BlackBerry Passport Unlocked Phone - Retail Packaging - Silver

I am extremely impressed with the capabilities of this device and the thoughtfulness and coherence of the BlackBerry 10 operating system. I've had the Passport now for a couple of months, and recently received the 10.3.1 OS update, which added a ton of cool new elements, including emergency battery saving mode. I've stumbled across a number of other features, though I'm not sure if they are new or not, like "advanced interaction" which does stuff like silence or shut off screen when the device is flipped over (also I'll note the universal search is amazing ... for example I couldn't remember the term "advanced interaction" but I just typed in "flip" on the home screen and, among the results, was "advanced interactions" in settings). I also recently discovered the keyboard shortcuts, you can assign an app or a bunch of other actions to the long press of any key. It would take too long, and frankly I don't remember off hand, all the pleasant little surprises the OS and the device offer, but it's pretty cool.I will say I saw one review complaining about the combo virtual and hard keyboard. I'll say I think the arrangement is genius (how does one complain about a partially virtual keyboard but embrace a fully virtual one? Makes no sense). Anyway, you need to realize that the keyboard is touch sensitive. So, a back swipe = "backspace". And a down swipe = shift. Further, though the virtual keyboard appears when you swipe down (shift), you don't actually need to use it: When you "shift" you can then press the hard key corresponding with the soft key, so for example, swipe down then press the "m" key and you'll get a dollar sign. Though the secondary character isn't printed on the hard key, it works exactly as you'd expect a keyboard with the shift key pressed to operate. Finally, a swipe up selects the predictive text word being suggested for you (there are three presented just above the keyboard, left, right and middle). Once you become accustomed to using the shift key to get your symbols (like speed typing you remember that shift-"b" is "@" and shift "h" is "&" etc, though you can also see it when the virtual keyboard pops up), and begin to rely on the predictive text swipe up, and the really high quality hard keyboard, you can beaver out messages dramatically faster than any other input device.Virtual Assistant: Unlike predecessor BlackBerrys, the voice command system works really well. I haven't done side-by-side tests, but I ask it to do stuff like set alarms and find things on teh web or the device and it performs very well.Blend: This is one that seems to have been overlooked by a lot of people. You install the app on your computer or tablet, and then basically it gives you access to all the messaging, calendar and contact functions of your phone right on your desktop. So, get to the office, pop the Passport on to a cradle (fyi battery life is very good, I often forget to charge at night and I'm still OK for the better part of the next day, which is a relief from battery anxiety I've had with all previous phones), and respond to SMS, email, BBM from my computer; it also shows your contacts and calendar. It doesn't show Notes which is a shame that I assume will be addressed in a future update. It also doesn't let you edit your contacts. But it is Gen 1, and quite a remarkable tool. Also they say nothing is saved on the second device; just the display and input of the second device are used, so Blend could be used on any random computer without worrying your data is going to be left behind for someone else to come across.Anyway, I've seen a lot of reviews where the user seemed to have no idea how to make use of the capabilities of the device (I'm not surprised, I just happened to stumble on this function, there are a lot of hidden gems really, maybe I should read the manual). Oh, the photos are really great quality, even my friends with iPhones have to admit. I just noticed a couple of weeks ago that in the Photo Album app, if you click on the occasional banner that separates sets of photos and videos, it automatically creates a slide show of videos and photos taken in some coherent period of time, with a variety of transitions, etc, it adds some music and a little intro cover and closing. I'm really impressed with this, as what a cool way to show your vacation pics without the dull flipping from one pic to the next. And no effort on my part at all (this is called "Automatic Story Maker"; there is a "Story Maker" app too which allows you to select the media, the intro, the music, etc but I haven't spend time fussing with all that, so I like the automatic mode).I've had good luck with Android apps on the Passport. There are a bunch of Android app stores you can install directly from the browser on the device (the browser is REALLY fast) like 1 Mobile Market and Aptoide and APK DL and Vshare and Mobogenie, so you are not limited to Amazon App Store. I strongly encourage people to install this app called "Snap" which is a native app like Google Play Store. Snap must be side-loaded (a 1-time thing), which is about a 5-10 minute process, there are lots of guides how to do it (basically put the device into Dev mode and install an extension on Chrome browser of your computer). I put on Google Maps (there's an apk on the web you can install to address the sign on issue), yelp, snapchap, instagram, paypal, Shazam, Airbnb, several off-line maps apps, and a bunch of other ones I actually never use. Uber has a mobile site m.uber.com which works just like the app. Is the Android emulation absolutely foolproof? No, you'll occasionally see some message about Google Play Services or something, but I'm really happy with it. I think of it like this: It's a small compromise to pay for access to a mobile powerhouse of features no other device offers and that I really need and use and rely on. And anyway I have an android tablet where I've downloaded hundreds of apps I never use, but maybe that gives me psychic comfort I don't know.Finally, I'll note the dramatic improvement just in the OS update from 10.3 to 10.3.1; the OS isn't perfect but is constantly being polished and improved.

I use my phone for almost everything. From answering emails from my students, checking their homework on the go, talking with my parents abroad, watching videos at the airport, listening music, taking and editing pictures for fun, sharing information with my coordinators, and so on. I'm a smartphone power user. I have a Samsung tablet that hasn't received an updated since I got it a year ago (with the promise that it that the best of the best at the time), also I have a very fancy and heavy laptop. However, my main device has been my Q10. I have used other devices (LG's, iphones, Nokias, Sony Ericsson, etcs) so I'm pretty much familiar with everything out there. Blackberry gave me freedom and made me feel secure about my information. At the beginning my Curve, them my Bold where a little behind of the other "fancier" flagship smartphones. But none of them could make what I wanted. So, I didn't make the switch. (Usually, as a smart buyer I don't follow the trends. First I do my research, balance the pros and cons, then I make my decision) I love my Q10. Perfect size, the keyboard is a masterpiece (fast and furios), but like with any device looses power with the abuse. I have been looking the reviews for the Passport, trying to keep a cold head regarding the super enthusiastic reviews and the super negative ones. The fact that you can't go to the store and try one was frustrating. However I decided to get one with a discount from Amazon (plus, they approved me for the Amazon.com store card and gave a $40 dsct) What I deal! $240 off.I'm going to be honest, when I opened the box I had my reservations. The phone looks huge and feels different in the hand (especially switching from a smaller Q10). I decided to give it a try (I could have returned the next 30 days). I'm a 5'4'', 129 lbs guy. I'm a short person. I use slim fit pants and jeans, also XS is my best fit in clothes. THerefore my main concern was: is it going to fit in my pockets? To my surprise, it fits perfectly in my jeans and pants (not in my shirts, though). Problem solved! I have small hands and I can use it mostly part of the time with one hand, however, 2 hands is ideal and automatically you handle the device in that way after a few days. Does not bother me whatsoever.I've been using my Passport for 2 weeks now and I'm so happy to have overcome my fears. The screen estate is a win! Reading, watching, touching is a marvelous experience. It is super fast. Works, I think, at least 3 times faster than my Q10. The call quality is amazing. My office is in the heart of a building, under 4 floors of concrete, and most of the phones lose the signal once you get in into the building (included my Q10) However, this phone has at least 2 lines of coverage sitting on my desk (WINNER). 10.3 is a ridiculous OS. My Android apps load faster than in my students Samsung S4 (this amazed one of them because told me [Professor, I'm so sorry to tell you that BlackBerry is dead) When he tried my Passport recognized his mistake. Now is looking for a Z30. My students like it (even though they are iphone users) especially my pre-med students after I showed them the Nanthealth video. I have downloaded several games from the Amazon store and they are amazing on this square screen, not to mention the fast they are. Feel like they were made for this OS. I started to use Blend and I love it. I use my phone features in my laptop while it's charging.I'm not going to lie about the keyboard on this phone, took me some days to get used to it. That was almost my deal breaker. However, once you master it you love it. The word flipping is amazing, the touch feature is pure innovation. I use it to scroll up/down while I'm reading in landscape mode. (people go crazy when they see it) :pThese are my two cents for this amazing device. In my opinion, the best out there for both heavy users and regular users. Totally recommend to give it a try.