Blackberry Bold hands-on

We had a chance to play with Research In Motion's upcoming BlackBerry Bold handset tonight, and we came away happily impressed. To start things off, the keyboard felt easy enough to use, at least easier than the 8830 we're often forced to use for work email. Gone are the sharp protrusions, replaced with a nice flat surface upon which to click.

Of note was the Bold's user interface. Menus are clean and easy to read (despite some strange icon choices, see below), and response time is about as quick as one could hope, especially compared to other phones out there that seem to struggle with their operating systems.

Gallery: Blackberry Bold hands-on

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The unit's HSDPA radio was turned on, and web browsing was quick and nimble, bringing up a mobile version of Engadget in no time. Pocket applications of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint were on display, and combined with the bright screen and UI response time, actually felt like something a business mack could use.

On the down side, icon choices were questionable and too similar -- we found it difficult to just eyeball the images to find what we wanted and instead looked to the spelled-out helper text. To be fair, it's more than likely possible to choose another icon theme to alleviate that issue. In addition, video playback was underwhelming, but we've probably been spoiled by the bigger screens of other recent handsets. Similarly, camera functionality was passable at best. We didn't get a chance to check out sound quality, but we were told there have been major improvements in that area. We'll just have to wait and see.

All in all, we don't see why RIM won't continue to dominate the khaki crowd, with its full QWERTY keyboard and no-nonsense design.

[Oscarv77 @ Jun 25th 2008 9:51PM]

Mr. Blurrycam strikes again!

[grull27 @ Jun 25th 2008 9:55PM]

If you think these pics are blurry you should seriously look into get a new subscription for your contacts and/or glasses.

[CraigJ @ Jun 25th 2008 11:09PM]

No, this time is was Mr. Noisycam...

[grull27 @ Jun 25th 2008 9:51PM]

I've seen some YouTube videos on it. It looks pretty good but I'm going to get an iPhone because:

1. Most of my songs are bought from iTunes so they have a DRM which means they can only work on iPods (or iPhones)
2. I'm 15, not 39 in a business.
3. The web browser is much better on the iPhone.
4. The iPhone is much more user-friendly than the Blackberries or any other SmartPhone in that case.

[roach @ Jun 25th 2008 10:06PM]

iPhone's lack of shockwave limits number sites iphone can view.

[MRCUR @ Jun 25th 2008 10:13PM]

@Roach

I think you mean Flash...

[heshmati4 @ Jun 25th 2008 10:18PM]

good answers grull27...

[Grodesh @ Jun 25th 2008 10:21PM]

Too bad you fell for that cheap model and bought DRM'd music. Now you're stuck with Apple products.

I'm not saying Apple products are bad or anything (I'm writing this on my MBP) but now you can't buy anything else than an iPod if you don't want to lose your music, even if something else would appeal to you in the future.

[Ruben @ Jun 25th 2008 10:59PM]

1) Get rid of the DRM and just be honest in the way you use it (dont hand them off to friends).
2) Makes sense. At your age, you dont really need the phone for working.
3) As of today (and if Apple has anything to say about it, forever), it will be the only browser you can use. At least with a BB, there is the potential that you can get a better browser since BB doesnt care, but Apple does. You dont have to wait for Apple to "not" include Flash.
4) Matter of preference. But if its your preference, then the iPhone is for you.

I would pick BB/WM over the iPhone since, just like Windows, i can have more control over it (less so with the BB, but still substantially more than an un-jailbroken iPhone).

But in the end, people who want a BB buy it for a particular purpose. Same goes for the iPhone. This Bold does not intrude on iPhones territory (generic multifunction phone), so you have to be a certain kind of person to buy either phone.

[grull27 @ Jun 25th 2008 11:20PM]

I've always wanted to know how to take off the DRM from my songs. Anybody know?

[rock99rock @ Jun 25th 2008 11:40PM]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=remove+drm+from+itunes&btnG=Google+Search

Good luck!

[roboy02 @ Jun 26th 2008 12:10AM]

Grul,
Just so you know the bold will be able to play itunes' DRM music. That's one of the selling points on this over some of the other BB's. And with 3G and wifi it will surf the web just as good as the iphone if you add Opera's mini browser. And with expandable storage with micro SD cards it way easier to change out your music selections, also once they start production of the larger 16 and 32 Gig micro SD cards, the Bold will hold as much or more music than the iphone. Plus, I'll actually be able to use my amazing Motorola S9 bluetooth headphones with it. The lack of that feature alone on the "amazing" iphone blows my mind. Do you know how many mp3 capable phones don't have stereo bluetooth nowadays? One, the iphone....Sorry for the rant...just had to get that off my chest...The iphone is a sweet phone but how does the "best" music phone not have stereo bluetooth?

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 26th 2008 5:04AM]

Good luck on affording that minimum $70 a month contract at age 15, young man!

Anyway, it's a phone for a different market. Not sure it's a competitor as such.

[haX0r @ Jun 26th 2008 11:59PM]

....and don't forget, no copy and paste on your iJunk.

[shawn.zenz @ Jun 25th 2008 10:42PM]

really disappointed that the web browser is not full HTML....

That was the deciding factor between IPhone 3G and Bold (no IPhone till now, because I reside in the great Canada!)

[prateeko @ Jun 25th 2008 10:08PM]

No HTML? Shame on RIM, especially since they've given it such a nice resolution screen (480 by 320, right?)

[Fernando @ Jun 25th 2008 10:18PM]

what do you mean by "not full html"?

[John @ Jun 26th 2008 12:10AM]

not full HTML means not all HTML code is supported.


You're welcome.

[yode @ Jun 26th 2008 1:32AM]

Actually you can install the browser Opera Mini which is pretty much full HTML. Blackberries have the option to have any browser they want, unlike other phones...

[John @ Jun 25th 2008 9:54PM]

I own and use an iPhone right now, and I really like this design. It looks contemporary, and isn't another throwaway ripoff. Great work, RIM.

[MRCUR @ Jun 25th 2008 10:14PM]

I agree. I have an iPhone and think the Bold looks great. I'm especially impressed with the new UI. I would say the Bold is my favorite phone next to the iPhones right now.

[Chris @ Jun 25th 2008 10:57PM]

I also own an iPhone, and while I have no plans of buying the Bold, I must say it is one of the sexiest phones I've seen.

[Precise @ Jun 25th 2008 10:06PM]

Once again, Blackberry's resting on their laurels

[gad get @ Jun 26th 2008 5:29AM]

:confused:

[Wayne Schulz @ Jun 25th 2008 10:09PM]

Trot out the FUD - fear uncertainty and doubt.

It's all about the browser.

If RIM can't equal iPhone in their mobile browsing experience then you're going to see a gradual decline in RIM.

I think that RIM has topped out and will head gradually downward from here in terms of market share.

[fred @ Jun 25th 2008 10:33PM]

BBs are meant for business, not Twitter and Facebook.

That is why they are used in the corporate world, because they are for you to get serious work done while on the clock.

Companies dont care for your need to listen to mp3s or play games.


And besides, it has a physical keyboard. You cant beat that with any software solution.

[CraigJ @ Jun 25th 2008 11:10PM]

Who said anything about twitter and facebook? I have corporate Web apps I need to be able to access in the field, and not all of them have a special mobile version...

[CraigJ @ Jun 25th 2008 11:37PM]

Also, once the iPhone has Exchange support there is nothing the blackberry will do for me that the iPhone won't do as well or better.

Push e-mail from Exchange? Check
Access to corporate web apps? Check
Calendar sync? Check
Ability to watch Star Wars Episode IV sitting on the crapper? Check (next week I'm thinking Pulp Fiction)

And as a bonus, I don't type any slower on my iPhone than I did on my BB.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 26th 2008 5:07AM]

Not for the corporate market it isn't. A good browser is well down the list of required features.

[haX0r @ Jun 26th 2008 11:55PM]

@CraigJ

The one thing Bold can do better than iPhone is type a whole lot faster than you non-widescreen qwerty touch that is slow. Also, opera-mini is a pretty darn good browers for RIM's family of phones.

[portwineboy @ Jun 25th 2008 10:11PM]

Did it feel hot?

[josh @ Jun 25th 2008 10:15PM]

Not so much. If you're referring to the reported delay, they wouldn't confirm or deny it, only said that it's still coming out "sometime this summer".

[deyanimay @ Jun 25th 2008 10:11PM]

hey clack looks like your argument was wrong look at all the iphone supporters under your post.

[deyanimay @ Jun 25th 2008 10:11PM]

*clak

[Dr. Evil @ Jun 25th 2008 10:12PM]

If Verizon gets this, it will replace my Moto Q9m. Verizon prides themselves on having crappy phones. If they do get it, it will be late '09 and expensive.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 25th 2008 10:14PM]

for the sake of every intelligent blog on the internet go back to 4chan you lethargic blob

[heshmati4 @ Jun 25th 2008 10:17PM]

I don't see the Bold as an iphone competitor because the iphone a a full touch screen while the Bold is not....

Instinct is a competitor to the iphone as the Bold is a competitor to the Nokia E71

Something like that...

[heshmati4 @ Jun 25th 2008 10:20PM]

A reply from another post:

I don't see the Bold as an iphone competitor because the iphone a a full touch screen while the Bold is not....

Instinct is a competitor to the iphone as the Bold is a competitor to the Nokia E71

Something like that...

[Inkreef @ Jun 25th 2008 10:21PM]

The UI seems clean and, as Engadget said, Snappy™.

The only thing I'm wondering of is: Will the Apps (Native or Corporates) of the next Blackberries will compare to the iPhone platform on the long haul ?

[Inkreef @ Jun 25th 2008 10:22PM]

@ Clack

Please, get a life.

[ahazan80 @ Jun 25th 2008 11:02PM]

Will the Bold be able to use the microsd card to store emails?

[TareX @ Jun 25th 2008 10:38PM]

Unless RIM has an easy, free, readily available SDK out there, 3rd party apps will always be GALACTICALLY less than those available for iPhone, S60, and even WM.

I'd like an iPhone, without the limitations. So if this description fits the upcoming Android from HTC, then yes I'm gonna buy it. If it doesn't, then it's E66 vs iPhone for me.

[hiko36 @ Jun 26th 2008 12:53AM]

-1 for improper use of the word 'Galactically'. On second thought, -2 because I'm not even sure that's a word.

[TareX @ Jun 26th 2008 12:59AM]

Yes I just made it up. You're a genius for recognizing that don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[Chad @ Jun 26th 2008 9:27AM]

@TareX

I think Java Mobile (http://java.sun.com/javame/index.jsp) qualifies.

Now if RIM were to add regular JAVA support we'd REALLY have something.

[generally @ Jun 26th 2008 11:58AM]

The BlackBerry actually has an SDK and has had one for a long time. It's free, and some of the APIs require code signing keys, but they are also free and easily-obtainable.

It comes complete with simulators, live device debugging, email simulation support, the list goes on and on... You can every download a separate simulator and simulate you very own personal BES for testing.

I work at RIM, and many third-party developers have told us that our SDK was easiest experience they've had developing for a mobile platform.

Check it out

[digitallysick @ Jun 25th 2008 10:40PM]

I honestly think i would rather have it then an my current iphone, at least i could have MMS and take video, I would love to have the N95 3G 8gb that phone rocks, the htc diamond is off the list, its not quadband, what a let down

[TareX @ Jun 25th 2008 10:46PM]

Unless RIM has an easy, free, readily available SDK out there, 3rd party apps will always be GALACTICALLY less than those available for iPhone, S60, and even WM.

I'd like an iPhone, without the limitations. So if this description fits the upcoming Android from HTC, then yes I'm gonna buy it. If it doesn't, then it's E66 vs iPhone for me.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 25th 2008 10:53PM]

hey clak call me back when your holy iphone gets "full" bluetooth support
until then stop making "us" real iphone users look like incompetent morons such as your self : D

[Khris @ Jun 25th 2008 10:58PM]

@ clak

Please slap your mother for teaching you how to speak!