RIM's BlackBerry Tour2 9650 gets the hands-on treatment

There's practically zero doubt remaining that RIM has a next-generation Tour in the works, but if you're one of those tin foil hat wearers, you'll be glad to know that at least one of these things really, truly exists. Boy Genius just got his paws around the Tour2 9650 (shown left), and aside from the optical trackpad replacing the trackball (and the addition of a WiFi module), there's not much new here. Oh, except that presumably quicker CPU -- we're guessing to-be owners will dig that. We're told that the physical size is practically identical to the original Tour, and the keyboard is still phenomenal. Care to take a look? Sure you do -- hit the source link for a full hands-on gallery.

[KingFaisal94 Posted Dec 26th 2009 7:43AM]

@james321 Thanks for the insightful comment. Blackberry is still the best for e-mail.

[teapower Posted Dec 26th 2009 7:53AM]

@KingFaisal94 IMAP???

[davidixon Posted Dec 26th 2009 8:31AM]

@KingFaisal94 I don't think. Email setup is one of the most annoying things about my BlackBerry. It's impossible to get it to fully sync with my Google mail.

Sure, I can read a message on the BlackBerry, archive it, etc. and that shows up on the web. But if I do any of that stuff on the web, the message is still in my inbox and unread on the phone, blinking red light and the rest.

BlackBerry Messenger makes up for that though.

[bboy Posted Dec 26th 2009 8:42AM]

Darn you RIM, my company just issued me a Tour, which I like, but wifi and the trackpad is what I want!. Already having trackball issues.

Wonder if this discontinues the original Tour, if so I may try to get an upgrade.

[TheOriginalJared Posted Dec 28th 2009 1:37AM]

@bboy

I've had NOTHING but trackball issues from my Tour since day one. And for them to release the new version not even 6 months after the original real just spits in the customers face. Corporate secrets can kiss my @$$.

[merovingian Posted Dec 26th 2009 8:58AM]

@KingFaisal94

I beg to differ. Every other thing and their grandma does email quite well. I've been emailing just fine since my Palm Treos from 2005.

*If you're specifically referring to Push Email via BIS or BES then you might have a valid point. But then i'm getting GMAIL pushed via MS Exchange on my Windows Mobile Treo Pro (including calendar and contacts, and for free mind you).

Let's see, when has my email been down this month.. ..hmmm..... i think never.

[Kherberos Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:18AM]

@KingFaisal94 I don t see why Blackberry would be better than any of the other smartphone out there, from Palm to Iphone to Android based. Blackberry has it s plus and minus. Blackberry might have a small edge for business environment email though. But if Blackberry keeps differentiating itself because of email only, they re heading to disaster.

[TikiTeko Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:30AM]

RIM: Attack of the Clones.

Finally they are giving WiFi. I guess they believe in the philosophy: If it ain't broken don't fix it. Maybe RIM just needs to focus on making a BB that attracts the media hub and works with DRM (for those that use subscription) and syncs well video and all that jazz. Or a BB slider !!! A Touch Pro 2 BB.

[JONNNathannn Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:36AM]

@KingFaisal94 People say it is, but really, there's not that big of a gap to other push devices...and Blackberries need to step up their html email game asap.

[darthgault Posted Dec 26th 2009 11:00AM]

i don't like email on the blackberry ... i like the way windows mobile does my email ... set up is simple ... my email doesn't go through canada just from my email servers to me. I'm sure i could adjust to using a blackberry but i don't see any advantage to it.

I am actually toying with the idea of switching to android for a better browser experience.

All the blackberries are the same ... they don't differentiate between the models very well.

[Damionix Posted Dec 26th 2009 11:02AM]

They All look so alike

[kojo87 Posted Dec 26th 2009 1:38PM]

@Damionix except for the red lettering on the keys the new Tour looks almost exactly like my Bold 9700. now that they added Wi-Fi what is the real difference between the Tour and Bold anyway? specs seem pretty identical according to BlackBerry's website.

[quakerface Posted Dec 26th 2009 8:56PM]

@Damionix

VERIZON'S GOT BALLs!

[threepointstance Posted Dec 26th 2009 11:06AM]

@JONNNathannn
absolutely, any html email i get with images looks like a jigsaw puzzle when my BB tries to render it. unacceptable. if it can render a webpage it can render an email

[Electromodo Posted Dec 26th 2009 12:04PM]

I actually like the trackball better than trackpad... and I never use WiFi on my cell phone, so I guess I am fine with my new Tour 9630... for the time being :)

[Dapke36 Posted Dec 26th 2009 12:11PM]

There are few redeeming qualities for blackberry. I went from a curve to a Droid, and I will never go back. Email is the same speed on my droid (I used gmail exclusively on both devices), the browsing is phenomenal, and the speed of the device is staggering.

And yes, I know I didn't have a current blackberry, but my girlfriend had the storm (then the storm 2 because the storm 1 broke so much), and after seeing the storm 2 in action, everything past the click screen-which I actually like- is still way behind this device.

BIS was good in the early 2000s, when push email wasn't readily available. In this day and age, however, with everyone offering push email, blackberry is not doing anything to stay ahead of the pack.

[Engrudget Posted Dec 26th 2009 12:48PM]

@Dapke36

One word: keyboard

[santaklause Posted Dec 26th 2009 12:58PM]

@james321 the 9650 might be released by Verizon in a month or so. It's also known as the BB Essex too, Hopefully it will really tour the users with its amazing specs. http://bit.ly/blackberry-9650-essex-details
wow for the tour

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 26th 2009 1:08PM]

If Verizon has any feelings for its customers (HA!) they will offer this as a trade-in + upgrade to current Tour users. I got a Tour last summer, and this is everything that the first Tour should have been. I don't necessarily need the WiFi, but man, the trackball on the Tour is SH*T and I'd be much happier with an optical pad.

[GGG Posted Dec 26th 2009 2:05PM]

wow, what an innovative design!

[NeoXY Posted Dec 26th 2009 3:35PM]

It honestly took me a full 5 seconds to figure out which one is the new one (thanks trackpad).

Seriously, those guys up in Canada is seriously pushing the innovation envelope here....

[MarkAnderson Posted Dec 26th 2009 5:38PM]

@NeoXY

Yeah and why should they given they've obtained number 2 in the global smartphone market and have massive growth?

It's a good business model and it works.

[Patlex Posted Dec 26th 2009 3:43PM]

They could have at least give it another color, or a larger screen in the same body.

[devildrifterx Posted Dec 26th 2009 4:10PM]

Ah yes, the comments of people who think RIM isn't making serious upgrades to their OS to face competition.

This is a nice boost to the Tour, and assuming it will launch with 5.0 and the new upgraded OS features and upcoming stuff like webkit (this is what will be powering the HTML email as well so killing two birds one stone there)

The only decent push email is Gmail, if this is your only email account then yay, but I roll with 4 other accounts as well as my exchange account and I like getting my emails the instant they come in and not having to poll accounts every 5 minutes

[MarkAnderson Posted Dec 26th 2009 5:39PM]

@devildrifterx

Shh... don't disillusion the 'innovation' brigade. It's pretty clear they have no idea what's selling just now.

[WDC Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:42PM]

@devildrifterx

And that's where the iPhone falls short; having to poll the server.

Anyway, I would kill for Exchange/BES access. Right now, I'm using BIS and Gmail on my domain. I have about four accounts through that, and three on other servers. To be honest, I never understand what the freaking deal about all the GMail features being synced to your device is. I mean, what is so important about having your labels and all that pushed? Heck, if it's such a big deal, why don't people just use the damn GMail app for Blackberry and use it like that. Of course, if you go that far, why don't you go out and get an iPhone, with all the flashy e-mail features and such. I like old e-mail better.

Big D

[WDC Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:45PM]

@MarkAnderson

No, it's clear they understand what business-people actually want, and clearly value what they actually need over what is flashy and eye-pleasing. I owned both an iPhone and a Blackberry at one point, and I definitely enjoyed my 9630 over the iPhone, for everything that's not a Zippo lighter on a touchscreen.

Big D

[MarkAnderson Posted Dec 27th 2009 6:09AM]

@WDC

I agree but since RIM have changed their sales ratio from 1:1 consumer:corporate to 4:1 without losing the corporate customers it's pretty clear they're selling like hotcakes to Joe Punter too.

[WDC Posted Dec 26th 2009 9:28PM]

Alright. There are too many people nay-saying Blackberry. It clearly is the best e-mail phone, ever.

Anyway, I currently carry a 9630 on Verizon, and it is definitely the best phone I have ever owned.

Here are the reasons I will be buying a 9650 (Tour2) when it comes out:
1. WiFI
2. Trackpad
3. Faster Processer
and most importantly,
4. FREAKING CORRECTLY-PLACED CHARGER PORT.

On the Tour now, you can't charge the phone in the holster without flipping it over and keeping the screen on with the clock. With this new Tour2, I won't have to deal with that and I can charge it like I did on my 8830. Quite an effective new feature.

So, if you don't like Blackberries, go hug your iPhone. I'd rather have my e-mail go down two or three times a year than have to deal with the ridiculousness associated with AT&T and 3G coverage.

Big D out

[gustav213 Posted Dec 27th 2009 12:16AM]

Got to admit blackberry is still the best for email hands down, and the keyboard on a blackberry is the best I have seen. Sorry to everyone else, but I just got the new Blackberry Bold 2 and must say it is the best phone I have ever used, it feels great and the new OS is amazing.

The new texting features are great and email is on the fly I dont know why people hate the blackberry.

I am not saying it is the best phone for everyone but for people like me with many emails and not just gmail which is push I like my BB. The iphone is nice but I hate virtual keyboards and I feel like the email doesnt compare to that of the BB.

[KeegdnaB Posted Dec 27th 2009 2:04AM]

Meanwhile those of us who bought a Tour on day one and somehow managed to not have to send it in because of the trackball yet are sitting here sacrificing cute animals to Satan and cursing the name of RIM

WHY WASN'T THIS SHIT HERE TO BEGIN WITH

[yyandrew Posted Dec 27th 2009 2:48AM]

too bad the blackberry OS is damned ugly considering it's beautiful keyboard ...I was so close to getting a Tour until the Droid came out

[Maurizio Posted Dec 27th 2009 8:36AM]

My wife just got the DROID!! Sorry that sound is starting to get annoying around the house. Could have something to do with the fact that I downloaded it on my TOUR and use is as an appointment reminder...anywho:
I cannot believe the number of steps that you have to take to make a friggin phonecall on these touch screen phones!
Droid:
1. Press top button
2. unlock
3. Hit phone app
4. Click on search so the keyboard comes up
5. start typing
6. pick the right contact
7. hit send (not sure about this one dont have it in front of me)
Tour
1. press top button to unlock (if and only if locked)
2. start typing the contact
3.scroll to correct contact (if multiple #s)
4. click track ball

BTW steps 3 and 4 are essentially 1 step

Could not immagine going to on of those anytime soon.

[appleman1 Posted Dec 27th 2009 10:13AM]

They are so similar with each other...
_____________________________
'How to convert DVD to Blackberry Storm curve pearl Bold , Blackberry Tour 9630?" http://www.convert-video-dvd.com/tutorial/how-to-convert-dvd-to-blackberrry.html#135

[devildrifterx Posted Dec 27th 2009 5:11PM]

@appleman1

Irony is so does the iPhone and all of its iterations thus far...

I always find it to be ironic that people love to harp on RIM for this...

[mmeysarosh Posted Dec 27th 2009 10:54AM]

The BB has its place but its advantages are being chipped away. The main plus is Enterprise BES. You gain administrative functions and the ability to do server side searches on your BES accounts.

Using gMail, Andriod, Pre, and iPhone (using Activesync via iPone) all can be pushed based and the ability to seach and manage your mails varies with each platform. The gMail plugin on BB allows server side search of your gMail.

You can find good an bad points on every platform in regards to messaging, but there is no doubt that the iPhone is king of apps at the moment. Andriod and Pre do make better email clients as compared to the iPhone at the moment. BB's can be good with gMail when you add the plug-in and Google Sync.

BB's have their place. They are the best company phones out there for the general masses.

[federerfan1990 Posted Dec 27th 2009 9:53PM]

Does anyone know when the Tour2 will be coming out for Verizon?
I have a Curve and I am seriously considering getting the Tour or the tour2

[tnkgrl Posted Dec 28th 2009 2:52AM]

I rarely use my work BB.

I just use the SIM in my other phones (iPhone 3GS, N900, various Android, various Symbian), and connect via Exchange instead of BES...

The end result is that I still have access to my work email, but my user experience is about a million times better!