Hands on with RIM’s BlackBerry Application Suite on the HTC Fuze
Well, it has been rumored forever, caught on video, and we’ve even done our part in sharing the news as well, but we can’t hold out on y’all any longer — we have been toying with the BAS for the greater part of a month. It’s a solid effort on RIM’s part, but will it do anything for them or just waste engineer’s precious time? The answer, friends, is in our review after the break.
Setup:
To install RIM’s BlackBerry Application Suite for Windows Mobile, you just install the program as you would like a normal Windows Mobile app. In our case, it was from a .cab file. Once it’s installed, it adds a BlackBerry icon to the Settings folder (much like BlackBerry Connect did/does) and off you go. Since the BlackBerry operating system is virtualized, it has to boot up like a normal BlackBerry device. There’s two parts to the BlackBerry OS starting. First, TouchFLO 3D has to be disabled for it to run. We’re not sure whether this is to keep memory usage down or for another technical limitation, but it’s really not the end of the world seeing as RIM hopes to keep you on the BlackBerry side as much as possible. The second feature is that you can configure the BlackBerry portion to start at Windows Mobile bootup, effectively telling Microsoft to go jump in a lake — nice. Finally, you just choose your keyboard layout (Touch Pro QWERTY, Fuze QWERTY, or Touch Pro AZERTY) and the application starts.
Features:
It’s remarkable that RIM has been able to pull this off. As much crap as we give them (yeah, whatever), this is impressive. The OS really runs on Windows Mobile! You’ve literally got an entire BlackBerry on here. Name something you’d use on your actual BlackBerry and we think you would be hard pressed to not find it. Here’s a quick list of what’s included in terms of BlackBerry Applications:
- Messages
- BlackBerry Messenger
- Address Book
- Browser
- Memopad
- Password Keeper
- Tasks
- Profiles
- Clock
- BlackBerry Maps
- Media
- Manage Connections
- Calculator
- Search
- Options
Now, after praises like that, this thing can’t have any flaws, right? Oh so wrong. So, so, wrong. For starters, like we mentioned, it runs the BlackBerry OS of 4.2. Hello. Hi. The year 2005 called and they want their 8700 back. Honestly, RIM. You had this in the bag. You had a viciously serious attack plan to destroy Windows Mobile (like a crack dealer, give them some BlackBerry OS here, little Messenger there, get them to finally switch away to an actual BlackBerry), except you’re giving people an OS from 2005. This is the year of the operating system in case you haven’t noticed. And in case you did, you’ve just blown a magical opportunity to shun your opponents.
Integration:
In the build we’ve been testing, things like GPS and Bluetooth were integrated seamlessly. We heard the camera might be as well but it wasn’t accessible in this version. When making a call, it’s actually a little weird because it will jump over from the BlackBerry operating system right to Windows Mobile and then back again when you’re done. Wi-Fi also does not work, but 3G works perfectly.
You can even set the BlackBerry side to handle all your SMS/MMS messages. So the only real reason you’d need to be on the Windows side is to take a flick or make a call. Calls made are actually logged on the BlackBerry side which is very nice because it lets you keep track of all your activity. Profiles are also across the board, so if you’re on Vibrate in BlackBerry, Windows Mobile will be on vibrate as well.
Usability:
There’s no question the BlackBerry Application Suite is usable. Heck, like we said, it really is the actual BlackBerry OS. The question becomes how much simpler does it make your life if you don’t have the flexibility that modern BlackBerrys afford you? Think about all the attachments you can’t view/download, how badly the BlackBerry Browser used to be (still is, but imagine the 8700), how much it sucks not to have HTML email anymore, etc. Would it be easier to just use Windows Mobile? You did actually buy a Windows Device in the first place… Our problem isn’t the usability factor so much as it is the convenience factor.
Navigation:
This is tricky. To make a long story short, you won’t want to use the touch screen for any sort of navigating. The reason is because it’s not finger-friendly. Scroll bars are absolutely tiny and using the stylus itself sometimes won’t even cut it. You’re better off navigating with the 5-way directional pad and using the four arrow keys on the keyboard. Plus all the lovely standard BlackBerry shortcuts work, helping things a bunch. You’re not flicking, gesturing, swiping, or any of that nonsense on here. Oh no, it’s down to basics and we’re kickin’ it old school — physical keys, baby.
Conclusion:
We really have to applaud RIM for making this a reality. They’re about 22 months late (more by the time this is actually released), but they’ve successfully virtualized their BlackBerry OS while practically giving up nothing. Does this mean it rocks? No. But what it does mean is that we have faith there will be many versions to come after this and we have faith RIM will work on updating it to a current 4.6 or 4.7 OS version. Plus don’t forget the fact that there’s a Symbian version coming, something which is huge as well.
The BlackBerry Application Suite for Windows Mobile is much more than a proof of concept. It works, and works extremely well. We’re sure the final shipping version will work even better than it is now; it’s probably more stable than Windows Mobile will ever be. We’re just not sure people are going to want to give up the luxuries they are finally getting in Windows Mobile. As sick as that sounds, people buy Windows Mobile devices for a reason. If it is a consumer, they wanted what they wanted and having to go through the extra step of installing and configuring an operating system just might not be for them. If you’re talking about the corporate user, well, they either have a Windows Mobile device because they wanted one or because they were given one. It’s highly possible their organization doesn’t run a BES in which that case won’t help. So, we’re torn. We love the idea, we even love the execution of it for the most part, we’re just having trouble finding users. Yes, many will download it and try it out. Some will run it tandem with Windows Mobile and flip back and forth to do different tasks, but we think many will just uninstall it after they’ve gotten their rocks off. We look forward to seeing how this evolves, and we’re really excited about the Symbian client, but for those of you who miss your trusty 7290 and can’t forgive yourself for giving it up, this might be the day you’ve been waiting for.
What a waste of time RIM. You should be working on improving that POS Storm interface and not dick around. 2005 OS, really… WTF!
Always got the exclusives.
Looks pretty cool.
So does it also take a forever and a day to load up? I swear a year passes by the time my Curve fully reboots.
Inferior BlackBerry OS to replace WinMo. Just like replacing Ferrari engines in Ferraris with that from Toyota Camri. Time well spent!
So can I switch back and forth between Windows Mobile and BB to get my email from Exchange — would it register as two separate phones with the server?
If you’re going to attempt an insult, at least spell it right (namely CamrY).
In any case, since when was Blackberry OS inferior to WinMo? I think you’re mixing them up
Thanks for the review. Does BAS have access to BIS email? Did AT&T have to add a BlackBerry datapackage to your line or did it work fine with the regular PDA access package?
Newer blackberrys such as the bold do not take long to boot up, but ya when I had the curve it was brutal; 10 minutes to turn on sometimes.
u mad doggie? u got the storm lol!
The virtualization is pretty sweet, but as Korrupt wrote, what’s the point of porting the creaky, old OS when IMO RIM should have been working on the native OS. Maybe the old pipes in WinMo? I can go get an 8700 and use it quicker than this emulator should boot up!
Great breakdown, tho’.
Any idea when the symbian version will be out?
@ MiniMe
Hey hey don’t knock on the Toyota Camry, its the quickest production family sedan ever built. With the 6 cylinder engine it gets to 60 mph in the mid 6 second range which is about as quick as an early 90’s Ferrari.
BlackBerry Application Suite is the end all be all of RIM. WinMo with a RIM APP is the way to go. Rim can finally get out of making lackluster handsets (***cough “ssstormmm” cough***). Hopefully, they allow cross storage with your memory card and you can finally be able to store 6 months of email without memory issues.
I don’t think anybody actually understands what this is… This is ‘Parallels’. This is VMWare. This is Hyper-V. And more than any of that, it’s a way to integrate into a unified OS. I would wonder how many people would say ‘Wow, Amazing’ if it were an Apple OS on top of Windows Mobile. I’ve had BB’s, S60’s and WM’s, as well as the one device that Apple put out to make calls, and quite frankly, Windows Mobile phones do EVERYTHING that any other phone can do. That being said, if I could boot my Fuze and flip to some hybrid of OSX for hanging out with friends, and then back to a BB OS (no matter what version) or even the WM shell for work, I’d buy it in a heart-beat. This is the future. It’s like cloud-based phoning… Where your phone is just the shell, and the ‘OS’ is loaded as you need it.
@ Jay,
I got curious about your comment, and I did some research;
You know what I have to say?
Holy sh*t.
Camry?
6.5sec?
Damn.
Haha, now let’s think about top speed…
WTF? No Brickbreaker? Fail.
@ Josh: Very, very, VERY well said. I agree 100%. Why shouldn’t smartphones work like many modern PC’s, with software similar to Parallels and the like? I think this is just the beginning of what is sure to come to many smartphones in the not-so-distant future.
Ferraris, Toyota camrys etc….lol you guys are really killing me now !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sent via Slowberry 8310 Curve (it really take toooooooooooo long to load)
Great, great inside scoop BGR! You guys truly rock the casa. Does it have BIS support as well?
Agreed Josh.
Like BBConnect this also would be valuable for corporate use e.g. if a company incorporates the BES, but some Director likes his WM device, the IT kid can offer him this to solve all problems.
RIM’s planting seeds. Get people using the BB OS, and they will eventually buy a BB (using 4.2 is all part of the plan). If the stopper is that WM does something a BB cant, its only a matter of time.
For sure, if this was Apple OS on a WM (provided by Apple), the media would be all over it. Although it would be tripe.
how much it “tooooooooooo long to load”
Actually, this was a really good idea. You are giving customers of competing Handsets and other OSes the opportunity to try out your OS for free, and still allowing them to use most of that OS’s major functions, including Blackberry Messenger. Think about how many will get a taste of the Blackberry OS, and then want a Blackberry instead of the device they have. This just makes sense. There is no easier way to get more customers than giving them something for free, and luring them to your product.
Damn it, I just ordered a Bold over the Fuze. SHAT!
I just read on another forum that if you look at the pictures that is OS 4.6 (I had the Bold, that’s what it looks like).
The OS 4.2 was in reference saying you can run apps that support 4.2 and up.
technically this is not an OS … OS is like linux or windowsxp or dos. this is an application, it sits on top of winmo like firefox runs on linux.