We're starting to get the feeling they just didn't know about WiFi in Waterloo until now, because almost every BlackBerry hardware rumor we're hearing lately is all about how
RIM's adding the wireless networking spec and everyone's oh-so-happy. Case in point: today we've got word of a new BlackBerry Essex, which is essentially... the
Tour with WiFi. Seriously, that's the whole rumor, and we're guessing it has something to do with
Sprint mandating WiFi on all of its future handsets, so it's not even particularly wild. Don't get us wrong here, we're glad to have WiFi -- it's extremely nice on the Bold, and it certainly improves battery life -- but considering the sorry state of the BlackBerry browser and the continued lack of real IMAP on the BlackBerry platform, we're just wondering when BlackBerry fans will have some
real changes to get excited about.
posted Aug 31st 2009 5:23PM
It's all about the UK, blud, you get me? Init.
Why would you want to name a phone after essex? Does it come with a 1 litre corsa with a stupid bodykit and exhaust?
Being born and raised in delightful Essex, I have to concur. Unless this comes with a free pair of white stilettos and a bottle of Babycham, it's inappropriately named.
It also features a track pad instead of a track ball, and there is speculation of a 5mp camera.
I heard that if you buy It a bag of chips, it will let you onto wi-fi networks without the need for WPA protection
It's loud and gaudy. Definitely from Essex.
FAIL
Greedy. Should have put wifi in their to begin with.
In their what?
reminds me of apple. adding "new features", one by one, that should have been there from the beginning. like copy and paste!
you can't add wifi into previous models without it though. copy paste was a software thing, not hardware. and its no where near as big as wifi, which was a big reason i didn't get the tour :/
@jtmoney, at least you don't have to buy an entirely new phone to get 90% of Apple's updates. ;)
@Dale: That's because Apple's just had 3 phones so far; Fat iPhone, 3G and 3GS.
Most Blackberry apps don't support wifi though, not even the IM client.
So even if they do add wifi it's nothing major really.
I wish they would fix the left/right scrolling on the Tour first. Trackball is waaaack.
Yeah my friend had that problem. If you call Verizon or Sprint, which ever carrier your on, they should be able to replace it.
had the same problem. Got the unit replaced. No more problem.
I wish my blackberry had wifi = (
I live in essex.
sorry
i appreciate that sprint mandate more than they'll ever know. too bad the pre still requires a data plan
More than wifi, we need VoIP here!
Does anyone at Engadget use Microsoft Exchange? No, I didn't think so.
The problem with the big gadget blogs, Gizmodo, Engadget, Crunchgear, is that the writers generally use Gmail or Yahoo mail (or some other web email). As a result, they don't have to worry about Exchange integration, which is what the vast majority of Blackberry users out there DO care about. Yes, Blackberry does not support IMAP. This is not a big deal, because most of us get our BB emails from a Blackberry Enterprise Server.
Oh yes, and I'd also like to complain about this statement: "glad to have WiFi -- it's extremely nice on the Bold, and it certainly improves battery life." WiFi *improves* battery life? Yes, I'm sure having another radio turned on will do wonders for my already anemic battery life on the Tour. No thanks, the VZW EVDO network works great for me. WiFi is a nice to have, but I'd probably never use it beyond the first week.
I'd wager that the vast majority of the readers of Engadget aren't using Exchange.
You're preaching to the wrong group, buddy.
Since when did good Exchange support negate the need for IMAP support? I know plenty of businesspeople who want to manage all their email from one device, and if I ever actually used my corporate Exchange account I would still want IMAP for my other accounts.
Actually yes, for example: streaming internet radio over wifi on my Nokia vs. 3g does yield much better battery life.
I use exchange, it kicks ass.
Honestly, if you aren't using Exchange, you don't know what you're missing out on. I know its not open-source blah blah, but just about every device out there supports it almost flawlessly, even my mac now, as a mac fanboy I have to hand it to MS - Exchange is one solid offering.
@J, you state "Exchange integration, which is what the vast majority of Blackberry users out there DO care about". I disagree, half of blackberry sales are to consumers (see link below), and I'd wager that the vast majority of these consumers are not using Exchange. Further more, some small businesses can't afford the costs associated with Exchange and for them Google apps is a great alternative. Proper gmail IMAP support would be a real value to these businesses.
Link: "Consumers now represent half of all BlackBerry mobile device users"
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Consumer-BlackBerry-Sales-Boost-RIMs-Revenue-to-342-Billion-721769/
I hope they NEVER bring imap to blackberries. The way it is set up now is perfect.
Are you really that f'n stupid?
More cowbell.
Not sure why Chris deleted his post. But it did make some sense in context.
Most of Essex, UK is a horrible place. Not sure why you'd want to name a nice blackberry after it; especially one with wi-fi.
Not true; there are a few nice bits of Essex.
Mainly the bits that border other counties.
I would upgrade from my tour if they fixed the trackball issue
I am amazed that sites like Engadget still don't know this cell phone specs are mostly decided by the Carriers (except for the iPhone). The Tour doesn't have wi-fi because Verizon doesn't want it to. They want to be sure they can charge you for a data plan instead. They are slowly relenting due to customer demand but not quite yet obviously.
essex isn't really that bad but it doesn't have a good image. lots of easy women, lots of booze and a phone that represents yo'.
a-men to that!
I hail from Chelmsford and we have plenty of all three :D
Maybe they mean Essex NJ
Is it CDMA? CDMA phones typically don't have Wifi, probably due to power requirements. So every GSM Blackberry wifi Wifi comes out as CDMA with no Wifi, and CDMA is what my carrier uses.
CDMA phones with Wifi would be nice. The HTC Touch Pro has it, and the battery life suuuuuuucks.
what I want is to be able to type more than 160 characters and then i will buy a blackberry
Even if they add wifi, it works with a pathetic number of apps. Even the IM client doesn't support wifi and forces you to use your data plan.
Come on RIM, give us something that can actually use wifi.
You mean the OS doesn't take care of the actual data connection and just offer an interface to all its apps? LOL, I'll just be over here in civilization with my WM phone. Every app (that I've seen, anyway) connects to whatever data option the OS presents it, and since I keep my GPRS/EDGE turned off (no data plan at the moment), that is usually wifi.
OK, so is the "Essex" named after the place or David? Neither is a particularly good answer but I'd like to know the truth, nonetheless.
I haven't heard much of the Blackberry for a while now. Have they moved on to touch screens yet?