The Official Blackberry Convert Thread

[tallydawg#AC]

Good suggestions. I'll try this, as this is actually what I want to achieve. Sure, I'd like to still remove/hide some apps (CityID) but for now this will do.

You from Tallahassee as well? Or just a coincidence?

You need to change your thought process here....

I am a long time BB user as well and this is my frist DROID. Think of the long alphabetical application list as a foilder in itself. It is just a laundry list of everything you have installed in alphabetical order.

Now think of you main home screen as your main screen on your old BB. Each additional home screen now acts like a folder.

For example:

On my BB I had my main screen that had all the apps I used the most. On my DROID X, this is now my main homescreen

On my BB, I had 4 folders.... Apps, Tools, Games, Media. On my DX, those "folders" are now my other homescreens with specific apps and widgets on those screens. In addtion, if I have too many apps to fit on those screens (old BB folders) then I create a new folder on that homescreen to further organize my apps.

At first, I was very frustrated at the lack of organizational abilities for apps, but now that I have this down, I really like how the android system is laid out. Plus, this gives me room to use some of the widgets as well.

I use awd.launcher instead of the moto launcher. It gives me the ability to choose my number of homescreens as well. right now, I only have 5, but if I felt the need to expand my categorization, then I could up that to 7.

Also.....try a program called AutoAppOrganizer. It runs int he background and stays in your "ongoing" list in your taskbar. It's pretty awesome for organizing your apps into categories. It does it automatically and you can override it's choices and pick your own categories. I use this method as well as my homescreen organization.


Hope this helps......I know it has made my android experience much better.

and yes, the FB and twitter notifications are a total fail on android.

BTW.....nice name

 

[tallydawg#AC]

I'm attempting to mesh the two really. There are some amazing thing android does, but there are others that BB does better.

I'm going to give Seesmic, and Profiles/Setting Profiles.

so for me, i'm not trying to have the same experience i had with BB. i came to Android for a new experience in smartphones and I'm so happy I'm hear now. BB is forever dead to me!

For twitter, the best client is Seesmic. Looks great, and you get notifications of new tweets

For profiles, you can either try Profiles or Setting Profiles. I've tried both and they both work well.

 

[tallydawg#AC]

I'm not sure if there is a Exchange client like that you're talking about but you can suggest to your work to use Blackberry Server Express. It's free and offers syncing that is good enough to get employees by IMO (Email, Calendar, Contacts).

I think it fits in this thread so I am going to throw this out.

Any Blackberry user use BB Email redirector. Its an App that as a BIS user I could install on my machine and have it forward my email to cell phone. My work doesn't have a BES server, or a forward facing Exchange box. The only way to connect to our exchange server is to install a very restrictive VPN client onto a Winmo phone.

Just wondering if there might be a Android equivalent. Work doesn't pay for my phone, but as a computer tech getting requests forwarded to my phone (along with all email) is a nice thing to have. By Android I am also referring to Google, like if I could create a dummy gmail, or comcast account and have a program forward my emails to that and let me respond back as the exchange account.

 

[tallydawg#AC]

I'm talking about apps such as CityID. Or, if I wanted to clean up the full list of applications, I'd sort them into folders. So that when I hit the app drawer I'd see a list of applications and folders. Upon entering those folders, I'd see more applications. However as recommended before, I'm going to attempt to get completely away from the app drawer and use the home screens as folders.

The notifications aren't working for me...

Regarding the sound profiles. With my BB, I would have my work profile on at work (or vibrate). Then, upon going home I'd have a home profile that would allow different ringers, tones, etc. This just made it easier to switch back and forth.

I'm going to give seesmic a shot

I apologize that these thoughts aren't in numerical order. (I'm pretty much working bottom to top.)

I'm a little confused by #6. The only thing that shows on any of your screens are apps or widgets you choose. Even though the device comes pre-installed with certain apps, you don't have to use, or see, them. You can uninstall apps you don't want if you'd like to clean up your applications menu. I don't see a "replies" option, but there's definitely one for messages and friend requests. I get e-mails when someone replies to a thread I've written or commented on.

As for Facebook. Go into the app and press menu, select settings, and you'll see boxes to select the different notifications you'd like to receive.

Adontain covered the folders issue.

I guess there are certain apps that don't have individual notification settings, but most of the apps I use (gmail, email, twitter, google voice, google talk) all have different notification sounds.

I don't use Twitter's app. I use Seesmic or Touiteur. With either, you can search for users.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

go to your markets site, search "EAR", it will be Ear-easy settings profile...

It is free and is not far from a black berry set up.

 

[mr.saving]

The only thing i am missing from my Blackberry is my Facebook notifications. Everything else is just a learning curve and just gets better everyday.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Use Bloo

 

[tallydawg#AC]

Well go back to your BB, enjoy your ancient OS that the only thing they ever update is some the icons on and never change looks or content really. Enjoy.

LOL.

I really like Android and I'll be keeping this phone. The pro's FAR out weigh the cons. And quite frankly, the cons are work related. So I'll have a BB for work and my Android for personal. The thread wasn't, nor isn't, intended to slam Android or BB. It's to find answers or suggestions.

That being said,


TaKe AdViCe FrOm mY sIgNaTuRe

 

[tallydawg#AC]

if you like the instant FB Notifications, download Bloo from the market place and let it run in the background-

Thanks, I'm going to give Bloo a shot. Does it run in conjunction with the android FB app, OR does it need to run solo?

 

[tallydawg#AC]

Wow, easy there fan boy...god forbid someone actually points out that this OS is not perfect...

Exactly.

There are several apps that come with this device that cannot be deleted/hidden (CityID for example). I believe that is what the OP is referring to.

Yup. CityID, Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, etc...

 

[Topweasel]

I'm not sure if there is a Exchange client like that you're talking about but you can suggest to your work to use Blackberry Server Express. It's free and offers syncing that is good enough to get employees by IMO (Email, Calendar, Contacts).

That would be pretty great and all but we can't have any forward facing services. Its not a cost thing. They are really really paranoid. Heck what I have my cell phone doing probably wouldn't be allowed if I asked, so I don't. Even if I could get them to use a forward facing Exchange box with some certificate based authentication, they would never approve of a BES or BESE setup knowing how the email system works (with RIM pulling emails through their servers to you phone).

Its not a deal breaker for me because my phone is my phone so I get to decide what features and abilities I want. Just figured I would ask, would hate to lose that functionality only to find out a solution did exist I just didn't know about it.

 

[Tifoso]

This is taking some adjustment coming from a blackberry, but i'm sticking it out.

 

[Ktulu]

This is taking some adjustment coming from a blackberry, but I?m sticking it out.

It's taking me a little time to adjust as well. One of the best things I did was turn the Blackberry off and stop using it to fill the gaps. Having two phones sucks.

I've solved pretty much all of my issues between BB and Android except Exchange. I have to revisit some of the 3rd party apps I've tried and look for something that will work for me. The change has been a bit of a struggle.


BTW: I'm in agreement with the OP's points but most of them have fairly simple solutions.

 

[mr.saving]

Everyone...you all seem to remember what good the BlackBerry did...but, do you remember the bad as well? It's the reason you have an Android device in your hands....

The curve is steep for some, but stick it out. It will be worth it in the end.

 

[katrina2475]

Use Bloo

I downloaded 1.4 today but from what I hear there is 1.5 floating around out there so that is my task for tonight.

 

[katrina2475]

Everyone...you all seem to remember what good the BlackBerry did...but, do you remember the bad as well? It's the reason you have an Android device in your hands....

The curve is steep for some, but stick it out. It will be worth it in the end.

I agree 110%. I always said I would never leave Blackberry and here I sit. Since I activated my X, I haven't even looked back. I had to use my Blackberry once couldn't believe I ever said I would never leave. I'm a total convert now.

 

[mr.saving]

I downloaded 1.4 today but from what I hear there is 1.5 floating around out there so that is my task for tonight.

Bloo 1.5


Uninstall the previous version to be safe

 

[mr.saving]

I agree 110%. I always said I would never leave Blackberry and here I sit. Since I activated my X, I haven't even looked back. I had to use my Blackberry once couldn't believe I ever said I would never leave. I'm a total convert now.

Welcome to the club!

 

[alphanu22]

Thanks, I'm going to give Bloo a shot. Does it run in conjunction with the android FB app, OR does it need to run solo?

its a stand alone app, i dont even use it- i let it run in the background for notifications thats all-

 

[heraldo]

Well go back to your BB, enjoy your ancient OS that the only thing they ever update is some the icons on and never change looks or content really. Enjoy.

Totally uncalled for!!

 

[heraldo]

Everyone...you all seem to remember what good the BlackBerry did...but, do you remember the bad as well? It's the reason you have an Android device in your hands....

The curve is steep for some, but stick it out. It will be worth it in the end.

I remember the bad, slow as L, battery pulls, memory leaks.

Why does it seem that request for options get trampled on?