BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has given prototypes of their new BlackBerry 10 to developers this week. The new model is slated to be released for consumers by the end of the year. This week’s alpha gives developers a head start on apps. The jury is still out on productivity improvements.
Will you be an early adopter of the new BlackBerry? How do you decide among BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or … a Windows Phone?
Actually it is not the phone that is important. It is an echo-system that reduces friction. A smartphone can actually be a time sync and a distraction. A clean set of tools that work across your devices helps a lot. For me iPhone/iPad/Mac GTD is done in OmniFocus. I do not look back.
Right now I think I could actually not use a smartphone, just my notetaker wallet and a dumb phone. With an iPad that has 3G the overall cost is down and management might be simpler. Issue of managing contacts in the dumb phone when the iPad is not along. Again the echo-system problem.
The alpha version of this new BlackBerry is really a distraction-free device. No connectivity at all! 🙂 Source: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2012/05/01/amateur-hour-still-over
For pure productivity on a BlackBerry I just went back to their OS5 on a 9700 Bold. I found this OS gave the best calendar, fast compact keyboard, and alway-available task manager.
OS6 and OS7 are way more fun but have too many barriers to productivity.
I concur with Robert. All what OS5 lacks IMHO is Instant Search.
OS6 is full of bugs, 9700 can’t work with it. It takes 1 min to unlock phone and emails always stuck in the sent mode.
I also downgraded to OS5.
Simplicity is the King.
I agree with Bob. I have had a iPad since they came out. Though I only switch to a Mac about 6 months ago. If you have an iPad and think it works great on a PC wait until you see the productive tools on the Mac. I also use OmniFocus on my Mac, iPad and iPhone and it does everything the GTD system requires.
If you want a fast work flow then use a Mac. I will never go back to a PC.
Andrew Simpson
I disagree with most here. The BB 9900 and OS 7.1 is solid and very productive. Combined with my Playbook – awesome. When OS 10 makes it so much the better – I will be super excited.
As for the dev device not having connectivity – suggest that you do the homework – it was not supposed to – its not a consumer ready product. Smart companies do that – Apple does it….
Am I the only one who is suprised to see this yet to be released product show up so prominent on the gtdtimes site? Will the new SGSIII get plugged too? Or ICS for that matter? I kind off liked the attitude ‘we don’t recommend any software or devices because GTD is platform independend’
I didn’t see any plug or recommendation. Just a news item. And I like the interesting discussion around devices.
Indeed. GTD is customisable. It GTD Times do a good job using the blackberry article to open a debate an asking questions. GTD is do-able on any platform, but it’s upto us to figure out what works. GTD is a set of general practices/principles of practice. The machinery is entirely personal. (As a musician, I’m increasingly finding paper/music scores, and paper in boxes marked with the number of weeks before I need to perform it is one of the most useful weapons in my artillery. “Projects/pieces to deliver” list. This tool would be useless if you a meat distributor.
I use Omnifocus across platforms for tracking actions & projects, so iPhone great of the office lists. I have corresponding physical folders for projects, agenda’s an other contextual stuff incl. checklists.
I use my BlackBerry Torch combined with my Playbook as part of my GTD system. I use primarily Evernote to do my collecting. I’m pretty excited about the up and coming launch of BlackBerry 10 and will be definitely getting one when it launches.
I use a dumb flip phone and have a iPod Touch with GeeTasks. I prefer a flip phone because it is small, well designed, has great battery life, and I pay a lot less than I would for a smart phone with data plan. My iPod gives me everything else that a smart phone has and if I need to connect my iPod to the internet, there is usually free wifi available.
Hi all, interesting read here. I’m not commenting so much on the hardware, moreso currious on software.
I’m just reading GTD now and am debating how best to implement this on my laptop (Mac, iPhone, iPad) in my office’s PC network. Others share this situation?
Can anyone speak to Omnifocus vs Evernote vs Notes (iCloud)?
Tx in advance. PS – of this should be posted elsewhere please let me know. First time here. Paul