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Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by JadeNB on Sunday December 22, 2019 @09:52PM (#21861176)
> I have one of the few Android phones with a physical keyboard

What phone? Do you recommend it?

Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by gryfft on Wednesday December 25, 2019 @12:45PM (#21879556)
Sorry for missing this, but as other commenters noted, I'm using the Key2.

I can't recommend it for everyone, but since you're reading HN here's the hacker pros/cons:

Pros:

* Every physical alphabet key can be mapped to two app/action shortcuts (long press/short press)

* Good construction, satisfying to use

* Great battery life

* Great security and permissions management

* Unlocked version is more or less bloatware-free (bundled BlackBerry software is there but is either useful or easy to disable/ignore)

Cons:

* Due to hardening, not all apps are available (I do miss Ruboto)

* Due to hardening, root is not currently possible (I'd like to root my device but I appreciate the security of BB-hardened Android)

* Camera isn't up to iPhone standards (I don't care as much about this and find it kinda nifty that the camera app allows fine control over shutter speed, etc even though I rarely take photos)

* Some of the BlackBerry-specific features are pretty poorly documented (there's a hover gesture that's only available while the phone is charging which shows the charge level as a line extending around the edge of the screen. It's difficult to Google and not very useful, but I got it disabled.)

All in all, I'm happier with it than I've been with a phone in a long time. It's got two SIM slots if you care about that kind of thing. It hits a particular sweet spot for me. Ymmv.

Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by frosted-flakes on Monday December 23, 2019 @02:50AM (#21862109)
BlackBerry KeyOne or Key2. I have the KeyOne and would recommend the Key2. Typing is not any faster than on glass, but it's purposeful and generally error-free, which is a much better experience in my opinion. Also, you don't need to look at the keys.
Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by nullwarp on Monday December 23, 2019 @07:59AM (#21863314)
Not having to stare at the screen to type is such a huge thing for me, also I've completely disabled auto-correct.

I'm really sad that it feels like we're dwindling down on physical keyboard phones.

Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by 29083011397778 on Monday December 23, 2019 @10:34PM (#21869638)
It must be a KeyTwo - Currency as control key isn't an available option on my KeyOne. Agreed about error-free typing, as well as it's usefulness for SSH.
Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by frosted-flakes on Tuesday December 24, 2019 @01:45AM (#21870354)
I use right shift as the Control key on my KeyOne. The Key2 has the quick-switch key in place of right shift, so the extra options were moved to the currency key.
Re:Apple's products are getting harder to use, ignore princi... by Fnoord on Saturday December 28, 2019 @03:11PM (#21901432)
> What phone? Do you recommend it?

I have a Cosmo Communicator. No comment yet on recommendation (or not). F(x)tec is another one.