Research in Motion Launches 'Torch' Smartphone and BlackBerry 6 OS

[iLikeMySelf]

well...
It is a horrible mixture of iPhone OS (keyboard and internet navigator interface) and Windows Phone (sideways sliding menu)

 

[archipellago]

I'm desperately sorry to tell you everywhere I've been with my iPhone I've gotten enough signal to make a call. Even if I get that rare Call Failed, usually a redial will be the remedy to my woes. Yes, at times my service drops to a bar, but still rarely do I lose calls. Maybe I'm lucky who knows. But in core performance, my iPhone has worked (opened up apps, etc.) faster than any Droid and Blackberry phone that my buddies have. i like the iPhone because it's simple, yet effective. And most of all, it just works. I can't say that it's perfect, or there isn't anything else I wish for. In my opinion the iPhone is the best preforming smartphone on the market.

fair enough, each to their own opinion thats cool...

2 points

1/ Your spelling typo re the iPhone (last sentence) is scarily true...it is 'pre-formed'

2/ the iPhone is barely a smartphone.

 

[Xtremehkr]

I much prefer to type in landscape mode, guess I won't be getting a blackberry.

 

[jayducharme]

Yea for RIM.

Why do all these companies have to imitate instead of reinvent? The snappy music, the animated screens, even the reflection on the non-existent surface all scream of Apple. Except that RIM has now positioned itself as an Apple wannabe. About the only iPhone imitator that was on to something and trying to bring something new to the game was Palm. But the Pre didn't catch on, and neither will this -- except for diehard Blackberry users.

 

[a cat *miaow*]

its because most computer buyers cant afford ~$1300 for apples cheapest computer... in this case the phones and plans are all similarly priced

That was kinda my point... the 6% is a distinct market within the sector –*in computers, price may be one defining factor – in phones the consumers who want better quality messaging/calling/and a real keyboard is the BB market

Anyway the future is Android and there's no company in any place to stop that.

 

[leomac08]

I would actually buy this...

It's not bad looking, tech specs are better than my blackberry curve.....

But too bad I'm getting an iPhone 4

 

[s1m]

My Blackberry contract is much cheaper than a comparable iPhone contract, for one! I spend about $40 less on a Blackberry contract than I would a comparable iPhone contract. Aaaaand, I get unlimited data.

This is the second reason why we can't switch to iPhones for the business. Many execs/managers travel internationally and would be caned by the cost of data overseas. (the other reason is that we would have to support a dedicated iPhone server to maintain information security integrity)

Some Iphone users aren't as fortunate as you. Feel lucky, but don't disparage those who frequently have to deal with dropped calls. It's a real problem for the Iphone in the US - whether it's the phone or the network is a moot point.

How can it be a moot point if the issue lies with the network and not the phone. One personal anecdote - I was in India and had to call back to Oz for a conference call. I couldnt hear the call on my BB Curve at all so used my iPhone and it was crystal clear.

2/ the iPhone is barely a smartphone.

What is your definition of a smart phone? I have a 3GS. On it I can make calls (no drops here unless in tunnels on the train), check the internet, check in for flights, watch movies, book travel, check usage stats on internet usage, play games, check/compose email, take and edit photos and movies... what am I missing on a device with a 3-4in screen?

 

[marksman]

A big ugly, waste of space hardware keyboard.

How awesome!

As for the hardware keyboards RIM blackberry are the the gold standard when it comes to them. Touch screen keyboards have a lot of draw backs. One is ZERO tactile feel so you more need to look at the when typing on it. Also when the keyboard is in used on a touch screen it eats up a LOT of screen space to be used. The slider hardware gives the advantage of keeping all the screen space and still having a keyboard.

People always say this in defense of tiny little useless hardware keyboards but it is not true. It is fairly easy to debunk. Just give a person two different keyboards of slightly different sizes, I don't care if they are little tiny keyboards for mice or normal keyboards for computers, and you will see one going from one to another you learn to type based on where the keys are not based on tactile feedback. It is not a legitimate argument in favor of hardware keyboards.

 

[Popeye206]

fair enough, each to their own opinion thats cool...

2 points

1/ Your spelling typo re the iPhone (last sentence) is scarily true...it is 'pre-formed'

2/ the iPhone is barely a smartphone.

Barely a smart phone? What the heck is your definition of a smart phone???? What's smarter and how?

 

[madpsintst]

Really?

Really? That's it? This thing looks *almost* as good as the generation 1 iPhone. Somebody in Waterloo needs to lose their job over this.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Say what you want about the US but just like the cops... everyone hates them until you're in trouble.

I didn't realize it was the USA's job to be the world police. Maybe once China gets more nukes then us, they should have the right to invade american and bail us out of trouble, sorry I meant tell us what to do.

 

[Fast Shadow]

This is RIM's swansong, worry not...what an irrelevant piece of kit.

BLACKBERRY IS DEAD. AND SO IS ANDROID.

Android isn't going to go anywhere. Its place will be to serve in the market for dozens of low end, "me too" phones. A generic, disposable OS for generic, low end phones. It will be the Toyota of smartphones, where Apple will continue to be the BMW/Mercedes of smartphones.

 

[Stink Star]

A big ugly, waste of space hardware keyboard.

How awesome!



People always say this in defense of tiny little useless hardware keyboards but it is not true. It is fairly easy to debunk. Just give a person two different keyboards of slightly different sizes, I don't care if they are little tiny keyboards for mice or normal keyboards for computers, and you will see one going from one to another you learn to type based on where the keys are not based on tactile feedback. It is not a legitimate argument in favor of hardware keyboards.

im a giant apple and iphone nutswinger and even i will tell you that you are wrong. having had many qwerty phones in the past i can tell you that even after the learning curve typing on a hardware keyboard is faster and easier while not looking.... does this outweigh the benefit of a smaller sleeker phone? IMO no, but a real keyboard has some benefits.

 

[LondonCentral]

Facts: More people use Blackberries in the U.S. than any other smartphone platform. More people bought Blackberries in the last 6 months than any other smartphone platform.

Source: Nielsen data cited just yesterday on Macrumors.

Conclusion: You're ignorant.

Thanks for that buddy, I was getting frustrated at the number of morons slagging off BB as a platform. I'm not a BB user but even I know how important a role it plays in the business/finance/enterprise world.

I remember in March waiting for a flight in Munich Airport, I lost count of the number of 'suits' clutching Blackberrys as they walked past. Similar story in Moscow Airport, a group of about 20 people from Deutsche Bank had lost their luggage; they all took out their Blackberrys and started emailing. There's something about a Blackberry that just screams efficiency, maturity and seriousness in business.

 

[MegaSignal]

Not as long as Apple stays tethered to AT&T they aren't.

Precisely.

 

[RetepNamenots]

BLACKBERRY IS DEAD. AND SO IS ANDROID.

After seeing the latest statistics, growth of over 800% in sales of Android devices in the past year hardly shows the death of a platform.

Yea for RIM.

Why do all these companies have to imitate instead of reinvent? The snappy music, the animated screens, even the reflection on the non-existent surface all scream of Apple. Except that RIM has now positioned itself as an Apple wannabe. About the only iPhone imitator that was on to something and trying to bring something new to the game was Palm. But the Pre didn't catch on, and neither will this -- except for diehard Blackberry users.

I forgot how Apple patented hip music, reflections and CGI mockups.

 

[a cat *miaow*]

Android isn't going to go anywhere. Its place will be to serve in the market for dozens of low end, "me too" phones.

The combined and competing efforts of all the hardware companies which will be taking advantage of the Android platform is not something to be dismissed so flippantly.

 

[gescom]

OMG!!! This is hands down the best phone on the market 3 years ago.

 

[KnightWRX]

Android isn't going to go anywhere. Its place will be to serve in the market for dozens of low end, "me too" phones. A generic, disposable OS for generic, low end phones. It will be the Toyota of smartphones, where Apple will continue to be the BMW/Mercedes of smartphones.

iPhone is a plain jain toyota, like any Android device then. It doesn't have any special luxury at all, not social status, not even better specs than high end Android phones.

Seriously, Apple makes a cheap, 650$ phone, like most every other smartphone out there. You want real luxury phones, you need to look to Vertu. Those are the Mercedes/BMW of phones (or Ferraris...).

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Doesn't Apple have coverflow patented?

 

[AidenShaw]

How can it be a moot point if the issue lies with the network and not the phone. One personal anecdote - I was in India and had to call back to Oz for a conference call. I couldnt hear the call on my BB Curve at all so used my iPhone and it was crystal clear.

So, at one point in time you had problems with the Curve but the Apple phone was OK.

You prove my point that individual anecdotes don't show the whole story.

Did I claim that nobody, anywhere, at any time hasn't had better reception from an Apple phone and Apple's carrier at that location? No.

And the point is moot in the US - since the Apple phone only is supported on one network. If that network sucks, the Apple phone sucks. Period. End of argument.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Android isn't going to go anywhere. Its place will be to serve in the market for dozens of low end, "me too" phones. A generic, disposable OS for generic, low end phones. It will be the Toyota of smartphones, where Apple will continue to be the BMW/Mercedes of smartphones.

Which is code for, they look nicer but they're a bitch to take care of and don't do much more than a Toyota unless you're a true performance driver.

 

[deannnnn]

I'm surprised to see so many haters of this. I think BlackBerry 6 looks great. Not a big fan of the phone design but the OS looks amazing.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

I didn't realize it was the USA's job to be the world police. Maybe once China gets more nukes then us, they should have the right to invade american and bail us out of trouble, sorry I meant tell us what to do.

Tell other countries to stop asking for support than.

 

[capn7]

RIM needs to focus more on media.