Blackberry’s Curve has long been devoid of a touchscreen.  That is until today, as the company officially announced the Curve 9380, an all touchscreen affair.  It has a 3.2-inch 480 x 360 display and a five megapixel camera (pictured on the right).  It will ship with Blackberry’s OS 7, their latest and greatest.  Unfortunately, that’s the only deets that RIM is dishing at the moment.  However, they also served up some details on the Bold 9790.

The Bold 9790 sports a 2.44-inch touchscreen with a 360 x 480 resolution, optical mouse, 8GB of storage expandable via  microSD card slot and a 1Ghz processor to boot.  It too will ship with Blackberry’s OS 7 as well as support for NFC and augmented reality (these latter features will be available in the Curve 9830 as well).

In case you’re wondering, RIM will also pack in a number of free apps, which includes the Premium version of Documents To Go, Blackberry backup, Social Feeds 2.0, Facebook chat and the always necessary BBM.

You can expect both the Curve 9380 and the Bold 9790 to ship in the “coming weeks.”

T-Mobile just piled another Blackberry on top of their list of RIM devices.  However, unlike Sprint’s Torch 9850 the Torch 9810 sports a slide out keyboard and a touchscreen that is .5-inches smaller, 3.2-inches to be exact.  Powering the BB 7.0 OS is a 1.2Ghz processor, which is further supported by 4G connectivity.  Continuing on its path for mediocrity RIM has included a 5-megapixel camera that can record 720p HD video and sports an LED flash.

If you’re looking for this device, you’ll have to wait until November 9th, when it goes on sale at T-Mobile stores and their website for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate.  However, if you’re a business customer you can score it one week earlier, which makes sense, since the Torch 9810 is clearly targeted at those folks.

T-Mobile Announces Upcoming Availability of the BlackBerry Torch 9810

T-Mobile USA Inc. today announced the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810, the latest 4G BlackBerry smartphone to join America’s Largest 4G Network™. Powered by the latest BlackBerry 7 operating system and a 1.2 GHz processor, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 provides a fast and fluid premium smartphone experience. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 combines a brilliant 3.2-inch TFT VGA capacitive touch-screen display with a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard for a truly efficient and intuitive mobile communications experience.

Encased in a sleek and stylish form factor with a zinc grey color finish, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 is equipped with essential smartphone features, including access to BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger), personal and corporate e-mail, and social networking applications; a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD video recording; and access to BlackBerry App World™ for downloading premium applications and games.

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is expected to be available in an exclusive pre-sale for T-Mobile business customers beginning today, November 2. The smartphone is expected to be available nationwide at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and national retailers, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com starting November 9. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is expected to cost $249.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan.

Blackberry has teamed up with Porsche’s design unit to develop the P’9981, a $2,000 smartphone that is all looks and no more powerful than the Bold 9900.  Cost aside, this is exactly the kind of devices RIM should be releasing if they want to offset their diminishing popularity, a result of being deemed a work, and not a lifestyle device.

So, yeah, $2,000 is a ton of coin for a smartphone that boasts the same feature set as its $300 counterpart, the Bold 9900.  But what you’re paying for is Porsche Design’s sleek and sexy finish.  The shop is well known for taking products, slapping their German inspired design on it and driving up the price tag a 10 fold.  So, really, anyone familiar with the brand shouldn’t be surprised with the exuberant price tag.

Nevertheless, you will get a Blackberry device running with their latest OS (7), a 1.2Ghz processor, 8GB of storage, microSD card slot, NFC support, a 5MP camera for capture 720p HD video, a 2.8-inch 640×480 screen touchscreen, dual-band WiFi, GPS, compass, accelerometer, a backlit keyboard, a leather back and an all stainless steal body that is no more than 11.3mm thick.

2.5 out of 5 stars

RIM just hasn’t been able to make an all-purpose touch-based handset. They tried with the Storm, the Storm II, and the Torch (and subsequent models), but each new offering has failed in halting the shift of users leaving Blackberry for an iPhone, Android, or even Windows Phone 7 devices. The company once exalted by everyday consumers and businesses alike is giving it another go with the Blackberry Torch 9850, one of the company’s first phones running the latest operating system BB 7.0. Does the aging OS have what it takes to take on the relatively recent newcomers, or is RIM only beating a dead horse?

As one of the oldest cellphone manufacturers, RIM has produced hundreds of phones and has become exceedingly efficient at it. The hardware they design is rarely below average, though it simultaneously lacks the artistry and finesse seen in some handsets. The 9850 has a sleek, curved design with no sharp edges and is made to be held in the hand for long periods of time. Just like Blackberry owners expect and desire.

The front face features a 3.7” display with a bezel that curves carefully off the sides, connected to a reflective bezel which in turn connects to the removable battery panel on the back. Four buttons on the right side are easy to feel, yet difficult to spot, and manage to stay out of the way when in a pocket or in the hand. There is no accidental button pressing here. On the left is the micro-USB connector, and on the top is the lock key shaped like part of the phone, not like just another button. Four face buttons and a touch-sensitive button rest below the screen.

One notable aspect, which is true of many Blackberry devices and, sadly, not many other smartphones, is the removable battery panel. It has a simple one-button mechanical lock, where when pressed the aluminum panel comes off and reveals the battery, micro-SD card and SIM card. The micro-SD can be taken out without removing the battery. And, reflectively, it’s nice to see such a clean design on the inside of the phone. Most phones I test are a maze of circuitry and off-color panels, whereas the 9850 is crisp, simple, and to the point. Above the panel is the 5MP camera and LED flash.

Brightness on the display is good; the screen is visible in direct sunlight, though in general color depth and contrast is lacking. The 840×400 screen is dense and pictures are accurate, but because of the color issues they don’t have the vibrancy found on some displays, notably Samsung’s OLED-ready phones. Besides for excellent brightness, the display is average.

Touch sensitivity has been more problematic, though it’s unclear whether this is a software or hardware issue. In my testing I gave up on using the screen to click on links or words, instead using the touch-sensitive mouse nub as Blackberry users so often do. Unfortunately the touchscreen just isn’t perfectly suited for the finger, and I’d mostly use it for scrolling up and down emails and web pages, but little else.

That’s where the 9850’s greatest fault is: its keyboard. With no physical QWERTY, users must type away on the screen, and with poor touch accuracy, typing even tweets or text messages is a chore. In an awful twist of irony, I discovered Blackberry’s most attractive features (BBM, chat, email) and couldn’t make the best use of any of them. Typing on the keyboard is an exercise in futility; the faster you type, the more frequent and terrible the errors become. Blackberry’s aren’t made for slow thumbs, but with this virtual keyboard, answering emails, chat messages and texts will either force you to type with a turtle-like speed or spend equal time typing and correcting errors.

The hardware specs alone show a slightly different story from the handset itself: 1.2GHz dual core CPU; 768MB of RAM; 253ppi display; seven hours of talk time and six hours of video playback; 5MP camera with 720p video recording. These parts, however, don’t make the whole. Instead, they are limited mostly by a poor, repressed OS which RIM has refused to seriously change in a world that has already moved to touch-only smartphones.

In West LA Sprint’s network held up well, and making calls and sending and receiving data is fast. The 9850 connects quickly to the network and calls are clear. Driving around in both residential and commercial areas the 9850 maintained a solid connection, though in less populated areas and smaller roads the once dominant cell network now regularly drops calls and is as stable as the rest of the big four. Locally, however, Sprint’s network has deteriorated in Los Angeles county as a whole.

The 9850 atop the HTC Evo 3D, a significantly larger phone. The 9850 is pretty small compared to today’s smartphones

What I’m both surprised and dismayed about with the 9850 is that while it’s a 3G handset , what you can do with Sprint’s network is limited to the phone only. There is no hotspot connectivity, which for an enterprise-ready phone can be a death sentence for business users. The way Blackberry works, the BB Store only downloads via 3G and not through Wi-Fi, which considering the poorer status of Sprint’s network, as well as the overwhelming difference between Wi-Fi and 3G, makes me question the fundamental design of the phone.

Browsing the BB Store and installing applications isn’t nearly as easy as it should be. It’s a slow process. Too many applications require accepting their specific terms and conditions. There is no true multitasking. Switching from one app to the next is slow. Installing apps, and then installing updates for those apps, is painfully slow. Finally, plenty of cross-platform apps are very clearly worse on Blackberry.

Battery life on the 9850 is what I’ve come to expect from today’s smartphones, about a day with moderate use. In poor connection areas the battery drain is terrible, where some of the other handsets I currently have in testing can sit for days with low- or no-connectivity.

The camera is fairly good, though it tends to take grainy photos which are then post-processed to sharpen them. Viewing pictures taken with the 9850 directly on the phone looks great, but on a computer screen or blown up they are mediocre at best. The flash is powerful, and tends to wash colors out, but it’s the only way to take low-light shots. The plethora of shooting modes is good, though the automatic mode shoots the best and has in nearly every shot used the proper settings. Close shots automatically go to macro, night shots switch to the night mode, and even the neat text mode automatically detects properly. Sample shots below.

Video quality on the 9850 is very good. The microphone does a great job at picking up audio from the front and back, while also minimizing the sound of oncoming wind. At full 720p videos aren’t as clear as they could be, and the camera frequently has trouble focusing, while simultaneously switching between light and dark spots quickly. It’s overall a good camcorder, but there’s no tap to focus feature.

RIM, out of all the other smartphone manufacturers, has the biggest opportunity to make it right. They produce so many phones, have so many users worldwide, and have enterprise wrapped around its finger. That’s been changing thanks to iOS and Android gobbling up RIM’s market share, and phones like the Torch 9850 aren’t helping. The phone is a legacy device, not different or upgraded enough from its predecessors to put a dent in its main competitors. Add onto that an inaccurate touchscreen and you have a Blackberry, with everything a Blackberry is good for, sans keyboard. The 9850 is a device I really want to like, but RIM just makes it too hard.

Bottom line: It’s a Blackberry, with all the good except for a working keyboard. Interested buyers need to seriously consider if they want a Blackberry that’s no good at typing, that isn’t really business ready, and already feels outdated.

Pros:

• Solid build with a removable battery panel, which everyone should copy
• Blackberry’s revered email and instant services work marvelously

Cons:

• Touchscreen is inaccurate, makes typing a headache
• No hotspot or 3G-sharing supported
• App store needs a complete overhaul

// <![CDATA[
cobrand_id = '1328';
product_id = '907856809';
cb_limit = 999;
sml = 1;
open_link_type2 = 1;
show_link_price2 = 1;
cb_width = '620';
head_title_type = '1';
shop_btn_type = 1;
show_picture = '1';
document.write('');
// ]]>

Aching for some Blackberry 7?  Well, good news smartphone desiring readers.  Sprint will start selling the Blackberry Torch 9850 on August 21st for $150 after a $50 mail-in-rebate and of course 2-year contract signing.  This is Blackberry’s first all touchscreen device on Sprint’s Now Network.

The Torch rocks a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 1.2Ghz processor, 5 megapixel camera, a 1230mAh battery, GPS, WiFi and handful of other features.  As previously mentioned we’re a bit surprised to see a 5 megapixel camera in a consumer device, especially at this level, but than again it is Blackberry.   Also, keep in mind that it measures 11.5mm wide, where as the iPhone 4 is just 9.3mm.

In terms of the new OS, Blackberry OS 7, they say you can expect a more fluid like experience that is 40% faster than OS 6 and 100% faster than OS 5.  That’s pretty bold.  Blackberry Balance, a new feature to 7, promises to help you easily separate personal and business tasks, emails, contacts and so forth.

So what do you think?  Will you be getting the new Blackberry Torch?

Oh RIM, how we’ll miss you.   Okay, that might be a bit unfair, but in late the company just can’t seem to get a break in terms of an exciting device.  Like most companies they’ve “dialed” it in for too long and have failed to unveil handsets that are vastly different from one and other, and boast the allure of an iPhone or an Android handset, which have long had the luxury of owning.

However, RIM’s latest, the Blackberry Torch 9850/9860 might be the closest thing we’ve seen to stave off their downward spiral.  But from where we sit that ain’t saying much.  It’s a touchscreen affair measuing 3.7-inches with an 800×480 resolution.  Okay, we can live with that.  There is also the presence of a 5 megapixel camera, which isn’t lack luster, but in today’s marketplace there are many phones sporting 8 megapixel shooters so it’s a bit perplexing as to why they just didn’t max the thing out.  While the RAM is suffiecent, 768MB, it only ships with 4GB of storage, though you can expand that to 32GB via a microsSD card.  We’re a bit skeptical, but RIM says that the 1230mAh battery can achieve a 13 day standby time – you can cut that number down by 90% in NYC, where cell tower competition is up the ying yang.  And there is of course WiFi, GPS, an optical touchpad, the ability to record 720p video and Blackberry’s newest OS, OS 7.

If you’re wondering about the release date and the price, well, just keep on wondering.  RIM is mum on that info, though we suspect it will arrive sometime late in the year, which by all accounts is a risky move since Apple will surely release the newest iPhone around the same time.

Did we mention that it’s 11.5mm wide, where as the iPhone 4 is just 9.3mm?  Fatty if you ask us, but maybe you’re a chubby chaser.

RIM officially announced the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones today, their thinnest and perhaps most opulent handsets to date.

They measure just 10.5mm at their thickest point and include an iPhone like brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave backplate.  Under the hood is a 1.2 GHz processor and support for high speed 4G/HSPA+ wide area wireless networks.  The 9900 supports HSPA/4G, while the 9930 is the world variant and supports dual-band CDMA and quad-band GSM.

They’re dubbing the touchscreen Liquid Graphics, which delivers up to 60 frames per second performance with any “eye popping 287 dpi”.  It measures 2.8-inches, a far cry from many of today’s smartphones.

Other features include a 5 megapixel camera that can capture 720p video, 8GB of storage expandable via microSD card slot, Bluetooth, NFC  and Blackberry’s all new operating system, Blackberry 7 OS.

RIM says that the Blackberry Bold 9900 and 9930 will be available around the world sometime this summer.

RIM Introduces New BlackBerry Bold Smartphones

New BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Smartphones are the Thinnest and Most Powerful BlackBerry Smartphones yet, Featuring the Renowned BlackBerry Keyboard Together with a Brilliant Touch Screen and the New BlackBerry 7 OS

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today unveiled two new BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphones. The high-performance BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a stunning and iconic design that integrates an incredibly easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard with a brilliant, high resolution, capacitive touch screen. These exceptional smartphones are built on a new, performance-driven platform powered by the BlackBerry® 7 operating system and designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity for users around the world.

“The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 OS are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “These fully-loaded and beautifully crafted smartphones offer a highly refined user experience with blazingly fast performance, a brilliant touch screen and an outstanding typing experience.”

Thin, Sleek, Iconic Design Distinguished by an iconic design and the industry’s best keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature the premium materials and finishes that characterize the BlackBerry Bold line. Both models have a lustrous exterior with a brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave backplate. They are also the thinnest BlackBerry smartphones yet, at only 10.5mm. The quality materials and optimized design of the new BlackBerry Bold smartphones are instantly evident when held in the hand.

Performance-Driven These BlackBerry Bold smartphones are built on a new performance-driven platform featuring a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid Graphics™ touch screen, and support for high speed 4G/HSPA+ wide area wireless networks.

The Liquid Graphics touch screen, a key new feature powered by BlackBerry 7, delivers fast, smooth performance for highly responsive touch-based navigation, web browsing, pictures, video and graphics intensive games*. Offering up to 60 frames-per-second performance with instant UI action/response, Liquid Graphics gives customers a visually rich and immersive experience that’s responsive to the touch. In addition, the smartphones feature brilliant displays with an eye-popping 287 dpi to deliver crisp, stunning visuals.

The new platform also provides support for 4G networks; the 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity, and the 9930 supports CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and HSPA+ global roaming on GSM/UMTS networks.

NFC The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that will enable many rich and exciting experiences. Through NFC, users will be able to, for example, pair the BlackBerry Bold to an accessory or read information such as a web link from smart tags by simply tapping their BlackBerry Bold to an NFC tag (eg. Smart Poster).

Augmented Reality The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to support location-based services and augmented reality. APIs will allow third party developers to take advantage of the new functionality within their applications. The new smartphones will also include Wikitude, the leader in mobile augmented reality, which overlays contextual information on what the user sees through the smartphone’s camera viewfinder.

HD Video The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones support up to 720p HD video recording and playback. Users can easily share their videos directly from the smartphone or sync videos, as well as music and photos, to their computer using Media Sync in the BlackBerry® Desktop Software.

BlackBerry 7 The BlackBerry 7 OS is designed to power the new performance-driven BlackBerry Bold platform. It provides an easier and faster user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box.

The BlackBerry Browser has been significantly enhanced in BlackBerry 7. In addition to the general performance gains of Liquid Graphics, which helps deliver faster rendering and seamless panning and zooming, the BlackBerry 7 browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages. The new browser also includes support for additional HTML5 elements, such as HTML5 Video.

Building upon the Universal Search feature introduced in BlackBerry 6, BlackBerry 7 expands the capability to include voice-activated search. This new capability makes it even easier and more convenient to search for content on the smartphone or web.

BlackBerry 7 also integrates BlackBerry® Balance™, which separates personal content from corporate content on the smartphone, giving users the freedom and flexibility to use the handset for personal email, Facebook®, Twitter®, multimedia, games and other apps while satisfying the very real need for corporate data to be highly secure and manageable. BlackBerry Balance works in conjunction with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3, which provides a number of unique IT policy controls such as wiping only corporate data from the handset or blocking work related content and apps from being copied or forwarded to personal contacts.

With BlackBerry 7 on the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones, users will also get the full version of Docs To Go® with all “premium” features enabled out-of-the-box so that users can easily work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the smartphone. Docs To Go also includes a native PDF viewer.

Availability The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer.

For additional information please visit www.blackberry.com/touchbold

Say hello to RIM’s Blackberry Bold Touch.  BGR got a hands on with the phone and to say the least they are very impressed with its solid build and responsiveness.

Unlike the regular Bold, this phone sports a 2.8-inch 640×480 touchscreen and includes a 1.2Ghz processor as well as a new battery that has yet to prove its worth.  There is also the presence of a 5 megapixel camera that can capture 720p video and 8G of storage.

There is no word on when the phone will be available for purchase, but it is expected to make an official debut at BlackBerry World in early May.

Read

Finally!  The Blackberry Playbook is set to ship sometime between April 19th and April 26th (10-15 days later than previously leaked) and cost $499.99 for the 16GB WiFi only model.  Best Buy has an exclusive preorder on the Tablet, at least for starters.  While their US site shows the aforementioned price, the Canada site pegs the 32GB and 64GB models at $599.99 and $699.99 respectively.  

If you remember, James loved the Playbook when he had a chance to go hands on at CES 2011.  Under the hood is a dual-core 1Ghz processor and 1GB of RAM.  The 7-inch touchscreen has a 1024×600 resolution, which is complemented by 3 megapixel and 5 megapixel cameras.  It remains to be seen if RIM will release a 3G model, but it might be a safe bet to assume that they’ll enable tethering with compatible Blackberry phones via the microUSB input.

Read

RIM isn’t ready to give up on the Storm just yet.  BGR got their hands on leaked images of what they’re saying is the Blackberry Storm 3.  Arg, enough already RIM.

In terms of specs, and despite the model name, which has long been regarded as a mistake by RIM, this version of the device is rounding out to do some heavy lifting.  The  big take aways?  A 1.2ghz processor and 3.7-inch 800×480 capacitive touchscreen.

Others specs include a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video mode, quad band GSM connectivity, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3G mobile hotspot, optical trackpad, 1230 mAh battery and Tri-band UMTS/HSPA support.

Word has it the Blackberry Storm 3 will launch sometime this September, but don’t count on it maintaining the Storm moniker, at least not internationally.

Read

The Blackberry Playbook has yet to make its official unveiling, but until that time comes we’ll have to settle with watching it face off against Apple’s iPad.

In this short video (after ‘leap’) RIM compares the load speeds of their browser with Apple and the results are a bit shocking.  The Playbook beats the iPad to the proverbial punch every time and manages to render Flash based sites with relative ease.  Sure, the sites that they chose aren’t exactly Apple.com, but comparison aside the Playbook is looking pretty speedy.

Well this is a little odd. New reports from Bloomberg say that BlackBerry’s upcoming tablet, which is still pretty shrouded in mystery (despite its $200 million development cost) might be called the ‘Blackpad’, and might not be using the company’s new BlackBerry OS 6 after all. Instead, it would use a custom OS designed by developer QNX. Why not use their latest and greatest? Well, apparently the legacy code does not work well with the tablet, so a complete overhaul is a better fit. We’ll hopefully find out more soon enough.

Read

New info keeps leaking out at a nice pace for RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry tablet, so here’s the latest: despite earlier reports of an 8.9-inch screen, insiders are now saying the tablet will have a 9.7-inch display. That’s in addition to the other specs we know — Bluetooth, WiFi, and front and rear-facing cameras for both pictures and video chatting. Apparently the manufacturing company Quanta will produce 2 million units of the tablet starting in September, with an initial release in November for a $499 price tag. We’ll find out if these rumors are true soon enough.

Read

RIM has announced the latest addition in their Curve line, the 9300 3G. It’s packing a QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad, WiFi, GPS, , microSD/SDHC card support for up to 32 GB, 2MP camera, and a 320 x 240 display. While it ships with BlackBerry OS 5, the device is OS 6 ready and will get the update within the coming months.

The BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G is available in August.

RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Curve 3G Smartphone

New addition to the globally popular BlackBerry Curve series is fast, easy-to-use, richly-featured and BlackBerry 6 ready

Waterloo, Ontario – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the new BlackBerry® Curve™ 3G, an exciting addition to the globally popular BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. Designed to provide the growing mass of smartphone purchasers with a distinctly powerful, approachable and affordable choice, the BlackBerry Curve 3G supports high-speed 3G (HSDPA) networks around the world and gives users the exceptional communications features they need to accomplish more than ever, when they’re at home, at work and everywhere in-between.

“The majority of people in the worldwide mobile phone market have yet to buy their first smartphone and the BlackBerry Curve 3G is designed to provide an extremely attractive and accessible choice that will help convince many of them to make the leap,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “The new BlackBerry Curve 3G is a perfect choice for happily busy people who are looking for a user-friendly 3G smartphone to help them make the most of their day and to stay connected with their friends, family and co-workers.”

The BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphone features a comfortable full-QWERTY keyboard for fast, accurate typing, optical trackpad for fluid navigation, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, as well as dedicated media keys, so music lovers can easily access their tunes while on the go. The new smartphone also features a camera that can record video and a microSD/SDHC slot that supports up to 32 GB memory cards for media storage. Support for 3G networks makes browsing faster, streaming music smoother, and gives users the ability to talk on the phone while they browse the web, instant message with BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) or share their location with friends on popular social networking sites.

The BlackBerry Curve 3G ships with BlackBerry® 5 and is BlackBerry® 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that was announced last week. It retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Curve 3G, subject to carrier certifications, in the coming months.

The new BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphone (model 9300) will be available from various carriers and distribution partners around the world beginning in August. Check with local carriers for details about availability and pricing.

For more information about the new BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphone visit www.blackberry.com/curve3G. For more information about BlackBerry 6, visit www.blackberry.com/6.

Last month, we reported on rumors of a BlackBerry Tablet, and today brings a scant few new details on such a device, apparently from someone “very close to the project” at RIM. They told Betanews that the tablet would most likely be 8.9-inches in size, and have two cameras, one front-facing and the other back-facing for both video chat and photos. (Note: The above image is not the tablet). This tablet would include Adobe Flash 10.1 support, possibly a slide-out keyboard and probably be running BlackBerry OS 6, which adds tablet-esque features like pinch-to-zoom. Here’s hoping we get some more concrete announcements soon.

Read

Way back in April, RIM showed off their new BlackBerry OS 6 in a video, and now they’ve got a second one with more details on the anticipated OS’s features. You see the OS’S new browser and social feed app, which combines sites like Facebook and Twitter into one feed that you can update at once. BlackBerry OS 6 is expected to arrive later this summer.

Read

Word on rumor street is that RIM is already testing a new touchscreen phone.  But that’s not all.  RIM also has plans for a companion tablet device that can wirelessly (maybe) tether to a Blackberry handset to achieve a data connection.  The new touchscreen phone, which we can only hope is anything but the Storm, will include Blackberry’s new OS and will boast similar touch features as the iPhone letting users swipe through screens and pinch to zoom in/out.

Yup, details are scant, but those close with the project, at least according to WSJ say the phone and tablet device will debut this September.

Images have leaked out today showing a new BlackBerry model, the 9300 Curve. The 9300 updates the Curve 8500 with BlackBerry OS 5.0 or 6.0 (depending on its release date) and includes specs like WiFi, 3G, 256MB RAM and a 320×240 resolution display. A carrier is also unknown, though the people leaking the image suggest AT&T, who just revealed their brand new data plan Wednesday.

Read

BoyRobotReport has received exclusive news about RIM’s upcoming BlackBerry Tablet. The 8.9-inch touchscreen is considered a “companion” to the BlackBerry –  primarily a content viewer, be it e-books, movies, or photos. Users are supposed to tether them to the tablet and share the internet connection, or use the tablet’s built-in WiFi. Very interesting.

Apparently, the device began as a competitor to the Kindle, featuring a monochrome screen. But in its final iteration, it will be a color screen device offer competition to the iPad. I’m wondering whether or not RIM will market it that way, though. It’s going to be a crowded market very, very soon…

Read

BoyGeniusReport received a video of someone showing off the upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9800. The video is quite short (see for yourself) but does reveal that the keyboard is backlit and that the device is indeed a BlackBerry, thanks to a reveal of its backside. The phone features a sliding keyboard and runs on BlackBerry OS 6.0. The new software is heavily anticipated.

Read

]]> http://www.gadgetreview.com/2010/05/blackberry-bold-9800-slider-phone-gets-a-leaked-hands-on-video.html/feed 0