BlackBerry Thunder not ready, disappointing, and kills puppies

Just when we were finished telling you that the BlackBerry Thunder's haptic touch screen keyboard was the greatest thing evar, it turns out that things may be a bit of a mess over in RIM development land. According to one of Boy Genius' sources, the BlackBerry Thunder is lagging far behind on development time and is "in no way shape of form market-ready." And that awesome keyboard? Not so awesome. Reports are that it's annoying to type on and the screen ripples when the touchscreen is pressed. Meanwhile, UI response times are pretty bad, buttons don't click right, and RIM's new touch-and-drag method of selecting items isn't up to snuff. In short, says BGR's source, "Most of the people who have handled it thinks it's a joke." We haven't seen the thing ourselves lately, but if this report is true, it looks like you'll be waiting a while before you get your hands on a Thunder.

[Freakin Ijit @ Jul 9th 2008 10:44AM]

Wait a minute!!

You mean you're dismissing your own "Gawd, it's Greeeeeaaaat!" article just like that!?

[fred @ Jul 9th 2008 11:26AM]

You have two articles saying two completely different things from two unnamed sources.

Someone is going to loose major credibility on this one, but they will likely just claim "well I'm just a blog" as an excuse. The best thing to do is to demand that either of these sites name some names or just discount them both altogether.

[giuliop @ Jul 9th 2008 11:43AM]

How strange... and two days before the iPhone comes out... how very, very strange...

[tande @ Jul 9th 2008 12:17PM]

I don't think there is going to be any "naming of names" its not a federal investigation (though if the FTC finds that either side is trying to manipulate RIM stock, there could be).

As for crediability, Crackberry has already fired their salvo in that field. They point out that they've got 3 sources that they put together for their story (as opposed to the assumed 1 source in BGR's). Plus they asked one of the sources to comment on the BGR story and he said that much of it just doesn't add up. He said the haptics don't work in the way described and that the "touch and drag" method of selection just doesn't make any sense.

I imagine you'll see some back and forth between the two for awhile. Both sides claiming their sources are the more trust worthy. In the end its all just rumor and speculation on something that hasn't been released yet so you're always going to get different versions based on who has seen and used what.

[Bill @ Jul 9th 2008 12:20PM]

My opinion is that both articles are probably true. Blackberry probably has a terrific touch keyboard design with some very advantageous features, that will set it apart from the iPhone, ONCE THE KINKS ARE WORKED OUT. Until they are, any prototypes they have probably seem like a "joke". It would not surprise me at all if the prototype iPhone 1 gave the same impression to insiders four months before it hit the street. Cell phone development moves at breakneck speed and a few months can make all the difference in the world. RIM is clearly doing some very innovative things with this screen and I bet they are still figuring out materials for the special screen surface. And of course the software isn't done yet.

With all that said, I'm almost sure this phone will be delayed till Xmas or beyond. This is a chronic problem in the cell industry, and it would be REAL hard to avoid delays with a phone as innovative as this.

[RD. @ Jul 9th 2008 12:30PM]

Employees at RIM need to STFU.

[Homer J @ Jul 10th 2008 12:08AM]

Bill,

I agree with everything you said, but I still have to ask, whats the point of this phone if there is no content behind it. I have owned the Treo and Blackberry, and while they were both good phones, getting pics and video (especially video) onto the phone always seems to involve pulling teeth. iTunes removes all this, making it easy to download video content that can utilize the larger screen. Without a content resource like iTunes that streamlines the content component I don't see how this phone can compete against the iPhone.

Also, it would all be so simple if AT&T didn't get slammed by consumer reports, and they had better international data roaming packages. Its $60 for 50Mb -- with all the fuss over Rodgers, you would think Apple would take issues with that even stingier data bundle.

Cell phone life always seems to be about compromise...

My 2 Cents

[waterwagen @ Jul 9th 2008 10:45AM]

We'll be waiting a while, or they'll take the Microsoft route and let us find all the bugs while seeing how much we'll complain.

[Michael @ Jul 9th 2008 10:45AM]

To have the touch screen push IN like that, is bad. It is a neat idea, but that will be a point of failure and thus RIM and the cell carriers have tor replace the units at a lose. I to me, LOSE the push in effect and it will be fine. I hope....

[Allan @ Jul 9th 2008 10:48AM]

I was hoping my current BB (7130e ftl ) would be dying around the time this thing is released... but I might try to baby it a little more if it is going to be this bad. Or maybe I'll try for a Kickstart.

[Eddie @ Jul 9th 2008 11:38AM]

Kickstart :(
Why not go for a Bold instead? Although I am still going to hold out hope they pull this Thunder through before I pick up a Bold.

[Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 11:03AM]

Ah, RIM finds out just how hard it is for anyone to match Apple for design of hardware and interface.

They need a martinet for a leader who refuses to compromise. Someone who yells and calls people Bozos and demands more than their best every single day at work.

Then they'll know how to build this thing to be an iPhone competitor. Until then, it's a has-been.

At least it's not an OpenMoko Linux phone where you have to type in terminal, "gpsmumblemuble 555-1212" to dial. :-P

[Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 12:52PM]

Low ranked? As unbelievably biased as it is, its completely true.

[Harkonian @ Jul 9th 2008 2:39PM]

It's not how true it is so much as your highly annoying writing style that low-ranked you.

[initialxy @ Jul 9th 2008 11:05AM]

sounds pretty bad. hope it doesn't vaporize.

[tande @ Jul 9th 2008 11:07AM]

Its worth pointing out that Crackberry posted an article disputing BGR's spy's report:
http://crackberry.com/nerd-fight-thunder-rolls-or-thunder-sucks

[chrisaroz @ Jul 9th 2008 11:12AM]

So it's all thunder and no lightning?

Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week!

[rob paek @ Jul 9th 2008 11:16AM]

hahaha nice.

[Eric @ Jul 9th 2008 11:22AM]

One of the things they need to fix is releasing it as an exclusive in crappy Verizon.

[chrismansley @ Jul 9th 2008 11:59AM]

I would like to contest your crappy Verizon argument by way of this 3G comparison map.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2482/attvsvzw3gdt0.gif

Checkmate

[Mike W @ Jul 9th 2008 11:30AM]

You're right... because when monopolies thrive, we all benefit. They always ensure they have the highest level of quality in products with cheap production costs. I personally wish I lived in Canada or New Zealand so that I could go to sleep knowing how much Rogers and Vodafone are helping me.

[Mike W @ Jul 9th 2008 11:32AM]

^ @ Ocean (Grr Engadget comments, grr)

[Bart Kela @ Jul 9th 2008 11:39AM]

Why don't you just "unpublish" your original rave? The Boing Boing folks would.

[tande @ Jul 9th 2008 12:19PM]

Well which one is right?

Does the Crackberry report get "unpublished" because they like BGR more or vice versa?

Its two different sites with two different reports. Just because one is newer doesn't automatically make the other wrong.

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 9th 2008 11:46AM]

I don't see what is the problem with this...

It looks like an iPhone, is it 3G ? I would class this an another "me 2" phone. Jubei is always right on this.

I love Apple products, but get this .... Blackberry and Apple just blatantly copied the look of the Dell Axim 50v. I mean for goodness sake, that design is 4 years old.

Can't either Apple or RIM come up with something original ?

The whole idea if icon-driven is a bit 2004 isn't it ?

Mind you Apple did invent 3G I think. And scratchproof glass (a bit like the stuff they put on watch that my Pop bought me in 1971). Clever of them to think of that.

I love Apple. All other products suck really bad. Buy Apple I say.

[fred @ Jul 9th 2008 11:50AM]

I dont know if I should laugh or cry.

[retro77 @ Jul 9th 2008 11:54AM]

"Mind you Apple did invent 3G I think"

Wow...thats amazazing!

[Mikeweezer @ Jul 9th 2008 2:02PM]

'My father would womanize... he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy.... he'd make outrageous claims like Apple invented 3G'...

[YourCompanysComputerGuy @ Jul 9th 2008 4:10PM]

don't forget about the advancements they made with kevlar!

[retro77 @ Jul 9th 2008 11:52AM]

For the love of God, not the puppies!!!!

[Dan @ Jul 9th 2008 12:01PM]

heheh, love the AD/DC photoshopped in.

Gawd, now to get that song out of my head.

[Jubei @ Jul 9th 2008 12:10PM]

What will be interesting in the near future for iPhone "me too" products, is how they will work around the many patents that are currently making its way for approval. Expect silliness in the way these doppelgängers apply their versions of a touchscreen experience with their "me too" products. This prototype from RIM is a perfect example of stupidity in usability.

[fred @ Jul 9th 2008 1:04PM]

Is it me or are the Apple fanatics just getting more cartoonish by the day?

Are their products actually leading to brain rot?

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:35PM]

@Jubei,

I really think that "doppelgänger" is the wrong word here. After all, if some one else were acting in the same way as Apple, then that would be patent infringement. I love Apples but I don't really think that Apple would sit still on that.

Apple did copy the Dell Axim 50v's look (Glass Front, Silver sides)

Quite right though that Apple did invent
1. scratch resistant glass
2. 3G
3. Binary code
4. Harmonics
5. Apples
6. Icons
7. The phone
8. UNIX

I love apples, and I hate every other product out there.

##My girlfriend said that she would never lay me again if I did not shove an apple up my ass... I said "Core-Blimey" strewth, hell no, Sheila...##

[Jubei @ Jul 9th 2008 2:46PM]

As I have stated before kccboy2004, your powers of observation is so bad that you would have difficulty differentiating a meatball from a beach-ball.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 9th 2008 6:51PM]

Yes, I'm sure they hardly had anything special with the touchscreen. All of these new touchscreen phones which claim to be "haptic enabled" (bastardization of the word haptic no doubt) are just setup to vibrate when you touch the screen, which too me is not only thoroughly annoying, but a waste of power.

With the Blackberry, apparently the screen also pushed in to some degree, like a giant one-key keyboard or something, coupled with the vibration. I doubt it was going to be useful at all and just a gimmick.

Nokia has some great R&D labs, so maybe they will be able to compete with Apple in next-generation Haptic touchscreen technology. I'm sure they both, among others, are scrambling to make something truly practical for next-gen phones.

[shabbis @ Jul 9th 2008 12:13PM]

Is anyone surprised? How could a relatively young cell phone company, RIM, expect to compete with a company that has specialized in UI development for over 30 years, Apple?

[Jay @ Jul 9th 2008 12:25PM]

RIM has been around for years

Apple has been making a phone (not phones....a phone) for a year

[Jay @ Jul 9th 2008 12:24PM]

So Apple must have read the last article and decided they would stop giving engadget free iphones unless they said Blackberry sucked.

[tande @ Jul 9th 2008 12:25PM]

And just like that you've got BGR's response to Crackberry's rebutal:

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/07/09/are-you-really-serious/

No "naming of names" but if it is just a question of actual employees vs. commenters on a blog then you're going to have to give the weight to the BGR report.

[L @ Jul 9th 2008 12:58PM]

Haha, that bitchfight is just too funny. Can't wait to see who was wrong LOL

[tande @ Jul 9th 2008 2:17PM]

And Crackberry fires back...

http://crackberry.com/nerd-fight-thunder-rolls-or-thunder-sucks

"** UPDATE: Well, Boy Genius apparently has taken some serious offense to this post. None intended at all. Myself, CrackBerry.com and the CB community love the BG! Without him we'd have wayyy less to blog about, talk about and dream about. But he's got his inside source, we've got our inside sources, and those sources have conflicting information..."

They go on at the link to insist that their sources aren't just commenters, but also actual RIM employees. They also give kind of a point by point rebutal standing ground on somethings, apologizing for others. It all ends with hugs.

[John @ Jul 9th 2008 1:24PM]

How can you be disappointed? it's not like Blackberry came out and said that they had made the One Phone to Rule them All, you had some anonymous dick tell you that and now you have some other anonymous dick saying 'nuh uh'. Moral of the story: Don't listen to anonymous dicks.

[christopheraven @ Jul 9th 2008 1:42PM]

especially anonymous flying dicks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbnySBqioB0


don't hate - I had to do it!

[Touchscreen Sucks @ Jul 9th 2008 1:34PM]

Man I hope they really get going with this one - I LOVE IT! iPhone and Instinct aren't really cut out for business users like myself but this Crackberry would be sweet.
I hope they're not dropping the ball on this like they seem to be doing a lot lately.

[iansilv @ Jul 9th 2008 2:03PM]

I don't understand- why don't they just buy a bunch of iPhones and rebrand them?

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 9th 2008 2:41PM]

Blackberries suck a big one. How can they possibly expect to compete with Apple in the business oriented smartphone market. They are a joke.

I mean RIM started, what 7 years ago.. and look at them, what do they have only 60% of the business smartphone market in North America, 70% at most. How can they expect to compete against the iphone, the iphone has taken the Dell Axim design so far it hurts.

I love Apples and hate any company that even thinks that it can compete with Steve Jobs, He is a God. I am not worthy to be called an Apple Fanboy.

[Ghost1991 @ Jul 9th 2008 9:55PM]

oh...I see what you did....

[MMisterio @ Jul 9th 2008 3:42PM]

more and more I am realizing that sites like Engadget and BGR and CB are nothing more than TMZ for cell phones.

OMG OMG There's the Chinese 3G Iphone!!! WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?!

[wetworker @ Jul 9th 2008 6:32PM]

Those logos on the front have to go.