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Author Archive: James Richardson
Five year veteran of the site. BlackBerry specialist, but experienced in most operating systems. Enjoys flower arranging and cross stitch.
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In the following video I give you a very quick demo of the keyboard options on the BlackBerry Torch 9800. As you will see, as well as the hardware QWERTY keyboard you have on screen options as well. What I don’t show though is that if you prefer you can have the onscreen keyboard set to suretype, meaning you have two letters on each key. I personally cant stand that one hence the reason that I didn’t think to test it!
As I mentioned in an earlier post the hardware keyboard is much the same as on the current BlackBerry Bold 9700. It did feel a little different to me but I am putting that down to the fact that the Torch feels totally different in the hand compared to the Bold 9700.
What I can tell you is that the onscreen keyboard worked perfectly. I managed to type 100% mistake free in portrait mode, something which I cant even to on my iPhone so overall i am incredibly impressed with the on screen typing options on the Torch. Nice work RIM.
Media has always been one of the things that has let down BlackBerry in the past and this has now been addressed with BlackBerry 6 on the Torch 9800.
As you will see I had a quick play with the media features on the device at the press event and things have most definitely taken a step in the right direction.
With a new picture gallery, music player and video player which looks good (unlike on current BB’s) RIM have really listened to what people want from a smartphone. Sorry about the camera going out of focus. It was the lighting in the room. You will however see the important bits.
With Gareth away on his hols, last night Matt, Andy and myself recorded the weekly podcast and although we were a man down we picked up a lady instead, Tracy.
On this weeks show we discuss the iPhone 4 jailbreak, The BlackBerry Torch 9800 (that I played with yesterday!), Froyo on the HTC Desire, and three other Android devices we have our hands on as well as other bits and bobs.
If you have not listened before please check it out. As usual we have a laugh and a joke as well as some comedy limericks at the end of the podcast!
To download you can either click here or find us on iTunes.
Posted by: James
We have been waiting for a new web browser on BlackBerry for a long time and praise the lord it is here at last. At the BlackBerry press event I had the chance to have a play and as you can see things have improved immensely.
Whether you use the onscreen keyboard or the hardware one, finding what you want on the BlackBerry Torch browser is a piece of cake. It is so much faster as you will see in the below video. I couldn’t get pinch to zoon to work, although I was told it does, but even so the browser looked great. Pages were quick to render (remember that tracyandmatt.co.uk has a lot of content) but tapping to zoom worked perfectly and the text re flow is a huge bonus. Tabbed browsing is also present which can be found in the menu and while I am on the subject I must say how nice it is to scroll the menu without being in fear of clicking the screen like on the Storm and Storm2.
Personally I can see no need for me to grab my iPhone4 for web browsing if I had a BlackBerry Torch.
You more than likely saw that yesterday I attended a press event in London hosted by RIM to coincide with the event in New York City where RIM and AT&T announced to the world the beautiful BlackBerry Torch, the one we knew as the 9800 Slider.
As I had hands on time with the device I thought I had better give you my first impressions and a few facts.
At present the BlackBerry Torch is exclusive to AT&T in the USA. RIM have told us today that further press releases will be made in the "coming weeks" so at the moment we cannot say if the Torch will have an exclusive carrier here in the UK. I hope not but have a feeling it may well do.
We recently showed you a video of IM+ on the BlackBerry and I have today been sent the details of some changes to the free version of the client. These include:
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Completely redesigned user interface with new theme available.
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New UI elements with tabs, new message indicators etc.
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Convenient history review for all conversations.
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Improved group chat for MSN and Skype.
If you did not get a chance to see IM+ on our video you can do so here.
The full version of the app now has a new name. It’s now called IM+ Pro.
To see the details in more depth you can head on over to shape services or go grab a free download from app world. Enjoy.
Posted by: James
You may remember that last week we mentioned that RIM had asked some members of the press to a special event in New York which takes place tomorrow. RIM have not said what the event will entail and it could be made up of several things.
We may get an official release date for BlackBerry 6. The same applies for the 9800 Slider. Could it be the 9670 Clamshell? The Bold 9780, or even the Curve 9300? I really do hope it is not just the Curve 9300 as frankly that is not very exciting at all.
Fingers crossed that the people attending will be able to get their hands on the 9800 Slider and with it running BlackBerry 6 get a good feel for where BlackBerry devices are heading in the future.
We will have all the latest news right here so please be sure to keep checking back with us tomorrow or follow us on twitter for updates.
Posted by: James
Just a quick note to let you know that the Android 2.2 update is currently being pushed to many HTC Desire here in the UK. Go check now!
Posted by: James
Earlier in the week we leant that RIM had secured the domain name blackpad.com and the interwebs were having mixed reviews on whether RIM would or would not be releasing a iPad rival under that name.
Now Bloomberg have reported that RIM are to announce a tablet later this year, in November to be precise and it will be called the BlackPad.
The device is rumored to be a similar size to Apples iPad, sporting both front and rear cameras for video calling. Although not connecting to the internet using its own sim card the BlackPad will allegedly connect to mobile devices via Bluetooth to allow for mobile connection.
Will the BlackPad be a real contender for top place in the tablet wars? Not sure about that but we will endeavor to get hold of one for review, as long as RIM make things official.
Posted by: James
It was earlier today that we posted a video of the BlackBerry 9780 but bbleaks have published yet another demo, this time slightly more in depth.
What is really promising is that OS 6 only takes up about 180MB of the 512MB RAM, a lot less than on the 9800 Slider. Does this mean we may see BlackBerry 6 on the 9700. Fingers crossed.
As we already know, the 9780 looks pretty much identical to the 9700 apart from the bezel around the phone which is gun metal in colour. I think I prefer the chrome on the 9700 to be honest but a small factor.
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