to answer all messages and would like to still know that I have unread messages in whatever app. I believe that iPhones do this with message counters. On BB the notification would stay until I read that specific message. What's the best way to achieve my desired behaviour on Android? I have tried the message counter "widget" icons, but they too will remove all counters once I open the app.

2) My phone will often just turn itself off. Sometimes the screen is unresponsive and I will have to hold the power button to manually restart it.

3) For the life of me I just cannot find an email, calendar, contact apps that even get close to the functionality of BB's stock apps. If anyone has recommendations it would be nice. Currently use Sunrise Calendar, but would really like to see an indicator on month view if I have appts on a given day. Also, the date on the icon would be helpful.

4) I never seem to get any Facebook notifications. I have no idea why this is, as I get notifications from Facebook messenger all the time.

I have also been looking at loaders and roms in order to address my issues. Is this the best option for me? Please help! Any input would be greatly appreciated. Also, if I should post this in a different section let me know.

Thank you!!!

 

[Rukbat]

Re: Switched from BlackBerry Z10 and would like some help...

1) Notification System... I'm not finding it too useful to me. Weather it's email or text or whatever, the notifications for that app will completely disappear when I open the app, even if I don't read all of the messages. Sometimes I don't have time to answer all messages and would like to still know that I have unread messages in whatever app. I believe that iPhones do this with message counters. On BB the notification would stay until I read that specific message. What's the best way to achieve my desired behaviour on Android? I have tried the message counter "widget" icons, but they too will remove all counters once I open the app.

Some launchers (the desktop and app drawer, basically) have badged icons for things like phone calls, emails and texts. If you see a 3 on the email icon and read 1 email, you'll see a 2 on the icon when you get back to the home page. Some launchers just have a toggle - you have something to read, or you've run the app so you've taken care of it - which is what you have.

Nova Launcher, which I install on every one of my Android phones, has a badging system in the paid version. I think it's worth the US$4.

2) My phone will often just turn itself off. Sometimes the screen is unresponsive and I will have to hold the power button to manually restart it.

Defective phone. Have it fixed or replaced, unless someone just gave it to you - then just live with it.

3) For the life of me I just cannot find an email, calendar, contact apps that even get close to the functionality of BB's stock apps. If anyone has recommendations it would be nice. Currently use Sunrise Calendar, but would really like to see an indicator on month view if I have appts on a given day. Also, the date on the icon would be helpful.

Jorte Calendar & Organizer.

Email? I'm still (after a few years of searching) looking for one I'm completely happy with. Someone want to port Thunderbird and POPFile to Android?

Contacts? Anything specific? (I've never used a BB, but there may be "Blackberry" apps in the play store.)

4) I never seem to get any Facebook notifications. I have no idea why this is, as I get notifications from Facebook messenger all the time.

Nova Launcher badges Facebook too.

I have also been looking at loaders and roms in order to address my issues. Is this the best option for me?

No. The loader would just load the current system you have, but do it differently. It's like painting the tires on a car and hoping for more speed. ROMs? There's no Android ROM that's like Blackberry - the entire concept behind the two is different. But, as I said, there are "Blackerry-ish" apps in the Play Store, probably written by people like you, who like the BB way better.