Moving over from a Blackberry Bold but have questions

[frettfreak]

So i have been a LONG time blackberry user and i am thinking i need a change, just something different. I will probably snag a Nexus once it is out, and i am very interested in the Android platform. However, I have a couple of specific questions regarding the platform, certain features, and maybe 3rd party apps. If someone would help me out, i would really appreciate it!

Does it have the ability to have "profiles" for your sounds? (so i can have different sound settings and sounds for different situations)

Does it have threaded SMS (like iPhone or Blackberry in OS5)?

Can i combine all my email into one inbox but separate the SMS/MMS?

Instant messaging: Other than google talk, is there on device support (native or 3rd party app)for other IM clients?

Internet browsing: I am coming from a BB, so not to hard to get better than that, but is the browser a FULL html browser (like an iPhone)?

Does it have voice dialing or dictation (i had vlingo on my bb and this was an AMAZING app, but not available for android)?

Wifi profiles: does it have the ability to store different wifi profiles and switch between them automatically depending on which one is in range?

Does it sync with outlook (contacts and calendar)(blackberry has desktop manager)?

Is there a way i can look at th app store on a computer or is it on the device only?

Does it support vcards (contact cards)?

Mp3 ringtones (so i can make any MP3 a ringtone)?

Thats about it for right now... sorry for the 20 questions, i switched to an iPhone once for about 3 weeks (before their 3.0 update) and was VERY disappointed with it. I just dont want to make the same mistake, but am really interested in Android and where it is going.

THANKS A TON FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE!!

 

[pbrennan42]

So i have been a LONG time blackberry user and i am thinking i need a change, just something different. I will probably snag a Nexus once it is out, and i am very interested in the Android platform. However, I have a couple of specific questions regarding the platform, certain features, and maybe 3rd party apps. If someone would help me out, i would really appreciate it!

Does it have the ability to have "profiles" for your sounds? (so i can have different sound settings and sounds for different situations)

Dunno, haven't looked.

Does it have threaded SMS (like iPhone or Blackberry in OS5)?

Yup. The native Message tool does that.

Can i combine all my email into one inbox but separate the SMS/MMS?

Dunno...

Instant messaging: Other than google talk, is there on device support (native or 3rd party app)for other IM clients?

I uswe eBuddy from the Market for gtalk, fb chat and msn. Supports several others too, inc yahoo and aim. Others swear by different 3rd party apps.

Internet browsing: I am coming from a BB, so not to hard to get better than that, but is the browser a FULL html browser (like an iPhone)?

Yeah but the bog standard one is a bit clunky. Go get Dolphin Browser ASAP - built on Safari code.

Does it have voice dialing or dictation (i had vlingo on my bb and this was an AMAZING app, but not available for android)?

Depends on the Android version it is running. I believe v1.6 and above has it.

Wifi profiles: does it have the ability to store different wifi profiles and switch between them automatically depending on which one is in range?

Yup

Does it sync with outlook (contacts and calendar)(blackberry has desktop manager)?

I believe that there is a standard app that does that. Also 3rd party apps available.

Is there a way i can look at the app store on a computer or is it on the device only?

I believe so but have no idea how...

Does it support vcards (contact cards)?

Cut and paste?

Dunno. Still exploring my Pulse...

That's about it for right now... sorry for the 20 questions, i switched to an iPhone once for about 3 weeks (before their 3.0 update) and was VERY disappointed with it. I just dont want to make the same mistake, but am really interested in Android and where it is going.

THANKS A TON FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE!!

You're Welcome. I don't know all the answers yet, but I am sure others will fill in the details for me...

Phil.

 

[TreyDaPrince]

1. Built already in the phone, no. Is there an app for that, yes! I"m drawing a blank on the name of it but if you really wanna know I can research it for you.

2. Yes, built in. But I do recommend downloading an alternative SMS/MMS app called Handcent. All around superior!

3. No and Yes. You cannot combine your GMail account with your other email accounts. But you can combine your Yahoo, MSN, etc. accounts together. And unlike Blackberry there is no "Messages" folder that combines SMS/MMS so even if you wanted to, you couldn't.

4.Yes. I am currently using IM+ Lite. Its free and combines all of your IM accounts.

5. Yes. Pinching aside, I think the Droid browser is better. And I do have an iPod touch so I know what I'm talkin about. The screen resolution of the Droid blows the iPhone out of the water making pages look that much better.

6. Yes. Built in with the press of one button already on the phone. Just press thesearch button and speak. Pressing this button also allows you to do Google searches, Google Maps, and anything else in your phone. It is very convenient.

7. This I am not sure about because there's only one router in my house and that I use so....

8. Yes. Although from what I hear its a little shaky. Not the best...

9. The best way to view it is through the device but there are various websites out there that list apps for Android specific. None are backed by Google or the OS itself I believe (or at least the ones I've seen)

10. I know what a Vcard is but I haven't heard of it being supported on the Droid. You can import/export contacts though???

11. Yes!!

 

[frettfreak]

Very nice and Thanks for your input!

Are there any Ex-BB owners that could chime in and tell me how they are liking the change?

 

[ERDude]

I came from the Tour and I have to say the Hero I'm using blows the Tour away. Personally I don't see myself going back to Blackberry anytime soon, they would have to really update their OS to compete with Android.

As far as native apps go, Android could use some beefing up or should I say conformity among the different manufacturers. The manufactures each have their own app for e-mail, IM, sync, etc. I haven't used a native Android device so maybe those who have will chime in. I have to say for my needs the Hero works well.

Now with the Nexus being built by HTC but running native Android 2.1 I'm not sure how the e-mail program will work. Currently for my other two accounts I use their native mail app, while it doesn't combine all the accounts together it's very easy to switch between accounts with the touch of a finger the account list drops down. Me I kind of like them separated as they are. The other option is to have all e-mail accounts come to your Google account, when you reply it shows as a reply from the appropriate account. Sent to 123@abc.com, forwarded to 123@google.com, when you reply is shows as being sent from 123@abc.com (make sense?).

Along with the others I would recommend Handcent SMS, which does MMS and SMS automatically, the Dolphin browser has one flaw over the native browser on my Hero, Dolphin is slower at loading web pages. If I'm in a hurry I switch back to the native browser, otherwise it doesn't bother me all that much.

Once you connect to a WiFi network, the phone will ask you if you want it to remember the network, click yes and the next time you're in range it automatically links up.

HTC has a sync app, don't know how well it works, I'm on Mac.

Here's a web based library of applications. AndroLib, Find all applications and games available in the Android Market for your Android Phone, HTC Dream, HTC Magic etc...

 

[TreyDaPrince]

Very nice and Thanks for your input!

Are there any Ex-BB owners that could chime in and tell me how they are liking the change?

I too came from Blackberry, and I would say about 50% of the users here has done the same. The majority of them will tell you that Android is much better. There's even a thread around here about it. Android excels in performance, functionality, usability, and customization. The only thing BB has one up on Android is push email and BB messenger. No one here will deny that. But Android beats them EASILY in every other category.

 

[frettfreak]

Very nice... i am getting excited to try something new! Sounds like it will be a great move, i cant wait... i will miss my bb messenger so very much though... sigh..