google and my new phone
I did it. I broke down and got a Smart Phone. A BlackBerry Pearl, no less. I’ve slowly been picking up on various features and options, and I’ve come to learn that HOLYSHITE there are a lot of very devoted Berry users out there. Good thing, since now I already know how to take care of the inevitable gunk that will mess with the trackball at some time, not to mention how to color my LED so I could have a cool colored pearl trackball (but that voids the warranty).
Not having oodles of money to spend on fancy computers or software, I use lotsa free and shareware. I dig FireFox, the Gimp (sorta), OpenOffice and GoogleEverything (Google, you can use that — just pay me later.). So, I got all excited thinking, loudly, “YES, A COMPUTER IN MY HAND. ALL THE TIME.” And it is. Kinda.
I say “kinda” because it’s really not the same thing. I don’t know what I was expecting, a personal assistant maybe? I don’t know. But when I install third party apps, or even non-third-party apps, I don’t think they should mess with my phone in a way that keeps me from getting and sending SMS messages (!), let alone emails or anything else. So, here’s what’s worked for me and what hasn’t (mostly so I can keep track and not waste time with apps I’ve already tested):
- Gmail app for BB = NO GOOD. This app didn’t get my mail as fast as the default message/mail software that came on the phone. It also seemed to screw with my internet connection. I feel better off using the default ish, or even going to Gmail on my phone’s browser.
- Google Sync for BB = SO FAR, GOOD. This is a way for your BB calendar and your Google calendar to talk. So far, it’s working well and not screwing anything else up. Makes life A LOT easier.
- Twitter app for BB = NO GOOD. Like the Gmail app, within 12 hours of installing this app, it stopped working correctly and all my other web-based apps stopped working. As soon as I uninstalled this, everything was fine.
- Facebook app for BB = NO GOOD. This is messed up. I mean, RIM makes the phone, RIM made the app. There shouldn’t be an issue. But it did the same thing Twitter and Gmail did — stopped working and clogged my data connection until I removed it.
- Opera Mini = GOOD. It was easier to navigate at first, not being used to the mobile web and all. Now that I’m more accustomed to how things look on my phone, I’m fine with both Opera and the default BB Browser.
- GoogleTalk = GOOD. Ok, I’ve only had it installed for 4 hours, but so far I love it. I am actually feeling less tied to my computer between this and the Calendar Sync app.
More to come as I geek out.
I know this may not help you since you have already bought the Blackberry. However, I use a Motorola Trio Q. It has internet explorer, and while I prefer Firefox, it is really great for using the web on your phone. I can do wordpress, myspace, facebook, mapquest…honestly I haven’t found a site I cannot use.
That’s odd. I have the Curve, and I run the Gmail app for mailing lists (so my pocket doesn’t blow up all day) with no problems whatsoever. I also HATE Opera Mini- it loads super slow and is just really clunky and awkward. But, agreed, Gtalk is the shit.
thanks for the feedback, ladies.
k - i opted for the pearl for 2 reasons: it’s small (everything else felt clunky in my hands) and it was on sale [listed in reverse order of importance].
bai - i’m with you on Opera. i think i just liked it at first because it had better access to the non-mobile versions of web pages, but now i don’t like that. i might give the gmail app another go, since the other google stuff is working now.
i don’t know why i even bothered with the facebook app — i don’t use the site enough to go there on my phone. twitter would’ve been fun, but the mobile page and txt options work fine enough for me.