BlackBerry 7 smartphones: a final overview

Posted By Ray Nicolini

Via BBGeeks.com

To be honest, I was kind of nervous about August. It was the month when many of the new BlackBerry 7 smartphones would hit carriers. It was an exciting time, for sure. The spec sheets that leaked earlier in the year made the devices look promising — far more promising than any previous line of BlackBerry models. Yet at the same time I couldn’t rid my mouth of the bad taste the previous line left. Whether it was constant problems with the 9650, the unrealized potential of the Storm 9530, or the complete lack of marketing power behind the Pearl 3G, it was hard to approach these devices with anything more than guarded optimism. To be further honest, I let the review units sit in their FedEx boxes for a couple of days, for fear that I’d have to write some harsh words. I just didn’t want that.

But then I actually tried the devices, and I liked them.

For a quick reference, here is a quick list of the three models I reviewed:

• BlackBerry Torch 9810
• BlackBerry Torch 9860
• BlackBerry Bold 9900

In many ways the devices are similar. That is, they have the same processor, same operating system, and the same (or similar) amount of on-board memory. That made it somewhat tough to make the reviews unique. Yet each model lent something to the whole. Today I’m going to sum up my final thoughts on the newest line of BlackBerry models.

The hardware makes the difference

The original BlackBerry Torch provided a valuable lesson for RIM. It had potential, and I even enjoyed my short time with it. Yet I wouldn’t have purchased it as my personal BlackBerry. Why? Because despite all the new features of BlackBerry 6, the device seemingly could not handle them. There just wasn’t enough power behind it. As I emphasized greatly in every review, the processor was the single biggest improvement of any model.

It’s a bit frustrating, of course, because Android manufacturers were pumping out handsets with 1GHz processors in 2010. If RIM had done that, and hadn’t just gone with business-as-usual move, they might have avoided a lot of issues that they face now.

Software is no big deal

When it comes to BlackBerry, the standard complaint centers on the software. The BlackBerry OS is ancient. There aren’t enough killer apps. And so on. RIM tried to change that conversation with BlackBerry OS 6, and to an extent they did. That is, OS 6 was a far more powerful mobile operating system than anything they had previously released. But, again, the issue was that their phones weren’t powerful enough to handle it.

At this point I’m not sure what the big deal is. Sure, if you’re looking for the greatest in customization you might prefer Android. But BlackBerry 6, and now 7, offers a straight forward UI that works as well as you might imagine on a touchscreen. Again, maybe cutting edge consumers won’t love it, but business users have every reason to use and like it. It ain’t the best, but it’s not unserviceable, either.

The feel is right

The last, and perhaps most noticeable, feature of the BlackBerry 7 smartphones is that they just feel right. Whether it’s the way the Torch 9860 feels in my hand, or the way the 9900′s keyboard blows away the competition, the devices just feel right. The exception, I guess, is the Torch 9810. But on the whole these just feel like solid devices that should be able to handle the rough and tumble of my pocket and frequent drops.

Usable, practical

My overall impression of the BlackBerry 7 smartphones is that they are perfectly usable, practical phones for a business setting. They’re not going to set the world afire with apps. There won’t be any hacking the devices to gain extra features, nor will there be a cult of RIM to go along with them. But they run properly, use adequate software, and still take advantage of RIM’s second-to-none messaging system. It’s hard to ask for more from the BlackBerry line of smartphones. RIM has certainly reached an apex with this current breed.

Thankfully, they can still go up. This line not only gave them a line of business phones that can handle anything thrown at them, but they’ve also inspired confidence in the next line of BlackBerry phones. I’m definitely psyched to get my hands on the Colt. Hopefully that happens not too long after New Year 2012.

Why this crop of BlackBerry smartphones has a chance

Posted By Ray Nicolini

Pictured above is the BlackBerry Torch 9810, one of many devices that RIM recently unveiled. We’ve known about these handsets since early in the year, but it’s always refreshing to see RIM or a carrier make it official. This year, however, it seems there is a bit less excitement to go along with these announcements. The BlackBerry brand has taken a considerable hit in the past year, with customers defecting for the iPhone and Android devices. The question that even die-hard BlackBerry fans are asking with this crop is, will it be any different? I think there’s sufficient reason to think so.

RIM tried to shift gears with the BlackBerry last year when it launched the Torch with BlackBerry OS 6. They portrayed it as a revamped operating system on a sleek handset — basically, something that could keep up with the market. I had the pleasure of testing the Torch for about a month, and during that time I was decently impressed. It beat the pants off my current BlackBerry at the time, the 9630, and it combined two things I enjoy: touchscreens and physical keyboards. But it was still lacking in some areas.

In particular, I thought the entire device was held back by a slow processor. RIM has been known to do this, keep the processor speed low, because it makes for better battery life. Their customers are on the go, they reason, and might not have time to charge at will. The longer the battery lasts, the more use they can get out of the phone between charges. That works in theory, but in practice it leaves us with an underpowered device that can’t properly run even the BlackBerry OS. I really did think that they made positive strides with BlackBerry OS 6, and that notion was reinforced when I got a 9650. But the processor speed means that I can’t get the most out of it.

The new BlackBerry models all have much faster processors, 1.2GHz to be precise. This trumps many new Android smartphones hitting the market. That will allow users to really explore the OS. You won’t be held back by lag and other speed-based issues. You can just use your device the way it was intended: smoothly and quickly. I think that does add a degree of value to these devices, and makes them more worthy than many analysts will have you believe. BlackBerry OS 6, and by extension 7, might not be a new revolution in smartphone software. It is, however, a solid operating system that combines BlackBerry’s top-notch messaging platform with plenty of other smartphone features.

Despite my previous pessimism regarding this new line of BlackBerry devices, I think that users will get plenty of use out of them. Anyone who enjoys the traditional BlackBerry form factor will enjoy the addition of a touchscreen in the Bolds 9900 and 9930. It’s essentially optional, too, since it has all the apparatus of the non-touch BlackBerry devices. Storm haters will find the 9850 and 9860 a breath of fresh air, running in a smoother manner than their predecessors. There’s no more clicking when typing, and the faster processor should make everything run a ton better than on the original Storms. And the Torch 9810 should take an already good BlackBerry device and put it over the top.

These devices might not be for everyone. Some people want the newest and glitziest things, and for them there is Android and iPhone. But for those who want the best smartphone messaging platform on the market, and want to get a little bit more out of the device, RIM has submitted for your approval its best BlackBerry devices to date. While they’re certainly in competition with the more popular platforms, they can definitely exist on a different plane.

Via bbgeeks.com

AT&T BlackBerry Torch 9860 spotted?

Posted By Ray Nicolini

A lot of BlackBerry users are looking forward to the BlackBerry Torch 9860/9850 only because we haven’t seen full touchscreen devices come from RIM being overall successful.  Let’s face it, the Storm was a disaster and didn’t last very long on the market.  So now we see this image of the BlackBerry Torch 9860 with no AT&T branding on the actual device, but a stock AT&T background instead.  Up above where the signal bars are we see it say “H+” where hopefully we’ll be seeing HSPA+ (4G) ready on the device.  Pretty cool.  Again, no solid confirmation that this one’s an AT&T device, but it’s sort of safe to assume it is, especially since the carrier is expected to get it too.

As seen in the image, it looks like the Torch 9860 will have its buttons pop out while the 9850 gets it flush like the Storm 2.  It may very well be prototype, but that’s the assumption so far based on what we’re seeing with the two devices.

Source: Engadget