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<h1 style="text-align: center;">SUMMARY REVIEW - Blackberry Passport</h1>
<h2>[WHAT]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] I was going to skip testing out the BlackBerry Passport, but my curiosity got the best of me and I am thankful that it did. The BlackBerry 10 OS has always interested me with the fantastic BlackBerry Hub, swiping interface, and app expansion through Android.</li>
<li>] Unlike other smartphone operating systems, BlackBerry continues to focus on communications and using your device to be productive. BlackBerry took a gamble with the Passport, but going back to their QWERTY roots and innovating is what I think they needed to generate excitement for BlackBerry again.</li>
</ol>
<h2>[WHY aka PRO's]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] High quality design, fit, and finish &nbsp;</li>
<li>] Best hardware QWERTY keyboard ever released &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>] Functional and gorgeous wide display &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>] Long battery life &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>] Outstanding communicator thanks to BlackBerry Hub &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>] Useful BlackBerry Blend desktop connectivity</li>
</ol>
<h2>[WHY NOT - aka CON's]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] Wide design may not suit everyone</li>
<li>] No water resistant rating</li>
<li>] Missing native BB10 apps</li>
</ol>
<h2>[WHERE]</h2>
<ol>
<li>]&nbsp; READ THE FULL REVIEW</li>
<ol>
<li>] <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blackberry-passport-review-worlds-best-qwerty-in-a-uniquely-functional-form-factor-7000034571/" target="_blank">http://www.zdnet.com/blackberry-passport-review-worlds-best-qwerty-in-a-uniquely-functional-form-factor-7000034571/</a></li>
</ol></ol>
<h2>[WHEN]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] 2014-10-13</li>
</ol>
<h2>[EXAMPLE - hardware]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] Design: The display and keyboard are unlike anything you have ever seen before; and it turns out they work together to provide an experience unlike anything else out there.</li>
<li>] Display:4.5-inch square Gorilla Glass 3 LCD display with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution (453 pixels-per-inch) The display is advertised as being 30 percent wider than average 5-inch slabs with the capacity to show 60 characters across. Most devices show 40 characters across the display. It's a joy to use spreadsheets, read eBooks, browse web pages, manage communications in the Hub, and more with the wide display.</li>
<li>] Keyboard: BlackBerry has always had the best hardware QWERTY keyboards. BlackBerry took it to the next level with the Passport and it is easily the finest hardware keyboard ever created for a mobile device. When I first saw that the Passport only had three rows of keys, I thought it was destined to fail. Once again BlackBerry showed me the error in my initial impressions: Additional characters show up in one to four rows above the hardware keyboard, based upon the context of the text entry field. This behavior is absolutely brilliant and I was able to figure out how to enter text quickly in no time.</li>
<li>] Battery:[3450 mah] I used to be satisfied with devices that could get me through most of the day, like my original Moto X,The BlackBerry Passport has been able to carry me through each of my long days, 4:30 am to 10:30 pm, without a problem. I typically still have 30 percent or more left to carry me into the next morning before I have to worry about topping off</li>
<li>] Camera:[13MP with optical image stabilization.] Some readers commented that my Passport sample photos impressed them in my <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/smartphone-camera-shootout-iphone-6-plus-takes-on-six-top-challengers-pictures-7000034543/">smartphone camera shootout</a> and so far I have been pleased with the results. I like the way the camera software checks conditions and prompts me to change the shooting mode, for example to include HDR, for optimal shots.</li>
</ol>
<h2>[EXAMPLE - software]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] BlackBerry Hub: This has always been my favorite feature on BlackBerry 10 as I find my communications productivity jump through the roof compared to using different email and social networking apps on other platforms.</li>
<li>] Active Frames: The BB 10.3 multi-tasking page is called Active Frames and lets you view up to eight applications that you have running.&nbsp;</li>
<li>] Amazon App Store is preinstalled: While you can download and install thousands of apps from BlackBerry World, BlackBerry also gives you the ability to install apps from Amazon's Android store front. In addition, it is easy to install Snap and get apps from the Google Play Store. </li>
<li>] BlackBerry Blend - is one of those functions aimed at making the entire BlackBerry experience better than what others offer just on a smartphone. With BlackBerry Blend you can communicate via BBM, email, and text from your PC through your connected Passport. You can access files on connected devices, view and manage your calendar, and more. It is available on PCs and Macs, as well as iOS and Android tablets. While I have tried other solutions, such as Samsung's SideSync, nothing has been as stable and functional as BlackBerry Blend.</li>
<li>] BlackBerry Balance looks like a fantastic way to separate your work and personal life, but my BYOD work policy doesn't give me the opportunity to test it out.</li>
</ol>
<h2>[HOW-TO]</h2>
<ol>
<li>]</li>
</ol>
<h2>[REFERENCE]</h2>
<ol>
<li>] Blackberry Passport - our Passport notes page</li>
<li>] <a href="/view/article?id=796" target="_blank">Blackberry 10.x</a> - our Blackberry 10 notes page</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<hr />
 CONCLUSIONS - I was going to skip testing out the BlackBerry Passport, but my curiosity got the best of me and I am thankful that it did. The BlackBerry 10 OS has always interested me with the fantastic BlackBerry Hub, swiping interface, and app expansion through Android. - Unlike other smartphone operating systems, BlackBerry continues to focus on communications and using your device to be productive. BlackBerry took a gamble with the Passport, but going back to their QWERTY roots and innovating is what I think they needed to generate excitement for BlackBerry again.
PROS - High quality design, fit, and finish &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Best hardware QWERTY keyboard ever released &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Functional and gorgeous wide display &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Long battery life &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; - Outstanding communicator thanks to BlackBerry Hub &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; - Useful BlackBerry Blend desktop connectivity CONS - Wide design may not suit everyone - No water resistant rating - Missing native BB10 apps
HARDWARE
- Design: The display and keyboard are unlike anything you have ever seen before; and it turns out they work together to provide an experience unlike anything else out there.
- Display:4.5-inch square Gorilla Glass 3 LCD display with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution (453 pixels-per-inch) The display is advertised as being 30 percent wider than average 5-inch slabs with the capacity to show 60 characters across. Most devices show 40 characters across the display. It's a joy to use spreadsheets, read eBooks, browse web pages, manage communications in the Hub, and more with the wide display.
- Keyboard: BlackBerry has always had the best hardware QWERTY keyboards. BlackBerry took it to the next level with the Passport and it is easily the finest hardware keyboard ever created for a mobile device. When I first saw that the Passport only had three rows of keys, I thought it was destined to fail. Once again BlackBerry showed me the error in my initial impressions: Additional characters show up in one to four rows above the hardware keyboard, based upon the context of the text entry field. This behavior is absolutely brilliant and I was able to figure out how to enter text quickly in no time.
- Battery:[3450 mah] I used to be satisfied with devices that could get me through most of the day, like my original Moto X,The BlackBerry Passport has been able to carry me through each of my long days, 4:30 am to 10:30 pm, without a problem. I typically still have 30 percent or more left to carry me into the next morning before I have to worry about topping off.
- Camera:[13MP with optical image stabilization.] Some readers commented that my Passport sample photos impressed them in my <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/smartphone-camera-shootout-iphone-6-plus-takes-on-six-top-challengers-pictures-7000034543/">smartphone camera shootout</a> and so far I have been pleased with the results. I like the way the camera software checks conditions and prompts me to change the shooting mode, for example to include HDR, for optimal shots.
SOFTWARE -BlackBerry Hub: This has always been my favorite feature on BlackBerry 10 as I find my communications productivity jump through the roof compared to using different email and social networking apps on other platforms. -Active Frames: The BB 10.3 multi-tasking page is called Active Frames and lets you view up to eight applications that you have running. -Amazon App Store is preinstalled: While you can download and install thousands of apps from BlackBerry World, BlackBerry also gives you the ability to install apps from Amazon's Android store front. In addition, it is easy to install Snap and get apps from the Google Play Store. 
-BlackBerry Blend - is one of those functions aimed at making the entire BlackBerry experience better than what others offer just on a smartphone. With BlackBerry Blend you can communicate via BBM, email, and text from your PC through your connected Passport. You can access files on connected devices, view and manage your calendar, and more. It is available on PCs and Macs, as well as iOS and Android tablets. While I have tried other solutions, such as Samsung's SideSync, nothing has been as stable and functional as BlackBerry Blend. -BlackBerry Balance looks like a fantastic way to separate your work and personal life, but my BYOD work policy doesn't give me the opportunity to test it out. 
<hr />
 Unlike other smartphone operating systems, BlackBerry continues to focus on communications and using your device to be productive. Most of the people working for government agencies I work with as a professional engineer use BlackBerry devices and the Passport gives them the ability to leave the iPhone behind and slap one smartphone on their belt. BlackBerry took a gamble with the Passport, but going back to their QWERTY roots and innovating is what I think they needed to generate excitement for BlackBerry again. It is probably a niche market for the Passport, but I think it was the best option for them and may turn out to be the device that makes people ask for a new BlackBerry at work.
HARDWARE
- Display:4.5-inch square Gorilla Glass 3 LCD display with 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution (453 pixels-per-inch) The display is advertised as being 30 percent wider than average 5-inch slabs with the capacity to show 60 characters across. Most devices show 40 characters across the display. It's a joy to use spreadsheets, read eBooks, browse web pages, manage communications in the Hub, and more with the wide display.
- Keyboard: BlackBerry has always had the best hardware QWERTY keyboards. BlackBerry took it to the next level with the Passport and it is easily the finest hardware keyboard ever created for a mobile device. When I first saw that the Passport only had three rows of keys, I thought it was destined to fail. Once again BlackBerry showed me the error in my initial impressions: Additional characters show up in one to four rows above the hardware keyboard, based upon the context of the text entry field. This behavior is absolutely brilliant and I was able to figure out how to enter text quickly in no time.
&nbsp;
- Battery:[3450 mah] I used to be satisfied with devices that could get me through most of the day, like my original Moto X, but am not buying another phone that requires me to charge up a device to get through a full long day. Long battery life is a major reason I bought the iPhone 6 Plus over the iPhone 6 and is why I put up with the size of the Nokia Lumia 1520.
&nbsp;
<h1 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</h1>

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