iphowned
13-Jul-2007 | 04:32 PM
#221
Luka
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14,319
pretty good breakdown of bb vs wm6
BlackBerry vs. Windows Mobile 6
Laptop Magazine
By Grace Aquino, Mark Spoonauer
Aug 1 2007
The two kings of smart phones square off to see which one deserves to wear the title belt.
When it comes to smart phones, there are currently two forces to be reckoned with: BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. Yes, Palm-based Treos are easy to use, but the OS is ancient and in desperate need of a refresh. And Symbian-based smart phones are virtually non-existent in the U.S.-at least ones you can afford. That leaves RIM's e-mail-centric juggernaut, which has been spruced up in the multimedia department, and Microsoft's nearly ubiquitous platform, the latest version of which sports some nice enhancements across the board.
We know you don't shop for a smart phone based on the operating system. The carrier, design, price, and other factors take priority. But the OS is a big deal, as it affects everything from how easy the device is to use and how well it surfs the Web to overall performance and how many good third-party apps you can add to get more out of your investment. Because only one OS can be called the champ, we put both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 6 through six grueling rounds. Let's get ready to rumble!
Ease of Use
There's a very good reason why BlackBerry is a household name and Windows Mobile is not: Its overall design and usability are intuitive and rock solid, so we give it high marks in these areas. Setting up and using e-mail, surfing the Web, and making phone calls were simple tasks. The icon-based Home screen is a breeze to follow, and the menus are well integrated with the function keys. BlackBerry's keyboard shortcuts are also great time-saving tools. For example, pressing "T" shifts the page view to the top or, vice versa, "B" for bottom. BlackBerry automatically adds an apostrophe to words that need it, such as "I'm" and "you're," so you don't have to worry about using an Alt-key combo.
Windows Mobile 6 offers a few tricks of its own: In the Inbox, pressing and holding down the H or 0 (zero) key (depending on your device) brings up a list of shortcuts. In an e-mail, for example, pressing the 2 key triggers the Reply function, and pressing the 7 key deletes the message. With WM6, Microsoft has made several cosmetic and usability improvements to its OS. The Home screen looks and feels like Windows on a desktop PC, with the Start menu and recently used applications across the top of the screen. One of our favorite mobile-centric tools is Live Search, which lets you conduct Web searches without the extra step of launching the browser.
If Microsoft Outlook is your primary calendar and contacts tool, WM6 is the way to go because it gives you the familiar Outlook interface and is better integrated with this e-mail app. Also, WM6's calendar has a helpful bar across the top that gives you a quick look at your availability.
Unfortunately, like earlier versions of Windows Mobile, version 6 doesn't let you completely exit an application. You can close the window, but the app still runs in the background, straining a device's processor and memory resources.
WINNER: BlackBerry
Windows Mobile 6 is friendlier than its predecessor-and we love the new shortcuts-but BlackBerry still has the shortest learning curve.
E-mail & Attachment Support
While both operating systems support corporate e-mail (including Lotus Notes and Outlook) and personal e-mail (such as from POP3/IMAP and Web mail accounts), Windows Mobile 6 does a better job integrating popular mail applications right out of the box. AOL, Hotmail/Windows Live, and Yahoo are built into WM6's main e-mail setup, so users simply need to sign into their accounts to gain access. On a BlackBerry, you need to set up these accounts individually.
If you use Gmail, you might find BlackBerrys more user-friendly because you can download a standalone Gmail application directly on the device. Windows Mobile devices don't support this application, but you can set up Gmail access through the POP3 mail process.
Both platforms also push e-mail to your device. BlackBerry has the edge in this category because it automatically performs the task for you; WM6 makes you manually configure e-mail to sync at intervals you specify (unless you have Exchange 2007). The ability to search e-mail has long been a feature on BlackBerrys, but Windows Mobile is finally adding it for the first time. We prefer Microsoft's implementation; results start to show up as you type.
WM6's e-mail functions reach their full potential only if you use Microsoft's Exchange Server 2007. It lets you set out-of-office messages or flag messages directly from your WM6 device. You can also access SharePoint and search the Exchange server for messages dating three months back.
Viewing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files is easier on WM6 than on BlackBerry, which shows stripped-down versions of Office documents that can't be edited (at least not without a third-party application). That's not surprising given that Microsoft develops Windows Mobile and Office. On the other hand, we prefer BlackBerry for the actual experience of downloading attachments because it gives you a little progress bar. Both operating systems support PDFs and common graphics files such as JPEG, BMP, and GIF.
WINNER: Draw
BlackBerry has the edge when it comes to instant-gratification push delivery, but WM6 has closed the gap in terms of attachment support, search, and ease of setup.
Web Browsing
If we were judging by speed alone, BlackBerry would get the gold star for Web browsing. Pages, such as CNN.com, loaded pleasingly fast-if less visually stunning than on WM6-using AT&T's EDGE connection on our BlackBerry Curve. It took about 12 seconds before we could start reading CNN.com's homepage on the Curve, versus 27 seconds on the WM6-powered T-Mobile Dash. On the other hand, BlackBerry doesn't yet support Wi-Fi or HSDPA. If you want 3G speeds, you'll have to go with a CDMA BlackBerry device like the 8800, which is available from Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
WM6 supports full HTML, so Web sites looked better overall on the IE Mobile browser. And while our Dash was anything but speedy over EDGE, we saw much better performance when we switched over to Wi-Fi. We could start reading CNN.com in 12 seconds, but that's the same amount of time the Curve took over EDGE. Both of the WM6 devices we tested-T-Mobile's Dash and Wing-have Wi-Fi. There are also several 3G-enabled Windows Mobile devices available for both GSM (AT&T) and CDMA (Sprint and Verizon Wireless) carriers.
WINNER: BlackBerry
The BlackBerry browser is generally much faster than WM6's IE Mobile, regardless of the cellular data connection.
Multimedia
Both BlackBerry and WM6 could use some improvement in this category, such as providing the ability to play Flash video files found online. What both operating systems can do is play various audio and video files, including MP3, AAC, and WMA for music and MP-4 and WMV for video. Each platform has its own media software: BlackBerry has its Desktop Media Manager (powered by Roxio), and WM6 uses Windows Media Player.
Each app lets you rip music CDs and convert and transfer music and video files from your PC to your handset. Searching for audio and video files on a BlackBerry is easy, thanks to a Find field at the top of each media subfolder. WM6 offers a File Explorer tool for sifting through your stored files. We like the drag-and-drop interface of RIM's desktop software, but Windows Media Player has the edge because of its support for Windows Media Center, as well as for its support for DRM-protected files purchased from online music and video stores.
When it comes to carrier-branded audio and video services, support is very much dependent on the device. For example, both the Samsung BlackJack and BlackBerry Curve work with AT&T Music and enable users to stream XM Radio, but only the BlackJack can stream video clips, thanks to its 3G data connection. Windows Mobile wins hands-down when it comes to third-party video applications like SlingPlayer Mobile (for watching your home TV or DVR live on the road) and MobiTV.
WINNER: Windows Mobile 6
Although BlackBerry is catching up quickly, the tight integration of Windows Mobile and Windows Media Player Mobile put WM6 on top.
Third-Party Apps
Many third-party software developers build enterprise and consumer applications for both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. When we checked the site of the leading mobile-content provider, Handango, it had more than 950 software titles available for download for BlackBerry. The Windows Mobile-powered T-Mobile Dash offers 702 titles. But that's just the Smartphone/Standard version of the operating system. More than 13,000 Pocket PC/Professional programs are available on the site; however, these more robust devices tend to be more expensive.
In general, the most popular applications tend to be offered for both operating systems. For example, WorldMate 2006 Professional Edition (a business travel tool) and IM+ (an all-in-one instant-messaging program), and Ringtone Megaplex are among the top ten downloads for both Windows Mobile and BlackBerry.
When you look at the other popular downloads for WM, it's easy to see the OS' strengths and weaknesses. HandiTV and PocketStreamer Deluxe beef up WM's already robust multimedia capabilities, while an app like SBSH Facade 1.2 makes the Home screen more practical by enabling you to view your upcoming appointments and tasks at a glance and to create shortcuts.
BlackBerry is only now starting to become more multimedia-friendly for developers, with the addition of several games, but it's easy to see that productivity is still the platform's strength when you look at other top-ten downloads like eOffice Professional Edition, eSpell, and VoiceControl.
WINNER: Windows Mobile 6
You'll be able to add almost anything you could possibly want or need to your BlackBerry or WM6 smart phone. Still, Windows Mobile has a wider variety of apps, especially for touchscreen-driven devices.
Performance & Battery Life
Based on our experience using the Curve and other BlackBerrys, the OS is stable and runs smoothly. The BlackBerry easily handled pretty much any task we threw at it. We were able to navigate menus and browse Web pages, for example, quickly and easily.
WM6, on the other hand, felt poky when launching apps and toggling between them, especially when we used the T-Mobile Wing. Screen refreshes were also sluggish-partly because of the device's slow processor. We expect devices like the upcoming HTC Mogul, which has a faster processor, to be better; however, the Mogul will also be more expensive than the Wing and Dash, as well as most BlackBerrys. It's worth noting that WM6 is more stable than WM5, as we experienced fewer random freezes and crashes.
Battery life depends, of course, on usage and on the network the phone supports. Our BlackBerry Curve and WM6 Dash each lasted for a few days of typical daily chores such as several short calls, checking e-mail, IMing, Web browsing, shooting photos, and listening to and watching a few songs and videos. Both of these devices use EDGE data connections.
We haven't yet tested a WM6 device with a 3G data connection (EV-DO or HSDPA), but the 3G WM5 devices we tested were not very good when it comes to battery life. For example, we needed to recharge the Samsung BlackJack every other day, and the MOTO Q needed to be recharged at the end of every day.
WINNER: BlackBerry
WM6 is faster and more stable than WM5, but all BlackBerrys deliver smooth performance while generally offering longer standby times.
Overall Winner
Windows Mobile 6 is widely regarded as an incremental upgrade to Microsoft's operating system, but it still makes a big difference in terms of ease of use and convenience. Microsoft has also made great strides improving the overall messaging experience, although Exchange 2007 users reap the most benefits.
BlackBerry has also evolved, especially on the multimedia front, but ultimately we prefer it over Windows Mobile because it doesn't feel like it's trying to do so much. The OS is snappier at opening and closing applications and surfing the Web, and it has lots of helpful shortcuts to make already intuitive software even more useful.
Windows Mobile can do more, and there are a lot more devices to choose from that support the OS. But like the marriage of software and hardware that made the iPod a smash hit, BlackBerry's OS and devices feel right because the two are in almost perfect harmony.
Overall Winner: BlackBerry
----------------------------------------
BlackBerry vs. Windows Mobile 6
Laptop Magazine
By Grace Aquino, Mark Spoonauer
Aug 1 2007
The two kings of smart phones square off to see which one deserves to wear the title belt.
When it comes to smart phones, there are currently two forces to be reckoned with: BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. Yes, Palm-based Treos are easy to use, but the OS is ancient and in desperate need of a refresh. And Symbian-based smart phones are virtually non-existent in the U.S.-at least ones you can afford. That leaves RIM's e-mail-centric juggernaut, which has been spruced up in the multimedia department, and Microsoft's nearly ubiquitous platform, the latest version of which sports some nice enhancements across the board.
We know you don't shop for a smart phone based on the operating system. The carrier, design, price, and other factors take priority. But the OS is a big deal, as it affects everything from how easy the device is to use and how well it surfs the Web to overall performance and how many good third-party apps you can add to get more out of your investment. Because only one OS can be called the champ, we put both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile 6 through six grueling rounds. Let's get ready to rumble!
Ease of Use
There's a very good reason why BlackBerry is a household name and Windows Mobile is not: Its overall design and usability are intuitive and rock solid, so we give it high marks in these areas. Setting up and using e-mail, surfing the Web, and making phone calls were simple tasks. The icon-based Home screen is a breeze to follow, and the menus are well integrated with the function keys. BlackBerry's keyboard shortcuts are also great time-saving tools. For example, pressing "T" shifts the page view to the top or, vice versa, "B" for bottom. BlackBerry automatically adds an apostrophe to words that need it, such as "I'm" and "you're," so you don't have to worry about using an Alt-key combo.
Windows Mobile 6 offers a few tricks of its own: In the Inbox, pressing and holding down the H or 0 (zero) key (depending on your device) brings up a list of shortcuts. In an e-mail, for example, pressing the 2 key triggers the Reply function, and pressing the 7 key deletes the message. With WM6, Microsoft has made several cosmetic and usability improvements to its OS. The Home screen looks and feels like Windows on a desktop PC, with the Start menu and recently used applications across the top of the screen. One of our favorite mobile-centric tools is Live Search, which lets you conduct Web searches without the extra step of launching the browser.
If Microsoft Outlook is your primary calendar and contacts tool, WM6 is the way to go because it gives you the familiar Outlook interface and is better integrated with this e-mail app. Also, WM6's calendar has a helpful bar across the top that gives you a quick look at your availability.
Unfortunately, like earlier versions of Windows Mobile, version 6 doesn't let you completely exit an application. You can close the window, but the app still runs in the background, straining a device's processor and memory resources.
WINNER: BlackBerry
Windows Mobile 6 is friendlier than its predecessor-and we love the new shortcuts-but BlackBerry still has the shortest learning curve.
E-mail & Attachment Support
While both operating systems support corporate e-mail (including Lotus Notes and Outlook) and personal e-mail (such as from POP3/IMAP and Web mail accounts), Windows Mobile 6 does a better job integrating popular mail applications right out of the box. AOL, Hotmail/Windows Live, and Yahoo are built into WM6's main e-mail setup, so users simply need to sign into their accounts to gain access. On a BlackBerry, you need to set up these accounts individually.
If you use Gmail, you might find BlackBerrys more user-friendly because you can download a standalone Gmail application directly on the device. Windows Mobile devices don't support this application, but you can set up Gmail access through the POP3 mail process.
Both platforms also push e-mail to your device. BlackBerry has the edge in this category because it automatically performs the task for you; WM6 makes you manually configure e-mail to sync at intervals you specify (unless you have Exchange 2007). The ability to search e-mail has long been a feature on BlackBerrys, but Windows Mobile is finally adding it for the first time. We prefer Microsoft's implementation; results start to show up as you type.
WM6's e-mail functions reach their full potential only if you use Microsoft's Exchange Server 2007. It lets you set out-of-office messages or flag messages directly from your WM6 device. You can also access SharePoint and search the Exchange server for messages dating three months back.
Viewing and editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files is easier on WM6 than on BlackBerry, which shows stripped-down versions of Office documents that can't be edited (at least not without a third-party application). That's not surprising given that Microsoft develops Windows Mobile and Office. On the other hand, we prefer BlackBerry for the actual experience of downloading attachments because it gives you a little progress bar. Both operating systems support PDFs and common graphics files such as JPEG, BMP, and GIF.
WINNER: Draw
BlackBerry has the edge when it comes to instant-gratification push delivery, but WM6 has closed the gap in terms of attachment support, search, and ease of setup.
Web Browsing
If we were judging by speed alone, BlackBerry would get the gold star for Web browsing. Pages, such as CNN.com, loaded pleasingly fast-if less visually stunning than on WM6-using AT&T's EDGE connection on our BlackBerry Curve. It took about 12 seconds before we could start reading CNN.com's homepage on the Curve, versus 27 seconds on the WM6-powered T-Mobile Dash. On the other hand, BlackBerry doesn't yet support Wi-Fi or HSDPA. If you want 3G speeds, you'll have to go with a CDMA BlackBerry device like the 8800, which is available from Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
WM6 supports full HTML, so Web sites looked better overall on the IE Mobile browser. And while our Dash was anything but speedy over EDGE, we saw much better performance when we switched over to Wi-Fi. We could start reading CNN.com in 12 seconds, but that's the same amount of time the Curve took over EDGE. Both of the WM6 devices we tested-T-Mobile's Dash and Wing-have Wi-Fi. There are also several 3G-enabled Windows Mobile devices available for both GSM (AT&T) and CDMA (Sprint and Verizon Wireless) carriers.
WINNER: BlackBerry
The BlackBerry browser is generally much faster than WM6's IE Mobile, regardless of the cellular data connection.
Multimedia
Both BlackBerry and WM6 could use some improvement in this category, such as providing the ability to play Flash video files found online. What both operating systems can do is play various audio and video files, including MP3, AAC, and WMA for music and MP-4 and WMV for video. Each platform has its own media software: BlackBerry has its Desktop Media Manager (powered by Roxio), and WM6 uses Windows Media Player.
Each app lets you rip music CDs and convert and transfer music and video files from your PC to your handset. Searching for audio and video files on a BlackBerry is easy, thanks to a Find field at the top of each media subfolder. WM6 offers a File Explorer tool for sifting through your stored files. We like the drag-and-drop interface of RIM's desktop software, but Windows Media Player has the edge because of its support for Windows Media Center, as well as for its support for DRM-protected files purchased from online music and video stores.
When it comes to carrier-branded audio and video services, support is very much dependent on the device. For example, both the Samsung BlackJack and BlackBerry Curve work with AT&T Music and enable users to stream XM Radio, but only the BlackJack can stream video clips, thanks to its 3G data connection. Windows Mobile wins hands-down when it comes to third-party video applications like SlingPlayer Mobile (for watching your home TV or DVR live on the road) and MobiTV.
WINNER: Windows Mobile 6
Although BlackBerry is catching up quickly, the tight integration of Windows Mobile and Windows Media Player Mobile put WM6 on top.
Third-Party Apps
Many third-party software developers build enterprise and consumer applications for both BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. When we checked the site of the leading mobile-content provider, Handango, it had more than 950 software titles available for download for BlackBerry. The Windows Mobile-powered T-Mobile Dash offers 702 titles. But that's just the Smartphone/Standard version of the operating system. More than 13,000 Pocket PC/Professional programs are available on the site; however, these more robust devices tend to be more expensive.
In general, the most popular applications tend to be offered for both operating systems. For example, WorldMate 2006 Professional Edition (a business travel tool) and IM+ (an all-in-one instant-messaging program), and Ringtone Megaplex are among the top ten downloads for both Windows Mobile and BlackBerry.
When you look at the other popular downloads for WM, it's easy to see the OS' strengths and weaknesses. HandiTV and PocketStreamer Deluxe beef up WM's already robust multimedia capabilities, while an app like SBSH Facade 1.2 makes the Home screen more practical by enabling you to view your upcoming appointments and tasks at a glance and to create shortcuts.
BlackBerry is only now starting to become more multimedia-friendly for developers, with the addition of several games, but it's easy to see that productivity is still the platform's strength when you look at other top-ten downloads like eOffice Professional Edition, eSpell, and VoiceControl.
WINNER: Windows Mobile 6
You'll be able to add almost anything you could possibly want or need to your BlackBerry or WM6 smart phone. Still, Windows Mobile has a wider variety of apps, especially for touchscreen-driven devices.
Performance & Battery Life
Based on our experience using the Curve and other BlackBerrys, the OS is stable and runs smoothly. The BlackBerry easily handled pretty much any task we threw at it. We were able to navigate menus and browse Web pages, for example, quickly and easily.
WM6, on the other hand, felt poky when launching apps and toggling between them, especially when we used the T-Mobile Wing. Screen refreshes were also sluggish-partly because of the device's slow processor. We expect devices like the upcoming HTC Mogul, which has a faster processor, to be better; however, the Mogul will also be more expensive than the Wing and Dash, as well as most BlackBerrys. It's worth noting that WM6 is more stable than WM5, as we experienced fewer random freezes and crashes.
Battery life depends, of course, on usage and on the network the phone supports. Our BlackBerry Curve and WM6 Dash each lasted for a few days of typical daily chores such as several short calls, checking e-mail, IMing, Web browsing, shooting photos, and listening to and watching a few songs and videos. Both of these devices use EDGE data connections.
We haven't yet tested a WM6 device with a 3G data connection (EV-DO or HSDPA), but the 3G WM5 devices we tested were not very good when it comes to battery life. For example, we needed to recharge the Samsung BlackJack every other day, and the MOTO Q needed to be recharged at the end of every day.
WINNER: BlackBerry
WM6 is faster and more stable than WM5, but all BlackBerrys deliver smooth performance while generally offering longer standby times.
Overall Winner
Windows Mobile 6 is widely regarded as an incremental upgrade to Microsoft's operating system, but it still makes a big difference in terms of ease of use and convenience. Microsoft has also made great strides improving the overall messaging experience, although Exchange 2007 users reap the most benefits.
BlackBerry has also evolved, especially on the multimedia front, but ultimately we prefer it over Windows Mobile because it doesn't feel like it's trying to do so much. The OS is snappier at opening and closing applications and surfing the Web, and it has lots of helpful shortcuts to make already intuitive software even more useful.
Windows Mobile can do more, and there are a lot more devices to choose from that support the OS. But like the marriage of software and hardware that made the iPod a smash hit, BlackBerry's OS and devices feel right because the two are in almost perfect harmony.
Overall Winner: BlackBerry
----------------------------------------
17-Jul-2007 | 01:09 PM
#223
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 498
From: Mississauga
I got a question for all the blackberry/rogers guys. If I get a plan with Rogers, does the mail delivery service down scale email size? I was talking to a guy at wireless waze some time ago and he mentioned something about this, is it true?
For example, if a message in outlook is 1MB, would it be any less on a blackberry when its delivered?
For example, if a message in outlook is 1MB, would it be any less on a blackberry when its delivered?
17-Jul-2007 | 01:15 PM
#224
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,606
From: Somewhere out there...
Originally posted by ashtonp24
I got a question for all the blackberry/rogers guys. If I get a plan with Rogers, does the mail delivery service down scale email size? I was talking to a guy at wireless waze some time ago and he mentioned something about this, is it true?
For example, if a message in outlook is 1MB, would it be any less on a blackberry when its delivered?
I got a question for all the blackberry/rogers guys. If I get a plan with Rogers, does the mail delivery service down scale email size? I was talking to a guy at wireless waze some time ago and he mentioned something about this, is it true?
For example, if a message in outlook is 1MB, would it be any less on a blackberry when its delivered?
17-Jul-2007 | 03:44 PM
#229
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,410
From: ZeyPh0wn3d
luka this ones for you?
Since when do you have to pay for using blackberry enterprise? On my 7130e I just logged into a blackberry thing with a password and etc and just added email accounts but now that has seemed to disappear?
Since when do you have to pay for using blackberry enterprise? On my 7130e I just logged into a blackberry thing with a password and etc and just added email accounts but now that has seemed to disappear?
17-Jul-2007 | 03:47 PM
#230
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,834
From: Scarbaria
Originally posted by Zyepher
luka this ones for you?
Since when do you have to pay for using blackberry enterprise? On my 7130e I just logged into a blackberry thing with a password and etc and just added email accounts but now that has seemed to disappear?
luka this ones for you?
Since when do you have to pay for using blackberry enterprise? On my 7130e I just logged into a blackberry thing with a password and etc and just added email accounts but now that has seemed to disappear?
Enterprise is a main server that comapanies use to manage multiple blackberries ...
i think u gotta re-setup your webclient if im not mistaken ..
17-Jul-2007 | 03:57 PM
#232
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,834
From: Scarbaria
hmmm im tryin to dig in my memory ... i remmeber @ t-mobile ..ppl would call .. then we would have to go in the back end of the webclient and setup the existing webclient account and put in the new IMEI (or i think it was the PIN #) and then the webclient reconizes the new pin and sends an activation msg to ur new BB...
prolly have to call rogers with ur new info tho ...
prolly have to call rogers with ur new info tho ...
