* Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4" (5.8" open) x 2.4" x .57" and weighing 5.68 ounces * 3.2" 360x480 capacitive touch screen display * 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing * Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth * Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory * 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box * 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640x480 resolution * Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging * Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost * 3.5mm stereo headset jack * Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories * New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos**. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone * Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea * Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback
"Elegant styling" I guess if it's in the specs, it must be true /s
Honestly, though, I'm not feeling the design. It looks decidedly 90's. It's almost as if RIM seems to think their user base is infatuated with QWERTY keyboards (and maybe they are) and they just can't seem to let go. Well, I'm not a big fan of QWERTY's myself - especially portrait ones - but I will say that, no matter how you feel about all-touchscreen devices, the fact remains that they SELL.
That hardware all sounds kind of unimpressive. The Captivate starts with 16 GB built-in, with 32 GB being the max expandable amount as well.
The 3.2 inch screen is a bit small, though that's expected with a slider, and you don't want a massive screen BEFORE the slider portion is out.
A 5 MP camera is a bit underkill here. Aren't all WP7 devices required to have 8 MP minimum? Regardless, that turd Kin Two managed an 8 MP camera, so I would think RIM could do it as well.
Don't get me wrong; I think it's a solid phone, but I also think the specs are underwhelming, even if it is about what I expected. It just seems like they are trying to be on-par with others, not surpass them in any way, and that's a dangerous when playing from behind.
People aren't going to switch to your stuff if they are just resigning for 2 years, paying $200, and getting equal quality; it serves no purpose.
@Plazmic Flame "Powerful 624 Mhz processor" i find it sad that there are phones that are coming out that are still under 1 ghz, such a rip off, step your game up blackberry, or you're going to end up getting bought out by hp, like palm
@ageffner lol, some phones dont need 2gb of ram and a quad core to run their OS's(aka. android)lol and those specs are just fine, since the bold 9700 was fast enough,.. this will be fast enough x2,
@sxe10 Come on. This is a poor man's Palm Pre. It almost has the same specs, except it was brought to market over a year later. If the Pre's sales bombed why would RIM repeat the mistake - especially when you can get the pre plus for half the price!?!?
Well, Palm Pre's built quality and physical keyboard left a lot to be desired. Whereas, based on first impression, the Torch's built quality and keyboard are top notch:
There are five killer functions for smartphones: 1) web browsing, 2) messaging, 3) phone, 4) multimedia and 5) camera. (Yeah, those are boring and decidedly not cool for the Engadget crowd but they are functions people use 80% of the time.) IMO, if its web browser is on par with today's standard, the Torch will be a winner.
@wisconsinated The CPU is actually 3 generations behind...it's the same one used in the iPhone 2G/3G and the G1, etc...just clocked a bit more up but I don't think that is going to cut it in today's world.
@Scrubs Engadget is a great site but in this case if you want to see what this phone can really do check out the hands-on video at crackberry.com http://crackberry.com/blackberry-torch-9800-hands-video-first-look . After you watch this you may not think the CPU is too slow and you may see how productive you can be when you know how to use this device. It may just be enough to forgive the small screen size too. Check it out.
The X-Fi3 keeps with the company's commitment to audio fidelity, thanks to the apt-X codec, which supposedly offers audio quality similar to a wired connection when streaming. On that front, the device also handles FLAC files.
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C'mon RIM make yourself interesting again!
@uck perhaps the hardware??
what are the hardware specs? CPU? Memory? GPU? those things are important also. How does the sliding mechanism feel?
@serge
* Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4" (5.8" open) x 2.4" x .57" and weighing 5.68 ounces
* 3.2" 360x480 capacitive touch screen display
* 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing
* Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth
* Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
* 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box
* 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640x480 resolution
* Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
* Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost
* 3.5mm stereo headset jack
* Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
* New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos**. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone
* Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea
* Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback
@Plazmic Flame
* Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
haha... yeah, powerful for 2009.
@Plazmic Flame
"Elegant styling" I guess if it's in the specs, it must be true /s
Honestly, though, I'm not feeling the design. It looks decidedly 90's. It's almost as if RIM seems to think their user base is infatuated with QWERTY keyboards (and maybe they are) and they just can't seem to let go. Well, I'm not a big fan of QWERTY's myself - especially portrait ones - but I will say that, no matter how you feel about all-touchscreen devices, the fact remains that they SELL.
@ageffner
Thats flash memory, not RAM. Probobly about 216 mb ram... just like my 2009 droid
@Plazmic Flame
That hardware all sounds kind of unimpressive. The Captivate starts with 16 GB built-in, with 32 GB being the max expandable amount as well.
The 3.2 inch screen is a bit small, though that's expected with a slider, and you don't want a massive screen BEFORE the slider portion is out.
A 5 MP camera is a bit underkill here. Aren't all WP7 devices required to have 8 MP minimum? Regardless, that turd Kin Two managed an 8 MP camera, so I would think RIM could do it as well.
Don't get me wrong; I think it's a solid phone, but I also think the specs are underwhelming, even if it is about what I expected. It just seems like they are trying to be on-par with others, not surpass them in any way, and that's a dangerous when playing from behind.
People aren't going to switch to your stuff if they are just resigning for 2 years, paying $200, and getting equal quality; it serves no purpose.
@Plazmic Flame "Powerful 624 Mhz processor" i find it sad that there are phones that are coming out that are still under 1 ghz, such a rip off, step your game up blackberry, or you're going to end up getting bought out by hp, like palm
@ageffner It's still powerful.... i mean i had the G1 and that ran great on a 528Mhz Processor. It all depends on how the software is put together.
@ageffner
now BB users can have an 'erection' :D
@Scrubs 512 ram and 4GB flash memory
@sxe10
Exactly. Powerful is relative.
A roadster does not need a 500HP to be very fast (though it does gives you more bragging rights).
I guess people solely focusing on Mhz want bragging rights.
@ageffner
lol, some phones dont need 2gb of ram and a quad core to run their OS's(aka. android)lol
and those specs are just fine, since the bold 9700 was fast enough,.. this will be fast enough x2,
@4u2nv
So Modern ram but almost half the CPU clock of high end android phones or the iPhone. Wonder how this works.
@sxe10 Come on. This is a poor man's Palm Pre. It almost has the same specs, except it was brought to market over a year later. If the Pre's sales bombed why would RIM repeat the mistake - especially when you can get the pre plus for half the price!?!?
@annoynimous
No, that's a Sony Erection (Ericsson) exclusive.
@uck
the slider is a good start. I love that form factor.
@johnny005
Well, Palm Pre's built quality and physical keyboard left a lot to be desired. Whereas, based on first impression, the Torch's built quality and keyboard are top notch:
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/handheld/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226500197&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News
There are five killer functions for smartphones: 1) web browsing, 2) messaging, 3) phone, 4) multimedia and 5) camera. (Yeah, those are boring and decidedly not cool for the Engadget crowd but they are functions people use 80% of the time.) IMO, if its web browser is on par with today's standard, the Torch will be a winner.
@wisconsinated The CPU is actually 3 generations behind...it's the same one used in the iPhone 2G/3G and the G1, etc...just clocked a bit more up but I don't think that is going to cut it in today's world.
@Scrubs Engadget is a great site but in this case if you want to see what this phone can really do check out the hands-on video at crackberry.com http://crackberry.com/blackberry-torch-9800-hands-video-first-look . After you watch this you may not think the CPU is too slow and you may see how productive you can be when you know how to use this device. It may just be enough to forgive the small screen size too. Check it out.